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On A Water Break: Water Break Weekly – Wrist Turns, Show Order Drama, and Tech Talk from the Sidelines
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This week On A Water Break, we’re bringing you our monthly live-recorded episode, now debuting on the podcast feed! Hosts Jackie, Nicole, and Stephen are joined by special guest Taylor Poole, Percussion Caption Head for The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps — and the team goes in on everything from wrist technique to DCI performance order to how a snail and roller derby made it into a 32 Count Life Story.
🎵 In this episode:
- Taylor’s 32 Count Life Story – Southeast roots, roller derby, WGI, and her aquatic son Hoover
- Her 60 Second Tech Block: “Why wrist turn matters in percussion”
- Zildjian Giveaway instructions (backpack + practice pad!)
- Marching arts news:
Blue Stars full corps update
Academy’s 2025 show – London Fog
Cavaliers vs. Phantom fundraiser hits $30K
Colts/Cadet split-camp update
Crossmen teaser reactions - WGI proposal and board application deadlines (May 16!)
- Water We Doing:
Taylor calls out harness-smacking and early show time bias
Stephen goes spicy on groups over-prioritizing effect over skill - Gush and Go:
Nicole wins Derby Day bets
Jeremy celebrates Widener’s indoor bronze medal
Taylor preps for her first roller derby bout
Jackie gushes over her new mini guard and her 3-year-old’s flag skills
💬 Special Guest:
Taylor Poole – Instagram: @taylorpoole7
🎒 Zildjian Giveaway Rules:
- Follow us on Instagram
- Subscribe to our YouTube
- Comment “backpack” on the live chat replay!
🎧 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:
- Instagram & TikTok: @OnAWaterBreak
- Watch on YouTube: On A Water Break Channel
📥 Be a guest: Guest Application Form
🧳 Sponsored by:
Peak Group Travel – Expertly coordinated educational travel
Website: peakgrouptravel.com
Instagram: @peakgrouptravel
🌟 Thanks for joining us at rehearsal — see you next time On A Water Break!
Recommended
Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Highlights
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everyone and welcome back to On A Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. In this week's episode is action-packed.
00:00:11
Speaker
We are live right now and we are to be doing Zildjian giveaway this week. We're also going to find out what made Taylor... But throughout the season, if it's supposed to be a new group and you're not building off of the perception of the year prior, And you should give everybody a chance to be able to go first or go last or go in the middle.
00:00:31
Speaker
And why Steven said... I'm already pretty efficient in that course. Why don't we hit the wrist turn is important. thanks All this and more on this week's episode i of On a Water Break.
Engagement and Interaction Call-to-Action
00:00:43
Speaker
Adolph the Met and go. Welcome to On a Water Break. The podcast where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:55
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break.
00:01:00
Speaker
Hey everybody, Jackie, we have great episode this week. I don't know how this will all turn out on the live, but we are live right now on YouTube. If you are not a subscriber, make sure you go do that. But if you have any questions or if you want to be part of the broadcast, come on over to the sidelines and join us.
00:01:21
Speaker
And of course, like I said last month, our goal is to do this live. on the first Monday of every month at noon Eastern time. So hopefully we will keep getting better and better at this every time we do it.
00:01:34
Speaker
So before we see who's on the sidelines this week, make sure you go and subscribe on your favorite listening app. Write us a review. Share this episode with a friend. And if you have a question or a good topic to talk about, you can comment if you're watching during the live. Otherwise, email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com.
00:01:52
Speaker
Or you can find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show. We have a form you can fill out. So... Make sure fill that out if you're interested in being a guest. Make sure you check that out at the link in bio.
00:02:05
Speaker
So who's on the sidelines this week?
Steven and Nicole's Personal Updates
00:02:07
Speaker
My hosting besties. I love hosting with you guys. Steven and Nicole. Hey, what's up? Hey, hey, Hello, hello,
00:02:17
Speaker
In a different spot from usual for me right now. I'm in the parking lot of a, well, there's a Wawa back here. um in Westchester, but I'm back. I think. Last time I was on the show, I was mentioning to everyone that I i got in a car crash on the way out to Dayton.
00:02:34
Speaker
And we're finally back.
00:02:37
Speaker
Oh, yeah And the new one improved. With your sunglasses on. You look like you're jet setting with your sunglasses on. No, I'm just returning from a road trip a bachelor party this weekend. So i'm going to keep the shades on.
00:02:51
Speaker
All right. Okay. hair I feel like this is some of things between travel influencer and like bachelor party influencer. I don't know.
00:03:03
Speaker
Bachelor party influencer.
00:03:08
Speaker
Maybe this weekend, but that's done now.
00:03:13
Speaker
That's funny. to be on the call. see you guys yeah Austin is back there producing. think this is the first time I've been on an Austin produced episode. So he might pop on from once in a while. say hi backstage there.
00:03:28
Speaker
and Nice. I think that's it.
Introduction to Taylor Poole
00:03:33
Speaker
We also have our first live special guest with the Taylor Poole. Taylor. Hello, everyone. It's super great to be here. First time live on a podcast, too. So we're all doing this together.
00:03:45
Speaker
oh wow. Yay! Yeah, great. Big clap. This our second one, but our first guest. So I'm excited. Yeah. very special. You're also the percussion caption head of the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, which I'm just like, Academy has been going places and doing things. So I am obsessed.
00:04:03
Speaker
Same. I am too. I'm really glad that I've had that opportunity and think they're going places too. I think it's going to be exciting. It's my third year being there. ah Second is caption head. So trying to grow, trying to drive, trying to empower the people through the arts, you know, all the normal things.
00:04:18
Speaker
Plus we're going to be on tour
Taylor Poole's 32-Count Life Story
00:04:20
Speaker
together. So, hey Yeah, catch me being not sponsored by Celsius in the mornings in the box. That's what keeps me it keeps me awake, powered by caffeine every day. We'll have her Celsius, I'll my Alani.
00:04:33
Speaker
It's true. We need to work these into some sponsorships here for you guys. I feel like that would help out. I'm ready. I'm ready to be a Celsius influencer at any point.
00:04:44
Speaker
Let me know. but Nicole, do you want to kick off her 32 count life story since this is her first. album really You caught me on the end. You caught me on the end count of getting that ready to go.
00:04:56
Speaker
So Taylor, I gave you a little bit of a. heads up on this. So the 32 count life story is something we like to do with all of our first time guests. It would be a little bit of a stressing do student thing for you. However, we love it. It's so much fun for us to watch.
00:05:10
Speaker
So what will happen is we give you eight counts off the Met, then you're in you give us everything from birth to today. Got it? Okay, how fast is this 32 counts? We talking 200? We talking about 30 seconds.
00:05:24
Speaker
oh causeir i don't know it though it's about thirty seconds Beautiful. That makes sense. Perfect. All right. So eight counts off the Met and you're in Taylor. Yeah. Yeah. It's stressful. Here we go.
00:05:36
Speaker
You got it girl.
00:05:39
Speaker
This is good. Okay. So I'm from the Southeast United States. I've lived in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Started playing percussion over saxophone because there was too many buttons to clean.
00:05:50
Speaker
Can't really need to get the snare drum. I did go to school for music, worked in the industry, worked for the Grammys and Rival Entertainment. um I'm a part of the Greenville Roller Derby team. I have a pet snail named Hoover who is six.
00:06:02
Speaker
I do yoga. um My favorite color is green and my spirit animal is an octopus. And think that's about it. Nice. I'm ready. Best.
00:06:14
Speaker
Do oh what we have had on this show. I think. Great. There'll be yoga. Do um question Snail. alonemen Shout out to Hoover. My aquatic son.
00:06:30
Speaker
twenty Anything. I'm not 100% sure, but Hoover is my pet. End of day.
00:06:38
Speaker
That was a great one for us, Taylor. That was definitely one that was up there. but but no tell you
00:06:45
Speaker
So that's interesting. You've done stuff outside of the marching arts. and
00:06:53
Speaker
ah But yeah, you've done stuff outside of the marching arts and you've done stuff at a high level inside the marching arts. Is there anything that you think is like cross-applicable from maybe your experience in the industry and your experience doing percussion in drum
Music Industry Skills in Various Jobs
00:07:07
Speaker
corps?
00:07:07
Speaker
Yeah, I think a lot of what has helped me be able to do so many different things is just the skills that I learned from going to school for music or being a percussionist or being a musician in general.
00:07:21
Speaker
it's really the concept of you have to make your own schedule. I know what I'm supposed to do when I'm supposed to do it. I have a performance coming up. So how do I manage everything else and also practice? Because you can't really cram for an orchestra concert. I mean, I guess you can, but I'm not a person who wants to cram for that. Like you kind of can for a science test or something.
00:07:43
Speaker
And if you're one of those people who are like, I've never crammed for it, scholastic test in my life, five stars. I'm not that student. So I think a lot of those skills have just applied, like my, especially when I've had remote jobs where you do have to be so You have to manage yourself. You have to be sure I have these deadlines, I have to make them. And I think that translates well into other jobs, whether that's been freelancing and production assisting.
00:08:06
Speaker
You know, what's your call time? What's the schedule? What's the block schedule? What do we have to do? Hit these things. It's all so applicable in just different ways. And one is just maybe more creative driven versus like your your marketing type job or anything else that you may do.
00:08:19
Speaker
But those same skills translate like your project managing yourself when you're a musician, which is a direct skill you are, especially if you're your own owner or you drop ship or you do whatever and you do merch and you have these businesses. It's the same type of thing. You've got logistics coordinating that you're doing, whether it's yourself or your ensemble and all of that together just kind of makes you well-rounded and able to adapt to whatever role that you may have.
00:08:41
Speaker
So. Being working or I've worked at, you know, music venues where it is very much block schedule based, like here's check in, here's this doors open, we have to be ready for all of this or working at Zoo Atlanta, I worked there for a long time in membership.
00:08:54
Speaker
And so being able to deal with many different types of people, whether that's high C-suite Grammy nominees or just a mom trying to have a really great time there. But it's the same thing when you teach. Like I've taught all age drum corps. I teach a lot of independent drum corps and independent indoor. And so it just helps you.
00:09:11
Speaker
Like all of those things help you be able to do any job that you want just because you're flexible and you understand how to speak to your audience, which I think directly comes from being a creative person.
00:09:22
Speaker
So Taylor, know that, well, from last year, i was only on tour for like a week. So we got to like say hello and then have a couple rehearsals and then say goodbye.
Zildjian Giveaway and Sponsorship
00:09:32
Speaker
i want to and I will be on a lot more this summer. You're going to tired of me.
00:09:37
Speaker
But I want to jump into talking about how, because we do have a giveaway that's happening today with Zildjian. I do want you to talk about how you're featured artist with Zildjian. Is that correct?
00:09:50
Speaker
I'm recently sponsored by Zildjian. So a big fan. I've always been a fan of Zildjian. Mm-hmm. whole life. I remember being my first like WGI when I was in high school, going to the Zildjian booth and buying a t-shirt. And I still have that t-shirt to this day.
00:10:04
Speaker
And I've not been able to wear it at any group that I teach at because they're not normally Zildjian. But now, now I can. And I'm pretty excited about that. Perfect. Well, that actually gives us, yes, lots of applauses.
00:10:16
Speaker
Lots of applauses. This actually gives us a good segue, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, ah into our giveaway. Oh, yeah. Did have some more information about that. Jackie, do you have more information about that?
00:10:29
Speaker
I have been informed that we get to make up the giveaway rules as we go. So. Well, I know that they should be following on Instagram. Yes. Yep. They need to be following us on Instagram. I, I think that they should be subscribing on YouTube also because. Okay.
00:10:48
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So follow us on Instagram. What are we getting away Zildjian? It's a backpack. Oh, that's nice. And a practice pad. Very cool.
00:10:59
Speaker
Okay. And then does it have like a slot for the practice pad in the backpack and then you can stick your sticks in there and be ready? I'm I'm pretty sure. Yeah. Yeah. yeah So we can make this up as we go, but it's just, it'll be kind of like the first one we see.
00:11:17
Speaker
Cause that'll be, what do you call it? It's fair, but follow subscribe and follow on YouTube and follow us on Instagram to be put into that running for that giveaway. What you think, Steven?
00:11:31
Speaker
And then what do we want them them to do? to actually enter. ah would think maybe either share a post from our page or do you think they should send us a DMM? I think you should comment, give a comment, your favorite part that you can on a post nearby. If not this one, you'll probably always share the link as well.
00:11:50
Speaker
Engagement is king from my marketing corporate job. Yeah. All right. Comment something on the live. How about that? Get ready, friends. On YouTube.
00:12:02
Speaker
But what if they're watching on Instagram? Still comment on the live. Okay. Go to YouTube. Comment on the live. Comment backpack. Love that.
00:12:13
Speaker
Let's comment backpack on the live. And then we will randomly select who is both a subscriber to our YouTube channel and a follower on our Instagram.
00:12:27
Speaker
I may enter. And look at a backpack and a practice pad. Just kidding. I will not do that. Oh, and you can't be an employee of Google and you can't be all the, all the, this, this is not sponsored by Google or Instagram or meta, or have to have all those rules, right?
00:12:46
Speaker
Oh, goodness. Okay, cool. So we've got that down. What are we going with the selected? Like, do they have week? Or a day. I guess we can go.
00:12:56
Speaker
We probably shouldn't wait that long. Let's let people get them in. And so let's try to maybe we'll have someone picked end of day today. So I would say probably by end of the episode. That works too. Just so we don't have to like give ourselves. wo got to Yeah. of the episode. Catch the live streams.
00:13:17
Speaker
Yeah. See, and miss out if you don't. Sorry, not sorry. You know I have the mom brain because I'm like, it's going to take me a week to do this.
00:13:29
Speaker
don't have a week. I don't have time for that. Dude, we've got so much going on. I know. I got to get back into that. Yeah. Let's talk about what we've got going on because what's previous, of the amazing episodes we have coming up. Cause there's a lot of bonus content and a lot of stuff that's going on soon here.
00:13:49
Speaker
So on a water break with Matt Harloff. He's talking about the performance Travis Scott at Coachella. Yup. That was Joey and I. And we sat and talked to him and I found out a bunch of stuff because it wasn't just, you know, Matt Harloff and like Crown. It was like eight Crown people.
00:14:09
Speaker
But there also was like a bunch of HSBCUs and Like, so it was very cool to sit down and listen to all of that go down. So that is a really good, that's a really good episode to watch.
00:14:21
Speaker
Not to mention, like, honestly, Matt Harlop is kind of like podcast genius when it comes to like being right on things. Like we got along like a house on fire. I'll just tell you that much. It was very good. Nice. Yeah. I was very upset when I knew I was busy at the time you guys were recording that one. it was like, this is like one of the coolest interviews we've gotten to do yet.
00:14:43
Speaker
Definitely go check it out. We were on a time crunch with him because he's also, he was like, my nap is coming up. But I was like, I don't play with nobody's naps. Not even mine. So i love I love that he has a scheduled nap.
00:14:56
Speaker
Like that's goals. And he sticks to it, I guess. okay That's great. Five stars. Shout out to Matt Harlock. Productivity king right there.
00:15:08
Speaker
Brilliant. Jackie, you and I did a special on a water break with the spin fluencers, Max and Piper. Spin fluencers. I love that. Yeah. yeah Yes. Max and Piper. They were awesome. Oh my gosh.
00:15:24
Speaker
I just love talking to anybody who's used social media kind of the way I have, because like, that's, that's how I got into is all of this that I do now today was just by using social media and posting stuff about color guard on social media. So seeing people continue to do that now, it's great. And we're going to get to follow Max for sure this summer where
00:15:50
Speaker
Devils and ah Piper somewhat too, but specifically we're going to be doing some special on a water break stuff with Max. So Max will be the conduit to Blue Devils basically for us.
00:16:05
Speaker
Is that what you're in? Oh, cool. Yeah. Yeah. So I hope that but we have several. public
00:16:12
Speaker
Well, I, it's coming up actually. So we have several. not spin influencers necessarily because Max is only color guard person. We have somebody from each section who are social media, marching arts influencers who are going to be doing some, some content this summer. And we're going to be doing an episode about it. This fun.
00:16:33
Speaker
I also recently did an episode with Ashley D'Amour and Sharon Boyd. We talked about the Carolina crown field crew, some of the AI show art that's going on. Some of the most dynamic performers in the biz.
00:16:47
Speaker
Just a really good episode to give a listen. And yeah, it's, I feel so proud about the episodes that we've been putting out and all the content we've been making lately.
00:16:59
Speaker
who Definitely very good. All
Guard Closet's 25th Anniversary
00:17:02
Speaker
right. So I feel like we have so much to offer everyone this month. So please make sure you are paying attention and getting to those episodes. But right now we're going to go to a commercial.
00:17:23
Speaker
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Guard Closet was founded as a consignment shop in 2000. Since then, it has grown to become your one-stop shop for the marching arts. Do you need consignment uniforms and flags for your color guard, marching band, or drum line?
00:17:38
Speaker
We have thousands of sets of consignments in stock and ready to ship. Do you need show design and custom choreography? Our designers have years of experience in the marching arts. Do you need to sell your items and clear out your storage areas?
00:17:52
Speaker
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00:18:04
Speaker
We can set up a microsite for easy student ordering of a wide variety items. Do you need custom costumes or flags? We can help get you great designs from our team through top vendors like Show Day Designs.
00:18:16
Speaker
Have you listened to our podcast on a water break? Weekly episodes and bonus content keep you entertained and informed with what's going on in the marching arts. For over 25 years, Guard Closet has been here to help.
00:18:29
Speaker
Check us out at guardcloset.com or follow us on social media.
00:18:44
Speaker
All right, we're going to jump straight into news.
Blue Stars and Upcoming Performances
00:19:03
Speaker
And I'm going to kick us off with a story about my drum corps family, Blue Stars. They were recently featured on DCI previewing their 2026, 2025 show, not 2026.
00:19:14
Speaker
would be looking the future. twenty twenty six twenty twenty five show not twenty twenty six that would be looking way into the future But yeah, they're really excited about their show coming up because it's going to be, they have a lot of vets who are coming back from 2024. And that show, they just, oh my gosh, they push so hard. And ah they are really, really going to be doing, trying some crazy things this year.
00:19:42
Speaker
They had a full, full core already at April camp. And they said they, they just, they talked to the brass caption head, Travis Larson. And he said that they just feel like they're picking right back up where they left off last season. So the end of 2024 and I'm excited. I can't wait to see what they do as a blue star alumni myself. And I got to do the blue star alumni core last year and like meet a lot of these kids and just see, you know, they're still promoting that family atmosphere that was there when I was there. And,
00:20:15
Speaker
They're really taking it and going places with it. And it's very exciting to see. I also have my backdrop with my beautiful blue star lights set up in honor.
00:20:28
Speaker
no I never realized this.
00:20:33
Speaker
I love that. That's the theme. It's like, it's blue, but it stars because I'm a blue star. Yes. I have the next one. Well, I haven't had it for a while either.
00:20:45
Speaker
That's right. Jackie's been trying to put that backdrop up for a hot minute now. um' so I'm glad to see it. It looks very good. The next one I have is kind of like a, it's a hub for a lot of different stories.
00:20:59
Speaker
Basically on the DCI page, when you go to news, it gives you an update about what's happening with all the other drum corps going on right now. So just a couple of things that I wanted to bring up, and this is not a shameless self-promotion plug, but it's It's in there because I like to see what other groups are doing as far as shows are concerned.
00:21:18
Speaker
One of the first ones, maybe it's because for Academy and it's at the beginning of the alphabet, maybe, but anyway, going to talk about our show.
Academy and Colts Announcements
00:21:26
Speaker
The name of Academy show this year is called London Fog.
00:21:29
Speaker
That's pretty much all you get from that. But beautiful graphic that they've been putting up on social media and people have been loving it but Another thing that's been happening too, that's been on the update on the DCI page is the Cavaliers just finished what they call a backyard brawl.
00:21:45
Speaker
with Phantom Regiment and they were able to raise over $30,000 for this fundraiser. So good job to them. Please send huge, that's a huge deal.
00:21:57
Speaker
Wow. Send us your tips on how you did that so everyone else can. Exactly. So everyone else can get it and do that. Colts, Colt Cadets, you know, but they're shaping up everything that they're doing. I know that this is going to be a little bit different, but they had two different rehearsal camps in two different cities.
00:22:15
Speaker
Usually they like to keep both of those corps together. Osvaloosa is where they had one the c Colts camp, and then and Dubuque is where they had c Colt Cadets. um I believe that Colt Cadets is growing, not just to in like the...
00:22:28
Speaker
just not in the age range that they're in, but also just in the membership that Cold Cadets is getting. So that's amazing to see too. There is a lot of, I guess you could say hubbub around Crossman's show this year that happened. And you could actually see they put on social media, all of their members reacting to what they're doing.
00:22:49
Speaker
However, it has not been brought to you know, the, we public people, we, we other people. So I'd like to see how that's happening.
00:23:01
Speaker
So lots, lots going on there. So if you want to be a, I call it a looky-loo and see what everyone else is doing around you in the world of Drum Corps International, please take a look at that ah tab on DCI's webpage.
00:23:15
Speaker
Yeah, before we jump into the next one, Nicole, this is just a fun tip from our camp at Academy last weekend, I believe it was, or the end of April. We were talking about our show and how it's London Fog. And, you know, we rehearse in a desert. we were like, you know, a lot of these members maybe have never seen fog.
00:23:31
Speaker
And so once we get to like Pennsylvania, it's going to be pretty exciting to be like, hey, guys, this is what this is. There's humidity in this. Can you see all this? this is what we This is what our show is about. It's about the FAR. Get ready. Barney Field Dance, you walk outside. It's just a cloud. Just enjoy it. Say hello.
00:23:48
Speaker
um Our next piece of news is about WGI proposal
WGI Rule Proposals and Board Applications
00:23:54
Speaker
submissions. It's that time of year, our favorite time of year, 2025 advisory board meetings.
00:23:59
Speaker
If you have a rule, if you're a director slash instructor and you want to submit something new thing, primary contact of any group submitting a proposal must sign off on it to be considered. Maybe that's different than what it's been in the past.
00:24:12
Speaker
WGI has all of the information for you. If there's anything you want to submit about past rules, new policies, things that bothered you, things that you thought were great and you want to expand upon. talk to your people, get them to send that. You can find all of that information as well as a great ah schoolhouse rock style journey of a WGI proposal video. Highly advise you watch at wgi.org slash proposal submission.
00:24:34
Speaker
ah Do know that any of these proposals must be submitted to the office by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time by May sixteenth So Talk to your people if you've got ah grievance you want the world to vote on and let that send that.
00:24:47
Speaker
That's how we vote. That's how we radicalize. That's how we get people moving. Check it out. Yep. Get in there. And then if you're interested in other WGI opportunities, WGI is looking for a position in their WGI board of directors and division steering committees.
00:25:03
Speaker
ah So they're looking for qualified individuals to fill some open positions. qualifications, individuals, they must appear on the published staff list of their advisory board group.
00:25:14
Speaker
ah But then they're elected in their personal capacities, continue to serve out their elected term on the board, even if their affiliation with the group should change. ah So you as an individual, you would just represent the activity as a whole. You wouldn't represent a specific group if you were to go apply for the ah board of director position.
00:25:31
Speaker
But they're taking applications now. Looks like applications are due no later than May 16th, 2025. You can apply on WGI's website, wgi.org slash BOD application and get in there. Some bright new minds are going to have to lead the activity into the future.
00:25:52
Speaker
So this is your chance.
00:25:57
Speaker
All right. Well, I'm not sure exactly what you guys had in mind next, but I think it'd be a good time to get into a 60 second tech block. I'm trying to learn from the caption head of the Academy percussion section.
00:26:09
Speaker
Absolutely. Well, before we do any of that, we need to toss it to Beth over at Peak Travel so she can tell us how to get around this summer. Hi everyone, it's time for your travel tip of the week with me.
00:26:21
Speaker
I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. Performance tours are a great way to showcase your ensemble in new cities and for new audiences. But be sure to also include local attractions and sightseeing tours or cruises to give your group a full cultural experience while they're on the road.
00:26:40
Speaker
Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour.
00:26:52
Speaker
This is your travel tip of the week with me, Beth, from Peak Group Travel.
00:27:10
Speaker
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00:27:27
Speaker
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00:27:40
Speaker
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00:27:53
Speaker
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00:28:06
Speaker
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be sure to visit peakgrouptravel.com today. You pick the date, and we'll make it great.
00:28:25
Speaker
Hey, everybody. we are back and it is time for a 60-second Tech
Importance of Wrist Turn in Percussion
00:28:30
Speaker
Block. 60-second Tech Block. 60-second Tech Block.
00:28:39
Speaker
Taylor, that's Ricardo. right, everybody. I believe that. It's time for our 60-second tech block. This is the segment where one of our hosts or guest clinicians is put on the spot to deliver a nonstop 60-second tech session on a topic that needs some serious attention after the last run.
00:28:58
Speaker
Our special tech this week has come prepared with three topics that they think they can talk about for a full 60 seconds straight. No hesitation. No pauses. Just pure technical gold.
00:29:10
Speaker
And this week... We're going to throw it over to Taylor. Nothing like putting you in the hot seat, huh? It's fine. It's comforting. Well, you said your best topics were number wrist turn is important in percussion. Number carry all of your things all the time. Or three, teachers need to teach how and not tell.
00:29:38
Speaker
So, Nicole and Steven, what do you think that she should do? I have a good love for all of these and mainly because I want to know more about one. was going to say, I do know nothing about one.
00:29:54
Speaker
Right. I know nothing about I feel like we should know more about it. Steven, on the other hand, what are you, what are you thinking? Oh, boy. Well, I am a big ah practicer of the teach how and not tell method.
00:30:07
Speaker
That's how i I like to teach my baseline. But I'm already pretty efficient in that course. Why don't we hit the wrist turn is important. I'm down one. I want to know how it goes too. So i'd i just like to learn about percussion. Let's do number one. So ah Stephen, do you have a timer or Nicole, do you have a timer that you could pull up real quick? I know Stephen's in your car. You're on your phone, aren't you, Stephen?
00:30:31
Speaker
I can totally do this though. Hold up. I got For real? Yeah. Check this out.
00:30:39
Speaker
All right. All right. You ready? i'll count you off. We got 60 seconds. I'm ready. All right. Three, two one, go. go Okay, first off, there's so many different ways that you can play percussion, you can play drums. All of those ways are correct.
00:30:53
Speaker
All of those ways are good for you. They're all applicable to how you want to play. Me, personally, i very much so subscribe to a wrist turn as being super important. It's a big muscle group. So a lot of times in percussion, we're going from big muscle groups to smaller muscle groups.
00:31:08
Speaker
um It's kind of like when you learn how to write when you're small. You're not like writing cursive or going super, super fast when you're in kindergarten, you're doing big, big letters. And then you eventually work down to doing smaller. And it's the same thing in percussion. You've got big moves, you're using big muscle groups.
00:31:22
Speaker
And as you get smaller, you don't want to eliminate that foundation that you set. So that wrist turn is that big foundation. You might get forearm support. There might be some technique changes of you using your elbow, all applicable.
00:31:33
Speaker
But the biggest thing is that if you are losing that fundamental stroke, that fundamental power, then you're going to have a hard time um in shifting down into those smaller muscle groups.
00:31:45
Speaker
three If you have a phone, stop texting your friends that you're here and knock on the door. It's going to help practice. Go there'll be people. Stop texting, I'm here. Start knocking.
00:31:55
Speaker
and Very good. Very good. Nice. Now, this is literally what I tell students all the time. I that's tell my bass drummers that like if we want to get good technique, you should just put the drum and the mallet down.
00:32:07
Speaker
And you should just start like putting your hop arm flat on a table and just learn this muscle right here. And I teach them to try to actually like identify in their brain with the muscle that gets like stressed and where the muscle should feel engagement, not think about like some intangible position of the hand and things like that. Like not just connect with the muscle in your brain.
00:32:31
Speaker
Like the way I play and the way you play, Stephen, are going to be different because our hands are shaped differently. So it's really hard to prescribe if someone has a bigger hand versus a smaller hand, like you can't have the space, you can't have the space. But this universal motion applies front ensemble, applies in percussion, applies in classical.
00:32:48
Speaker
It'll help you get a strong, I'm at your house, my guy, please come visit me versus a text that hear. It's more aggressive. You're ready. You're there. Couldn't agree more. That's perfect. As an anatomy teacher, I absolutely appreciate this because those kids that are in your percussion classes are going to come to my anatomy class and they're going to be like, hey, I now have a...
00:33:11
Speaker
vested interest in learning the names of the muscles in of the forearm because I have to do this for progression anyways. And then it's, it's fantastic. I love when that happens.
00:33:23
Speaker
You think it's all rounded. We love it. Well, awesome. I think we should just shoot on over to the next thing. And that was, cause that was a solid 60 second tech block.
00:33:34
Speaker
ah Everyone's going to get something from that. um But I think we just probably switch things up now. Is that cool? What are we doing? What are we doing? the What are we doing?
00:33:51
Speaker
What are we doing? All right. Do you know how this segment works? This is the part of the show. little bit. Yeah, I think so. Maybe a lot. I'm ready. I love a good hot take.
00:34:03
Speaker
All
Outdated Practices in Marching Arts
00:34:04
Speaker
right. This is your chance to rant about something in the marching arts that just doesn't make sense. So maybe it's a tradition that needs to go. Maybe it's a habit that performers can't seem to break. Maybe it's something that makes you think, why are we even doing this? Or why haven't we started doing this yet?
00:34:20
Speaker
Whatever it is, this is your moment to call it out. So who's got something they need to get off their chest? I've got two One is small and one is a little more in-depth. Let's hear them. Let's hear it. The first one is I'm so over people when you're playing and repping things. Like when you mess up during it, you've got to hit your harness or hit behind or do some like,
00:34:44
Speaker
baseball umpire signs to let me know that you messed up. I know. and we know it's fine. You don't need to break the rep and like hit your harness, do something else.
00:34:56
Speaker
Be like, it's my bad. Like, it's cool. I'm not pressed. Let's just do it again. That's my, that's my number one. What are we doing from a member of performer standpoint? No, I totally agree.
00:35:08
Speaker
Drummers will do it a lot because they'll be mad at themselves. And it's like, just stop. yeah i I don't want you to do that in the performance. Spoiler, even if it was perfect, we're going to do it again. Yep.
00:35:19
Speaker
No, I actually love wearing sunglasses in rehearsal all the time, even in indoor, ah because well I'll just like at my base three or whatever. And no words need to be exchanged. They know they ticked.
00:35:30
Speaker
I know they ticked. Very efficient. Perfect. Goodness. What was your second one, Taylor? My second one is I really think maybe not so much in WGI, but definitely in DCI. We have all these shows.
00:35:44
Speaker
Random order. ah BD should go first. Sometimes spirit should go last. Sometimes Academy should go in the middle until you reach. I mean, if we need to have a placement, right, we say it's a night overnight thing. But by the time we get to San Antonio, that's when we start to see where people are going to place.
00:36:02
Speaker
meet Back in the day, we had four regionals. It makes a bit more sense. Maybe after San Antonio, it's based on score of that season. But throughout the season, if it's supposed to be a new group and you're not building off of the perception of the year prior, then you should give everybody a chance to be able to go first or go last or go in the middle.
00:36:19
Speaker
Now, I'm sure there is probably some sense of business wise, like your ticket sales and that other portion But thinking fundamentally education and everything else wise, like, although terrible, having Vanguard go on first and having a perennial top performing group understand the loss of rehearsal, understand how your day is super short.
00:36:41
Speaker
It's just good that more people got to experience that. My first year at Spirit when I marched, we always went on before the sun came up and your days were super short. So then it's like, how does that group grow? How does that group be competitive when world-class, like one to 20 is all competing against each other, but you're losing out on four and a half hours just because you have to get to the show first because you're first every single day for a week.
00:37:02
Speaker
So- 100%, I agree with that. What are we doing not letting ah you know somebody- let the big cores go on first what are we doing letting all of the little cores go on first make it a little random you know mix it up every so often doesn't have to be every show sometimes no i like that idea i think especially in the earlier part of the summer when there's like the shows are a little more spread out anyway each show does not feel like oh this is the end of the world like
00:37:34
Speaker
When it gets down to the meat and potatoes at the end, sure, we can shake out a bracket. But like I totally agree. It's really for the experience of the show day. ah Losing all that rehearsal is impossible to deal with. We even got kind of tough with that at United this year because we had to go on third at prelims. It's like, well well, great. Everyone else is going to rehearse for four more hours. And they're going to sleep for three more. tough It's going to make a difference.
00:38:00
Speaker
Tough. Steven, one? Steven, what are doing? I've got a what are we doing? My what are we doing is I'm coming at myself this week. What are we doing not having and enough time to stay for the whole call this afternoon?
00:38:14
Speaker
i actually have to get over to another rehearsal right at 1 p.m. here. So ah i'll I'll bounce, but I'll leave you guys with a quick spicy one a little bit. um I feel like I've been calling groups out a lot in indoor for these what are we doings, and I hate to be so call-outy. But if you're coming in third place in an effect caption in nineteenth and in an actual execution caption at semis, what are we doing not actually teaching the students the skill that they're here to do and spending all of our time and effort on the effect?
00:38:47
Speaker
I think that the priorities are a little bit out of line in how maybe you're operating your season if you end up with that spread at semis. But not here to hate.
00:38:59
Speaker
You can go read the recaps yourself to figure out who I'm talking about. i say after I just blatantly hate on someone. All right. not so yeahy You're not Talioti. All right. We got that off our chest. And now let's bring some positive energy into the vibe. but Welcome to Gush and Go.
00:39:18
Speaker
great job everyone such your equipment down du
00:39:24
Speaker
This is your chance to shout out something awesome happening in your life, marching arts related or not. Maybe you're excited about a performance, a student success, a big life event, or just something cool that you want to brag about. No negativity here, just pure unfiltered hype.
00:39:39
Speaker
So who's got something to gush
Personal Achievements and Events
00:39:41
Speaker
about? I always do. I always try to take my non marching arts life and bring it into this podcast. But on Saturday, which was also Derby day for those of you who don't know.
00:39:55
Speaker
So I went to my boyfriend's aunt's birthday. share Her birthday is also on Derby day. So everyone got together and I was like, Hey, well, if you know anything about Derby, they wear the hats. It's very gaudy.
00:40:06
Speaker
And I was like, Oh, are they doing that there? And he was like, no, they're not. I walk in and I see two hats right away. And I'm just like, you did not ask. But anyway, yeah. ah But they did do a friendly little bit for the last one.
00:40:21
Speaker
And um my boyfriend drew sovereignty who actually won and we won the pot. That's great. Yeah. but It was a lot of fun. was like, Yeah, yeah. There was a lot of people around too, and I was just like, okay, what is this? Is this good?
00:40:36
Speaker
Yeah, okay, great. We're going to go with this. So we have fun. and then went thunder chapter I'm coming to rehearsal. I'm coming to rehearsal. I'm here rehearsal. Can I come to rehearsal? here I don't know. Is my sound good? Do I sound okay?
00:40:50
Speaker
hi everyone. I get to come to rehearsal. Since Stephen left rehearsal, I thought I would just pop in for this last little part of rehearsal. So... Happy to hear you. I've been on the live YouTube the whole time and still live on YouTube right now, but yeah, I thought I'd pop in. So how is everyone? Nice to meet you, Taylor. It's nice to meet you too I do have a gush and go if I can gush and Jeremy gush and go about something. Please, we're in that segment.
00:41:14
Speaker
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. So my gushing is, first off, um I want to say a wonderful congratulations to Widener University who wrapped up their indoor season a couple of weeks ago.
00:41:27
Speaker
getting a bronze medal in A-class in Maine Championships, which was lovely. So very happy, excited for them. It's their second year as an indoor program.
00:41:38
Speaker
And it's just really amazing. And I gush about this all the time to like, people on this call and outside of this call all the time about the university experience and how important the university band experience is. um And it's just really proven to be something real this winter.
00:42:00
Speaker
um but so Those performers got to walk around the show being recognized as the Pride Winter Guard of Widener University. And they're, oh, that's Widener University.
00:42:12
Speaker
And they getting to have that moment for those performers and then them telling you is like why you should want to do that, right? Like that little moment of her telling me, Jeremy, that girl over there came up to me and said, that's the Pride of Widener University. that's And she's like, I was just like a celebrity. It's so wonderful. And I was like, yes, you are. and look at what you did.
00:42:35
Speaker
and and then it takes it even further because now there's somebody on campus and now the president knows that they're on campus and they're rewarded for it. And it's a program that's going out into the world. you know These university programs, these university color guards and drumlines out into the world in front of students and recruit directly for the universities.
00:43:03
Speaker
They directly forward the universities. And that is not what the basketball team does at the university. That is not what the volleyball team does at the university. Those basketball teams are playing other basketball teams.
00:43:16
Speaker
And those, you know, the parents are coming to see them. There's not high school kids coming to see those local, you know, college basketball. Sure, the big ones, right? Big tens and all that kind of stuff. But I'm talking about the smaller universities. So if you're out there, I say it all the time, start a university college.
00:43:33
Speaker
start a university color garden. Like, please, please, please, because it helps the university. You'll get funding for it. There's kids in the programs that are there. It is just amazing. So that is my gush and go, gush and go university band and Widener University for the amazing winter season that they had.
00:43:49
Speaker
Yay. Congratulations, Jeremy. That was great. I love it. Yay. College man can be such a life changer. Taylor, what would you like to gush and go about?
00:44:00
Speaker
I think I'm going to do my gush and go about my non-drumcore team that I'm recently on We're in the middle of the Greenville roller derby season right now. And I signed up for the 17th to play in a little like kind of bout type game. So it'll be my first game kind of playing in some way. So I'm pretty excited about that. And If you're ever on YouTube live, check out Greenville roller derby. They'd be out there. They'd be playing. They'd be hitting people on skates, doing a doing the good stuff.
00:44:29
Speaker
And then, you know, just an overall shout out to everyone who made the Academy. Pretty excited to see them in about 20-ish days. So it'll be a good time. Time to get tan. Time to play drums. Time to play front ensemble things.
00:44:41
Speaker
have a I will tell you that one of my favorite movies is called Whippet. And that's all that I know about roller derby. However, I love that movie so much. And I am, I literally, I'm a little bit flabbergasted that you are part of a roller derby team. So when I kind of quit teaching independent indoor drumline, I shifted into that and it is very much so drum corps type environment.
00:45:03
Speaker
It's very cool, very camaraderie. The humor is similar. It's mostly, you know, women or female presenting that are a part of it. So, i mean, there are men involved too, but it's still, it's just really, really fun. Very drum corps oriented. To your point about Whippet, I have not seen it yet, but I have gotten the energy that it is yeah equivalent to roller derby.
00:45:22
Speaker
I think it is the equivalent to roller derby as the movie Drumline is for band. So, if you've seen Whippet there, they're probably like, please don't. Just like like, have you seen the movie Drumline? Have you seen Whiplash? I'm like, yes, you cannot bring your air masters to the practice room.
00:45:38
Speaker
They will be. I mean, you could try. I've tried, but it's not, i don't know if that's gonna fly. The only thing I know about roller skating is what is that Starlight Express, the Broadway show? That's not roller derby though either, I don't think.
00:45:51
Speaker
No, I don't know. I started skating for the first time in September. So it's been really fun to kind of learn something brand new. So that's my big gush is, hey, you know, you have band, find a team, find something that's similar. It's still reps. It's still physical.
00:46:04
Speaker
You know, band doesn't have to be the only thing. There are other communities that are similar. And I'm sure that expands you. It expands how to teach, right? You learn. from that differently than how to teach differently. Right. And you get yeah creativity out of that, that you, you know what i mean? Removing yourself from the activity is good. I mean, I went off, you know, it's not totally different, but there's a thing in Philly called the mummers and I would do work with them, choreograph with them. And it's a different environment, right? Like it's completely different. It's different performers, it's different rehearsal, but it's also about big props and, you know, big extravagant things and immersing myself into that world.
00:46:47
Speaker
like does completely switch and re-inform than how I teach and design and create in the marching art. Like it just, it flips it. Even doing Pride, you know, I produced Philly Pride, like a big festival flips how I think of all of this stuff. So people that are just in like marching band and color guard and that's all you do 365 and 24 seven, like,
00:47:10
Speaker
You're putting yourself in a literal box, like quite honestly, 24, seven, 365. and out I know this was a gush and go. So like when they say it's 30 seconds, you're like, no, we're not walking. We're running back. But to your point, I absolutely agree with that.
00:47:25
Speaker
Learning something brand new, because I don't remember what it was like when I first learned how to play drums. That was amazing. Not long enough ago to where we need to number it. It was long enough to go that I might not completely remember how it was in sixth grade. But it's nice to learn something brand new and remember what it's like to be brand new. And I think that's helped me teach, especially my younger students. because timem I've noticed I'm asking the same questions. that I'm like, why are you asking me this question? I'm like, oh, wait, you're doing that thing that you hate.
00:47:51
Speaker
that your students do, just try it out. Try it out, just do the reps. Or sometimes when your students are like, we just need more reps and you're like, I'm trying to explain this to you. Actually, maybe just give them more reps. Like it's helped me shift because I'm in, although it's completely different and it's not necessarily related to drums, it's still something brand new. And I'm like, well, what about this? I'm like, you're getting way too in the weeds. Just try it out. You'll figure it out.
00:48:13
Speaker
Or vice versa. Please stop. Just let me do it again. And let's see if that's closer. it's 100% helped me. it's hundred percent helps me be different a little. Perfect segue into my gush and go because I want to gush and go about my mini guard that I just, they had their first performance, the first and only performance this past Saturday. I'm super proud of them.
00:48:33
Speaker
ah It's a fifth through 12th grade program that we ah started at the high school where I teach color guard. And I've been working with them once a week and it's all brand new people to color guard and they're all coming in and some of them don't really understand how their arms work yet even.
00:48:49
Speaker
yeah, you know, getting in there and digging deep. And my son kind of jumped in with them a little bit too. And he's only three and he learned his positions like, Oh, I know how to do right shoulder now. And I know how to do right slam now. just little things like that have been really cute.
00:49:04
Speaker
I'm super proud. Where's the video? Where's the video? wheres No, you cannot tell me there's no video. Somebody has a video. Because it was seriously so sweet.
00:49:16
Speaker
Yeah. There's no video of this performance. Oh, there's video of the performance. There's that video of my son because we did that at practice. He didn't jump in for the performance. I was going get it.
00:49:26
Speaker
You just should put him in. Just put him in Whatever. Next time. However many years that is now. I'm going to buy tickets to his first DCI show. Already know. In whatever 20 whatever. Exactly. Exactly.
Podcast Conclusion and Community Engagement
00:49:41
Speaker
He's only three, so it'll be a while. at least 11 years, right? I don't know the rules. I'm old now. Who's sure? All age, put them in all age. It's fine. Put them in all age. Right next year, Jackie. You can just start watching this summer. It'll be great.
00:49:56
Speaker
Yeah, why stop? Why wait? You know? Get them all they're young. fifty All right. That's our Gush and Go's. Do we have a Gush and Go sound called Gush Go, not Gush and Stay. Let's go.
00:50:15
Speaker
Thanks for a great rehearsal this week, you guys. I think we are definitely better at going live this week than were our first time. So we're just going to keep on improving on that. Thank you so much, Taylor Poole, for being here and spending time with us.
00:50:28
Speaker
You have been an absolute delight. So much fun to get to talk to. And educational too. Thank you. If you have a question or a topic you want to talk about, email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or you can find us on social media.
00:50:41
Speaker
Send us a DM if you want to be on the show. We have a form now you can fill out if you want to be a guest. And the link for that is in bio. We love having people in the podcast. So check that out on our link in bio on all of our social media.
00:50:54
Speaker
You can also take out your phone, record a video and send it to us. So maybe you'll see yourself on the podcast soon. ah Taylor, what is your social media if our follow our listeners want to come follow you and see what you're They can mostly follow me on Instagram. I'm not good at a lot of the other ones. I'm not super present, but I am on Instagram. um It's my first and last name, Taylor Poole, and the number seven.
00:51:19
Speaker
It's me. There's not too many of them. um And if there's something in the bio about having a snail, it's me. One more thing. Don't forget, we have our YouTube channel now. So go and subscribe so you can see all of us and you can see my beautiful Blue Stars background that I have going on. I'm so proud of it. I've been working hard.
00:51:39
Speaker
And then make sure before you close out your podcast listening app, subscribe, write us a review, share this episode with a friend, follow us on all of our social media at on a water break, and we'll see you at the next rehearsal on a water break.
00:51:51
Speaker
Thanks everyone.
00:51:57
Speaker
The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Reams. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
00:52:09
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning in.
00:52:16
Speaker
she