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3 answers

You can join CBDNA, the Collegiate Band Director's National Association. They have a lot of literature that you can purchase, and a great email list that you can use to ask questions to conductors from all over the country.

I wish I could help you personally, but I've only conducted concert bands.

2007-02-08 09:30:51 · answer #1 · answered by lovebluenfluff 3 · 0 0

As a Band Director I look for lots of things when I am auditioning my drum majors, but here are a few of the key points, in order of importance:

- Confidence and poise. If you want to be a leader, act like one.

- Solid basic skills. It is ok to make an honest mistake. It is NOT ok not to know your stuff.

- Calm under pressure. If you do make a mistake, how do you handle it? What if someone in the Band makes a mistake? What kinds of things can I expect from you when the pressure is on?

- Dedication to the Band. Will you be someone who goes above and beyond your minimum requirements?

- Relationship with your peers. You have to have good social skills and be a person who is going to help bring more people to the program, not scare them away.

- Thick skin. Can you handle it when I give you things to fix or to work on. Can you handle it when your best friend has to be called out for a mistake at rehearsal?

- As to the conducting... you will learn that from your Director and at Drum Major Camp. That is the easy part of being Drum Major!

Have fun and email if you want more specific info.

2007-02-08 15:34:29 · answer #2 · answered by concordmusicman 2 · 0 0

If you are auditioning for a role as drum major, one of the big things I look at has nothing to do with conducting at all. Conducting can be taught. Leadership and reliability cannot.

Specific to conducting though, consider taking a look at:
http://numbera.com/musictheory/conducting/intro.aspx

It has some good photos and descriptions of marching band style conducting.

2007-02-10 02:53:51 · answer #3 · answered by MaestroC 2 · 0 0

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