Corps Directors

[cowtown]

How many DCI World Class corps now have Women Directors?

How many DCI finalist corps have had women directors?

How many minority Directors are there currently for World Class Corps?

How many DCI Finalist Corps have had minority Directors?

It seems that for all the purported diversity in drum corps that the Directors of World Class Corps demographics are very homogenous

Why?

What is DCI doing to reach these people?

What do you think it means?

[DrillmanSop06]

How many DCI World Class corps now have Women Directors?

How many DCI finalist corps have had women directors?

How many minority Directors are there currently for World Class Corps?

How many DCI Finalist Corps have had minority Directors?

It seems that for all the purported diversity in drum corps that the Directors of World Class Corps demographics are very homogenous

Why?

What is DCI doing to reach these people?

What do you think it means?

DCI is an activity of privilege. First of all, there are exceptions to everything. Yes, there is a low-income demographic in DCI. And power to those individuals for making their dreams work in less-than-ideal situations.

In order to audition for a "top tier" organization, you need skills.

In order for those skills to develop, you need music educators dedicated to their students.

In order to have quality music education, you need a supportive administration.

In order to have a supportive administration, they must have the backing of the community.

In order for this to occur, the community must have a decent amount of income.

Now, for a top-tier group, you'll probably need to be in college. Which means you can afford college. At a school which offers a quality music program which means you have time to practice and perform. This probably means you aren't working 3 jobs to afford your tuition.

Now, I know what will happen. People will start posting every amazing story and exception to this that they can. But the truth is that by and large, DCI is a privileged activity and the demographics support it.

[cowtown]

Are woodwinds excluded because they’re not privileged ?

Sorry, all this talk about reaching out to woodwinds got me to thinking, DCI is missing a heck of a lot more people other than woodwind players or in some directors-speak, they are excluding a lot of people, over 50% of the population

so what are they doing about it?

I really hope that after 35 years, with 12 slots at finals that there were at least a few women or minority directors…and with the 23 or so world class corps we have now...there has to have been a few

And not to exclud some corps of the past but I’d like successful examples of Corps leadership other than white men, hence making Finals

there has had to be a few, right?

Edited September 7, 2010 by cowtown

[garfield]

DCI is an activity of privilege. First of all, there are exceptions to everything. Yes, there is a low-income demographic in DCI. And power to those individuals for making their dreams work in less-than-ideal situations.

In order to audition for a "top tier" organization, you need skills.

In order for those skills to develop, you need music educators dedicated to their students.

In order to have quality music education, you need a supportive administration.

In order to have a supportive administration, they must have the backing of the community.

In order for this to occur, the community must have a decent amount of income.

Now, for a top-tier group, you'll probably need to be in college. Which means you can afford college. At a school which offers a quality music program which means you have time to practice and perform. This probably means you aren't working 3 jobs to afford your tuition.

Now, I know what will happen. People will start posting every amazing story and exception to this that they can. But the truth is that by and large, DCI is a privileged activity and the demographics support it.

It may be privileged by income, but not by any of the metrics that cowtown posited.

I agree with your premise from an income standpoint, but not from a race or gender standpoint.

[Blaritone]

Who cares what your director looks like as long as the job gets done? Where I marched we never even saw the director.

[garfield]

Are woodwinds excluded because they’re not privileged ?

Sorry, all this talk about reaching out to woodwinds got me to thinking, DCI is missing a heck of a lot more people other than woodwind players or in some directors-speak, they are excluding a lot of people, over 50% of the population

so what are they doing about it?

I really hope that after 35 years, with 12 slots at finals that there were at least a few women or minority directors…and with the 23 or so world class corps we have now...there has to have been a few

And not to exclud some corps of the past but I’d like successful examples of Corps leadership other than white men, hence making Finals

there has had to be a few, right?

I'm sorry, but this is a nearly-slanderous post. If anyone is to "blame" it's the female music leaders or minority community leaders who fail to step up and take the risk.

Your connotation that it's somehow institutionalized in DCI is complete crap.

Instead of poking sticks at the governing body or the activity, why not instead insert yourself in front of community leaders and band directors in under-privileged communities and convince them why taking the risk of starting a corps is worth-while to their kids.

At least cast your aspersions in the right direction, for God's sake.

Edited September 8, 2010 by garfield

[Plan9]

Are woodwinds excluded because they're not privileged ?

Sorry, all this talk about reaching out to woodwinds got me to thinking, DCI is missing a heck of a lot more people other than woodwind players or in some directors-speak, they are excluding a lot of people, over 50% of the population

so what are they doing about it?

I really hope that after 35 years, with 12 slots at finals that there were at least a few women or minority directors…and with the 23 or so world class corps we have now...there has to have been a few

And not to exclud some corps of the past but I'd like successful examples of Corps leadership other than white men, hence making Finals

there has had to be a few, right?

Your first stop on your quest might be the High Schools and Colleges. See if there is willingness of minorities and females to move up to the big leagues. There are wonderful female and minority directors and associate directors in many colleges and high schools. If they "want" the opportunity...they need to seek it!

And as for us white men.....bring it on....we need the rest!!

Edited September 7, 2010 by Plan9

[garfield]

Your first stop on your quest might be the High Schools and Colleges. See if there is willingness of minorities and females to move up to the big leagues. There are wonderful female and minority directors and associate directors in many colleges and high schools. If they "want" the opportunity...they need to seek it!

And as for us white men.....bring it on....we need the rest!!

Love it.

[skywhopper]

I'm sorry, but this is a nearly-slanderous post. If anyone is to "blame" it's the female music leaders or black community leaders who fail to step up and take the risk.

Your connotation that it's somehow institutionalized in DCI is complete crap.

So you think it's more likely that there are no women or minorities who want to be corps directors than that there may be something systemic in the way DCI and its member corps do business that may tend to alienate or exclude them?

I don't actually know what the demographics are, but it's a question worth asking. Are all of the current World Class corps directors white men? How many non-white-men have been directors in DCI's 38 years?

[garfield]

So you think it's more likely that there are no women or minorities who want to be corps directors than that there may be something systemic in the way DCI and its member corps do business that may tend to alienate or exclude them?

I don't actually know what the demographics are, but it's a question worth asking. Are all of the current World Class corps directors white men? How many non-white-men have been directors in DCI's 38 years?

I absolutely believe that to be the case. If you dig long and hard enough, and make enough suggestive comments, and imply systemic problems that are most improvable, you will certainly attract a contingent that will leverage those unproven suggestions into a benefit for themselves, usually in an industry or activity for which they have had no prior compunction, interest, or potentially talent.

It is not a question worth asking unless you can identify some systemic system or operating model that makes the barriers to entry greater for a minority or gender than it does for white men.

Either identify the specific issue that you believe produces race or gender bias or shut up about it. But don't throw inflammatory suggestions out on the table for someone else to disprove, when all you have as evidence is speculation and conjecture.

No, absolutely not, it's not worth discussing without specific evidence.