Conclusions - 10

Upon completion of this project, I feel like I have captured the spirit and goals of the assignment in a meaningful way. This was a field I have had interest in for a while, and I'm glad I used this opportunity to engage in learning, research, and creation. While I outlined some strengths and weaknesses in drill writing in my previous post, the most glaring area is simply a lack of experience. Moving forward from this project, I will continue to write drill to some of my arrangements and experiment with different styles. I have also spoken with Dr. Smedley, and he has expressed interest in providing feedback on any samples I send him. Should I want to make a future in drill writing, my next steps are to go back and edit this project with fresh eyes, and then to go about building a beginning portfolio of work to show to potential clients. Then, I would look for smaller programs or specific opportunities that would cater well to a beginning writer. One example of this is the football halftime show at one of the high schools I've worked with in Pittsburgh. At their program, they march a competitive style show for competitions, showcases, and at a handful of football games. At their remaining games, they march a much simpler, shorter collection of pop charts designed to cater to the football audience. This, as well as feature shows like the senior recognition show or senior night, would be good ways to balance learning the craft, working with a real program, and keeping things reasonable. Overall, this has been a largely positive experience, and I look forward to learning more and engaging in drill writing for marching bands.