The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers welcomes drummers of all experience levels, ages 13 and older—from beginners to seasoned performers. Whether you're looking to challenge yourself, grow as a musician, or be part of a high-energy percussion ensemble, there's a place for you.

Attend a Practice!

The best way to get started is to attend one of our regular rehearsals:

• Wednesday evenings: Primarily for current members, but experienced drummers and visitors are welcome. First-time visitors may be asked to observe and listen as they get a feel for the ensemble.
• Sunday mornings: Our dedicated training sessions are strongly recommended for prospective new members. These rehearsals focus on technique, ensemble skills, and hands-on learning.

When you arrive, ask for Greg, Jody, or Lyle, and one of them will get you settled. If you're ready to play, we'll provide a practice drum, pad, or cymbals for the session. New trainees can also choose to sign up for our website's members area, which includes training videos, sheet music, tablature, and marching and uniform guidelines to help you learn and prepare between rehearsals.

What to Expect at Your First Practice

Your first practice is all about exploring, listening, and experiencing the ensemble. You may start by observing or playing on a practice drum or pad, and as you get comfortable, you'll be invited to join in more fully. Everyone progresses at their own pace, and our goal is to make your first experience exciting, welcoming, and inspiring—so you can decide if you're ready to take on the challenge and become part of our powerful, syncopated sound.

Who Can Join?

We welcome drummers of all levels, but it's important to know that the Last Regiment operates in a corps-style environment that emphasizes discipline, focus, and steady improvement. The learning curve can be steep, particularly for beginners, and success requires consistent attendance, personal practice, and a strong commitment to the group. Many beginners find the challenge deeply rewarding, while others discover it takes more time and dedication than they initially expected.

If you're excited by the idea of pushing yourself, learning something challenging, and growing as a musician, we encourage you to join us!

What Should I Bring?

You don't need your own drum or equipment to start. If you have sticks, mallets, or gloves you prefer to use, feel free to bring them. Comfortable clothing, closed-toe shoes, and a willingness to learn are strongly recommended.

Ready to Get Started?

The best way to find out if the Last Regiment is right for you is to come to a Sunday morning training practice. Meet the group, feel the sound up close, and experience what it's like to be part of the ensemble. No formal audition is required—just show up, explore, and see if the rhythm moves you.

Not so fast! Here's the path from new drummer to gigging member:

1. Show up and learn. Come practice with us. Learn the beats, and understand your drum's parts. More importantly, learn how your drum fits in with the rest of the instruments.

2. "Playing in Fours." Once you understand your parts, we'll give you the opportunity for a mock-tryout that we call "playing in fours"—it's exactly like a tryout, but without all the pressure! We'll create a group with you on your drum and one person representing each of the other sections. Greg will call a series of cadences, and we'll all get to listen to you and the other three drummers doing your stuff!

3. Official Tryout. Once you've proven you can hold your own in "playing in fours," you may officially try out for the band—to earn that coveted jacket with your name on it, and the opportunity to perform with us at paid gigs. If you nail it, you're in! If not... keep practicing, and try again! There is no timeline requirememnt. Some people pick it up quickly, and some require more practice and dedication. Don't worry - you'll get there!

Nope, just show up! We have practice instruments, sticks, and mallets for trainees. We even have training videos, sheet music, tablature in our members area of the website that will let you practice our beats at home.

It totally depends on you, your experience, how fast you learn things, how much work you put into it, and what kind of rhythm is in your soul. Typically, it'll take a few months of practice. For some, it's a bit shorter. Some people take longer. And some decide it's not right for them and leave. You won't know until you try, and whatever outcome you find is okay.

Once you master the drumbeats and marching techniques, you can try out for the band, gaining your uniform and a place in the line to start performing at shows. We play an average of 4 shows per month and expect members to make at least 2/3 of the shows.

You do get to express a preference! However, our band leader may also request that newcomers be assigned to sections based on how badly we need help in that section, and based on your past experience. If you desperately want to play bass drum, but we already have six active bass players and only one cymbal player, guess what? We'll probably ask that you start on cymbals. If you have past experience playing snare drum, especially if you've used the traditional grip, you'll probably go to snare. (Those folks are harder to come by!)

Not unless you want to be stuck there! We like to have people cross-train into other instruments after they've gotten comfortable and reliable with their first instrument. As long as switching to a new section won't harm the one you're leaving, we usually let people move around and learn the new parts. But ultimately, it's the band leader's call as to who goes where, and when.