Tyler Bourque Rebecca Agosta English 1101 11/12/13 November 12, 2013

Comment [R1]: Comment [TB2]:

Inside the Paradigm

Its the best section in the band, most loved by the crowd, and most hated by the band director. The Drumline has become an essential part of every marching band worldwide. Yet there is a community that involves these same drummers that not many people know about. Indoor Drumline is a community that takes the concepts from marching band and applies them to a small ensemble of percussion instruments. I have been a part of Paradigm Percussion for two seasons, so I will be talking about experiences with that ensemble and the indoor drumline community as a whole.. Being a part for the ensemble for two years has shown me a lot about the community and taught me a bunch of good habits and teamwork skills. I dont regret joining the ensemble; it was a life changing experience.
Comment [R4]: For what reasonto share how its a discourse communitymake it academic here. Comment [R3]: Haha, great first line

Every ensemble has to start at the beginning. The director and staff meet months before the season starts to plan the show. During this time, they write music, drill, get ideas for uniforms, and plan rehearsals. After they have all that, they post a try-out date. Try-outs are when the players in the ensemble Try out for the instrument that they want to play. If they are good enough then they can march it. Try-outs are very important. It allows the players to meet the instructors, see how they teach, learn the rules, and what the instructors expect. Try-outs are

Comment [R5]: Good, so certain members have different responsibilities within the group.

Comment [R6]: Maybe share what instruments are covered in this.

also when the instructors see players learning habits, how they get along, and if theyre right for the ensemble. In order to take part in the ensemble. One must show reasonable strength in musical playing ability, marching ability, and being able to work with others. If they met these requirements, they will most likely make the ensemble.This is the start of the season. The line has just been set, music has been handed out, and the rehearsal dates are set. There is a big difference between practice and rehearsal. Practice is what you do at home learning and working on parts., Rehearsal is when you meet with the rest of the ensemble to put what you practiced together with everyone else,. sSaid Daniel Arthur, a current member of Paradigm Percussion. Rehearsal dates are set at the beginning of the season, and what Paradigm has done in the past is Friday nights 6pm-10pm, then Saturdays 9am-9pm. Even though the ensemble only meets as a group on two days of the week, all players are expected to practice during the week. Many sections or groups of the same instrument would meet during the week to have a sectional. This is a mini-rehearsal where a player can check to see if theyre playing parts right and to get more time playing together with their section. This way, if they learned a part wrong, they have time to learn it the right way before the rehearsal on the weekend. In the beginning of the season, Friday nights will be spent reviewing music and getting new music, while Saturday will be learning marching technique and setting drill. Drill is the coordinated movements players make on the mat to enhance the quality of their show, Ssaid Daniel. Everyone has to start with the basics. The basics can be described as such. A decent understanding of marching and playing technique. To be able to read and break down music. Also showing good rehearsal ethics.
Comment [R10]: What are the basics? It seems like members must already have some knowledge especially musical abilitywhat about marching ability. Do they take on beginners? Comment [C11]: Partner commented: (Too many sentences in one paragraph. I suggest you combine some of them or make this into separate paragraphs.) Comment [R8]: Interesting distinctionshows that you have to come prepared. Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5" Comment [R9]: Woah! Comment [R7]: What happens during tryouts. What must one prove and do to become a member?

--Good note, adding details should help these become separate sections: Prep, Tryouts, Beginning of season/rehearsals.

All this music and marching has to be for something. Paradigm competes at regional competitions for WGI, or Winter Guard International. This organization hosts many iIndoor competitions across the world, i. Including World Finals in Dayton, Ohio, which Paradigm will be attending this year. The first competition of the year however is a little less important. Competitions are on Saturdays held at schools with a lot of land and a decent sized gym. The first competition is when the show is revealed for the first time. Every performance has three judging captions; Musical Performance, Visual Performance, and General Effect. The MP Judge will evaluate how well everything is played, the balance of the ensemble, and technique. The Visual judge will evaluate marching technique, if forms are being made with the drill and intervals between players. And last but not least, the GE judge will evaluate the show concept, how well the players are portraying the idea of the show, how well the players perform, and crowd reaction. The highest score that can be given is a 100. At most competitions, the top three in a class will perform again in a finals performance. Everyone wants to go home with first place, but its an award you have to earn.
Comment [R14]: Goodthis is unfinished and you know that. I think you have a lot of good description of how this community works technically. I think you need to revisit aspects of a discourse community: shared goals, shared lexis, ways of communication, experts and novices. You have plenty to add on to, and it will shift the focus from the makeup of the community to how the actual participants form the community. Comment [C13]: These two sentences were better off combined so I changed that. Comment [R12]: I tried out once for a winter guard team that competed on this, but it was ultimately too far a drive for me to work with.

As the season goes on, the structure to everything a Drumline does changes. It goes from learning to cleaning, teaching to correcting, and from decent to amazing. At the end of the season, the show is in its final form. Everything the instructors wanted to add has been added. All of the comments made by judges have been address and implied accordingly. Also at this point, the performers have to be perfect. The millions of repetitions and run troughs are done so that the show is performed the same way every time. By the end of the season, the ensemble is a family. After grinding through a marching season, demanding hours, and lots of hard work. They put it all on the line at finals. The last competition. The one everyone will remember for the rest

of their life. Its an amazing feeling standing on the floor in front of thousands perform your show. This is what Indoor is about Performing for crowds. Making new friends. And sharing the passion of drumming across a verity of instruments. This is in the heart of many, as it is n mine.