The Drill Writing Process

The following set of steps came from a synthesis of internet and print research, interviews with drill writers, and my own development of a movement of an original marching band show: music and drill. While each individual will have their own preferences and each project will have its own unique constraints, these can serve as a set of guidelines for the drill writing process.
1. Pre-Writing Meeting
  • Meet with hiring director, the color guard instructor, and percussion instructor early in the show design process (typically winter of preceding academic year)
    • Meet with as much of the staff as possible to get a better understanding of the program and its many facets
  • Make sure to leave with a score and high quality recording of the arrangement to be used
  • Basic Information:
    • Instrumentation (also make note of part divisions, like trumpet 1, 2, and 3)
    • Guard Details 
      • Who can use what equipment, what equipment is available, balance between drill and work
    • Creative Outline of the entire production
    • Timeline with due dates compatible with both parties
    • Method and format for delivery of final product
  • Establish the best lines of communication with all staff members, and especially the band director

2. Music Analysis
  • Listen to the recording without the score or a video and try to feel the sections and emotions present
  • Listen again with the score, without a pencil, and study as if you were to conduct the piece
  • Mark up the score as if you were to conduct the piece
  • Video yourself conducting along with the recording
  • Return to marking the score, but this time, listen for and mark phrase divisions
    • Clean these up on further listenings as these will become set divisions
  • Mark up the score as a drill writer
    • Highlight important sections, sketch any shapes that come to mind, and note any motions that flow naturally with the music

3. Production Sheet
  • Note: any repeat drill writer should create a template production sheet that can be easily copied and edited for multiple projects
  • Create a spreadsheet with the following columns: Set, Count, Measures, Rehearsal Marks, Transition, Count Structure (optional), Visual Notes, Woodwind Notes, Brass Notes, Percussion Notes, Guard Notes
  • Referring to the marked score, copy down the set divisions into the first 6 columns
    • Note: the "Sets" column should begin at 0 and ascend by whole numbers barring the use of subsets
  • Rewatch the video of conducting the music, and take big-picture visual notes in the corresponding column
    • This part of the process can be as broad or as detailed as you'd like, but if you have a great detailed idea, always write it down so you won't forget it
  • Returning to the score, make logistic notes about the musical activity in each of the captions in their corresponding columns
    • Physical demand should counter musical demand, so if the clarinets have a quick technical part, their movements should be more accessible, and vice versa
    • This is a good column to include important entrances or section interactions with
  • Complete the "Guard Notes" column
    • At this point in the process, you have the option to send the mostly complete production sheet to the guard instructor for them to make notes in the "Guard Notes" column, or you can add notes from your perspective, or both

4. File Preparation
  • Make a copy of the audio recording of the piece and convert it to a .wav; .mp3; or .ogg
    • These are the only three audio file formats compatible with Pyware
  • Use Pyware's new project wizard or a template file to create a new project
    • When using a template file at this stage, it is important to make sure all presets are as universal as possible
    • Start with a larger number of marchers than you will need as it is much easier to delete performers later than add them after you've started writing drill
  • Convert the production sheet into a tab delimited text document and upload to the new Pyware project
    • With some settings manipulation that differs per version of Pyware, uploading a production sheet will automatically generate all the sets and counts you'll need before you begin
  • Save an additional copy of the Pyware file at this point
    • Should there be an issue down the road, being able to start from a clean but ready slate can save many hours

5. Landmark Sets
  • Based on the production sheet, find the couple most influential sets of the production
    • While these may include a first or a last set, they don't have to and often won't in a movement with a pre-show entrance or a post-show exit
    • These sets are the Landmarks that makes your drill unique, artistic, and memorable
  • Navigate to these sets in Pyware, and begin writing by staging the instrument sections appropriately on the field in the design of choice
  • Considerations for Landmark Set Design:
    • The audience's perspective will differ from the top-down view available on the computer
    • When staging instruments, place influential or important sections in the power zone between the 35 yard lines and on the front half of the field
    • The longer a band holds in a Landmark Set, the more important it is for it to be clean and accessible to form accurately as often as possible

6. Keystone Sets
  • After exploring some artistic goals with the Landmark Sets, consider logistic requirements to write Keystone Sets
    • These sets are named because a Keystone is a piece that a structure can't remain standing without
  • There will likely be several more Keystone Sets than Landmark sets, so they will be written in between 
  • Examples of Keystone Sets would be equipment changes for the guard, prop set-up or movement, blocks or transitions that pair different sections together, cross-through sets with the guard or drumline, and the opening and closing sets of each movement
  • Due to their crucial nature, these sets will likely be edited later, but if you don't begin with putting these essential functions in place, you run the risk of writing yourself into a sticky situation

7. Remaining Transitions
  • Combine the Landmark and Keystone Sets with transition material
  • Despite its lackluster name, this is the point in the process where artistry and creativity within constraints becomes most important
  • When writing transition sets, consider the motion of the marchers more than the forms they create, as transition forms only exist for an instant
  • This is the area where block drills, staggered entrances or exits, rotations, meshes, follow the leader motions, and extended marching maneuvers can bring a show to life
  • Transition sets will likely be edited and changed most of all as they have so many constraints on their activity

8. Editing and Cleaning
  • Before diving in to edit a project, take a break from any drill writing activity to help your reapproach be with fresher eyes and perspectives
  • Review the drill for completion of the artistic goals established early
  • Check the drill against the production sheet and make note of any areas that may have changed or evolved
  • Spotlight each section and watch full run animations of the drill to check for path of travel issues
  • Smooth out curves and forms from an audience's perspective
  • This is another step at which the opportunity exists to share a draft with the band director and other staff members

9. Preparation for Delivery
  • After the drill has been edited and approved as much as can be, a series of formatting changes remains for it to be delivered
  • Use the "Personal Drill Book Printer" tool to generate dot sheets for each individual performer
    • The most typical format for these is to create cards so that four performers' dots fit on one 8.5x11 page
  • Export the drill as a PDF to generate a full field view dot book for staff and directors
  • Generate a video of the drill animation and the audio by using Pyware's built-in tool
  • Save multiple copies of all files used during the drill writing process
    • Name these files in a consistent, organized way so that the customer can easily navigate them

10. Watch the Show
  • Once the band has finished their season, always go back and watch a video of their best one, and a video of a bad run
  • Reflect on what went well as well as any changes you'd like to make for the future
  • Combine a high quality video with previews of your drill writing files to add to your professional portfolio
    • Maintaining a formal portfolio will be crucial for finding new programs to write for
A note on context: The contracting process and business aspects of a drill writing employment scenario fall outside the scope of this project. The above process is designed and organized assuming contractual agreements are in order, the arrangement is written by someone else/the drill writer before the beginning of any drill writing activity, and there is no follow-up plan after band rehearsals.