Meet Tony, Director of Title Strategy
Tony isn’t the one holding sticks or setting tempos. He’s not behind a keyboard typing out notation either. Tony is the Director of Title Strategy here at DrumlineWarmups.com and PRFB.net, and while his role might sound made up, it’s arguably one of the most important jobs on the team. He’s the reason your warmup routine starts with a smirk.While others sweat over flams and drags, Tony sweats over words. His mind lives somewhere between a poet and a prankster, a historian and a hype man. Every name he crafts carries intention. Some are subtle nods to percussion history. Others are inside jokes only your section will understand by finals week. And some are just so weird and oddly specific, you’ll be saying them out loud for years without ever knowing why they work. But they do. Every time.
Tony approaches each new title like a master distiller refining his latest batch. He pulls in flavor from the feel of the exercise, the groove of the rudiments, and the shared identity of the percussion sections. Then he trims away everything unnecessary until he’s left with something clean, clever, and totally unforgettable. It’s equal parts wordsmithing and wizardry. And like any true artist, Tony doesn’t explain his process. He just sends over the title and disappears into the mist. No follow-up, no context. Just a word or phrase that somehow captures the exact vibe of an exercise built to melt your hands off. You’ll never fully understand how he does it. But you’ll always know when it’s his. Without him, rehearsal would just be noise without a name.
If you’d like to request a warmup name from Tony please reach out to him on the BlueSky app!
Tony can also be contacted by email: Tony (at) DrumlineWarmups (dot) com
Tony’s Official Job Description
The Percussion Director of Title Strategy is responsible for the creative development and assignment of titles for all percussion warmups and exercises. This role requires a deep understanding of percussion pedagogy, ensemble culture, and the unique identity of the percussion community. By crafting names that are memorable, engaging, and aligned with the spirit and function of each piece, the Director of Title Strategy helps establish a consistent brand voice and enhances the educational and motivational value of each exercise.
Working closely with percussion arrangers, educators, and content developers, this role ensures that every title reflects the character, difficulty, or thematic intent of the material. A successful candidate brings a strong sense of language, tone, and creative alignment, along with a sharp ear for the subtle humor and traditions that define percussion culture.
This position plays a key role in creating cohesion across the curriculum and enriching the overall experience for performers and instructors alike.
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Inventing warmup titles that are simultaneously cryptic, clever, and impossible to forget
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Balancing humor, tradition, and inside jokes in every name
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Keeping the drumline guessing with titles that spark curiosity and camaraderie
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Approving (or silently vetoing) any suggested title not up to the Tony standard
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Maintaining the Codex of Warmup Names — a sacred, mostly blank book that serves as a ceremonial prop
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Serving as the unofficial morale officer through the power of perfectly named drills
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Exceptional creativity and a deep love for wordplay
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An encyclopedic knowledge of rudiments, marching band culture, and bad puns
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Ability to work under pressure and with minimal input (because Tony likes to keep things mysterious)
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A sense of humor sharp enough to cut through the loudest drumline chaos
Tony’s FAQ: The Director of Title Strategy Edition
A: Nope. Tony doesn’t touch a stick. His instrument is language.
A: Legend says it involves coffee, a thesaurus, and maybe a dash of magic.
A: Because Tony believes warmups should be memorable, and keeps the line on its toes.
A: You can try, but Tony’s veto power is real, and he loves to keep things his own.
A: In the Codex of Warmup Names, a notebook he waves around for dramatic effect.
