How to Use Drill Design Software for Marching Bands

Drill design software for marching bands has become more advanced and thus easier to use over the past several years. Though such programs have been around for more than 2 decades, more recent advances in Java scripting have made them more versatile and navigable than ever before, and many accomplished band directors now use and recommend them.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer with drill design software
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Instructions

  1. Use Drill Design Software for Marching Bands

    • 1

      Pick the pre-designed field template you want to work with, or create your own for special events. For half time shows, most often you'll just choose "football field" or a similar designation.

    • 2

      Choose a viewing option. You should be able to see the show from overhead, press box or on the field and often in 3D. Zoom in and out, toggling views as necessary.

    • 3

      Place all your band members at their starting positions on the screen. You can choose different colors and symbols for various instruments or sections, even color guard performers. You may even have the option of naming each marching band member on the field.

    • 4

      Design your formations, or choose from pre-designed formation templates. Some programs will suggest various transitions to get you from one formation to another, or you can create your own custom transition paths using floats, pivots and "follow the leader."

    • 5

      Animate your show, or sections of the show, to a timer or to MIDI songs provided by the program.

    • 6

      Hand out parts to individual performers to study at home. Some programs allow you to have band members create unique accounts and log in to study their parts.