To march DCI or not...that is the question?

[CMRO225]

Hey guys,

I was recently offered a spot to march with the Madison Scouts for this upcoming season. I accepting and am very excited about it. However, I have a few concerns. My goal is to be a performer. I know a lot of kids say that they won't lower themselves to do marching band or DCI because it's not a proper playing setting, but I really do enjoy marching band and DCI. I would love to do it, but at the same time, I'm spending $2400 to march plus other expenses. I'm also loosing out on a whole summer of working and making money. I currently don't own my own tuba and I could use all of that money to get my own CC tuba. Also 3 months with drum corps would probably hinder my progress towards what I'm working for right now.

I hope you guys can offer some input.

Thanks,
cmro225

[Jeffrey Hicks]

Dive in head first. Just do it....

[TexTuba]

Save the money and make more money by working during the summer.

[contraddictions88]

If you have not marched before, DO IT.

As I was told coming out of high school, you are going to end up with loans in the end anyways. The expereince you will gain is incredible. If the tuba tech is highly qualified you will learn the entire summer. I marched Crossmen 2008 and Cadets 2010 and each summer I finished with new ideas about playing, performing and teaching. The music techs and captions head will present different techniques and exercises that you can use and expand upon in your personal playing during the school year. You could also plan on marching a season and then taking a season off to help pay for a tuba. With the alumni support at Madison, it is possible that you can find someone to sponsor you for the summer, some of them might pay for huge chunks of you fees. The biggest thing is that you don't regret your choice. If you are really excited about it now, chances are, in August you will wish you were on the field instead of in the practice room.

I also came back from Crossmen in 2008 with some of the best chop endurance I've ever had.

[swillafew]

If you want to direct your own marching group as a career, it's a great investment of your time. If not, then perhaps not so much.

[USMCTuba]

I would say do it, unequivocally. Of course, since opinions are more or less like rear-ends, allow me to explain.

I was a performance major once upon a time and, once I was done, the one lesson I needed more than any other is that you don't learn to be a performer or a professional in a practice room. Being a performer is about meeting the needs of the crowd you have been contracted to entertain. War veterans young and old, fanatics familiar with your craft, random people that barely know you're there, etc. The more arenas you are familiar or even comfortable with, the more entertaining you'll be and the more you'll be worth as a performer. Being a professional is about knowing your place on the team, working well with others (even if you don't like them), putting out the very best product at all times and under all conditions. While your peers are being preoccupied with how fast they can play this or that excerpt, you'll be building the kind of character that will carry you much farther than so specific a skill. You'll be making friends, which is not only awesome in and of itself, but you never know who might be able to speak on your behalf later on down the line. You'll be learning about heartfelt dedication and how insignificant personal hardship is in it's wake. You'll be building the kind of all-weather confidence (literally and figuratively) that will carry you through the most important moments of the most important performance/audition. Of course trips to the woodshed are also incredibly important, but I would bet good money you'll practice more and with better instruction in your drum corps than your peers that feel they are too talented to sweat a little. Besides, if you can play fortissimo for two minutes after running around in circles for ten, don't you think you'll be able to play a few measures of Romeo and Juliet or Ride of the Valkyries sitting down?

The idea of marching music being beneath anyone, let along a student (ie: the "kids you know") not already making a living wage in a performing ensemble, or that there is only one "setting" worth study is absurd. If you're worried about blowing out your chops, I would submit that the directors and instructors at your corps have perfected the art of preparing your body and your face for the rigors to come. You will have a face (and more) made of tempered steel and a lung capacity to die for by the end of the season. Questions about the degradation your fine musical playing should be referred to YouTube vids of the Bari/Euph/Contra players at the solo competitions of past years. If you're worried about the money you'll be spending, I would submit that you will always be able to buy a horn; you will not always be able to march DCI. Consider it an investment in your overall development; I doubt you'll be unhappy with the dividends paid down the line.

Of course you have to weigh all the factors you have on your plate and make the choice yourself, just trust that the DCI experience will be a positive one on all fronts. And don't ever knock any performance opportunity until you've tried it, especially if it is going to broaden your spectrum of experience.

[bearphonium]

I'd do it, if given the opportunity. Leastways, my rear end would...

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Hey guys,

I was recently offered a spot to march with the Madison Scouts for this upcoming season. I accepting and am very excited about it. However, I have a few concerns. My goal is to be a performer. I know a lot of kids say that they won't lower themselves to do marching band or DCI because it's not a proper playing setting, but I really do enjoy marching band and DCI. I would love to do it, but at the same time, I'm spending $2400 to march plus other expenses. I'm also loosing out on a whole summer of working and making money. I currently don't own my own tuba and I could use all of that money to get my own CC tuba. Also 3 months with drum corps would probably hinder my progress towards what I'm working for right now.

I hope you guys can offer some input.

Thanks,
cmro225

I'm going to dismiss what anyone else has said about DCI (which shouldn't really be a major factor in YOUR decision, anyway) and summarize what you said about the situation.

Pros: "I'm very excited about it," "I enjoy it," "I would love to do it."
Cons: Spending $2400+, Losing a summer of working (can't make money towards my own tuba), Would "probably hinder my progress towards what I'm working for right now."

Looks like a pretty clear decision to me. The issue isn't whether DCI is "good" or not, or even if it's a valid musical experience (I believe it is). The issue is whether it's the right thing FOR YOU. From the information you presented in your OP, I'd say you've got a pretty clear choice, but I'm also a little confused since you said in the second sentence you've accepted. Is there a decision?

[Casey Tucker]

cmro225,
I was shortly with the scouts and will say that drum corps these days don't focus only on louder/faster/higher. The scouts do work extremely hard but I can say you won't regret it. If you play smartly there's no reason you should worry about your playing after. If you're worried about tour dues there is fund raising and legacy members give back to the organization by sponsoring new members. Plus, you'll come back in (possibly) the best shape of your life and with a wicked tan.

-CT

[tubacorbin]

I marched three years of corps. 2005 Academy, 2006 Vanguard, and 2008 Blue Devils. I found that the information I learned while marching was invaluable. I learned the value of working hard for something and seeing success. I learned what it means to really give your all to a task and to pursue a goal that seems impossible at times. Most importantly I learned what it means to be an entertainer. You have to put the audience first and learn how to perform with consistency. The expectations on me as a performer was perfection and instead of shying away from the pressure, I eventually learned to embrace it. The only way to learn a skill like that is by doing it everyday.

I ended up walking away after three years because I was worried about the effects that marching was having on my personal progression as a tuba player. When I would get back from summer my chops would feel like lead and were just plain tired. I eventually reached a point where I felt my summers would be better served practicing tuba and getting better. This being said, I feel that I would not be the tuba player I am today if I had not learned the lessons I did while marching drum corps. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone!

[fairweathertuba]

Maybe you coud talk to the bugle corps contra section leader or tech or whatever they are called and get some input from him about their tone producton concept. Just casually listening to a few snippets from various corps it seems that the contras aren't wrecking their chops, but hey check that out as much as possible before going in.

[CMRO225]

Well I'm a college sophomore. I'm at Murray State University (Kentucky) studying with Ray Conklin.

I guess my major concern is the money. I know that the staff at Madison is great and will do nothing to inhibit my playing ability. But I won't get my own personal practice time. I won't be able to go through my routine. But I know that they aren't going to do anything to make me any worse (other than not having my personal playing time).

It's basically a money thing. I have the money to march. But I'm concerned with the fact that I can't make any money this summer. That's something no alumni can give me.

[CMRO225]

Yes, I have a job. And I have a job lined up for this summer assuming I don't march.

[Tubaguy41]

March. You have a lifetime to make money and work on your chops. You only have so much time to participate in fun stuff like drum corps...and then real life takes over. See the country, get in great shape, make life-long friends (149+), learn how to work/play with others, and get the chance to perform in front of large crowds. Few things compare to the feeling of 20,000+ people giving you a standing ovation for your performance.

I wouldn't trade my time spent marching drum corps for ANYTHING. I have a Bachelors degree in music education, and I'm now getting Masters in music performance...marching for numerous years had NO ill effect on my progress or happiness as a musician.

In the end, it's your decision, and yours alone...but I guarantee you would have the time of your life and not regret your decision for a second if you marched with the Scouts (or a number of other corps) this summer.

[Bob Kolada]

That's a lot of money. I say don't go and spend the summer-
-playing tuba as much as you can, particularly in ensembles you might never think of (dixieland, rock bands,...)
-learning electric bass, after which you get comfortable on see what scholarship potential there is at your school for that
-spending the rest of the time working to get a Bb tuba hell, 2500 + the 2000 or whatever you'd make during the summer can you get you a sweet horn (even less will)

[ai698]

Well I'm a college sophomore. I'm at Murray State University (Kentucky) studying with Ray Conklin.

If you're there, talk to John Fannin and get his opinion. He marched Watkins Glen Squires forever and aged out with Guardsmen in 1980. He had a solid corps background, didn't hurt him especially since he started out in choir.

Both my kids are marching in an open class corps this summer. As one of my teacher's put it when I decided to march- you'll be working the rest of your life, you can only do corps just a few years. He retired a couple of years ago from The USAF Band in DC and marched Troopers. There's more to marching corps than see horn, play horn, march with horn.

[elimia]

March. You have a lifetime to make money and work on your chops. You only have so much time to participate in fun stuff like drum corps...and then real life takes over. See the country, get in great shape, make life-long friends (149+), learn how to work/play with others, and get the chance to perform in front of large crowds. Few things compare to the feeling of 20,000+ people giving you a standing ovation for your performance.

I wouldn't trade my time spent marching drum corps for ANYTHING. I have a Bachelors degree in music education, and I'm now getting Masters in music performance...marching for numerous years had NO ill effect on my progress or happiness as a musician.

In the end, it's your decision, and yours alone...but I guarantee you would have the time of your life and not regret your decision for a second if you marched with the Scouts (or a number of other corps) this summer.

Right on. You only have a short window in your life to do DCI. Perspective is everything in life. At your age, 3 months out of your life IS NOT going to derail any aspirations you have as a performance musician. When you're young, you are best served gaining as much varied experience as you can. Here is the other cold, hard fact of reality: it is very, very, very difficult to get a job as a professional performing tubist. Do yourself a favor and get a new skillset that you will be able to use in your life (learning drill, seeing how a professional operation like that runs). You never know when you may need to fall back on what you learned in Corps to earn some $s arranging, teaching sections, etc. The contacts you make in DCI can be very valuable in years ahead. You will also meet other music performance majors while in and get good cross-fertilization there.

I think you'd be crazy not to do it. The 3 months of learning, life experience, is worth its weight in gold. You have the rest of your life to spend in practice rooms, yet a chance to march with a level I corps is an eyelash in your life span.

Ryan

[opus37]

I echo the sentiment that you should march. Life is about experiences. I play with a former D&B guy and he loves to talk about his experience. You have your whole life to work and save. You'd be surprised how few opportunities you'll get to just experience life.

[toobagrowl]

Kinda surprised at the pro-DCI sentiment on this thread, but oh well.
Like others have said, you should make a "pro" and "con" list to march DCI. If I were in your shoes I would personally keep the job over this coming summer (aren't jobs hard enough to find in this economy?), make and save money, buy a good BBb and practice on my own time and routine and still have time for fun over summer.

[CMRO225]

Well when I buy a tuba, it will be a CC tuba. I switched over my first semester and I'm so glad I did. I greatly prefer CC to BBb, but it's just a personal equipment preference. I'm grateful I'm at a school that has quality CCs for me to use, but with only two years left before I get ready to head to grad school, I really need to have my own horns. I plan on purchasing a CC first and then an F a few months after that.