Drum Tech
Drum Tech Class is held from January through April and is intended for anyone who is auditioning for this coming year's Michigan Drumline. University students may receive credit. Incoming Freshman (current High School Seniors) may attend as often as you want, but are encouraged to be here as much as possible. You should also have applied to U of M and either have been accepted, or are waiting to hear back.
- Drum Tech meets Monday nights at Revelli Hall (directions) from 7:30pm-9:30pm.
- You should bring a drum pad, sticks/mallets, your technique packet (if you have already received one) in a three ring binder, and a pencil.
- If you are planning to attend, please contact instructor Chuck Ricotta to be put on the class email list.
If you plan to audition for the drumline this year, please do consider attending Drum Tech. It is only to your benefit! In recent years, the focus of Drum Tech has shifted towards laying out the basic technique used by the line, and those who attend become considerably more qualified to be a member. If you are an incoming freshman, you may begin coming to Drum Tech at any point during the term.
2009 Schedule
- January 10th, 11th, 12th (Saturday-Monday) Audition times for NEW students (by sign-up). More information below
- January 12th - 7:30pm (Monday) Informational Meeting for ALL students, new and returning:
- This will be an introductory meeting; following the meeting, new student auditions will resume
- University students: Registration for class credit will be taken care of at this class
- January 19th (Monday) NO CLASS in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 26th - 7:30pm (Monday) Drum Tech resumes and rehearsal begins
January 10-12 preliminary auditions
Due to the large number of drumline auditionees, we will have a series of short auditions in January (each about 8-10 minutes in length) over the course of Saturday (10th), Sunday (11th), and Monday (12th). Auditions will take place between 12:00pm & 3:00 pm on Saturday, 4:30pm & 7:00pm on Sunday, and 4:30pm & 6:00pm on Monday.
If you are new to the Michigan Drumline, you should plan to audition on one of these three days! If you live less than an hour from Ann Arbor, we highly encourage you to pick a time on Saturday or Sunday. This will leave times open on Monday for those traveling longer distances, thus saving them a separate trip. PLEASE EMAIL CHUCK YOUR DAY OF PREFERENCE BY 12:00PM, JANUARY 4TH!!!
Chuck will then email everyone a list of audition times. This audition is NOT for acceptance to the drumline; it is simply a preliminary audition to best determine which section is the best fit for you to audition for. General expectations are:
- Good timekeeping ability
- Great quality of sound
- Clean rhythmic consistency
Familiarity with our exercise packet is helpful, but not an absolute requirement at this point. Those interested in snare must play traditional grip. Potential snares, tenors and basses should expect to demonstrate the following skills:
- Legato strokes (i.e. 8, 12, or 16 on a hand)
- Accent/tap stroke combinations
- Double beat and triple beat patterns
- Rolls
Snares and tenors should also demonstrate knowledge of flam rudiments. Basses and cymbals should both be prepared to demonstrate subdivision / timing exercises (i.e. clapping or playing on the beat, the "e" of the beat, the "and", and the "ah"....etc. etc.)
If you live more than an hour away, and are still able to attend drum tech classes occasionally, we highly encourage you to attend our first official meeting on the 12th! If you can attend, Chuck will hear your audition before the class begins (between 5:30 and 7:00pm) and then you may stay for the remainder of the class.