The Military Band - Regimental Drum Major Association

Dati'N -
(1) Preparatory signal (left) (2) Signal of execution (left)
Figure 23. Decrease front to the left (right).
90. Bandmaster Signals (1) Preparatory signal. Both arms are ex-
Other than actual conducting there are two sig- tended overhead with the left hand formed into a
nals given with bandmaster's baton: fist ((3), fig. 31).
a. Prepare to Play. The bandmaster's baton (2) Signal of execution. At the count of
signal for prepare to play is executed as follows: "one," both arms are swung inward; at the count
(1) Preparatory signal. The arms, hanging of "two," the position prescribed in (1) above, is
naturally alongside the body as at the position of resumed; at the count of "three," both arms are
attention, are extended outward and upward in a brought down decisively to the position of atten-
1800 arc from which point the hands are simul- tion. Minor variations are permissible if the pretaneously
brought together to a position in front scribed cadence is maintained, and if the signal is
of the chest, shoulder high ((1), fig. 31). conservative, effective, and military in appear-
(2) Signal of execution. From the position of ance. If the bandmaster is required to render a
(1) above, both hands are extended outward and hand salute at this point, two more counts in caupward
in a 900 arc and remain at this point dence are added to this sequence, as follows: At
((2), fig. 31) until the preparatory beat for the the count of "four," the baton is transferred to the
down beat is executed. Unless cogent reasons dic- left hand simultaneously with the execution of
tate otherwise, these movements are executed in count "one" of about face as prescribed by FM
unison with commands given either by the lead- 22-5 ((4), fig. 31); at the count of "five," the
ing unit commander, commander of troops, or the about face movement is completed as prescribed
parade adjutant. by FM 22-5 and the hand salute is executed to coincide
with this count. The band executes the
b. Cut Off. The bandmaster baton signal for manual of instruments to return to the carry
cutting off the band is executed as follows: (para 104-117) on command.
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