Denison Memorial Fund
CMB Leadership Position Descriptions
DRUM MAJOR
The Drum Major provides holistic leadership for the entire band. Is available to attend SL and DI meetings, drumline and color guard sectionals, assist the support staff with their duties, all of which occur outside of class time.
The ideal Drum Major candidate: is a compassionate leader, model performer, marcher, and musician; leads through outstanding citizenship (both inside and outside of rehearsal/class time) and can be a source of emotional strength, pride, and community within the band’s membership; inspires peers to make choices that will positively affect rehearsals and performances; works as part of a team with the directors, other drum majors, and staff to create a rehearsal and performance environment that is energetic and productive, illustrates a mastery of marching fundamentals, field & stands visuals, conducting skills, and mace skills; demonstrates superior musicianship; is able to effectively lead the band through the entire music book (pregame music, halftime music, all stand tunes); in collaboration with the directors, record all absences and tardies.
Requires: strong emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills; displays a proven ability to motivate, teach, and mentor; high attention to detail; ability to work under pressure in a dynamic environment; willingness to accept criticism and adapt quickly; must have a positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.
DRUMLINE CAPTAIN
The Drumline Captain understands the unique demands for members of the drumline. The full band benefits from drumline preparation and execution; being ahead of the curve is a must. The Drumline Captain provides comprehensive leadership for the battery.
The ideal candidate: is a compassionate leader and model performer, marcher, and musician; masters and demonstrates drumline specific marching and playing techniques; holds peers accountable for marching and playing techniques as well as memorization goals while being a positive influence for the tone and pace of rehearsal and performances; can lead warmups, rehearsals, and sub sectionals when needed; calls appropriate stand beats and execute timely cut-offs in the stands at football games; attends meetings prior to each new show to learn new music and discuss goals; fosters a sense of community within the drumline.
Requires: mastery of all technical demands of both marching and music; emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills; ability to teach and mentor; high attention to detail; must have a positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.
COLORGUARD CAPTAIN
Focus on providing holistic leadership for the entire Colorguard.
The ideal candidate: will write choreography with guard instructor(s); lead stretches, basics and choreography to members during sectionals and practice; works as a team with the directors and staff to create a rehearsal and performance environment that is energetic, supportive, and productive; will be a source of emotional strength, pride, ownership, and community to the entire guard; works with twirler captain and DIs to perfect stand tune routines.
Requires: strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; high level of creativity and physical artistry; strong grasp of equipment and movement; ability to teach and mentor; high attention to detail; strong communication skills; stay calm under pressure; must have a positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.
TWIRLING CAPTAIN
The ideal candidate will focus on leadership for the team of twirlers. The ideal candidate:
Masters all aspects of choreography from baton instructor(s); leads stretches, drills, and choreography to members during sectionals and practice; works as a team with the directors and staff to create a rehearsal and performance environment that is energetic, supportive, and productive; is a source of emotional strength, pride, ownership, and community to the twirling team; works with colorguard captains and twirling DIs to perfect stand tune routines; provides event (practice/game day) checklists to twirling team members to ensure all twirlers have the proper materials, equipment, and accessories needed; promotes reflective practice, including leading a reflection time after each practice or event during the season that consists of noting strengths, weaknesses, and how twirlers will improve day-to-day.
Requires: strong communication skills and emotional intelligence; high level of creativity and physical artistry; firm understanding and memorizing choreography/counts; ability to lead with encouragement; effectively teach and mentor; high attention to detail; positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.
CMB DRILL INSTRUCTOR
Provides leadership and instruction regarding all visual aspects of band. The ideal candidate will:
Be a role model as a citizen, performer, marcher, and musician; teach proper instrument carriage, performance posture, marching techniques, field visuals, stand visuals, and dances; maintain an energetic, productive demeanor during marching rehearsals; responsible for maintaining all marching techniques and visual standards; ensures uniforms are properly worn and instruments are presentable for all performances; attend visual design and dissemination meetings; work with the leadership team to create a strong sense of community.
Requires strong interpersonal skills and creativity; ability to motivate and mentor; consistently performs step size, strong form and spatial awareness; high attention to detail; remains calm in pressure situations; positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.
COLORGUARD/TWIRLER DRILL INSTRUCTOR
Focus on providing leadership on the field and in the stands, The ideal candidate will:
Be a role model as a citizen, performer and marcher; teach choreographed stand dances that accompany stand tunes; maintain an energetic, productive demeanor during marching rehearsals; hold peers accountable for all marching fundamentals, step size, and drill dots and formations; take the lead on drill and marching-related questions on the field; ensures uniforms are properly worn and checks that all equipment is presentable and in good working order; resolves equipment concerns with the Colorguard Equipment Crew; work with the section leadership team to create a strong sense of community; attend visual design and dissemination meetings. Visuals instructors do not teach or clean pregame or halftime choreography unless asked by a Captain or Director.
Requires: creativity; strong marching/movement ability; strong grasp of equipment and movement; form and spatial awareness; ability to teach and clean; high attention to detail; strong communicator; positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.
WOODWIND/BRASS SECTION LEADERS
Focus on providing leadership within your section of the band. The ideal candidate will:
Be a role model as a musician, citizen, performer, and marcher; set an energetic, productive pace for music sectionals; master and demonstrate all playing and marching techniques; demonstrate and provide guidance to peers in the following: characteristic sound, proper breathing, musical style, intonation, and musicianship; hold peers accountable for playing techniques; be responsible for teaching musical elements of each show; be ahead of the general membership on memorization and execution of the music; attend meetings prior to each new show to learn new music and discuss goals; work with the section leadership team to create a strong sense of community.
Requires: strong interpersonal and motivational skills; high level of musicality; ideal quality of sound; strong sight-reader; ability to teach and mentor; high attention to detail; stays calm under pressure; strong communicator; positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.
DRUMLINE SEGMENT LEADER (Snare, Tenor, Bass, Cymbal)
Provide leadership within their segment of the drumline. The ideal candidate will:
Be a role model citizen, performer, musician, and marcher; be a positive influence on the tone and pace of rehearsals; master and demonstrate marching and playing techniques (relative to drum/instrument); prepare new music before the first rehearsal; teach musical elements to peers within their section; attend meetings prior to each new show to learn new music and discuss goals; build a positive culture of the drumline on and off the field by fostering a sense of community.
SNARE: Effectively & accurately tap for rehearsals and performances; demonstrate correct stick technique, sound quality, tuning, and be involved with ongoing drum maintenance.
TENOR: Demonstrate correct stick technique, sound quality, tuning, crossover & sweep technique, and be involved with ongoing drum maintenance.
BASS: Demonstrate correct bass mallet technique, sound quality, required volume, and be involved with ongoing drum maintenance.
CYMBAL: Demonstrate correct cymbal technique, sound quality, visual acuity, and be involved with ongoing cymbal maintenance.
Requires: strong interpersonal and motivational skills; good tempo awareness; strong rudimental vocabulary; strong sight-reading ability; quality of sound; ability to teach and mentor; high attention to detail; stays calm under pressure; strong communicator; positive, inclusive, and welcoming demeanor.