The morning call., 1894-07-08
A Drum-MaiOr's Duties.

Like poets. drum-maiors are born. not made.
One man may become a drum-major in a week,
while you can't make one of another IN life
time. Without the knack OF handling the stick
ne will never be an artist and will, probably at
the very moment when he should look his jaun-
tiest, commit the crime. objectionable in
drum major, of dropping his left hand TO his
side. For the left hand should always, except
in two-handed movements with the staff, rest.
knuckles up, on the hip. Thus the drum
MAJORS pose when not marching or giving a
command, is TO stand with his left hand on his
hip, his right hand grasping his stick just be-
low the head. the point of the stick resting on
fhe ground He presents a fine, imposing
figure as be stands there, erect and tall, two
PAGES In front of the band. Now comes he mo-
ment, so glorious TO the small boy. when the
commands Play and "Forward-March''
major, with quick turn OF the wrist, points the
ferule udward, letting 1t slant a little 10 the
right. Then. raising his staff to the height OF
his chin, he thrusts it the full length OF bis arm
to the right and draws 1t back again. This is
the signal to play. Then turning, he points
the staff TO the 'front.' thrusts 1t the full length
of his arm forward, and music and march
begin. In the old days the drum-majOr then
brought the "cane," as the staff was called in
the tactics to the position of carry sword"
Now the drum-maJor beats time, setting the
"cadence'-the number of steps TO Il minute
Of the march. AS rule he simply repeats
again and again the thrust and recover,
Expert drum-majors, however, Introduce some
fancy movement here. Jorgensen, for instance.
has a pretty way OF describing circle from
the front TO the back OF the right shoulder,
grasping the staff in the middle and twlring 1t
so that the head points downward al The mo-
ment the left foot Is TO advance. In unsklllful
hands this movement Is apt TO end In disaster,
the ferue striking the drum. m.major's back or
nose. which puts the nose out OF joint and the
band out OF time.
1t is important that the drum-major should
mark the cadence cnrrnptIV- other wise.
only his own, but ali other regime nts following,
will march TOO slowly or too rapidly. The reg
ular cadence is 100 steps 10 the minute; but
in Memorial-day parades, when there are many
veterans in the procession, the drum ma jors
quietly reduce II To ninety. Another clever
trick OF the drum.ma1or is TO srlZe the ferule
between the fore and middle fingers. swing
full circle with IL four or i've times, and let 1t
90, giving II a slight twist between his fingers.
The drum-major who gets the knack of The
twist and knows enough 10 allow for the num-
Der of steps he Will advance, can make his staff
circle high up In front of him and sail down
into his hand again.
When the band Is TO execute an obllque
movement the drum major holds his staff IN
horizontal position at The height OF his neck,
and pointing the ferule In tile direction OF the
oblique extends lis arm TO its full length. The
prettiest evolution Of the band is the counter
march. The drum major faces the music"
aud gives the signal 10 march, but instead OF
turning. remains standing with his face
toward the band. The band marches upon the
drum-major, but on reaching him the he lead
ers TO the right OF him wheel TO the right, those
ON the left to the left, the drum major march
ing down through The center. 10 slenal lot
halt the tall man In the bearskin cap raises the
staff with both hands in a horizontal position
above his head. and with arms EXTENDED drops
IL TO horizontal position at the height or DIS
hips. With the staff he also indicates 10 the
field music what signal II is to play, and puts
the drum-corps through the manual; for ln
stance, "Put up the drumstcks," "Detach the
drums" Ground the drums."-Gustay hoppe