Help from the big boys...........

dollydrumstick · Help from the big boys...........

Hello guys (and gals)... I know your all busy either getting ready for Saturday...or if you read this after Saturday - recovering..

I was just reading a thread about the RM Buglers possibly getting together a CD/DVD with BR13 marches and maybe even a few statics.

Just thought I'd put pen to paper on here and open a little discussion to see what the opinion is of the guys on here.

Bit of History first though........

I've been doing this for 20 years now ('kin ell - I shouldn't count them) and have seen the standard of drumming change from year to year in that time.

When I started in the late 80's alot of the stuff we were playing was handed down by word of mouth from drummer to drummer and there were some really interesting variations in the statics and marches that were played at the festivals.

In the early 90's we were all invited to Deal to attend a week of training where people were split up base on ability and and time was spent being taught how to play marches properly and brush up the statics so that all he bands hand been taught how they should be played - even though it was only a week, due to our keenness I would think that everyone gained alot out of the short space of time there.

A few years later Lee Cullen had a draft round the volunteer bands to help the VBI's out with teaching the drummers, spending weeks at a time teaching marches and statics to the bands which introduced a whole new range of statics into the box for us to choose from (as an aside I had a laugh that Rapilento and Fortaleza have suddenly come back out ofthe box now that Lee is judging:-)) Lee did a fantastic job with us all which helped out no end when the voly bands started getting smaller and we had to share drummers from gig to gig. I'd also say that the standard of drumming that year for the festival was probably the highest that I've ever seen across the board.

Since then some of the bands have been receiving help from various buglers who pop in to help us all out, and I personally applaud all of them for helping us out where and when they can as the information that we gain from these visits is allowing everyone to raise their standards and produce a decent display of drumming when called upon. This causes a problem where only certain bands will shine at the festival, which in some peoples eyes could be seen as a little unfair if they haven't managed to find a friendly bugler.

Ok back to the reason for the post (or is it a rant....)

Right couple of questions for you guys and gals........

How feasible would it be for you COD to attend a week of training at the school of music and do you think it would benefit you??

What statics do you have in your box of dots that your COD could perform with a few practices, say two weeks notice to come up with a drum display??

At present Top Malo is generally accepted as being the joint COD (i.e. Cologne) static - is this correct and if we wanted to change this what would you suggest?

What statics do you know about but can't play and reasons why i.e. ability, too few drummers for it to look effective?

What marching solo's do you know?

Do you have a copy of BR13? And how well do you know the marches and stick drill?

I know that we all spend the afternoon in wetherspoons after the festival but how many COD's would be interested in a large drum display before the prize giving (with beer on completion? obviously) which is sorted out in the afternoon during the sit down concerts?

One other point I'm trying to clear up...but when was the last time your band received a new drum or set of drums?

All I'm trying to do is collate some info so that we can sort of collectively get together and get the drummers voice heard at thenext VBI's meeting and try and get some more official help as opposed to relying on the individual help that we get at present.

I look forward to your answers.

Cheers Ta
Dolly
(mines a pint of lager :-) )

Pompey Rich

Some damn good points, Dolly and fair play to Lee Cullen (Corps Bugle Major) for helping out all the Volly Drum Sections a few years back.
I agree to a certain extent about spending a training week at RMSM but perhaps an annual weekend would help instead due to the workload of the RMB's since the cutbacks. I also think that we could try to support each other out instead of the bitching my family and I have suffered for a couple of years just because we at Nelson keep winning the trophy. We do it cos' we want to and we bloody train and rehearse hard. The p!ss up comes after the gigs.

As for drum marches and statics, why shouldn't we write our own material? I suggested a festival trophy for the best composition but was told there were enough trophies already. The suggestion for this particular award was not because I write and arrange my own material but to encourage others to come forward as I'm sure I'm not the only person who can write dots. I approached the previous Corps Bugle Major, WO1 Bob Platts and asked permission to enter some of my compositions in the annual RMB competition but was told that it was only opened to members of the Buglers Branch. Whilst I fully respect this I do firmly believe that we could and should be fully encouraged by our Bandmasters and RN Officers.

We at HMS Nelson have been lucky with our support. I also think it's fair to say that a lot of drum sections were damn good at the festival on Saturday but some stated to me afterwards that they wanted to improve but didn't know who to turn to. I told them to nag their bandies (I actually did it for some of them) and perhaps there will be a positive outcome. I also met a couple of drummers who just ain't interested and openly admitted they were just there for the jolly. Sorry. But I'm not interested but I will go out of my way to help those who are interested in learning and if they play something then I would be more than willing to write out and arrange the dots for them.

And finally. The RNVB Festival Drum Trophy is there for you all. Please come and take it cos' if you do then you deserve it. Work hard, practice, and don't be frightened to ask for help. You'll find that people like Dolly and me would be more than willing to assist you. Why? Because one year at the festival we want to put on a massed RNVB Corps Of Drums display. So you better start writing or recording your compositions on tape.

All the very best to you all, Pompey Rich.

admin

Writing for the volunteer bands... do you want to write for ability? By ability I mean the lowest common denominator. I know some will say that you need to strive to attain new heights and yes, that is true. However, start leaving people behind and you will loose members. You can only push standards so far with volunteers because each volunteer has a different ability and level of enthusiasm, loose the stalwarts that make up the numbers and you loose numbers that you can ill afford to loose. Yes, Pompey did put on a good slick display (although not to my personal taste but that is irrelevant) but how many other corps of drums could spend that amount of time learning NEW material, rehearsing it, committing it to memory and then performing it. I know the way the volunteer bands work... what happens if one of the drummers can't make it through work commitments? Your display is in a difficult position. Add into that the fact that not everyone can get to every rehearsal, not everyone is going to practice in their own time. There is a fine line between doing something for the love of it and doing something because you have to... once you have to do it, you no longer love it. Don't try and make everyone uber professional because they wont and can't dedicate that time to something that is a hobby. I urge caution... if someone is that keen, they will join the Band Service.
You need to, in my humble opinion, bring those of a lesser ability to a higher level first. Learn the basics and the repertoire so you can be flexible with what there already is without making it too complicated for those who are already struggling and perhaps thinking of leaving because the 'fun' has gone out of it got them. Use YOUR enthusiasm to help others raise their standards, knowledge and ability before trying to make the more elite into demi gods and further distancing the mortals who are not so good and discouraging those who want to start. You are only as good as your last performance and only as strong as your weakest link.

Pompey Rich

Fair one Deli. You have put it better than me. It's the ones with perhaps slightly lesser abilities are the ones that have shown me that they want to improve but are not sure who to turn to and these are the ones who I personally support all the way. I would prefer to play with those who are willing to learn with encouragement and support (as we already do at Nelson) than some who can't be bothered and let's face it, they exist in all walks of life. As for the job rather than a hobby, I pesonally feel that sometimes I am doing a job. But I enjoy seeing the end results and the benefits mean a lot more than money ever could. After all. A thankyou means a hell of a lot and if we wait for the ones who appear less able then they tend to prove themselves better than us.

PS. Where's my hug, big boy?

Wee Mac McDrums

I like your idea Dolly (and sorry for the long absence from the forum, damn laptop!)

I agree that we should, and could do somthing as a joint or massed COD at various times during the year. I also agree with most of the points raised by the other people who have posted in this thread.

However, I think that we should set ourselves realistic achiveable goals; what can WE (Dolly Rich Deli & Mac) do to develop a degree of uniformity amongst the widely scattered drummers? We can all sit and discuss it till our hearts are content but that never quite seems to get things done.

I'm suggesting a weekend somewhere central, where we can all get round a table, with some kind of agenda, and set a plan in motion. Invite one bugler from each band who can put across their CODs feeling, strengths and weaknesses. We can then hash out all of the BASIC probmlems i.e. the standard way to dress, stand at attention etc . We can agree to (at least one) static for all CODs to learn for when ever we happen to cross sticks and play together, and the same for drum solos (maybe three or four?) and a few good old marches which we will all learn the same sticking for.

From this meeting we can all go back to our respective CODs and re-teach the basics to EVERYONE , from the beginers right through to the old gits that used to hit pig skin drums with bones.

Once this has happened then I think we would be in a position to set up a workshop weekend where all drummers are encouraged to attend so we can play the basics together, to make sure good word is spreading. Only once we can ALL get the BASICS right can we move on to expanding our new shiney box of toys and looking at more advanced solos and statics, then we can hace beginner, intermediate and advanced groups in the one weekend.

Thoughts and criticism welcome, let me know what you guys think.

Did I mention there would be beer????

ZedHorn

I know I'm only a hornist, but this plan might not work for all bands. If you look at Heron for example, everyone in the CoD actually plays something else in the band aswell. Only just before the festival do they have time to rehearse properly as a COD as they're always needed for concert band stuff. Also, who do you nominate? it seems Pompey and Dolly lead their respective units but some corps don't have such agreed leadership, therefore nominating someone to come back and 'reteach the basics' might not go down awfully well with a few of those a bit longer in the tooth???

However, if there's beer involved, I'll send BDA along whom I'm sure will enjoy himself and I'll get a weekend with the girls!

Z x