As anyone who has been through the experience can attest, staging a drum corps event in one’s local community is not always an easy sell. While our own hearts and energies are directed toward promoting the marching arts, one of our greatest challenges is to convince our neighbors this really is a big deal, and worthy of their attention.

Many support components, including everything from local volunteers, willing facility managers, corporate sponsors, local media, and help from political leaders must come together for any event to prosper. The community’s previous experience with our product is also key.

Planning to host the DCA World Championships requires all the same. This year, DCA’s championship host, the Empire Statesmen, is benefiting from decades of good will generated by their founder, the late Vince Bruni, and those who have continued his works to deliver a positive drum corps experience to the Greater Rochester, NY Area .

We're very happy to announce "Brass Advantage" - a regular column of information, tips, techniques, and advice from world-renowned brass instructor, arranger, and DCI Hall of Fame member Wayne Downey. As our first-in-a-series of 'expert contributors', Wayne explores the world of brass performance, methods, techniques, and expert advice for our readers - sharing some of the secrets that have helped him guide the Blue Devils brass line to an unprecedented 20 Jim Ott Memorial Trophies for "Excellence in Brass Performance". If you have a question you'd like Wayne to address in the column, send it to - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Stay tuned to our Featured Columns pages for his inaugural column - appearing in early April.

Granted, when Henry "Lefty" Mayer and representatives from Drum Corps Associates seven charter member organizations sat down in 1964 to establish DCA, performing membership was primarily limited to males over the age of 18. But that's changed!

Surely, back in the time of Beatles invasion, and just six years after the founding of AARP, this country's most recognized organization for seniors, nearly every performer with the Skyliners, Buccaneers, and others were well past the age of majority. There were exceptions, probably many exceptions, but they were likely hidden from view. At the time, DCA corps were home-based in American Legion and VFW Posts, where doorbells did not work for those underage.

But time marches on! This is not your father's DCA!