Rehearsals will be scheduled based on the availability of ensemble members. Because we are a smaller ensemble and because we need as many people as possible present to learn music and drill, I am willing to move schedules around to accommodate the greatest number of members.
When you fill out the interest form, you will see a section on availability. Please choose all times that you are available, so that I can pick a time that works for as many people as possible. Once membership is semi-finalized, I will send rehearsal schedules for the first month to all members who signed up.
Rehearsals will begin the week after the football season ends. The Indoor Drumline season runs from November to March.
Once membership is finalized, students will be invited to join a Remind group, where rehearsal reminders will be distributed. Additionally, the email you listed on the interest form will be used to contact you with longer communications.
Students will be placed on instruments that best fit their abilities and the needs of the ensemble. The Percussion Coordinator has final say on instrumentation in the Indoor Drumline.
A lot of people want to play snare and tenors, but we can't have 5 tenors, 6 snares, one bass drum, and no cymbals. We need a balance of sound and we need to place people where they can grow, and perform their best.
Once you have been offered an instrument assignment, the expectation is that you do your best on that instrument, even if it wasn't your first choice.
Instrumentation may change throughout the season as needed.
Indoor Drumline in general, as an activity, is considered one of the most expensive sports out there. Larger groups have yearly operating budgets in the 6-figure range. Obviously, Upper St. Clair is not going to operate on a 6-figure budget, but we still need to purchase equipment, materials, music, drill, etc. for our use.
Fundraising is a major part of Indoor Drumline. You will be asked to raise or pay a certain amount of money so that we can afford to buy our materials and travel to our competitions.
USC Indoor Drumline will provide you with avenues to raise this money effectively (candy sales, t-shirt sales, pepperoni rolls, etc). Students who fundraise effectively should not have to pay anything out-of-pocket.
The USC Indoor Drumline will engage with corporate partners and philanthropy to mitigate as much of this cost as possible. We will also look into organizations to sponsor scholarships for students who cannot meet their fundraising goals.
The expected fundraising goal/cost per student is approximately $300-500/year.
No! We will not attend competitions during the 2 weeks of spring musical performances, and practices will be rescheduled to accommodate musical rehearsals. I know many of our performers are performing in the musical, and I will not make you choose between the musical and the indoor drumline.
Indoor Drumline is a competitive, musical and physical activity that looks excellent on college applications and resumes. Members will be provided with instruments/sticks/mallets/equipment to use, costumes/uniforms for performances, and a t-shirt with show dates and to show off your membership.
We will also be taking a competition trip to Dayton in March to participate in WGI Regionals!
You'll find out! We'll have a grand reveal with refreshments after one of our first rehearsals.