Zionsville Indoor Percussion (ZIP)

If you think of percussion players as standing idly in the back of the band, not doing much–think again! Indoor Percussion is a pageantry activity that gives students the opportunity to combine sport and art together in a competitive environment. Essentially, it is an indoor, winter version of the drumline and front ensemble that perform with the marching band in the fall. It is a team sport in which everyone that joins will participate in every event.

Percussion performers have a designated style of marching that differs from classic winds marching technique. Their shows are dramatic, exciting, and compelling. Indoor percussion shows generally last between 4-6 minutes consisting of 3 or more “movements,” akin to a symphonic work with multiple movements. Performers take months to learn a single show due to the complexity of the music, choreography, and drill. 

Michael Rennaker will introduce the new show each year at the Call Out/Parent Info Meeting for ZIP.

Classes

Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) and Winter Guard International (WGI) organize groups in two ways using three-letter acronyms. For example, on a schedule, you’ll see (PSA), (PSO), and (PSW). The first letter in the acronym denotes whether it is a Percussion (P) or Wind (W). The second letter in the acronym refers to the organization type. School-affiliated groups are Scholastic (S). Independent groups are marked with (I). The third letter in the acronym describes the group’s merit. Merit-based classifications are from lowest to highest: Regional A (RA), A (A), Open (O), and World (W). Groups elect which class they wish to participate in, but may be reclassified up or down on the recommendation of judges to IPA or WGI, or by the WGI reclassification committee. Zionsville HS is PSO in 2025, indicating we are a Percussion Scholastic Open class group.

ZIP Cadet competes in Festival Performance - Movement (FPM) Class, specific to IPA (there is no WGI counterpart to this class, most state circuits have some form of “novice” class but all call it different things.)

Scoring and Judging

Every competition has a panel of judges in four categories: music, visual, musical effect, and visual effect. Judges evaluate our themed show, which is usually 4-6 minutes and contains 3-4 songs or movements. 

Music and Visual Execution judges score groups on both composition (the what) and achievement (the how). Scores tend to move in tandem with the composition score being slightly higher than the achievement score, although this is not always the case.

Music and Visual Effect judges score groups on both Overall Effect, and their designated effect caption, Music Effect, or Visual Effect. Both effect judges look at how well the music and visual packages work together to create a cohesive and compelling show. 

Judges watch and listen to the show either from the top of the bleachers or lower towards the floor, depending on their caption. They record developmental feedback during the performance for us to listen to. Scores are recorded out of 100 possible points, with each caption (music, visual, effect) accounting for a percentage of the total score. Top ranking groups each year score in the 94+ range. 

Practices

While we practice a lot and maintain a high level of focus, performers report practicing is actually fun! We make sure to allot adequate breaks and facilitate variety in how we spend our time together. All members will receive a detailed practice calendar for the entire season in November before registration. You may use the ZIP General Calendar or check the full ZCHS Bands Calendar to make plans as needed ahead of November. 

Attendance

Being competitive is a choice. Each year, members set high standards and goals for themselves. They want to feel successful and hope to win! Unlike many sports or activities, ZIP is a true collaborative effort–if even one member is missing, we have a hole in our drill and music we can’t fill with anyone else. This is the strength of the activity: everyone is important! This is also the central challenge because everyone is important. We understand things happen. But we also request you try to plan around the ZIP calendar as much as possible. We need all members to attend each practice with focus and determination.

Practice Method

ZCHS Bands prioritize growth in challenging material over the course of a season. This means we rarely have a full show on the floor until mid-season. Our method is to offer participants a challenge, and then encourage, coach, and guide them towards effective execution over time. We will clean and perfect the material before we move on to learning new material. This accounts for the cognitive load of the marching arts. We practice until skills, songs, and movements become automatic. We demonstrate mastery when we can perform a show, not just complete it. As we demonstrate mastery over the beginning stages of our show, later pieces come easier. Then, next year, our skills elevate even higher to grow and develop our program towards excellence. This aligns with best educational practices and promotes meaningful lifelong learning skills.

Annual Fees and Other Costs to Consider

Once upon a time, running an effective competitive band program didn't cost much. Modern programs, though, are different. The marching arts combines compelling visuals with complex music in a theatrical performance. It rolls dancing, synchronous movements, beautiful playing and music, and acting all into one. Some of the costs  are: 

• copyright fees

• transportation

• entry fees

• maintenance

• uniforms

• Instruments and other equipment 

• staff

• props

• color guard tools, and 

• show design and writing 

The costs for each has increased exponentially in the last ten years. Meanwhile, public education funding dollars for the arts have decreased. We work extremely hard to minimize costs to ensure ZCHS Bands remain accessible to all. Yet, it does cost money to maintain a competitive program. Families may offset costs through fundraising efforts provided by the Band Boosters. It is never ZCHS Band’s wish that anyone should not participate due to the cost. Connect with the Band Booster Treasurer with questions and concerns.