Inside the Circle: Technique, Gear, and Community Culture
Nothing spoils a drum corps show faster than a brass section that can’t stay together. You know the feeling: the battery is locked in, the pit is grooving, but the horn line rushes the release or drag…
Read moreJudging in drum corps and marching arts competitions is always evolving, with recent changes aiming to make scoring more transparent and fair. For 2024, the visual scoring criteria have been updated t…
Read moreDrum corps are more than just musical groups. They are a community, a tradition, and often a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the marching arts. When a drum corps loses its nonprofit stat…
Read moreDrum corps performances are renowned for their visual spectacle and musical precision. Among the most striking elements that captivate audiences are percussion features standalone moments. These segme…
Read moreBlue Knights 2015 The Fall and Rise redemption narrative is a story that resonates deeply within the drum corps community. It’s a tale of struggle, perseverance, and ultimately triumph. The Blue Knigh…
Read more— Starting your performance with a song that immediately captures judges’ attention can make all the difference. It sets the tone for the entire show and can elevate your entire presentation. When y…
Read moreMadison Scouts are known for their rich history and innovative approaches in the drum corps activity. In recent years, their use of minimalism has stood out as a bold choice that emphasizes clarity, m…
Read moreYou’re rolling through a passage, and instead of hearing clean, articulated notes, you get a muddy wash of overtones bleeding into each other. The bars are ringing too long. Your technique is solid, b…
Read moreYou’ve practiced your parts until you can play them in your sleep. Your tone sounds great in the practice room. But the moment you step onto the field with full gear and start marching, your sound dis…
Read moreYou show up to rehearsal cold. Your section sounds scattered. Your technique feels sluggish. The first rep is a disaster, and now you’re playing catch-up for the rest of block. Sound familiar? Most co…
Read moreThree of drum corps’ most decorated organizations just dropped news that has the entire marching arts community buzzing. Blue Devils, Carolina Crown, and Bluecoats announced coordinated programming fo…
Read more
