"Drum & Bugle Corps": What is it?  Also check out the FAQs

    check out a letter to a Discovery Channel Representative

Since the 1800's, drum corps has been a part of the American heritage-starting with the military tradition of drum and fife corps, as known during the American Revolution, through the bugle bands of the early 1900's, to the modern day drum and bugle corps which has evolved into the most disciplined, precise audio/visual display of musical pageantry in existence anywhere in the world.

What makes this youth activity impressive is the level of performance quality displayed in the competitive drum corps achieved by members usually between the ages of 12 and 22 years and in senior corps have some people in their seventies.  The exaggerated display of semi-military marching programs, precisely coordinated with progressive, classical, modern and marching music has grown into one of the largest youth-oriented, crowd appealing activities in the United States and Canada. The competitive atmosphere has much to do with the level of quality drum corps project into their performances. No other competitive or non-competitive youth activity has so consistently attained the performance quality that is common in the average drum and bugle corps.

Many of the performers have musical backgrounds, but some of them do not. Those with no previous musical training are taught from scratch by the staff of each drum corps. The fact that each section is so superb is due to many long hours of individual practice and group rehearsals.

The competition itself is primarily a spring and summer activity for those who participate. Preparing for competition takes hundreds upon thousands of hours during the fall, winter and spring months to improve techniques and to learn and perfect the musical and marching repertoire.

In the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan, competitive drums corps number well over 2,500 units, representing approximately 250,000 boys and girls, and 90,000 to 100,000 adult staff and booster club members. This does not include several thousand non-competitive, parade drum corps, which will bring the participation level to well over the million mark.

Marching bands can range how many members there are on the field at one time. In Drum Corps, the maximum number of members is 135. In Marching bands, you usually have the Middle School, High School, or College. Drum Corps ranges in ages, 5-70+. Drum Corps is also split in categories. Cadet Corps, Junior Corps, and Senior Corps.

Another major difference is the instrumentation. Drum & Bugle Corps play on bugles whereas a marching band plays on concert instruments (i.e. clarinets, trumpets, saxophones, flutes, trombones, etc.) This means that there are no woodwinds in Drum Corps. The corps' are split in 3 sections: brass, guard, and percussion. The corps spend their summer traveling around the country in usually 3-4 busses, two Semi trucks, practicing, eating, sleeping, and competing at drum corps shows. A Drum Corps will play on average 40 shows in a three-month season, while most marching bands only play/compete around 8-12 shows, not including the football games.

Drum Corps is an experience and not just an activity. It is 7-months of winter one-weekend practices and 3 non-stop summer months of rehearsal; perfecting, performing, more perfecting, and competing with some of the world's most beautiful and/or interesting music. All of this is done on a football field. Keep in mind that this is in no way, shape, or form of a marching band from either High School or College. This is something entirely unique and different. Many corps' started around the turn of the Century. A lot of their roots are with the VFW and American Legion posts. Then, the corps would march in files, and squares and march with strict military precision. NOW, the corps' are entirely different. They are lightening fast - by the seat of your pants - in your face - edge of your chair - type drills, combined with classical, jazz, and pop music scores that are usually played by symphonies and other professionals. 

Drum Corps is an all day and most of the night activity that presents many emotional highs and lows, intense competition, and an irreplaceable feeling of satisfaction when it's all over with. If you are a fortunate enough person to have been able to be part of the 200+ corps, you know what I mean. If you are even more fortunate to have been part of the Top 12 that performs on Finals night (usually 2nd weekend in August) you will give all that you've got in front of nearly 20,000-40,000 fans in a large football arena, either pro, or college. The best thing to know about those fans in the stadium, they are not there to watch football, they are there to watch talented young youth marching the very best they were taught to march throughout the summer. You are watching them put their best foot forward, knowing that they may never see most of the new friends they made while on tour from other competing corps'. These performers are some of the best musicians, people, and friends on the planet. To see them perform is exciting; to be a part of it is an experience.

A few years ago, I designed this site to try to explain what this wonderful sport activity is. This activity would actually be non-existent if it weren't for the talented youth of today. The youth of today is so talented, I believe they would have blown away the talent of 10, 15, and 20 years ago.