How do you teach drill?? HELP!! :(

[Trombonium]

The whole idea of teaching drill was always vague to me, never clear. I've asked my BD several times, with his advice never seeming to work for me.

So, does anybody have a good way to teach drill? I desparately need it, as we just got done with our opener and we still have like 40 more sets to learn!!

[jazztastic]

Do you use dot books?

[Trombonium]

Aug 30, 2009 1:22:55 GMT -5 jazztastic said:

Do you use dot books?

No, it's more like..

SLs carry drill charts around and we have to teach our section each set.

[84bdsop]

Aug 30, 2009 1:53:02 GMT -5 Trombonium said:

Aug 30, 2009 1:22:55 GMT -5 jazztastic said:

Do you use dot books?

No, it's more like..

SLs carry drill charts around and we have to teach our section each set.

You could still be doing dot method...you need to clarify if it's by dot or by form before you can get a correct answer.

[jazztastic]

Our school did that (having SL's w/ drill, and having them teach their section) and it doesn't work for several reasons. Confusion, SL's who can't teach efficiently/correctly, people standing around leads to talking/goofing off and never really learning anything except "You go from A to B in 32 counts. Stay in form." SO...
When I became drum major this year, I decided to change all this crap. I went to a leadership camp run by the Academy, and they showed us dot books. Dot books saved my band.
Horn pretty much covered it, but what you want to do before telling everyone to make dot books is to hold a How to Read Drill and Put it in Your Dot Book CORRECTLY (emphasis on correctly) Session with the entire band and guard.

Also, our band is on the small side, and we don't give everyone drill anymore because it's a waste of paper, and people will never actually make their dot book if they have drill. And also, being a "drill master" or "he who carries the drill book" is a privilege in my band. Just one of our... quirks? you can say.

[290Piika]

Dot books are helpful and easier to carry around than drill (especially when you have your instrument with you), but no one at my school seems to like them. >:[ They are good though, especially with the time-consuming drill-teaching methods.

I don't particularly agree with The Horn's "spray paint" method; I suggest neon-colored duct tape. It's easily removable and helpful if drill changes.

[Trombonium]

Thanks for the advice given so far.

Sadly, I don't think my director believes in dot books and such, so it will be much harder for me. And for marking the field, we can't do that because the football team uses it also. :/

So, is there anyway to teach it the way my school does (SL has drill charts and teaches the section)? BTW, I've seen my charts, but I can't tell if it's dot or form. The dots make up each form on each page.

[fruple]

One way, that we tried last year, is using poker chips. Have about 4 per person, with their name on them, and numbered. Set them, have them put a chip down, and go to the next dot. After four, run it a couple times, make sure it sticks with everyone. Pick up the first three, and place those again. That's the only way I can think of really.

I would suggest getting everyone a drill chart, but that would be a lot of paper. If you can't use dot books, just make sure that when you set people, show them the form and where they are on your copy. Explain how the forms change from one to another, and different tips to keep that form.

Hope that helps!

[84bdsop]

Aug 31, 2009 1:59:35 GMT -5 Trombonium said:

Thanks for the advice given so far.

Sadly, I don't think my director believes in dot books and such, so it will be much harder for me. And for marking the field, we can't do that because the football team uses it also. :/

So, is there anyway to teach it the way my school does (SL has drill charts and teaches the section)? BTW, I've seen my charts, but I can't tell if it's dot or form. The dots make up each form on each page.

Is your band director an old drum corps guy from the mid 80s?? That's my era...and dot hadn't been developed yet at that time.

I'd write something for you, but it's 1 in the morning and I need to hit the sack before I faceplant into my laptop....I'll try tomorrow.

[tromboneking87]

Aug 31, 2009 2:20:25 GMT -5 fruple said:

One way, that we tried last year, is using poker chips. Have about 4 per person, with their name on them, and numbered. Set them, have them put a chip down, and go to the next dot. After four, run it a couple times, make sure it sticks with everyone. Pick up the first three, and place those again. That's the only way I can think of really.

I would suggest getting everyone a drill chart, but that would be a lot of paper. If you can't use dot books, just make sure that when you set people, show them the form and where they are on your copy. Explain how the forms change from one to another, and different tips to keep that form.

Hope that helps!

My high school used poker chips, it helps visualize where you need to go when you're first learning the drill. It also helped that everyone had a drill chart, and everyone was expected to study their chart so that they had a general idea before rehearsal how they were going to fit into the forms (highlighting your spot/the line/arc around you).

[Lprdgecko]

In high school my BD gave everyone a coordinate sheet with things such as "Set 1: 3 steps outside Side A 40 yard line, 8 steps in front of front hash" Everyone was responsible for keeping up with their coordinate sheets. The BD would tell us to find a set and we were expected to remember.

College is pretty much the same. We each got a coordinate sheet, but they also gave us a few poker chips to put on the ground so you can remember roughly where you are going. I would ask your BD if the software he uses for the drill is able to print out coordinate sheets.

[84bdsop]

Aug 31, 2009 13:37:49 GMT -5 Lprdgecko said:

In high school my BD gave everyone a coordinate sheet with things such as "Set 1: 3 steps outside Side A 40 yard line, 8 steps in front of front hash" Everyone was responsible for keeping up with their coordinate sheets. The BD would tell us to find a set and we were expected to remember.

College is pretty much the same. We each got a coordinate sheet, but they also gave us a few poker chips to put on the ground so you can remember roughly where you are going. I would ask your BD if the software he uses for the drill is able to print out coordinate sheets.

That's the dot method.

Dot is great for modern drill....but people sometimes get "married to the dot" ($1 to the great Charlie Groh)...the dot ain't gonna be there on the field for you in show! You use the dot to learn where you have to be, but if the form changes on the move and you end up on your dot....but are way out of the form...who's right and who's wrong?

Guess what...YOU are for dot-diving and not following the actual form on the field.

Dot is a guide....not the be all/end all...

As for how to do it without dots....with either dot or form system, it helps to not just understand where YOU have to be at a particular place and time, but how the form around you moves....and what your responsibilities to your fellow are.