Drum major
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band. The Drum Major is usually positioned at the head of the Band or Corps and is the figure who stands out in the public eye. The Drum Major is responsible for providing commands either verbally, through hand gestures, or with a mace in the military or with whistle commands or a baton in the US civilian bands to the ensemble regarding where to march, what to play, and what time to keep. He is usually dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the Band or Corps.
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[edit] History
The position of Drum Major originated in the British Army with the Corps of Drums in 1650. Military groups performed mostly duty calls and battle signals during that period, and a fife and drum corps, directed by the Drum Major, would use short pieces to communicate to field units. With the arrival of military brass bands and pipe bands around the 18th century, the position of the Drum Major was adapted to those ensembles.
Traditionally, a military Drum Major was responsible for:
- Military discipline of all band members
- The band's overall standards of dress and deportment
- Band administrative work
- Maintain the band's standard of military drill and choreograph marching movements
In 1949, the first camp for drum majors, Smith-Walbridge Clinics, was started in Indiana. It then moved to the University of Illinois, and is now held at Eastern Illinois University. The camp draws nearly 1500 people a year, and also trains percussion, marching band members, and color guards.[citation needed]
[edit] Military position
A Drum Major in the armed forces is these days an appointment and not a rank.
In the British Army, a Drum Major holds the rank of Sergeant, Staff Sergeant (or equivalent), or Warrant Officer Class II. Royal Air Force Drum Majors hold the rank of Chief Technician (Sergeant in the Air Training Corps), except for the Senior Drum Major RAF, who is a Flight Sergeant. Royal Marines Band Service Drum Majors are Sergeants or Colour Sergeants, except for the Corps Drum Major, who is a Warrant Officer Class II. The Drum Major is always referred to and addressed as "Drum Major" and not by his rank. The insignia of appointment is four point-up chevrons worn on the wrist, usually surmounted by a drum. Staff/Colour Sergeants have a small crown between the drum and the chevrons and Warrant Officers have the larger crown from their rank badge in its place.
In the Royal Marines Band Service and in regimental corps of drums of the British Army, the Drum Major is always a side drummer, and would normally be required to have passed a number of courses in music, military skills, and leadership throughout his military career before he would be considered for appointment as a Drum Major.
In the Corps of Army Music, Royal Air Force, United States Armed Forces and Canadian Forces, the Drum Major is not required to be a drummer, the appointment being held by any suitably qualified musician.
[edit] US Marching bands
The drum major position is one of leadership, instruction, and group representation, but usually not administrative duties. A band director or corps director assumes administrative responsibility. In the absence of the Band Director the Drum Major carries the authority of the director or instructor and assumes complete leadership over the band.
Drum majors are mostly responsible for knowing the music of the ensemble and conducting it appropriately. What is "appropriate" conducting has evolved over the decades. During the 1970s and prior it was not uncommon for a stationary drum major to do a high-lift mark time on the podium for an audible and visual tempo; with the arrival of increasingly higher drum major platforms and thus greater visibility this has become both dangerous and unnecessary. In addition to memorizing the music (between six and nine minutes of music is typical for high school marching bands, college bands and drum corps may have that much or more, up to more than eleven minutes of music) a drum major must memorize dynamics as well as tempo in order to provide proper direction and cues, particularly in area where the drum major has some discretion, such as a ritardando or fermata.
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 lead 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 serve in other capacities such as performing a solo.
As marching bands have started to focus more directly on halftime shows and less on parades, the stereotypical staff or mace has vanished in preference of hand movements, occasionally with the use of a conductor's baton. Drum majors have also become more elevated over the years, having moved off of the field over the course of the 1970s and 1980s and onto small podiums, which in recent years have often become some eight feet in height or larger. There may be supplemental podiums for additional drum majors, usually smaller in stature.
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.
