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Hiw can they hear you if your using vical commands and the drums are rolling?

Emma Wright and how did you get on?

Check out some of my other videos, in them I specify the difference between the mace, signal baton, and military signal baton. In my salute video I also spin a mace temporarily where you can see the difference. The short answer is one is longer and one is shorter. The longer answer is generally a scottish band will march with a mace traditionally as well as some english bands.. yaddah yaddah yaddah. There is a lot of history and development with the traditions of each baton that even I don't really know. Sorry I can't be of much help on this topic. It is easy to distinguish the difference by looking however and knowing that generally the origins can be traced back to the traditions of the music, the instrumentation, and your band. (I'm sure I just offended a lot of people with this one!)

Hi there, I use it all (most of the time). No matter what you should always be giving some sort of time, even when marching through the streets through a drum tap, or in silent zones. During these periods I will fall into a half mast beat where instead of bringing the baton above my head I pivot at the elbow so the baton reaches the baton ictus then comes about up to my chin. This is just to save your arm for when competition begins. Once in competition you will always beat time in a full pattern because even when there isn't music being played the band still needs to see the beat to know what foot goes where. I said (most) earlier and this is because in my senior year I used a jab sequence in my routine to show a the counter-march. Even with this sequence a clear beat was established and I was still docking time fully! Sorry this is late, hopefully it helps!

@@unionminedrummajors8054 yo

I have used batons from 37" - 41". In this video I am using a 39" baton. The length of my does not apply to you however. If you are choosing to be a military drum major it is important to select a baton that can easy travel uder your arm without snagging your uniform. An easy way to test this is to help the baton out with the tip pointing towards your body at the balance point and rotate it in circles under and above your arm. Wherever it feels comfortable without snagging will suffice!

They can differ from group-to-group and style-to-style. These are the commands my band uses, yours may be different, but they are a good general starting place!

The Acme Thunderer. Made in England

That is actually a blessing in disguise. A lot of band lacks communication from front to back because commands change over the years as they get in the hands of new people. You have the beautiful benefit of looking at your band and saying "This is all new: and THIS is how it will be done." Right off the bat your ENTIRE band will be on the same page, no discrepancies, no commotion over how one person did it this way. Now for this to be successful it is important for you to effectively teach your band the new commands so it is clearly black and white: "This means halt: [Does halt command]... This means mark-time [Does mark-time command]..." so on and so forth. Also another benefit you may have is if you choose to use my commands you can reference this video for your band to watch (this isn't a plug for views of subscribers I promise) but when they are at home they can look up this video and see what the same commands are. The best part of being a Drum Major is making every situation seem like a good one, because no matter what YOU have to be excited and YOU have to have all the right answers. Let me know how it goes!

Too late to give you advice....I trust you did fine. I was a Drum Major for 5 years....2 in HS and, we had 3 of us in HS. I'm not sure how I was beat out of the position of Head DM my Jr yr and, our Band Director was seething (he brought in 3 people to judge those trying out) and, he was positive there was some palm greasing going on, in order for another guy to win the position. If you saw and, heard this guy, you would question things as well lol. My Sr year I wasn't about to get beat and, the Band Director was there on the day watching this time. I digress lol. We used the type of baton used in this video and, kids today have a tool we didn't when I was a DM many years ago... the Internet. Watch other DMs of whatever style your Marching Band uses. However, we were sent to DM Camp each year, at a University in our State. That week was intensive and, I learned a LOT, concerning everything to do with being a DM. I encourage all DMs in HS to go every year they are DMs. Not only do you make new friends, you learn so many things, including directing music....which I LOVED doing in HT shows! When I was the Head DM in HS and College, I took what I learned and, I practised all the time... everything was practised. I was allowed to go the more DCI way, in dress...commands...and, directing field shows. That yr was fantastic and, helped me a LOT in College when I became the DM my Sophomore season onward. I recommend...DM Camp in Summer, practise practise practise (especially in a mirror....full length). Practice blowing that whistle, if used. As a Head DM...more than the Assistants...you also need to develop a great salute. When you are asked if your Band is ready....you can show off. I also loved a big salute after that final big note on the finale is played. Watch videos of DMs! To me....even though I won many medals for Baritone Solos, Duets and Trios and, made All District, County and even All American Bands....being a DM, leading the Band, was the some of the best and amazing fun I ever had in Band! The Head Drum Major is like the QB of the Band and, that was exciting.

Hey there, check out my channel, I should have a couple more that you may find useful, or may no longer need given the time distance. I KNOW I need to get more up, unfortunately between school and work it is extremely difficult to find time to make a video /: I am still looking for suggestions about something you would like to see, if I have a specific topic in mind it will be easier to make something and get it up!

Apple_juice :D middle school??

In my marching band we went against a few middle schools

I will spare you the full details and simply say yes it is. When I auditioned I hadn't been spinning for very long and I had to compete against drum majors that had already been doing it for a year, competed in solo competitions as well as with our band. I worked my ass off and was chosen over the veteran parade drum major who had taken second place in parade for our high school the previous year. If you work hard enough you will achieve anything. I was parade drum major for two years, and thanks to my hard work and dedication to my band not only were they successful but I was too. Everyday I would find time to practice (that was with AP Classes, as well as sport). If you WANT to be successful you will, and if you truly want to help your band -- if you are in it for the right reason -- then you will be. Once you find that nuggest of reason of why you want to obtain this position, and how you will help the other members then that should be enough of a driving force to propel you forward in your practice. It's hard, I would run out of daylight and still need to practice so I would bring out Flood Lamps to practice at night. I cannot tell you how many times I made myself bleed. Cut my face. Cut my hard. Break nails. Wedge Fingers. Bash a ball to the head. But it's all about perseverance and doing it for the band. And that sounds terrible, but it will happen you just can't get discouraged. It has created some of the best memories I had throughout High School and I wouldn't change an ounce of it. Dare to be different. Work Hard. And I guarantee that even if you don't get it you will learn something about yourself. Also, you are only a sophomore you have a long time to hone your skills and practice. I went from someone that barely knew what a baton was, to the parade drum major, to the most successful Parade Drum Majors that has gone through our school. I was Drum Major for two years. My first competition I placed second out of all Military Drum Majors. Every competition after that I placed first. In the long run all that amounts to is stupid trophies, but each competition my success was credited to my band, and even though I took home the medal, they won too and everyone was always more excited going forward cause that was one more win for the Diamondback Regiment (I love you guys <3) Summary: Find out the heart of why you want to be drum major, if it is the right reason, and for the right reason it will propel you to success. Keep luck and keep spinning!

Yes and no, there are a good bit of techniques you can take from it and there are a good bit of similarities as well. You do come in contact with some barring agents however such as size of equipment. I would be lying if I told you I have never stolen a move from a twirler, it idea sharing like that that keeps spinning alive today. A lot of what applies to drum majoring are rigid movements, where some twirlers have adopted to more of a show style of spinning, becoming closer to a blend of a color guard and a drum major. Finding the balance and the blend of the techniques used with Drum Majoring and the techniques using with Drum Majoretting will help you not only further your success, but allow you to develop a more sophisticated knowledge of routine building, and further adapt your style. As a Military Baton Spinner I have found watching baton twirlers, Mace Spinners, and especially color guard useful. When watching Guard do not limit your viewings to only flags, I have taken some of my favorite moves from a saber spinner, and a few techniques with rifle spinning as well. Once I find a move I like I first figure out how I can recreate it on my Baton, then I find 3 ways I can apply it to a routine. This can be a different way of getting into it or out of it, going into or out of a salute, stops, anything that will take one move and turn it into a useful tool for putting dozens of moves together.

Perhaps "rigid" isn't the right word, to provide and example: As a Drum Major you will toss your baton undoubtedly, but while it is in the air you goal is to maintain perfection. Do not move or flinch, reach out, look at it. You want to be stoic. While I have seen Drum Majorettes toss then spin under their baton. The same start but with different interpretations for different roles.

+SwiftEdits One of the most obvious difference between a Mace and a Military Signal Baton (this is the one I spin) is the size. A Mace will generally be anywhere from your shoulder height, to your total height (if you are spinning a full sized mace.) As well as being taller, a mace is much heavier, and comes in more "parts" with removable fixtures such as the crown as well as other fun ornaments you can decorate it with. Maces will not always be wrapped. They can be with a finer braid, or even a chain. The shafts are more commonly and traditionally, I believe, made with wood. The Military Signal baton is much shorter, closer to 36 - 42 inches (about waist height.) Given that they are much lighter and generally come in one to two pieces (depending on if you have a removable ball or not.) The Military Signal Baton originated from a different baton called the Military Baton, which is a little bit bigger than a Military Signal Baton, and a little bit smaller than a Mace. Military signals batons you will almost always see wrapped in some sort and are found usually made in two different materials: and aluminum shaft or a "fiberglass" shaft. Mine is this "like fiberglass" material. The usage of these differ from origins. The Mace you will see used by Scottish groups, as well as British. Military Signal Baton are seen more commonly with Military Style bands. Remember I am not a professional. This is just information I have gathered over time through research, private lessons, and deduction. Once again credit goes to my instructor earlier noted in my intro video. Check out some of my other videos. In the Salute video I actually use a Mace at one point so you can really see the difference. Hopefully this is: 1. Accurate and 2. Answers your questions :D

In British military customs, the Drum Major's mace was a fairly large item, about shoulder-height. There was also a smaller version about 36" long which was originally for long marches (the larger mace would be carried in the wagon train), but was later also used as a badge of office and carried around barracks in the same manner a sergeant would carry a drill cane or pace stick. The American customs have various origins since historic regiments variously adopted British, French, German, Swiss, Irish customs etc, depending on the particular origins of their units.