Greetings to all prospective Aztec Drumline members!

The following are exercises, warm-ups, and tunes to be used both in the audition process and by the SDSU Marching Percussion Ensemble for the Fall 2009 season. Click on each TITLE for a .pdf to view, download, and print at your leisure.

1. 28 DAYS - Similar to most "8-on-a-hand" type exercises. Play at all dynamic levels.

2. LEAP YEAR - Accent/Tap/"Bucks" type exercise with a little somethin' somethin' on the end...

3. TRIPLET ACCENT TRANSITION - Old school triplet accent "grid" exercise with a tag ending.

4. UNO DOS TRES - Triplet diddle exercise. It starts off as one height and goes to a 2-height exercise. Use strict 1/8 to 1/16 note articulations.

5. ACCENT TRANSTION 4 NOTE GROUP SINGLE ACCENT, DOUBLE ACCENT, TRIPLE ACCENT - This is the basis for "The Grid". It includes single, double, and triple accent combinations in a 4-2-1 pattern. Please be able to play while adding flams, drags (down beat, tap drags, fives, rolls, etc.). Experiment with this one...

6. AZTEC SPREE - Gotta have one...

7. BASS DRUM SPLITS PAGE ONE , TWO, THREE, and FOUR - Aztec warm-ups and music will be based on these bass split concepts. Written for 6 drums.

8. ACCENT GRID VARIATION 4'S AND 3'S

9. TRIPLET PARTIAL DOUBLE BEAT

10. DUPLE DIDDLE TRANSITION

11. FIGHT SONG - Here are the re-worked Fight Song parts.

12. AZTEC FIRE (new, Atesalp-revised parts)

Auditions/Drum Camp will be held the week of August 17-21, 2009, from 9am to 1pm on the SDSU campus, Music Building, room 114. ALL prospective members should be familiar with the above snare parts if no tenor/bass/cymbal parts provided.

The preferred style/technique is based on the "West Coast" approach used by most ensembles. Palms flat to the ground, turn your wrists (accents), keep fingers on the sticks (taps/diddles). Play relaxed and use rebound off the head.

Should you have the opportunity, a couple other books to check out: Stone's Stick Control for the Snare Drummer (first 3 pages) and the Funky Primer drumset book for those funky cymbal ride patterns.

Click the link below for a free .pdf reader download. Should you have problems downloading or printing any of the exercises, please let us know, and we'll arrange to have a packet mailed to you.

See you on August 17.......Keep Drumming!

Bryan Ransom, Director of Athletic Bands
Michael Atesalp, Drumline Instructor