The following downloads will provide a foundation for our exercise and technique program. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these files. The UD snareline uses traditional grip and the drums are slightly tilted (see photos). Auditions will take place on the first Friday night of band camp.
Notes for Cymbal & Pit Auditionees
For students who are interested in auditioning for the cymbal line, we highly recommend attending the mini-camps during the summer. At these camps you can work on technique with the instructors and learn what will be expected of you at the audition.
All cymbal auditionees need to play check patterns with sticks on a pad or drum. Practice these with a metronome. Tempo maintenance, rhythmic accuracy and consistency of sound will determine who makes the line.
Pit auditionees must show proficiency on keyboard percussion instruments or on timpani. Rack players must show proficiency on drumset or concert snare drum. Rack players will also be responsible for becoming proficient on keyboards during the season.
Pit auditionees need to purchase the book Up Front (available at Tapspace Publications). Please prepare exercises on pages 121 - Singles (all major keys, 2 mallets), page 122 - Sixteenth Note Scales #1 (all major keys, 2 mallets), page 126 - Yak-Scents (written key only, 2 mallets), and page 140 - Block Chord Accents (keys of C,F,G,D major, 4 mallets). Timpanists should also prepare page 161 - (Timpani Scales) and all of the variations on pages 162 through 165.
Pit auditionees must also prepare check patterns.
Up Front should answer all technical questions for two mallets and four mallets as well as timpani technique.
ALL of the FOLLOWING DOWNLOADS WILL BE UPDATED SOON. Keep checking in!
Technique Downloads for Battery
Snare Drum:
Bass Drum:
Exercise and Music Packet for Battery
Updated 5/7/08
Included downloads:
ONET WOTH REE
Check Patterns
Duple Roll Sequencing
Triplet Roll Sequencing
Flam Workout
Exercise 8.51
78erer
Legato 25
Blue Hen Cadence
MP3 Recording Download