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Can you describe Drum Corps without mentioning Band


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Drum Corps: A semi-professional music ensemble with instrumentation consisting of brass and percussion and a visual section. This ensemble performs and practices nationwide during the summer. Their ultimate goal is to provide an educational experience while perfecting a show for competition

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Drum Corps: A semi-professional music ensemble with instrumentation consisting of brass and percussion and a visual section. This ensemble performs and practices nationwide during the summer. Their ultimate goal is to provide an educational experience while perfecting a show for competition

"football field" has to be in there somewhere...

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A musical performance activity using horns, drums, and colorguard, where groups called "corps" compete on football fields around the country in a circuit organized to culminate in a national championship in August in Indy.

Until you see an actual show you might be tempted to relate it to what happens on a football field during halftime. But once seen live and in person the distinct differences and entertainment value are clear.

Edited by garfield
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I know people will call this flame bait but I'm not starting this thread for that reason. It takes off from the the One Band One Sound Thread. Is it possible to describe drum corps without mentioning band or using band or the movie Drumline as an example?

It's actually not hard to do, but herein lies the rub (this is also what makes the cartoon so hilarious), if you try to explain drum corps to a previously unexposed person, and you say this....

" Drum Corps: A semi-professional music ensemble with instrumentation consisting of brass and percussion and a visual section. This ensemble performs and practices nationwide during the summer. Their ultimate goal is to provide an educational experience while perfecting a show for competition"

...they're going to look at you cross eyed.

If you say "It's kind of like professional marching band" they'll say, "Oh, ok", and think you are a tremendous geek, but at least they'll understand what you're talking about.

The problem lies in the fact that a good portion of us are hugely averse to identifying with marching band, due to our own perception that drum corps is so much cooler, and while it may be to us, the reality is that the vast majority of non drum corps people see virtually no difference.

Such a quandary!

Edited by BozzlyB
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Drum corps- in the end, its just f-ing marching band. Always has been, always will be.

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Drum Corps: A semi-professional music ensemble with instrumentation consisting of brass and percussion and a visual section. This ensemble performs and practices nationwide during the summer. Their ultimate goal is to provide an educational experience while perfecting a show for competition

And then they ask, "Oh, like a marching band?"

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I know people will call this flame bait but I'm not starting this thread for that reason. It takes off from the the One Band One Sound Thread. Is it possible to describe drum corps without mentioning band or using band or the movie Drumline as an example?

It's possible, but using "band" as a departure point saves the explainer much verbiage and the person to whom it's being explained much initial confusion.

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