Eurobeat is a veritable energy supplement for your marching percussionists. Sculpted in the style of “drum and bass” music and with a nod to Swiss drumming phenom Jojo Mayer, this fast and furious battery feature conveys the intensity of DnB style beats while remaining accessible to a broad range of experience levels. The piece is scored for four (or more) tonal bass drums, and an optional cymbal part has been included as well. I actually wrote this sometime around 2014 or 2015 (that’s when I first become a dad so the timeline is a little hazy…) and workshopped it a bit with my high school students in the following years.

Available for purchase here. Published by Tapspace Publications.

“This drumline feature is to be played in the style of drum set artist Jojo Mayer. The work is orchestrated for a standard drumline, and while written for four bass drums, more can be added if necessary. Written in ABA format, the A section is in a duple time, while the B section is in a triple feel.

The parts are pretty standard: snare drums have a straightforward hi-hat backbeat feel, the tenors mimc this feel, and the basses provide the driving beat below. The cymbal part is very sparse and could lend itself to some additions as well. Technically, this work includes some doubles and diddles, but these are no slams, drags, or any other embellishments. However, that does not mean that the piece is not interesting and fun.

This would be great for a stand groove or an on-field performance. It would be interesting to introduce the students to Mayer’s drum set playing, and have them find the similarities. This would offer an excellent opportunity to demonstrate taking a style and putting it on the marching percussion field. Overall, this work would be great for a high school or advanced middle school drumline. The groove is sure to have the rest of the band and the audience moving along with the beat.”

JOSH ARMSTRONG
Percussive Notes
Vol. 62, No. 4, August 2024