The day drum corps died.

[Bob Brady]

I have nothing but respect for your opinion, however, it was this attitde that gave drum corps its uniqueness. As for the declining membership, sorry about your corps, by the way, it has more to do with the fact that the average kid can't just walk up to a corps and join any more. Used to be, before even my time, corps were made up of kids that had never even considered playing an instrument in their lives, let alone performing with them - and some of them actually became credible musicians. Used to be that every town, at least back east and in the midwest, had a drum corps and they would have their little circuit and they were proud when they came in fourth in that circuit, because they did something that they never expected they could do. Oh and society hasn't changed that much; the gangs that drum corps were started to prevent, still exist, the disinfranchised kids that drum corps were started to give a place to go to, still are there. The face of drum corps has changed. It's a hustle now. Some call it business, but where I come from it is a hustle. I have been away for a while, so I need more information about the actual business structure of DCI to make any further comments.

Drum corps came from violence. It came from the violence of war, it came from the violence of the streets and it's uniqueness was the violence of it's music. It was loud and brash, most corps sounded like crap, even by the standards of the day, but they were loud and they made the stands rock. There were corps that eixisted knowing that they would never win a national title, not even a local title, but they were loud and they had heart. Those kids had heart. Oh and there was some guy/girl standing in front of them making marks on a sheet every time they made a mistake. But they kept coming back - some of them into their late 20's(Muchachos).

That was the difference between marching band and drum corps. You had to go to school to be in marching band, most corps were made up of drop outs who couldn't read music, but were given intsruction via some weird notation based on whether or not they used a piston or rotor or both - or not. The better drummers knew rudiments and were told to play them in this spot for this length of time, etc. That was why there was such violent responce to being called a band. And actually when corrected most people would respond with respect for the fact that we stood up for our activity, that we had the balls, for lack of a better word, to stand up and define our self worth, beyond something else, that had very little to do with us. And in the above mentioned case, the guy in question actually apologized and corrected himself and called us a corps.

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a case of to much caffiene, not enough psycho-tropics. I don't long for the return of the days of VFW or the American Legion, all I am asking for is a respect for something that has remained unique for it's entire existence. there are gerations of people who gave of their hearts and souls for this unique activity, I talk to people who are in their later years who did this thing long before I was even thought of. We are all very proud of the fact that Drum Corps has reached the point it has, but leave it its dignity and uniqueness. Leave  the opportunity for kids that would never have a chance to do this thing we call drum corps intact.

Aw enough...bring it on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

AWWWRRRRIIIGHT MIKE!!!

I stand sir and give you applause! SALUTE!

Edited August 14, 2005 by Bob Brady

[77kingsmensnare]

I have nothing but respect for your opinion, however, it was this attitde that gave drum corps its uniqueness. As for the declining membership, sorry about your corps, by the way, it has more to do with the fact that the average kid can't just walk up to a corps and join any more. Used to be, before even my time, corps were made up of kids that had never even considered playing an instrument in their lives, let alone performing with them - and some of them actually became credible musicians. Used to be that every town, at least back east and in the midwest, had a drum corps and they would have their little circuit and they were proud when they came in fourth in that circuit, because they did something that they never expected they could do. Oh and society hasn't changed that much; the gangs that drum corps were started to prevent, still exist, the disinfranchised kids that drum corps were started to give a place to go to, still are there. The face of drum corps has changed. It's a hustle now. Some call it business, but where I come from it is a hustle. I have been away for a while, so I need more information about the actual business structure of DCI to make any further comments.

Drum corps came from violence. It came from the violence of war, it came from the violence of the streets and it's uniqueness was the violence of it's music. It was loud and brash, most corps sounded like crap, even by the standards of the day, but they were loud and they made the stands rock. There were corps that eixisted knowing that they would never win a national title, not even a local title, but they were loud and they had heart. Those kids had heart. Oh and there was some guy/girl standing in front of them making marks on a sheet every time they made a mistake. But they kept coming back - some of them into their late 20's(Muchachos).

That was the difference between marching band and drum corps. You had to go to school to be in marching band, most corps were made up of drop outs who couldn't read music, but were given intsruction via some weird notation based on whether or not they used a piston or rotor or both - or not. The better drummers knew rudiments and were told to play them in this spot for this length of time, etc. That was why there was such violent responce to being called a band. And actually when corrected most people would respond with respect for the fact that we stood up for our activity, that we had the balls, for lack of a better word, to stand up and define our self worth, beyond something else, that had very little to do with us. And in the above mentioned case, the guy in question actually apologized and corrected himself and called us a corps.

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a case of to much caffiene, not enough psycho-tropics. I don't long for the return of the days of VFW or the American Legion, all I am asking for is a respect for something that has remained unique for it's entire existence. there are gerations of people who gave of their hearts and souls for this unique activity, I talk to people who are in their later years who did this thing long before I was even thought of. We are all very proud of the fact that Drum Corps has reached the point it has, but leave it its dignity and uniqueness. Leave  the opportunity for kids that would never have a chance to do this thing we call drum corps intact.

Aw enough...bring it on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is a pleasure to call you my friend it was an honor to march with you, and it will be a %^$## BLAST to march wit you again!

[apoch003]

Mike, that statement was pure BRILLIANCE!!! I commend you!

[apoch003]

My marching career began in 1980. I went through all these changes in styles and drill. By 1987, even I didn't recognize what our corps was doing anymore.

I've marched Tic system, mirrored fields, 15 minute shows, and assymmetric drill, 11 1/2 minute shows and saw the guard change from marching to dancing.

I prefer my earlier years. RIP drum corps.

[Walter]

I have nothing but respect for your opinion, however, it was this attitde that gave drum corps its uniqueness. As for the declining membership, sorry about your corps, by the way, it has more to do with the fact that the average kid can't just walk up to a corps and join any more. Used to be, before even my time, corps were made up of kids that had never even considered playing an instrument in their lives, let alone performing with them - and some of them actually became credible musicians. Used to be that every town, at least back east and in the midwest, had a drum corps and they would have their little circuit and they were proud when they came in fourth in that circuit, because they did something that they never expected they could do. Oh and society hasn't changed that much; the gangs that drum corps were started to prevent, still exist, the disinfranchised kids that drum corps were started to give a place to go to, still are there. The face of drum corps has changed. It's a hustle now. Some call it business, but where I come from it is a hustle. I have been away for a while, so I need more information about the actual business structure of DCI to make any further comments.

Drum corps came from violence. It came from the violence of war, it came from the violence of the streets and it's uniqueness was the violence of it's music. It was loud and brash, most corps sounded like crap, even by the standards of the day, but they were loud and they made the stands rock. There were corps that eixisted knowing that they would never win a national title, not even a local title, but they were loud and they had heart. Those kids had heart. Oh and there was some guy/girl standing in front of them making marks on a sheet every time they made a mistake. But they kept coming back - some of them into their late 20's(Muchachos).

That was the difference between marching band and drum corps. You had to go to school to be in marching band, most corps were made up of drop outs who couldn't read music, but were given intsruction via some weird notation based on whether or not they used a piston or rotor or both - or not. The better drummers knew rudiments and were told to play them in this spot for this length of time, etc. That was why there was such violent responce to being called a band. And actually when corrected most people would respond with respect for the fact that we stood up for our activity, that we had the balls, for lack of a better word, to stand up and define our self worth, beyond something else, that had very little to do with us. And in the above mentioned case, the guy in question actually apologized and corrected himself and called us a corps.

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a case of to much caffiene, not enough psycho-tropics. I don't long for the return of the days of VFW or the American Legion, all I am asking for is a respect for something that has remained unique for it's entire existence. there are gerations of people who gave of their hearts and souls for this unique activity, I talk to people who are in their later years who did this thing long before I was even thought of. We are all very proud of the fact that Drum Corps has reached the point it has, but leave it its dignity and uniqueness. Leave  the opportunity for kids that would never have a chance to do this thing we call drum corps intact.

Aw enough...bring it on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am pleased to call you my drum corps brother...too bad we didn't march together!! ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^

Thanks, I couldn't have said it anybetter !! ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^

[up4479]

I agree fully with Mike. When I started with drum corps we were street gangs that played music and got to go on bus trips on the weekends.

Almost all the people I marched with and competed against started with no experience at all, nothing. No music education, no instrument lessons, nothing. You had to work hard just to be there. We took beatings on the street or at school because we marched in drum corps and the band directors in high schools hated us because we stole kids from the bands. IMO we must have been doing something right.

Considering where we collectivly wound up in this activity (marching with top national competitors, teaching DCI champions, acting as judges and corps administrators) and the fact that almost everyone stayed out of jail and lead productive lives I think that drum corps as we once knew it was very successful as a youth activity. While one could argue that today's activity serves the same purpose, I can only partially agree. IMO the entry requirements have turned the activity into an elitist activity that has been hijacked (by kids with formal music and dance traning) from the neighborhoods and has lost the simplicity that made it so successfull in the past. Many of todays marching members have local, family and educational support that we could only dream of. While there are several reasons for the dramatic drop in the number of corps from 40 years ago, I know several that lost their local support groups because they no longer catered to the local youth populations.

Drum corps as we knew it is dead and has been for some time. I now take it for what it is but I miss the old days where my kids might of had a shot at marching today and could have had the life lessons that would make them even more successfull in life.

[MikeD]

Maybe you do feel that deep in it's heart it's still drum corps but thousands and thousands don't. I know countless people that I used to MARCH with that haven't gone to a show since the late 80's because even then they said, "It's not Drum Corps anymore. I wanted to get back into it this summer after almost 2 decades of refusing to go to a show, now forget it! I have no recognition of what the activity is any longer. If marching bands are the new "style" forget it! It's dead in the water. You have to keep it recognizable to those who pay $ to see shows...you know the fan base...or you lose the fans. Let's see them change a major sport or symphony in such a way so many times and see if they keep the fans and the activity alive. Sorry folks but I too am now totally finished with what used to be the great joy in my life. Drum Corps. is dead.

R.I.P.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Look at attendance numbers at shows...they are rising all over the country in general, as posted by DCI and from anecdotal reports on these forums.

Symphony orchestras use all sorts of 'different' instruments when they are called for, esp in contemporary pieces.

Mike

[MikeD]

Oh and Mike D., you should know better. You have been around since the '60s, You were there when it was still coming out of the churches to keep kids on the straight and narrow. "Oh yea, he's right." Remember when drum corps used to take a bunch of disinfrachised kids and give them something usefull to do? Remember the Chicago Royalaires? The Kilties? The Holy Name Cadets? What happened to you Mike? When did you become a tool? Yea I know, I'll get censored for this, or kicked off, but I am passionate about my drum corps, I am passionate about what is happening to it and the tools who are allowing to happen.

Yes, I've been around sice the 60's...and saw the sponsors such as the churches, VFW, AL, and PAL pull away from drum corps...starting in the late 60's, accelerating through the 70's and into the 80's, until the community based corps were pretty much defunct. NOT due to DCI, but due to changes in society and the huge inflation of the 70's that forced a LOT of organizations to take a look at their spending...and drum corps...local drum corps....lost.

VFW and AL memberships were aging and shrinking as the WWII and Korean vets no longer had corps aged kids, and the Viet Nam vets were not joining.

I saw lots of class 'B' corps fold after being forced to go it alone when their primary sponsors cut off the funds and even made them find new places to rehearse and store equipment.

IMO it is ridiculous to blame DCI for the failures of the hundreds of little corps in that era.

I did an informal poll tomyself an noticed that most of the people who are in favor of the woodwind thing in drum corps never marched and/or are band directors.  Hmmmm..

While I arrange for and work with a band, I am not a band director, and I did march.

Oh and Mike D., I apologize, you probably have a vested interest in seeing this happen and I don't want to walk on your hustle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Uh....what is my 'vested interest'...I attend 2 or 3 shows a year as an audience member. I just happen to love drum corps...be it DCI, DCA, or alumni.

So..I don't know if this personal attack can get you censured on DCP. I have not decided whether to report this post or not.

Mike

[susantaylor40]

The sad truth is that in 5 years time ( or less, the way things are evolving "for the greater good of drum corps") the kids that marched today will attend a show, scratch their heads and wonder what happened... that THIS is what was not intended when they 'changed the world'.

Edited August 15, 2005 by susantaylor40

[deftguy]

My marching career began in 1980.  I went through all these changes in styles and drill.  By 1987, even I didn't recognize what our corps was doing anymore.

I've marched Tic system, mirrored fields, 15 minute shows, and assymmetric drill, 11 1/2 minute shows and saw the guard change from marching to dancing.

I prefer my earlier years.  RIP drum corps.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ditto here. Though my guard still knew how to march when I left. We were more into movement than dance.