Field and Floor

KEWL

Personal water coolers for drum corps members: it's a big "Duh!"

And it's a terrific sponsorship for, quoting here, "Drum Corps International, the world leader in producing and sanctioning competitive events for the world’s most elite marching music ensembles ...."

The definitional ramifications continue to obsfucate, however.

MY 35-YEAR AFFAIR WITH DCI: PART 1

The 35 shows that define my drum corps experience ... so far
35-25: THE TRENDS

The tension was palpable, the approach, unmistakable; I jumped at the chance to rendezvous with Drum Corps International 35 years ago when I was presented the chance to watch "Here Come the Troopers" at my high school band director's house.

As an eager-to-succeed band section leader, the precision (mostly), M&M it was called and judged back in that day, along with the volume (even on 16mm film), the circle drill, and the Trooper persona, electrified me! While I was gung-ho for our 80-member band to *ape* the style, I was equally ready to see this "drum corps thing" live.

I had not one notion that this was the beginning of a "rest of my life" that would include drum and bugle corps, winter color guard, as well as the vast world called, and often ridiculed as, pageantry.

But here I am, as anxious as you are, dear reader, to get to Pasadena (look me up if you're there), to a local movie theater for quarterfinals, or to your Internet connection to see the final week's performances, to compare the final season's scores, and to learn who the 2007 champion, finalists, and semi-finalists, will be! (There is an entire 'nother thread and tack I can take about scoring, but I will save that for the ever-approaching off season.)

So when I decided to have my own, very personal, 35-year reunion affair with my drum corps "partner," I thought that a personal history, through the corps and their shows, noting those that have defined my experience with the idiom so far, would be fun (it has been), and would provide me, at least, a map of my days (it has).

For length, and for a bit of "who's next?" I have divided the list into three parts. After the jump today, you can read about numbers 35-25, representing the trends that have shaped the industry. Tomorrow will be numbers 24-13, representing the shows that have defined either specific units, or the activity as a whole. And then on Wednesday, it will be all about performance. My top 12 represents the finest output by the young people over 35 years.

It will be controversial, it will be memory-jarring, and some of it will probably be duh-expected; but make no mistake about it, it all represents three and a-half decades of drum corps delirium for me! I still swoon.

NO EUREKA! NO WIN.

ALWAYS include an exclamation point. It is just good punctuation.

STRAIGHT TO BAND

"Even when not performing, the bands of Drum Corps International - a competitive league for marching bands from around the nation - remain disciplined."
Good.

"Drum Corps taught her so much about self discipline and working hard," she said.
Better.

After the national championships, many Drum Corps International members will go straight to their high school or college band camps.
Best?

The story.

IN 25TH - 13 TH PLACE:

13 highly personal favorite drum and bugle corps shows from the past 35 years
Oh, and not one of these corps was ever a finalist!

As the list of active, competing units continues to dissipate, having 35 years of drum corps in my back pocket has served an entertaining function this summer; I've been reviewing who and what I have had opportunity to see all these years (thanks to the on line encyclopedia called corpreps.com).

Later this week I'll offer the 35 drum corps shows that have defined the idiom for me, but first I decided to take a look at the drum corps and the shows that never made finals, but that made indelible marks on my drum corps experience.

The task was more involved than I imagined. There are scores of shows from finalist corps that were on the way up, or out, that I will forever revere. There are also divisional corps and shows that are etched in my memory, as well.

There are junior, or cadet, corps over the years that have appealed. In fact, any year that includes such a corps is a good year. There are corps that are regional-centric, but that offer fine youth development opportunities as well as lump-in-the-fan's-throat performances.

And then there is 1979's Iron Cross, the show that possibly garnered the lowest score in Drum Corps International history. I'll never forget it. I remember most every moment of the two years that championships were held in here in Birmingham, at Legion Field, my home turf. But I can conjure the 12.05-scoring Iron Cross as if it were happening right now. Was this a "feeder corps?" Remember that phrase? No matter, the show ended some two minutes before the minimum performance time had elapsed, so the corps was judged as it walked off the field. The "gun" did not go off until more than a minute (it seemed) after the final corps member passed into the dark tunnel heading out of the stadium. But as was the custom then, stadium embarrassment turned to support, then applause, for the young people. The experience was all.

For this forthcoming list of 13 corps that I have ranked 25-13, signifying their non-finalist status, I rested on choices of shows from corps that never made the Saturday night cut. I rested on corps that have all had illustrious careers of entertainment and achievement, just not as is based on a single season's final placement.

I'm sure you have plenty of favorites that fall in this category, there are certainly hundreds from which to choose, but as a memory-minder here are my favorite 13 non-finalist shows and corps of the DCI years.

ENTER PETE ROSE?

This is the coolest drum corps ranking *machine* ever; and I thought this one was excellent all along! Is this far behind? For that matter, is Pete Rose, Tim Donaghy, or even Michael Vick?

Would bring a whole new meaning to "I believe."
Betcha bottom dollar.

REVISIONIST HISTORY

Kind of like our current political administration: "Some of the corps have professionals running their souvenir trucks, but most of them are run by volunteers," noted Hal Bierce, who was selling Spirit of JSU items. "I'm a corps alumni - I was a charter member back in 1977 when we were the Spirit of Alabama."

Do tell.
(The full story is here.)

PAY IT FORWARD

Cha-CHING!

The invevitable, and desired, result of years of institutional change: "Once I graduate from college, I’ll hopefully become a band director. I really want to pass on this love of music I have, and maybe inspire my students to march in a drum corps."

Wonderfully, that was not the best comment from Pioneer's aging out drum major, Alex Wilga. His story, on DCI.org, is one that spans the drum corps generations.

"I really hope they can receive this strong love of the activity that I have."

So do I.

SYMPHONIC PINK: FORWARD ... MARCH!

No matter that it's the music of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, there will be no mikes, no tables, and no door. Just marching and playing from this Indiana High School band.

“We’re letting the drill speak through the icons that can be seen in the forms,” said the director. “Now, there is more focus on the kids themselves, as far as their music and marching, and less on theatrics.”

Drum corps might catch up to this trend in a few years.

PAGEANTRY'S PAY OFF

In addition to its light-hearted touch, for splendid effect, this video is one big pay off for Winter Guard International participants of all types!

TWO SCOOPS, PLEASE

Railroad tracks, and Rocky Road.

Drum-licious!

“TAKE LIFE AS IT COMES”

Ninety-four year old homemaker Marguerite Griffin, a resident of Port Arthur, Texas, can't see well any more.

"A lack of vision doesn’t interfere with her instinct. When her daughter put Griffith’s Red Hussars drumsticks in front of her, she picked them up and tapped a rhythm on the glass conference table.

"The Cypress Glen nursing home resident’s wheel chair was positioned at the table, where she could reach patches and other memorabilia regarding her part in the premier group of Red Hussars.

"The drum and bugle corps began assembling in 1929 at Thomas Jefferson High School and made their debut on Sept. 27, 1930. Female students marched at games, parades, fairs and civic activities for 63 years."

Long live the memory of "all-girl" corps!

“We are the Hussars, and we couldn’t be prouder.
"If you can’t hear us now, we’ll yell a little louder.”

THE SEVEN WEEK SOLUTION

Two-time entrepreneur of the year nominee Mark Fralick had a dream, an online dream if you will. A dream to build a "video and audio clip-based site devoted strictly to the 'marching arts,' a collaboration of marching bands, drum corps, (and) color guards ...."

Already referenced, and linked here, again here is
MARCHING TVCHANNEL.COM

And he did it all in just seven weeks!

That is something akin to the time it takes a drum corps each season to "change its way," with edits, additions, and details.

LEARNING CORPS VALUES

The hard way: the drum corps way.

"They spend endless torturous, grueling, surly hours under the searing sun.

"They march endlessly.

"They get little sleep on hard gym floors and school hallways.

"They get blisters on their feet and sunburn everywhere.

"They spend hours on a bus.

"They're far away from home.

"And they'll likely have to endure some choice yelling from demanding section leaders.

"Oddly, it's all music to their ears. They actually signed up for all of this to get the opportunity to be a part of ..." the drum corps experience.

SIGNATURE SINFONIAN

Congratulations to pageantry uber designer Michael Cesario for his recent induction into the 2007 Class of Signature Sinfonians at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Interesting quote from Mr. Cesario: "The plan was to design modern band uniforms that were as athletic as the members,..." He has; especially this year.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

No matter if your drum corps fan status began 35 weeks, or 35 years ago, this will capture it! And at a ten spot, available online and at your favorite event, it's a no-brainer summer purchase.

But how much attention will be given to Whitewater Stadium (now Perkins), DCI Championships' home field?

Memories a'plenty from there, for me.

"ACCELERATED GROWING UP"

Of all the descriptors I've read over the 35 years I've followed the drum and bugle corps activity, that one stands out. From a Glassmen member, as part of the corps' band clinic in Midland, Texas.

The entire story, a nicely written one, is a good read for us all. The corps members clearly and precisely articulate what they believe the drum corps experience is all about.

And guess what: it varies, from person to person and from corps to corps.
One size does not fit all.

You better believe it.

THE WINNER, FROM ON HIGH?

Blue Devils, Cadets, or Cavaliers?

Terrific clips; nice to see how these images match the computer designs of the shows.

EUREKA! THIS FELLOW GETS IT

For the much-needed definition of "Marching Music's Major League," we need to turn no further than to a marching member.

A Southwind trumpeter: “It’s like the National Football League of marching bands,” said Eric Taylor, 18, a Webb City trumpet player who is in his third year with the band. “There’s high school and college bands, then DCI takes it to a whole other level.”

Indeed it is. Increasingly, the musical idiom itself is unimportant. DCI, today, is all about performance levels. And that, increasingly, is a market segment that can be defined.

If we could just come up with a new name for the organization ... hmmm, thinking here ... maybe something like .... you know, inclusive, musical .... um ... EUREKA!

YOU AND YOUR BIG MOUTHS

If you think posting on Drum Corps Planet garners attention, I'm here to tell you: It's not that hard.

It's WOMMA, and it's one of the hottest, and most viral, marketing efforts sweeping the country and industry.

The Word of Mouth Marketing Association is "businesses that believe that the voice of the consumer is a better advocate than marketers can ever be for themselves.

"And we mean honest, unadulterated, pure consumer opinion. We're committed to developing techniques to unleash, amplify, and spread that voice, without changing its fundamental honesty.

"In a nutshell, we're making it simpler for friends to tell friends about stuff they like. "

Maybe posting on DCP fits. It's honest, unadulterated, pure consumer opinion.
If only someone would listen ... right?