I practised for maybe 20 min
Then I kinda rolled all over the floor
I feel like poo
ok sorry if it is rude to ask which was your first specific percussion instrument. i meant no harm. thank you for your time.
AnonymousNo, no, it’s fine! Percussion as a whole is a category; I learnt many instruments at a time as most students (at least in my state) start out in concert band, not marching band. (‘:
yea starting freshman. so you don't look up to people in your class? if you appreciate other instruments wouldn't you admire other musicians that aren't percussionists? what music would you recommend percussionists to practice? is there recommended pieces that are particular for each instrument? you didn't answer with what instrument you started at. sorry i am asking too many questions.
AnonymousAs I explained, my ensemble is small. I consider my peers as friends, not those to look up to… and this is going to sound /awful/, but I’ve always considered myself better than the one other percussionist my age, because I take music very seriously and I put effort into learning and growing, and he doesn’t. He is by far more talented than me, but his lazy, careless attitude is abhorrent.
Again, anon, I would admire other percussionists, except for the reason above and I didn’t have a role model until last year: my band director. She is a percussionist, though. My programme was just small. We had less than 100 people in the band. I’ve never really gone out and seeked individual percussionists to aspire to because I’m very independently-minded and I have my own personality. Furthermore, I’m more ensemble-oriented than section-oriented.
Warmups in general are good for practise, as they demand you to work your muscles and refine technique. Once you play more, solo pieces depend on the person and their preferred genre/composers.
Also, I did answer the question; percussion since 5th grade. It can thus be presumed by the language and detail that percussion is thefirst and only instrument(s) I’ve played. Sorry for not being specific though.
It’s ok for all the questions anon, I just wish I had more teaching/musical experience so I could answer better. ; u ;
yea i start next year. that's a long time to play, i'm totally new but this is what i want to try. it's just a feeling you know? so what instrument did you first start as a percussionist or were you in brass first cause you like that? did you practice certain songs or copy other's playing styles to get better? is there an upperclassment or someone in your grade you look up to? what did you learn that's good or bad from them that you would tell others?
AnonymousI started percussion in 5th grade and have been playing since. I just have “matured” as a musician and can really appreciate other instruments hahaha.
I am not a learner by ear, sadly. I am not naturally inclined to music, but I am excellent at reading and understanding sheet music. I ask for help from instructors, and usually what happens is they demonstrate the technique, I copy it, then I use the technique when reading sheet music.
Surprisingly, I didn’t have a role model until last year… all my instructors were mean to me or just not percussionists. I really look up to my second high school band director. She was really nice and knowledgable and helpful and i’d like to be like that, with some of my sassy personality remaining, of course.
Hmmm. Well, I learnt that staying in it is worth it, even if you’re bored or your instructor is an asshole. Seek challenges, and do not be afraid to do something you suck at because you will get better and you’ll grow a lot. Having cymbals isn’t always bad, either, because then you have room to learn and move around. Also, mallets and timpani, although underappreciated by the younger crowd, are really the most fun instruments. They really test technique and musical ability.
Basically, don’t give up; seek challenges and work hard.
Are you a high school freshman, anon?
ok thanks. i will try that! i already know i want to do percussion so i wanted to know if you had any personal recommendations cause you're a percussionist. cause you're already experienced, is that ok? is drumline really that hard? maybe i can't get in marching band this year but maybe i can watch them practice and see how they do it. how long did it take you?
AnonymousNo, it’s fine! Ask as many questions as needed. And for a beginner, drumline can be tough depending on the programme, presuming you’re in high school.
Eh, I’ve only been a percussionist for 8 or 9 years, and since I was in middle school band I just went right up to marching band as my high school didn’t have auditions. I started on bass 1, but wasn’t section leader lol. I went into tenors for the next 2 years. My high school programme was small though, not very rich or good.
So, to answer your question; I didn’t need any time because of already being a percussionist and a small programme.
And you can certainly get into marching band! It just requires practise. (‘:
do you have any advice for someone just starting out? i want to go into band next year but i have no idea where to begin or what to practice. i kind of want to try marching band too but i don't think i can do it. how do i learn that and get good enough? do you have any advice of what music or techniques i should learn?
AnonymousBfgjabfa ok let me try and answer this as best as I can;
Talk to the band director(s). If you’ve never played before, see if they’re willing to let you try out different instruments. Don’t expect to have a natural inclination toward any one, as each instrument has different techniques and can be harder for different people.
After you’ve tried and instrument and picked one, ask for some beginner books. If possible, go to a practise room EVERY DAY during your lunch hour, if not find time after school EVERY DAY. Practise, learn to play, and read sheet music, occassionally checking with the director(s) to make sure you’re doing it right. Hiring a private teacher is good, but getting help from an upperclassmen can be just as helpful depending on the person you ask.
Basically, just practise a tonne and do not be afraid to ask for help.
As for marching, I would personally chose a brass instrument, as it’s not as technically difficult as pit (bleeding hands 5ever) and not as intense as drumline, FROM MY EXPERIENCE so I could very well be wrong. Again, all sections are good, except woodwinds aren’t really heard and they don’t always get the best parts because of that. Plus I just really like brass?? But again, it’s up to you, just try things out.
You’ll learn how to march so long as you attend band/section camps and put in 100% effort! Knowing your left and right is also good.
Tl;dr, try out some instruments, get help, and practise obsessively
