Practicing

In order to play well, you must practice correctly.

-- Use a metronome. Here's an online metronome.
-- Use a drum or practice pad set up to mimic the correct drum height and angle.
-- Use a good pair of marching sticks such as the Pro-Mark DC3S
-- Focus on your practicing and be intense.

Technique

Here are some photos which will help show the proper technique, including posture, grip, and stick motion.

Foot and stick position  

-- Heels together, toes at a 45 degree angle.
-- Knees straight but not locked.
-- Be tall, make a straight line from ears to feet.

-- When "in" the sticks are parallel to the rim and at the back edge of the drum.

 

   
Right Hand Grip    
   Left Hand Grip (Traditional)   

The right stick rests in the fleshy part of the hand.

 

The left stick is held by a fulcrum created in the space between the thumb and first finger. 
 

The stick rests on the cuticle of the third finger.

 

All firngers wrap around the stick.

 

The palm is flat, essentially parallel to the floor.

 

The thumb should be in a straight line with the elbow and forearm.

 

The beads of the sticks should be positioned in the middle of
the head and not wander while playing.

For each grip, the motion is initiated by the wrist,
with the bead leading the stick.

 

Different dynamics are achieved by varying the stick heights while playing. For uniformity, the Illini Drumline uses predefined stick heights, as shown below.

Right Hand Heights   Left Hand Heights
1 inch

  1 inch

3 inches

  3 inches

 
6 inch

  6 inches

12 inch

  12 inch

Full

  Full




For both hands, the path of the stick should remain perpendicular to the drum head. Each stick should be held steady in the "at rest" position when not in the process of making a stroke.
Right Hand in motion

Left Hand in motion

(Note slight error in playing angle...)