The Military Band - Regimental Drum Major Association

(1) Preparatory signal (2) Signal of execution
Figure 20. Left turn.
in line with the center of the body; simulta- major executes the baton preparatory signal of
neously the left hand, inverted, moves to grasp prepare to play (para 68a).
the staff at a point approximately chest high d. On the fifth beat of the roll off, the drum
((1),fig.28). major executes the baton signal of execution of
(2) At the count of "two," the baton is tra- prepare to play (para 68b).
versed in a 180 ° arc (ferrule to the left and e. On the count of "nine" the drum major exedownward)
so that the ball end is upward ((2), cutes the downbeat (para 69).
fig. 28).
(3) At the count of "three," the right hand 86. Sound Off
is brought down, grasping the ferrule end of the The sound off chords given in figure 29 represent,
staff ((3), fig. 28). primarily, a general distribution of chord tones
(4) At the count of "four," the arm and allotted to the various instruments in the band,
baton are extended upward in a vertical position, including the percussion section, and also the traball
end up; simultaneously, the left hand returns ditional method of performing the sound off. This
to the hip ((4), fig. 28). distribution is not necessarily the only one which
(5) To return to alternate baton carry, the may be used since various tonalities will present
drum major executes the above movements in various problems with respect to instrumental
reverse order. register, timbre, and balance. Neither does it
b. The roll off (fig. 27) is then performed by imply that the sound off is to be played in the key
the percussion section of the band on the first ac- given (fig. 29). The recommended procedure is to
cented beat following the completion of the street excerpt the appropriate chords (tonic-dominantbeat
being played. tonic) from the context of the march selected for
c. On the first beat of the roll off, the drum performance during the sound off ceremony. This
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