DCI Magazine Winter, 2014 by Drum Corps International

DrumCorps

Winter 2014 | Vol. 8 No. 1

The Magazine of Marching Music’s Major League™

International

Countdown to Showtime

THE STEPS THAT HAPPEN BEFORE THE MARCHING BEGINS

DCI’s Diplomats Teaching Drum Corps in East Asia

There’s a Lot to Like Connect with your favorite DCI groups via social media

FAST FURIOUS & FUN! DCI’s SoundSport program is bringing musical competition to more people than ever

THE ANATOMY OF A DRUM CARRIER DRUM CORPS IN THE COMMUNITY NEW VIDEOS, TIPS FOR TICKETS, AND MORE DCI NEWS

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WINTER 2014

DrumCorps International THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MARCHING MUSIC’S MAJOR LEAGUE Volume 8 Issue 1

Dan Acheson Executive Director/CEO Bob Jacobs Director, Marketing John DeNovi Director, Sales & Business Development Chris Weber Sr. Manager, Communications

Custom Published By: In Tune Partners, LLC Irwin Kornfeld CEO Will Edwards President Emile Menasché Editor-in-Chief Jackie Jordan Creative Director Robin Garber Production Director Barbara Boughton Business Manager Photography Johnny Gilbert, Linda and Sid Unser Contributors Dianne Spoto Ackerman, Danny Miles, Adam Perlmutter Drum Corps International is the leader in producing events for the world’s most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. Editorial and business contact is 110 W. Washington St., Suite C, Indianapolis, IN 46204, phone: 317-275-1212, fax: 317-713-0690. Drum Corps International Magazine is published twice a year. Nonprofit organization U.S. postage paid at Long Prairie, MN permit #710. Copyright ©2014 Drum Corps International. All rights reserved.

Bluecoats

FEATURES 14

A New Game in Town

Before We March

Fast, fun, and fan-friendly, DCI’s SoundSport program is already making waves around the world—and connecting more musicians to DCI’s brand of excellence. BY DANNY MILES Whether it’s planning the schedule, manning the turnstiles, judging the action, or organizing things on show day, it takes a dedicated team to make the DCI season come together. BY ADAM PEARLMUTTER

DEPARTMENTS 5 Sidelines

Blue Stars at 50 ... DrumLine Battle debuts at PASIC ... DCI corps show community spirit ... Championship videos, tickets, hotel specials ... and more!

10 Gear Guide

Randall May explains how advances in drum carriers are taking the load off marching percussionists.

Spirit of Atlanta

26 Commitment to Excellence

DCI China Fellowship members Russel Zavalla, Lia Huang Morris and Eric Smith.

30 Stepping Off

DCI’s World and Open Class corps find plenty to “Like” on Facebook. www.dci.org

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NEWS AND NOTES FROM DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL WATCH DRUMLINE BATTLE’S HIT DEBUT AT PASIC 2013 Among the highlights of last fall’s Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis was the PASIC debut of DrumLine Battle— DCI’s new program that lets drum lines of all sizes go head to head in a live competition. By all accounts, it was also one of the highlights of the

2013 Blue Stars

Golden Milestone for Blue Stars

T four-day celebration of all things percussion, which features concerts, clinics, master classes, and more. The competing groups ranged from high schools to Big Ten drum lines—among them Indiana University and the University of Michigan. After four rounds of elimination tournament-style action, the University of North Alabama took the championship title. “[DrumLine Battle] was definitely something that was new to us, but it was definitely worth the time and extra practice we put into it,” said UNA snare drummer Matthew Upton. You can see UNA’s winning show—as well as the rest of the impressive field—at tinyurl.com/pasic13dlb.

he year 1964 was monumental in music history: The Beatles landed in America for the first time, the Rolling Stones released their debut album… and the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps formed in La Crosse, Wis. One of the 13 founding members of Drum Corps International in 1972, the organization was successful right out of the gate, winning competitions like the Minnesota State American Legion Championships and Wisconsin State American Legion Championships. The Blue Stars quickly moved onto the national level, where it remains to this day as part of DCI’s World Class. “[We] have a history unlike any other drum corps,” says executive director Brad Furlano. “We saw great competitive success very early. After some financial difficulties [in the 1980s], the corps reorganized as a Class A-60 [precursor of 1979 Blue Stars today’s Open Class] group and established itself as one of the most accomplished small corps in the activity. Recently, the corps has reestablished itself as a leader in DCI’s World Class.” This summer, the group commemorates its 50th anniversary with several exciting events including its traditional Grand Premier event and a very special Anniversary Celebration. The grand finale will feature a special 50th Anniversary Alumni Corps reunion, complete with performances. Members will also wear red plumes as part of their uniforms this summer as a nod to the corps’ illustrious history. Yet the group is also looking ahead, hoping to return to the World Championship Finals for the second straight year. “‘Finis Coronat Opus’ has been the Blue Stars motto from the beginning,” Furlano says. “It translates to ‘The end crowns the work.’ It’s a belief we hold dearly that there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome with hard work and dedication.” Learn more at bluestars.org. www.dci.org

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Sidelines

Boston Crusaders at McKinley Middle School

Corps Show Their Community Spirit

etting ready for the upcoming season isn’t the only thing keeping staff and members of DCI groups busy during the offseason. They’re finding ways to serve their local communities, too. Whether it’s doing music clinics, collecting donations, painting classrooms, or a myriad of other local initiatives, corps have been making a difference all over the country. “We want to create a culture of volunteerism, giving back to our communities through the Boston Crusaders,” says Whitney Medworth, manager of events and outreach for the Boston Crusaders. “We felt that the MLK Day of Service would be a great place to start. We worked together with YouthBuild Boston to do some work at McKinley Middle School, painting in different classrooms to create a better learning environment for the students. We want to continue to do this throughout the year, reaching out to art, music, and educational organizations that need help.” After completing a successful Hurricane Sandy relief project over the summer, Jersey Surf members have been collecting donated pants this winter as part Jersey Surf members of DoSomething.org’s Teens for Jeans procollect jeans for gram. “Like many DCI corps, our members are needy teens. very socially conscious and our ‘share the love’ philosophy extends beyond the performance field,” says Jersey Surf executive director Bob Jacobs. “This spirit truly is an extension of the drum corps activity’s overall ideals.” To learn more about the groups in your own community, visit DCI.org/corps.

‘13 Audio & Video Available To mark the release of DCI’s collectible 2013 World Championship video discs (DVD, Blu-Ray) and audio at DCIstore.org, we’ve set up a YouTube playlist with nearly an hour of high-def highlights: tinyurl.com/DCI13-video.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH

Among the best things about Indianapolis is the easy access between Lucas Oil Stadium and the city’s fine downtown accommodations. To make booking your stay easier, DCI has reserved blocks of rooms for the World Championships (August 7-9) at many of the Circle City’s most popular downtown hotels—and reservations are now being accepted. To learn more and book your stay, go to DCI.org/IndyHotels.

WESTIN INDIANAPOLIS

Spend Championships Week at the Center of the Action

POSTCARD FROM JAPAN Last December, executive director and CEO Dan Acheson returned to Japan for the first time since 2002, representing DCI at the Japan Marching Band Association’s championship competition in Saitama City. “The trip offered an important opportunity for DCI to further develop its international relationships in areas with strong interest and support for the marching arts,” Acheson says.

Ticket Tips Tickets for some of hottest stops on the 2014 DCI Tour schedule—including San Antonio, Atlanta, and the World Championships in Indianapolis—are now on sale through Ticketmaster. Here are some tips for finding your perfect seat:

DOrder online through ticketmaster.com: Be ready to specify your preferred seating section. For San Antonio, you can also choose individual seats online. DOrder though Ticketmaster’s call center: Dial 800-745-3000 (to talk to a representative), 866-448-7849 (for the automated system), or 800-943-4327 (for TDD). You’ll have the option of choosing specific seats (if they’re available) and specifying special needs. DGroup Discounts: For orders of 20 or more tickets, call DCI directly at 317-275-1212 for special discounts that are not available through Ticketmaster. For a complete list of available tickets and other event information, visit DCI.org/tickets.

www.dci.org

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SOUND LEGACY

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ARE LEGACY

Gear Guide

By Danny Miles

Anatomy of a Drum Harness

Randall May explains how advances in drum carriers help promote better posture Marching percussion is physically demanding, what with the weight of the drums and the impact of hitting them on the move. By redistributing that weight and offering enhanced support, Randall May International’s adjustable, lightweight Monoposto and Biposto drum carriers are designed to promote good posture and reduce stress on the back and shoulders. May explained how each detail in the design has a job to do.

SHOULDER STRAPS

SHOULDER CLAMP Rotating

Ultralight magnesium material lined with padding designed to evade the shoulder blades.

angle adjustment to position shoulder straps and ABS to player’s preferred fit.

ABS (ARTICULATING BACK SUPPORT)

TUBULAR FRAME

Aligns to upper back’s natural curvature to assist proper posture while evading the scapula. This allows for free, unobstructed playing movement and improved weight distribution.

Gender-neutral design and shape with light aluminum aircraft tubing.

MONOPOSTO Eliminates J-rods, resulting in obstruction-free mounting hardware to give drummers better freedom of movement.

CONTOUR HINGE Two pivot points adjust the tubular frame to outline both the upper and lower body of the player for close fitting positioning parallel with the spine promoting proper posture while reducing torque multipliers.

AB PLATE Players can adjust invertible AB plate to their preferred height.

Marching bass drums (right) can weigh 20 pounds or more.

www.dci.org

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Star United was named the Crowd Favorite at the first-ever SoundSport Showcase at the 2013 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.

A NEW GAME IN Fast, fun and friendly to musicians of all stripe, SoundSport

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E IN TOWN

sk members, alumni, and fans what m a ke s Dr u m C or p s International so special, and you’ll likely hear about the spectacle of seeing more than 100 performers on a football field, the innovative ways groups orchestrate brass, percussion, and front ensemble, and the amazing combination of athleticism and artistry in ever y performance. Eventually, they’ll get around to the intensity of the competition—or, more specifically, how competition inspires creativity. And while the size and sound of a drum corps show is unique, the connection between competition and creativity is adaptable. The exciting potential of that link inspired DCI to launch two new programs last year: DrumLine Battle and SoundSport. DrumLine Battle—where percussion ensembles face off in a tournament format— got off to a great start last season and continues to grow. And just a year after it was f irst announced SoundSport is already coming into its own, as well. At press time, 83 teams from six dif-

is already making waves around the world.

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ferent countries had already joined the fray. “We have expand our footprint...We’re introducing an enormous a rapidly growing fan base throughout the world,” says number of new people around the world to what we John DeNovi, senior director of business development do, and the possibilities are electrifying.” for DCI and one of the creators behind SoundSport. This program already has 10 elementary school “We already have alliances in place with marching SoundSport teams in China, as well as teams from music associations in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Columbia, and Canada, along with Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand, and new dozens based in the U.S. opportunities are developing at a breathtaking pace. A nd while many of t hese groups are seeing Combined with the existing awareness and presence of SoundSport as an end in itself, it also can serve as a the drum corps activity throughout Europe, Asia, launching pad for up-and-coming drum corps. Gary South Africa, South America and Holly, CEO and executive director of Southwind beyond, our goal is to create Alumni Association, says that SoundSport is offering anot her avenue to u nite t he a way to build a program that may eventually grow world through music and perfor- into a competitive Drum Corps International group. mance, promote teamwork and “In March of 2011, myself and other Southwind alumthe pursuit of excellence—and ni organized SWAA in Semmes, Alabama, with the have a heck of a lot of fun in the intent of bringing drum corps to the gulf coast,” he process.” explains. “We put in place a five-year business plan The “fun factor” is one of the that would allow Southwind’s return to the competikey reasons for SoundSport’s tive field with DCI’s Open Class. In the summer of rapid growth. While the activity 2013, DCI announced a program that would give inacembodies the values that define tive drum corps from the 1980s to the present day an DCI, it’s also designed to be opportunity to perform and reorganize very inexpenmore accessible to groups of different sizes, age sively. Now, we see the SoundSport program as a posgroups, musical instruments, and styles. sible springboard into DCI’s Open Class in 2015 or A SoundSport team consists of between 5 to 50 2016. As a SoundSport team, we will stick to the basic members, who can be of any age and play any instru- brass instrumentation with no more than 50 members ments they like. Marching brass and percussion are total. This year, we are open to all ages.” represented, of course. But the competition is also Holly adds that competing in SoundSport is serving open to a cappella groups, mobile rock bands, mad as a recruiting tool and more. “It’s a ‘prequel’ to arrays of march i ng Southwind’s return to A DCI China/SoundSport team performs in Shanghai last May. accordions, you name it. DCI as well as our introSt udents as you ng as duct ion to t he talent elementary school can along the Gulf Coast,” take part—as can alumni he explains. “On March f rom DC I g roups or 1, w e’ l l t a k e t o t he anyone else who wants st reet s of dow ntow n to test their musical metMobile, Alabama for our tle in a new arena where first live performance in shows are fast, exciting, t he K re w of A n gle s and audience-friendly. M a rd i G r a s p a r ade . Each tea m g ives a We’re also working with f ive- to seven-minute our local commu nit y per for ma nce on a 30 and plan to perform in a yard by 20 yard area, few events in the greater which can be indoors or Mobile area. This sumout—making the activimer, we’ll play at DCI ty available in an almost unlimited number of settings events in Ocean Springs and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, from parks to school gyms to parking lots. Huntsville and Opelika, Alabama.” “We want to expose the largest possible global audiTo see how quickly the SoundSport route can work, ence to the greatest attributes of what we have come to Holly can look at the Guardians of San Marcos, Texas, know as the DCI experience,” explains DCI executive which formed in 2013 and plans to enter DCI’s Open director Dan Acheson. “The levels of excellence Class this season. After a humble beginning, the group achieved by our touring groups are truly remarkable, used SoundSport to help overcome a rough start and but it can be difficult for new ensembles to enter our quickly build to its current size of more than 125 world as participants. Through the creation of this members. “Only 15 students showed up at our first extremely exciting initiative, we intend to vastly camp last March,” says corps director Jonathan Doerr.

“We want to expose the largest possible global audience to the greatest attributes of what we have come to know as the DCI experience.”

www.dci.org

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“I expected at least four times as eventually went on to donate to many. I remember asking my the corps.” brass capt ion head what we Thanks to the relationship should do. His response stuck between SoundSport and DCI, with me and inspired me to run the Guardians’ members and Guardians with a new mind-set. staff also got some mentoring He said ‘Whether there are five from t he more experienced The Guardians or 500, we will supply the stupeople they met at DCI events. performing dents we have with a qualit y “SoundSport gave us the ability in San Antonio education and an experience that to attend the shows we could in 2013. will leave them wanting more.’” afford to attend, get the guidSoundSport gave Guardians’ ance we needed as a young staff a way to combine that eduorganization, make important cational experience with the connections, and figure out the thrill of performing, and by small bumps in t he May, 50 students were onboard. road before applying “We held rehearsals on t he f o r O p e n C l a s s ,” SoundSport puts a premium on weekend in June, and had a week and a half Doerr says. “We now entertainment and showmanship of a pre-season camp during July,” Doerr h ave se ven for mer while allowing members to be says. “Our season included two performancWorld Class caption as creative with instrumentation and musical approach as possible. es at minor league baseball games and perheads or assistant capTo illustrate how welcoming this formances at DCI-sponsored shows in San t io n he ad s o n ou r approach can be, you only have to look at a summary of the rules: Antonio and Houston.” st af f, i nclud i ng si x As a result, Doerr says, Guardians memadditional instruction• A maximum of 50 members is permitted on the stage at any time bers got a taste of the DCI experience in a al staff coming from • Minimum stage area 30 yards wide relatively low-pressure environment. “The corps that won World x 20 yards deep performances were like being an Open Class Championships t he • Length of show is 5 to 7 minutes corps, without the status,” he explains. “We year t hey taught or • Any age performed like any other corps did, but on a marched.” • Any instrument is eligible winter guard tarp that was the size of a basFans can see t he • Evaluation of music, visual and overall impression ketball court.” excitement firsthand at • Focus is on entertainment L i k e H o l l y, D o e r r h a s u s e d t h e four SoundSport and showmanship SoundSport format to get his group in front showcases this sumof the local community, giving valuable mer, which coincide experience to both members and staff. “Community- with DCI Premier Events in San Antonio ( July 19), based performances gave more substance to our sched- Huntsville, Ala. ( July 25), Atlanta ( July 26), and ule and allowed us to figure out logistics before Indianapolis (August 9). These events will feature attending a DCI-sanctioned show,” he says. “They also musical ensembles from all around the world and be helped us reach out to a number of benefactors who accompanied by DrumLine Battle showdowns, too. Admission to all U.S. SoundSport competitions is free with the purchase of a ticket to that day’s DCI Tour Event. Like the DCI shows themselves, attendance at SoundSport and DrumLine Battle is sure to help both programs grow. And with these lean and mean new initiatives, the leap from “fan in the stands” to “performer in the arena” isn’t all that vast. According Doerr, this accessibility was decisive in his group’s rapid development. “Without SoundSport, Guardians would not be as thriving as we are today,” he concludes. “I expect the program will spawn many new drum corps in the years to come, and I look forward to seeing what the activity becomes.” For tickets, schedule of events, and the latest info, go to SoundSport.com, DrumlineBattle. com, and DCI.org.

A Sporting Glance

Fans look on outside Lucas Oil Stadium during 2013’s SoundSport Showcase in Indianapolis.

www.dci.org

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FROM PLANNING THE SEASON TO MANNING THE TURNSTILES TO JUDGING THE ACTION, IT TAKES A DEDICATED TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SHOW CAN GO ON. By Adam Pearlmutter

ach summer, close to 50 DCI corps perform at more than 100 events, traveling thousands of miles to compete as they lead up to the World Championships in Indianapolis. But long before a single note of music is heard, a massive amount of preparation happens behind the scenes, from scheduling and planning a season to the many details that must run like clockwork on show day. “We start planning in May of the previous season,” says

Susan Kuehnhold, DCI’s Director of Events, Community, and Corps Relations. “By September, we are tweaking the schedule and setting the lineups for each event.” She and her team manage the entire season, which—in terms of organization—can be divided into two kinds of events. Premier Events—shows produced and run directly by DCI—tend to the biggest shows of the season, taking place in major stadiums and involving large lineups of corps. And www.dci.org

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DCI also coordinates with a widespread network of local proBuses roll into the stadium. ducers—known as Tour Event Partners [TEPs]—to sanction other events all across the U.S. “In mid-October to early November, we finalize the schedule with the corps and TEPs and begin building a database with all of the pertinent event info,” Kuehnhold explains. “Contracts for each event go out and we release the new schedule to the public over Thanksgiving weekend.” By “we” Kuehnhold means Team DCI, an approximately 20-member, full-time office staff comprised of operations, marketing, technology, and event-management personnel, as well as a number of other planners and administrators who pitch in on developing the tour. Once the summer starts, another 100 judges and seasonal staff field) that is needed when a visiting corps members, along with about 40 “week- comes to town. “We have to remember that end warriors”— professionals who when a corps pulls in, these people are virtuvolu nteer t hei r ser v ices — come ally strangers to that community and we are onboard to help out. “We couldn’t asking them to open the doors to a school provide the level of service we do where their most prized possessions—their Team DCI at the 2013 without all of these very dedicated children—will be assembling soon after we World Championships. people,” Kuehnhold says. “Even as a leave,” says Kuehnhold. She says that with nonprofit organization, our team works as a professional event production more schools across the country transitioning company that is proud to create the stage on which excellence is performed!” to “balanced schedules,” it is becoming In planning the season, Kuehnhold and the team typically work in increasingly difficult to find schools that reverse from the World Championships. They must first make sure that it’s aren’t in session and therefore able to host logistically possible for each corps to travel safely larger DCI events. and efficiently from tour stop to tour stop particu- “A lot relies on when In addition to the corps themlarly the major regional events. Those big events and if stadiums are selves, Kuehnhold must arrange generally happen on the weekends and act as available and where travel and make provisions for DCI anchors on the tour schedule, while a lot of the corps would like to staff and judges for each event. weekday events serve as waypoints for the corps to DCI includes a full-time travel to create great Team cut down their travel time and mileage. The accestravel manager who works with a sibility of local venues is also a big consideration. experiences for their partner at a travel agency. Staff and “A lot relies on when and if stadiums are available members.” judges are also encouraged to lend and where corps would like to trava hand. “Every traveler does his or Ticket takers let fans in. el to create great experiences for her part in trying to find the most their members,” says Kuehnhold. cost- and time-efficient manner to “In recent years we’ve worked to get to events,” Kuehnhold says. “At develop a more consistent tour DCI-produced events, our travel structure which helps us build relamanager is also in charge of setting tionships with the venues, which in up ground transportation as well as turn helps spectators ‘save the date’ hotels for everyone.” In events proso they can schedule their vacation duced by TEPs, the local organizdays around their favorite event ers take the reigns to handle the city—or visit a new one.” event-day logistics. Beyond the major events, there When Kuehnhold started her are a number of events sponsored work with DCI 18 seasons ago, she by local groups as a means of raiswas responsible for handing 42 ing funds for their respective comshows with the help of an outside munities. These partners are the committee. Over the years, the job TEPs; there are about 65 in all. has grown to encompass much The requirements for the TEPs, more—responsibilities that many include, among other things, hanDCI fans might be unaware of. dling the housing (corps typically “We’ve been able to develop many sleep in school gymnasiums and more services for both the corps rehearse on the school’s football and our tour partners,” she says— 22

www.dci.org

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ever ything from standardizing policies and procedures for organizing events, to ticket sales and box office management, training and organizing volunteer teams, the creation of many special events and outreach projects, and much more. The incredible amount of planning that goes into a DCI season is nicely encapsulated in the events scheduled for just one show. Take, for i n st a nce, la st yea r ’s DC I Southwestern Championship at the San A ntonio A lamodome. (See “Show Day Marching Orders” for a Event manager timeline.) The previous afternoon Jill Moyer is on the was packed with everything from a scene and making sure everything is production meeting to making sure running smoothly. Port-a-Johns were delivered to the parking lots. The day of the show, typical of an event of this size, was a real doozy: Volunteers arrived at 8:00 AM, and events were carefully scheduled—with every single element accounted for, down to the minute, throughout the day—until the stadium finally closed 16 hours later. This feat of organization was only possible through the vigorous efforts of Team DCI. “Everyone on the tour works tirelessly—way more hours than humanly possible,” Kuehnhold says. “We’ll often run into industry-related professionals who are surprised at how we can deliver such highcaliber events while pushing to keep costs to a minimum DCI staff and revenues filtered back to must make sure that the corps at a maximum.” qualified I n t he end, Kueh n hold judges are at every finds that all of these efforts event. and long hours are well worth it. “I love watching from the stadium tunnel where corps enter and exit the field, knowing that through the drum corps experience we’re not only seeing great young performers take the stage, but simply great people,” she says. “It gives a feeling that the world is a better place, and it’s so gratifying to know that we had some little part in that.” Volunteers move equipment before a show.

The Alamodome

More than a year of planning goes into each season, but there’s still plenty to do after opening day. Each event takes tremendous coordination between staff, the facility, and the groups performing. This schedule from the 2013 DCI Southwestern Championship in San Antonio’s Alamodome shows just how many things must come together to give corps members the stage their excellence deserves. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 3:00 p.m. Production Meeting Trade Show Fixtures Drop Off Golf Carts Drop Off Port-a-Johns Drop Off 5:00 p.m. Set Up Merchandise Area Hang Sponsor Banners SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013 8:00 a.m. Volunteers Arrive DCI Setup Crew Arrives Unload Truck 8:15 a.m. Corps Souvenir Move In 9:00 a.m. Sponsor Booth Move In Parking Lots Open 10:30 a.m. Video Board & Sound Check 11:00 a.m. Gates Open Corps Parking Crew Arrives 11:30 a.m. DCI Show Staff Arrives Educational Workshop for Students Starts 1:20 p.m. Welcome & National Anthem 1:30 p.m. First Corps Steps Off 3:29 p.m. Intermission 4:20 p.m. Corps Steps Off 6:36 p.m. Intermission 6:53 p.m. Corps Steps Off 8:52 p.m. Last Corps Steps Off 9:21 p.m. Awards 9:45 p.m. Drum Major Reception 10:00 p.m. Tear Down Stadium 12:00 a.m. Stadium Cleared

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Commitment to Excellence

By Dianne Spoto Ackerman

Finding Fellowship in the Far East Russel Zavalla, Lia Huang Morris and Eric Smith are teaching corps values in China and Taiwan.

rum corps and marching band have been a growing passion in Asia over many years—recently thanks in part to the overseas outreach of Drum Corps International groups and individual instructors. The latest example is the DCI China Fellowship, a partnership with Shanghai-based music education firm Motif Music that has given three instructors from DCI groups— Eric Smith (percussion), Lia Huang Morris (color guard), and Russel Zavalla (visual)—a chance to spend a year touring China and Taiwan to teach the marching arts. “Our work is centered on the development of a detailed marching band curriculum for both students and teachers,” says Smith, who played snare drum with Crossmen and the Blue Stars before joining the staff of Jersey Surf. “We’re teaching core techniques in marching, rudimental percussion, and color guard to Chinese and Taiwanese elementary, middle, and high schools students and their teachers.” Since their arrival in August 2013, all three instructors have been impressed with the enthusiasm they’ve encountered. “I teach 50 students across five elementary schools and they are so open to learning. I love when they run

toward us at the start of every class so excited to learn,” says Morris, who marched with the Glassmen, Blue Stars, and Phantom Regiment. “It’s so great being able to provide the kids a different form of education than the one they are accustomed to.” For Morris —who hails from Bloomington, Indiana— t he Fe l low s h ip h a s a l s o offered a chance to return to her root s. “ I g rew up i n Taiwa n a nd had spent 10 years going to school learning Chinese,” she explains. “Half of my family lives in Taiwan. Taking this job has given me the opportunity to be closer to my second home.” In contrast, the experience of living in unfamiliar territory was initially a bit of a challenge for Texas native Russel Zavalla, who serves as visual instructor. “During the first month or two there was definitely a lot of culture shock, but once I started hanging out with [colleagues] who were going through the same thing, everything started feeling better.” Zavalla, who played baritone horn with Capital Regiment and the Cavaliers before serving as a staff member for Jersey Surf, soon acclimated as he witnessed the students’ passion for marching and their enormous natural talent. “What surprised me the most was how incredibly quick they were able to pick up on things,” he says. “I have a few seventh graders in China who would give the most experienced marchers in America a run for their money!” Before it ends in June, the Fellowship tour hopes to complete its long-term goal of providing a model for Chinese instructors to build upon. “It’s exciting to be able to influence how the marching arts are taught in Asia and establish a groundwork for future generations,” says Morris. “The activity is still young and developing in Asia, so there’s a need for good instructors who are not only able to teach students but also teach [teachers].” “The most exciting thing for me was knowing that these were fresh minds to mold,” Zavalla adds. “The students basically knew nothing about the marching arts so we’ve had the opportunity to build their foundation. And to be able to give teachers and band directors the information and experiences they’ve been hungering for, and to see the gratitude on their faces, reminds me why I came to China—and more importantly, why I wanted to become a teacher.”

www.dci.org

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■ Go to www.drumcorpsworld.com ■ Visit us on Facebook ■ Photo credits (left to right): Bridgemen, Bayonne, NJ (Pat Chagnon); Music City, Nashville, TN (John Matter); Cincinnati Tradition, Cincinnati, OH (David Gwyn); The Company, Barnsley, South Horkshire, U.K. (Richard Wersinger); The Academy, Tempe, AZ (John Matter)

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Stepping Off

DCI’s Social Network Facebook has long been an off-the-field meeting place for drum corps members, staff, and fans—as illustrated by this recent chart of Likes. With so much social media traffic, expect these numbers to be higher by the time you read this.

214,055 WORLD CLASS CORPS The Academy Blue Devils Blue Knights Blue Stars Bluecoats Boston Crusaders The Cadets Carolina Crown Cascades The Cavaliers Colts Crossmen Jersey Surf Madison Scouts Mandarins Oregon Crusaders Pacific Crest Phantom Regiment Pioneer Santa Clara Vanguard Spirit of Atlanta Troopers

11,085 106,280 16,573 18,379 29,972 21,091 55,184 67,457 4,616 96,927 9,862 16,519 16,626 29,594 3,689 5,846 6,413 115,397 3,566 70,249 20,415 14,926

OPEN CLASS CORPS 7th Regiment Blue Devils B* Blue Devils C* Blue Saints City Sound Coastal Surge Colt Cadets Columbians Genesis Gold Impulse Legends Les Stentors Music City Racine Scouts Raiders Spartans Thunder Vanguard Cadets*

2,795 106,280 106,280 575 1,212 1,812 1,151 803 4,238 2,117 2,151 2,735 987 6,593 1,833 2,876 3,146 2,299 70,249

* BLUE DEVILS B AND C, AND VANGUARD CADETS SHARE THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE WITH THEIR WORLD CLASS COUNTERPARTS

Stay in Touch! Check out DCI.org/corps for all the links to your favorite corps’ social sites.

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D R U M

1. Indianapolis, IN • 6/18 2. Clovis, CA • 6/20 3. Rockford, IL • 6/20 4. Stanford, CA • 6/21 5. Akron, OH • 6/21 6. Paw Paw, MI • 6/21 7. Lexington, KY • 6/22 8. Bowling Green, OH • 6/22 9. Sacramento, CA • 6/22 10. Merrillville, IN • 6/24 11. Fairfield, OH • 6/24 12. Evansville, IN • 6/25 13. Pittsburgh, PA • 6/25 14. Mesa, AZ • 6/26 15. Muncie, IN • 6/27 16. Oceanside, CA • 6/27 17. Chambersburg, PA • 6/27 18. Jackson, NJ • 6/28 19. Glendora, CA • 6/28 20. Madison, WI • 6/28 21. Rochester, MN • 6/29 22. Riverside, CA • 6/29 23. Lawrence, MA • 6/29 24. Mankato, MN • 6/30 25. Kansas City, KS • 7/1 26. Santa Clara, CA • 7/1 27. Waukee, IA • 7/2 28. New Haven, CT • 7/2 29. Medford, OR • 7/2 30. Portland, OR • 7/3 31. Bristol, RI • 7/3 32. Cedarburg, WI • 7/3 33. Sacramento, CA • 7/5

C O R P S

34. Renton, WA • 7/5 35. Lynn, MA • 7/5 36. Michigan City, IN • 7/5 37. Whitewater, WI • 7/5 38. Pleasant Hill, CA • 7/6 39. Tri Cities, WA • 7/6 40. Lisle, IL • 7/6 41. Chester, PA • 7/6 42. Dixon, IL • 7/6 43. Ft. Wayne, IN • 7/8 44. Boise, ID • 7/8 45. Dubuque, IA • 7/8 46. Ogden, UT • 7/9 47. Metamora, IL • 7/9 48. Salem, WI • 7/10 49. Cheyenne, WY • 7/11 50. La Crosse, WI • 7/11 51. Laguna Hills, CA • 7/12 52. Minneapolis, MN • 7/12 53. Denver, CO • 7/12 54. Bellflower, CA • 7/13 55. DeKalb, IL • 7/13 56. Muscatine, IA • 7/13 57. Omaha, NE • 7/14 58. Warrensburg, MO • 7/14 59. Lebanon, IL • 7/14 60. Wichita, KS • 7/15 61. Bentonville, AR • 7/15 62. Broken Arrow, OK • 7/16

1/31/14

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L

63. Denton, TX • 7/17 64. Round Rock, TX • 7/17 65. Houston, TX • 7/18 66. San Antonio, TX • 7/19 67. Manchester, NH • 7/19 68. Groton, CT • 7/20 69. Dallas, TX • 7/21 70. Lafayette, LA • 7/21 71. Mustang, OK • 7/22 72. Ocean Springs, MS • 7/22 73. Washington, DC • 7/22 74. St. Louis, MO • 7/23 75. Hattiesburg, MS • 7/23 76. Little Rock, AR • 7/23 77. Opelika, AL • 7/24 78. Johnsonburg, PA • 7/24 79. Nashville, TN • 7/24 80. Murfreesboro, TN • 7/25 81. Huntsville, AL • 7/25 82. Atlanta, GA • 7/26

83. Kalamazoo, MI • 7/26 84. Racine, WI • 7/26 85. Charlotte, NC • 7/27 86. Rice Lake, WI • 7/28 87. Dublin, OH • 7/28 88. Charleston, WV • 7/28 89. Erie, PA • 7/29 90. Salem, VA • 7/29 91. Springfield, IL • 7/29 92. Minneapolis, MN • 7/30 93. Rome, NY • 7/30 94. West Chester, PA • 7/30 95. Warrenton, VA • 7/30 96. Quincy, MA • 7/31 97. NY/NJ area • 7/31 98. Valparaiso, IN • 7/31 99. Forest City, IA • 8/1 100. Allentown, PA • 8/1 101. Allentown, PA • 8/2 102. Avon Lake, OH • 8/2 103. Pittsburgh, PA • 8/3 104. Buffalo, NY • 8/3 105. Centerville, OH • 8/4 106. Massillon, OH • 8/4

For tickets, group rates & additional info, visit www.DCI.org

The 2014 Drum Corps International Tour

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P R E S E N T S

Michigan City, IN Open Class Prelims • 8/4 Open Class Finals • 8/5

Indianapolis, IN

World Championship Prelims • 8/7 World Championship Semifinals • 8/8 World Championship Finals • 8/9

DCI Premier Events highlighted in red.

Events and dates subject to change. rev 01/14

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Tour of Champions Series highlighted in blue.

MARCHING MUSIC’S MAJOR LEAGUE™

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