RobH

Funny thing - I haven't been here in ages, but was recently listening to 1967 Boston Crusaders, which I believe was the first time a double bass drum was ever used. I think that started the big changes in the drum lines that followed. M&M changed with the emergence of the West Coast Corps like SCV and Anaheim Kingsmen late 60's, the sounds and tone of the bugles/horns in general seemed to be more "in tune" around 68/69, but the advent of DCI in 72 started the big changes in the activity with all the corps. I confess to not paying further attention after 72 due to a military career commitment, so I'm far from an expert on this!

Yeah, big difference between THEN and NOW - back THEN, there was the DRAFT - and I know many former corpsmates in Kilties (69-70) went into the National Guard but some still got drafted - and today, there is no draft. So for those worried about today, there IS NO DRAFT - nor is there one planned - military reenlistments are very high now, those who want to serve can and will (for all the right reasons), one can continue drum corps without that Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, and that's a good thing!

OK then, back to your post, why should being gay matter in the drum corps world? Clearly, there are gay people in drum corps. SO WHAT?

So if being gay isn't that important, then why should it matter? Unless you want to be defined by your orientation - which you shouldn't.

Here's a perspective not talked about much: What if BEING GAY didn't MATTER? What if NOBODY CARED about one's orientation? What if gays didn't, for want of a better term, "CLASSIFY" themselves as such? Or (IMHO) "PROMOTE" themselves as such? Somehow, it all works out. You love drum corps. You put the effort out, you tryout, you make the team, you sweat, you hurt, you practice, you compete, you improve, you understand the value of hard work and sacrifice, you LEARN, you get the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" just like everyone else involved. Since when and why should orientation have ANY PART nor define anyone in any of the DC experience? (unless it's what some WANT to be classified as, and are PROUD OF, and this type of thinking is just way over my paygrade!) It's none of my business, nor anyone else's, but I repeat myself. Endlessly!

It shouldn't be an issue, and while I've been out of DC for over 35 years, based on what I read here it ISN'T an issue - maybe some gay DCP'ers can "share" some examples of any bashing or problems, because I haven't heard of any - while I'm sure many High School-age people who aren't gay may still be in that "stage" where anyone who is "different" is therefore to be belittled, it seems that there's a heck of a lot more acceptance of others than there used to be when I was a teen. None of my business, nor should it be anyone else's business!

Hey Vero - I'm probably 30 years older than you, and I've been taught by the best in the business and don't even PLAY anymore - but previous comments are right on - get a good teacher, rudimentals are fundamental, LISTEN to what you play and LEARN! There's no such thing as a snare drummer who knew it all as a kid - but there's an awful lot who THINK they do - break the paradigm!

Don't get me started on the "sound" of snares back then vs today!

Martybucs - great post, man! As a pre-DCI old schooler, who was away from Drum Corps for thirty plus years, I think that much of "what had been" that made drum corps great got sucked out of the activity when DCI was created and ended up being dominant - clearly Marching & Maneuvering has changed, the music has changed, the snare drums have changed, color pre is gone, OTL and starting guns and the tick system is gone, and thus the very things that "mattered" to us old-schoolers - the "type" of precision, of judging, and the having kids who come from the local community to join and learn something and excel in it after a few years, it's all changed. This is NOT going to be apparent to those who are in today's vanguard in DC, who are into the whole "artsy" thing and "dancing" Color Guard and "running sideways" and snare drums you can't hear and all sound like playing on a tabletop and all, which is incredible and we could NEVER have done any of this, but in the process, the "old" DC fan and participant has been pushed aside to make way for what DC is today - and to me, it's tragic.

WOW, Dan, just WOW! And Matthew - I knew Sorny, since he was one of my idols and was our snare line instructor in 70 - turns out I met his wife when I went to Racine several years ago and were sitting in the stands together at the Kiltie Kontest and I discovered Sorny knew my youngest brother which I never knew (also a great drummer!).

Hey mobrien - I think Jim Camerota is still a math teacher in Kenosha - we marched together in Kilts (he on triples, me on snare) and though he was about 4 years older than I, we hung out alot, went to the same Kenosha H.S. and I haven't heard from him in decades - believe he's still in K-Town though! Small snare lines - Kilts used I think 3 in 68 with one snare doing mostly cymbal rolls throughout the show and other utility work, they had four in 69, and we had 5 in 70 which eventually got reduced to 3 or 4 by VFW.

So PIT judging is done HOW?

for tubacurt - excellent post and thanks for posting. There is a need for drum corps to BE drum corps in order for it to be what it is/was/will be, which, past, present and future, is all about brass, percussion, and the need to connect with the audience, and woodwinds, as fine as they are musically, does not "fit" with drum corps as it has been, and will (hopefully) always be.

Woodwinds in drum corps............. Over my dead body. There are BANDS (where woodwinds can play and do fine) and then there's drum corps - brass, guard, and percussion - and woodwinds have no place in drum corps, unless the powers that be deem it so - and if they do, kiss drum corps goodbye.

I'm certain that money is a huge issue, but I'm also thinking that "corps reputation" has a great deal to do with it nowadays. Back in "my day" joining a corps was more of a "local" issue - whichever corps was closest to where you lived determined which corps to join. Now we're faced with people all over the world wanting to be in Cavaliers, Scouts, Phantom, BD, SCV, Bluecoats, Cadets, and thus we've developed an elite class of corps members who believe that any corps not in the top 12 is "beneath them" - therein lies the problem! IMHO

whatever works, man! I was raised and trained/educated in traditional grip, but that doesn't necessarily make the grip the "right" or "only" grip. I say whatever works and makes the snares sound like one drum is the "best" way to go.

great thread - and I think there are some very influential shows from different eras that contributed to drum corps as it is today - I'd start with the Troopers in the sixties with their Sunburst, which started a movement towards "signature moves" such as the Racine Kilties "Chatanooga Choo Choo" train at the same time, the "blow your brains out" closers from so many corps in the sixties, then the evolution to DCI and Anaheim Kingsmen 72 and of course the SCV "Bottle Dance" which may have been the greatest thing in drum corps ever at the time, along with 27th and their great shows and rifles, and drum corps has benefited from all of these shows!

Tristan - love ya, man, and concur re the wrist damage thing!

I personally believe that a snare line should use whatever grip makes them "tight" and sounding like "one snare" - I don't CARE which grip is used as long as the snares sound as one! And that's all I got to say about that!

Need more pre-DCI inputs here! An "opener" is supposed to get the crowd's attention and make the first "statement" of the corps on the field. I'm not sure that "openers" today are what they used to be since the music and marching is so much more complicated, but I look forward to other inputs on all this.

Maggie - you ROCK! My biggest thrill was winning 70 Shriner's when we cut one snare before the show (wasn't me!) and I had to play the famous triplet roll during Syne and it came out perfectly right next to the mike on the field, and I never felt better! All at age 16 no less!

ODBC, my man - what a great thread idea! Was thinking, maybe, a child with Downs could work in the pit, no need to march or learn complex drills, but instead, provide some key "percussive" moments to accent or highlight certain points during a show - what do you think? Lots of possibilities without having to overwhelm, like striking the gong, or crash cymbals, or pound the bass drum, or learning a rhythm that can be repeated and used over and over again. just some thoughts.

I hope the Plaid come out this next year and blow the sox off of the other Senior corps - WWBD! I'd be interested in finding out from those of the Plaid persuasion how you all can get more serious/competitive/hungry and show the drum corps world what drum corps is supposed to be all about!

How cool is this? A thread over two years old and people are STILL talking about their biggest thrill in drum corps! Believe it or not, the vast majority at DCP are brothers and sisters for life, we've had similar experiences, though we may have ended up in different places, but ya gotta admit, DCP is an awesome site to communicate across the generations and to share similar experiences!

Welcome to DCP Julie! Great to have you here!