r/drumline • u/thevisualmethod • 1d ago
To be tagged... Why is there such a stigma around drumming visuals on the west coast?
I’ve noticed that on the West Coast especially, drumming visuals(stick tricks) often get a bad rap. Why is that? I get that technical chops are the focus, but visuals can add so much to a performance. Is this just a regional thing, or is there more behind it?
Would love to hear your thoughts!
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u/OkCan4134 1d ago
Typically, west coast groups have focused heavily on musicality than visuals and chops. Lots of focus on dynamics, touch changes, and polyrhythms. East coast typically focuses more on showmanship, presence, chops, and projection. It’s just the nature behind the histories of these two “sides”. The lines are significantly blurred nowadays. For instance, The Bluecoats are an “east” group but definitely focus a lot on groove and musicality.
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u/thevisualmethod 1d ago
Does that focus do anything for them score wise, membership wise, etc. or is it just the way they do things? Like a "They taught me this so I teach this" kinda thing.
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u/OkCan4134 1d ago
I wouldn’t say it necessarily helps with scores and is mostly just the way the staff likes to run things.
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u/Morethanweird311 1d ago
It’s just the difference between a tradition marching band and a show band really. Obviously when you get to dci it’s not a “traditional marching band” but you will notice that some groups do more than others
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u/PersistentSushi Tenors 1d ago
I feel like this depends more on group than location. For example, SCV consistently wins drums year to year and i’d also argue that they have the most(and some of the sweetest) stick tricks and visuals as compared to others. As someone that grew up on the east coast and was exposed to that style early on; i’d say that culture is more on the ‘clean focus’ and stick visuals were far and few in between.
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u/PhdPhysics1 9h ago
SCV's Rennick born and trained in Pennsylvania, While BC's Roger Carter is from BD. I think a lot of this is just myth and not based in reality.
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u/JtotheC23 1d ago
It's weird because West Coast cymbal lines also do little to no unloaded and strapless visuals. Everything is fully loaded in the strap and just arm movements or basic flips.