How has drum corp changed your life?

[RobH]

I have thought a great deal about this thread.

Way back when, drum corps gave its participants a PURPOSE, a GOAL, an alternative to a "nothing" life beyond some factory job, and a roadmap to achieve it.

To be their best. To work their hardest. To participate in an activity that gave beauty, discipline, exemplified sacrifice, made music available to people who are inundated with crap that passes for music, and gave some MEANING to the rest of the world - whether you became a music major, or an engineering major, or a doctor, or lawyer, businessman/person, or whatever you ended up BEING as an adult.

For the adults here, if drum corps gave you the guidance and self-discipline necessary for you to succeed in your chosen profession, then drum corps did its job!

For the youth here, if you have NEEDED some guidance, direction, discipline, meaning to your life, lit that fire of passion do participate in the activity that you can't resist, and you come away from it as a better human being, kinder, more compassionate, more understanding of your fellow participants, regardless of whether you do music for a living,

then drum corps has done its job!