Kyle Swartz went to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where he studied Psychology with a minor in music. Kyle marched mellophone with Carolina Crown from 2008-11, then aged out with the Madison Scouts in 2012, when he received the award for “Visual Rookie of the Year.” Kyle’s teaching career began at York High School in Yorktown, VA where he was the visual caption head from 2008-16.
In 2013, he taught the visual program for James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, SC when Byrnes became the 5A Upper State Champions. After aging out from drum corps in 2012, Kyle joined the Madison Scouts visual staff where he taught for three years. In 2017, Kyle followed Blake Daughtery and the team to the Crossmen, now in his third year as a visual tech.
Kyle is now a full-time drill designer, writing drill for marching bands throughout southeast including York High School (2014 US Bands VA State Champion, 2015 US Bands Southern States Champion) and James F. Byrnes High School (2016 SC 5A State Champion, 2014 BOA Jacksonville Class 4A Champions, 2016/17 4A Champions at Winston-Salem Regional, 2-time BOA semifinalist), among numerous other programs throughout the country.
Kyle Swartz is an active educator and designer for the marching arts
Services
Kyle offers a wide variety of services in the marching arts including custom drill design, program consultation, adjudication, and staff/educational coordination.
Custom Drill Design
I began practicing drill writing 8 years ago. I began writing by hand, through web-based applications, and doing rewrites for programs I taught. By 2011, I began using the Pyware drill-writing software and writing full shows for band programs. My goals as a drill writer are to design an effective, easy-to-teach show while fitting into the long-term development of your band program.
Includes:
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Drill Charts (tailored to your desires)
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Cast List (if desired)
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Video Animations (tailored to your desires)
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Unlimited Communication
Pricing varies and is negotiable. Contact me for more info.
Click here to read more about pricing and my approach to drill writing.
Click here to see samples of my work.
Program Consultation/Staff Coordination
Show and concept design is constantly changing in the marching arts. As an active educator and designer within the DCI and high school marching band community, I can help you with the development of your show/concept. Through my experiences I have developed many connections in the marching arts community, allowing me to help develop a team of staff for your program. This may include many options:
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Leading brainstorming sessions to reach an initial concept or idea
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Connecting you with designers/educators (music, guard, percussion, etc.)
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Developing music ideas and outlining the music for your show
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Overseeing the entire development and coordinating all aspects of your program
Please contact me for more info.
Educational/Adjudication Services
I am most experienced in the educational and technicalities of the marching arts. My teaching methods are most heavily influenced by Donnie VanDoren (former Star of Indiana brass caption head), Matt Harloff (Carolina Crown brass caption head), and Andrew Ebert (former Carolina Crown visual caption head, currently Madison Scouts visual designer). These educators have developed some of the most efficient teaching methods for the marching arts, shown by the success of their respective programs and through my own personal practice of their methods. Services include:
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Full-time teaching of your program (visual and/or music)
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Clinician (short-term teaching of your program)
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Staff training (pass on my educational methods either in person or through internet services)
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Adjudication at marching band competitions (visual, general effect, or music)
Please contact me for more info.
Animated Pyware samples and live performance samples
Portfolio
Contact Me
Feel free to contact me (form on the right or any of the contact info below) in regards to availability, services, fees, etc.
757-812-0016
