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A drum and bugle corps or drum corps is a musical marching unit (similar to a marching band) consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. The activity originated in the United States and Canada, but has spread to parts of Europe and Asia. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform on-field competitions, parades, festivals and other civic functions. The prime age for participation is 14–22, but the activity extends throughout age groups younger and older. Image File history File links Cavaliers_2004_dci_world_championships. ...
The Cavaliers The Cavaliers are a Division I drum and bugle corps based in Rosemont, Illinois and founded in 1948 by Donald Warren, and are a member corps of Drum Corps International. ...
Rosemont is a village located in Cook County, Illinois, founded in 1956. ...
An American college marching band on the field (Kansas State University) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement – usually some type of marching and other movements – with their musical performance. ...
Image of a trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet behind, and a flugelhorn in background. ...
Percussion redirects here. ...
Clemson colorguard Color guard is a combination of military drill, also called marching, and the use of flags, sabres or rifles. ...
A non-profit organization (abbreviated NPO, or non-profit or not-for-profit) is an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit. ...
Competitive corps participate in summer touring circuits. Competitions occur on football fields and are judged based upon general effect, visual performance, and musical performance. Every year, each drum corps prepares a single new show, approximately 8–12 minutes in length, and carefully refines this throughout the entire summer tour. This focus on a singular show takes advantage of the large amount of time needed to honing and refining a modern drum corps program, with a momentum that continues to build up to the last performance of the season. Musical repertoires can vary widely among shows, including symphonic, jazz, big band, contemporary, rock, wind band, vocal, Broadway, Latin music and many other genres. Highly competitive corps regularly dedicate 8–10 weeks on tour, practicing and performing their program full-time. Less competitive corps have less demanding schedules, allowing members to participate and still have a little free time outside drum corps. Some corps are not competitive at all, serving as education for youths, as alumni corps for adults, or for other traditional civic functions. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ...
Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ...
For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ...
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s, although there are many big-bands around nowadays. ...
In the broadest sense, contemporary music is any music being written in the present day. ...
For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ...
A wind band, also called concert band, symphonic band, or wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, and string bass. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ...
Latin American music, or the music of Latin America, is sometimes called Latin music. ...
History
Drum and bugle corps stems from a rich American military history, separate from other marching musical activities. Beginning after World War I through the 1970s, corps and competitions were often sponsored by the VFW and the American Legion. Owing to these groups' roots, corps were traditionally militaristic. By the late 1960s, many corps wanted more creative freedom and better financial compensation than was offered by the sponsors. Some felt the prize-money structures, based on competitive placement, were not fairly compensating all corps for their appearances. Additionally, some felt the current judging rules were stifling musical and theatrical possibilities. At the peak of American drum corps participation (with perhaps a thousand active corps nationwide), several corps decided to band together and form their own organizations, which ultimately led to the formation of Drum Corps Associates in 1965 and Drum Corps International in 1972. By this time, many corps had already lost their church or community sponsors. “The Great War †redirects here. ...
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, or VFW, is an American organization whose members are current or former members of the U.S. armed forces. ...
This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...
Drum Corps Associates (DCA) is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. ...
Drum Corps International (DCI), formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 22. ...
For the corps that remained, longer travel times were necessary to attend the shrinking numbers of contests, further adding to the financial and time demands on the organizations and their individual members. At the same time, costs for the increasingly complex field shows mounted, and creative and instructional demands rose, leading many competitive corps to falter and become inactive. By the late 1990s, only a fraction of the corps that existed in the 60s and 70s remained, although several new corps, some of which have become very successful, did start up along the way.
Also, non-competitive classic-style corps (often and sometimes inaccurately known as "alumni corps") saw a renaissance beginning in the mid-1980s, and they continue to organize in the 21st Century; members often remain vigilant about the traditions and virtues of the drum corps activity before the advent of more modern influences.
Freed from the traditional and more-restrictive judging rules of the late 1960s, corps began making innovative changes such as the use of multi-valve horns, wide-ranging tempos, intricate asymmetric drill formations, elaborate guard costumes and props, and the use of stationary orchestral percussion instruments. A common criticism of drum corps is that it has become too similar to marching band, although in truth the two activities have evolved together over the years. The most apparent difference between the activities is the fact that corps use only bell-front brass instrumentation. The competitive season for corps is in the summer rather than fall, with audition and initial ensemble rehearsals actually beginning as early as late October of the previous year. The top-tier competitive drum corps programs are often far more complex and more professional than marching bands, as members in full-time touring corps have no distractions outside of corps during the season and membership is achieved only through highly competitive auditions. An American college marching band on the field (Kansas State University) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement – usually some type of marching and other movements – with their musical performance. ...
Musical program
Repertoire A typical show usually revolves around one genre of music, or sometimes melds separate genres together. Modern corps programs have become increasingly conceptual and programmatic, with overarching show themes rather than loosely-related musical selections. Often, especially within classical selections, a single composer's material is featured. Corps have performed virtually every genre of music that can be fit for on-field adaptation, including jazz, new age, classical, and rock music. It is becoming increasingly common to hear corps performing original music, composed specifically for the corps by their musical staff or consultants.
Structurally, shows typically share a few common components: an "opener", a piece designed to grab the audience's attention, a percussion solo or "features" laden throughout the show, a ballad (featuring the hornline and pit percussion), and a "closer", which is often the climax of the performance. Depending on the length of each piece, there may be additional pieces interjected to showcase various musical concepts and elements of the corps. The goal is to have a well-balanced program with a wide variety of dynamics, tempos, and feels to showcase and the corps' abilites.
Instrumentation
Horns -
One of the defining musical elements of drum corps is the exclusive use of bell-front brass instrumentation. Throughout the years, the horns used in drum corps have evolved from true, valveless bugles to modern multi-valved brass instruments. These changes have effectively eliminated bugles from the activity, since the current three-valve approved instruments are more akin to band instruments than true bugles. Competitive drum and bugle corps have not used true bugles for several decades. Traditionally, corps use three-valve vertical-piston horns in the key of G, but horns in other keys are also allowed. From highest pitched to lowest they are: sopranos (trumpets), mellophones, baritones and euphoniums, and contra basses. Image of a trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet behind, and a flugelhorn in background. ...
Image of a trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet behind, and a flugelhorn in background. ...
Military bugle in Bâ™ A French marine bugler at a ceremony in Kuwait City celebrating the success of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 Bugler redirects here. ...
The Soprano bugle is a term that refers to any modern adaptation of the traditional bugle. ...
The mellophone is a brass instrument that is typically used in place of the French horn in marching bands or drum and bugle corps. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
The euphonium is a conical-bore, baritone-voiced brass instrument. ...
The Contrabass Bugle, usually shortened to Contra, is the lowest-pitched instrument in the drum and bugle corps hornline. ...
All these instruments can appear in any key, with G, Bb, and F being by far the most common; the name of the activity is not dependent on the key of the instruments. Sopranos are essentially trumpets, but tend to have a narrower bell flare and larger bore than the trumpets used in other venues, a characteristic found in most of these horns but most obviously in the soprano. Although many corps have recently started using Bb trumpets instead of sopranos, most purchase trumpets that are specifically designed for outdoor use and resemble sopranos in shape and sound. Mellophones are only one of many midrange or alto-voice horns that have been experimented with, but they have become the most widely used because of their consistent playability and tone quality compared to the alternatives, which include marching French horns, alto horns, and flugelhorns. A contra-bass is essentially a tuba configured so that it can be carried over the shoulder with the bell facing forward. The Soprano bugle is a term that refers to any modern adaptation of the traditional bugle. ...
Trumpeter redirects here. ...
For other uses, see Horn. ...
Known in the U.S. as alto horn, in Germany as althorn, and in the UK as tenor horn, this brass instrument pitched in Eb has a conical bore (gradually widening), and normally uses a deep, cornet-like mouthpiece. ...
A standard 3-valved Bb flugelhorn. ...
For other uses, see Tuba (disambiguation). ...
Until 1999, American drum and bugle corps hornlines were required to be pitched in the key of G. That year, the DCI rules congress passed a proposal to allow any key of bell-front brass instruments on the field (no Trombones-no valves, no French Horns-not bell front, and no Sousaphones-not really a bell-front instrument)(Divisions II and III opted for a two-year moratorium on the proposal. Corps could first use instruments in other keys in 2000). DCA followed suit in 2004. This allows music to be arranged truer to its original form and gives corps access to more affordable and higher-quality horns, along with a much wider resale market for used instruments. Hornlines now are most commonly pitched in Bb, with mellophones usually pitched in F. This article is about the year. ...
Drum Corps International (DCI), formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 22. ...
Look up Moratorium in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...
Drum Corps Associates (DCA) is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. ...
Percussion -
 The Bluecoats pit used thematic vocal amplification in their 2007 performance, "Criminal." The percussion section consists of two distinct but equally important divisions: the front ensemble or "pit" and the drumline or "battery" ensemble. Marching percussion instruments are specially designed to be played while moving. ...
Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixels, file size: 625 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps pit at a 2007 clinic. ...
Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixels, file size: 625 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps pit at a 2007 clinic. ...
Bluecoats The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps is a Division I drum and bugle corps based in Canton, Ohio and founded in 1972; The Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International. ...
Percussion redirects here. ...
In a marching band or drum corps, the front ensemble or pit is the stationary percussion ensemble typically placed in front of the football field. ...
This article is about the percussion unit of a marching band. ...
Front ensemble members perform on orchestral percussion instruments, including marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones, glockenspiel, timpani, various types of drums, cymbals, gongs and many other auxiliary percussion instruments. As the physical nature of these instruments requires them to be stationary, the pit is typically stationed at the 50 yard of the front sideline, closest to the audience. Full-sized corps feature between 8-12 members in their front ensembles. Many corps now make use electronic amplification so that delicate percussive instruments can be heard in the stadium setting. However, amplification has also been used for the more controversial purposes of talking, singing, and "drumspeak" (beat boxing). Prior to the mid-1980s, corps were not permitted not have "pit" style ensembles. Instead, members would march with glockenspiels, small xylophones, and timpani, carried with harnesses similar to other battery drums. The marimba ( ) is a musical instrument in the percussion family. ...
Kulintang a Kayo, a Philippine xylophone The xylophone (from the Greek meaning wooden sound) is a musical instrument in the percussion family which probably originated in Indonesia. ...
A typical vibraphone. ...
Most orchestral glockenspiels are mounted in a case. ...
A timpanist in the United States Air Forces in Europe Band. ...
Bass drum made from wood, rope, and cowskin A drum is a musical instrument in the percussion group that can be large, technically classified as a membranophone. ...
For the Japanese rock band, see Cymbals (band). ...
A gong is one of a wide variety of metal percussion instruments. ...
Beatboxing is the vocal percussion of hip hop culture and music. ...
Most orchestral glockenspiels are mounted in a case. ...
The battery consists of percussionists who march on the field along with the hornline and color guard. They commonly play four types of instruments: the marching snare drum, tenor drums (also known as "quads", or "tenors"), marching cymbals, and marching tonal (pitched from high to low) bass drums. In large DCI-related competing corps, the battery typically consists of 7–10 snare drummers, 4–5 tenor drummers, 4–6 cymbal players, and 5–6 bass drummers. Many corps within the last few years have disposed of their cymbal lines in order to utilize the members for additional instrumentation. The cymbal lines that still exist, however, are known for their signature visual effects, as well as contributing various metallic musical effects. The snare drum or side drum is a tubular drum made of wood or metal with skins, or heads, stretched over the top and bottom openings, and with a set of snares (cords) stretched across the bottom head. ...
A tenor drum is a cylindrical drum, much higher pitched than a bass drum. ...
A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. ...
Visual program
Color guard -
In modern drum corps, the color guard has become a crucial part of each group's visual and thematic program. Standard equipment includes flags, mock rifles, and sabers, but other objects like bare poles, hoops, balls, windsocks, and custom-made props are sometimes used to create visual effects that enhance the show. Clemson colorguard Modern color guard is a combination of military drill, also called marching, and the use of flags, sabers, mock rifles and other equipment, as well as dance and other interpretive movement. ...
Clemson colorguard Color guard is a combination of military drill, also called marching, and the use of flags, sabres or rifles. ...
 A DCI Division I corps at practice. The primary role of the color guard is to complement the corps' musical program by creating visual interpretations of the music through equipment work and dance. The color guard can also enhance the overall drill design by marching in formations that integrate with the rest of the corps. However, the color guard most often performs as an ensemble that frames the rest of the corps or performs within the drill formations of the corps proper. Like all other sections of the corps, the guard often features solo work. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (671x900, 302 KB) A picture from the Blue Stars 2006 season. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (671x900, 302 KB) A picture from the Blue Stars 2006 season. ...
While the rest of the corps generally wears the same uniform for several consecutive seasons, the guard members more often wear uniforms that are custom-made for each corps' theme for a particular season.
Drill formations Drill formations have become very sophisticated in modern corps. Traditional blocks, company fronts, and symmetrical formations — while still utilized occasionally for impact — have largely given way to abstract formations and intricate developments aided by the use of computer-assisted drill writing programs. Drill writing is an art form unto itself, and is very carefully crafted to keep instrumental sections together, to put the featured members at the center of attention and visually reinforce musical phrasing, and of course to create the most interesting and innovative shapes and movements possible.
Technical drill structure can be broken down into several categories: linear forms, static forms, shape-driven forms, and movement-centered forms. Forms using lines and curves have long been used to create drill that is simple, yet powerful. The speed of the drill can vary to create a slow and flowing form or a series of quickly spinning bars or changing curves. Variations on follow-the-leader forms are the standard for many asymmetric lines. Shapes and symbols have also been used to great effect by many drum corps, with the most basic being geometric figures such as squares or blocks, triangles, circles, and other regular or irregular figures. The translation and rotation of these figures, especially at speed, creates interesting and exciting drill. A long legacy of exciting and innovating forms highlights this category of drill, such as the "Z-pull" (The Cadets, 1983), moving and disappearing cross formations (Star of Indiana, 1991), "rotating" double helix (The Cavaliers, 1995), the Diamond Cutter, individually spinning boxes within a larger diamond square (Cavaliers, 1999), and inclusion of symbols such as the Maltese Cross for The Crossmen, the signature three-point crown of Carolina Crown, the Fleur-de-lis (the ever-present symbol of the Madison Scouts),or the Sunburst of The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps (the first curved form on the field), with heartily enthusiastic response from the audience. Forms that center around chaotic and rapid movement are the most difficult to describe in detail, as they can be of indeterminate structure. “Scatter drill” would fall into this category, a seemingly random transition from one form to another so as to keep viewers in suspense until the last possible second. For other uses, see Square. ...
A triangle. ...
Circle illustration This article is about the shape and mathematical concept of circle. ...
The Cadets The Cadets (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) are a Drum Corps International Division I drum and bugle corps based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. ...
The Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps was a Division I Drum and bugle corps based out of Bloomington, Indiana and was a member of Drum Corps International. ...
The Double-Helix are an alien race in the Wing Commander science fiction series. ...
The Cavaliers The Cavaliers are a Division I drum and bugle corps based in Rosemont, Illinois and founded in 1948 by Donald Warren, and are a member corps of Drum Corps International. ...
This article is about the symbol. ...
Crossmen The Crossmen are a Division I drum and bugle corps sponsored by Youth Education in the Arts. ...
Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps is a Drum Corps International Division I drum and bugle corps, based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. ...
Fleurs-de-lys on the flag of Quebec The fleur-de-lis (also spelled fleur-de-lys; plural fleurs-de-lis or -lys) is used in heraldry, where it is particularly associated with the France monarchy (see King of France). ...
Madison Scouts The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps is a highly competitive summer youth drum corps in the Drum Corps International (DCI) circuit. ...
Standing still might seem the simplest of drill moves, but for a drum corps even "standing still" is usually not completely stationary. This is when choreography for general effect primarily takes place. In what is referred to by various terms such as "park and bark", the corps holds position but members typically add their own leans, small steps, horn movements and pops, and other colorful flourishes. For the longest and loudest chords, the most technically demanding sections of music, and the ending of most shows, corps usually remain stationary to make a dramatic impact.
Marching technique In order to facilitate such demanding drill, corps must be diligent with their marching techniques. Every corps has its own unique blend of techniques that are used to differentiate themselves from other corps, such as keeping the leg as straight as possible or bending the knee, or keeping toes straight ahead or naturally angled out. Virtually every corps begins each movement (or "steps off") with the left foot (the notable exception being the Cadets who step off with the right foot) and relies on the roll step as the basis of their marching technique. Regardless of minor differences in techniques among corps, the goal of all corps is to achieve fluid, consistent movements that allow for precise musical technique at all tempos, step sizes, and directions. This means marching technique must not affect the rigidity of members' upper torsos, which must face toward the audience at all times for maximum aural projection. Horn players may twist their lower bodies in the direction of the move, but percussionists, due to the nature of their equipment, must keep their entire bodies facing forward at all times. This has led to the invention of the "crab step", where the legs cross over one another to facilitate sideways motion. For both drummers and horn players, turning the whole body in the direction of movement is rare, unless done for visual or musical effect. Being purely visual, guard members are not as bound to facing the front sideline and may be facing any direction at any time as choreography dictates. Marching backward is usually executed by staying on the toes (keeping heels off the ground), though some corps reverse the heel-toe roll step (to be toe-heel) during slow tempos. Guard members, and horn players during a particularly strenuous or fast drill move, often "jazz run", which is similar to jogging with the toe hitting the ground before the heel. The Cadets The Cadets (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) are a Drum Corps International Division I drum and bugle corps based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. ...
Glide step is a form of walking used by marching bands to minimize upper body movement enabling musicians to play their instruments and march without air-stream interruptions. ...
The season While performances and competitions only occur during the summer, preparation for the next season starts as soon as the last one ends. Corps activity of some sort goes on year-round. Months in advance of next season's first camp, corps begin assembling their staffs, choosing their musical repertoires, writing drill, etc.
Camps For junior (DCI) corps, the season is a very intense process. Most corps begin having camps on or around Thanksgiving Day weekend and continue having monthly weekend camps throughout the winter. Potential members travel far and wide—literally from around the world—to attend the camps of their favorite corps. Membership in the top corps is highly competitive and is generally determined during the first few camps. By spring, the members have been chosen and camps are held more frequently as the beginning of the summer touring season approaches. Most junior corps require their non-local members to secure temporary housing (often with local members or a vacant dormitory) near the corps' rehearsals facilities around Memorial Day weekend. For most of May and into June (as college and high school classes end), full-day rehearsals are held virtually every day so members can finish learning the music and marching drill of the show. This pre-season "spring training" (also commonly referred to as "everydays" or "alldays") is usually 3–4 weeks long. It is not uncommon for members to rehearse 10–14 hours a day, 6–7 days a week throughout the entire pre-season. In mid to late June, corps leave to begin their summer tours. For the Canadian holiday, see Thanksgiving (Canada). ...
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed this year on 2007-05-28). ...
 A DCI Division I corps at practice. For senior corps the process is not quite as grueling. Since most members are working adults and have lives outside of drum corps, senior corps rehearse on weekends and occasionally on weekday evenings. Rather than extensive tours, senior corps usually take weekend trips to perform in shows, and make longer trips only to regional championships and finals. Many smaller DCI corps and foreign corps have similar itineraries. Non-competitive corps, such as classic-style corps, alumni corps, or newly aspiring corps might not have a defined season at all. They practice and perform as they deem necessary or possible. Occasionally such corps make exhibition appearances at DCI or DCA shows. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (767x900, 489 KB) A picture of a Blue Stars practice during the 2006 season. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (767x900, 489 KB) A picture of a Blue Stars practice during the 2006 season. ...
Divisions Corps are generally divided and compete in two or three divisions or classes depending on size, age of members, and how much touring the corps wishes to be involved in. These divisions have changed over the years in accordance to shifts in trends and rules. Until the mid 1990's, Drum corps circuits worldwide generally followed this form: - Open Class represents the elite full-sized corps that tour full-time.
- 'A' Class represents corps with fewer members or a less-demanding tour.
- Cadet Class represents corps with particularly young members (generally under 14), which may serve as "feeders" for larger corps.
These divisions were redefined before the 1993 season and again in 2006: - Division I: As many as 135 members
- Division II: Between 70 and 135 members
- Division III: Up to 79 members (where many get their first taste of the activity)
- There is a "grey area" of 70-79 members where the corps has a choice of competing in either Division II or III.
The DCI Board of Directors voted in January, 2007 to increase the size of division I and II corps to up to 150 members, effective in the 2008 competitive season. This controversial change will arguably enable more students to participate in drum corps and make for bigger and better competitive units. Opponents charge that this rule change will benefit the top tier corps while hurting the bottom tier.
Division II and III corps usually compete in fewer shows than Division I corps (around 20, compared to 30-35 for Division I corps). Until the late 1990s, corps from different divisions were frequently allowed to compete directly against one another at certain shows, but today, Division II and III corps are strictly segregated from Division I competition. Division II and III corps have their own World Championship, usually held at the same location as the Division I championships. Prelims are held all day Tuesday, Semifinals Thursday morning, and Grand Finals on Saturday morning.
Top Division II and III corps may decide to join Division I for the following season. Due to the rash of corps having to fold for financial reasons in the 1980's and 1990's, DCI has taken a more active role in the matriculation of a unit to Division I status. The corps must prove that it has the financial stability to tour on the Division I circuit, including a strong fund-raising program (such as bingo, carwashes, etc), and that it has a recruitment base capable of producing a competitive corps.
Tour and competition
 Members of the Bluecoats eat from their cook truck before a contest. While on tour, junior corps travel mainly at night after leaving the performance venue. Members sleep on the buses and in sleeping bags on gym floors when the next housing destination is reached. Housing for the entire tour is secured in advance through local schools, churches, or other community facilities. Corps practice their shows for as long as possible each day before getting ready to leave for that night's competition, if scheduled. Not every day is a performance day; many days on tour are spent simply traveling to a distant location or entirely on the practice field. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 974 KB) Summary A photograph of one of the member buses, taken at the Cookeville, TN DCI contest in 2006. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 974 KB) Summary A photograph of one of the member buses, taken at the Cookeville, TN DCI contest in 2006. ...
For other uses, see Coach. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 686 KB) One of the semi trucks from Carolina Crown, photographed at the 2006 DCI contest in Cookeville, TN. I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 686 KB) One of the semi trucks from Carolina Crown, photographed at the 2006 DCI contest in Cookeville, TN. I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms...
semi-trailer truck with sleeper behind the cab. ...
Carolina Crown is a drum and bugle corps based out of Fort Mill, South Carolina. ...
Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixels, file size: 702 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Members of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps eat before a contest in 2007. ...
Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixels, file size: 702 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Members of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps eat before a contest in 2007. ...
Bluecoats The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps is a Division I drum and bugle corps based in Canton, Ohio and founded in 1972; The Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International. ...
A full-sized, adequately-funded junior corps will have a fleet of vehicles, including three or more coach buses for members and staff, a truck or van to carry souvenirs that are sold at shows, and two semi trucks, one for show equipment and one that serves as a kitchen on wheels. Most meals for all members and staff are provided by the cook truck, but occasionally corps have scheduled free days where there are no rehearsals or performances and the members are free to see some local sights and procure their own meals.
Competitions are not the only performances that corps partake in while on tour. Most corps also participate in parades and standstill performances throughout the summer to gain further public exposure and to supplement their budget with performance fees. On the Fourth of July weekend, corps often locate themselves in large metro areas so they can participate in more than one parade. These fireworks over the Washington Monument are typical of Fourth of July celebrations In the United States, Independence Day, also called the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. ...
The summer touring schedule is usually divided into two smaller tours. The first tour consists of more local or regional shows and the corps often return to their home bases for easy housing and practice facilities. The first tour ends in mid-July with a regional championship, followed by a few days off where members are free to do as they wish. For many members, this is their only chance all summer to visit home. Corps then reconvene at their home bases and begin the second tour, which usually involves more extensive national touring before culminating at DCI finals.
Competitions are usually held at college or high school football stadiums or similar venues, and are scored by circuit-approved judges. Because there exists an intense competition between corps, the judging system is somewhat complex to allow for precise scoring and avoidance of ties. Most circuits follow the three-caption system of General Effect (GE), Visual, and Music, with GE being the most important factor. This is the scoring system currently used by DCI (others are similar):
Total possible score: 100 | General Effect | 40 | Visual | 30 | Music | 30 | | Visual | 20 | Performance | 10 | Brass | 10 | | Music | 20 | Ensemble | 10 | Ensemble | 10 | | | Color guard | 10 | Percussion | 10 | The timing and organization of contests varies significantly from circuit to circuit. Only large DCI corps typically have the funding and time commitment from members to participate in DCI's touring circuit, where corps spend the majority of the summer traveling around the continent performing at different local and regional contests. In other circuits, and for smaller DCI corps, competitions are usually scheduled to allow corps to travel, perform, and return home within a weekend. For this reason, and to boost audience attendance, large competitions are more frequently scheduled on weekends.
A typical regular-season contest consists of fewer than 10 corps, with corps from one or more classes competing together but scored separately. In North America, DCI and DCA corps occasionally perform at the same shows. DCI also schedules larger contests interspersed throughout the latter half of its season. These are restricted to corps in specific classes and feature many (if not all) of the corps within each class. European circuits, such as DCUK, operate on a "minimum performance and lot" system: appearance at the first two shows of the year is determined by lot, and then the corps must appear in a minimum number of shows before the circuit's championships. In such a system, the championships are often the only time all corps in a class compete together.
Some circuits also organize optional individual and ensemble (I&E) competitions for individuals or groups from corps to showcase members' skills outside of the field performance environment. These are usually held only once or twice per season at championships or a major regional contest. Members practice their routine(s) in their scant free time throughout the season.
Corps organization Most corps are operated as or by dedicated non-profit organizations; very few are associated with schools or for-profit entities. Some corps are even parts of larger non-profit performance arts organizations, which might also include theater groups, winter guards, winter drumlines, and other various musical or visual activities. In Europe, many are also registered charities, assisting with their fundraising aims.
Staff Despite their non-profit status, a well-run corps is just like a well-run business. It requires many bright and dedicated people to handle the fiscal and operational responsibilities. There are three levels of staff operating a drum corps: Executive, Instructional, and Volunteer. Each plays an essential role in creating a well-run corps.
The executive staff includes the operational and tour director(s) and the board of directors. Often these people are unpaid volunteers. This group is almost always long-standing within successful corps. They create the long-term vision and strategy for the organization, handling the financial, operational, and organizational issues to keep the corps running. The board of directors is composed of alumni and other closely-affiliated people. They hire the executive (operational) director and other related positions directly; in turn, the executive and/or tour director(s) usually hire the instructional staff.
The instructional staff actually puts the show on the field. They create the concept of the show, choose and arrange the music, write the drill, and instruct the members on how to play, march, execute, and exude the image of the corps on the field. The staff consists of brass, percussion, guard, and visual (marching) instructors who are most often alumni of the corps or other corps. A well-funded Division I corps usually has 15-20 full-time instructors. Just as members, they attend winter camps and travel with the corps all summer long.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of any corps. Parents, alumni, friends, and fans make the corps work on a day-to-day basis—driving buses and trucks, caring for the corps' uniforms, and countless other peripheral duties. Corps on touring circuits particularly rely on volunteers due to the extra necessities which come with the tour: cooking and cleaning, providing mechanical maintenance, health and medical needs—all of which are essential to getting the corps down the road to the next show.
Dues and fundraising
 Souvenir stands, like this one from the Troopers, are a significant part of corps fundraising. Every corps requires some amount of dues from its members to help defray the cost of operations, or touring should the circuit so require. Dues vary from circuit to circuit and corps to corps, but generally range from the local equivalent of several hundred to well over a thousand dollars per member. Most corps provide ways to help offset the cost of membership, often through personal sponsorships that the member must procure. Corps do everything they can to help potential members pay their dues. However, membership dues only pay for a fraction of the total cost of keeping a corps alive. It costs US$100,000–$500,000 or more to run a corps for a single season. Uniforms, equipment, and vehicles must be bought and maintained, food and fuel are consumed, and the instructional and creative staff members must be paid. Other sources of income are required. Many organizations run bingo halls as a major source of income. Some American corps run a fleet of charter buses, which is a natural extension of the corps' touring needs. All corps solicit sponsorships and endorsements at the corporate level and individual contributions from alumni and fans. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixels, file size: 865 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Troopers sheep wagon, vending souvenirs at a drum corps contest in 2007. ...
Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixels, file size: 865 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Troopers sheep wagon, vending souvenirs at a drum corps contest in 2007. ...
Troopers [[|Troopers]] The Troopers are a Division I drum and bugle corps that competes in Drum Corps International. ...
See also Drum Corps Associates (DCA) is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. ...
Drum Corps International (DCI), formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 22. ...
About Drum Corps United Kingdom (DCUK) Visit the Drum Corps United Kingdom website for further information. ...
About Drum Corps Europe (DCE) Visit the Drum Corps Europe website for further information. ...
Classic drum and bugle corps are North American musical ensembles that descended from military bugle and drum units returning from World War I and succeeding wars. ...
Marching percussion instruments are specially designed to be played while moving. ...
Every summer, Drum Corps International (DCI) Division I corps compete to earn the title of DCI Division I World Champion for that years summer season. ...
The following contains a list of active Drum Corps International drum corps. ...
An American college marching band on the field (Kansas State University) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement – usually some type of marching and other movements – with their musical performance. ...
The logo of Winter Guard International. ...
The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps -- the Marine D&BC -- performs martial and popular music for hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. ...
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