My First Drum Corps Experience

[billholden]

I wonder if we ever met back then. In the 2007 season, I would have been with the pit (as a returning vet from the 2006 season). All those people you mentioned (Stan, Brian, Nibbles) are great people, as you know!


Also, I like how you used a photo of the Cadets to demonstrate right foot first, and then a photo of the Cadets to demonstrate left foot first lol


Love the videos, keep it up!

[chasemanhart]

I can relate, at 17 I went to my first DCI audition for the Blue Devils, I thought I had chops and a chance. I was a thousand miles away from home, and everyone around me was FAR better than me. By the end of the day my feet ached, my moral was low, and I had learned more than I ever thought I would. Wouldn't trade that experience for anything!

[connormckee]

“You gotta play with some sack...You know what I’m sayin?”

😂

[theultimate]

Good morning, do a solo with only Spock drums

[CooperCam]

I had my All-State today and I fubbed it up. This cheered me up.

[thane]

I graduated in '91 from high school, and had a couple people from my drumline march DCI, cadets and cavaliers even. I never had the courage your story demonstrates. Wish I had done it back then. I hope some young people today see this and are inspired to try!

[BigJoe]

Ha joke's on you. I got naked before the video even started!

[colinellsworth]

Nibbles helps tech the quads at my college drumline, what a legend.

[Theawesomedudes]

2:00
>*says open class*
>*shows map*
>*genesis world class dbc is on there*
>cries in 19th place

[JedediahTombstone]

Best advice is to start going to audition camps in high school or as early as you can, and trying out for all the open spots each month until they get filled. You will get cut, but the experience is invaluable as is the relationship building. You'll learn more in those three day camps than you will anywhere else, even in most college courses. I was cut 3 times before I got my first contract. Those weekend camps were well worth it regardless of outcome.

[lukedm]

Fun drinking game: take a drink every time he says “a random high schooler”

[danielperry]

When I started in Drum Corps things were done differently. I started in 1972, we had 3 rehearsals a week. I started at the ripe old age of 11. We learned the technique of what our instructors called playing through the head. We would visualize playing the note and reaching the bottom head with it. Gives you a really nice full sound. We also had what I call the “physical abuse to musicianship” drum sticks fly through the air if your not paying enough attention. 20 minute rolls, you could scream or do anything as long as you didn’t stop playing. But it was great fun and turned out some fantastic percussionist.

[msd]

My experience was very similar to yours but it was the year Colin came from Magic of Orlando to Madison Scouts 2004/05-2006. If was my first ever DCI audition. Me and 3 other snare buddies drove from Missouri to Madison, Wisconsin. Very nervous but we all hacked out the cadence and exercises for a few weeks before going. I studied Colins technique by watching the Glassmen and Magic for years.... to my avail we all still had it wrong😂. 3 of us made the line which was unheard of. I tried out on snare it went awesome but tons of Magic guys followed him so he gave them priority. So he said “All the notes are the same on top bass so it’s yours!” I was super excited as a 20 yr old and making it my first go. I had some prior WGI experience with my college in Independent and World Class. Our college techs marched Blue Knights back in the day with Hardimon so the techniques and quality of sound was the first thing I learned in college drum line. I love your material man. I’m 35 now and still get the DCI itch. In the end, me and 1other friend made it entirely. One of the best experiences of my life. You should mention the cost to March as well in your vids lol💰💰💰.

[gordoncouch]

Yeah, dude. Encouraging performers to do a year elsewhere is key. The great thing about going to any world class audition is the (usually) clinical nature of the process. Even if a performer doesn’t have much of a chance to make a spot, so much can be learned there. Also, making connections can be very helpful later. So go, listen, do your best, make friends. If you make it, cool. If you didn’t, you’ve got groundwork for next time.

[Janissary]

Re: Sound Quality
What exactly did Thom and Colin say was wrong with your technique and the sound quality it produced? What was the “correct” technique they demonstrated? Could you show this on a future video?

[kyushujet]

I was a converted bass drummer from saxophone in high school. My freshman year in college, I go back to playing saxophone in marching band. That summer a friend calls me up and asks if I want to play bass 5 with the Troopers because a spot suddenly opens up. It was always a dream of mine to be in drum corps so I say “Sure!” No audition, just walk right in and pick up the drum. At the end of the season in 1986, DCI Finalist, 11th place. 😃

[MatthewChovanec-UNT]

Dude, doing group showers for the first time was terrifying

[videosmith]

Awesome to hear your story! I marched with Colin at Umass and BAC ‘91. I’m a Trumpet player, but did one football season on 3rd base Drum and Contra for DCI. I can visualize him talking technique to you (in his voice, but also Colin’s mentor Thom Hannum). I also marched Cadets ‘92 and only got in because I could march better than one other guy, and the ContraBase instructor was from Umass as well. Nervous? Yes, but I made it and had a rewarding season. Too bad I had zero $ and couldn’t march in ‘93. If I had to audition in today’s world, I’d be SOL!

[sethedmonds]

45 minute drive... come to Texas and that’s nothing.

[TheLilK]

Hell yeah an EMC video on my birthday!

Edit: Oh damn I didn't even realize people would see this lmao. Thanks to everyone wishing me a happy birthday!