Who marched drum corps?

[windshieldbug]

Reading Buccaneers 1978-1980 and again 1982 - 85

Was Parkes still there? He was our WCS DMajor 1976

[porkchopsisgood]

I almost got a ring....

Star of Indiana '90 and '91.....

1990: Caught acute rheumatic fever....no go....

1991: Caught a paying gig.....same result.....

Oh well....but I love the activity and will always get a thrill out of watching it.

And personally I feel, with the right influences and direction from a good band director, drum corps' influence on HS marching band is incredibly positive. It's when band directors who have no idea how to implement drum corps techniques into their programs that a problem develops.

Spend a couple of weeks tagging a drum corps....I guarantee they'd be happy to have ya....

[tubaribonephone]

JOSH07 IS STUPID!!!

I may be stupid, but I don't stoop to calling people names, or insulting them. And that doesn't make DCI not stupid.

Tubaribonephone can suck my *****.

Ok, first off, you can't take a joke, can you?

And second of all, by calling DCI stupid, you are not only insulting a very great and patriotic activity (lets not forget that Drum and Bugle Corps started with the VFW ) but also litterally thousands and thousands of young men and women who have marched year after year as far back as the mid-to early 1950's.

And third of all, I completely agree with SymphonicBeast, telling me to do what you said is "SO uncalled for". What I said I consider a little childish, yes, but what you said is something that is just plain and simple, wrong.

[Joe Baker]

What am I missing here?

Drum corps is like a marching band on steroids (yes, I know... they come from different origins -- I'm just talking about the end result). Marching band drills vary from simple to difficult, right? The elite drum corps start at difficult and extend well into the impossible, while at the same time playing VERY, VERY difficult music EXTREMELY well. With typically about 100 players on the field, these guys will blow the hair off your head, too. No description will really do, though; you just have to see it to understand. Anybody know of some decent online video clips?

I won't pretend to understand all of the complaints against drum corps, but the one we used to hear all the time was that they play too loud, ruining their chops for "real" playing (the presumption being, first, that all brass players had an orchestra gig as their ultimate goal). That argument is falling pretty flat these days, given the number of former corps players in the top echelon of American Symphonies.

If I understand Charlie correctly (and I hope he will explain his stance a bit more, as I really do want to understand) his complaint is that the High Schools are trying to do the same type of show as the elite corps are doing, and it's just too much to ask (learning and executing the drill, not so much performing the music) of EVERY marching band kid -- especially for those kids who don't give a flip about marching, and are only doing marching band because it's required of students who want to be in concert band.

I respect those who differ, but would offer an opposing view: my son has benefitted greatly from the influence of the drum corps. He was only slightly interested in band until seeing his first drum corps, but has put in tremendous effort and improved drastically as a player largely BECAUSE he hopes to play in a drum corps. His interest in corps has since blossomed into interest in many other types of music, as well. So I would definitely say it's been a huge positive for my kid.

FWIW, we'll be at the DCI show in Murfreesboro, TN tonight. Anyone else going?
_____________________________________
Joe Baker, who has never been in a corps, but would join a Sr. corps if there were one within 100 miles.

[ai698]

Let's see-

Nova 1980-81 (parade corps), we used piston- rotor horns, I still have the contra and my sister's bass baritone
Troopers 1982 contra
Arizona Musketeers 1988 brass staff, corps folded two weeks before tour
Legend of Texas 2000 support staff, corps folded the next season

Marching drum corps gave me the discipline to become a better player and get me through college. It also make Air Force basic training a piece of cake. Drum corps been very, very good to me.

[ken k]

Reading Buccaneers 1978-1980 and again 1982 - 85

Was Parkes still there? He was our WCS DMajor 1976

Yes, the "mace-bearing professor" was there. Quite the motivator. I also got to work with him in 1985 as the assistant horn line instructor. That was a treat.

So if you were at WCS back then you probalby knew half the BUCS horn line. Denny Kline, Walker Penoch, Bill Smith are three who come to mind, can't think of any others right now; I think half the horn line was music majors at either West Chester, Millersville, Delaware, Penn State or Mansfield or band directors. It was a killer horn line that stayed very consistent for about 3 years, then later in the 80's it fell upon hard times.

[THE TUBA]

I have not marched in a drum corp yet, but I hope to in the future. The Carolina Crown drum corps has their spring training at my high school for the past few years (excluding the year previous to this one), and I have followed DCI very closely for the past three years, so I think my opinion shoud count for something. The argument that some people are making that drum corps is bad is very similar to a thread I saw on another website about marching band in general.

"One point that he made was that it can really damage your sightreading or just overall reading ablility. He said that while in marching band you're not pushing/ challenging yourself nearly as much as you should (musically) because if you think about it, you're spending about 6 or so months, on only 3 movements and thats all you ever practice.He was saying that if you think about it, within the course of those 6 months,a player could have learned very many NEW skills but yet all they practice are the ones they already know,so when it comes time for Region/State or Concert Festival, they've limited themselves so much that (unless they practice frequently) they may have a harder time sightreading any type of rythems because they may not have been exposed to them before. He said that this could well limit the growth of your reading skills.

He said that off-season, "marchers" tend to practice way less than they ever do because,they get a feeling of relief and something tells them "well the seasons over, i've done my part, I dont have to worry about playing until we get next seasons music" and they never really do anything to make THEMSELVES better, individual, players, which would actually HELP the next season.

He spoke about volume,intonation, and also a type of "marching style" (so he called it), and how these are most seen/heard in trumpet players off season.(i really had no clue what he meant by that one....)


The only good thing he said about marching band was that it keeps a band together, whether it be tempo wise, friendship, or simply loyalty."


You could very easily make the same arguments about drum corps. The fact of the matter is, this is only true for some cases. I can see how doing a bad drum corp with bad staff can be detrimental, but I cannot see how participating in a good corp or a great corps can cause you harm. This is like saying playing high is bad for your chops. Playing high the wrong way is bad for your chops.
BTW: drum corps has changed from the 70's and 80's

[Leland]

He was saying that if you think about it, within the course of those 6 months,a player could have learned very many NEW skills but yet all they practice are the ones they already know,...

I understand this point, and I've known some longtime corps members that couldn't sightread very well.

What some people don't understand is that "skills" aren't simply learning a huge variety of notes. Another set of skills involves playing the small details extremely well -- and with consistency. Like it or not, this usually involves repetition.

Getting all those performers to march & play correctly is a pretty complex task, too. The performances you see at Finals are leaps & bounds better than what arrived on the field in June. Kids often don't get to experience the playing side of an extremely well-executed performance, but once they do, they understand what's possible in any future ensembles.

Yet another skill to learn is flexibility. Broadway performers understand this well, dealing with numerous changes & alterations and making them sound as if they've always been there. When you have 50-odd shows over the summer, it's natural to add & take away segments to improve the overall production, and then convincingly perform them for the public.

There are certainly benefits to this hyper-critical approach to performing. I'd also say that, ideally, a player would have both experiences -- super detailed refinement of a single production, and learning how to read & quickly assemble a wide variety of other works & styles.

(do I sound tired? Forgive me if I do -- I'm simply beat tonight...)[/i]

[TubaRay]

If anything I think in Texas not enough schools have orchestras!

I really agree with this(if I understand the comment, correctly).

[TubaRay]

Would the strings squads use white fiberglass instruments and bows?

Would the basses use straps, carts, or carry them on the shoulder? I think that there might be a market for basses that are made of white fiberglass with bodies that swing up onto the player's shoulder and a fingerboard that is located in a place that is not quite comfortable.

You could spin and toss the bows, too.

Good point, Wade! One of the effects of DCI on high school bands has provided a marketing Mecca for the sale of various types of equipment which are only necessary for use in the marching band. For instance, we all understand the need for multiple bass drums and quints in ANY musical ensemble. How could ANY of them survive without these?

[KenS]

In Take the Money and Run, Woody Allen plays the cello in his HS marching band during a parade.

OUTSTANDING!

[hydeuphonium]

Blue Devils
02 03 and 04
Lead Bari

It's good because A) you have these kids playing everday, unlike kids that just sit around all summer and play video games, B) It keeps kids in shape, C) These kids get to see the United States AND with some corps.. Europe and Japan.. D) Where else are you ever going to get to perform in front of 25,000 SCREAMING fans?


thats my take on it..

[Leland]

I'd like to see a tally of mature vs. immature posts in this thread.

[Leland]

Had to relate to this one...

Personally, I feel that many band directors are out of there depth when teaching during marching season and harm their students via very bad information regarding breathing, tone production, articulation, et cetera.

(true story)

I'm talking with a flute player after band one day, and she says that her back has been hurting after marching rehearsals.

"Where does it hurt?" I ask.

"Right here," she says, pointing to her lower-mid back.

"Do you lift up your chest, roll your shoulders back, and set your weight down on your hips like Dr. D says to do?"

"Yes, and it still hurts," she replies.

"Ah, then that's your problem. Here's what you really should do..." I spend the next few minutes having her correct her posture, straightening up and lifting off of her hips, etc.

"Oh... oh wow, that really helps! Thanks a lot!"

... Talk about clueless band directors harming students...

(oh, and I didn't really learn how to march in marching band...)

[ThomasDodd]

FWIW, we'll be at the DCI show in Murfreesboro, TN tonight. Anyone else going?

I wish I'd seen this sooner...

I was there. I was impressed with the Cavaliers. They looked and sounded much better than in Memphis. I was disappointed that the Blue Coats had not imporved as much as I expected.

Who was it that had the big contra soli, up front? Phantom Regiment?
It was cool, but should be better by finals:)

I need to get the audio from the show, and look for a video.

Joe Baker, who has never been in a corps, but would join a Sr. corps if there were one within 100 miles.

I hear Music City Legend is looking for a baritione to fill their last hole. With two practices before Scranton, it a crunch.
See the schedule for dates/time.

It's about the same distance for you as I travel for rehearsal with the Jackson Generals.

[RyanMcGeorge]

Velvet Knights, 96
Santa Clara Vanguard, 99

Both amazing experiences that I would never trade.

[Joe Baker]

The show was great. I just couldn't get over the sound of the Cavs contras! When they played their encore number, I was standing just at the end of the contra line. My gosh, I would give anything to have a sound as clean and full as the guy on the end closest to the stands. I would love to take those who argue that it's all about "louder/faster/higher" to hear this guy.

As to the Nashville corps, that 100 miles is a pretty hard limit. In a couple of years, when our youngest is in college, I'll be a lot more amenable to traveling a couple hundred miles to play music; but for now I just can't afford the time. I WOULD definitely want to play baritone, though, rather than contra. My neck and shoulder already cause me quite enough trouble, thank you!
_____________________________________
Joe Baker, whose son bought a CD that night of historical recordings of the Madison Scouts (from the mid-60's to sometime in the last couple of years), and who was astonished at the overall improvement in playing since the mid-to-late '70's.

[greatk82]

I marched with the Reading Buccaneers in '96-'97. I would still be there if it wouldn't be so difficult to make it to camps from Iraq. Those dang blackhawk flights never are reliable....

[ken k]

DCI East in Allentown, PA this Friday and Saturday evenings.

See you there...
ken k

[TheChiefofStaph]

_____________________________________
Joe Baker, whose son bought a CD that night of historical recordings of the Madison Scouts (from the mid-60's to sometime in the last couple of years), and who was astonished at the overall improvement in playing since the mid-to-late '70's.

This is an interesting point as well. Some folks who aren't keen on drum corps are using as their point of reference shows they saw (or those who gave them that opinion saw) in the 60s and 70s, before corps made the jump from simply blowing their brains out to a genuinely musical experience.

And before some vet who marched in this era starts yelling at me... of course not all corps in the 60s were unmusical, but today even smaller or non-top-25 corps strive for musicality while that would have been less common 30 or so years ago. A lot of this has to do with the availablity of musical instruments with a fuller set of valves (though still not enough for some of us tuba players.. "when can I have my five valve contra?? That low B would.. uh.. really come in handy on the field?") and higher quality instruments in general.