Thanks for visiting, Shawn! Sungazer's music will forever be an iconic part of our 2024 production. It was awesome to have you with the corps to talk about your own experience & hang out with our members 💙
I ACTUALLY CANT BELIEVE THATS WHAT IT WAS I watched the show and thought that part was so familiar and sounded like sungazer but I was like nahhh no way it is
Great point! I have a related question someone will know the answer to: Where does all the ticket money go, bc tickets to shows are quite expensive. I know that dues help pay corps pay for inductors, transportation, food/ food trucks, instruments uniforms, and on and on and on. Surely the venue doesn't get all revenue from ticket sales. One last thing: I think it had something to do with copyright issues, but I remember as a kid being so excited to be able to watch drum corps on TV (on or the day after Thanksgiving I think). The experience to attend a show or even stream a night of competition is out of range for many talented young musicians. Having it on TV Drum Corps more people were aware of back then only bc it aired on TV. Thx in advance to those who will reply with some answers.
@@chadnga8 The venue/host does not get all of the money. A good percentage goes to each corps performing in a show on a given night. Some of the money goes to DCI, but after the season is over DCI also sends money to each of the corps based on a "formula" that considers the corps longevity and success...like being the WORLD CHAMPION 🙂
One of the kids made a comment that may have gotten skipped over. He said he saved up to do drum corps. Just know, each member pays thousands of dollars in dues to play with a corps for a season. The kids ARE NOT getting paid to perform. They each pay for the privilege to be out there, work that hard, and make something incredible happen.
@@NickHoadit’s not a great system but unfortunately the cost to run a corps is incredibly high. You have to feed 160 people everyday, bus all over the country while getting uniforms props instruments and equipment to and from each show site. Finding housing each night and pay the staff. And then you have to split ticket revenue with all the other corps and pay for the venue. I feel that people think that DCI makes money but in reality they’ll be lucky just to break even each year even with everyone paying tuition to March
@@NickHoad When you consider what the members get over the course of the summer...it's probably a better deal than the cost of college (tuition, food, board, books, etc) What an education they receive!!!
You're the first youtuber I've seen discuss the speed of sound when talking about Drum Corps!! It's SO IMPORTANT!! I'm center marimba in my corps and the hardest part about what I do isn't playing the music, it's interpreting the time when the drums are on one side of the field, the horns are on the other, and what I'm seeing doesn't align with what I'm hearing.
Yep there is a reason there are drum majors on that back line of the field, and as we see in certain programs, even move to the endzone line.. to be int he right place for a mass of marchers to see the coordinated hands.
Yup. Phasing is the enemy, and I can relate as someone who was front ensemble for two years. It’s hard to explain the listen-back concept to people who haven’t marched
And by marched I mean literally marched or played front ensemble, I fully count them as “having marched”, the work front ensemble puts sometimes in gets overlooked but we all know how hard it actually is
Thankyou so SO much for showing DCI in a such a beautiful light. This was a great representation of the activity to the outside world. My participation in this changed my life and more kids/people should know about it! -a proud Bloo alum 14’-17’
@@champagne213truly one of the absolute goats of our activity. All those old exercises can still find a place with many corps and countless high schools
@@-NGC-6302-Pretty sure there's also at least one other upload on this platform done with a Nintendo device that was uploaded in 2024. Edit: It's an SCV 2024 lot video recorded with a 3DS XL. The most ridiculous thing about it is that it makes it sound like early-2000s-to-'10s DCI lot videos. Bottom bass goes "thoomp", bass unisons go *"fwumb",* and the mic gets overloaded frequently by dB levels when it's full battery parts. 😂 But SCV was still squeaky-clean through that. It is the weirdest auditory experience possible when it has the cleanliness of current lines but with audio quality from the "ehh, close enough" era. But, I can _definitely_ see why Vanguard won drums this season from that video alone.
@-NGC-6302- DOZENS of people record with 3DS' now I've been seeing at least two people in every lot I've been in since around 2021 with a 3DS. Its a shame most people dont post it. Someone correct me if im wrong, but I recall the trend starting when a crown brass player used a 3DS for a headcam
@@ShawnCrowder by the rules they're allowed to go to the bottoms of the numbers! shout out that finals perc judge for using every inch of real estate to get a good read
9:22 it’s so interesting looking back as a FMM(admittedly as an open class marcher at SCVC). The paradox of not listening to my peers to keep time, and simultaneously having to be aware of stuff like trios and ensemble blend during the show so that stick outs do not occur. Again, not complaining because that’s the expectation and bloo especially fulfills it to the highest level.
YT is a real phenomenon. I would probably never know about this fascinating competition. And here I am, watching this video, really inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of young people for something worthwhile.
it really is something special. I’m in highschool marching band right now and its surreal how much i love this activity. I think I’ll be watching drum cores perform for the rest of my life
Shawn, I have been following your and Adam's channel for a long time, and I love what you both do for music, musicians, and music culture. As a European, I never understood the fascination and interest in Drum Corps. I had grossly mistaken them for a concentration of high school kids particularly gifted at playing drums. Thankfully, I now understood the humanity behind the curtain, the brotherhood, the friendship, the enthusiasm, and a lifetime of memories. Thank you so much. ❤
If you can ever afford a trip here to the US, id highly recommend coming to see a show in person. It's truly an otherworldly, unforgettable experience!
When people wonder what the US offers in terms of something culturally distinct, I always think of marching band. It’s big, it’s boisterous, it’s a 10-12 minute presentation of a variety of musical pieces and styles to tell a story. While it’s not from America, I think what it is today embodies the better elements of being American.
Seeing them in person is 50x better than on a screen. The first group I watched (Santa Clara Vanguard) the opening hit completely blew me away it was so loud.
As 1 of the "few" Europeans who's marched (DCI & WGI), I feel sad that most of my fellow Europeans will never experience the joy of a top-5 DCI brass section blowing the skin of your bones in Lucas Oil Stadium. It's something you will never ever hear or feel anywhere else. Going to DCI finals is something I tell everyone they should put on their bucket list.
@@tylera86Taking any chance of personal expression out of music and replacing it with weirdly militaristic competitiveness also strikes me as particularly American.
Wow. I’ve seen many different documentaries and video essays of this activity but none have been made with the same level of love and appreciation, nor have done as good a job at capturing the essence of the activity as this one. What really got me was some of the little details that are so essential to the experience. Changing the quad around to something more comfortable, that one snare player who is always inexplicably amazing at splitting things (there’s always one of ‘em), being asked “what is drum corps” and not being able to give a straight answer, because how could you? To the big things, that just aren’t ever covered by the news stations or papers. Stuff like the sound delay, or the lot. I seriously enjoyed this video, thank you for doing such an important part of my life justice.
It really gave a good impression of what highly competitive high school marching band was like. Oodles of differences, of course, but lots of commonality. The warm up lot, the long hot practices, the camaraderie, the joy of seeing it all come together. Health issues kept me from doing a full summer with a top corps, but the elements and feelings seem so much the same. I really appreciated the holistic picture this summary provides.
I love how he covered all the intricate and niche things like sound to light travel distance that no one talks about which is such a complex part of dci and marching overall
I did 6 seasons of drumline, 4 outdoor 2 indoor. Extremely rewarding, taught me more about listening and being in perfect time with myself than anything else. You will be the tightest player ever after drum corp
@@ejtaylor73 yeah but there are plenty of people who really want to be there and have the skill but still just can't make/get enough money to go, so imagine how much bigger and better dci could be if it was accessible to more people. maybe still not being paid a ton, just enough to sort of cover the time would be my take and that keeps the motivation pure, but anything towards at least not paying out the ass would be cool i'm sure there's a happy middle somewhere
Ironically, the marching members themselves have to pay around a minimum of 5000 US$ to be in one of those top corps.. Open Class is a bit more available for less financially endowed kids. That is why it is borderline criminal that the fan community doesnt push the brilliance of some of those Open Class Corps a lot more.. This year Spartans, BlueDevilsB, and Gold showed they could play with the big boys, and Battalion sneaking into semifinals on only its third trip to Indy managed to tie World Class Corps Jersey Surf - who despite being on the lower end of World Class standings, has been around a good long time.. COlumbians only barely missed out on Semis themselves. Multiple reactor channels and sites commented on the expected performance by those big 3 giants of Open Class, but also the brilliant shows and performances of Battalion and Columbians. I plan on searching out a way to send a thank you to Chick Corea for allowing the Battalion to use so much of his music this year.
@@FuncleChuck if thats the price of the 3 night package that seems valid.I paid 80 for my seat in semifinals. Concerts offer a much shorter experience at that price and often much higher.
As a proud DCI drum set vet (Cadets) and someone that now does more "traditional" musics (jazz, rock, whatever) it is always so fun to see people experience it for the first time. It is ESPECIALLY fun seeing someone of Shawn's caliber and hearing his thoughts on the activity (I know he is not new to drumline/DCI you get the point). We may all be drummers but the applications are so different they might as well be different instrument families and that is one of the best things about it.
Love it when my worlds collide. Saw Sungazer play w / Plini in Mpls. Been a drum corps member (1986-1990) and fan of drum corps ever since. Thank you for making this video and introducing a larger audience to this amazing musical activity. The deep dive on sound delay is something most musicians probably don't have to contend with and is probably the most difficult part of the activity to comprehend.
I was at that show as well. Incase you may have missed it, Sungazer, Plini, Zyteki Minneapolis was well documented and uploaded here on the channel. th-cam.com/video/pSxxZ5XAB8o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ruo3P193TxYmz0uj
Awesome video! Old school (1991) Bluecoats alumni here who was lucky enough to be able to participate in the 2022 alumni corps as well. It does make me so proud to see how far the organization has come and how much it has grown ... far beyond drum corps and into the wonderful educational programs they offer to all kinds of kids around the Canton, OH area. 6W
Thank you so much for bring this incredible activity into a more public light! We had a lot of fun teaching you the Crazy 8s variations. Definitely a highlight of my summer.
Shawn this was incredible. I actually marched with Matt Jordan and was at that Allentown show. This is one of the best behind the scenes of drum corps I think I've ever seen. Thank you.
Incredible video! Great job explaining what Drum Corps is, and you captured the energy of rehearsal really well. Even the finer details of a drum corps performance were so well laid out! Can't wait to show this to everyone who asks me what drum corps is.
I watched drum corps on PBS as a child. I loved it! And it inspired me to be a musician. I still love music and I have inspired a couple of my children to do the same. All because of DCI and some really patient and amazing teachers. If you ever get a chance to go to a show, you will be amazed! It's a don't miss opportunity.
as a Sungazer fan and a Drum Corps fan, I can’t even describe my excitement when I heard Threshold in bloo’s show. my worlds collided. Thanks for sharing the beauty of drum corps!!
fantastic video. As a former Bluecoat (02-03, staff 07-08) and avowed Sungazer fan, I laughed out loud when I first heard Threshold in the show this year. Kudos to all!
Thank you so so much for coming out and making this incredible video for us to be able to look back on. It was an honor playing your music and an absolute pleasure meeting you!!
As a snare drummer that marched, it's great to see DCI get some recognition - it used to be broadcasted on ESPN! I remember hearing a segment of "Threshhold" being played by Infinity - must have been an interesting experience for you 😂. Love the video, man.
This is an amazing video! BK 05 was one of my favorite WGI shows growing up. “Get out of my head!” 😂 It inspired me to march, and I aged out of Bluecoats in 08. 🙌🏼
can't believe I was watching the bluecoats lot at allentown at the same time as you and didn't see you haha. thanks so much for making this, always love seeing more attention given to the marching arts
NO WAY SHAWN CROWDER DCI VIDEO!!!!!!! this is insane man i'm planning on marching next year and i've been following you and adam since i was like 13, went crazy when i saw threshold in bloo's show this year
I marched in a drum corps based in Enid, OK the summer of 1978 and played soprano bugle. It was an amazing experience. This really took me back to those memories. Thanks.
Can't image the feelings Shawn must have had to for his music to be part of such a fantastic performance put on by the Bluecoats in the DCI finals this year (been watching for decades truly one of the best I've ever seen)! Enjoy mostly for the musical element but the entire production was truly amazing work from all involved ( _especially the parents_ )! Shawn's mini-doc. here shows a small taste of the sacrifices these individuals put in to get it right. Those who work tirelessly behind the scene's putting together the choreography, band direction, costumes, props & sound deserve their share of the credit as well.
to see that Brass boss instructing/correcting the trumpets on the rippling effect of coming in, and then looking at that finals victorious performance (not vicotry run afterward) shows just how brilliant that entire corps was this year.
Thanks for this. Your music was wonderfully interpreted, imo. The members and staff of the Bluecoats should be very proud. I have been watching DCI since 1983 and this show was amazing. You absolutely deserved the win. Very well done!
Absolutely incredible summation of what drum corps is. You’ve somehow described it in a way that anyone can easily understand. The storytelling, editing, animations, subtitles…you nailed it. Well done 👏
THANK YOU SO MUCH for bringing more exposure to the drum corps activity! It warms my heart to have the biggest part of my life be seen by others, especially other musicians that I look up to. 😁❤
I, er, wouldn't call drum corps growing. Its the smallest its ever been. Even 20 years ago we use to have multiple shows in my metro area each year, now we're just down to one....every other year. The number of active corps is like half from 2000, and that is like half of what it was in 1970.
Thank you Shawn, as fan of Adam, yourself and this wonderful activity, it’s great for you to share your experience. Oh by the way, I got to you see and Plini last year in Salt Lake, fantastic show.
This video made me miss being apart of a competition marching band in High school. Being at the school hours before school started and on the field practicing, staying after school for hours on the field practicing, traveling with the band to our compitions. I miss it all.
Was in marching band for two years. We had a martinet my sophomore year. Band was the only thing that mattered to him. Never praised us, even when we did a fantastic job. I left after my sophomore year and don't miss it at all.
I marched Colts like 30 years ago and I keep coming back for more. I absolutely love this activity, and there's nothing else in the world like it! I was at Finals and got to see the moment + the Encore...truly magical! Thanks for covering from your perspective!
I didn’t get to watch Bluecoats live this year (I was performing with the Madison Scouts!) but I did watch it when I got home a few days ago and I really enjoyed the show. It was particularly cool to see Sungazer and Son Lux music. I love seeing music I already love played in this setting. Also, I knew you did some drumline in the past but I didn’t know you marched BK indoor! Super cool.
i attended a dci showcase in my area a month ago and i was blown away when bluecoats started playing threshold. it sounded incredible. im glad that you (and hopefully adam) were able to experience it as well
One of my big regrets is never marching drum corp. Played quads in HS and college band but never quite committed enough to do drum corp. Still love going to our local performance every year. Congrats on having them not only select your song to perform, but also winning the whole thing with it!
Thank you for providing the visuals and progression of ideas to describe listening responsibilities! Will definitely be using that for my groups as a visual-aid.
Thanks for posting this. I marched the summer of 78 and 79 and it's amazing how much it's changed since way back then. Haven't seen a live show since 2005 but I've caught the DCI Championship prelims in the movie theater every year since they started doing that. I was disappointed this year that they have discontinued the movie experience and opted instead for a subscription service. All about the money I guess. Thanks again!!
Just...awesome... & thank you, Shawn! This show was next-level...Bluecoats really pushing the activity envelope -- so glad you gave us this unique look...we're eatin' it up! BLOO!!!
I thought there were IEMs for every musician or at least group leaders and soloists but they do this with no monitoring regardless of the horrid sound delays. That alone makes me appreciate this soooo much more. Like I knew it was impressive but holy crap that's skillful! These musicians have superhuman focus. Thanks for sharing this with us!
For IEMs to work for every musician you'd need every single instrument (like 200+ instruments) hooked up to a gigantic rig. Just random gear failures alone would make it impractical tbh.
Getting to see this show live was truly incredible. I remember hearing your guys' piece and I was so surprised! I took my dad to see Sungazer here in Nashville in 2022 and we really enjoyed it! So seeing your guys' music on the field is truly awesome, I can't imagine what it's like from your perspective. Such an incredible privilege!!
2005 was the last year for my 2 sons marched in DCI. The Blue Devils, The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard and Madison Scouts were the corps to watch. Those feelings never go away. Very Special and very Unique memories. Goosebumps.
0:46 “the greatest thing to have ever happened” I’m a freshman in high school and I did marching band last year… I play 1st trumpet in my second year of this and I march as well if not better than a few juniors in my school!! I’m extremely proud of myself and want to march for Carolina Crown one day…
Heyo! Auditions should be starting soon if not already happening, go for it. You’ll learn SO MUCH at an audition even if you don’t make it or can’t march this summer, it’s still worth it. Even more local corps to you will give you a great experience if travel is a problem. I marched in 2014-2017 and loved it even with my low scoring corps lol.
@@brendaj252 I’d love to but it costs, I won’t be able to really march until I’m a junior or senior, and we really don’t have money right now… but I would kill to march with a corp… which one were you in?
@@YoungQuist00 the camps aren’t tooo bad price wise, but I also know prices have only gone up since I was there 😅 Genesis 2014, and Jersey Surf 2015-2017. I’m also a cymbal player so I only had less than 10 world class corps to choose from 😢
dude this is SUCH a good video for learning more about DCI, my sisters friend was a trumpet soloist for phantom regiment '23 and he's one of the reasons why it's a big dream of mine to be in a world class corps (when i turn of age)
This is such an excellent video that gives a taste of what I’ve always wanted a proper DCI documentary to look like. I love that you labeled things you were talking about with text on screen, things like notating the bass split and visualizing the quad drum parts and speed of sound etc, this is the perfect video for musicians or just music-lovers to understand what drum corps really is
Such a great insight into this culture :-) I've played in a small Samba band for a few years here in the UK...really just for the fun of it although we did play some festivals and local events. I learned a bit about the traditional Samba schools in Brazil that all come out for the Rio Carnival, although these American drum corps certainly take it to the next level as not just a musical art form, but a competition. These drummers are clearly at the top of their game for under 21s. The visual side of the show is awesome too...can't imagine having to learn all those movements. Did some basic dance moves with my Samba band and that was hard enough. Adding in the pressure of accounting for the sound delay, being judged and being in front of a crowd of 1000s...takes a special kind of person to do that. One takeaway I've gotten from watching this is that I really need to learn traditional grip some time! All my teachers have said there's no point, it's not necessary as a modern drummer so why try to learn a harder technique. Yet of course they could all play traditional grip themselves!
My best friend that I've known for over a decade is on that tenor line, and I've had the pleasure of marching with others that have been in Bloo through the WGI percussion season. I missed my chance to march DCI with him, and while part of me regrets not taking the opportunity, I know that personally I'd fall apart in the rehearsal conditions, I don't handle the heat very well. The one time I went to WGI Orlando I was miserable the whole time, and it was February. Even though I'll have gone without ever doing DCI (for my own reasons) I will never forget what I did choose to do (and will be doing, I got 2 more seasons left, folks) in the indoor season.
You made the right call taking a pass. Drum corps is a difficult and demanding, as well as fun and rewarding, experience. I wouldn't want to talk anyone out of participating, but the reality is the conditions are challenging. Practices and shows take place outdoors in high heat and humidity. Bravo for understanding yourself enough to know such conditions are just not for you.
@@kvdeininger I truly love the marching arts and enjoy the process from beginning to end, even including moments where a staff member reps you through the same 3 measures for an hour an a half because it's a very exposed and important moment that has to be perfect every time. I know that I would have been ablet o push through it and get to tour season, but I'm also self aware enough to know that while I could have endured, I would have been utterly miserable and sometimes we just have to step back and say no to something to protect our ability to wholly enjoy something.
It’s really our greatest medium for exposing youth and the general public to a wide variety music. IMO it’s one of the best things we have to offer as a country.
@@tylera86 it definitely makes me proud to be an american. I'm lucky that even though dci is nonexistent in my state, the beauty can be right in front of me after a short flight. and i plan to audition this year
@@tylera86 Unnecessarily fast marimba runs, unnecessarily complicated machine-gun drumming and unnecessarily loud brass. Such a wide variety of music.
One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen/heard was the Battle of the Bands in St Louis MO. We were walking through the city and heard drums. I believe they were college students. It was the drum lines doing some type of competition. It was awesome! I was so close I could feel it vibrating in my chest. Love a drum line.
@Shawn Crowder, thank you sir, for this amazing essay. I'm from over here in SLC metro, so as a BK alum you'll know that BK was responsible for intorducing DCI to Utah around the 10th anniversary of DCI, creating "Corps Encore". TOok a long time for us to get our own corps (2014) but now they have rocketed up to the top tier of OC, and the massive HS Band seen here allows for a huge talent pool. Best of luck with Sungazer!
Thank you for making such a cool video about this wonderful activity! As a synth player I’m especially happy that you shed some light on the vital role electronics play in modern drum corps productions!
Thanks for visiting, Shawn! Sungazer's music will forever be an iconic part of our 2024 production. It was awesome to have you with the corps to talk about your own experience & hang out with our members 💙
BLOOOOOOO
You guys should send him a ring!
I ACTUALLY CANT BELIEVE THATS WHAT IT WAS
I watched the show and thought that part was so familiar and sounded like sungazer but I was like nahhh no way it is
Great point! I have a related question someone will know the answer to: Where does all the ticket money go, bc tickets to shows are quite expensive. I know that dues help pay corps pay for inductors, transportation, food/ food trucks, instruments uniforms, and on and on and on. Surely the venue doesn't get all revenue from ticket sales.
One last thing: I think it had something to do with copyright issues, but I remember as a kid being so excited to be able to watch drum corps on TV (on or the day after Thanksgiving I think). The experience to attend a show or even stream a night of competition is out of range for many talented young musicians. Having it on TV Drum Corps more people were aware of back then only bc it aired on TV.
Thx in advance to those who will reply with some answers.
@@chadnga8 The venue/host does not get all of the money. A good percentage goes to each corps performing in a show on a given night. Some of the money goes to DCI, but after the season is over DCI also sends money to each of the corps based on a "formula" that considers the corps longevity and success...like being the WORLD CHAMPION 🙂
I love seeing DCI appear on non drum corps channels! I just finished my rookout season this summer!
Nice where’d you March?
drum go boom you could say
@@SS2Balls vessel
94 Colts Rookout here. #rookoutmafia
@@Rocamurderface187 What a tease that would be. I did 5 years at Blue Stars and still wish I had found out about it earlier.
One of the kids made a comment that may have gotten skipped over. He said he saved up to do drum corps. Just know, each member pays thousands of dollars in dues to play with a corps for a season. The kids ARE NOT getting paid to perform. They each pay for the privilege to be out there, work that hard, and make something incredible happen.
That doesn’t sound like a good thing
@@NickHoad Yeah it's not
@@NickHoadit’s not a great system but unfortunately the cost to run a corps is incredibly high. You have to feed 160 people everyday, bus all over the country while getting uniforms props instruments and equipment to and from each show site. Finding housing each night and pay the staff. And then you have to split ticket revenue with all the other corps and pay for the venue.
I feel that people think that DCI makes money but in reality they’ll be lucky just to break even each year even with everyone paying tuition to March
World class corps costed on average $5,500 to march this season, often excluding flights to Indianapolis for the corps that did not travel by bus.
@@NickHoad When you consider what the members get over the course of the summer...it's probably a better deal than the cost of college (tuition, food, board, books, etc) What an education they receive!!!
You're the first youtuber I've seen discuss the speed of sound when talking about Drum Corps!! It's SO IMPORTANT!! I'm center marimba in my corps and the hardest part about what I do isn't playing the music, it's interpreting the time when the drums are on one side of the field, the horns are on the other, and what I'm seeing doesn't align with what I'm hearing.
What corps do u perform with?
Yep there is a reason there are drum majors on that back line of the field, and as we see in certain programs, even move to the endzone line.. to be int he right place for a mass of marchers to see the coordinated hands.
@@Trumpet_Tunes07 White Sabers
Yup. Phasing is the enemy, and I can relate as someone who was front ensemble for two years. It’s hard to explain the listen-back concept to people who haven’t marched
And by marched I mean literally marched or played front ensemble, I fully count them as “having marched”, the work front ensemble puts sometimes in gets overlooked but we all know how hard it actually is
Thankyou so SO much for showing DCI in a such a beautiful light. This was a great representation of the activity to the outside world. My participation in this changed my life and more kids/people should know about it!
-a proud Bloo alum 14’-17’
So you did Tilt? That’s awesome, that one’s my favorite dci show.
What a great set of years to march :)
bro fr marched the BLOO ERA
“You guys know Cheesy Poofs?” is a very real moment.
We also played Spanks and Flammus :)
SCV is a absolutely legendary corps
Best part of meeting other drummers at competitions or camps. "I don't know your name, but lets play Ditty!"
@@justableachfan845 You mean Murray Gusseck is a legendary writer! He wrote all three!
@@champagne213truly one of the absolute goats of our activity. All those old exercises can still find a place with many corps and countless high schools
12:53 the guy recording on his nintendo 3ds is SO REAL
I particularly stopped the video just to find this comment, its beautiful that they still work lmfao
Possibly the only 3D DCI footage in existence
@@-NGC-6302-Pretty sure there's also at least one other upload on this platform done with a Nintendo device that was uploaded in 2024.
Edit:
It's an SCV 2024 lot video recorded with a 3DS XL.
The most ridiculous thing about it is that it makes it sound like early-2000s-to-'10s DCI lot videos.
Bottom bass goes "thoomp", bass unisons go *"fwumb",* and the mic gets overloaded frequently by dB levels when it's full battery parts. 😂
But SCV was still squeaky-clean through that.
It is the weirdest auditory experience possible when it has the cleanliness of current lines but with audio quality from the "ehh, close enough" era. But, I can _definitely_ see why Vanguard won drums this season from that video alone.
@-NGC-6302- DOZENS of people record with 3DS' now
I've been seeing at least two people in every lot I've been in since around 2021 with a 3DS. Its a shame most people dont post it. Someone correct me if im wrong, but I recall the trend starting when a crown brass player used a 3DS for a headcam
@@-NGC-6302-I’m pretty sure there is a Carolina Crown baritone headcam recorded on a 3ds…
"There's actually judges running around the field" Ah, the good old days 🥲
I wish 😢
Just learning about this :( Back in my day...
@@ShawnCrowder by the rules they're allowed to go to the bottoms of the numbers! shout out that finals perc judge for using every inch of real estate to get a good read
@@Daniel_Harrison mike leitzke is the man
Extra points if you happen to run into them unexpectedly LOL oh how I miss them days!!! 😂😂😂
9:25 everyone saying "insert name here" is a really cool part of drum corps brain where everyone just turns off their brain and becomes one unit lol
Imagine being such a yank that you think this is a cool thing instead of supremely odd.
It's that band kid (corps kid?) mentality
9:22 it’s so interesting looking back as a FMM(admittedly as an open class marcher at SCVC). The paradox of not listening to my peers to keep time, and simultaneously having to be aware of stuff like trios and ensemble blend during the show so that stick outs do not occur. Again, not complaining because that’s the expectation and bloo especially fulfills it to the highest level.
This! ❤
YT is a real phenomenon. I would probably never know about this fascinating competition. And here I am, watching this video, really inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of young people for something worthwhile.
it really is something special. I’m in highschool marching band right now and its surreal how much i love this activity. I think I’ll be watching drum cores perform for the rest of my life
As a former band kid, I knew about them. Sadly, I didn't learn of them in time to join one of the DCI teams.
Shawn, I have been following your and Adam's channel for a long time, and I love what you both do for music, musicians, and music culture. As a European, I never understood the fascination and interest in Drum Corps. I had grossly mistaken them for a concentration of high school kids particularly gifted at playing drums. Thankfully, I now understood the humanity behind the curtain, the brotherhood, the friendship, the enthusiasm, and a lifetime of memories. Thank you so much. ❤
If you can ever afford a trip here to the US, id highly recommend coming to see a show in person. It's truly an otherworldly, unforgettable experience!
When people wonder what the US offers in terms of something culturally distinct, I always think of marching band. It’s big, it’s boisterous, it’s a 10-12 minute presentation of a variety of musical pieces and styles to tell a story. While it’s not from America, I think what it is today embodies the better elements of being American.
Seeing them in person is 50x better than on a screen. The first group I watched (Santa Clara Vanguard) the opening hit completely blew me away it was so loud.
As 1 of the "few" Europeans who's marched (DCI & WGI), I feel sad that most of my fellow Europeans will never experience the joy of a top-5 DCI brass section blowing the skin of your bones in Lucas Oil Stadium. It's something you will never ever hear or feel anywhere else. Going to DCI finals is something I tell everyone they should put on their bucket list.
@@tylera86Taking any chance of personal expression out of music and replacing it with weirdly militaristic competitiveness also strikes me as particularly American.
Wow. I’ve seen many different documentaries and video essays of this activity but none have been made with the same level of love and appreciation, nor have done as good a job at capturing the essence of the activity as this one.
What really got me was some of the little details that are so essential to the experience. Changing the quad around to something more comfortable, that one snare player who is always inexplicably amazing at splitting things (there’s always one of ‘em), being asked “what is drum corps” and not being able to give a straight answer, because how could you?
To the big things, that just aren’t ever covered by the news stations or papers. Stuff like the sound delay, or the lot.
I seriously enjoyed this video, thank you for doing such an important part of my life justice.
It really gave a good impression of what highly competitive high school marching band was like. Oodles of differences, of course, but lots of commonality.
The warm up lot, the long hot practices, the camaraderie, the joy of seeing it all come together.
Health issues kept me from doing a full summer with a top corps, but the elements and feelings seem so much the same. I really appreciated the holistic picture this summary provides.
Shout out to homeboy at 12:51 recording lot videos on a Nintendo DS
I WAS BOUTYA SAY
I love how he covered all the intricate and niche things like sound to light travel distance that no one talks about which is such a complex part of dci and marching overall
DUDE HAHAHA THATS ME AT 12:53 IN THE PINK HAT!!! It was great to meet you
Hi there Mackain
hi there @bejaminmerkel
your friend is so real for shooting the lot on a 3DS
@@freshfinn someone allegedly recorded a BAC lot on an ipod nano lol
@@SuperJolla84he was a Boston quad in 2022 and he’s been pulling up recording lots with that thing 😂😂
I did 6 seasons of drumline, 4 outdoor 2 indoor. Extremely rewarding, taught me more about listening and being in perfect time with myself than anything else. You will be the tightest player ever after drum corp
it’s a shame there’s no money in marching band. these people deserve to get paid, not to pay hundreds or thousands just to do this
If they are paying to be there, you know they want to be there and are going to give everything they have.
@@ejtaylor73 yeah but there are plenty of people who really want to be there and have the skill but still just can't make/get enough money to go, so imagine how much bigger and better dci could be if it was accessible to more people. maybe still not being paid a ton, just enough to sort of cover the time would be my take and that keeps the motivation pure, but anything towards at least not paying out the ass would be cool i'm sure there's a happy middle somewhere
Ironically, the marching members themselves have to pay around a minimum of 5000 US$ to be in one of those top corps.. Open Class is a bit more available for less financially endowed kids. That is why it is borderline criminal that the fan community doesnt push the brilliance of some of those Open Class Corps a lot more.. This year Spartans, BlueDevilsB, and Gold showed they could play with the big boys, and Battalion sneaking into semifinals on only its third trip to Indy managed to tie World Class Corps Jersey Surf - who despite being on the lower end of World Class standings, has been around a good long time.. COlumbians only barely missed out on Semis themselves.
Multiple reactor channels and sites commented on the expected performance by those big 3 giants of Open Class, but also the brilliant shows and performances of Battalion and Columbians. I plan on searching out a way to send a thank you to Chick Corea for allowing the Battalion to use so much of his music this year.
With DCI Championship tickets going at $400 a pop, yeah. You’d think.
@@FuncleChuck if thats the price of the 3 night package that seems valid.I paid 80 for my seat in semifinals. Concerts offer a much shorter experience at that price and often much higher.
As a proud DCI drum set vet (Cadets) and someone that now does more "traditional" musics (jazz, rock, whatever) it is always so fun to see people experience it for the first time. It is ESPECIALLY fun seeing someone of Shawn's caliber and hearing his thoughts on the activity (I know he is not new to drumline/DCI you get the point). We may all be drummers but the applications are so different they might as well be different instrument families and that is one of the best things about it.
RIP Cadets. 😢
I was in drum corps back in the 70’s in California. Nothing equals it and the thrill never ends even as a spectator now at 65 years old!
Love it when my worlds collide. Saw Sungazer play w / Plini in Mpls. Been a drum corps member (1986-1990) and fan of drum corps ever since. Thank you for making this video and introducing a larger audience to this amazing musical activity.
The deep dive on sound delay is something most musicians probably don't have to contend with and is probably the most difficult part of the activity to comprehend.
I was at that show as well. Incase you may have missed it, Sungazer, Plini, Zyteki Minneapolis was well documented and uploaded here on the channel. th-cam.com/video/pSxxZ5XAB8o/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ruo3P193TxYmz0uj
my high school played plini for winter percussion my freshman year!
Awesome video! Old school (1991) Bluecoats alumni here who was lucky enough to be able to participate in the 2022 alumni corps as well. It does make me so proud to see how far the organization has come and how much it has grown ... far beyond drum corps and into the wonderful educational programs they offer to all kinds of kids around the Canton, OH area. 6W
6 words! There’s No Place Like Santa Clara #Splooie
dang, when ~4min rolled around and Threshhold started...goosebumps. The musical skill + athleticism + kinesthetic teamwork is bonkers.
Thank you so much for bring this incredible activity into a more public light! We had a lot of fun teaching you the Crazy 8s variations. Definitely a highlight of my summer.
I'm still working on the flam drag variation!
Crazy how I saw you wandering around talking to a camera and being confused yet here I am watching this video
Thanks for coming out and hanging with us! It was great to see your love for our art🙏🏼
as a former band kid (snare) / dci enthusiast and current musician, this made me emotional!!! thanks shawn! this is SO cool
Bluecoats Tilt 2014 was one of my first introductions to DCI and damn is it still one of my favorite shows.
You know the weather at 7:54 was just IMMACULATE to march in
3 mins in and he animated drums to show what the tech was referencing. As a drumline and DCI vet, it’s the little things that show care for the sport.
As someone that knows nothing about persuasion but was always around it because I was in guard…this helped so much and he didn’t even need to do it.
Shawn this was incredible. I actually marched with Matt Jordan and was at that Allentown show. This is one of the best behind the scenes of drum corps I think I've ever seen. Thank you.
Incredible video! Great job explaining what Drum Corps is, and you captured the energy of rehearsal really well. Even the finer details of a drum corps performance were so well laid out! Can't wait to show this to everyone who asks me what drum corps is.
I watched drum corps on PBS as a child. I loved it! And it inspired me to be a musician. I still love music and I have inspired a couple of my children to do the same. All because of DCI and some really patient and amazing teachers. If you ever get a chance to go to a show, you will be amazed! It's a don't miss opportunity.
And sit high enough in the stands to see the drill, ideally on the 50 yard line.
as a Sungazer fan and a Drum Corps fan, I can’t even describe my excitement when I heard Threshold in bloo’s show. my worlds collided. Thanks for sharing the beauty of drum corps!!
fantastic video. As a former Bluecoat (02-03, staff 07-08) and avowed Sungazer fan, I laughed out loud when I first heard Threshold in the show this year. Kudos to all!
Sup 2003 fellow marcher ❤
Thank you so so much for coming out and making this incredible video for us to be able to look back on. It was an honor playing your music and an absolute pleasure meeting you!!
As a snare drummer that marched, it's great to see DCI get some recognition - it used to be broadcasted on ESPN! I remember hearing a segment of "Threshhold" being played by Infinity - must have been an interesting experience for you 😂. Love the video, man.
Video and microphones can't do justice to the sights and sounds of a drum corps performance. See it live and be blown away.
This is an amazing video! BK 05 was one of my favorite WGI shows growing up. “Get out of my head!” 😂 It inspired me to march, and I aged out of Bluecoats in 08. 🙌🏼
Chris Garay spotted! 👀
12:51 I forgot that some people bring their Nintendo 3DS to the lots and record the corps warming up on them. 🤣
The guy running ensemble did vis back when I was at Blue Devils and he still ends his comments with "Yes?" hahahaha. Love Jarrod!
can't believe I was watching the bluecoats lot at allentown at the same time as you and didn't see you haha. thanks so much for making this, always love seeing more attention given to the marching arts
NO WAY SHAWN CROWDER DCI VIDEO!!!!!!! this is insane man i'm planning on marching next year and i've been following you and adam since i was like 13, went crazy when i saw threshold in bloo's show this year
I marched in a drum corps based in Enid, OK the summer of 1978 and played soprano bugle. It was an amazing experience. This really took me back to those memories. Thanks.
Wait you marched black gold??
Can't image the feelings Shawn must have had to for his music to be part of such a fantastic performance put on by the Bluecoats in the DCI finals this year (been watching for decades truly one of the best I've ever seen)! Enjoy mostly for the musical element but the entire production was truly amazing work from all involved ( _especially the parents_ )! Shawn's mini-doc. here shows a small taste of the sacrifices these individuals put in to get it right. Those who work tirelessly behind the scene's putting together the choreography, band direction, costumes, props & sound deserve their share of the credit as well.
Drum Corps = music + theatre + athletic
to see that Brass boss instructing/correcting the trumpets on the rippling effect of coming in, and then looking at that finals victorious performance (not vicotry run afterward) shows just how brilliant that entire corps was this year.
I love that the clips you put in for the judges was 2010 PR, such an influential show for so many!
Thanks for this. Your music was wonderfully interpreted, imo. The members and staff of the Bluecoats should be very proud. I have been watching DCI since 1983 and this show was amazing. You absolutely deserved the win. Very well done!
the constructive critique followed by such adoring affirmations really made me feel great. what a phenomenal way to direct
EXCELLENT video, Shawn. Thank you!!
Spectacular! Thanks for taking us along ❤
Did I see the basses do a Holy Bass tribute move around 7:50?
Yeah. I think there were a few corps who did that this year.
THEY DID! I just saw it
I LOVE THE BLOOBIES
Yes. Bass four also marched Holy Bass in 2023
@@dizdawgjr34phantom included!
Absolutely incredible summation of what drum corps is. You’ve somehow described it in a way that anyone can easily understand. The storytelling, editing, animations, subtitles…you nailed it. Well done 👏
THANK YOU SO MUCH for bringing more exposure to the drum corps activity! It warms my heart to have the biggest part of my life be seen by others, especially other musicians that I look up to. 😁❤
Amazing editing! So enjoyable to watch!
Love seeing the (growing) mainstream success of this activity the past couple of years
I, er, wouldn't call drum corps growing. Its the smallest its ever been. Even 20 years ago we use to have multiple shows in my metro area each year, now we're just down to one....every other year. The number of active corps is like half from 2000, and that is like half of what it was in 1970.
@@Seafroggys lol okay my guy
Thank you Shawn, as fan of Adam, yourself and this wonderful activity, it’s great for you to share your experience. Oh by the way, I got to you see and Plini last year in Salt Lake, fantastic show.
Thank you for this video, I feel like I finally have something to show people when I don’t wanna explain drum corps to people anymore.
This video made me miss being apart of a competition marching band in High school. Being at the school hours before school started and on the field practicing, staying after school for hours on the field practicing, traveling with the band to our compitions. I miss it all.
I graduated high school in 92. Every fall ever since, I miss being on the field.
Was in marching band for two years. We had a martinet my sophomore year. Band was the only thing that mattered to him. Never praised us, even when we did a fantastic job. I left after my sophomore year and don't miss it at all.
I marched Colts like 30 years ago and I keep coming back for more. I absolutely love this activity, and there's nothing else in the world like it! I was at Finals and got to see the moment + the Encore...truly magical! Thanks for covering from your perspective!
I’ve always said there’s nothing on this planet quite like drum corps.
shut up dude
@@laneburwell214 you sound like you get yelled at by admin for it being too hot outside
I didn’t get to watch Bluecoats live this year (I was performing with the Madison Scouts!) but I did watch it when I got home a few days ago and I really enjoyed the show. It was particularly cool to see Sungazer and Son Lux music. I love seeing music I already love played in this setting. Also, I knew you did some drumline in the past but I didn’t know you marched BK indoor! Super cool.
Thank you for making this video!!
Quick clarification- there is drum corps that allows for all ages, but it's in a separate class (division)
Super cool video Shawn. Thanks for showing DCI some love.
i attended a dci showcase in my area a month ago and i was blown away when bluecoats started playing threshold. it sounded incredible. im glad that you (and hopefully adam) were able to experience it as well
Ever since I heard the MIDI arrangement that someone submitted to Shawn and Adam I couldn’t wait to hear it performed by a full ensemble
One of my big regrets is never marching drum corp. Played quads in HS and college band but never quite committed enough to do drum corp. Still love going to our local performance every year. Congrats on having them not only select your song to perform, but also winning the whole thing with it!
Thank you for providing the visuals and progression of ideas to describe listening responsibilities! Will definitely be using that for my groups as a visual-aid.
Thanks for posting this. I marched the summer of 78 and 79 and it's amazing how much it's changed since way back then. Haven't seen a live show since 2005 but I've caught the DCI Championship prelims in the movie theater every year since they started doing that. I was disappointed this year that they have discontinued the movie experience and opted instead for a subscription service. All about the money I guess. Thanks again!!
Just...awesome... & thank you, Shawn! This show was next-level...Bluecoats really pushing the activity envelope -- so glad you gave us this unique look...we're eatin' it up! BLOO!!!
I'm blown away by the chops of drum corps drummers.
I did band, but bever marching band. I finally understand why there are multiple drum majors conducting on field. Now it makes so much sense.
I'm so thrilled to not only see DCI being featured, but also the Bluecoats!!! Blooooooooooooo
Top class video, I marched Cadets of Bergen County in the mid 90’s…converted battery musician to Contrabass/Tuba
I thought there were IEMs for every musician or at least group leaders and soloists but they do this with no monitoring regardless of the horrid sound delays. That alone makes me appreciate this soooo much more. Like I knew it was impressive but holy crap that's skillful! These musicians have superhuman focus. Thanks for sharing this with us!
For IEMs to work for every musician you'd need every single instrument (like 200+ instruments) hooked up to a gigantic rig. Just random gear failures alone would make it impractical tbh.
If it ain't broke don't fix it I did high schoool marching band. No tech needed and it's been done that way for centuries in military band.
I think the front ensemble percussion have IEMs for some corps but not all and some only use them to nail crazy runs
Always a good day when shawn uploads
Getting to see this show live was truly incredible. I remember hearing your guys' piece and I was so surprised! I took my dad to see Sungazer here in Nashville in 2022 and we really enjoyed it! So seeing your guys' music on the field is truly awesome, I can't imagine what it's like from your perspective. Such an incredible privilege!!
2005 was the last year for my 2 sons marched in DCI. The Blue Devils, The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard and Madison Scouts were the corps to watch. Those feelings never go away. Very Special and very Unique memories. Goosebumps.
0:46 “the greatest thing to have ever happened” I’m a freshman in high school and I did marching band last year… I play 1st trumpet in my second year of this and I march as well if not better than a few juniors in my school!! I’m extremely proud of myself and want to march for Carolina Crown one day…
Heyo! Auditions should be starting soon if not already happening, go for it. You’ll learn SO MUCH at an audition even if you don’t make it or can’t march this summer, it’s still worth it. Even more local corps to you will give you a great experience if travel is a problem. I marched in 2014-2017 and loved it even with my low scoring corps lol.
@@brendaj252 I’d love to but it costs, I won’t be able to really march until I’m a junior or senior, and we really don’t have money right now… but I would kill to march with a corp… which one were you in?
@@YoungQuist00 the camps aren’t tooo bad price wise, but I also know prices have only gone up since I was there 😅
Genesis 2014, and Jersey Surf 2015-2017. I’m also a cymbal player so I only had less than 10 world class corps to choose from 😢
@@brendaj252 oh yeah not too many March cymbals… I’m pretty sure a crown camp is like $175 and I really don’t have that kind of money
this was great. Special shout out for the Rita's Ice Red Table sit down scene. Looks awesome.
Thanks for coming out man! Staff and members alike appreciate your support 💪
Thanks for guiding me through the brass safely!!
dude this is SUCH a good video for learning more about DCI, my sisters friend was a trumpet soloist for phantom regiment '23 and he's one of the reasons why it's a big dream of mine to be in a world class corps (when i turn of age)
The drummer for Sevendust has a drum corps play style and has some complex beats and amazing style.
This is such an excellent video that gives a taste of what I’ve always wanted a proper DCI documentary to look like. I love that you labeled things you were talking about with text on screen, things like notating the bass split and visualizing the quad drum parts and speed of sound etc, this is the perfect video for musicians or just music-lovers to understand what drum corps really is
The HB visual at 7:51 🥲🥹
Such a cool video. It's crazy how natural Threshold feels adapted to DCI, I never realized how well it lends itself for that.
That man is recording with a Nintendo 3ds 😭😭 12:51
Such a great insight into this culture :-) I've played in a small Samba band for a few years here in the UK...really just for the fun of it although we did play some festivals and local events. I learned a bit about the traditional Samba schools in Brazil that all come out for the Rio Carnival, although these American drum corps certainly take it to the next level as not just a musical art form, but a competition.
These drummers are clearly at the top of their game for under 21s. The visual side of the show is awesome too...can't imagine having to learn all those movements. Did some basic dance moves with my Samba band and that was hard enough. Adding in the pressure of accounting for the sound delay, being judged and being in front of a crowd of 1000s...takes a special kind of person to do that.
One takeaway I've gotten from watching this is that I really need to learn traditional grip some time! All my teachers have said there's no point, it's not necessary as a modern drummer so why try to learn a harder technique. Yet of course they could all play traditional grip themselves!
My best friend that I've known for over a decade is on that tenor line, and I've had the pleasure of marching with others that have been in Bloo through the WGI percussion season. I missed my chance to march DCI with him, and while part of me regrets not taking the opportunity, I know that personally I'd fall apart in the rehearsal conditions, I don't handle the heat very well. The one time I went to WGI Orlando I was miserable the whole time, and it was February. Even though I'll have gone without ever doing DCI (for my own reasons) I will never forget what I did choose to do (and will be doing, I got 2 more seasons left, folks) in the indoor season.
You made the right call taking a pass. Drum corps is a difficult and demanding, as well as fun and rewarding, experience. I wouldn't want to talk anyone out of participating, but the reality is the conditions are challenging. Practices and shows take place outdoors in high heat and humidity. Bravo for understanding yourself enough to know such conditions are just not for you.
@@kvdeininger I truly love the marching arts and enjoy the process from beginning to end, even including moments where a staff member reps you through the same 3 measures for an hour an a half because it's a very exposed and important moment that has to be perfect every time. I know that I would have been ablet o push through it and get to tour season, but I'm also self aware enough to know that while I could have endured, I would have been utterly miserable and sometimes we just have to step back and say no to something to protect our ability to wholly enjoy something.
This video made me tear up remembering my days in dci :,) thanks for bringing back those memories
Cool video! As a classical percussionist from Europe marching bands are very fascinating but quite a mistery...
It’s really our greatest medium for exposing youth and the general public to a wide variety music. IMO it’s one of the best things we have to offer as a country.
@@tylera86 it definitely makes me proud to be an american. I'm lucky that even though dci is nonexistent in my state, the beauty can be right in front of me after a short flight. and i plan to audition this year
@@tylera86 Unnecessarily fast marimba runs, unnecessarily complicated machine-gun drumming and unnecessarily loud brass. Such a wide variety of music.
@@hugobouma sorry you feel that way. Good thing music is subjective and that gatekeepers don’t get to determine what is and isn’t good for the masses.
@@tylera86 Speaking for the masses now are we Tyler?
One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen/heard was the Battle of the Bands in St Louis MO. We were walking through the city and heard drums. I believe they were college students. It was the drum lines doing some type of competition. It was awesome! I was so close I could feel it vibrating in my chest. Love a drum line.
If you have never been to a Drum Corp event, you owe it to yourself to go. It's fabulous.
@Shawn Crowder, thank you sir, for this amazing essay. I'm from over here in SLC metro, so as a BK alum you'll know that BK was responsible for intorducing DCI to Utah around the 10th anniversary of DCI, creating "Corps Encore". TOok a long time for us to get our own corps (2014) but now they have rocketed up to the top tier of OC, and the massive HS Band seen here allows for a huge talent pool.
Best of luck with Sungazer!
OMG... I was sitting there at Prelims and Finals going "why does this sound familiar" lmaoooo now I know why
My worlds just collided, thank you for this Shawn and congrats on having them perform your music, what a huge honor!
Good Morning!
(I was quoting EMC Productions btw)
Good! Morning. ☝🏾🙂
Good morning 😊
I love the way Eric says it too lmfaoooo I love reading it in his voice
@@squillz8310 same
People who never did Band will never know. Fantastic doco man, really great to see so much drive and passion from these amazing young people.
2:10 Judges don't run around on the field anymore
yes sadly 😢
They do they did at nightbeat this year
@@Artemispider I saw that recently
Thank you for making such a cool video about this wonderful activity! As a synth player I’m especially happy that you shed some light on the vital role electronics play in modern drum corps productions!