Welcome back to the Chops blog!

Chops Percussion is proud to be the presenting sponsor for the Indiana Percussion Association. IPA recently announced their annual clinic day, which will take place at Franklin Community High School on December 12th. This annual event includes the IPA Individual and Ensemble contest, organizational meetings, and performances by clinicians. Check it out the details here and make plans to attend!

Amongst this year’s exciting lineup of clinicians is Glenn Kotche, internationally renowned percussionist and composer. As a solo artist and member of Wilco, Kotche is regarded as one of the most creative drummers thanks to his percussion-centric approach to drum set. If you don’t attend the IPA clinic for any other reason than to see his presentation, it will be well worth your time.

Kotche’s creativity has its roots in his education. He began percussion as a student, and continued his studies under Professor Jim Campbell at the University of Kentucky. He also spent a summers in the late eighties as a member of The Cavaliers.

While studying percussion, Kotche also dedicated himself to learning drum set. Rather than approach the drum set like a separate discipline, he found creative ways to enlist the techniques and knowledge he already knew. He discusses this approach in the following video, recorded in Indianapolis at PASIC 2013.

In 2001 Kotche joined Wilco, the critically-acclaimed neo-country, experimental-pop band prior to the release of their album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. His influence is immediately apparent throughout the album, with solid, creative drumming and percussion overdubs. The album opens with “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”, a nonsensical love song surrounded by a cacophony of sound.

Wilco has released five albums since then, including the Grammy-winning A Ghost is Born.

Kotche is also a prolific composer, and has written works for groups such as Kronos Quartet, So Percussion, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars. Sonic experimentation, and the drum set as a percussion instrument, are central his works, just like his contributions to Wilco.

Glenn Kotche is an innovative musician and composer. Few have successfully merged percussion, drum set, rock and roll, and art music so seamlessly. When he performs at the IPA clinic on December 12th, you won’t want to miss it!

Glenn Kotche recommended listening:

Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco, A Ghost is Born
Wilco, The Whole Love
Glenn Kotche, Mobile
Glenn Kotche, Adventureland
On Fillmore, Extended Vacation
John Luther Fillmore, Ilimaq

Welcome back to the Chops blog! A couple of weeks ago Jeff wrote a great guide to the WGI independent drumlines in the area. If you haven’t already seen it, check it out here. Today I’d like to continue on the subject of drumlines by providing a few tips for auditioning.

In my younger days I spent lots of years marching with several drum corps and winter drumlines. Having successfully, and unsuccessfully auditioned for a number of groups, I’d like to offer the following advice:

1. Have reasonable expectations.

It’s critical that you enter an audition with reasonable expectations. While the world class corps and drumlines are the most impressive, only the best and most experienced candidates will make the cut. In other words, audition for a group that you have a reasonable chance of joining.

If you’re still young, and have a limited amount of experience, you should consider auditioning for an “open”, or “A” class group. Membership in these groups is typically not as competitive, and will help a young student develop crucial skills and gain experience. Many members of the best marching organizations have many years of experience, including seasons spent with scholastic, “A”, and “open” class groups.

The first group I auditioned for as a high school student was a “Division I” (now known as “World” class) drum corps. When I didn’t make the cut, I successfully auditioned for a “Division III” (now known as “Open” class) corps. After marching for two seasons with this smaller, younger corps, I was ready to march in a “Division I” corps and “World” class winter drumline.

2. Have a plan.

After you decided on a group, start planning your audition. Obtain the audition materials, figure out your schedule, and make arrangements to attend the audition. The more time you give yourself to prepare, the better chance you have of making the cut.

3. Be prepared.

This is as simple as knowing the audition material perfectly, from memory. The better prepared you are, the better chance you have of making the cut.

In addition to learning the audition material, be sure to study the group and their playing style. Watch video of their latest performances to study the details of how, and what they’re playing.

4. Be flexible.

Be prepared for the audition to include some kind of surprise. It might include learning a new exercise or show music, or a different way of playing the material you already prepared. The staff will throw you some sort of curveball to see how you handle stress, adapt to stress, and how quickly you can learn.

5. Be friendly.

In addition to your playing and marching ability, you will also be evaluated on your social skills. Drum corps and winter drumline seasons are long, and can be stressful, so your ability to get along with others is crucial. Don’t let the competitive nature of an audition affect you negatively: be friendly to everyone, including the other audition candidates.

6. Don’t miss a learning opportunity.

Regardless of whether you make the cut or not, don’t miss the opportunity to learn. Keep your eyes and ears open. The staff and veteran members are experts at marching music, and great examples of what you should emulate.

Many world class groups also offer the ability to attend and participate in auditions without being considered for membership. If you’re young and inexperienced, this is a great way to learn and prepare yourself to audition in the future.

7. Take any opportunity you’re offered.

While it’s disappointing when you’re not offered a spot or membership with your instrument of choice, don’t decline the opportunity to join the group in another role. For instance, if you are offered a spot in the pit even though you auditioned for snare drum, take it! Don’t decline an opportunity to perform and gain experience just because you’re disappointed. The experience and skills you gain will still benefit you, and prepare you to audition for snare in the future.

With this advice in mind, you should be ready to audition for a winter drumline or drum corps. Remember, there’s no shame in failing! Prepare well, be confident, and chances are you will eventually make that group you admire.

Get to work, auditions are rapidly approaching!

Welcome back to the Chops blog.  Audition season for indoor percussion is upon us and many of you may be considering marching in an Independent percussion ensemble this winter.  Indoor percussion, although a relatively young activity, has become very popular, both locally and nationally, over the past 10-15 years.  Over this time, many “Independent” ensembles have been started to give percussionists the opportunity to continue performing after they graduate from high school.  It also gives those whose high schools do not have a performing ensemble, an opportunity to join and experience the thrill of performing in an indoor percussion ensemble.  For those of you not familiar with this, there are “Scholastic” and “Independent” classifications in indoor percussion.   Here is the class description from the WGI website:
Scholastic – units whose membership comes from the SAME High School or a school that feeds to that particular High School.
Independent – units whose members are not necessarily associated with a particular school.
Scholastic and Independent units are then further divided into classes:

• A Class – Beginning programs and performers.
• Open Class – The intermediate developmental level of performers.
• World Class – The most advanced programs and performers.

Here also is a link to the WGI 2016 Eligibility Rules: https://www.wgi.org/files/2016PercRules.pdf

For performers in and around Indiana, there are a couple ensembles based out of Indiana that you might want to check out, with Legacy Indoor Percussion from Indianapolis, in Independent World Class, and INov8 Percussion from southern Indiana, in Independent Open Class.  But, there are many other ensembles within driving distance that may have spots available for the upcoming season.  It’s best to keep your options open and don’t limit yourself to just one group you’d like to march with.  If you marched in high school, and miss the rush of performing, get out there and audition for some of these groups and find your place to perform again.  You won’t regret it!

Here’s our list of recommended ensembles, with a distance guide to help you find one, two or three places to audition.  We’ve listed them with their home distance from Indianapolis, with approximate mileage and time of travel.  If you’re in northern or southern Indiana, look up some of the ensembles from surrounding states. You might be a lot closer to one than you think!

Recommended Percussion Independent World Ensembles:
Legacy Indoor Percussion (PIW), Indianapolis, IN
Capital City Percussion (PIW), Columbus, OH – 175mi/~2.75hr
Cavaliers Indoor Percussion (PIW), Rosemont, IL – 200mi/~3hr
Tates Creek Indoor (PIW), Lexington, KY – 193mi/~3hr
Gateway Indoor (PIW), St. Louis, MO – 240mi/~3.5hr
Redline (PIW), Canton, MI – 274mi/~4hr
Music City Mystique (PIW), Nashville, TN – 288mi/~4.25hr
Matrix (PIW), Akron, OH – 300mi/~4.5hr
Northcoast Academy (PIW), Saginaw, MI – 328mi/~4.75hr

Recommended Percussion Independent Open Ensembles:
INov8 Percussion (PIO), Floyds Knobs, IN – 115mi/~1.75hr
Matrix Open Percussion (PIO), Columbus, OH – 175mi/~2.75hr
Pioneer Indoor (PIO), Romeoville, IL – 195mi/~3hr
Legends (PIO), Kalamazoo, MI – 244mi/~3.5hr
Freedom Percussion (PIO), St. Louis, MO – 240mi/~3.5hr
Motor City Percussion (PIO), Livonia, MI – 287mi/~4hr
Eastside Fury (PIO), Harrison Township, MI – 310mi/~4.75hr

Percussion Independent A Ensembles:
Shockwave (PIA), Findlay, OH – 200mi/~3hr
Modulation Z (PIA), O Fallon, MO – 240mi/~3.75hr
Lake Effect Percussion (PIA), Gibraltar, MI – 266mi/~4hr
Ferndale Independent Percussion (PIA), Ferndale, MI –297mi/~4.5hr

For more information on ensembles, audition dates, schedues and more visit the WGI website.

If you go to an audition, let us know on our Facebook page! If you wear a Chops Percussion shirt, be sure to post a pic to our Facebook or Twitter page!