Drum Major - United States Marching Bands

United States Marching Bands

A marching band show (high school and college) usually begins with a salute from the drum major(s). Salutes range in complexity from a simple hand-gesture to complicated routines involving many members of the band. The salute is traditionally the beginning of judging in a competition, and also signals the end of a band's show. Most salutes involve the left elbow pointed out with the left hand formed into a fist held at the hips, while the right arm is held horizontal to the shoulder with the hand and fingers held straight and close to the forehead. The dropping of a salute usually involves making the right hand into a fist just above or in front of the face, and bringing the hand down by the side at the same time as the left arm. A drum major is also responsible for calling the band to attention, beginning, and conducting the show. For calling the band to attention a drum major may use a command such as "Band-Atten-HUT," thus bringing the band to the attention position. The command "Detail-Atten-HUT" is also used to call a specific group within a band to attention. The drum major may use a whistle, vocal, or hand commands to accomplish this. This practice goes back to the military origins of the marching or field band.

A marching band review (parade) begins like a field show. Because of the street setting, there are usually no change in formations. This, however, is not true in Midwestern states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan. In these states especially, many complex formations are formed on the street. Typically the band forms a parade block with the width and length of rows and columns varying based on how large a block is desired. Around the block is the color guard and in front of all of it is the drum major. Scoring is similar to a field show (musicality, visual/general effect, auxiliary, etc.), however there is an added section specifically on the drum major's performance. The drum major is scored based on the execution of the opening routine, salute routine, beating time, vocal/whistle/hand commands, and overall control of the band. The opening routine is the main area where the drum major displays his/her skill at spinning a mace/military baton and ends in what can be referred to as a 'pike' (the mace is still and pointing straight up) followed by a whistle or vocal count off. The salute is usually much less complex than the opening routine. The salute routine occurs halfway down the competition line where the judge table is located on the drum major's right hand side. The general rule for a salute is that it begins 6 steps before the American flag (located in the middle of the judge table) and ends 6 steps after passing the flag (6 on 6 rule). After that, the last thing the drum major does is cut off the band after passing the competition line. This is done by either vocal, whistle or mace/baton command as with any other commands given while in a parade block.

To see one to three drum majors in most ensembles is typical. More usually indicates a group of prodigious size; conversely, no drum major may indicate a small band conducted by its director or a group led by a horn sergeant or drumline captain. In some ensembles, drum majors switch positions during the show to allow all individuals a chance to conduct from the central podium. Occasionally, they may also serve in other capacities such as performing a solo, in which case one or two band directors would conduct the band temporarily until the drum major(s) would finish their/his/her solo.

A marching band or drum corps drum major (field conductor) is in charge of holding the band/corps together, and directing the entire band/corps during shows and competitions. This drum major can come from any section of the performing unit: percussion, winds, or color guard. They are chosen on their musical abilities, leadership qualities, attitude, and passion for the sport. The Drum Major is the highest-ranked band participant, usually followed by the captain(s) of the drumline, then by guard captain(s), pit captain(s) horn sergeant(s), section leaders and band officers.