EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
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- Stagger Breathing
- Drill Set Notation in Music
- Tonal Energy Presets
Pick & Choose Pricing: | Marching With Travis Music OR Drill Client | Marching With Travis Music AND Drill Client | |
---|---|---|---|
Stagger Breathing | $1000 | $500 | FREE! |
Drill Set Notation | $250 | $125 | FREE! |
Tonal Energy Preset | $250 | $125 | FREE! |
STAGGER BREATHING
Purpose
Stagger Breathing counts will allow your students to perform more maturely, eliminate “gaps in your sound,” and give your band an overall stronger presence. Having breathing responsibilities pre-written in the music saves you time and takes out the guesswork of when to breathe for students.
How to Utilize
If utilizing breathing counts is new to your program, begin with the following steps:
1. Give each student the same part in the breathing exercises. For example, give the entire ensemble the Early part.
2. Rehearse students breathing in the same spot to make sure they understand their role.
3. Listen to make sure students are “sneaking in and out” of the ensemble by exiting and entering a dynamic lower than written.
4. Once students are performing the early breathing correctly, have them practice the middle and late breathing assignments.
5. Once students understand each breathing role and how to sneak in and out of the sound, assign them their breathing part.
Teaching Tips
1. Have students sing their parts and raise their hands when they take a breath. This will give the directors a visual confirmation that students understand the concept.
2. Have students step out while playing and breathing.
3. Have each part perform separately to ensure students are
breathing at the appropriate time.
Notation

Here is the notation used in our stagger breathing. The notes the students will take a breath at will be marked with parentheses and a breath mark.
We notate it this way instead of writing rests to avoid confusion with actual rests that are written.
Purpose
Stagger Breathing counts will allow your students to perform more maturely, eliminate “gaps in your sound,” and give your band an overall stronger presence. Having breathing responsibilities pre-written in the music saves you time and takes out the guesswork of when to breathe for students.
How to Utilize
If utilizing breathing counts is new to your program, begin with the following steps:
1. Give each student the same part in the breathing exercises. For example, give the entire ensemble the Early part.
2. Rehearse students breathing in the same spot to make sure they understand their role.
3. Listen to make sure students are “sneaking in and out” of the ensemble by exiting and entering a dynamic lower than written.
4. Once students are performing the early breathing correctly, have them practice the middle and late breathing assignments.
5. Once students understand each breathing role and how to sneak in and out of the sound, assign them their breathing part.
Teaching Tips
1. Have students sing their parts and raise their hands when they take a breath. This will give the directors a visual confirmation that students understand the concept.
2. Have students step out while playing and breathing.
3. Have each part perform separately to ensure students are
breathing at the appropriate time.
Notation

Here is the notation used in our stagger breathing. The notes the students will take a breath at will be marked with parentheses and a breath mark.
We notate it this way instead of writing rests to avoid confusion with actual rests that are written.
Example
Here is an example of a trumpet section playing a 24 count sustain. In this example each trumpet part has an early, middle, and late breathing assignment. The breathing counts were placed so that no more than 1/9th of the section takes a breath at the same time. The division in this example ensures students take a breath at least once every 12 counts. Frequency of breathing assignments will also change based on instrument, dynamic, and tempo.

DRILL SET NOTATION IN MUSIC
Purpose
Set notation creates more productive rehearsals by giving your students a visual of how their music aligns with the drill. Give your students a head start by having clearly marked set structure before they even step outside!
Tips
Take advantage of indoor rehearsal time! Help students memorize their count structure before learning drill.

TONAL ENERGY PRESET
Purpose
Tonal Energy presets give your rehearsals the benefit of consistency. By using presets your ensemble will:
- Rehearse consistent tempo changes set by set; including any ritardando, accelerando, and subito changes.
- Have efficient rehearsal procedures with clear start and end points.
- Easily change tempos throughout the season.
How to Use
How to Download to Devices
- Open file and download from Google Drive Link (save in a place you can easily find the file)
- Open TE App
- Open “Preferences”
- Open “Browse Recordings”
- Click the import icon at the bottom (square with an arrow)
- Select “Import from Files”
- Find and select the file downloaded from earlier
- Select “Open”
- Your Preset is now imported into your app!
- Check out this video for a visual step by step!
How to open in app
- Click on the list icon
- Select “All Preset Groups”
- Choose your group and close out of the page
- Your Preset will be displayed on your TE page!
How to navigate in rehearsal
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