Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

In this At Step Off bonus episode of On A Water Break, Jack Goudreau talks with Paula Braiden about the world of Scottish and Northern Irish drum major competition — from adjudication and flourish design to dress inspection, musicality, leadership, and the international performance work of The Force.

Paula shares how a family tradition led her into the activity, what judges are really looking for, why presentation matters, and how drum majoring builds confidence, discipline, and leadership far beyond the competition circle.

In this episode:

• What Scottish drum major competition looks like

• How drum majors are judged in Scotland and Northern Ireland

• Why uniform, dress, and detail matter in scoring

• How flourish routines balance simplicity and effect

• Paula’s competition memories and teaching philosophy

• What The Force is and where it performs

• Why drum majoring teaches leadership from the front

Guest: Paula Braiden
Host: Jack Goudreau

Featured quote:
“The leadership of the drum major is essential.”

Find On A Water Break:
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wgaml1T115IsvvZd0XheT
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-a-water-break/id1653637341
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterBreakPodcast

Find The Force:
Website: https://theforce.events/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theforce.events/

Follow:
OAWB: @onawaterbreak
Jack Goudreau: @goudreau_
The Force: @theforce.events