Courtney Coulston glad you liked it! The drum corps community can be very insular at times. It’s refreshing to see how someone from the outside reacts to these shows!
Courtney Coulston I’m going to second Sean’s comment. Seeing a fresh reaction video like this is the reason for drum corps, and why that summer was so worth it. 2008 was an amazing year to march, especially at Regiment. Thanks again for this video! Seeing your enjoyment made my day.
Hey there folks . Is there any Facebook pages you guys know of? Is this just an American thing or do the Europeans do this. Can't find anything. Great video rection. Keep it up. 😁
Sean, thank you for such an amazing performance. This is definitely in my top five favorite shows and is one if the reasons I really got into DCI. You guys did amazing! Go Phantom!
I've marched four years in drum corps international and I can answer your question. Yes it takes tons of time and effort to get to this level of performance. Each show is perfected over months of all day everyday rehearsal. But nothing compares to the feeling you get performing for everyone. Thank you for reviewing these videos and sharing the world of drum corps with others.
Hi Joshua! Wow I can't imagine the amount of time, effort and dedication y'all put into these shows. Thank you for doing what you do and creating absolute magic!!
I marched for The Battalion, an open class corps 2016-2019. I was contracted to march for The Cadets this season, but after covid struck I had to change my plans.
Being in the audience that night was absolutely insane, the atmosphere was electric. Phantom Regiment was the easy fan favorite, and entered championship weekend sitting in 4th place. Each night they moved up one spot and had gotten to 2nd place after semifinals with only the Blue Devils to beat. Here's the crowd reaction when they were announced as the winners: ua-cam.com/video/lLxjIuWczAs/v-deo.html
Phantom did this exact thing when they won in 96 Moving up one spot a night, but they tied with Devils:((( so happy they got thier own spotlight in 08. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Love, love, love seeing your reaction at the end when Drum Major Will Pitts gets skewered on top of the platform. Phantom Regiment added that ending in the final two weeks and it sent the crowds into orbit when they saw it. It was off the hook! Other thing to note: Phantom entered the quarterfinals in 4th place. After quarterfinals they were third. After semifinals they were second. And once finals were over, they beat out the Blue Devils by the slimmest margin ever. Keep watching and reacting, and we'll keep viewing. Long live Drum Corps!
Hi John! Omg yes it was such an epic moment!!! wow i can't believe they only added that in last 2 weeks. definitely such a huge moment and it was perfect in the routine for sure. Thanks so much John!!
You’re reaction at 14:23 is precisely what everyone watching that night had. I saw this show on video just one week before finals night when they performed their completed show in Allentown, Pennsylvania and I had tears coming down my face. I went to Bloomington for finals week and was sitting in the audience that night. The show was incredible. The finals announcements were even more incredible. And Phantom Regiments encore performance was even still more incredible!!! Certainly one of the finest moments in DCI history!
Tricky Living they had the ending in the show the week prior in Allentown which is where that final ending was put in I believe. And I remember thinking... “this show has to win!!!” If you watch the scores being announced from that night, you can hear it in Brandt Crockers voice when he says “RECEIVING THE SILVER MEDAL TONIGHT.......” I turned to my friends and said, “Oh my god, they did it!!!”
At the end of the competition, they have what is called 'retreat' where the corps re-enter the field, the drum majors come down front, and the scores are announced. That night, the drum major who was speared (Will Pitts) was literally dragged down front by the other drum majors, dropped in his place in line, and covered with a death shroud ... playing the part to the very end.
I think it was 2012 or 2013, one of the commentators made the joke “it wouldn’t be a real Phantom Regiment show without at least one dead drum major.” Lmao
COURTNEY!!! This used to be on ESPN! Also, since you asked those of us to comment about what it is like being one of these performers. It does indeed take a long time to learn and perfect these shows. We start in November and go until August. We have a weekend camp every month from November up until mid to late May, where many of the top corps move into Spring Training. From there, everyday is usually filled with 12 or more hours or rehearsal for a month until shows and competitions begin. From there, the schedule roughly remains the same unless its a show/competition day which still largely consists of rehearsal depending on the corps/organization. Then comes Finals Week in the early teens of August. It is mostly a mental challenge of will and determination rather than the physical strain of fatigue, but the fatigue furthers the mental challenge so to speak. From what I have heard from friends and others that did this and then the military.....It is the US Military Boot Camp version of the Mind.
A longer time ago it used to air on PBS in the states. I remember watching the Cadets in 2000 and seeing the trumpet line thing and being totally amazed by that.
@@aRhapsodicHitcher that was the first drum corps video I watched and I was fascinated i later learned from a visual tech that marched cadets in 2011 that that trumpet thing is smoke and mirrors they keep alternating who is playing so that it looks like they're playing each other's instruments when really the other line that is playing their own instruments is playing and they keep alternating i don't know if that made sense but it's still impressive nonetheless
Answering some questions - I marched 4 unforgettable years at the Phantom Regiment and it changed my life for the better! To be able to perform at the Open Class and World Class marching level takes a lot of time, dedication, and practice. People start saving money years in advance in hopes of being able to participate. Performers give up their summers to take part in what is most likely the most difficult thing they’ve ever done. You get pushed beyond what you knew you could handle. Yet we love what we do because we get to perform for wonderful people 😊
Thank you so much for doing this show. I marched with Phantom Regiment and this was my "age out" year (last year of eligibility due to age limits). This was the end result of countless hours of rehearsal, practicing 8-12 hours a day, and a 3 month tour across the country. Reactions like this are exactly why we do it. Drum corps is unique in that the performers pay for the opportunity to go on tour and perform. $2,000+ at the time I marched and I think it's close to double that now for some corps. Again, fan reactions like this are why we do it. If anyone hasn't yet watched the score announcements from 2008 finals, watch it. I think the crowd reaction is still the single loudest thing I have ever heard. Unfortunately, because of the cost and time commitment it is very hard for people to afford. Rehearsal camps are one weekend a month from Nov through when the tour starts, and the tour is 3 months on the road away from home and school. It's a huge commitment. They used to air finals on ESPN, but I imagine there aren't that many sponsors who wanted to pay for advertising. I really think a big part of why it's declining in popularity is that there's less public awareness. It's incredibly difficult to introduce someone to dci as most shows aren't available to stream online. The corps itself is based in Rockford, but performers come from all over the country and world, in 2008 we had members from England, Japan, Canada, and I'm probably forgetting some other countries as well.
She probably didn’t watch the awards ceremony but the assistant drum majors brought the “dead” drum major out to awards and then left. PR’s level of commitment to this show was amazing.
I was there that magical night, in fact there for the two nights prior to see two earlier rounds in the competition. This is my all-time favorite DC show, hands down. Superb storytelling, incredible music book, compelling guard work, and the ending is not to be topped anywhere, anytime in the activity!
Thank you for recognizing our activity, it really makes me so happy to see someone from outside the DCI community reacting to this. From someone in the modern Phantom Regiment, seeing someone react to a very good show in Phantom’s history is so awesome.
I'll say it again, you got EVERY single emotion those kids intended for you to get as they put it all on the field. I so enjoy looking at your reactions to DCI!
Hello! I have marched 4 years of dci, and I march with the cavaliers dbc! These shows take tons of skill and practice to perform. Basically you move in with the group at the beginning of the summer, and practice the show and music for 12-14 hours a day. You travel around the country and perform shows all over. After 3 months of hard work you perform in the finals weekend competition in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is all very rewarding, and has given me some of my most cherished memories. If you want more show recommendations just let me know!
Nuff Said! 12 years later and it is still fresh. It is the slave uprising of the Roman Empire. Roman general's wemt after Sparticus but he evaded and killed them for a long time See the HBO series Sparticus.
Since you commented on the musical contrast, might I also suggest from 2011 "Between Angels and Demons" by The Cadets. They wear 2 variations of their uniform to represent angels and demons.
Look up DCI/Drum Corps International on the web and you can see where local competitions are being held. Maybe there'll be on near you when you move to the states. The participants are hard core marching band enthusiasts that want to continue once they have graduated high school and/or college.
@@CourtneyCoulston The competitive season generally runs mid june to mid august, and to be honest, some shows aren't all that ood or polished early season, and the groups you;re seeing are the very top ones...there are some that struggle throughout the entire season and who are fairly small. A late season regional might be a good choice, or a late season local with a decent sized lineup....those tend to be back east or un the midwest.
@@samsignorelli I totally agree. If you are going for quality and can only go to one show, the later the better. Any show after the beginning of July is going to be decent. The best shows are definitely in the last 2-3 weeks.
It actually starts from being in band in middle school and high school and college , I’m in Texas and the high school marching shoes are very much like DCI , you have to audition and you pay out of your pocket to buy all that is needed and fly into rehearsals , I’m from Texas and would fly into California to rehearse back in the day with Santa Clara Vanguard when I was I high school . It’s an experience like no other , the whole summer traveling and competing and staying and sleeping in a lot of high school and college gym floors , there are a lot of great volunteers/parents that travel with us and feed us, but it’s many long hours of rehearsals but it makes you stronger and many of us have become very successful in our careers once we leave DCI/College all because of the great music programs in a public school here in Texas .
As a member of Phantom in both 2007 and 2008 its awesome to watch someone's reaction to this show 12 years later. I can still remember that summer very vividly. We worked so hard all summer for that. The stands were packed because we were supposed to have finals at Lucas Oil Stadium but construction wasn't finished. I will say the best part was how loud the crowd got, in the end, I couldn't even hear my drum. To answer your question this does take a decent time to build. Back when I marched, 2005-2009, we had 3 divisions, 1 2 and 3. With this sport, you would usually have some sort of high school/college exp and would start in a div 2 or 3 corp. These lower-tier corps would hone your skills and clean them up and sometimes it would take 1 or 2 years before you would make it past cuts for a div 1 corp. When you try out for a div 1 corp, its much harder, you are now fighting against sometimes 100 people, from all over the world, for 1 spot. It took me two tries before I made the cut for phantom and they will forever be my Phamly...SUTA!
This takes a ton of practice and hard work. The daughter of a friend was in marching band and they practiced many more hours than the football team in all types of weather.
I marched in the Blue Stars in 2007 and 2008. We finished 14th in 2007 and 8th in 2008. There's a lot of time that goes into learning these shows. Auditions start in mid-November and every month there are camps one weekend a month through April where we would learn the music. The guard would usually join us in March or April. In mid-May we would have what we called move-ins where we would learn the entire show. We would rehearse about 15 hours a day everyday for three or four weeks. From there we would tour the country perfecting our show everyday while competing 4-6 times a week. The DCI World Championships are usually the second weekend in August. So as you can see, thousands of hours of extremely hard work go into what you're seeing. And even though you haven't seen a show I was in, seeing your enthusiasm about the activity is part of the reason I did what I did!
I’ve been part of this activity. Thank you for reacting to these videos because we are a small community and we how to get more people to know this activity because there’s so much work put into these shows. The whole summer is spent with a big group of people and you really make a family with these people and you spend the whole summer perfecting the the show. So much time is spent in technique of your instrument, marching, dancing, and just blending it all together. It’s a lot of work but preforming the show is why we do it, there’s nothing like preforming the show you have worked so hard on with the people you love and putting a smile on someone’s face. It’s the best thing ever. We put hard work, money, and time into these shows and wether you get the score you want or not, preforming is why we do it. Thank you for exposing this activity to more people!! It means a lot. You should also react to WGI shows, they’re shorter but packed full of hard stuff to play and great story lines. One of my favorite shows is Pulse Percussion 2016 Brother. They got first place and it’s a beautiful show. Also for us high school kids another great show is Chino Hills High School 2018. They got first place and set a new record for their score, they’re extremely talented kids and work so hard on the shows! I hope you see this comment because I really like your reaction videos and I want to see you react to those shows and I want to thank you for exposing this activity to more people.
Thank you so much for reacting to these videos, DCI is truly amazing. This show is so wonderful and I just love the end. Especially when the person in the black uniform in the sliver sash (also know as a drum major) kills the person in the red cape (also a drum major) and just pulls out a baton (the stick like thing he was holding) from the back of the uniform and kept conducing like he did not just kill someone. As far as people knowing how to do the marching and playing at the same time, they probably learned it from being in high school and maybe college marching band. I was in high school and collage marching band where the first week of band camp was all about the basics of marching band. For memorizing the knowing where to go (called drill), visuals, and the music, it was small chunks at a time and putting those chunks together repeating it multiple times until eventually we got the whole show. One we got the whole show memorized, it was repeating it multiple times with a lot of practice time. In high school we did a show that was inspired by this performance.
I was part of the Phantom Regiment from 2000-04; hence the user name preuph (Phantom Regiment Euphonium). I loved seeing your reaction to Drum Corps and hope you continue watching more shows. DCI has been hosting championships since 1972, so there is a lot to watch.
I’ve had the incredible experience of marching 3 summers with the Phantom Regiment and this show and the story behind it will always have a special meaning to the members of the corps. It’s really cool seeing someone watch this for the first time!
This is one of my fav drum corps shows. So happy I got to march there. I marched in the colorguard (flags and rifle) from 2018-2021. That place has given me so much. I’m glad you enjoyed. Wished more people knew about this side of the marching arts. So much passion in this activity.
Hi Courtney!!! I’ve marched The drum corps Boston Crusaders in 2018 and 2019 and counting! I’m a part of the color guard aka the dancers :) a crazy amount of work goes into it, a total of 12 or 13 hours a day we train (and that doesn’t count meal breaks) the skills that the color guard does is getting harder and harder each year, so sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s getting easier but it’s gets way better throughout the season, especially because you build up your stamina! I also got a great tan and got a lot skinnier! 🥰
Definitely Watch some WGI shows (the indoor percussion only version of DCI). Some recommendations would be Pulse 2020, Pulse 2017, MCM 2011, Rhythm X 2009, RCC 2018, and pulse 2010 just to name a few.
Absolutely love that someone introduced you and you’ve become a fan! I marched Bluecoats 2008-2010. And I can reiterate what other people said about the amount of work it takes. From the horns and percussion learning to play their instruments and then on top of that learning very difficulty drill (where they are on the field and how to get there for every formation), to the guys and girls in the colorguard learning to dance and spin multiple pieces of equipment and still also do drill. It takes literally thousands of hours of work to put just one show on the field. And that is when everyone is already at the top of their skill in their area. But that feeling of being in front of that crowd makes every single one of those insanely long days worth it.
In 2008 I was a senior in high school, and was a drum major in my high school marching band. We went to Rockford IL for drum major camp that year. We got to march with the Phantom Regiment and even got to learn the first part of the drill (when they are using their horns like swords) it was so much fun and that is a wonderful organization. So many good memories from that trip. Their drum majors were so friggin awesome and sweet and taught us so very much about how to be a leader and how to lead a great group (plus of course, how to conduct real good haha)
After marching in DCI for 5 years, it warms my heart seeing you take the time to shed some light on our rather 'unknown' activity. Your first year is really a time of figuring out how to act, what to do, how to multi task, and focus on learning the groove of things all while discovering a lot about yourself as an individual. It takes self discipline to master the small habits and routines that separate the great from the average, and consciously aim to be the best at what you do. Any year after year 1 tends to be easier since you've learned how to drum corps, aside from perfecting the given show for that season. But it's definitely a great activity for those who are a little weird and those that enjoy challenging themselves in a way they probably haven't experienced before. Thank you again for the videos, I love seeing these reactions pop up on my feed. We look forward to seeing more!
I haven't seen Spartacus since I marched, I can not believe how amazing it is. The movement and marching and jazz running and how the story is told. Spartacus is now my favorite DCI show now that I can fully appreciate it.
I was introduced to DCI and Phantom Regiment in 1990 and had the pleasure of marching with them in ‘99 and watching you discover this is so heart warming. Thank you so much!!!
This is soooo cool to see you get more enveloped into this world! I’ve marched one season of drum corps and was going to do another but with the Bluecoats this summer (next summer here we come). It’s an incredible amount of hard work and preparation before even beginning the summer. The actual summer is a whole animal in itself but it’s a life changing experience that gives you work ethic and dedication you didn’t know you had until you are required to push yourself to your limit and grow that limit higher. It’s all worth it for the family, performance energy, and much more.
I am a junior in high school currently and it’s my dream to march DCI eventually but as of now I’m in a incredible high school band (top 40 in the entire country) and it takes a ridiculous amount of dedication. Our summer camps are 12 hours per day for 3 weeks and it’s quite the struggle. We also do a TON of rehearsals during the seasons. The amount of work that goes into these performances is truly unrivaled by anything I have personally ever seen. I appreciate you getting our craft out into the mainstream and bestowing high praise upon these incredible young men and women
Back in the day I wanted to try out for Phantom after they came to our school for practice, but i played saxophone and DCI is mainly for brass and percussion.
My old middle school band teacher was an instructor for phantom regiment that year. I still remember him showing this to us when school started that year.
I remember watching this show when DCI and all the drum corps came to my high school in 2008! Phantom Regiment was the most memorable performance that year and I will never forget them!!! An incredible show!!! Thank you so much for reacting to this! I marched with the JSU Marching Southerners of Jacksonville, Alabama in 2008 and 2009. I was in the Colorguard. I marched in my high school’s Colorguard all four years before attending JSU! I have auditioned for a drum Corp or two but I did not make it. They gave me amazing memories and good friends. However the audition process was wonderful to experience and I have always loved JSU and all drum corps. 👏🏾👍🏾👍🏾👏🏾❤️
I am so appreciative of the fact that she doesnt interrupt the moment with obnoxious commentary. She leaves the brunt of what she has to say for the end so she can enjoy what's happening in the moment rather than speak over it. I also just love watching someone else appreciate the crazy amount of work put into this kind of show
Carolina Crown 2013. Carolina Crown 2013. To answer your question, yes. These performances are the result of hours and hours and hours of practice. Complete and total dedication. I marched with a Drum Corp called Star of Indiana in 1990. A typical day has rehearsal time from 8-Noon, 1:30 - 4:30, 6p - Midnight if there wasn't a show. On show days, we would practice from 8-Noon, 1:30-4:30 then a meal and getting ready for a show. On the bus after awards, wind down, and sleep for a few hours while they drive us to a new town in a new state. Arrive at a high school gym at around 3:30 in the morning, take your stuff inside, and sleep for about 3 more hours. Repeat above. You need to watch Carolina Crown 2013. If this show made you emotional, you'll love Carolina Crown 2013.
Literally the most iconic show in Drum Corps History! My marching instructor in high school actually marched that show and she is part of what inspired me to march drum corps this past summer at Pacific Crest. It takes hours of rehearsal to perfect a show, literally the entire summer. Before tour/competitions starts, corps will rehearse every day for at least a month from 9am to 10pm, and they continue cleaning and perfecting the show on the road throughout the 1.5 month competition season. It literally eats up your entire summer, which is probably why more people don't do it. It's also expensive, we don't get as much sponsorships as other professional league sports so we have to pay tour fees every summer. The people who march drum corps are high school and college students, and many they have career goals outside of music (e.g. I'm a neurosciece major). I had to choose between advancing my career and drum corps. A lot of people will choose internships or study abroad over a summer rehearsing in the heat with minimal sleep. But I definitely made the right choice marching. It's an experience unparalleled by any other.
I haven’t seen this show in, geez, maybe ten or more years! So glad to have relived it through your channel. It’s truly one of the more memorable DCI shows ever!!
Phantom has always been my favorite Corps for so many reasons. Always so expressive, musically rich and incredible story telling. And they are perhaps one of the classiest on and off the field. I was in Band through College, but I never got to march DCI. If I did, it would have definitely been Phantom! Glad you got to see this amazing corps.
Really happy that you loved this show as it is one of my personal Top 10 all-time DCI shows. Phantom Regiment is has been known as "Drum Corps' Classical Music Identity" because, traditionally, their show's musical program every year is strictly from the Classical music repertoire. It was last season that they put in a rock song for the first time.Their brass section is one of the best sounding sections in the activity along with Carolina Crown, the Cadets, and Blue Devils. You can spend hours watching only Phantom shows. Here's a list of years you could watch and post reaction videos to: 1989 (classic), 1991(sexy), 1993, 1996 (1st championship), 1997, 2000, 2003-2008 (on fire for six seasons), 2011, and 2012. I marched in a drum corps called Pacific Crest in 2003 (check them out, too!), and we competed against Phantom Regiment a few times when they had tour stops in California that year, and later at World Championships. It was my first time seeing and hearing them in person in 2003, and the energy and emotion from that show was absolutely off the charts. I get teary-eyed whenever I watch or listen to the show. The show titled "Harmonic Journey" is another MUST-WATCH.Give us your thoughts on Phantom 2003 once you have seen it. Keep enjoying the videos!
I think I commented on this before. Your reaction at the end is one of my favorites! Phantom is my favorite corps. Thanks for your support of the performers. In marched drum corps in the mid 1970's. Phantom was great then too. So much hard work goes into doing this. Love❤ these videos.
Some of the reasons are due to funding, time commitment, cost, locations of the corps, and the fact not everyone hears about DCI until they're too old to do it. But cost tends to be the top reason for people not doing it even if theyve made it into one. And all but one of the Corps are co-ed the one that's not, would be the Cavaliers which is the last all male corp left. The guard has four main things Dance, Flag, Rifle and Saber which the latter two are considered Auxiliary or Weapon.
There was a movie about Spartacus which starred Kirk Douglas, and is about a Roman who started a slave rebellion around 200 BC. WOW! What a movie!! As you can see from the opening scene, Drum Corps incorporates a LOT of acting!! My brother was in the high school marching band, which would play in parades and at football games. He always told me how difficult it was to stay in a straight line. That's why DCI amazes me--they expand, shrink, do pinwheels, etc. at lightning speed! Those without instruments, but various props--flags, etc., are the Color Guard. Both genders are in that, as well as the musical part. The percussion down in front is referred to as the pit. If the cameras were a little closer, you'd be able to see that the sticks are actually fake rifles. By the way, in case you've not yet been told, at the age of 21, these kids "age out". So, all the people are less than 21. Rockford's not all that small--about 150,000 in the city itself, and around 200,000 in the metro area. It used to be #2 in size in the state, but we've dropped to #4 or 5, being beaten out by Chicago suburbs.
Reactions like this are why we do what we do! I marched four years of DCI, two of which were with Phantom Regiment. It certainly takes determination and a lot of hard work to make these shows happen, but the crowds reactions are what make it worth it!!
If you want more amazing shows I’d recommend 2011 Phantom Regiment, 2014 Blue Devils (the highest scoring show in DCI history), and 2015 or 2016 Carolina Crown!
I was there in 2008, I marched with Pacific Crest and We got the chance to watch the finals in the 50 yard line seats and this is one of the greatest memories of my life, Every time I listen to phantom 2008 It brings me back and makes me cry of the same joy I felt watching this live! Greatest show ever!
Marched corps for 8 years and aged out with Bluecoats in 2013. I've had the privilege to then teach with a group I marched with for the last 7 years. The amount of work and dedication that students and staff put into these programs is incredible. Thank you for covering this small niche of an activity because it is hands down the most rewarding experience for any young musician to ever experience. These top tier groups start auditions in November and meet once a month for a weekend leading up to May. Then these groups "Move-in" to a single location and rehearse for about 14 hours a day for a month in a high intensity and fast paced schedule to put these shows together. Middle of June to the end first or second week of August, these groups travel across the country sleeping on coach buses and gym floors and rehearsing or performing. I owe so much of my life to this activity for the friendships and opportunities it has given me. From my own personal experience, I also felt like I got the visual (marching, dance and formations) down faster than I was a musician. I worked harder at playing because it was a weakness and you just build from there. The person on the podium conducting the corps at the end is usually called a Drum Major or a Conductor. Please keep covering these videos because it's so great to see the enjoyment that this art can bring to people. The members that were preparing to compete for the 2020 season won't get to experience the joys of bringing a crowd to their feet, but they can at least have something to look forward to by seeing the reactions you have to them. Keep it up!
Eh Ess sorry you must have forgotten that Corps reach it’s highest note for a Soloist in 2019 surpassing 2018! And let’s put it this way most of the corps look like Kindergarteners with them WGI Uniforms! Get back to what Drum and Bugle Corps use to be like! Marching Uniforms!!! Not! WGI Uniforms! If I wanted to see WGI I would go see it in the winter! That’s what Today’s Corps want! WGI Uniforms! All first started with BlueCoats and the rest of the corps followed! Bring back the Shakos, Plumes, Marching Jackets, and Marching Bibbers. That’s real Drum and Bugle Corps!
Honestly in my opinion the hardest part about drum corps isn't the musical or physical challenges that come with performing, because that's what we expect and what we see when attending the shows. What we see in the awesome performances is the entire reason people march drum corps. The hardest part though is what we don't see, the 12 hour rehearsal days in the blazing sun, only to then go get on a coach bus and travel for hours on end, followed by a few short hours of sleeping on a gym floor, to then wake up and do it all again the next day. Members put up with all this for 3 months so that at the end of the season, they get their 15 minutes of fame (literally 15 minutes) at the Drum Corps International finals. For reference I marched 3 years of drum corps in a circuit that is smaller than Drum Corps International, but provides similar experiences nonetheless. This summer would have been my first tour with Drum Corps International, however our current situation in the US has unfortunately prevented the tour from happening. (PS the arm flappers are called Drum Majors)
I marched for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps 2015-2016! They are based in Tempe, Arizona. Drum Corps across the country hold auditions camps around November and December for a weekend. By January you have most of the Corps intact as well as callback auditions. Then once a month you have Training camps for a weekend until May. Then you move in with the Corps for Spring training where most of the work really happens. Then the fun part! You go on Tour across the country performing your show! It all ends at DCI Finals in Indianapolis.
I was actually happier that you made final in 16 than I would've been had BD gotten that 3-peat...and I'm a BD alum! Drum Corpse Bride was a perfect show, and I have not seen the kind of crowd love you guys got just entering the stadium for retreat that night in over 3 decades in the activity!
I love watching you watch this show, it's one of my favorites!! I aged out this year from Dutch Boy, being in the audience was amazing. I still get goosebumps watching it.
This show is the reason I marched Drum Corps. Just incredible. So glad there is someone out there who didn’t march reacting to these shows. It’s so refreshing!
One thing that I want to note about the older shows is that electronics were still kind of new to DCI, and the things that they could do with electronics were limited by certain rules. The rules have changed a lot since amplification was introduced in 2004. In 2008, only the front ensemble is amplified, and all sound effects are made physically by performers in the front. Nowadays, brass is allowed to be amplified (even whole sections with wireless mics on the field for certain parts of the show), brass soloists can use mics (they could not use mics in 2008), and prerecorded and electronic sound effects are now allowed and a lot more widespread.
Chills at your reaction. The same thing I felt in Bloomington that night. I had signed on to help the Cadets all season, with their merchandise, and every show that Regiment was at, I watched their show from beginning to end. By the time they hit mid-season, with the changes they made to the second half of the show, I could tell they were going to win. The show itself was so dramatic, so musical, so full of life... Brings a tear to my eye, really. Love this show.
I saw the original version on this in the early 80s and they actually handed out programs as if you were coming to a theater show. This is still my absolute favorite show of all time!
I do color guard (the flag people) and one of my teachers is in this performance! I love love love this show and I am so glad that you are doing these videos!!
Also, fun fact: rumors say that at this specific performance, when the king dude killed that love interest girl and threw her in the ground, he threw her so hard that she very briefly blacked out!
The performers with the "sticks" are the color guard it has men and women. They usually use flags, sabers, and rifles. All really hard things to do coordinated and choreographed. Fun fact, DCI is all brass instruments for winds, so no clarinets, oboes, flutes, saxophones, ect. It's also all a competition, so they're all graded and ranked. Favorite shows are this one, 1989 Santa Clara Vanguard Phantom of the Opera, 2013 Santa Clara Les Miserables, and bonus is the ending of Phantom's 2007 On Air.
2011 Blue Devils “The Beat My Heart Skipped” 2015 Carolina Crown “Inferno” 2018 Santa Clara Vanguard “Babylon” 2012 Carolina Crown “For the Common Good” 1996 Phantom Regiment “A Defiant Heart” 1999 Santa Clara Vanguard “Inventions for a New Millenium” 2018 Boston Crusaders “S.O.S”
Marching in this drum corps knowing this iconic show is in our history gave us HUGE shoes to fill. I marched this group for three years 2017-2019 and got to be captain of the color guard my final year. It was the best three years of my life, and I met my soul mate. This activity is responsible for more than just physical growth, but personal growth and strength. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. If more Phantom Phamily are reading this: SUTA! Much love. Thanks for this video, Courtney.
Been a drum corps fan for decades. I would have loved being in one in my younger years. I know the feeling of putting on a great show just being in high school band competions. It's just a thrill you cant explain. Now I want to watch this show in full screen.
I marched 2 years of drum corps, such an experience I will remember the rest of my life All the hard work pays off during shows and fans like you that react to the performances Keep up the great content
I was there that night. Row 20 on the 45 yard line right behind the Phantom mom with the yellow poster. You’ll see it during the preshow and finale. It was possibly the greatest night I’d drum corps I’ve experienced in my 30 years of drum corps.
I was 18 I saw this show live! I was there that night! I haven’t watched this in years. It’s bringing back so many memories! I love your genuine reactions. 💕💕💕💕💕
I was fortunate enough to be there the night that was recorded. It was my rookie year in DCI(Bass3 RevolutionDBC) . I was able to find a spot near the press box on the 50 yard line. Such a great moment for the sport.
I never got to DCI level but I did marching band in high school and college. It takes so much time, hard work, and dedication. At my college, we would learn 3 shows for one season. Watching these shows makes me miss being able to perform. This show is my absolute favorite that I've seen.
I marched in 08 with another drum corps competing against Phantom Regiment. Early in the season there was something about this drum corps. The way they carried themselves. Like their show characters, they were out for blood. I am so happy Regiment won in 08. The entire community was waiting for it and you can just tell by the crowd. I am so thankful that I got to see this show live 20 or so times. Also, this was the last year that DCI championships were outside and not in an air conditioned dome. 08 was one of the greatest years of my youth. :)
hi! i marched DCI for five years, from 03-07 (memphis sound 03, magic of orlando 04, and bluecoats 05-07), playing the mellophone, the solo instrument you liked in the adagio from spartacus (ballad). i was a woodwind player but learned a brass instrument so i could participate in this. (i do still play mello, it's a super underrated instrument, haha) when i first learned about this activity, phantom regiment was my favorite corps. their 1995 show was the first one i ever saw/heard. those were some good questions you asked.....muscle memory is a big big part of it, for sure. you spend the whole summer, practically all day every day (other than when you're sleeping, traveling, competing) working to perfect just that 12-minute show, so the focus and consistency are definitely there. as the weeks go on and on, you get in better and better cardio shape, and your parts get more and more familiar. in rehearsals, you're gradually going over the parts of your show that are the weakest, improving through conscious repetition, your body adapts to the challenges to the show, and the pacing of it, so you can kind of budget how much energy you're expending so that you have enough for key moments when you need more. it's a consistent journey to both be improving your own performance of the show (self-critiquing after shows, making good use of comments from instructors), and achieving uniformity with the people around you, musically and visually. by the end of the season, you're still tired after your show, but it's a level of tiredness your mind and body are used to. (drum corps is good for teaching members lifelong mind-over-body kind of lessons.) i heard the stats on it somewhere once, for every ten second chunk of the show, there's like 20 hours or rehearsal, or something crazy like that, haha. some university scientist tested a drummer and found that his cardio-vascular rates and metabolic levels were on par with olympic triathletes. as the season goes on, you're repeatedly unearthing levels of cleanliness that you eventually surpass en route to near-perfection.....if your corps is improving daily, your impression of what sounds or looks good on july 1st is nowhere near as clean as august 1st is. perpetual refinement is the goal, though enjoying the ride is essential :) i totally agree with you, i feel like this should be a bigger deal than it is! a few people i've shown it to, have really taken to it, but so many don't find it as mesmerizing and amazing as i do. i don't know if drum corps is dying out, but it's a little stagnant, growth-wise. it was on espn2 when i was marching, and pbs before (public tv in the us), but now it's not televised, though it is streamed in maybe like 500-1000 movie theaters around the country (in a live broadcast called 'big loud and live'), once at the beginning of the season in mid-june, and once on finals week (mid-august). i'd definitely love to see it make its way more into the mainstream too, i think a lot of people would appreciate it if they knew. i still watch shows for fun all the time, and why not? haha. it's human music visualizer ensembles. it's music-sports. thanks for your help spreading the word! those people on the podium are called conductors by the way. in drum corps and marching bands, the conductors/member-leaders are called drum majors. i've watched this (amazing) show plenty of times but your reaction vid helped me appreciate all the awesomeness of the percussion feature/battle scene. - jared
I love to see someone watch Drum Corps for the first time. There are so many corps that have shows that will blow your mind. Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Devils, Madison Scouts, The Cavaliers, Star of Indiana. The list goes on and on. Just about every corps has a show that will literally blow you away.
@Courtney, the young men and women that do this practice between 12-14 hours a day from mid-may though finals early August. The auditions start around Thanksgiving and they meet once a month until may for a weekend at a time. Then from mid-may on they are all together and do nothing but eat, sleep and practice, and sometimes perform :p
Hi Courtney so I haven't done drum corp yet but I've done high school marching band ever since my freshman year and I can tell you that it's lots of hard work from back to back days of constantly working on the music and perfecting our drill which is what we follow to know where to go on the field. But to remember where to go and what to play it's all mental.
What a great reaction! When I first came across your 2017 Devils reaction a week or so ago I instantly hoped you would one day do 2008 Regiment, I did not have to wait long. There are still so many other shows for you to discover, enjoy the ride.
I've only marched one season of drum corps but I can answer your questions to the beat of my ability and provide some more background. To do drum corps, you have to first audition for a corps which happens in November and December before the camps start in January for brass and percussion and March for the color guard. After your first audition you'll either be told that you didn't make it, you got a call back, or you are offered a contract. Depending on what corps you audition for the level of competition varies, lower scoring corps are easier to make and may not cut anyone meanwhile top 12 corps are very competitive. I marched Jersey Surf, a lower scoring corps, and got offered a contract without needing a call back and the stress level was not as high as when I auditioned for Mandarins, a top 12 corps, this year and got offered a call back. Sadly, though, the 2020 drum corps season got cancelled due to COVID-19 so I wasn't able to go to that call back. With the difficulty of learning the work and remembering everything, that once again depends on where you march, with everything being typically a little more difficult the better ranking the corps is. For me, it takes a bit of time for me to learn choreography and remember everything, but once I got it I'm all good. Most corps move in mid to late May (for Jersey Surf we move in early June, however) for what is known as spring training, an about a month long training process in which you learn your show and get ready for a summer of touring the United States and performing your show usually three or more times a week. This is when a lot of the work happens, you are to learn most, if not all, of the show during that time because when you are on the road there is not much time to teach the show. After spring training you get on a bus and hit the road for the rest of the summer sleeping on the bus and in gyms in random schools throughout the country, this is tour. During tour practices most of you time is spent on cleaning the show and not so much at learning it, however sometimes shows change a bit and you need to learn something completely new. Drum corps is very hard and is actual hell a lot of the time, but overall performing is so much fun and makes up for all the pain you endure. I'd love to answer any other questions if you reply to this comment, there's a lot to talk about and a lot more details so if you have any questions feel free to ask. I hope this helps with at least a bit of background on what happens when marching drum corps.
14:23 . As an avid DCI and Phantom Regiment "Phan" for over 25 years, this reaction says it all. The fact that you have this reaction 12 years after this took place says a lot about the performance on the field. Courtney, welcome to the DCI addiction. While these performances are fun to watch, I hope you have a chance to make it to a show live one summer. It's an even more incredible experience in person! Thanks for all the reactions.
I marched this show and watching you react to it brought back a lot of memories for me. Thanks and keep it up!
Ahhh y’all killed it man!! Congratulations on such an amazing performance!!!
Courtney Coulston glad you liked it! The drum corps community can be very insular at times. It’s refreshing to see how someone from the outside reacts to these shows!
Courtney Coulston I’m going to second Sean’s comment. Seeing a fresh reaction video like this is the reason for drum corps, and why that summer was so worth it. 2008 was an amazing year to march, especially at Regiment. Thanks again for this video! Seeing your enjoyment made my day.
Hey there folks . Is there any Facebook pages you guys know of? Is this just an American thing or do the Europeans do this. Can't find anything. Great video rection. Keep it up. 😁
Sean, thank you for such an amazing performance. This is definitely in my top five favorite shows and is one if the reasons I really got into DCI. You guys did amazing! Go Phantom!
I've marched four years in drum corps international and I can answer your question. Yes it takes tons of time and effort to get to this level of performance. Each show is perfected over months of all day everyday rehearsal. But nothing compares to the feeling you get performing for everyone. Thank you for reviewing these videos and sharing the world of drum corps with others.
Where did you march? And when?
Joshua I’m a current dci member and I couldn’t have put that any better thank you.
Hi Joshua! Wow I can't imagine the amount of time, effort and dedication y'all put into these shows. Thank you for doing what you do and creating absolute magic!!
I marched for The Battalion, an open class corps 2016-2019. I was contracted to march for The Cadets this season, but after covid struck I had to change my plans.
Joshua Ward oh what instrument? My brother is a bari at cadets
Watch Santa Clara Vanguard 2018 “Babylon”
Guys we need to get this to be liked
P Mil there is a link in the description to request!!!
u mean finding nervana
And farther down the DCI rabbit hole you go!!!
we shall go further!!!
Haha next stop 90’s DCI!!!
I sweaaar! hahhaa. it's all too good man
I think she's been hooked, Sam.
And after the 90's, you can hit the 80's and revisit the Spartacus show...twice.
1500 views and 131 comments in 3 hours. Keep up the support, everybody. She’s earned our respect.
I love this channel. "Earned our respect." Thats a bit much.She definitely earns our attention though.
Cayo Costa it’s not that serious ☠️
Being in the audience that night was absolutely insane, the atmosphere was electric. Phantom Regiment was the easy fan favorite, and entered championship weekend sitting in 4th place. Each night they moved up one spot and had gotten to 2nd place after semifinals with only the Blue Devils to beat. Here's the crowd reaction when they were announced as the winners: ua-cam.com/video/lLxjIuWczAs/v-deo.html
I was there, too! It was so epic. The victory run was even better, in my opinion!
ohhh my goodness!! I have NEVER seen a crowd scream and cheer quite like that. my jaw dropped! What an AMAZING moment!!!
I marched in 08 with spirit . What an amazing ending to the 08 season. 4 of our brass staff were regiment vets so the hype was real!
this literally gave me chills
Phantom did this exact thing when they won in 96
Moving up one spot a night, but they tied with Devils:((( so happy they got thier own spotlight in 08. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Love, love, love seeing your reaction at the end when Drum Major Will Pitts gets skewered on top of the platform. Phantom Regiment added that ending in the final two weeks and it sent the crowds into orbit when they saw it. It was off the hook!
Other thing to note: Phantom entered the quarterfinals in 4th place. After quarterfinals they were third. After semifinals they were second. And once finals were over, they beat out the Blue Devils by the slimmest margin ever.
Keep watching and reacting, and we'll keep viewing. Long live Drum Corps!
Hi John! Omg yes it was such an epic moment!!! wow i can't believe they only added that in last 2 weeks. definitely such a huge moment and it was perfect in the routine for sure. Thanks so much John!!
You’re reaction at 14:23 is precisely what everyone watching that night had. I saw this show on video just one week before finals night when they performed their completed show in Allentown, Pennsylvania and I had tears coming down my face. I went to Bloomington for finals week and was sitting in the audience that night. The show was incredible. The finals announcements were even more incredible. And Phantom Regiments encore performance was even still more incredible!!! Certainly one of the finest moments in DCI history!
Truly is incredible!!!
You lucky guy, it would have been amazing to be in that audience. Was that last bit added for their final run? Or was it added before?
Tricky Living they had the ending in the show the week prior in Allentown which is where that final ending was put in I believe. And I remember thinking... “this show has to win!!!” If you watch the scores being announced from that night, you can hear it in Brandt Crockers voice when he says “RECEIVING THE SILVER MEDAL TONIGHT.......” I turned to my friends and said, “Oh my god, they did it!!!”
Give this girl a ticket to DCI when it goes to start again
Agreed!!! Maybe we can all contribute to get her to a FINALS!!!
jiljwc that would be dope. New Zealand girl reacts to her reacting at DCI finals 2021 🤣❤️
At the end of the competition, they have what is called 'retreat' where the corps re-enter the field, the drum majors come down front, and the scores are announced. That night, the drum major who was speared (Will Pitts) was literally dragged down front by the other drum majors, dropped in his place in line, and covered with a death shroud ... playing the part to the very end.
Still one of my favorite parts!! ❤️❤️
Was he aging out too? Too perfect
I think it was 2012 or 2013, one of the commentators made the joke “it wouldn’t be a real Phantom Regiment show without at least one dead drum major.” Lmao
COURTNEY!!! This used to be on ESPN!
Also, since you asked those of us to comment about what it is like being one of these performers. It does indeed take a long time to learn and perfect these shows. We start in November and go until August. We have a weekend camp every month from November up until mid to late May, where many of the top corps move into Spring Training. From there, everyday is usually filled with 12 or more hours or rehearsal for a month until shows and competitions begin. From there, the schedule roughly remains the same unless its a show/competition day which still largely consists of rehearsal depending on the corps/organization. Then comes Finals Week in the early teens of August. It is mostly a mental challenge of will and determination rather than the physical strain of fatigue, but the fatigue furthers the mental challenge so to speak. From what I have heard from friends and others that did this and then the military.....It is the US Military Boot Camp version of the Mind.
Hi Greg! Wow really, but not any more? :( wowwww thank you for writing this out. This is true dedication man, seriously.
A longer time ago it used to air on PBS in the states. I remember watching the Cadets in 2000 and seeing the trumpet line thing and being totally amazed by that.
@@CourtneyCoulston because American football
@@aRhapsodicHitcher that was the first drum corps video I watched and I was fascinated i later learned from a visual tech that marched cadets in 2011 that that trumpet thing is smoke and mirrors they keep alternating who is playing so that it looks like they're playing each other's instruments when really the other line that is playing their own instruments is playing and they keep alternating i don't know if that made sense but it's still impressive nonetheless
Answering some questions - I marched 4 unforgettable years at the Phantom Regiment and it changed my life for the better! To be able to perform at the Open Class and World Class marching level takes a lot of time, dedication, and practice. People start saving money years in advance in hopes of being able to participate. Performers give up their summers to take part in what is most likely the most difficult thing they’ve ever done. You get pushed beyond what you knew you could handle. Yet we love what we do because we get to perform for wonderful people 😊
that's amazing! Definition of dedication and hard work!! :)
Thank you so much for doing this show. I marched with Phantom Regiment and this was my "age out" year (last year of eligibility due to age limits). This was the end result of countless hours of rehearsal, practicing 8-12 hours a day, and a 3 month tour across the country. Reactions like this are exactly why we do it. Drum corps is unique in that the performers pay for the opportunity to go on tour and perform. $2,000+ at the time I marched and I think it's close to double that now for some corps. Again, fan reactions like this are why we do it. If anyone hasn't yet watched the score announcements from 2008 finals, watch it. I think the crowd reaction is still the single loudest thing I have ever heard.
Unfortunately, because of the cost and time commitment it is very hard for people to afford. Rehearsal camps are one weekend a month from Nov through when the tour starts, and the tour is 3 months on the road away from home and school. It's a huge commitment. They used to air finals on ESPN, but I imagine there aren't that many sponsors who wanted to pay for advertising. I really think a big part of why it's declining in popularity is that there's less public awareness. It's incredibly difficult to introduce someone to dci as most shows aren't available to stream online.
The corps itself is based in Rockford, but performers come from all over the country and world, in 2008 we had members from England, Japan, Canada, and I'm probably forgetting some other countries as well.
She probably didn’t watch the awards ceremony but the assistant drum majors brought the “dead” drum major out to awards and then left. PR’s level of commitment to this show was amazing.
I was there that magical night, in fact there for the two nights prior to see two earlier rounds in the competition. This is my all-time favorite DC show, hands down. Superb storytelling, incredible music book, compelling guard work, and the ending is not to be topped anywhere, anytime in the activity!
Thank you for recognizing our activity, it really makes me so happy to see someone from outside the DCI community reacting to this. From someone in the modern Phantom Regiment, seeing someone react to a very good show in Phantom’s history is so awesome.
The fact you've been DCI is one of the reasons your one of my top reaction channels! How about E=MC2 from Carolina Crown?
That's another great show!
*cough* INFERNO *cough*
E=MC2, biggest tear jerking show of all time!
GO CROWN!
I'll say it again, you got EVERY single emotion those kids intended for you to get as they put it all on the field. I so enjoy looking at your reactions to DCI!
Hello! I have marched 4 years of dci, and I march with the cavaliers dbc! These shows take tons of skill and practice to perform. Basically you move in with the group at the beginning of the summer, and practice the show and music for 12-14 hours a day. You travel around the country and perform shows all over. After 3 months of hard work you perform in the finals weekend competition in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is all very rewarding, and has given me some of my most cherished memories. If you want more show recommendations just let me know!
Phantom is and will always be my favorite corps. Their performances are always so passionate and emotional that I can't help but occasionally tear up.
Nuff Said! 12 years later and it is still fresh.
It is the slave uprising of the Roman Empire. Roman general's wemt after Sparticus but he evaded and killed them for a long time
See the HBO series Sparticus.
Since you commented on the musical contrast, might I also suggest from 2011 "Between Angels and Demons" by The Cadets. They wear 2 variations of their uniform to represent angels and demons.
Thank you for continuing these, love first time reactions to these classic DCI shows! Would love to see a reaction to SCV 2018 soon!
Look up DCI/Drum Corps International on the web and you can see where local competitions are being held. Maybe there'll be on near you when you move to the states. The participants are hard core marching band enthusiasts that want to continue once they have graduated high school and/or college.
She's no longer moving to the states...her fiance suggested they move to New Zealand instead.
hard "corps" ;)
Yeah I'm not moving to the states anymore, but we will be back to visit family a lot so I am definitely going to try to catch some shows!!!
@@CourtneyCoulston The competitive season generally runs mid june to mid august, and to be honest, some shows aren't all that ood or polished early season, and the groups you;re seeing are the very top ones...there are some that struggle throughout the entire season and who are fairly small.
A late season regional might be a good choice, or a late season local with a decent sized lineup....those tend to be back east or un the midwest.
@@samsignorelli I totally agree. If you are going for quality and can only go to one show, the later the better. Any show after the beginning of July is going to be decent. The best shows are definitely in the last 2-3 weeks.
It actually starts from being in band in middle school and high school and college , I’m in Texas and the high school marching shoes are very much like DCI , you have to audition and you pay out of your pocket to buy all that is needed and fly into rehearsals , I’m from Texas and would fly into California to rehearse back in the day with Santa Clara Vanguard when I was I high school . It’s an experience like no other , the whole summer traveling and competing and staying and sleeping in a lot of high school and college gym floors , there are a lot of great volunteers/parents that travel with us and feed us, but it’s many long hours of rehearsals but it makes you stronger and many of us have become very successful in our careers once we leave DCI/College all because of the great music programs in a public school here in Texas .
As a member of Phantom in both 2007 and 2008 its awesome to watch someone's reaction to this show 12 years later. I can still remember that summer very vividly. We worked so hard all summer for that. The stands were packed because we were supposed to have finals at Lucas Oil Stadium but construction wasn't finished. I will say the best part was how loud the crowd got, in the end, I couldn't even hear my drum. To answer your question this does take a decent time to build. Back when I marched, 2005-2009, we had 3 divisions, 1 2 and 3. With this sport, you would usually have some sort of high school/college exp and would start in a div 2 or 3 corp. These lower-tier corps would hone your skills and clean them up and sometimes it would take 1 or 2 years before you would make it past cuts for a div 1 corp. When you try out for a div 1 corp, its much harder, you are now fighting against sometimes 100 people, from all over the world, for 1 spot. It took me two tries before I made the cut for phantom and they will forever be my Phamly...SUTA!
React to:
Bluecoats 2019 “The Bluecoats“
And my favorite show...
Carolina Crown 2016 “Relentless” (the dailymotion.com video though)
Yes, Please do Relentless from Carolina Crown! SUCH a great show!
how is this the only crown show i haven’t watched yet
Elijah Crosby I mean actually how? You’ve seen like 01 and not ‘16?
This takes a ton of practice and hard work. The daughter of a friend was in marching band and they practiced many more hours than the football team in all types of weather.
Yeah, I can't imagine the hours upon hours upon hours of both individual practice and team practice that goes into these performances. Huge kudos
@@CourtneyCoulston Drum corps rehearse 12 hours a day everyday during the summer!
I marched in the Blue Stars in 2007 and 2008. We finished 14th in 2007 and 8th in 2008. There's a lot of time that goes into learning these shows. Auditions start in mid-November and every month there are camps one weekend a month through April where we would learn the music. The guard would usually join us in March or April. In mid-May we would have what we called move-ins where we would learn the entire show. We would rehearse about 15 hours a day everyday for three or four weeks. From there we would tour the country perfecting our show everyday while competing 4-6 times a week. The DCI World Championships are usually the second weekend in August. So as you can see, thousands of hours of extremely hard work go into what you're seeing. And even though you haven't seen a show I was in, seeing your enthusiasm about the activity is part of the reason I did what I did!
I’ve been part of this activity. Thank you for reacting to these videos because we are a small community and we how to get more people to know this activity because there’s so much work put into these shows. The whole summer is spent with a big group of people and you really make a family with these people and you spend the whole summer perfecting the the show. So much time is spent in technique of your instrument, marching, dancing, and just blending it all together. It’s a lot of work but preforming the show is why we do it, there’s nothing like preforming the show you have worked so hard on with the people you love and putting a smile on someone’s face. It’s the best thing ever. We put hard work, money, and time into these shows and wether you get the score you want or not, preforming is why we do it. Thank you for exposing this activity to more people!! It means a lot. You should also react to WGI shows, they’re shorter but packed full of hard stuff to play and great story lines. One of my favorite shows is Pulse Percussion 2016 Brother. They got first place and it’s a beautiful show. Also for us high school kids another great show is Chino Hills High School 2018. They got first place and set a new record for their score, they’re extremely talented kids and work so hard on the shows! I hope you see this comment because I really like your reaction videos and I want to see you react to those shows and I want to thank you for exposing this activity to more people.
Thank you so much for reacting to these videos, DCI is truly amazing. This show is so wonderful and I just love the end. Especially when the person in the black uniform in the sliver sash (also know as a drum major) kills the person in the red cape (also a drum major) and just pulls out a baton (the stick like thing he was holding) from the back of the uniform and kept conducing like he did not just kill someone. As far as people knowing how to do the marching and playing at the same time, they probably learned it from being in high school and maybe college marching band. I was in high school and collage marching band where the first week of band camp was all about the basics of marching band. For memorizing the knowing where to go (called drill), visuals, and the music, it was small chunks at a time and putting those chunks together repeating it multiple times until eventually we got the whole show. One we got the whole show memorized, it was repeating it multiple times with a lot of practice time. In high school we did a show that was inspired by this performance.
I was part of the Phantom Regiment from 2000-04; hence the user name preuph (Phantom Regiment Euphonium). I loved seeing your reaction to Drum Corps and hope you continue watching more shows.
DCI has been hosting championships since 1972, so there is a lot to watch.
2001.....a great show!
I’ve had the incredible experience of marching 3 summers with the Phantom Regiment and this show and the story behind it will always have a special meaning to the members of the corps. It’s really cool seeing someone watch this for the first time!
This is one of my fav drum corps shows. So happy I got to march there. I marched in the colorguard (flags and rifle) from 2018-2021. That place has given me so much. I’m glad you enjoyed. Wished more people knew about this side of the marching arts. So much passion in this activity.
Hi Courtney!!! I’ve marched The drum corps Boston Crusaders in 2018 and 2019 and counting! I’m a part of the color guard aka the dancers :) a crazy amount of work goes into it, a total of 12 or 13 hours a day we train (and that doesn’t count meal breaks) the skills that the color guard does is getting harder and harder each year, so sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s getting easier but it’s gets way better throughout the season, especially because you build up your stamina! I also got a great tan and got a lot skinnier! 🥰
Huge congratulations to you for your well deserved Zingali Awards!
Vestbi thank you so much!
@@VestbiYT For REAL. Boston Crusaders have been AMAZING the last couple of years!
I recommend phantom regiment’s 2011 performances “Juliet.” It tell them story of Romeo and Juliet and it is absolutely amazing.
Definitely Watch some WGI shows (the indoor percussion only version of DCI). Some recommendations would be Pulse 2020, Pulse 2017, MCM 2011, Rhythm X 2009, RCC 2018, and pulse 2010 just to name a few.
The 2011 blue devils show "The beat my heart skipped" is one of my all time favorites. Definitely reccomend checking it out.
Recommended DCI Show “Cadets 2011” Angels and Demons
The beat my heart skipped is soooooo good
Absolutely love that someone introduced you and you’ve become a fan!
I marched Bluecoats 2008-2010. And I can reiterate what other people said about the amount of work it takes. From the horns and percussion learning to play their instruments and then on top of that learning very difficulty drill (where they are on the field and how to get there for every formation), to the guys and girls in the colorguard learning to dance and spin multiple pieces of equipment and still also do drill.
It takes literally thousands of hours of work to put just one show on the field. And that is when everyone is already at the top of their skill in their area. But that feeling of being in front of that crowd makes every single one of those insanely long days worth it.
In 2008 I was a senior in high school, and was a drum major in my high school marching band. We went to Rockford IL for drum major camp that year. We got to march with the Phantom Regiment and even got to learn the first part of the drill (when they are using their horns like swords) it was so much fun and that is a wonderful organization. So many good memories from that trip. Their drum majors were so friggin awesome and sweet and taught us so very much about how to be a leader and how to lead a great group (plus of course, how to conduct real good haha)
The 6 people that disliked this probably play a woodwind instrument
Either that or they play a synthesizer!
or they marched BD that year. Such a close margin of victory
This made me spit out my drink, HA HA HA!!!
Heeeey! lol.... I played clarinet, oboe and sax and have nothing but respect and love for all of these drum corps!
we called that firewood back in the day.. lol
After marching in DCI for 5 years, it warms my heart seeing you take the time to shed some light on our rather 'unknown' activity. Your first year is really a time of figuring out how to act, what to do, how to multi task, and focus on learning the groove of things all while discovering a lot about yourself as an individual. It takes self discipline to master the small habits and routines that separate the great from the average, and consciously aim to be the best at what you do. Any year after year 1 tends to be easier since you've learned how to drum corps, aside from perfecting the given show for that season. But it's definitely a great activity for those who are a little weird and those that enjoy challenging themselves in a way they probably haven't experienced before. Thank you again for the videos, I love seeing these reactions pop up on my feed. We look forward to seeing more!
I haven't seen Spartacus since I marched, I can not believe how amazing it is. The movement and marching and jazz running and how the story is told. Spartacus is now my favorite DCI show now that I can fully appreciate it.
This made me so happy. This is easily one of my favorite shows. I’m glad you got to experience this. Thank you.
I was introduced to DCI and Phantom Regiment in 1990 and had the pleasure of marching with them in ‘99 and watching you discover this is so heart warming.
Thank you so much!!!
This is soooo cool to see you get more enveloped into this world! I’ve marched one season of drum corps and was going to do another but with the Bluecoats this summer (next summer here we come). It’s an incredible amount of hard work and preparation before even beginning the summer. The actual summer is a whole animal in itself but it’s a life changing experience that gives you work ethic and dedication you didn’t know you had until you are required to push yourself to your limit and grow that limit higher. It’s all worth it for the family, performance energy, and much more.
I am a junior in high school currently and it’s my dream to march DCI eventually but as of now I’m in a incredible high school band (top 40 in the entire country) and it takes a ridiculous amount of dedication. Our summer camps are 12 hours per day for 3 weeks and it’s quite the struggle. We also do a TON of rehearsals during the seasons. The amount of work that goes into these performances is truly unrivaled by anything I have personally ever seen. I appreciate you getting our craft out into the mainstream and bestowing high praise upon these incredible young men and women
Wowww that’s incredible. Good on all y’all! It’s amazing what you do! 🙌🏼
What school ?
Jayden Doan I prefer not to specify for privacy’s sake
you in Texas?
Phantom plays with such power and emotion, truly amazing.
Back in the day I wanted to try out for Phantom after they came to our school for practice, but i played saxophone and DCI is mainly for brass and percussion.
My old middle school band teacher was an instructor for phantom regiment that year. I still remember him showing this to us when school started that year.
I remember watching this show when DCI and all the drum corps came to my high school in 2008! Phantom Regiment was the most memorable performance that year and I will never forget them!!! An incredible show!!! Thank you so much for reacting to this! I marched with the JSU Marching Southerners of Jacksonville, Alabama in 2008 and 2009. I was in the Colorguard. I marched in my high school’s Colorguard all four years before attending JSU! I have auditioned for a drum Corp or two but I did not make it. They gave me amazing memories and good friends. However the audition process was wonderful to experience and I have always loved JSU and all drum corps. 👏🏾👍🏾👍🏾👏🏾❤️
I am so appreciative of the fact that she doesnt interrupt the moment with obnoxious commentary. She leaves the brunt of what she has to say for the end so she can enjoy what's happening in the moment rather than speak over it. I also just love watching someone else appreciate the crazy amount of work put into this kind of show
Carolina Crown 2013. Carolina Crown 2013. To answer your question, yes. These performances are the result of hours and hours and hours of practice. Complete and total dedication. I marched with a Drum Corp called Star of Indiana in 1990. A typical day has rehearsal time from 8-Noon, 1:30 - 4:30, 6p - Midnight if there wasn't a show. On show days, we would practice from 8-Noon, 1:30-4:30 then a meal and getting ready for a show. On the bus after awards, wind down, and sleep for a few hours while they drive us to a new town in a new state. Arrive at a high school gym at around 3:30 in the morning, take your stuff inside, and sleep for about 3 more hours. Repeat above. You need to watch Carolina Crown 2013. If this show made you emotional, you'll love Carolina Crown 2013.
Literally the most iconic show in Drum Corps History! My marching instructor in high school actually marched that show and she is part of what inspired me to march drum corps this past summer at Pacific Crest. It takes hours of rehearsal to perfect a show, literally the entire summer. Before tour/competitions starts, corps will rehearse every day for at least a month from 9am to 10pm, and they continue cleaning and perfecting the show on the road throughout the 1.5 month competition season. It literally eats up your entire summer, which is probably why more people don't do it. It's also expensive, we don't get as much sponsorships as other professional league sports so we have to pay tour fees every summer. The people who march drum corps are high school and college students, and many they have career goals outside of music (e.g. I'm a neurosciece major). I had to choose between advancing my career and drum corps. A lot of people will choose internships or study abroad over a summer rehearsing in the heat with minimal sleep. But I definitely made the right choice marching. It's an experience unparalleled by any other.
In DCI, the ones conducting is called the drum major. In concert band or orchestra setting, he is the conductor.
I remember watching this. 3rd row on the left 20yd line. one of the best experiences of my life..
I haven’t seen this show in, geez, maybe ten or more years! So glad to have relived it through your channel. It’s truly one of the more memorable DCI shows ever!!
Phantom has always been my favorite Corps for so many reasons. Always so expressive, musically rich and incredible story telling. And they are perhaps one of the classiest on and off the field. I was in Band through College, but I never got to march DCI. If I did, it would have definitely been Phantom! Glad you got to see this amazing corps.
Really happy that you loved this show as it is one of my personal Top 10 all-time DCI shows. Phantom Regiment is has been known as "Drum Corps' Classical Music Identity" because, traditionally, their show's musical program every year is strictly from the Classical music repertoire. It was last season that they put in a rock song for the first time.Their brass section is one of the best sounding sections in the activity along with Carolina Crown, the Cadets, and Blue Devils. You can spend hours watching only Phantom shows.
Here's a list of years you could watch and post reaction videos to:
1989 (classic), 1991(sexy), 1993, 1996 (1st championship), 1997, 2000, 2003-2008 (on fire for six seasons), 2011, and 2012.
I marched in a drum corps called Pacific Crest in 2003 (check them out, too!), and we competed against Phantom Regiment a few times when they had tour stops in California that year, and later at World Championships. It was my first time seeing and hearing them in person in 2003, and the energy and emotion from that show was absolutely off the charts. I get teary-eyed whenever I watch or listen to the show. The show titled "Harmonic Journey" is another MUST-WATCH.Give us your thoughts on Phantom 2003 once you have seen it. Keep enjoying the videos!
I think I commented on this before. Your reaction at the end is one of my favorites! Phantom is my favorite corps. Thanks for your support of the performers. In marched drum corps in the mid 1970's. Phantom was great then too. So much hard work goes into doing this. Love❤ these videos.
Some of the reasons are due to funding, time commitment, cost, locations of the corps, and the fact not everyone hears about DCI until they're too old to do it. But cost tends to be the top reason for people not doing it even if theyve made it into one.
And all but one of the Corps are co-ed the one that's not, would be the Cavaliers which is the last all male corp left.
The guard has four main things Dance, Flag, Rifle and Saber which the latter two are considered Auxiliary or Weapon.
There was a movie about Spartacus which starred Kirk Douglas, and is about a Roman who started a slave rebellion around 200 BC. WOW! What a movie!!
As you can see from the opening scene, Drum Corps incorporates a LOT of acting!!
My brother was in the high school marching band, which would play in parades and at football games. He always told me how difficult it was to stay in a straight line. That's why DCI amazes me--they expand, shrink, do pinwheels, etc. at lightning speed!
Those without instruments, but various props--flags, etc., are the Color Guard. Both genders are in that, as well as the musical part. The percussion down in front is referred to as the pit.
If the cameras were a little closer, you'd be able to see that the sticks are actually fake rifles.
By the way, in case you've not yet been told, at the age of 21, these kids "age out". So, all the people are less than 21.
Rockford's not all that small--about 150,000 in the city itself, and around 200,000 in the metro area. It used to be #2 in size in the state, but we've dropped to #4 or 5, being beaten out by Chicago suburbs.
Reactions like this are why we do what we do! I marched four years of DCI, two of which were with Phantom Regiment. It certainly takes determination and a lot of hard work to make these shows happen, but the crowds reactions are what make it worth it!!
If you want more amazing shows I’d recommend 2011 Phantom Regiment, 2014 Blue Devils (the highest scoring show in DCI history), and 2015 or 2016 Carolina Crown!
Best DCI show ever!!! And the even more amazing thing is that ALL of these performers in DCI are between 14 - 22 years old. Just incredible!
I was there in 2008, I marched with Pacific Crest and We got the chance to watch the finals in the 50 yard line seats and this is one of the greatest memories of my life, Every time I listen to phantom 2008 It brings me back and makes me cry of the same joy I felt watching this live! Greatest show ever!
Marched corps for 8 years and aged out with Bluecoats in 2013. I've had the privilege to then teach with a group I marched with for the last 7 years. The amount of work and dedication that students and staff put into these programs is incredible. Thank you for covering this small niche of an activity because it is hands down the most rewarding experience for any young musician to ever experience. These top tier groups start auditions in November and meet once a month for a weekend leading up to May. Then these groups "Move-in" to a single location and rehearse for about 14 hours a day for a month in a high intensity and fast paced schedule to put these shows together. Middle of June to the end first or second week of August, these groups travel across the country sleeping on coach buses and gym floors and rehearsing or performing. I owe so much of my life to this activity for the friendships and opportunities it has given me. From my own personal experience, I also felt like I got the visual (marching, dance and formations) down faster than I was a musician. I worked harder at playing because it was a weakness and you just build from there. The person on the podium conducting the corps at the end is usually called a Drum Major or a Conductor. Please keep covering these videos because it's so great to see the enjoyment that this art can bring to people. The members that were preparing to compete for the 2020 season won't get to experience the joys of bringing a crowd to their feet, but they can at least have something to look forward to by seeing the reactions you have to them. Keep it up!
SCVG Babylon 2018, best show I've seen in years.
Josh Salmons not as good as 2019 and also 2013 and 2014. 2019 was more interesting than 2018.
Travis Cyprien 2019 looked like kindergarten finger painting where too much paint was mashed together and the result was a grey brown mess.
2018 SCV made me want to march again and I’ve been aged out since 2014 rofl
Eh Ess sorry you must have forgotten that Corps reach it’s highest note for a Soloist in 2019 surpassing 2018! And let’s put it this way most of the corps look like Kindergarteners with them WGI Uniforms! Get back to what Drum and Bugle Corps use to be like! Marching Uniforms!!! Not! WGI Uniforms! If I wanted to see WGI I would go see it in the winter! That’s what Today’s Corps want! WGI Uniforms! All first started with BlueCoats and the rest of the corps followed! Bring back the Shakos, Plumes, Marching Jackets, and Marching Bibbers. That’s real Drum and Bugle Corps!
Travis Cyprien IDGAF about who hit what high note.
I want to not feel embarrassed by an activity I used to love.
Honestly in my opinion the hardest part about drum corps isn't the musical or physical challenges that come with performing, because that's what we expect and what we see when attending the shows. What we see in the awesome performances is the entire reason people march drum corps. The hardest part though is what we don't see, the 12 hour rehearsal days in the blazing sun, only to then go get on a coach bus and travel for hours on end, followed by a few short hours of sleeping on a gym floor, to then wake up and do it all again the next day. Members put up with all this for 3 months so that at the end of the season, they get their 15 minutes of fame (literally 15 minutes) at the Drum Corps International finals. For reference I marched 3 years of drum corps in a circuit that is smaller than Drum Corps International, but provides similar experiences nonetheless. This summer would have been my first tour with Drum Corps International, however our current situation in the US has unfortunately prevented the tour from happening. (PS the arm flappers are called Drum Majors)
I marched for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps 2015-2016! They are based in Tempe, Arizona. Drum Corps across the country hold auditions camps around November and December for a weekend. By January you have most of the Corps intact as well as callback auditions. Then once a month you have Training camps for a weekend until May. Then you move in with the Corps for Spring training where most of the work really happens. Then the fun part! You go on Tour across the country performing your show! It all ends at DCI Finals in Indianapolis.
I was actually happier that you made final in 16 than I would've been had BD gotten that 3-peat...and I'm a BD alum!
Drum Corpse Bride was a perfect show, and I have not seen the kind of crowd love you guys got just entering the stadium for retreat that night in over 3 decades in the activity!
I love watching you watch this show, it's one of my favorites!! I aged out this year from Dutch Boy, being in the audience was amazing. I still get goosebumps watching it.
This show is the reason I marched Drum Corps. Just incredible. So glad there is someone out there who didn’t march reacting to these shows. It’s so refreshing!
One thing that I want to note about the older shows is that electronics were still kind of new to DCI, and the things that they could do with electronics were limited by certain rules. The rules have changed a lot since amplification was introduced in 2004. In 2008, only the front ensemble is amplified, and all sound effects are made physically by performers in the front. Nowadays, brass is allowed to be amplified (even whole sections with wireless mics on the field for certain parts of the show), brass soloists can use mics (they could not use mics in 2008), and prerecorded and electronic sound effects are now allowed and a lot more widespread.
You should watch drum judge tapes. They are so fun to listen to and are super interesting.
Chills at your reaction. The same thing I felt in Bloomington that night. I had signed on to help the Cadets all season, with their merchandise, and every show that Regiment was at, I watched their show from beginning to end. By the time they hit mid-season, with the changes they made to the second half of the show, I could tell they were going to win. The show itself was so dramatic, so musical, so full of life... Brings a tear to my eye, really. Love this show.
I saw the original version on this in the early 80s and they actually handed out programs as if you were coming to a theater show.
This is still my absolute favorite show of all time!
As someone who has marched in the past your reactions to these performances bring me so much joy!
I do color guard (the flag people) and one of my teachers is in this performance! I love love love this show and I am so glad that you are doing these videos!!
Also, fun fact: rumors say that at this specific performance, when the king dude killed that love interest girl and threw her in the ground, he threw her so hard that she very briefly blacked out!
Yes!! You finally reacted to this!! One of my favorite shows and my favorite closer!!
The performers with the "sticks" are the color guard it has men and women. They usually use flags, sabers, and rifles. All really hard things to do coordinated and choreographed. Fun fact, DCI is all brass instruments for winds, so no clarinets, oboes, flutes, saxophones, ect. It's also all a competition, so they're all graded and ranked. Favorite shows are this one, 1989 Santa Clara Vanguard Phantom of the Opera, 2013 Santa Clara Les Miserables, and bonus is the ending of Phantom's 2007 On Air.
2011 Blue Devils “The Beat My Heart Skipped”
2015 Carolina Crown “Inferno”
2018 Santa Clara Vanguard “Babylon”
2012 Carolina Crown “For the Common Good”
1996 Phantom Regiment “A Defiant Heart”
1999 Santa Clara Vanguard “Inventions for a New Millenium”
2018 Boston Crusaders “S.O.S”
The beat my heart skipped is amazing
Marching in this drum corps knowing this iconic show is in our history gave us HUGE shoes to fill. I marched this group for three years 2017-2019 and got to be captain of the color guard my final year. It was the best three years of my life, and I met my soul mate. This activity is responsible for more than just physical growth, but personal growth and strength. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. If more Phantom Phamily are reading this: SUTA! Much love. Thanks for this video, Courtney.
Been a drum corps fan for decades. I would have loved being in one in my younger years. I know the feeling of putting on a great show just being in high school band competions. It's just a thrill you cant explain. Now I want to watch this show in full screen.
I marched 2 years of drum corps, such an experience I will remember the rest of my life
All the hard work pays off during shows and fans like you that react to the performances
Keep up the great content
Watching these with you is like seeing them for the first time all over again. Thanks!
BABYLON 2018
Batman is My Dad PLEASE
PLEASE WATCH SCV 2018 Babylon!!!
Two JD Shaw shows...
this
I was there that night. Row 20 on the 45 yard line right behind the Phantom mom with the yellow poster. You’ll see it during the preshow and finale. It was possibly the greatest night I’d drum corps I’ve experienced in my 30 years of drum corps.
I was 18 I saw this show live! I was there that night! I haven’t watched this in years. It’s bringing back so many memories! I love your genuine reactions. 💕💕💕💕💕
I was fortunate enough to be there the night that was recorded. It was my rookie year in DCI(Bass3 RevolutionDBC) . I was able to find a spot near the press box on the 50 yard line. Such a great moment for the sport.
I never got to DCI level but I did marching band in high school and college. It takes so much time, hard work, and dedication. At my college, we would learn 3 shows for one season. Watching these shows makes me miss being able to perform. This show is my absolute favorite that I've seen.
I marched in 08 with another drum corps competing against Phantom Regiment. Early in the season there was something about this drum corps. The way they carried themselves. Like their show characters, they were out for blood. I am so happy Regiment won in 08. The entire community was waiting for it and you can just tell by the crowd. I am so thankful that I got to see this show live 20 or so times. Also, this was the last year that DCI championships were outside and not in an air conditioned dome. 08 was one of the greatest years of my youth. :)
Courtney, your reaction for the last minute or so of the show was absolutely priceless! Love it
hi! i marched DCI for five years, from 03-07 (memphis sound 03, magic of orlando 04, and bluecoats 05-07), playing the mellophone, the solo instrument you liked in the adagio from spartacus (ballad). i was a woodwind player but learned a brass instrument so i could participate in this. (i do still play mello, it's a super underrated instrument, haha) when i first learned about this activity, phantom regiment was my favorite corps. their 1995 show was the first one i ever saw/heard.
those were some good questions you asked.....muscle memory is a big big part of it, for sure. you spend the whole summer, practically all day every day (other than when you're sleeping, traveling, competing) working to perfect just that 12-minute show, so the focus and consistency are definitely there. as the weeks go on and on, you get in better and better cardio shape, and your parts get more and more familiar. in rehearsals, you're gradually going over the parts of your show that are the weakest, improving through conscious repetition, your body adapts to the challenges to the show, and the pacing of it, so you can kind of budget how much energy you're expending so that you have enough for key moments when you need more. it's a consistent journey to both be improving your own performance of the show (self-critiquing after shows, making good use of comments from instructors), and achieving uniformity with the people around you, musically and visually. by the end of the season, you're still tired after your show, but it's a level of tiredness your mind and body are used to. (drum corps is good for teaching members lifelong mind-over-body kind of lessons.)
i heard the stats on it somewhere once, for every ten second chunk of the show, there's like 20 hours or rehearsal, or something crazy like that, haha. some university scientist tested a drummer and found that his cardio-vascular rates and metabolic levels were on par with olympic triathletes. as the season goes on, you're repeatedly unearthing levels of cleanliness that you eventually surpass en route to near-perfection.....if your corps is improving daily, your impression of what sounds or looks good on july 1st is nowhere near as clean as august 1st is. perpetual refinement is the goal, though enjoying the ride is essential :)
i totally agree with you, i feel like this should be a bigger deal than it is! a few people i've shown it to, have really taken to it, but so many don't find it as mesmerizing and amazing as i do. i don't know if drum corps is dying out, but it's a little stagnant, growth-wise. it was on espn2 when i was marching, and pbs before (public tv in the us), but now it's not televised, though it is streamed in maybe like 500-1000 movie theaters around the country (in a live broadcast called 'big loud and live'), once at the beginning of the season in mid-june, and once on finals week (mid-august). i'd definitely love to see it make its way more into the mainstream too, i think a lot of people would appreciate it if they knew. i still watch shows for fun all the time, and why not? haha. it's human music visualizer ensembles. it's music-sports. thanks for your help spreading the word! those people on the podium are called conductors by the way. in drum corps and marching bands, the conductors/member-leaders are called drum majors. i've watched this (amazing) show plenty of times but your reaction vid helped me appreciate all the awesomeness of the percussion feature/battle scene.
- jared
the crowds reaction is what makes this show all the better.
I love to see someone watch Drum Corps for the first time. There are so many corps that have shows that will blow your mind. Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Devils, Madison Scouts, The Cavaliers, Star of Indiana. The list goes on and on. Just about every corps has a show that will literally blow you away.
Yesss!! I have watched a few now and I can honestly say that I am never, ever disappointed by these shows. Simply AMAZING!!
@Courtney, the young men and women that do this practice between 12-14 hours a day from mid-may though finals early August. The auditions start around Thanksgiving and they meet once a month until may for a weekend at a time. Then from mid-may on they are all together and do nothing but eat, sleep and practice, and sometimes perform :p
Hi Courtney so I haven't done drum corp yet but I've done high school marching band ever since my freshman year and I can tell you that it's lots of hard work from back to back days of constantly working on the music and perfecting our drill which is what we follow to know where to go on the field. But to remember where to go and what to play it's all mental.
What a great reaction! When I first came across your 2017 Devils reaction a week or so ago I instantly hoped you would one day do 2008 Regiment, I did not have to wait long. There are still so many other shows for you to discover, enjoy the ride.
I've only marched one season of drum corps but I can answer your questions to the beat of my ability and provide some more background. To do drum corps, you have to first audition for a corps which happens in November and December before the camps start in January for brass and percussion and March for the color guard. After your first audition you'll either be told that you didn't make it, you got a call back, or you are offered a contract. Depending on what corps you audition for the level of competition varies, lower scoring corps are easier to make and may not cut anyone meanwhile top 12 corps are very competitive. I marched Jersey Surf, a lower scoring corps, and got offered a contract without needing a call back and the stress level was not as high as when I auditioned for Mandarins, a top 12 corps, this year and got offered a call back. Sadly, though, the 2020 drum corps season got cancelled due to COVID-19 so I wasn't able to go to that call back. With the difficulty of learning the work and remembering everything, that once again depends on where you march, with everything being typically a little more difficult the better ranking the corps is. For me, it takes a bit of time for me to learn choreography and remember everything, but once I got it I'm all good. Most corps move in mid to late May (for Jersey Surf we move in early June, however) for what is known as spring training, an about a month long training process in which you learn your show and get ready for a summer of touring the United States and performing your show usually three or more times a week. This is when a lot of the work happens, you are to learn most, if not all, of the show during that time because when you are on the road there is not much time to teach the show. After spring training you get on a bus and hit the road for the rest of the summer sleeping on the bus and in gyms in random schools throughout the country, this is tour. During tour practices most of you time is spent on cleaning the show and not so much at learning it, however sometimes shows change a bit and you need to learn something completely new. Drum corps is very hard and is actual hell a lot of the time, but overall performing is so much fun and makes up for all the pain you endure. I'd love to answer any other questions if you reply to this comment, there's a lot to talk about and a lot more details so if you have any questions feel free to ask. I hope this helps with at least a bit of background on what happens when marching drum corps.
14:23 . As an avid DCI and Phantom Regiment "Phan" for over 25 years, this reaction says it all. The fact that you have this reaction 12 years after this took place says a lot about the performance on the field. Courtney, welcome to the DCI addiction. While these performances are fun to watch, I hope you have a chance to make it to a show live one summer. It's an even more incredible experience in person! Thanks for all the reactions.
This show was in 2008. In 2011 I started high school, and my band director had played in this show. He introduced me to dci, what a killer intro.