How to Select Music for a Drill Team Routine

It's all about the music if you want to impress the audience during a drill routine. You can select music to create a mood or add elements of surprise in your drill routine. Almost any type of music is acceptable, and complicated blends of different styles can really pull the audience into your routine. Select from country, jazz, patriotic, pop music or a mix of all styles to help you choreograph a stunning drill team routine.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Recording device

Select Appropriate Music for Your Drill Team

1. Find songs that work with your team's level of skill. If you have a youth team or lots of newer members, avoid music that is fast-paced or that changes from one rhythm to another.

2. Listen carefully. Drill teams uphold strict moral codes and values, so always listen carefully to the words and message of each song in consideration.

3. Select a rhythm or tempo that works with your routine. By doing so, you adjust the energy level of the performers and the response of the audience.

4. Spend money on quality music recordings. Many teams that have spent weeks preparing for the big performance will fall short when it comes to a bad recording. Edit the music to fade or end at the right time and spend a little extra on high quality tapes.

5. Work with your school band or choir. You can create a unique recording, live performance or incorporate the school's fight song into your performance.

Use Music to Impress

6. Speed up or slow down your music using a variable speed recorder. Music that has an overly fast tempo can be slowed down to better accommodate a jazz or modern dance routine. Experiment with the tempo until you find the perfect pace for the routine your team is performing.

7. Avoid using a battery powered recorder. These devices can alter the tempo during a live performance, which could have embarrassing results.

8. Clean recorder heads regularly. Recorder heads help to ensure smooth music delivery and should be cleaned after every five hours of continuous music play.

9. Record music directly from another recording or CD if you have to. Recording off of a tape is not recommended, as clarity of sound is highly diminished.

10. Use quality recording equipment that has the ability to record music from within the device. Otherwise, the quality of the recording is lessened and static may be heard.

11. Opt for fast-paced music. This is the most challenging type of music to use, and spectators will be amazed if your drill team can keep up the pace.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you're legally aloud to play a song in public before you use it in a routine. Some songs are considered free use, as their copyrights expired long ago. Others, however, are still very much protected by copyrights. For these songs, you'll need to contact the publishing company to obtain the right to use them in your drill routines.

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