How to Read Scottish Drum Music
Scottish pipe and drum corps are a burgeoning facet of the already popular marching bands in the United States. According to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in Cincinnati, which has a long pipe and drum tradition, the corps play an integral part in community events and ceremonies. They also help reflect the rich cultural history present in America by celebrating the musical contributions Scots have made. Scottish music, however, requires a different approach than most conventional drum lines.
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Instructions
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Sort out the parts from the complete drum line music. One common convention in Scottish drum lines is to condense parts to include multiple instruments played by different people into one part. If you are playing snare drum, distinguish your part from the bass drum part. If necessary, you can write your part out separately.
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Determine your hand placement. Much of Scottish drum notation is written separately for each hand. If you are playing snare drum, you may have a space in the staff for your right hand, and a different space slightly below that for your left. This is different from conventional American notation, so be careful in your reading.
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Play the written notation with the correct feel. Often in Scottish music, composers abbreviate the notation, or a certain feel is implied in the music but is not written. The feel is similar to swinging notes in jazz. However, instead of an eighth-note swing, these lines give eighth notes a dotted eighth-sixteenth note treatment, creating a pervasive gallop to the style.
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Memorize your part. Most drum lines, Scottish included, require that you memorize your music, as marching around while reading notation can be cumbersome. Try chunking the information by learning a few measures at a time. Eventually, you can piece these chunks together and play the entire part.
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Rehearse with other Scottish drummers. The best way to practice your playing and marching accuracy, as well as your feel for the time, is to rehearse with other musicians. You immediately will be able to tell if someone is out of step or off beat, and that forces you to improve.
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Tips & Warnings
Using a practice pad that is similar to the instrument you are playing can help you progress faster. If you play bass drum, try practicing at an angle similar to the way you hold a marching bass drum.
Listen to recordings of Scottish drum music to get a feeling for the style.
Drum lines can be loud, regardless of the specific style. Wear earplugs if possible to protect your hearing.
