Has Drum Corps Lost Its Soul

[SFZFAN]

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

Holy Carpal Tunnel Batman!!!

Drum Corps is not losing it's soul. It is an ever-changing activity. I'll admin I don't like most of the changes from 2000 to present but Losing it's soul? That's a bit much.

[Tom Brace]

Since attendance figures aren't released, how can you make any statement about what attendance is doing? I'm just taking Hop at his word that the present model is not working. To me that means..... income is down and expenses are up. What makes up income?

You are right. Thank you for your thoughts. And go on taking George at his word, 'cause that's worked so well up 'til now.

Income was up last year. DCI turned a profit. Next.

[oldschooldbc]

New Jersey and other states.

Ohio district I believe was referred to earlier.

Massachusetts cuts.

These are just three of hundreds of headlines I found.

Grim.

The trend across the nation appears to be pay-for-play. This appears to be just as true in athletics as it is in music. In Texas, pay-for-play is nearly universal, in all forms of extracurriculars. You simply cannot participate in any form of extracurriculars, without spending at least $300-400 a year child, and that is the bare minimum. For music students, there's instrument costs, lesson fees, travel fees, and a myriad of other expenses you have to cover.

Mind you, college admissions are becoming increasingly brutal in Texas. Competition for entries into the Tier 1 universities is fierce. Many parents view extracurriculars as an added boost, to help get their kids into a top college. That is one reason why they continue to pay for these fees.

At the start of every school year, I just open my checkbook, and keep writing checks, until writer's cramp sets in.....

[Bruckner8]

Grim.

The trend across the nation appears to be pay-for-play. This appears to be just as true in athletics as it is in music. In Texas, pay-for-play is nearly universal, in all forms of extracurriculars. You simply cannot participate in any form of extracurriculars, without spending at least $300-400 a year child, and that is the bare minimum. For music students, there's instrument costs, lesson fees, travel fees, and a myriad of other expenses you have to cover.

Mind you, college admissions are becoming increasingly brutal in Texas. Competition for entries into the Tier 1 universities is fierce. Many parents view extracurriculars as an added boost, to help get their kids into a top college. That is one reason why they continue to pay for these fees.

At the start of every school year, I just open my checkbook, and keep writing checks, until writer's cramp sets in.....

This has been my argument all along: Since when is music considered extra-curricular? What's next...pay to learn math, because constructions require a straight edge and compass? Oh yeah...I had to pay for those already! I had a friend who'd say "If a band kid fails a class, he shouldn't be allowed to march in the half-time show, just like football players who fail can't play that game." My response: The band kid is already getting a GRADE for band, independent of the other class he might be failing. Band is in the curriculum; football is EXTRA-curricular!

We've been paying through the nose already. The monolithic administration of education is the biggest waste of money ever.

We've started down an unfortunate road by letting everyone think band is extra-curricular, no different than any sport.

[oldschooldbc]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there's this story:

http://thepigskindoctors.com/2010/04/texas...otball-stadium/

Allen, Texas has constructed a high school stadium for its local team. It comes complete with covered seating, a Jumbotron, state-of-the-art concession stands, and other amenities. The cost? Not much - just $60 million dollars. Allen is a subdivision outside of Dallas, with a rapidly expanding population and property base. They are counting on this stadium to boost other real estate developments in the area, and increase tourism to the town.

(The stadium where the DCI Houston show is held, is a similar development. The Berry Center was constructed by another suburban school district, with hopes of increasing long-term revenue to the district, from property taxes and event fees. The stadium where the DCI Southwestern show was held this year - in Judson, outside of San Antonio - was a similar development, and it was sold to taxpayers with the same justification.)

=====================================================

High school football in this state is huge. Really big. And it is inconceivable that a major school district in Texas would eliminate its football program. If anyone even proposed this, they would probably be run out of town on a rail. That might be an option for Grove HS in Ohio, but if you proposed this in Texas - people would be hunting down the school board, with torches and pitchforks.

But this expenditure by the folks in Allen has given other Texans a shock. People outside that town think it is excessive and gluttonous. $60 million for a high school football stadium? Unreal.

Again, what does it boil down, folks? Not necessarily money - but priorities for money. Priorities, priorities, priorities.

Edited September 6, 2010 by oldschooldbc

[oldschooldbc]

I had a friend who'd say "If a band kid fails a class, he shouldn't be allowed to march in the half-time show, just like football players who fail can't play that game."

This actually is the rule in Texas. The Texas University Scholastic League (UIL) administers all forms of extracurriculars in this state. This includes athletics, music, and scholastic competitions (acaemic decathlon, speech and debate, etc.) They have uniform "no pass, no play" rules for all activities, including music. If you fail any class during the previous grading period, you are ineligible to perform, until you bring that grade up to passing. You can still practice, but you cannot compete or perform - bottom line.

And enforcement of this rule is serious. Dead serious. The Woodlands HS is one of the leading programs in the state; two years ago, they were one of the top contenders for the state title. They used an ineligible marching member in a regional competition. This disqualified from the state finals that year, on the day of the show. The band director had to tell the kids, on the morning of the state finals, to unpack their gear - they weren't going to the competition. (The band director at that school is actually not at fault. The kid at fault had flunked a class, did not tell anyone about it, competed at the show, and caused the disqualification. I am sure he wasn't named "Mr. Popularity" at the year-end banquet.)

In a way, this rule is fair, and makes sense. If little Joey is failing math, he should not be allowed to play in the game on Friday night - or perform at the halftime show. He needs to be home studying math, or whatever subject he is failing, until he can pass.

Extracurriculars are a priviledge, not a right. We do have to keep focus on this. Everything a high school student learns is important, and they have to pass it all, in order to graduate.

Edited September 7, 2010 by oldschooldbc

[Michael Boo]

And enforcement of this rule is serious. Dead serious. The Woodlands HS is one of the leading programs in the state; two years ago, they were one of the top contenders for the state title. They used an ineligible marching member in a regional competition. There disqualified from the state finals that year, on the day of the show. The band director had to tell the kids, on the morning of the state finals, to unpack their gear - they weren't going to the competition. (The band director at that school is actually not at fault. The kid at fault had flunked a class, did not tell anyone about it, competed at the show, and caused the disqualification. I am sure he wasn't named "Mr. Popularity" at the year-end banquet.)

Wow, wow, wow. Do you have any idea how it was discovered?

[SFZFAN]

Wow, wow, wow. Do you have any idea how it was discovered?

I was wondering exactly the same thing!

[Lance]

This actually is the rule in Texas. The Texas University Scholastic League (UIL) administers all forms of extracurriculars in this state. This includes athletics, music, and scholastic competitions (acaemic decathlon, speech and debate, etc.) They have uniform "no pass, no play" rules for all activities, including music. If you fail any class during the previous grading period, you are ineligible to perform, until you bring that grade up to passing. You can still practice, but you cannot compete or perform - bottom line.

And enforcement of this rule is serious. Dead serious. The Woodlands HS is one of the leading programs in the state; two years ago, they were one of the top contenders for the state title. They used an ineligible marching member in a regional competition. This disqualified from the state finals that year, on the day of the show. The band director had to tell the kids, on the morning of the state finals, to unpack their gear - they weren't going to the competition. (The band director at that school is actually not at fault. The kid at fault had flunked a class, did not tell anyone about it, competed at the show, and caused the disqualification. I am sure he wasn't named "Mr. Popularity" at the year-end banquet.)

In a way, this rule is fair, and makes sense. If little Joey is failing math, he should not be allowed to play in the game on Friday night - or perform at the halftime show. He needs to be home studying math, or whatever subject he is failing, until he can pass.

Extracurriculars are a priviledge, not a right. We do have to keep focus on this. Everything a high school student learns is important, and they have to pass it all, in order to graduate.

that's unenforceable in many many many high schools. some schools use marching band as an extracurricular activity, and others use it as an actual class with a grade.

not sure what the application of such a rule would have to do with dci.

[Lance]

and no, drum corps has not lost its soul. that's not how it works when whiners with burger king mentalities throw tissies.