How do you read a drill sheet in marching band?

Answer 1

A drill sheet is a simple thing to read once you understand it. There are generally two main systems used.

The first more traditional system is all band members are provided drill charts that show each set (picture) of the drill - in each set there are dots representing the band members on the field and each dot has a coordinate number (Example: If there are 10 trumpets in the band they might be listed as T1 through T10).

Drill charts are printed on paper that has a grid. Each square in the grid represents one marching step. A traditional marching step is 22.5 inches - or 8 steps to 5 yards (hence the term 8 to 5). The drill sheet also shows the yardlines, hash marks and other markings of the football field.

So to read the drill chart you find the dot on the chat that has your coordinate number (for our example let us say you are T1). Now you look and see how many steps (squares of the grid) you are away from the football field markings (yard lines, sidelines, hash marks). So if you (T1) are 12 squares from the side line and 4 squares from the 45 yard line - then you would go to where the sideline and the 45 yard line meet - stand on the 45 yard line and mark 12 marching steps (8steps to 5 yards) from the sideline down the 45 - then stop and turn yourself (facing the side of the 45 your sheet says you are on) and mark 4 marching steps from the 45. You are now standing 12 steps from the sideline and 4 steps from the 45 yard line.

Just remember each square on the chart equals one step. Some bands refer to the football field as having a side one and side two as well - all this is used for is to tell you what side of the 50 yard lines you should be on. The term "splitting" means that you are half way between a set of yard lines "I'm splitting the 40 and the 45" means you are halfway (4 steps) between the 40 and the 45.

The other method of drill is very similar except the band members aren't provided the entire chart with the picture. They are just given a coordinate sheet with the sets. So you would have something that says "Set 1 12 steps from sideline, 4 steps on Side one of the 45" or something similar.

Now the other aspect of a drill chart is that each set corresponds to the music you are playing and will have instructions. The instructions on the page are your instructions for getting into the current set. The instructions will also contain the measures the set is for in your music and the number of counts to complete the move.

For example it might say:

Measures 40-47 / 32 counts

Hold: 8 counts

Move: 24 counts

This means for the first 8 counts you will hold your current position (your coordinate from the last set) then you will take 24 counts to move to your current set.

Some Common Instructions are:

MT = Mark Time

Move = Go to new coordinate

Hold = Stand fast (no mark time)

FTL = Follow the Leader

Float = To move the entire form across the field (so it looks like the form is moving)

I hope this helps. It is much easier to explain in person - however it sounds a lot more complicated than it is. Once you do it a few times it will usually make complete sense to you.