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T RUMPET IN THE W IND B AND M ARC R EED , C OLUMN E DITOR I H ATE D RUM C ORPS ! BY M ARC R EED January 2020 • Page 7272 ITG Journal / January 2020© 2020 International Trumpet Guild T RUMPET IN THE W IND B AND M ARC R EED , C OLUMN E DITOR “I hate drum corps!” If I received a nickel every time I have heard this comment, I would be a rich man. As an aca- demic musician, statements like this sometimes arise when Drum Corps International (dci) is mentioned by a stu- dent. Why? There is a sentiment felt by some that dci is unmusical, not refined, too loud, or hard on the chops; or that it appeals to a less-refined class of musicians. Stereotypes are often rooted in at least some version of fact, but when was the last time one of these drum corps scoffers attended a dci show? I must admit that while I never considered myself a dci hater, I certainly have not been its strongest supporter. When faced with the opportunity to join a corps in college, I weighed paying to participate in a corps with having a summer job and making money, and I chose the latter. Had I joined a drum corps, I am certain that my view would be much different today. I attended a few dci shows while in high school and during my undergraduate years, but until this summer, I had not seen a live show in more than fifteen years. I have had sev- eral students audition and, to my chagrin, some participate. I worried that they might return with lesser playing habits and that I might have to devote time from our weekly lessons to fixing dci-related issues. I also have heard a few unsavory sto- ries about what happens in the back of tour buses or in gym floors and have worried about my students’ personal wellbeing. On August , , I attended the Tour of Champions dci show in the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. I recently began a new position at the University of Akron and thought attending this event would be a nice way to interact with a few of the band staff members at ua, meet some of the local band directors and band students, and see the university’s football stadium for the first time. Our band staff had secured a luxury box for the event, so not hav- ing to sit on stadium bleachers with my pregnant wife was also appealing. Of the three reasons I attended, none had to do with what I was about to watch. We saw shows by such corps as Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders, Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Bluecoats. I was floored by what I witnessed. These bands were amazing! The precision, artistry, athleticism, and musicianship were breathtaking. I rarely get goosebumps during musical perform- ances anymore as either a spectator or performer, but it hap- pened twice during this show. The Bluecoats, who five days later lost to the eventual dci World Champions Blue Devils by less than one-tenth of a point, were stunning. They performed a Beatles medley that was outstanding. It was one of the most polished live musical performances I have ever seen. I H ATE D RUM C ORPS ! BY M ARC R EED Trumpet in the Wind Band examines literature and performance issues associated with the trumpet’s role in wind band music throughout music history. Ideas, suggestions, and submissions should be directed to Marc Reed; windband@trumpetguild.org “I rarely get goosebumps during musical performances anymore as either a spec- tator or performer, but it happened twice during this show.”© 2020 International Trumpet GuildJanuary 2020 / ITG Journal 73 After witnessing corps from places like Santa Clara, Califor- nia, and Boston, Massachusetts, I felt a tremendous sense of joy coupled with guilt, because I had been judging dci for years based on skewed notions. The educator in me also kicked into high gear to ponder the benefits of marching dci. There were over , people in attendance at the Akron dci show, and over , people attended a live dci show in , with almost , attending the three-day finals per- formances in Indianapolis, Indiana. These numbers are stag- gering, especially considering the performers are high school and college students. There is not another college or high school arts activity that draws this kind of attendance. The only other comparable activity is athletics. DCI’s appeal to the masses is undeniable. Why is it viewed by some as taboo or a second-class citizen in advanced musical circles? I keep seeing articles about the dangers of smartphones, how young adults no longer get summer jobs, climbing suicide rates, bullying, and how more young people feel isolated. Moving kids outside of their comfort zones, traveling, making new friends, giving them a common purpose, getting them outside, improving their physical fitness, playing their instruments for months on end during the summer—these seem like good things, right? Perhaps we should change our tune (pun intend- ed) when it comes to dci. As a brass player and teacher who has been an active profes- sional for more than twenty years, I have encountered numer- ous individuals with dci backgrounds. Without exception, their loyalty to dci and the corps for which they marched is tremendous and often greater than their loyalty to the schools they attended. They are quick to give the year, show, and results from their dci seasons. As for me, I have changed my view on drum corps. Young people are capable of tremendous things when given guidance and the tools to succeed. dci is a great avenue to help mold not only great musicians, but also tremendous people. Anyone ever heard of Chris Martin? Yeah, he marched drum corps. I love drum corps! About the author: Marc Reed is professor of music and direc- tor of the schools of music and dance, theatre, and arts admin- istration at the University of Akron. “DCI is a great avenue to help mold not only great musicians, but also trem - endous people.” “Over 330,000 people attended a live DCI show in 2016, with almost 45,000 attending the three-day finals perform- ances in Indianapolis, Indiana.”Next >