Modern Drum Corps

A drum and bugle corps is a musical performing group that typically consists of brass and percussion instruments as well as a color guard. Most drum corps are independently operated non-profit groups. Many of the larger, modern drum corps compete in competitions sanctioned by a series of circuit-approved judges. These judges assess both the musical performance and the visual effect of the movement of the drum corps members. Most modern drum corps are primarily focused on achieving levels of performance that demonstrate artistic excellence.

Modern corps compete with each other at events known as “tour stops” – competitions that are a regular part of the summer tour. These competitions may be either events that Drum Corps International produces (called “Premier Events”) or, as is more common, events sanctioned by DCI through a national network of Tour Event Partners.

During the summer, most modern drum corps also march in parades and other standstill performances to gain additional exposure, supplement their budget with performance fees and get a break from rehearsals. Many of these parades feature corps in uniform and a show on the field, with crowds numbering in the thousands or more.

While some of these events are competitive in nature, most are not. The majority of DCI Tour Events and some DCA events, however, are competitive in nature. During these contests, judges evaluate the performance of each competing corps according to a set of established criteria. The winning corps is awarded a prize, and the scores from all competing corps are compiled into a final ranking.

A significant portion of the operating costs for a modern drum corps is incurred in the preparation and travel expenses to competitions. The most common way to offset these expenses is through sponsorships from private individuals, companies and organizations. Most modern corps also have a small endowment fund that is used for major repairs or other large expenses.

Until the early 1970s, most older, traditional corps were sponsored by veterans’ groups or churches and operated under rules set by these organizations. These rules often impeded the ability of the corps to make their own decisions about what was artistically acceptable and not acceptable on the field, and they led to tension between some staffs and directors and the competition-rules committees of the veterans’ groups that ran the state and national championship events.

The advent of new leadership, increased national transportation trends and the introduction of new on-field innovations in both costume design and instrumentation helped drive many of these traditional groups to change to a more contemporary form of the activity. Ultimately, this shift to the modern drum and bugle corps form ended the Classic competitive era of the activity.

Modern drum and bugle corps are largely divided into two classes of participation – World Class and Open Class. World Class corps are generally staffed by more experienced students and achieve higher levels of performance than Open Class corps. However, about 20 percent of students who participate in an Open Class corps eventually move to a World Class corps.