By day, Russ Rossi is a highway designer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. But on Saturday evenings in the winter and spring, he directs 29 Elizabeth Forward High School percussionists as they compete in a series of indoor events commonly known as "indoor" or "winter" guard.

Mr. Rossi's group, and dozens of other local student ensembles, brush up on their "drop spins" and cadences during practices.

Winter guard competitions are local and regional events for young people though age 22. They perform as individual units in various color guard and percussion groups. The competing groups represent school districts and performance schools.

"We started discussing this year's show right after Thanksgiving [and marching band season]," said Mr. Rossi, who is also an assistant director of Elizabeth Forward's marching band.

Several scholastic color guards and percussion groups begin planning for three- to five-minute-long winter routines shortly after the football season ends in the fall to compete in one of two circuits: the Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association and the Tournament Indoor Association.

Both feed into larger circuits, the Winter Guard International and the Tournament of Bands, a mid-Atlantic organization.

Some groups compete nationally while others do only regional circuits, said Jan McMahon, circuit director for Three Rivers ensemble, which has about 50 participating units. Most of the scholastic units include students who are also involved with their school's marching band, she said.

Percussion groups such as Mr. Rossi's are much more than a traditional marching drum line. They also feature melodic percussion instruments such as vibraphones and electronic pianos, and battery percussions such as snare drums and cymbals. Chimes, gongs and marimbas also are thrown into the mix.

"It's very demanding. They are a very select group of dedicated students," said Matthew O'Neil, director of North Allegheny's percussionists.

His group of 25 male and female musicians practices seven hours throughout the week after school and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, when it isn't traveling to shows.

"It's more on a personal level," since it's only one unit and not an entire marching band, said Jessica Reno, 16, of Mars Area's winter drum line.

In contrast to the drills and routines of the marching band of football season, these drummers incorporate movement and facial expressions to create a more theatrical musical interpretation.

"It's more intimate [than a halftime performance]," said Maria Palmer, Elizabeth Forward's color guard director.

She added that more lower body movements are required from the color guard and percussionists for indoor events, where the audience is "right there."

"Dance has become a very big thing with winter color guard and percussion," said Ms. Palmer.

"The events are cool because you see things you wouldn't normally see -- especially from the independent groups," said Jen Rudge, who leads West Allegheny's color guard.

More emphasis is placed on costuming, scenery, makeup and visual effects, she added.

One independent group, the Top Hats of Pittsburgh, took first place in the Individual Open division at a Winter Guard International regional meet at Norwin High School on Feb. 2. Using flags, prop rifles and sabers, the young men and women performed to a piano version of Eric Carmen's "All by Myself."

The Top Hats consist of young people from all over the city. Several are college students who attend schools here and still enjoy performing, said Top Hats director Paula Sikorski. They come together for weekly practices at Pressley Ridge's North Side facility.

In addition to all the preparation for performances, Ms. Sikorski said the cost of taking a group and its equipment to at least nine Three Rivers ensemble shows and a Winter Guard championship in Dayton, Ohio, can really add up.

"Funding is a major thing for an individual organization," she said.

The Top Hats sell concessions at University of Pittsburgh and Steelers football games to help pay for gym time, contest registration fees, transportation and costumes and other equipment for their shows.

Mr. O'Neil estimates that the North Allegheny group spends roughly $7,000 per season. He said registration fees are about $300 and the group spends another $700 for music. He said North Allegheny is fortunate in that it has been sponsored by several large, local companies and has an active parent booster organization.

Selling hoagies, cookie dough and candy and having an "extremely supportive" boosters group also help Elizabeth Forward attend seven Tournament Indoor shows, mostly in northwestern and southwestern Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Forward will travel to Wildwood, N.J., in May for a Mid-Atlantic competition.

Support also comes from the district athletic department, which grants gym time, said band director Dave Cornelius.

Adding to the total expense, most ensembles travel with their own vinyl tarps, which are worth about $1,500 and are large enough to cover an entire gym floor, said Gateway High School band director Robert Read.

"They eliminate the distraction of the gym floor," he said, adding that they also guarantee protection for the floor's surface.

Mr. Read oversees 26 color guard members and 34 percussionists. He also is in his fourth year of directing Penn-Trafford High School's winter guard group. He said winter guard is a passion for many instructors who spend long hours for little monetary compensation.

It also is a passion for Ben Sagucia, who is 22 and is in his fifth and last year with the Top Hats.

"It's really helped me with time management. It takes up your whole weekend," said Mr. Sagucia, an Indiana University of Pennsylvania special education major.

Miss Reno, of Mars' percussion line, said: "It's so [big] in my life. The group really gives me confidence in everything I do. Before I got into it, I was such a shy kid."

Ms. McMahon, of Three Rivers ensemble, added: "Once it's in your blood, what else do you have to do on a Saturday night?"