Dr. Beat

[Bob984]

I have watched many music ensemble rehearsals by several top competitors in recent years. I find the use of the Dr. Beat metronome to be annoying musically and I believe it is highly over-used. It should be used as a reference, and not a crutch. Players should develop strong inter-pulse and follow a drum major who should have strong conducting skills. A corps doesn't use the device in a performance, so players should be working on performing without it. It's fine for guard (even there, I think working with a recorded version of the show is far more useful, though) and working on keeping the feet moving while learning drill. I'm ok with using it as a check to see if desired tempos are being adhered to from time to time. However, I can't tell you the number of times where I said to myself that I wouldn't enjoy playing anymore at a musical ensemble rehearsal with that thing going non-stop ad nauseum......how you can focus on pitch, expression, and other musical nuances with that thing blaring is beyond me. I know of no other musical idiom that uses a blaring metronome non-stop. When the metronome is used, it is used mostly to develop individual timing and to see if desired tempos are adhered to.....that's pretty much it.

While on this topic, let me add this. How many of you have gone to a contest, there is a corps performing on the field, and suddenly you hear somebody's Dr. Beat or "gok-blok" in the distance, disrupting the whole universe??? This is supposed to garner a penalty. At Allentown (and other shows as well) corps warmups disrupt performances all of the time.

I have yet to hear of a corps getting a penalty for it. I don't care if a corps has won 300 shows in a row, and a brand new corps with 12 horns is on the field. I should hear no audio distractions from another corps whatsoever when they perform, and the only way this is going to change is to start throwing some major penalties at the offenders. We have 80 billion cell phones......are you telling me that we can't communicate from the stadium to corps staff to the second when they can play and when it's time to stop?? I think a group of 8 year olds could figure it out. Rant off.

GB

[Bari-Player]

I'm sorry Dr Beat ruins your experience as an audience member.

Unfortunately for you, Dr. Beat has a doctorate in education...

[soccerguy315]

Do you have issues with tempo control on the field during shows late in the season? IMO corps are very good at maintaining tempo by the late season during shows, and as you said, during the show they are not using the metronome. So... I don't see the issue. The corps are preparing to put on a public show. The amount of metronome usage seems irrelevant, as long as the corps is accomplishing its goal.

Ensemble rehearsals are not for you to watch, they are for the corps to practice. If you want to see the show without a met, buy a ticket.

[skewerz]

I have watched many music ensemble rehearsals by several top competitors in recent years. I find the use of the Dr. Beat metronome to be annoying musically and I believe it is highly over-used. It should be used as a reference, and not a crutch. Players should develop strong inter-pulse and follow a drum major who should have strong conducting skills. A corps doesn't use the device in a performance, so players should be working on performing without it. It's fine for guard (even there, I think working with a recorded version of the show is far more useful, though) and working on keeping the feet moving while learning drill. I'm ok with using it as a check to see if desired tempos are being adhered to from time to time. However, I can't tell you the number of times where I said to myself that I wouldn't enjoy playing anymore at a musical ensemble rehearsal with that thing going non-stop ad nauseum......how you can focus on pitch, expression, and other musical nuances with that thing blaring is beyond me. I know of no other musical idiom that uses a blaring metronome non-stop. When the metronome is used, it is used mostly to develop individual timing and to see if desired tempos are adhered to.....that's pretty much it.

While on this topic, let me add this. How many of you have gone to a contest, there is a corps performing on the field, and suddenly you hear somebody's Dr. Beat or "gok-blok" in the distance, disrupting the whole universe??? This is supposed to garner a penalty. At Allentown (and other shows as well) corps warmups disrupt performances all of the time.

I have yet to hear of a corps getting a penalty for it. I don't care if a corps has won 300 shows in a row, and a brand new corps with 12 horns is on the field. I should hear no audio distractions from another corps whatsoever when they perform, and the only way this is going to change is to start throwing some major penalties at the offenders. We have 80 billion cell phones......are you telling me that we can't communicate from the stadium to corps staff to the second when they can play and when it's time to stop?? I think a group of 8 year olds could figure it out. Rant off.

GB

agree with this wholeheartedly

[Bruckner8]

I have watched many music ensemble rehearsals by several top competitors in recent years. I find the use of the Dr. Beat metronome to be annoying musically and I believe it is highly over-used. It should be used as a reference, and not a crutch. Players should develop strong inter-pulse and follow a drum major who should have strong conducting skills. A corps doesn't use the device in a performance, so players should be working on performing without it. It's fine for guard (even there, I think working with a recorded version of the show is far more useful, though) and working on keeping the feet moving while learning drill. I'm ok with using it as a check to see if desired tempos are being adhered to from time to time. However, I can't tell you the number of times where I said to myself that I wouldn't enjoy playing anymore at a musical ensemble rehearsal with that thing going non-stop ad nauseum......how you can focus on pitch, expression, and other musical nuances with that thing blaring is beyond me. I know of no other musical idiom that uses a blaring metronome non-stop. When the metronome is used, it is used mostly to develop individual timing and to see if desired tempos are adhered to.....that's pretty much it.

While on this topic, let me add this. How many of you have gone to a contest, there is a corps performing on the field, and suddenly you hear somebody's Dr. Beat or "gok-blok" in the distance, disrupting the whole universe??? This is supposed to garner a penalty. At Allentown (and other shows as well) corps warmups disrupt performances all of the time.

I have yet to hear of a corps getting a penalty for it. I don't care if a corps has won 300 shows in a row, and a brand new corps with 12 horns is on the field. I should hear no audio distractions from another corps whatsoever when they perform, and the only way this is going to change is to start throwing some major penalties at the offenders. We have 80 billion cell phones......are you telling me that we can't communicate from the stadium to corps staff to the second when they can play and when it's time to stop?? I think a group of 8 year olds could figure it out. Rant off.

GB

I've learned to see this as one if drum corps' charms, rather than one of its vices. It's an outdoor venue; there will be ambient noise. Show coordinators work very hard to minimize the situation, but Allentown is a notorious issue, with hills, high stands, etc. Learning to focus on the show--and tuning out the rest--is one of my favorite challenges. Same goes for crowd noise too...I try not to let that get to me too much. It's outdoor drum corps, not an indoor concert hall.

[DcFr3aK]

From the start of the season to the end of a season, the only people who TRULY know how much the Dr is used are the members. I remember using the doctor for spring training for the most part. After that it was just a check to make sure we were still at the right tempo. The drum major can only control 149 people so well! Fluxuation in tempo is going to happen, and the Dr is the best way to let EVERYONE on the field know where they are! Of course it should not be a crutch, but to say most of the corps utilize it that way is naive as you see only what videos are posted online and what you see for yourself! Again, you're taking what you see from random videos and saying it is that way ALL THE TIME! It's not.

The only part of this I really agree with is the under use of penalties for interruptions during corps performances. If it's on the score sheets why not use it? If you can hear a gok or a Dr during a corps performance, you're either TOO close to the stadium, or not conscious of the direction your corps is facing. Something should be done!

[TastyWaves]

is it already that time again? the Annual "I hate dr beat" thread? lol.

Okay. The short version this time.

Using this is not a crutch any more than using a tuner. Until I see it on the field during the show, I dont care how much we use it in rehearsal.

Most groups do the "Start/Stop" By the end of season anyway.

Either way, who cares what a corps does off the field if your not on the staff or a member of the corps?

If your just in the stands, enjoy the show. Unless you just really hate consistent tempo.

[spirit7698]

You also have to look at it from the point of sound travel vs. time. Especially if your section controls tempo at this one phrase and you are back field or you are back and closer to one of the goal lines and are NOT the tempo holder then you need to be able to tell where on the front side or back side of the beat ( also ahead or behind your feet ) you need to play vs. what it looks like from the drum majors hands. It is not always " center " of the beat from the back batterie perspective or whatever horn section that gets written some far out drill ( no pun intended ).

[oldsoprano]

Another thing to consider....I wonder how many corps rehearsal sites have been lost over the years because of Dr. Beat?

My wife was a former tour event partner running up to three shows a year, and I know of a couple of instances where a school that housed a corps one year had to decline the next due to complaints of neighbors about Dr. Beat.

I know that if I were a non-drum corps person and lived adjacent to or across the street from a school, I would be just fine with drumming and horn playing, but would have a problem if I had to listen to the high-pitched ping-ping-ping of Dr. Beat for hours on end.

Edited May 15, 2011 by oldsoprano

[BozzlyB]

Clearly these inconsiderate corps are ruining the OP's shot at watching free performances during rehearsal without the met. Corps are just so selfish these days, I really can't get over it. Shameful.