Synced Up Designs · Cage Beat – Drumline Warm Up Composer: Tracy Wiggins Instrumentation: Snare Drums, Tenor Drums. Bass Drums (5 or 7), Marching Cymbals, Flub Line Description of Piece: “Cage Beat” was written as a 60 second warmup. The rhythms and form are inspired by the composition “Third Construction” by John Cage. I have always thought that Cage’s use of the concept of a rhythmic cadence really had a great influence on a lot of modern battery writing. All of the major sections draw from Cage’s piece, so it is an ensemble where the parts float in and out of each other throughout. Pay careful attention to the dynamics! This is a great way to introduce your drumline students to contemporary percussion ensemble music, and to show that music can also groove!
