780. The drum major is 3 paces in front of the center of the front rank, and gives the signals or commands for the movements of the band as for a squad, substituting in the commands _band_ for _squad_. _Signals of the Drum Major._ 781. Preparatory to a signal the staff is held with the right hand near the head of the staff, hand below the chin, back to the front, ferrule pointed upward and to the right. _Prepare to play:_ Face toward the band and extend the right arm to its full length in the direction of the staff. _Play:_ Bring the arm back to its original position in front of the body. _Prepare to cease playing:_ Extend the right arm to its full length in the direction of the staff. _Cease playing:_ Bring the arm back to its original position in front of the body. _To march:_ Turn the wrist and bring the staff to the front, the ferrule pointing upward and to the front; extend the arm to its full length in the direction of the staff. _To halt:_ Lower the staff into the raised left hand and raise the staff horizontally above the head with both hands, the arms extended; lower the staff with both hands to a horizontal position at the height of the hips. _To countermarch:_ Face toward the band and give the signal _to march_. The countermarch is executed by each front-rank man to the right of the drum major turning to the right about, each to the left, turning to the left about, each followed by the men covering him. The drum major passes through the center. _To oblique:_ Bring the staff to a horizontal position, the head of the staff opposite the neck, the ferrule pointing in the direction the oblique is to be made; extend the arm to its full length in the direction of the staff. _To march by the right flank:_ Extend the arm to the right, the staff vertical, ferrule upward, back of the hand to the rear. _To march by the left flank:_ Extend the arm to the left, the staff vertical, ferrule upward, back of the hand to the front. _To diminish front:_ Let the ferrule fall into the left hand at the height of the eyes, right hand at the height of the hip. _To increase front:_ Let the ferrule fall into the left hand at the height of the hip, right hand at the height of the neck. The _march_, _flourishes_, or _ruffles_: Bring the staff to a vertical position, hand opposite the neck, back of the hand to the front, ferrule pointing down. _To the color:_ Bring the staff to a horizontal position at the height of the neck, back of the hand to the rear, ferrule pointing to the left. When the band is playing, in marching, the drum major beats the time with his staff and supports the left hand at the hip, fingers in front, thumb to the rear. The drum major, with staff in hand, salutes by bringing his staff to a vertical position, head of the staff up and opposite the left shoulder. The drum major, marching in review with staff in hand, salutes by bringing his staff to a vertical position, head of the staff up and opposite the left shoulder.