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What Is Indoor Percussion?

R. Stamm
R. Stamm

Indoor percussion is a marching band that utilizes the battery and pit sections of the group and performs inside during the winter months. If the group is a complete indoor ensemble, the music is rich and rhythmic with an array of tones and melodies. An all drum line ensemble typically provides the listener with heart-throbbing, complicated rhythms, and hand clapping beats. Bands choreograph routines to provide audiences with a moving visual experience that tells a story based on the selected music. There are percussion groups for high school students, college students, and private groups with different competitions in the spring for all.

The battery portion, also called the drum line, of an indoor percussion group is comprised of the bass drums, tenor drums, and the snares. Pit instruments, or the front ensemble, used in the band may include mallet percussion instruments, auxiliary percussion, and even electronic keyboards. Some competitions are allowing bands to include guitars in their groups along with unconventional instruments such as trash cans, pipes, and other ordinary items that make percussive sounds. Competitions do not allow any prerecorded music or sounds to supplement or add to any portion of the band.

The rubberboard, or frottoir, is a type of percussion instrument used in zydeco music.
The rubberboard, or frottoir, is a type of percussion instrument used in zydeco music.

Musical selections for indoor percussion groups are quite different from those of outdoor marching bands. The music for an indoor group incorporates more melody while outdoor marching bands use more technique. The brass section is altogether eliminated from the indoor group allowing the band to play softer compositions. Music selections may include classical compositions, pieces from different cultures around the world, popular American music, or show tunes.

Performances for indoor percussion are extremely physical, and instrumentalists must coordinate a dance routine as well as play an instrument. Every member in the group is expected to move about in some way including musicians playing stationary instruments. Sometimes percussion groups include the flag corps adding to the dramatic effects of a performance. Groups may enhance the performance with stage settings, props, and unique costumes that fit the mood of the music.

Modern indoor percussion groups are much different from the marching bands of long ago. Schools started to encourage their marching bands to play inside during the winter months in order to maintain the band’s skills. As a result, bands evolved from marching back and forth on a football field into more complex routines and musical compositions. This practice spread throughout the United States into Japan, and it is enjoyed by spectators worldwide.

Discussion Comments

SarahSon

My daughter has been a part of a non-conventional indoor percussion team for a few years.

She is involved with this group through her church youth group, and they have participated in several competitions.

About the only limitations to the types of instruments you can use for this is your imagination. I am constantly impressed with the different sounds and type of instruments they use.

Some of the things they use most often are garbage can lids, five-gallon buckets, metal pipes and spokes on a bicycle wheel. They have even used brooms and pots and pans as part of their performances.

One way to get people exposed to this type of group is to give a performance at a local park. It doesn't take long to have a crowd of all different ages watching what they are doing.

sunshined

My son plays on the drum line of an indoor percussion group. When most people think of playing the drums, they think of one particular type of drum such as a snare drum.

With a drum line, not only do you get all types of drums being played, but a very streamlined physical performance as well.

This is a high energy group that really works hard. I never get tired of watching their performances.

Sometimes it is hard to stay seated with the beats of all the different drums and the feet-stomping, hand-clapping sounds they make.

myharley

My brother is a high school band director and in the last few years, he started an indoor percussion group in his school.

He says the benefits of this have been amazing. He found that the kids who are participating in this are very eager and excited about learning and competing.

There is a lot more to this than just knowing how to play a percussion instrument. Many of them have been trained to play a large variety of percussion instruments.

This adds to the versatility of the group. He has had no trouble getting the kids to work hard for their competitions.

The first time I attended one of these competitions I was really amazed at what I saw. It was really interesting how they could play these instruments and perform a routine at the same time.

There was not one dull moment throughout the entire competition.

ZsaZsa56

That last detail about the indoor marching bands pushing the boundaries of the performance is really interesting. I can remember seeing marching bands when I was in high school almost 50 years ago and they were nothing like the marching band I saw at my grandson's university a few years ago.

summing

I have been to a few drumline performances and I think they are incredible. As far as I am concerned, the drum line is a completely new kind of performance. It is unlike anything ever done before.

This is because it combines, music and dance into a single performer. The drumline is as much about the way it looks as sounds. Each drummer is playing with visual flair. They perform as individuals and come together as a group. It's a sight to behold.

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    • The rubberboard, or frottoir, is a type of percussion instrument used in zydeco music.
      The rubberboard, or frottoir, is a type of percussion instrument used in zydeco music.