drumlining

Drumlining is a term that lacks a single, universally accepted definition. In music and percussion communities, it is used informally to describe practices involving the organization and coordination of drum parts into a linear or grid-like arrangement. Because the term does not appear in major reference works, its meaning tends to vary by context and by speaker.

In performance and education contexts, drumlining is sometimes used to refer to the process of aligning multiple percussion parts along a straight line in a marching or concert setting, emphasizing synchronized timing and visually orderly formations. It can also denote practicing rhythms in a fixed rhythmic grid, such as with a metronome or click track, to ensure consistent tempo across players.

The term has appeared in online discussions and workshop notes, where instructors emphasize discipline, uniformity, and clear rhythm as aspects of drumlining. Because usage is informal, listeners should determine meaning from the context in which it is used.

See also: Drumline, Percussion, Rhythm, Music education.