Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • September 2015
18
to use your feet... Knowing where to look and what
to look for are essential to the success of the visual
program. Carefully identify the dress points and teach
the members when to look and where.
8. Establish a terminology for your band.
The individual members need to understand what
echelon, curvilinear, interval, distance and other
design terms mean. They also need to know how the
cleaning process works as it relates to these terms.
9. Understand which things will
“fix” themselves.
Some directors or staff members will stop at each
and every mistake. Observe the process and clean the
drill problem situations that keep recurring rather than
demonstrating that you see every mistake. Allowing
the different sections to find the solutions to the
problem themselves will help give them ownership in
the program and will pay great dividends.
10. Establish the coordinates first.
The proper cleaning of drill sets demand that each
individual member take their own responsibility for
being at the correct place at the phrase end and
beginning. Many bands utilize the current software
features to allow students to see the form concepts and
the importance of being in the right place consistently.
11. Clean transitions.
Some band programs seem to feel that the show
is clean whenever the sets are clean. This is probably
the farthest thing from the truth. Learning to control
space and step size while transitioning from set to set
are vital to the success in cleaning a movement. Often
times, the establishment of subsets or half-ways points
can be helpful. Determine and explain to each member
whether the path is straight or curved during each drill
transition!
12. Develop a clear understanding of the
mechanics of each form.
In Linear forms the interval will most often be weak
at the ends where there is only one direction to judge
distance. Diagonal forms demand the intervals to be
correct before the alignments can be established by
controlling distance. In curvilinear forms, establish the
key people in the perimeters and have the form dress
to the form.
13. When working on music,
don’t watch the drill!
Usually a person will be drawn to either the visual
or the musical performance. Block out one or the other
if you are working alone or divide the responsibility
up amongst your staff if you have help. Take the time
to rehearsal the music while the drill is going on so
that the balance, intonation, dynamics, expression and
timing can be attended to as they occur. If the Drill
and Auxiliary work are properly written, the students
will gain an understanding of why they are being asked
to perform things in a particular way. Separating the
rehearsal for each entity will help a great deal but only
simultaneous work will produce an excellent overall
product, both musically and visually.
The Cleaning process can be both rewarding and
frustrating, depending on the retention level of the
ensemble. One sure thing is this process should
continue throughout the season. Once the product
works—work the product!
Make it a Great Season!
Your Way to a Successful Marching Season
