‘8 on a Hand’ Drumline Exercise

Free drumline warmup exercise for beginners. Perfect for students and teachers new to marching percussion. Simple, repeatable, and foundational.

The First Drumline Exercise Every Director Should Know

If you’ve ever taught middle school or high school band, you’ve probably handed a pad to a kid who had no idea what to do with it.

“8 on a Hand” is where you start.

This warmup isn’t flashy. It doesn’t use fancy rudiments.

And it’s not hard to teach. That’s the point.

Sometimes called “8’s,” this basic warmup builds control, awareness, and tone quality one note at a time.

Students learn to keep time, match strokes, and play with intention… the foundational skills behind every clean drumline.

For many directors without a percussion background, “8 on a Hand” becomes the first tool in the toolkit for building ensemble chops in young players.

It’s not about difficulty. It’s about creating a habit of listening and adjusting.

Players learn how to be part of a line, not just an individual.

Even for experienced lines, “8 on a Hand” still has a role.

It’s a chance to warm up, slow down, and focus on basics.

Stroke height, timing, hand motion, and listening- the fundamentals never stop mattering.

Instructors can adapt it for more advanced use, too.

Add dynamics, switch to accent-tap, incorporate diddles or rolls, or use it as a vehicle for timing challenges across the line.

Or just let it be what it is: a quiet, deliberate check-in at the start of rehearsal.

This version is not tied to any time signature or tempo.

It’s short, repeatable, and designed to be customized.

Play it on snares, tenors, basses, or pads.

It fits anywhere in a warmup block and doesn’t require any special setup.

Keep it in your program year after year.

For students and staff alike, this one becomes a familiar grounding exercise: a way to reset, refocus, and reconnect with the basics of good playing.

Free drumline warmup sheet music: “8’s” by Free Drumline Beats. Builds stick control, movement, listening, and ensemble balance.

Frenchies is a short, loopable exercise designed to build rebound control and develop strong, consistent triple strokes.

The best source for the best beats, drumline music, cadences, and percussion warmups.