Drum Corps InternationalDrum Corps International (DCI) is the non-profit governing body of the modern, highly competitive "junior" drum and bugle corps activity. Drum corps stems from a rich history, but the modern activity more closely resembles an elite level of marching band, with some important differences. DCI corps are on the forefront of trends; their repertoires, techniques, style, and showmanship are influential not only throughout drum corps itself, but also to marching bands and virtually all other marching activities. Membership in the top corps is highly sought and extremely competitive. Young people come from around the world to participate. Corps have a maximum of 135 members, and all members must be between 14 and 22 years of age. About half of each corps' members are horn players, a quarter are percussionists, and a quarter are guard members. There are also one or two drum majors. The primary purpose of DCI corps is their competitive summer tour, consisting of DCI-sanctioned competitions throughout the US and Canada, culminating in August with the weeklong DCI World Championships. But they also appear in a wide variety of other performances, such as parades, festivals, and other civic and private events throughout the summer. Musical repertoires vary widely between corps, including classical, jazz, big band, contemporary, Broadway, Latin, etc. Many corps are known for featuring a particular genre. (Note: While DCI is a separate entity from the corps it governs, they are inextricably linked and this article will interweave discussion about both. For more about non-DCI corps, see the Drum and bugle corps article.)
Musical ProgramInstrumentationHornsOne of the defining musical elements of drum corps is its exclusively bell-front brass instrumentation. Throughout the years, corps' hornlines have evolved from true, valveless bugles to modern multi-valved brass instruments. These changes have effectively eliminated bugles from the activity, since the current approved instruments are properly of a much wider class than the restrictive term "bugle". Traditionally, corps use horns in the key of G, but DCI also allows horns in other keys. From highest pitched to lowest they are: sopranos (G) or trumpets (B♭), mellophones, baritones, euphoniums, and contra basses (G) or tubas (B♭). Many corps have opted for non-G horns—it helps smaller corps that can't afford the specialized G instruments by allowing members to bring their own concert horns; it allows for a much greater availability of high-quality instruments at lower costs, as the use of G horns is increasingly esoteric; and it enables the corps to arrange pieces in their original key rather than transposing them to G. This evolution is generally viewed as a positive in regard to musical quality; however, it all but eliminates the trademark G sound of drum corps. PercussionThe percussion section consists of the "pit" or "frontline" ensemble and the battery. By the nature of the large and extensive instrumentation, the frontline remains in a stationary area, typically at the front of the field. Members play on orchestral percussion instruments, including marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones, timpani, and a host of other drums, cymbals, gongs and various percussive instruments. In theory, the pit is sometimes amplified to allow for delicate percussive instruments that could not otherwise be heard by the audience in a stadium setting. In practice, the amplification is also sometimes used for voices, which is a controversial subject among drum corps enthusiasts. The battery moves around on the field along with the horns and guard, playing snares, tenors, bass drums, and cymbals. A DCI Division I corps (filled out at 135 members) generally has 7-9 snares, 4-5 tenors, and 5 basses. The number of cymbal players varies; some corps have none, others have 4-5. These numbers scale down for smaller corps, such as those in lower DCI divisions and other international circuits. Technique and Repertoireneeds content. Visual ProgramGuardThe guard is a crucial part of a corps' visual program. The athletic and theatric abilities of guard members are above and beyond any similar activity. In addition to uniforms that are custom made for each season, members use flags, rifles, and sabers to create visual effects that enhance the show. Marching and Drill Designneeds content. The SeasonCampsCorps staff start planning months in advance for the upcoming season—assembling their staff, choosing their musical repertoire, writing drill, etc. Most corps begin having camps on or around Thanksgiving Day weekend and continue having monthly camps throughout the winter. Potential members travel far and wide to attend the camps of their favorite corps. Membership in the top DCI Division I corps is highly competitive and is generally determined during the first few camps. Applicants may or may not have any knowledge or experience of the history of drum corps and DCI; in fact, high school and college marching band experience may well be more valuable to the aspiring. By spring, the members have been chosen and camps are held twice or more per month as the beginning of the next summer season approaches. Members report for "move-in" (that is, move to the locality where their corps is based) at the end of May, as soon as college classes end. Corps spend 12 to 16-hour days refining the music and movement of their show, as there is little time remaining before the beginning of the tour in June. Drum corps is a full-time summer commitment—members are on the road performing in competitions and parades across the U.S. and Canada virtually non-stop through the DCI Championship week in mid-August. Corps travel by over-the-road buses in convoy with tractor trailers holding equipment and field kitchens. Once on the road, members generally sleep on the buses as the corps travels at night and in sleeping bags in school gyms once the next destination is reached. They practice their show for as long as schedule allows during the day, and then load up for the evening competition nearby. After the show is over, the cycle repeats. DivisionsDCI splits corps into 3 divisions. Division I (formerly Open Class) corps are the elite corps in the activity, with more than enough applicants to fill out their 135 member maximum. The top 12 corps as determined from the previous season are given voting rights to help govern the DCI circuit as well as increased performance purses and preferential touring schedules. Division II (formerly 'A' Class or Associate Class) and Division III (formerly 'A-60' Class) corps are generally less competitive as far as gaining membership. Since horn players comprise about half of all needed members, there are often inadequate numbers of them in II/III corps. Drummers, avid and in abundance, can still be quite competitive for spots even at the "lower" levels. These corps are just as fiercely competitive with rival corps as in Division I. Division II/III corps sometimes have less intensive touring schedules, competing and performing primarily on weekends in local and regional events. Most II/III corps that are competitive enough and have adequate funds will travel to and compete in the DCI Championships. Division II corps can have up to 135 members; Division III corps have up to 60 members. In its infancy DCI did not have the concept of divisions. However, as interest in the style of performance within DCI grew, marching units from other organizations, often in B♭ instrumentation, were keen to join but found the initial expense of changing to G horns prohibitive. For that reason, the Associate Class was formed to allow units to perform with non-G instruments, but still be part of DCI. CompetitionsCompetitions are usually held at college or high school football stadiums and are scored by DCI-approved judges. Because of the intense and superior competition between corps, the judging system is somewhat complicated to allow for precise scoring and avoidance of ties. The three main captions are: General Effect, Visual, and Music. General effect is the most important factor, accounting for 40 points of a corps' score. Visual and music each get 30 points, for a total of 100. Here is a simplified table of how scoring works:
The DCI Championships are the epitome of the drum corps activity in North America. They are held the first or second week of August at a variable location each year; sometimes they are held at the same location for more than one year in a row. All major corps are in attendance. The Championships last for the better part of a week. Division I quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are held at a professional or large college football stadium. Division II/III prelims and finals are held at a nearby, smaller facility. There are also optional individual and ensemble (I&E) competitions that individual members or groups from corps can partake in, designed to allow members of corps to showcase their own skills outside of the corps performance environment. OrganizationDrum Corps International is an umbrella organization run by the very corps that it governs. It exists to help guide and support the drum corps activity, in addition to its very visible role of sanctioning a competitive circuit. This section will discuss the organization of DCI itself and of a prototypical member corps. DCIDCI consists of only a small full-time executive and administrative staff in Addison, Illinois. The real heart of the organization is the Board of Directors, which is primarily composed of the executive directors of its member corps. The board meets several times a year to discuss the issues facing the activity. CorpsDCI corps are typically run by dedicated non-profit organizations; very few are associated with schools or for-profit entities. Some corps are even parts of larger non-profit performance arts organizations, which might also include theater groups, winter guards, winter drumlines, and other various musical or visual activities. StaffDespite their non-profit status, a well-run corps is just like a well-run business. It requires many bright and dedicated people to handle the fiscal and operational responsibilities. There are three levels of staff operating a drum corps: Executive, Instructional, and Volunteer. Each plays an essential role in creating a well-run corps. The executive staff includes the operational and tour director(s) of the corps and the corps' board of directors. Often these people are unpaid volunteers. This group is almost always long-standing in successful corps; it is their experience, dedication, and commitment that keeps the corps running smoothly. They are the people who create the long-term vision and strategy for the organization. They handle the financial, operational, and organizational issues to keep the corps running. The instructional staff actually puts the show on the field. They create the concept of the show, choose and arrange the music, write the drill, and instruct the members on how to play, march, execute, and exude the image of the corps on the field. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any corps. Parents, alumni, friends, and just rabid fans of the corps make the corps work on a day-to-day basis. Volunteers drive the buses and trucks, cook and clean, provide mechanical maintenance, care for the corps' uniforms, and countless other peripheral duties essential to getting the corps down the road to the next show. Dues and FundraisingEvery DCI corps requires some amount of dues from its members to help defray the cost of touring. Dues vary from corps to corps, but generally run from several hundred to well over a thousand dollars per member. Most corps provide ways to help offset the cost of membership, often through personal sponsorships that the member must procure. Corps do everything they can to help potential members pay their dues. But the membership dues only pay for a fraction of the total cost of keeping a corps alive. It costs $100,000-$500,000 or more to run a corps for a single season. Uniforms, equipment and vehicles must be bought and maintained, food and fuel are spent, and the instructional staff needs a stipend. Other sources of income are required. Many organizations run bingo halls as a major source of income. Some run a fleet of charter buses, which is a natural extension of the corps' touring needs. All corps solicit sponsorships and endorsements at the corporate level and individual contributions from alumni and fans. HistoryDCI originated in 1972. needs content. Other GroupsOther countries also have active drum corps circuits, derived from the original American concept. The longest-lived of those are Drum Corps United Kingdom, formed in 1979, and Drum Corps Europe, formerly Drum Corps Nederland, the Dutch drum corps organization. Drum corps has also taken hold in Japan. For years, Japanese youth have come to the U.S. to join American corps, but there are now several corps in Japan. Corps from these countries have traveled to the U.S. to perform in the DCI Championships. External linksDivision I Drum Corps (2004 season)
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