ColDan

I speak 3 languges. If you cant understanmd what is not written in the venue that you understand then maybe your should read more and write less

So drum corp should abandon its history and become a luxury for the wealthy? Parts of society are changeign and they too are losing their soul. Remember marriage and family, beuing replace by single parents and quality time for the kids "who are not doing so well, despite their checkbooks. Since you obviously were not there drum corps was not born inn the group, but in the individual, who mastered his skills and contributed to the group. Those who buy into the group think mentality are too weak to stand up as an individaul Are you one?

thanks for the gramitical comments. Ignore the substance and focus on then minutia. BTW, drun ccrops is dying. Look at the reducing numebrs of corps and shows per year.

you an't fix a problem unless you realize that there is one. many of the responses I received sdaid they know drum corps today (only) and like it. Therefore I provided some historical perspective. We have a palgue that is killing drum coprs and has been for some time. the Basic questions: where did we come from, why were drum coprs formed, what has changed, what change has been good, is it meeting the objectives, what cnaabe done ton make it better. The latest trend is to make it more like a HS band to solve their problems is more of putting a bandaid on cancer.. As to your question, yes I am workinfg with a group to start a drum coprs in my area. We have a color guard and hope to add a drujm line. Costs are tremendous. CoDan

Try reading it I realize you may not be able to focus on more than a sound bite, but try and use that mnid that God gave you for more than an earbud host. You may learn something

Many have said that drum corps is a wholesome activity that teaches our youth discipline, respect, and the need for physical fitness. Is this still true, or has drum corps lost its soul. Drum corps began as a community support activity to instill values, discipline, respect and stressed physical fitness. American Legion and VFW posts as well as churches sponsored drum corps and helped to organize and support local shows as fund raising and competitive event. As a community-based organization, corps recruited members locally and the community responded by helping to generate funding and other support for events and activities. Corps marched in local parades and participated in local events to raise funds and generate more community support. Hundreds of drum corps, large and small, were organized throughout the country and tens of thousands of young Americans that were blessed with the drum corps experience with the opportunity to learn music and marching. In my local area of 250,000 people, 10 drum corps grew, two to gain national recognition. Corps competed in circuit and regional competitions. Nationally, there were a multitude of championships in which the top corps competed. Drum corps was an active part of American life. Hundreds of drum corps shows were held each weekend. The music was planned to please the crowd and usually included music that the audience could recognize. The fan-base included people who had never been a part of the drum corps tradition but came to believe in the contributions to the youth in their community. Things have changed. Today the drum corps family consists of a much smaller base, 23 World Class and 22 Open Class corps. Five years ago, there were only 350 drum corps shows over the entire summer instead of the hundreds each weekend. In 2010, that number was only 115 shows. Corps recruit nationally and find a wealth of members in university and college music departments, and color guard recruits from the music and dance departments. High school bands now provide that music and marching experience for the local youth. Drum corps today are operate as independent organizations. Corps raise funds through bingo, membership fees, event participation fees, their own local shows and other means. Wealthier corps travel nationally for the entire summer and compete several times per week and in each regional competition against the same grouping of corps. Less fortunate corps travel and compete when they can . Many corps have folded due to their inability to raise adequate funds. Many local shows have been discontinued due to the lack of local support and ticket sales. A national championship is held, but most top corps have competed against each other and the rankings are no great surprise except the top position. Drum Corps is not what it once was. But the differences do not end with organization, the context has also changed. Traditionally, a Drum Corps consisted of bugles, drums, and a color guard, even an American flag section. The corps marched and played music on a football field, and the challenge was to put the best music and marching show possible with the assets available. Truly music in motion! Bugles were classified in their drum corps terminology as sopranos, baritones, and contra-base. Today they are called trumpets and tubas just like an orchestra. Today’s drummers include the “pit” which includes xylophones, timpani drums, gongs, bells, jazz drums, guitars, and even use recorded music and voice! The members of this “orchestra pit” do not march, but stand on the sidelines to play. Vibraphone solos from the sidelines are quickly replacing the famed drum solos. The marching shows now include props and dance routines. The horn line put down their instruments to join in the dance routines. The music uses complex arrangement of often-obscure classical pieces and original music specifically arranged to fit the marching show. The music score is designed to impress the judges with its complexity and generate high scores. The audience is often left out of the equation. In all honesty, today’s drum corps show has more in common with a Broadway show than it does with traditional drum corps. Music in Motion has been replaced with pageantry. Certainly drum corps has lost the magnitude and participation levels it once had. The framework and context has changed, but change is not always a bad thing. Many inventive ideas have emerged over the years, but not all change is good either. Community support is not what it once was. What has not been lost is the enthusiasm of its marching members and the loyalty of former members. Has drum corps lost its soul? Is it still the wholesome activity that teaches our youth values, discipline, respect, and the need for physical fitness? Maybe. I would like to hear what you think. More importantly, if its soul has been lost, how can we get it back? ColDan6@gmail.com