Marching Battery Percussion

Introduction

Battery Percussionists can do all of the drills that I have mentioned so far, but also require some special drills that are specific to the issues surrounding carrying their equipment.  Sometimes they march like the winds, other times they crab march, and still other times there are special angles of the feet.  They are almost NEVER asked to do more than 6 to 5, so including them in these exercises is essentially pointless.  Stop sign drill is a great drill to teach the battery how to use all of these techniques.

Basic Crab-Marching

When marching straight forward or backward the battery percussionist should follow the same techniques that the winds do- so be sure to include them in plus drill, lines, traffic, v-drill etc.   When the winds do slides ask the percussion to practice side-to-side crabbing technique.  While traveling straight across the field they will not do slide technique or use 30/60/90, but rather will march with a crab-style.  During a basic crab to the left or right the feet should stay in a slight "turn-out" at all times.  With each step, the trailing foot will go in front of the leading foot.  Obviously, when crossing, the trailing leg comes into contact with the upper thigh of the leading leg- so it is not possible to take very large steps equally with each leg.  So-- what we teach is that the percussionist should try to make at least 80% of the step size on the cross and make up the remaining 120% on the every other step.  Normally an 8 to 5 step is 22.5 inches for one step.  So in an 8 to 5 crab the ankle-bone travels 18 inches on the first step, 27 inches on the second step, and after 2 steps the total distance is 45 inches.  When backward marching the drummer should be on the platform the entire time, unless the tempo is very slow.  In that case it is more comfortable for the marcher to roll from the toe down to the heel.  Be careful with the roll down on turf so that the drummer and the drum do not end up ON the turf!  When marching at a diagonal to the front, the foot that leads toward the dot will roll-step, pointing the toe, directly at the dot and the trailing foot will roll step with the foot facing at a slight angle away from the "dot".

Side-to-side Crab-Transitions

When traveling in a crab march to the right directly to a crab march to the left, the transition is simple... just re-attack the left foot and move it from 80% to 120%, then move the right foot in front on the second step.  When transitioning from a left crab to a right crab, it is slightly more difficult.  The right foot stabs from the trailing position on the last count leaving the leading foot of the next part of the drill in the back.  Stab with the right foot and re-attack the next step with the left foot in-place.  Then make up the lost ground with the second step in which the right foot leads and bring the left foot around to the front by count three.

Stop sign drill

As you probably know, stop signs are eight-sided polygons with equal length sides.  This drill is based on that shape and takes 12 groups of 8 from start to finish.  You will need space for 3 groups of eight square.  Start by placing the battery in a block (or in the usual snare, tenor, cymbal, bass arrangement).  March 16 counts at a 45 degree diagonal front and to the left pointing the left toe at the dot and the right toe to the front, but still using a straight-legged heel-to-toe roll step with each (you will end up 8 steps forward and 8 steps left of the starting dot).  On count 16 stab the right foot to the front and continue marching straight forward on the yard line for 8 counts.  Stab with the right foot and march 16 counts on a front right 45 degree diagonal (again, the performer ends up at 8 steps forward and 8 steps to the right of the dot).  The first step should point the left foot straight to the front and then the right foot points toward the dot.  Stab on 16 and crab-march 8 counts directly to the right.  You must over-shoot the dot slightly with the foot before the right crab so that the left foot can step directly to the left and the drum and body won't overshoot the dot.  Stab on 8 and travel 16 counts to the back right diagonal.  This time, the right foot will point to the front and the trailing left foot's heel will face the dot.  Stab on 16 and travel straight back on the field for 8 counts.  Stab on 8 and travel 16 counts to the back left diagonal.  The left foot will point to the front and the trailing right foot's heel will point at the dot.  Stab on 16 and crab-march 8 counts to the end and close.  Try staring this drill at various points on the path or taking it the other direction.  Our battery frequently uses this drill while warming up "8 on a hand".

 

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