Jeff Ream Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Wouldn't you say that ensemble tears can occur also from not "checking" the ensemble with Dr. Beat from time to time? I think of the way drill shifts and morphs through the season if you don't check dots. Even top placing corps experience this and why the Cavies dot system circumvents the issue. well, ensemble tears happen in shows can't be faulted on the beat. Too often, especially with younger corps, they get addicted to the beat and don't know how to do a run without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wcmello09 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 We were always told to watch the drum majors hands. at a lot of rehearsals later in the season the drum major would have his own personal met in their ear forcing us to watch their hands. Even if there was a met on loud speaker staff knew who was listening and who was watching and they let us know they knew 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeCrush014 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Dr. Beat can be a fantastic learning tool for an ensemble that needs to learn to listen back to the drumline. If the met is back there, then they become conditioned to locate the drumline and focus on the sounds coming from there. Then, when you trade the met for some drums, they instinctively listen to where they know time is coming from. However, things do get a bit out of hand when people rehearse lyrical music with a met. In these situations the drum major (and/or drumline if they're playing) needs full discretion and the hornline needs to follow the conductor religiously. For me it kinda kills the emotion in a piece of music when the ensemble tries way to hard to stay locked in with an arbitrary number written on the score. And, while we're on the subject, I HATE HATE HATE DUTS. If you're going to go for a drastic tempo change between pieces without a stop in the music, you should be able to do so without your drumline shouting out the tempo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Adam Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 tempos win championships... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Adam Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I for one am completely for getting rid of something that consistantly makes people better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarimbaManiac Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 However, things do get a bit out of hand when people rehearse lyrical music with a met. In these situations the drum major (and/or drumline if they're playing) needs full discretion and the hornline needs to follow the conductor religiously. For me it kinda kills the emotion in a piece of music when the ensemble tries way to hard to stay locked in with an arbitrary number written on the score. IMO the met is MOST important when you are rehearsing a ballad. You have to remember that even if the hornline is just playing big open footballs, the pit is usually playing faster technical passages behind that. If the hornline pushes and pulls the tempo in an attempt to be musical, it becomes impossible for a section to remain in time while playing the underlying sixteenth notes or sextuplet passages. In an activity where over a hundred musicians are spread across a hundred yards, establishing a pulse center is crucial. The Dr. Beat assists in doing this, and is the main reason why modern groups have been able to reach a level of precision that has been unparalleled in this activity. The key is providing information that accompanies the metronome. When the met is on, focus on rhythmic accuracy, and memorizing how that feels and sounds. When the met is off, focus on recreating that sound. Check in with the met again, and then recreate. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrillmanSop06 Posted May 16, 2011 Popular Post Share Posted May 16, 2011 I'll just say it. This thread is dumb. From the notion that corps have been removed from housing sites to the notion that the OP finds the met annoying which watching rehearsals. Just dumb. Like if you agree. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrillmanSop06 Posted May 16, 2011 Popular Post Share Posted May 16, 2011 Btw, anyone who is against the Dr. Beat doesn't have a clue what modern drum corps is like. Killing emotion?? Really?? 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my58vw Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 What corps do at there own rehearsal site is the business of the corps, if they find a metronome useful then that is what they use at rehearsal. I like the metronome... it brings back fond memories. At show sites, it is up to the show site promoters, judges, event staff, etc to regulate what is going on. If the venue is to small to allow for Dr. Beat then do not allow it. It is real easy to control. We all have to be understanding that drum corps is not a concert hall, noise is going to happen... it is part of the experience. Dr. Beat of Not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccerguy315 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I will say that I would be 100% in favor of a rule that outlaws Dr. Beat at warmup sites. The colorguard instructors can clap or click drumsticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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