To be a drum major or not?

i have always thought about being drum major for my marching band, but i have a problem. our band is really small. i mean that unless we go up we will have about 13-18 horns, 8 guard, 4 pit and 5 drums. the staff at our band have always joked around with the thought of not letting me be drum major because that would take me off the field. also, our only tuba player graduates in july so we will need to fill that spot.

the biggest problem for our band is that i am the only member that can fill the spot and (i am not trying to sound conceited, but) i am their best player on the field and for that, they don't want me off. they haven't said that, but i am getting that vibe from them.

if i do make Drum major, this means that i cannot march/ play my eupho which will place me at a disadvantage when i go to audition for the cadets in November on euphonium

any suggestions?

You are in the same position as me. Here's the thing. If they want you on the field...you have no chance at being drum major so don't worry about it. I'd ask them straight up whether you have a chance. If not... fill the hole.

agreed... im going to be at a disadvantage when i try out for corps next year because i havent marched since 2008.

Do your best at drum major auditions. but realize there is a possibility you won't make it. If you dont, be the best euph player you can be. :)

You're in the same position as me as well. I'm just manning up and playing lead sop though. I'd love to DM but it's not really worth begging my directors over. Besides, I believe I'm 'taking one for the team' as they say.

I was the drum major of a small band for 2 years of high school (we literally had about 25 members including myself - no guard) so I understand having to fill holes and how your directors would probably think about it. I think Justin is right, your only reasonable option is to ask first.

I don't understand why anyone would want to stand on a podium all day when you could be marching...

But that's just me

@Rob- what appeals to me about DM is the leadership aspect. As I want to be a high school director, this is a good stepping stone and learning experience. I not only get to teach the marchers, but they'd teach me as well. If that makes any sense.

I'd like the all-black uniform! :P
But in all honesty, I'm with Doc, I like the idea of "taking over" the group I've been a part of for so long and motivating them and doing my best to help them succeed. But I suppose I'll have to wait 2 more years until I come back and tech.

I was in this situation too. But my director thought that even though i was needed on the feild i should be named DM. I marched the entire show, but i still was a leader, did awards, set up the feild, the whole shebang. I even Conducted a few parades. I would talk to you directors and tell them that if you can make DM just because your needed to be able to the Feild Commander postion.

@Rob. That's exactly how I feel. I would much rather play music and march around then yell at people to listen to me, only to find that they don't.

i have the same problem. practice on your own time =] goodluck

I say go for it.

My senior year of band, everyone thought two of my close friends were the leading candidates for the drum major spots, but the week before sign ups, they both backed out and decided they thought they would be of greatest use by staying on the field and being section leaders. As a result, two other people got picked for drum major, and not saying they did a bad job as drum majors, but I think my two friends would have been better and a lot of that nonsense "band drama" could have been avoided with them on the podium.

If drum major is something YOU really want to do and the thing YOU feel will help out your the band the best, definitely go for it. I hate to be blunt, but you can't sit around your entire life "taking one for the team." If you do that in your future career when you're older, you might miss out on a lot of wonderful opportunities.

Worst case scenario, you try out to be drum major and your director tells you he would rather have you on the field and you're back at square one. In my opinion, this is better than possibly going your whole life regretting the fact that you could have had a wonderful opportunity by being drum major.

As for the whole "I want to play euph as much as possible so I'm good for corps auditions"- I don't think that really applies here. Yes, it will take away potential playing time, but as you'll find out when you start preparing for your corps audition, that missed playing time might have not made you a whole lot better for corps. Preparing for that audition is solely based how much time you practice on your own, not how much time you play with an ensemble. After all, the corps audition is on your own, not playing with an ensemble, right?

Anyways, that's my $0.02...

I have a similar problem. I am a freshmen (sophmore in August) and our band last year was 20 hornline, 7 drumline, 8 pit, 9 guard. I would love to be our high school's drum major, But I would also love to march another year mainly cause we have atleast 15 newbys coming in, and there is a flute solo.

I would say that if you're the only one that can fill the spot, then fill it.

Edit

Check out onlinedrummajor.com :)

As a former DM, I must say its a very rewarding experience but at the same time you must also consider what is best for your band, whether that be you on the podium or on the field.

I've been in the same position. Bottom line for me is, try out. It's always worth it to try. Whatever you do, you can be a leader.

No way! Why stand on a podium and wave your arms around, when you could be on the field having all the fun? I wouldn't enjoy it at all, having everyone retreat to their closely-knit sections and being alone.

I'm SO glad I was just another clarinet dot.

I'm not saying I don't enjoy being in a powerful position with something I like, but DM? Boooo.

i'd say stay on the feild help your band out in the best way that you can and that will always be musical performance rather than being a leader your sound will help them more than you getting on the podium and waving your arms around if you want to lead dont lead from the rear being on the podium lead from the feild you can lead no matter where you are you just gotta figure out how to do it i auditioned for drum major and lost because my director wanted me to play sax so i did it but i took on all the leadership roles of our drum major my highschool drum major was basically up there to go wave her arms around and think she had something to do with the band if sections had a question musically they came to me or any other things that you would usually go to your drum major for they all came through me because i had that strong of a leadership personality...

what im getting at is that you can lead from anywhere and if your the one that needs to fill that tuba slot then get out there and play the tuba cuz the band wont function without that tuba a drum major is necessary