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Here's some DM conducting advice
-clap clap- Nice.
The only thing I would like to add is to be expressive with your conducting. After you have mastered the basics of course. Portray the emotion and the energy you feel from the music so that the band can in turn, portray it to the audience. Also, for everyone that is auditioning soon, GOOD LUCK!
*Sticky-ed* :-)
This was really really helpful, especially when i try out in two days!
that deserves a clap! clap-clap-clap
I heard something about dance positions, like certain dance positions go well with different moments in music. Is that an accurate statement, and if it is what are some i could use? my friend she already taught me them and i'd like to know i'd be wize to use them.
By the way thanks, this is very helpful
Feet positions? Here is what I was told:
Impact points usually use open 2nd, and softer sections use 4th. You can also use 3rd for these sections. 2nd - Feet shoulder width apart feet pointing 45 degrees outward. 3rd - left foot 45 degrees to the left and sitting inside your right foot 4th - one foot is behind you angled outward and your other foot is basically in your normal position. Someone who does dance please correct me if I'm wrong with the feet position names. *Adding to first post - also added a little more to the hand position section*
Thanks for the clarification :D very helpful
Yes Thank you joesph. This will help a bunch!
One thing i do want to point out is this can change from band to band. For example my band director forbids our drum majors from bending their knees when emphasizing dynamics. it looks terrible and its not as effective as when they bend their knees but thats his rule... but all in all, Joesph outlined what a good looking drum major should do.
Most of the time they just don't do it in a strong way and it looks awkward. If done right it can be very effective. But I'll add that to the post.
My Band Director tells us to do whatever conducting style we want if it is effective, so there have been 4 different styles in 2 years. One style was the drum major the other was the band captain (2nd in command).
im currently trying out for Drum Major and i have had some difficulty with my left hand independence in prior auditions..but have got a decent handle on it. its still very uncomforatbale and i was wondering if i were to get dm if it would become more and more easier and comfortable as time went on? and another thing...if i do get it, how far does the dm's authority go? im just not sure where the boundary is for a dm to be comanding and more or less directing the marchers and guard...
Thanks for the info!
The more you practice it, the easier it gets. As long as you work on it slowly first, it should get better.
That is something that is different from band to band. Look at how past DM's have interacted with the band. If you ever have a question, just ask your director or past drum majors.
I'll be trying out soon; your advice will be really helpful!
Thank You very much bc of you I'm going to try out for Phantom Regiment next year
That, is a different monster in itself. I went this past year. The differences of using the baton, as well as the patterns they use make it different. If you have any questions about that audition just hit up my wall.
...Honestly, I can find so many things in that video that just don't look good to me. No offense to his conducting ability, but I just don't like it. I just kinda skimmed through that first video and this is what I saw:
His hands just look sloppy. With his fingers spread out the way they are, it just seems like his doesn't have as good of control of his hands. Also, the strict pattern he did could be even more strict. What I mean is that when he goes out for two, he also tends to scoop upward instead of going straight across. His hands don't "paint the wall" very well. When he goes out for two, he his sweeping and its causing his hands to point outward. There are some good points to this video, but not something I would suggest to completely rely on. (It is good for someone who might not have the slightest clue what the patterns are, etc.)
I agree with Joseph on a lot of points he made about those videos, although I will say this: it is to your benefit to take a look at many different kinds of videos and lessons such as that so you get a wide variety of visual representation of what you should be doing, so that ultimately when you get in front of your band, you have a better of idea of what will work best for you and for your members.
The only reason I bring this up is because I have had 3 distinct styles taught to me --- those taught by my former drum majors, the curriculum taught at DMA, and the style that Carolina Crown uses. Although this may confuse many people, it actually helped me by combining a bit of everything that I learned into a style that, hopefully, will be the best style for my band to see and to follow.
I had the same thing. I've been taught the FJM style, my college's style, and by Phantom Regiment.
Obviously you should always look around and try to learn from everything. Whether they are a good or bad example. Variety in technique styles can give insight in what different people think are good styles. By looking at what is similar you can create a style that works well throughout, and looks good. It could be that you think that the patterns used by one person looks really good, but the way another person has their hands looks better. Mix it up. Primarily, a drum major's job is to help the band and giving them a clear enough pattern that they can follow and be together. However, unless you are successful in creating that pattern, it will fail and the band will have to find other ways of staying together. (Which often does not work)
I learned how to conduct from that 3 videos I post here
All of this is really really helpful it the only thing i may add is not to step off your podium or platform... not fun and it really hurts...
Haha, that is the scariest part of being up there for sure.
Can someone give me some good tempos to practice each time signature on?
Slow (60 bpm) is pretty good to get muscle memory solidified. It's also a good slow tempo to watch, really watch, what your pattern looks like in a mirror.
And for an audition, what types of things are band directors generally looking for?
(I know it varies among bands)
^Consistency with technique is universally required.
Solid leadership skills from you now. Dedication to group, going above and beyond now. The ability to conduct a steady tempo at any tempo in any meter.
*Added a section on ways to deal with phasing or a tear in the ensemble
i have found a great youtube video that really helps and my band director actually says to allways follow this video
youtube.com/watch?v=xWnPat6coPA
^ That's Tim Yao, Pacific Crest's drum major.
I'm not a fan of that style of conducting. Unless your director wants that style, I recommend against using it. Its not receptive to changes in pattern, so giving any kind of vital information is difficult. Not to mention it requires the ensemble to learn to read a different pattern compared to what they see indoors
The information he gives about cues and other left hand independence is alright, I just can't stand behind his basic pattern.
I completely disagree with you. My band conducts similar to this style and there's nothing wrong it. It is definitely very clear on the field. It also not a difficult pattern to read.
Anyway, I like a style closer to what you see inside just because its more useful outside of marching band. To each his own. Just whatever style you choose to do, it needs to be clear and consistent.
^^
^^ I know Tim Yao from the US Army All-American Marching Band 2011 lol. He is a great conductor and leader overall. I was fairly satisfied with his conducting pattern. When he conducted us in the All American marching band, where we had people from many different bands in one group, there were no complaints about reading his pattern. I thought it was pretty straightforward. I was a drum major myself and the pattern I used was a little different. I think the pattern he taught in the video is pretty decent to learn from :P Log in to add a comment. |
What should my hand look like when I conduct?
Really, it all depends on what you want to do. The best way that I've come across has been that you make a relaxed C shape with your hands. Your fingers (except thumb) should all be touching all the time or almost touching. Then when you make the C shape, bend your wrist so that your palm faces the ensemble. (The last part is optional. This can be awkward to some conductors and you should do whats comfortable. One thing you shouldn't do is have your finger tips go below your wrists, as this can give a sort of floppy uncontrolled look.)
How should I stand?
A basic stance is to go to Attention and go from there. You should have good posture. Be sure not to add to much tension or else you will get tired very quickly. The first exercise will talk about where your hands go. Now to conducting.
First off, what is the most important thing for you to do first?
Learn how to beat in time. Here is an exercise: Get a metronome. Put it on about 72 beats per minute. Now, take your right hand raise it to a ready position. This is going to be about just below your ribs. If you are short, you'll have to raise it up a teeny bit. Now, you are going to lift your hand and every beat, hit back down to where you started, as if you are conducting in 1. When you are doing this, be sure that your hands are going straight up and down. A popular analogy is to be painting a wall. Do this until you are confident with conducting the beat at that tempo. Once you are, slowly raise the tempo up until you get to about 144. By this point, it should be getting pretty fast. Be sure to revisit this exercise often until you get comfortable with conducting the beat.
Now, you know how to conduct in one. You normally use this for 3/8.
What's next?
Well first off, that starting position in the exercise above is about where your ictus should be. The ictus is the beat. The ictus should be very clear, but you shouldn't punch it. Remember that someone should be able to put paint on your hands and put them against something, and we will see the pattern drawn on it. Also, depending on the conducting style, where each ictus is canwill change. Watch this video for some good pattern ideas for 2/4 3/4 and 4/4. Look up other videos on the subject to get a wide range of views.
youtube.com/watch?v=79Pk-33R2HM
I don't agree with her on everything in this video. You should conduct with both hands a lot. We will go over when you should choose not too later. Also, I don't like that she keeps going past the ictus and then goes back for the next beat.
Left hand independence:
This is all your fancy left hand cuescrescdimetc. You should not attempt any of this until you have mastered conducting in time and conducting in all the simple meters. When doing anything with your left hand, make your your left hand is completely independent from the rest of your body. Cues can be done with a point, or just a simple gesture. Head nods are also a good way to cue.
All that other stuff:
What do I do to show a grand crescendo or diminuendo? One thing is that you can bend your knees to lower yourself. You should not change your upper body's position much. It can bend a little bit forward, but not to a very great extent.
How can I show dynamic contrast in my pattern? One thing is to shrink your pattern. Be sure that it is still large enough to see. Also, if the scoring is thin (not many instruments playing) you can drop your left hand and only use your right. Be sure to keep it down to your side or behind your back so it doesn't get distracting.
How can I show a stylistic change in the music? One way is use a completely different style of conducting. There are many ways to show 4/4, and each has its own distinct style in which music will match well. Try and find as many as you can. Another is to change the amount of time it takes to get to each beat. (This doesn't mean changing the beat itself. Time should stay the same.) A drum break will have little to no rebound (What goes on inbetween the ictus) whereas a ballad may flow from ictus to ictus very smoothly. (Be sure that the ictus is still visible!)
How can I help the band if there is phasing or an issue with timing or playing together? If the band isn't together, don't get bigger. The bigger you conduct the higher the chance you are going to slow down your pattern. Instead, shrink the distance between the outside beats and the middle, and make the beat going to 1 larger and stronger. In 4/4 going from beats 4 to 1 are most important. In 3/4, 3 to 1, etc. Another technique is to use a strict pattern. In a strict pattern, you get rid of ALL rebound in the pattern (the hump or the rainbow between beats). To achieve this, you stick each beat and then delay going to the next beat until the last possible moment so then the next beat is exact and sticks again. In 3/4, strict pattern is a triangle where 1 and 2 are the same and beat three is above beat one. If phasing occurs, don't add any of your left hand dynamics and keep strict time. Above anything, be clear and make eye contact with your drumline or whoever is keeping time at that moment and make sure your tempos are exactly together. By this, I don't mean the audio is with you, watch their feet. Since sound travels slower than light, this is going to be more accurate.
Feet positions for different dynamics:
Impact points usually use open 2nd, and softer sections use 4th. You can also use 3rd for these sections.
2nd - Feet shoulder width apart feet pointing 45 degrees outward.
3rd - left foot 45 degrees to the left and sitting inside your right foot
4th - one foot is behind you angled outward and your other foot is basically in your normal position.
Is all of this okay to do? You should always check with your band director and see if they want you do something a certain way or if they don't want you to add something. Overall they know what they want you to be for a Drum Major, and they have the last say.
Changing pattern size in different dynamics, a caution.
Be sure not to get too big with your pattern. Many drum majors have the problem they get so big that it erases clarity in their pattern, or the tempo in their hands slows down. If you make your pattern too small, the band can't see it. Change your size to reasonable sizes.
Have a question not answered here or have a different view? Just post it here. I'll be editing this periodically with other things. This is just a basic start.