Vanity - Are there any Drum Corp Fans or Former Marching Members among us?

Vanity ^ | 8/6/2002 | Terri

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Hello all, With the Drum Corp International World Championships going on this week, I was wondering if we had any freeper Corp fans or former marching members.

I never marched but volunteered this year with the Cavaliers - I travelled about 18 days - over 4,000 miles with them and had a great time.

If you have never heard of this activity you don't know what you are missing. I suggest www.dci.org or www.Cavaliers.org to start out for information.

Terri

[wimpycat]

I used to be on the flag team in highschool, but I don't particularly like the Drum Corps competition at the level you're talking about. It's too intricate and artsy fartsy for my taste.

Marching band was sure fun in highschool, though, and I didn't have to pay to see any of the football games!

[Fred Mertz]

My brother was in that silent march group at The Citadel...he'll smack me for forgetting the name.

[Benrand]

Marched snare throughout HS. We incorporated a lot of the licks and movements and themes from DCI...we were quite competitive in the Pittsburgh area. I didn't know anyone in MB who actually made it to the DCI level. I still enjoy watching it. It's amazing, but the strict technique seems that it would burn guy's wrists out pretty quick.

My arms felt so much better when I "let go" and played relaxed, of course not when I was marching but on drumset. DCI is impressive.

[Keith in Iowa]

Dittos. Marching Band is about the only thing about HS that I still miss 20 yrs later...

[underdognewsgrl]

I'm a high schooler currently and am a proud marchin band member! haha im actually in band camp next week. Whether I will continue on with the marching "experience" I dont know, but being a football fan too, the free ticket is the best part of all :)

[Clintons Are White Trash]

I teach high school colorguard and winterguard so I am currently in Band Camp with my kids. (www.bonebrake.com/guard) Marching is a wonderful activity - I always say if you keep kids busy doing something good they won't have time to get into trouble. With marching by the time you're done with rehearsal you are too tired to stir it up :)

[mombonn]

My son and I road-tripped to DC to attend the DCI finals 2 years ago. We had a glorious time.

I even got to FReep the creep one last time before it left office!

[100American]

3 years in High School Marching Band (2 years ROTC sponsored, one regular), section leader my senior year (drums). Also, drum and bugle corps in ROTC my senior year when I had to teach half of them just to play. My daughter was 4 years in HS and 4 years at USC, also a drummer and section leader. Wouldn't trade being a band geek for anything, helped me and my daughter get through school, I highly recommend it to freepers with kids.

Fight On !!

[jaz.357]

I started out with the WOODSIDERS in HARRISON NJ 1969-1975. Went on to the HAWTHORNE CABALLEROS 1976-1978. DCA champs 1976.NY SKYLINERS for the off season 1983. The wife said NO MORE!We go to the Garfield Cadets show in GIANTS satdium every other year.

[luckystarmom]

Definitely a fan, but I haven't kept up with it in years. I was in my high school color guard, and our band hosted a Drum Corps competition every year. We also trained with the Santa Clara Vanguard color guard director. Of course, this was over 20 years ago.

[SelmaLee]

I played percussion from Jr. High through my first 2 years of college. I agree - that is the only thing I miss from high school - 30 years later!

Our 8th grade daughter started summer marching practice last week. They will practice 3 days a week, (2 hours/day) until school starts at the end of the month. We didn't have that much summer band practice when I was in college! It is definitely more competitive, even at this level, than when I was her age. She does get to play quads this year though - so she is happy.

[Consort]

Do they still show it on PBS? If so, do you know when it will air this year?

[OldBlondBabe]

Husband and I marched with Marauders and Iron Brigade, (Detroit area) from 1971-74. We were not DCI caliber, but loved what we had anyway. No beating the friendships and comraderie of corps members. Went to DCI in Ithaca, 1974; loved Madison Scouts that year. Things have really changed in drum corps, but we still love it. We'd like to see more competitions, but show admissions have become really pricey. Not too much corps left in Michigan.

We still talk about and miss Blue Rock, Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, 27th Lancers, Polish Falcons, Troopers, Santa Clara's "bottle dance"....always enjoyed the trip to Marion, Ohio for USA Open.

Didn't Cavies do The Wizard of Oz in say...1971?

Best part of my teenage years, plus met my husband. Lots of hard work in corps, but wouldn't have traded it for anything.

[The Great RJ]

I saw the Cavaliers perform in Sioux Falls, SD on July 30th. I have never experienced anything like it! The crowd was swept with what seemed by wave electricity after seeing their performance. I can't wait to see them again.

I'm an old marching band member in both high school and college and have a daughter in a high school marching band.

[OldBlondBabe]

"USA Open"

US Open, sorry.

[habs4ever]

Did you used to post over on Lucy's alot?? I remember your name and you used to talk about this a bit on the Weekend Roundtables :-)

[Lilly]

Wow! A Blast From The Past!!!

I was in the Chesterton Trojan Guard of Chesterton IN.
Our band marched in President Reagan's Inaugural Parade, the Orange Bowl Parade ('81) Won IN State 4 yrs in a row. Grand National Champs '82 etc. etc. etc. Most went on to Rockford IL, the home of the Phantom Regiment! Some went to Concord CA, the home of the Blue Devils, and some went to Santa Clara, home of the Santa Clara Vanguard! (My longtime favorite Corp.) But I have seen the Cavies, and have loved them as well as the Madison Scouts.
Really appreciate this trip down memory lane.

BTW, I played clarinet/baritone.

-Lilly

[theDentist]

Sure was. It was in the CYO. We were the Royal Jades. I was on base drum, 'cause I had no other musical talent. Won several regional championships during those years.

Marched in the Mardi Gras in New Orleans in '74, winning the Kings Trophy (first band outside La. to ever take it out of the state.
Opened for Game 6 at Fenway Park in '75.
Marched in DisneyWorld on July 4th '76.

Plus we went to every DCI champoinship on the East Coast just to watch through those years. I've still got a Garfield Cadets belt buckle. My favorite, though, was the Muchachos out of Hawthorne, NJ.

I never regretted a single day of it except one.... the day I had to leave.
I'd have been mustered out the next day anyway, but I hated the idea of someone telling me I could no longer participate.
(I still get the same way when I get laid off from work).

[OldBlondBabe]

Muchachos...they were great. Didn't they get disqualified for marching over-age members in 75, or 76? They never recover after that. Too bad.