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Boston Cover Letter and Technique Guide

A guide for help

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bob ross
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103 views4 pages

Boston Cover Letter and Technique Guide

A guide for help

Uploaded by

bob ross
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Greetings!

The 2025 Boston Crusaders Staff would like to welcome and thank you for
choosing Boston. We greatly look forward to being a part of the Boston
Crusaders percussion legacy, and helping YOU push this program to the
highest levels.

Enclosed, you will find all of the materials to prepare for the audition camp.
If you have any questions, email me directly at cdmcnutt@yahoo.com

For the first round of 2025 Auditions, we will ask that you prepare the
packet to the best of your ability but please know that it does not have to be
memorized!

We do ask that everyone prepare a 20-30 second solo that showcases your
virtuosity, musicality, and performance. This solo will be the basis of your
individual audition for the first round!

Practice hard, have fun, and enjoy your preparation for a fantastic
experience with Boston!

Again, should you have any questions, please feel free to email me at
cdmcnutt@yahoo.com

Thank you again for choosing Boston...see you in soon!

Sincerely,

Colin McNutt

Percussion Director, 2025 Boston Crusaders


Boston Crusaders 2025 Packet Materials

1. McNutt Basics: this sheet is to be played at various tempos and


dynamics with a focus on a great grip set up, relaxed fingers, and
gracenote quality.

2. 4-3-2-1: This exercise is for all sections to focus on consistent stroke


types and rhythmic clarity

3. McNutt 8’s: Pay special attention to where each section starts their
sequence!

4. Basic Strokes: For this long phrase, focus on bounce and finger
dexterity during “tap pyramid” and then applying a good weighted
downstroke with “flow” for mvt. 1. Keep your hands relaxed in the tag!

5. Rudiment Sheet: this sheet is meant to be played at slow, medium,


and fast tempos with a focus on consistent flam quality and rhythmic
clarity

6. Two Height Rolls: We will play this exercise in multiple variations,


including all ONE height (with rebound) or with the two heights and
stroke types and starting with both the RIGHT and LEFT hands. We
will also mark time during this exercise!

7. Dig-gits: Practice this exercise with a focus on relaxed arms, wrist,


and fingers and rebound throughout.

8. Worm-Hole Excerpt: Check out this excerpt from our 2024 Glitch
show that showcases some of our various technical skillsets! Play
along to the provided MP3 to get a feel for the tempo changes, etc.

9. Solo: Please prepare a brief 20-30 second solo that showcases your
technical and musical virtuosity, as well as your performance energy!

**For All Bass Drum Candidates**: Please practive the above exercises in
their “unison” format unless splits are specifically written. Splits will be
communicated by the staff going into live camps.
Battery Technique Overview:
While the technique will be explained in detail over the course of
winter camps, here are a few points to help guide your practice:

1. ARMS, WRIST, AND FINGER!


We will utilize all three of these muscle groups in different proportions to
perform the music.

2. THE MUSIC DICTATES TECHNIQUE!


Different styles of music and technical passages will require varied
approaches to the instruments. Flexibility of touch and approach will allow
for a huge range of musical and technical expression.

3. NOTE DENSITY AND TOUCH!


As a general rule, more open rhythms and beat values are played with a
stronger touch and dense rhythms and beat values can use a lower,
lighter touch. For example, some open rhythmic passages may require a
more dug in “marcato” touch on the instrument, while some lower and
lighter passages may need a more legato approach.

4. STROKE TYPES!
Stroke types will be the key to uniform interpretation of the music;
identifying and executing full strokes, down strokes, and up strokes will be
central to our approach and vocabulary.

5. PLAY TO THE GROUPINGS!


Most of the exercises and musical excerpts can be thought of as
groupings of notes or figures. Finding patterns within the music will help
establish important checkpoints and allow for a more natural “drumming”
approach to certain passages.

6. KNOW THE LEVELS!


Here is a brief dynamic guide to reference while practicing:
Piano: as soft as you can play
MP: beads about even with the wrist, or roughly 3” off the head.
4”: These are slightly more breathable taps, where the bead is slightly
above the wrist.
MF: Roughly 6” off the head, this level can be used for a beefy, breathing,
lower level or an accent sound in softer dynamic passages.
F: Roughly 9” off the head
FF: Roughly 12 inches off the head, but this level can vary based on
musical and technical context.
FFF: This is close to full out, with all arms, wrist, and finger working
together to create an open, dense sound quality. Definitely full, but not
pounded!
FFFF: This extreme dynamic range can be used for high rolls and other
figures. This is a dynamic range few percussion sections use and requires
physical endurance and flexibility to attain and actually perform material.

7. BUT USE THE LEVELS AS A GUIDE TO MUSICALITY!


While the levels are very important, they can only take us so far.
Ultimately, musical needs will dictate the dynamic range, and that will
require us to be intelligent and flexible with physical interpretation. We will
not use a protractor for every note!

8. HAVE FUN!!!
Raw performance energy and emotion is central to our success as a
percussion section; we want you immersed in the PERFORMANCE of the
material!!!

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