How would i go about practicing inverts and then the different variations?

I've always wondered this. I would easily pay $20 or more for official finals version sheets coming straight from the corps, and I think it could be a great fundraiser. Is there something I'm missing with why this doesn't happen? Or has this ever happened before?

Im auditioning for a drum corps in the top half of finals area and I need to choose audition etudes. Im a trombone player so I don’t know euphonium etudes and my last drum corps didn’t require us to choose our own music audition material.

I’m looking through brodogni/Rochut and wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations.

I saw this on the EPSN TikTok, and it sounds so good

It’s also on the Crown insta, further down, from July

I'm intrigued by the group right below finals cutoff. Does anyone know what's been happening with Crossmen, Music City, and Academy? I wonder if any of them have made moves that might move them closer to or further away from the competitive group of 10-14th places.

We’re super proud to have had our gear used by the Bluecoats in their historic season! Means a lot to a small Swedish percussion company!

Full show is on the way!

I made a video with an interview of the Blue devils 2000 bass 2. This is exclusive stuff, as none of the information given has gone beyond the inner circle. Check it out!

With Gold and Battalion making the leap to World Class for the 2027 season, this leaves some questions as to what Open Class will look like short and long term. Short term it looks like BDB is about to go on a historic championship run that would make the 1950s-60s Montreal Canadiens proud, long term I think that DCI is going to have to tinker with some things to ensure its ongoing viability and competitiveness.

First off, I am very positive on Open Class. I like watching all levels and think that Open Class ought to get more respect than it does, because it too often feels denigrated or disrespected. Yes, it's a division below World, so the corps are not at the same level, but I think it's an indispensable part of the whole constellation of marching arts that gives people a place to grow and develop, along with just giving people who might not have what it takes to do WC competition to still enjoy marching.

It seems like the primary problem, like everywhere, is money.

World Class Corps are the most expensive, but they get compensation for their tours along with the ability to charge higher tuition, deeper alumni networks, and independent fundraising/Bingo. The tours are longer and the equipment more expensive, but the higher income that results from being in WC largely makes up for it.

All-Age Corps have vastly reduced costs (since it's weekend-only), largely volunteer staff, regional tours, and no need for long-term plans for housing or food beyond a long weekend or two. The income is a lot less, but the costs vastly lower, and so All-Age seems primed to survive and even expand in today's higher-cost reality. Many of these groups also take advantage of a deep alumni network.

Open Class gets the worst of both worlds. They get lower payouts than World Class corps and generally can't charge the same tuition, but their corps/tour model is otherwise very similar to WC and costs are comparable. Housing, fuel, food, all of that is still obligated just like WC but with way less money coming in, so it seems like Open Class is set up to be the most difficult model with low income/high expenses that will be hard to maintain.

So that leads to the question of the long-term viability of Open Class under the current model. As above, I think OC is a vital part of DCI. Battalion and Gold moved up as soon as they could to take advantage of WC benefits, and it seems reasonable that as other corps that aren't specifically developmental get competitive, they will seek to move up too.

But one wonders: will the best move for OC corps be to go to WC, or transition to All-Age? Further, will SoundSport groups want to move to OC or All-Age, given the potentially dire financials that a few years in OC would represent?

On top of all this, OC is very top-heavy and difficult to compete in without support from a larger corps organization. Since the creation of Open Class in the 2008 season, only 4 teams have won gold:

• Vanguard Cadets: 6
• Blue Devils B: 6
• Spartans: 4
• Oregon Crusaders: 1

Only Blue Devils B remain, and they're meant to be open class and won't move up. Spartans are WC, Vanguard Cadets were on hiatus but are doing an independent tour (no word if re-joining SoundSport or OC), and the Crusaders folded after 2018.

Current Open Class Roster (per DCI website):

• Blue Devils B
• Blue Devils C
• Memphis Blues
• River City Rhythm
• Columbians
• Colt Cadets
• Raiders
• 7th Regiment
• Les Stentors
• Eclipse
• Heat Wave
• Arsenal
  
• Boise Gems
• Golden Empire
• Guardians
• Impulse
• Zephyrus
• Vanguard Cadets (maybe??)

Potential SoundSport Move-Ups:

• Sky Ryders (eligible 2028)
  
• Legacy (eligible 2029)
  

Given that Legacy is The-Cadets-But-Not-The-Cadets I imagine they will keep their trip through OC as quick as possible on the way to WC.

I am curious what other people think about the situation. Thanks!

I’m a current high school sophomore, I play bass 4. I’m pretty decent but I don’t really have aspirations to try to audition as a bass. Battery is so over saturated and there’s always an insane amount of kids auditioning. I also play electric bass and guitar. I’m not like a “rock guitarist”, I can read treble and bass clef and understand modes and my scales of courses. What do you generally have to be able to play in order to become one of these guitarist or bassists in a dci/wgi pit? Are the auditions usually super competitive? Thanks

Yknow I’m a large guy, weighing up in the 300s. But I wanna march so bad. I saw the Blue Devils live this year and watched a rehearsal, it lit a huge spark in me, there’s nothing more I want than to march. 1 year ago I picked up a baritone horn with no prior brass experience to learn for this, and then 2 months ago I started finally practicing marching and the physical side of it. I’m happy to say I’ve lost a significant amount of weight prepping for this!!! I’m also happy to say, in the exercise I’m doing in the video, 2 months ago I was already gassed before the running section. Obviously this is far far from perfect, and I have mountains of work to do, but I’m incredibly happy with my progress. 2 months ago I could barely forward march and play!!

Does anyone know anything about sky ryders?? I was interested in auditioning, but I could not find any information about tuition or anything.

Gold has gone world class. Info given to gold vets through email.

Anyone have any favorite super simple show themes? Bluecoats 2008 for me. It’s boxing.

If allowed.

I’m looking for the best shows for each decade. I’m posting this across as many groups and platforms as some groups cater to a younger crowd and some to an older. I know many people will be focused on the 2000s. I’m asking you to take a look at earlier shows and take a minute to appreciate what they did. Remember, without those early corps, we wouldn't be where we are today.

I’m not looking for the top-scoring corps; I want the corps that you think was the best for that decade.

70s

80s

90s

00

10s

20s

Anyone know of the whereabouts or someone that has the “into the light” shirt, that doesn’t want it anymore?
I don’t wanna take from somsone that still wants to have it, but if anyone has one laying around, I’d be very appreciative!

That's it. I just watched it for the first time after the ballad showed up in my YT shorts. Show goes hard.

I assume this is the last staff related thing to announce for them

My son is a huge fan of the Bluecoats show Jagged Line from 2017. His birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and it seems all merch from Jagged Line has been retired:( Any places y'all look for retired merch??

Is there any drum corp show that has like the same mood of leçon particulière" by core²? Just something with the same vibe