Drum Corps?

There is no true definition of what drum corps is. It can be an activity, a sport, entertainment, arts, music, education, a group, the experience, the memory, or the emotion and feelings that it creates. It is an ever-changing marching and musical activity featuring kids and young adults typically between the ages of 14-21. Members play a variety of instruments and handle several equipment: including (but not limited to) trumpets, baritones, drums, and flags. Each season typically starts around November with auditions and practices start the following January. The practices continue through June when the first shows start and conclude in mid August. There are multiple drum corps from all over the country (and world) with thousands of members that participate from every continent.

You can read more about Drum Corps here.

So Drum Corps is like a Marching Band?

This is a very common question.. and while there are several similarities, one common analogy would be: Drum Corps is the professional version of Marching Band.. if you like football, Marching Band is High School Football and Drum Corps is the NFL. If you like fishing, Marching Band is like trying to fish for goldfish out of a glass bowl, where Drum Corps is trying to hunt a Great White while fly fishing…. or something to that effect. You get the point.

The biggest difference is that Drum Corps members practice from January—August on one show, typically 12 hours a day and perform for tens of thousands of audience members in NFL stadiums across the country.

Is Drum Corps worth it?

Thousands of kids and young adults march every summer. They have fun, make great life long friends, get an excellent workout, and more importantly… learn life long lessons and values. This is not your summer camp though! These members pour their heart and soul into what they do, regularly practice 12+ hours every day for weeks, and end up performing for tens of thousands of people throughout the summer! This is a very hard, rewarding and challenging opportunity that not only is physically and mentally hard to do, but the members have to audition to be a part of the group, and on top of that… they have to pay a LOT of money to do it! However the things you experience, learn and gain from the activity is invaluable.