Sleuth4Health has been silent lately. Though my blog has been quiet, my ears have been ringing. My eyes? Dazzled. I, Julee K, have been fully immersed in my summer obsession. No, it’s not GMO. It’s DCI.
DCI is a non-profit, youth organization representing various drum and bugle corps around the US, Canada and abroad. Marching members are youth between the ages of 14-22 and are taught by staff and supported by parents and members of the community. Along with fans, members, staff and supporters form an esoteric and exuberant world unto themselves. Drum and bugle corps are similar to marching bands but feature only brass with drums and color guard (the people who spin flags, rifles and sabers). Shows are executed with precision and attention to the minutest of details. Skills required are extremely musically and physically demanding which requires marching members to train like hard core athletes. A true piece of Americana, drum corps’ origins come from the military. Here is a brief history (via wiki) of how classic drum corps evolved into the modern, competitive marching art we see today.
Classic drum and bugle corps are musical ensembles that descended from military bugle and drum units returning from World War I and succeeding wars.[1] Traditionally, drum and bugle corps served as signaling units as early as before the American Civil War, with these signaling units having descended in some fashion from ancient drum and fife corps. With the advent of the radio, bugle signaling units became obsolete and surplus equipment was sold to veteran organizations (such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars {VFW} and American Legion, two major organizers for classic drum corps). These organizations formed drum and bugle corps of civilians and veterans, and the corps performed in community events and local celebrations. Over time, rivalries between corps emerged and the competitive drum and bugle corps circuit evolved.
The term “classic” is used for the purposes of this article to differentiate it from Drum and bugle corps (modern) using the time period of the establishment of Drum Corps International as a dividing point in the timeline of the two types of Drum and Bugle Corps. Modern Drum and Bugle Corps are a continuation of the classic variety, for all intents and purposes, having the same origins, though some corps in the “classic” model do still exist.
It is truly a feast for the eyes and ears to sit in the stands and see the magic of drum corps unfold. Color. Pageantry. Paste-your-face-to-the-wall brass music. Precision drumming. Stunning dance elements. Rifle and saber spins and tosses. Flags in perfect unison.
Corps even entertain when they warm up. Here is video of the brass line of the winningmost corps out there, the Blue Devils, doing their famous “space chords” warm up before a semifinals run. The real exciting part starts at 1:50 but be sure to watch all the way to the end. You’ll be glad you did!
This is the third year in a row that I’ve gone to World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (where the Colts play). I return home so intoxicated by drum corps that when I close my eyes I see rifles and sabers spinning in the air. I hear remnants of horns blasting masterfully arranged music classics like Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Stravinsky’s dissonant Rite of Spring, or Whitacre’s lush Water Night.
My interest in drum corps started when my son joined the Oregon Crusaders in 2010. Prior to then, I knew next to nothing about the activity. In four years I’ve gone from novice onlooker to fanatic fan and long after my son “ages out” (next year is his last year of eligibility) I will still be going to World Championships and commenting on drum corps forum threads.
The picture above shows all the finalist corps in what is called “full retreat” or the position they are in to receive placement and awards. Here is a link to video of this year’s full retreat and final awards ceremony (use your mouse to click forward on the timeline as there is quite a long lag at the beginning).
This activity and art form captivates me to such an extent that I just about forget who I am. Seriously. The most wonderful thing about drum corps fans is that during the competitive season which is only about two and a half months, no one cares what you do for a living, what your political or religious beliefs are, what you eat, what you look like, what you are wearing or who you voted for. It doesn’t matter if you are anti-GMO, anti-vax, pro-science, green party, tea party, GOP, dem. NO ONE CARES. The only thing that matters is what is going on out there between the hash marks.
Drum corps develops character, team building and confidence in kids. Lessons learned last a lifetime as any alumnus will tell you, and many come back to the activity to help in later years. It is extremely structured, strict, and as physically demanding as any football training or boot camp. My son, a fourth year veteran marcher, will return home ripped, tan, confident, respectful – and exhausted.
My drum corps drunkenness will give way to a hangover which will linger until I start teaching again in a few short weeks. Meanwhile I will make my reservations and buy my tickets for next year.
If you are someone out there who has experience with drum corps, please let me know!
Julee K @ Sleuth4Health
email: sleuth4health@gmail.com
Photos courtesy of Oregon Crusaders/facebook except Phantom Regiment which was taken by Julee K
SLEUTH 4 HEALTH 
7 responses to “Drunk on Drums and Bugles”
Dude. I love DCI as well. My one regret during/after high school is I never tried out to be in DCI. I didn’t mind fall mornings when the band started school over an hour before the rest of the school so we could practice our show. Flying home from Iowa last week I spoke to a man in Madison Scouts shirt on the plane. Turns out he helped put together the most recent decent on my school’s marching uniforms.
Did you know our farm is only about 90 minutes from Indy? Next time DCI is in town we’ll have to get you up to the farm, Julee!
Brian – who knew? That’s what is funny about DCI… the fans and supporters can be found anywhere. I knew there had to be at least one person who knows about drum corps.
I had no idea Indy was so close to your farm. I would be absolutely honored to visit. Finals are pretty much always in Indy now… next year!
BTW: what is your instrument?
Trumpet! I’d almost forgot I have a marching post on my blog too! http://t.co/E27EJUTxRV
I read your post and commented. I like how you touched on the life lessons that marching taught you. And hey, since you live so close to Indy… check DCI finals out sometime. It’s a fun time in Lucas Oil. If I lived that close you couldn’t keep me away with pitchforks!
I’ve been twice in Madison, and once in Indy. I’ve been out of state the last few years. We were in Chicago Saturday supporting our friend walking in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day. We always said we would go and it was announced this would be the last walk in Chicago.
Indy is permanent finals home now… as far as I know so maybe I’ll see you there next year! My son is home now and together that’s all we talk about. Drum corps. Drum corps. Drum corps. Picking apart shows, drill, music, etc. Have to wait another year now!
Brian… also wanted to say that Madison had a great show this year. Made me cry. Carolina Crown edged out the Blue Devils for the title – their first. It was very exciting. My son’s corps, Oregon Crusaders, having won the Open Class championship last year, completed their FIRST year in World Class and placed 17th, just over a point behind Pacific Crest and the Colts. Not bad in a field of über good corps.