Drum Corps International

So this post is a little off topic but still related. I thought that I would talk a little about another way to participate in percussion and that is by marching in a drum corp. Drum corps were started around the 1900's and have a very strong military history. By the 1960's they started becoming prize based copetitions and sponsorship opertunities. They have slowly evolved to what they are today, and that is well oiled machines to say the least. Drum corps are all about military precision. Everything from the hight that each foot comes off the ground to the angle of their instruments, everything that happens in drum corp is uniform and precise. 

To participate in a drum corp you must meet very specific qualification that are both mental and physical. Some qualifications include your sex, there are a few drum corps that are all male. Tryouts start around august and are usually only a weekend long but there may be several cuts depending on the corp your trying out for. Once you find out you have made a corp its around April and that when "move in" is. Basically after move in, you dont go home for the rest of the summer. Practices are in the hot sun usually 9am-9pm everyday except for Sunday which is laundry day. "Oh yea their just band geeks how hard could it be to go out and march for a couple hours". Most people that do drum corp loose 10 pounds. In the first week. Marching for a drum corp is EXTREMLY physical and demanding. You will see in the videos how much these people work(and how skinny everyone of them is). After about a month or so of this routine, the drum corp goes on tour. Just like rock bands, they go around the country playing shows. Except instead of luxury hotels, they sleep on gym floors.  

If you have never seen a marching band or never plan to, watch this video. It is amazing even if you know nothing about music or band. 

Cavaliers 2006 - "Machine" (Finals)

Percussion members for a drum corp are at the highest level. I think unless oyu know about percussion it will be hard to appreciate this video but its pretty cool anyway. 

Blue Coats- 2008 Drum Feature