F.A.T.; What it takes to do drumline

At a drumline audition you will be evaluated based on what you demonstrate of your skills and experience. The directors listening to you don't really want to hear that bucks exercise one more time. They want to know if you have the necessary skill to be successful in their program.

So, if you want to impress an examiner, think about the F.A.T: Foundation Skills, Aptitudes, and Target Skills. Start with the F and the A and work towards the T. Foundation skills: knowlege and undertanding necessary to be successful. Aptitude: abilities and attitudes necessary to succeed in developing the target skills. Target Skills: abilities required of performance in the position. These are developed throughout the season.

The Foudations skills are:
Basic Music Concepts: reading, dynamics, time/key signatures, things printed on paper
Basic Keyboard Concepts: pitch notation, notes on keyboard, keyboard stroke, lateral motion
Time: even pulse and placing sounds on it correctly
Subdivision: dividing pulses into twos, threes, and fours evenly and counting
Grip: concepts of quality grip, traditional and/or matched
Stroke: controled, smooth stroke, dynamic range, double stroke, and accent/tap
Rudiments: roll, flam, drag, and paradiddle rudiments

Aptitudes are:
Team: the team is more important than the individual
Commitment: not letting the group down, finishing what you start
Ensemble: awareness of what people around you are playing and doing
Melodic/Harmonic: understanding melodies and harmonies
Visual: performing with the body
Execution: being the best you can be
Perform: musical communication with an audience

Target Skills:
stick control
sound control
rhythm
visual performance
rudiments
keyboard, drum, and percussion (cymbal, timpani, acc.) skills

For each instrument, certian skills and aptitudes take priority. This is what the examiners will be looking for in the auditions.

Bass
F: basic music concepts, time, subdivision.
A: strong team attitude, strong commitment.
T: advanced ensemble rhythm and sound control.

Cymbals
F: basic music concepts, time
A: strong visual performer
T: advanced visual and cymbal performance

Pit
F: basic music concepts, basic keyboard concepts
A: strong listening and ensemble awareness, melodic/harmonic concepts
T: keyboard and concert percussion skills

Snare
F: grip (traditional), stroke, and basic flam/drag/diddle rudimental concepts
A: high standards of personal execution, strong performer
T: Advanced rudimental skills, sound and stick control

Tenor
F: grip (matched), stroke, lateral (keyboard/drumset) concepts, and basic flam/drag/diddle rudimental concepts
A: high standards of personal execution, strong performer, melodic concepts
T: Advanced rudimental and lateral skills, sound and stick control

Focussing on what makes a successful drumline member is what will make you a drumline member.