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The Drummer

You are the focal point of the regiment when marching, keeping up the morale on marches and ensuring that manoeuvres are done to exact timing. The sound of war drums can be an incredibly stirring experience, which creates atmosphere on the battlefield and produces a real spectacle for the public.

Educated and often linguists, drummers are highly regarded and paid at the same rate as officers. They are non-combatants, which means they do not fight. But they must stay alert and eagle-eyed to ensure they remain with the regiment.
Battles are noisy and communicating orders to large groups of men using voices alone isn’t feasible. Drums were used to relay orders on the battlefield to  troops using different drum beats. They are also sent to parley with the enemy, often going into their camps and returning with vital information about supplies and numbers.

 


The drum of 20 and 22” in diameter has a beating head, top and bottom made from goat of calf skin. This heavy instrument made from wood would have been decorated however the Colonel wished. This was the same for uniform and standard of the regiment.
Drum commands and music tended to be the same across the whole army. Charles 1st instructed that the Army was to play the English March to way written and verified by himself.
Our drummers play a wide range tunes, some historically correct and others possibly created by past members for the Sealed Knot.

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FAQ

 

Do I need to read music?
No, our Drum Major Lauren has many resources from videos and words alongside sheet music to learn the drum beats used. But having 2 left feet may make things tricky!

 

Do I have to buy my own drum straight away?

No, we have spare drums that you can use for you to try out the role of a drummer and when you are able to buy your own drum.
 

Is being on the battlefield dangerous?

The great thing about being a drummer is that you can be in the thick of it but not have to take part in the battle itself. The drums are the ideal role for someone who wants to get involved but doesn’t want to fight.

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