ABOUT THE BOOK
The Drum Major Codex is a project fueled by years of passion, love, and dedication to the marching arts. The lessons we have learned, the pedagogy that we have strengthened, and the materials that Dina has created over the years teaching countless students, led to this book. This project had its difficulties, as anything worthwhile does, but the thing that kept me going when it was difficult was the knowledge of how beneficial this book could be to drum major students and band directors (especially new band directors with little to no drum major background).
The core reason as to why The Drum Major Codex exists is that I wanted to provide a resource for drum majors that I wish I had when I was one, and that would’ve made my life a lot easier and less confusing at the time. Many people who seek to become drum majors, or already are, are intimately familiar with being too hard on themselves for the mistakes that they make and things not going well. It is easy to blame yourself for what goes wrong, even if it's because of the things that you don’t know you don’t know. At times, being a drum major can feel like it is a “trial by fire” where you have to throw yourself into it and try your best to keep your head above water, resulting in shaken self-confidence and higher levels of self-doubt. The purpose of The DMC is to clear up that uncertainty, doubt, and lack of clarity by providing a detailed, drum major-specific resource for drum majors and educators. Put simply, this book exists to take the guesswork out of being a drum major!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dina Bratanovic is a music educator, business owner, and cat mom who resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex of Texas. She was a drum major for two years at Marcus High School, a drum major for three years with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas. She has taught drum majors nationwide for years through private lessons, clinics, and school partnerships. She continues to do so through The U Factor, her drum major specialist business that she founded, owns, and operates. She has experience as a drum major in all positions, including side/assistant, backfield, and front field, and has a deep understanding of each role as a result.
Dina is passionate about making the experience of being a drum major a positive one for everyone involved — the drum majors themselves, the directors, and the ensemble. She believes in and teaches a clean and crisp conducting technique that is anatomy-friendly and supports energy conservation, with the goal of preventing common drum major injuries and pain. Dina is dedicated to fostering positive team dynamics and personal growth, as well as helping her students excel in their roles, both on and off the field.
Dina was born in the United States, but her family and heritage are from Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result, she speaks English, Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian. Outside of the marching arts, Dina’s hobbies include writing poetry, riding horses, playing video games, spending time with her cat Binks, and watching anime and YouTube.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Drum Major Codex would not be possible without the supporting team that helped create it. All three of these incredible women have a background in the marching arts and made this book come to life in one way or another.
Kathryn Leaumont (Editor)
Kathryn Leaumont is an analyst by trade and a reader at heart. She recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a minor in Government. Though her arts these days tend toward fiber arts rather than the marching arts, she spent many years playing the flute in her high school marching band and is pleased to give back to a community that gave so much to her.
Leslee Morgan Abbott (Artist)
Leslee Morgan Abbott is a multimedia artist who enjoys traveling and reading. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education at the University of Central Oklahoma, with plans to pursue a Master's in Architecture. She has 8 years of color guard experience through her years at Morris High School, establishing the color guard at UCO, and competing for two seasons on the WGI circuit with OBU Independent and Mustang Independent.
Claire Wilcox (Contributor)
Claire Wilcox is a passionate disability advocate and sits on the board of the Collagen Advocacy Network. She served as head conductor for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from 2018 until she aged out in 2021. In 2019, she was recognized with the Jim Jones Leadership Award. Claire has taught private conducting lessons to students of all ages for eight years, and she has been a guest clinician at various drum major clinics around the United States. In her spare time, she loves to knit, crochet, and play with her dog, Remi.