Drum Corps

[Leland]

Hmm, let's see, where do I start...

What you'll probably encounter is a different playing style than you've ever seen before. Every corps hornline that's at least halfway decent spends a LOT of time and effort on achieving a well-blended, homogenous sound.

You'll have at least one person specifically in charge of the contrabasses... sorry, "tubas"... and they'll nitpick as much as possible to get you guys to play together. That person -- or "tech", as we say -- will be there in horn arc, on the field in ensemble rehearsal, and running sectionals. You must TRUST that person to tell you what's going on and how to fix things.

You'll also have people whose job is to clean up your marching. They'll chase you around the field, giving instruction on dress points, intervals, phasing corrections, foot placement, on and on. Those people need your trust, too.

So... my point?

You probably play well enough, and hopefully you have enough body control to learn SCV's marching style (there may be a typical "corps style", but the well-trained eye can spot notable differences among even the top eight). So, your skills probably aren't a factor.

What you'll need is a willingness to learn, to pay attention, and to put aside your own ego. Drum corps is a collective performance effort, and prima donnas are never appreciated (one mantra of another corps is, "If you're not part of the sound, you're part of the problem.").

You'll play damn loud, true, but you'll learn how to do it with clarity, control, and taste. You'll also learn the subtleties of every dynamic level below that. You'll learn all the ins & outs of putting a successful program on the field and how to teach any kids that you might find yourself in front of.

You won't learn a huge variety of music. But, you'll find out what a performance executed to near-perfection sounds like, and you'll be able to take that concept with you to any other ensemble.

My advice in one sentence? Shut up , listen, and work hard.

Sounds blunt, I know, but it's to the point. I've only been doing this for 18 years.

[Bandmaster]

I've had 25 kids from the youth band I used to direct (The Sound Machine) that made it into Vanguard, two were Contra (Tuba) players. My first advise... start practicing your marching skills now!!!!! They almost put more importance on your movement skills over your playing skills. I had several SCV alumni working as marching techs for me, so my kids had many of Vanguard's movement concepts down before they auditioned. Both my tuba players made Contra section leader for SCV, one when he was a rookie! That was back in 1997 and 1998. I also had one make it into Blue Devils' contra section, and again marching meant everything. The top drum corps believe it is easier to teach a kid to play their horn better than it is to teach them to move better. My second piece of advise... work on your breathing!

[Jobey Wilson]

oh, the memories...I marched Cavies 94-96. SCV is a very physically demanding corps. Get into the best physical shape you can NOW! Makes the summer MUCH easier! Nowadays, I probably couldn't make it half way through the Planets. Drum Corps did wonders for me during a crucial time in my life (16-19)...you will learn the true meaning of discipline...not too far off from bootcamp. Good luck, and have a great summer.

[hurricane_harry]

i may not have th experiance that some of these guys do but i'll tell you what *I* encountered.drum corps have totally eliminated the stereo-type of a fat tuba player, and for good reason, if you want to get into shape for drum corps you should work on just pure sprinting until your body gives out, then do it twice as long, if you watch drum corps on tv watch the yardline markers and how quickly it takes a player to move from one to another. another thing is breath control, it would be good to get a daily regiment of breathing exersises to hone your techinique and stick to it. most of all you should relax when you get there, you could very well be spending every waking moment of your summer with these people, so it would be good to make some friends rather than foes.

[tubajoe]

mmmm... drum corps....

such a nasty musical habit....

SCV's brass program is very good. Tom Lukowicz is their tuba tech -- he's a great player -- went to Oberlin and is now doing his masters at USC studying with Tommy Johnson and Jim Self. He has done quite a bit of playing himself and I am sure will teach you tons about tuba playing in general.

SCV is very competitive -- but is one of the better organizations out there. You might already be past the audition time tho... but if you stay with it, you might be able to snag a spot if someone bails out.

These days you can expect to get lots of good experience and training in correct basic brass playing in the top groups. It used to not be that way 20 years ago, but now days things are totally above the line. Instructors are usually accomplished players/educators themselves and the whole approach to brass playing is no different than what you learn in a brass pedagogy class or college private lessons.

Plus, you get to play your axe for 12 hours a day. That's a good thing.

You will be playing a Bb tuba (top corps dont use G bugles anymore). That helps too. Have a great summer -- and get used to doing lots of pushups.

[Leland]

So, on a tangent:

Why aren't any of the top 30 or so corps using G bugles?

Recruiting. No other reason. The BBb tubas sound worse (too much brighter than the GG contras) and don't tune any better. The trumpets, too, are too tinny and just can't match the G sopranos for ensemble sound and graceful loud volumes.

Notice that nowhere in this thread has there been, nor will there ever be, a comment about "losing your BBb/CC/Eb/F tuba chops by playing a GG contrabass for eight hours a day all summer long."

That was always the roughest thing to try to answer for when DCI corps only used G horns. All the so-called "serious" players and teachers -- mainly the ones who never marched corps -- always had bad things to say about the different key.

I already miss the G hornlines, so I get my "G fix" with DCA.

Anyway...

All the comments about being able to march well are right on, too. Be able to move quickly for a decent amount of time without having to huff & puff too much. Surprisingly, it'll be easier on your lungs because you'll be playing tuba since its air demands closely resemble high-level cardio activity.

If you play extremely well, but have no movement control or can't jog down the block without falling over, you're going to be hurting pretty badly on the marching field. Be strong & fast, and you'll be able to give yourself a good platform to support good playing technique.

[ThomasDodd]

I'm just worried that I won't be able to play loud enough, I'm kinda small a little under 140.

I've noticed the horn makes a big difference. The little DEG 2v I'm playing is much louder than any tuba I've ever played. And the K90 I blew last weekend was even better. Not sure about teh ne Bb horns in the corps, but they are probably nealy as loud.

I'm 5'9" and 145lbs, so I doubt you have trouble