P1 Snare Line 2010
               Left to right: Matt, Rory, Erin, Lesley, Julia, Roddy and Tom
                                           

Drumline Classes

These classes are designed to initiate and/or improve the students skill set and prepare them for participation in a drumline with standards appropriate to the discipline required for this style of performance.

Each level has a required level of proficiency, and standards are set accordingly
 
Classes are as follows: (P3) beginner, (P2) intermediate and P1 intermediate/advanced. We teach PROPER technique along with team effort.

Classes are 3 hours long with one break and we provide refreshments.

Our goal, to establish drumlines at each one of our local high schools and have inter-mural competitions, is a vision of a drumming tradition heretofore unknown in our area.

If you are interested in starting a drumline at your school, contact me and  your band director and let him/her know that you want this to happen. It works best when the students are involved from the ground up!

Classes begin quarterly in January and will be on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month and will continue throughout the school year. Please check the calender below for performances, class dates and times.


The program will include:  Working as a team and with a metronome
                                          Stick Syncronization
                                          Expanded rudimental knowledge
                                          Memorization
                                          Visuals
                                          Improving reading skills
                                          Solos
                                          Dynamics
                                                                                  
                                        P2 Requirements
                                                  
                                        Strong Reading Skills
                                        All diddle rudiments @ 130 bpm minimum.
                                        Squeaky clean doubles @ 100 bpm minimum.
                                        Strong work ethic
                                        Ability to play out of Alfred's Rudimental Contest Solo
                                        Book.
                                        Ability to work as a team member
                                        Solid visuals
                                        All 7 Vic Firth Warm-ups memorized, tempo increases.
                                        USC Drumline Warm-up at tempo and memorized
                                        Chipotle
                                        Backsticking diddles all uniform
                                        Chicken and a Roll and variations.

                                        P3 Requirements
                             Solid Reading skills
                                                  Singles and diddles @ 100 bpm minimum
                                                  Clean doubles @ 80 bpm minimum
                                                  8 on a Hand, 16th note timing, Accent Tap, Accented 16th's
                                                  Chicken and a Roll, Rise Northwestern and Bucks.
                                                                                          
                                                  These should be memorized.
                
                                                       
                  
                         The Vic Firth website has a free PDF handbook download and videos that
                         correspond to the warm-ups. Just click on the logo below and go  to Marching
                         Percussion 101.                                                                                                                                                              If you'd like  more information and to get a registration form, please
                     feel free to contact me.

                                                    Danny
                                                    408-460-9617
                                                    dannydescalzo@yahoo.com
                                                         
        
       
           Below is a video of former student Austin Walker with the Northwestern
           University Drumline.
                                          
                                              
  

Here is a documentary on The Northwestern Drumline. Hear what some of the members have to say. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSOxAa3xbmw


Below, Austin (on left) at Northwestern...he helped us get this all started.