Advice for a budding corp drummer

[PocketPlayer]

I teach taught a girl who is now in junior high. She has talent and has played sax for years.

She now wants to play drums. I have told her parents to set some goals and try to get her into drum corp. There are few girls in drum corp and this might be a great way to get a scholarship to university.

Anyone with more experience than myself with drum corp and college scholarship please chime in.

Any advice for a four year plan she might take?

[Derek DeFields]

There's a drumline in Pasadena called the Black Knights. I'd say give them a call and see if one of the guys can give her lessons. Roger Carter is the instructor and I'd recommend him if he's available.

[Greaseleg]

Exactly what Derek said, hook up with a qualified instructor and practice. Maybe in a couple years, do a "B" corps during the summers to build chops and consistency.

[Kurt R]

Check out some places like drumhard.com shotdrum.com http://www.vicfirth.com/education/te...e/wessels.html

Jeff's new book, The Next Level!

http://dci.org/corps/ Check out division 2/3 corps

Get somebody that can get them started on the right technique first off so it will be less to fix when at higher levels.

Maybe it's just my but I wouldn't want to get a musical degree in just rudimental percussion. Theirs not much rather then teaching that can make money in the drum corps world. Some guys I know that teach top corps do it only as a side summer job and go back to their real jobs. But if it's what you love have fun. I hear music theory isn't fun [img]wink.gif[/img]

Where in califonia are you?

Do they have an interest in a instrument (snare tenors....) or just want to learn overall?

For drumlines UNT has a MEAN!!! winterline
Some of the best come out of UNT in set and corps
http://www.music.unt.edu/percussion/

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 19, 2005 04:08 PM: Message edited by: Kurt R ]</font>

[dr-funkenstein]

with musical knowledge, she may be a great candidate for the "pit percussion." tympani is drumistic enough for some if mallet perc is not. there is also a lot of opportunity to play unusual/ethnic perc instruments in the pit. it can be a good place to get acclimated to the whole drum corp experience and then go the next season in the battery. the pit doesnt work less, but it can be a less arduous experience than carrying a bass or snare and running about.

i would also encourage pursuing an individual and ensemble performance at the end of the season, if they are up to the challenge.