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Writing for Winter Percussion
Over the last decade working with Homestead Percussion in Cupertino, California, director and music arranger Dave Sankus and I have ... -
All in the Approach
Want to be successful at playing your instrument? It starts with how you approach it. The “approach” to a drum ... -
Looking Professional for Your Indoor Drumline Performance
We’re only a month or two away from early season winter percussion performances! Here are a few tips to help ... -
The Evolution of Drumline
For this issue’s column, I’m presenting a smorgasbord of awesome observations that show the continued evolution of our great sport. ... -
Simple Checkpoints
With many percussion rudiments, finding appropriate checkpoints to monitor timing can be extremely useful—more so as velocities increase or during ... -
Learning in the Lot
You probably find yourself at various times watching outstanding percussion groups during their warmups—in the parking lot at WGI Sport ... -
Swiss Army Triplets
Swiss Army Triplets are always fun to play. For one thing, they probably have the coolest name of all the ... -
Flame Taps
Flam taps are a favorite rudiment of mine. They involve the use of rebound, making them ideal for fast passages, ... -
Visual Preparation
The visual portion of winter percussion has undergone significant change the last several years. To get a sense for how ... -
Paradiddle Paradise
If paradiddles were a food group, they would be the vegetables. Maybe fruit too. Plus the meat and the carbs. ... -
Crash Course on Cymbals
The cymbal line is often one of the more overlooked sections of the marching percussion ensemble; however, it is an ... -
For the Greater Good
Unlike a lot of sections in the band, the percussion section is often very limited regarding the number of positions ... -
Private Lessons
Regardless of your percussion goals or ambitions, consider taking private lessons. No amount of ensemble rehearsal or home practice can ... -
Rest Up
This month I didn’t want to stress the great rudiments you play, but rather the things you don’t play … ... -
Fall Wrap-Up
For most people reading this column, the marching band season has either just ended or will be ending shortly. Therefore, ... -
Auditioning for Indoor
This month I sat down with Kyle Wong, a snare player who won a WGI Gold Medal in 2014 with ... -
Parade Prep
There are few types of activities in the marching world more polarizing than parades. Some people view them as distractions ... -
Summer Learning
Last summer at the high school I teach, we undertook a rather daunting and aggressive plan to raise our skill ... -
Take It Off the Left
Most of us drummers are way more comfortable with our right hands than our left hands. So it is no ... -
On Performing Solos
Learn about creating and performing percussion solos. From Halftime Magazine, a print publication and website for the marching arts including ... -
Music Into Exercises
One of the pitfalls that a lot of drummers and drumlines have is that they work on exercises or rudiments ... -
Going to New Heights
Playing accurate, well-defined heights is a huge part of a successful drumline for uniformity in sound volume as well as ... -
Snare Tuning
Snare tuning is important for every performance. Percussion coordinator Lane Armey sits down with 1999 Santa Clara Vanguard Snare I&E ... -
End Goal
Keeping big-picture goals in mind is very important at the beginning of each season. Find out how to make your ... -
Dealing with Personnel Changes
Most of us that are part of a marching percussion ensemble will experience a staff change during our four years ... -
Overcome Freshmen Challenges
Learn how to overcome freshmen challenges with percussion instructor Lane Armey. From Halftime Magazine, a print publication and website for ... -
Wanna Teach?
A lot of young percussionists aspire to teach drumlines. This article touches on a few considerations that can help set ... -
Being an Athlete
Today’s marching percussionist requires an awful lot of strength, agility and stamina to be successful. But if everyone knows how ... -
Fancy Feet
One of the very earliest skills a marching percussionist needs to master is his or her feet. Find out how, ... -
WGI Finals Debut
On its first trip to WGI World Championships, Homestead High School became a world-class finalist. Find out about all the ...
Author: Lane Armey
Lane Armey
Lane Armey is the battery percussion coordinator for Homestead High School in Cupertino, Calif. In the past, he has worked with various groups including Northwestern University and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.
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