I was thinking about where to audition on bass drum and I have a really difficult time on doorknob technique and prefer knocking. Does anybody have a list(or can make a list) of all bass techniques used by drum corps?

While the Boston Crusaders came in second place for the second time in three years, they performed a very popular and championship quality show with Glitch.

https://medi-nerd.com/2024/12/03/2024-dci-world-championships-photos-boston-crusaders/

Does anyone know what size bass drums corps were marching in the 70s and 80s? Or what the biggest size of bass drum used to be?

I once listened to a brass tape for the 2006 Phantom Regiment many years ago in which the judge gets very emotional. For years I have been unable to find this tape, and it’s one of my favorites. Does anyone know of the one I’m referring to?

Generally, how is it taken to wear an All-Age Jacket at a World Class audition? It of course depends on the individual staff, but it seems much different than wearing the jacket of another world class corps since the two circuits do not compete. This is really a hypothetical to me, I won't bring my jacket to my callback just to be safe not to upset anyone. It isn't that important to me, just something I am curious about.

Today is the day to help your corps or any corps out! Donate to Spirit Here!

https://preview.redd.it/f7vsa3xcqn4e1.png?width=1120&format=png&auto=webp&s=134e591450edc7c07127b5cfbc65d88f3bdd7454

My daughter got a contract with the Scouts and is super excited to join. From what I understand, the Scouts pretty much always make it to Semi Finals but Finals is a struggle. Does anyone know what the marchers do if they don't make finals? Are they kept in Indy to watch finals and then make their way home, or are they released after semi finals? I'm trying to figure out travel and tickets for DCI...so many unknowns.

I recall there being a site in the late '90s and early 00's where you created a fantasy corps with a name, repertoire, and uniform design. You then picked corps to fill captions based on a point buy system. A "tour schedule" would be set and you would compete against each other every few days. Your corps' score was based on how the actual corps scored in each caption throughout the summer.

Does anything like this still exist?

Had a few pleasant reminders of this great show, so I felt it was time to go through my photos from DCI Finals and make ’em look better.

https://medi-nerd.com/2024/12/02/2024-dci-world-championships-bluecoats/

I’m auditioning for Gold this year and I’d like to play drumset but there is no part listed on the audition packet. No one is answering emails, should I just ask day of?

I am also learning the auxiliary part for front ensemble and i’m wondering if the dynamics for snare in pit is the same as a marching snare drum (dynamics only apply to accents), or is it just like how you would play a concert snare normally?

I recently received callbacks on mellophone for both Blue Stars and Colts and I'm very excited. However, the callback camps are far from where I live so I can only afford to go for one group. I'm torn because I enjoy the Colts marching style but I know Blue Stars has a good reputation as well. Can anyone give their experiences on the cultures and teaching styles of these corps?

so i'm in hs and auditioning for an open class this weekend on cymbals, and i cant play the packet. its only 1 page but this stuff is way too advanced for me to get up to tempo on time and half of it im not gonna lie i cant even do. i'm in way over my head , any advice? i have to go , is there still a chance i wont get cut? will i embarrass myself? i legit cannot do these techniques.

How does one get tickets close to the 50 for finals week? Individual tickets went on sale today and everything is already booked out in the area that I wanted. Was I just too late?

I’m a tuba player, and I’ve been more and more interested in auditioning for the Mandarins lately, and I was just wondering- what’s their culture like? I know each corps has their own little quirks and traditions, so what are they like over in the mandies? Or does anyone have stories of their time in the mandies?

Looks like the codes for different corps sections are no longer available. I really wish they would open up the middle section to regular ticket buyers and not just friends of dci.

I’m worried when i go to callback camp i don’t make the corp should i try for another corp before hand just to have a backup plan or will they help me find a home for the summer.

I want to preface this by saying that I don't mean to offend anybody who enjoys or prefers open class performance, but I, as a world class drum corps enthusiast who loved seeing several finalist groups perform at the Midwest premiere last year, am thoroughly disappointed about this year's only show in Michigan taking place on the same night as night two of Allentown.

This decision was clearly made with the intent to not have any appeal for world class drum corps to participate. This seems nonsensical to me due to a pretty massive turnout at Rockford high school for the Midwest premiere last year, including performances from corps like the Boston Crusaders, Colts, Blue Stars, and the Cavaliers. I had even heard rumors of this event returning to Ford Field, as it had been a few years back, which would have attracted tons of attention among the community in bringing a drum corps show to a dome, akin to how the southwest championship is at the Alamodome.

On top of this, having the Midwest premiere in Michigan meant that several Midwest drum corps would have their camps or at least a few weeks of rehearsal in Michigan, which I know my HS band directors used as a free recruitment tool to get kids interested in drum corps. I know several people who had never even heard of drum corps, but after this opportunity to watch community performances or stop by these camps, were interested in joining drum corps themselves.

While I recognize my biases as a Michigan native without the funds to attend finals in Indy or anything further than that, I feel that many Michigan natives feel slighted as I do about the absence of a world class show this year.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to use this as a starting point for further discussion.

I get to the end of checkout and the pay button doesn’t work.

Is there anyone who has marched their through online auditions know if/when they’ll start doing them again?

I’m a Highschool student and I didn’t audition this year, but I’m loosely considering doing it next year. I know that within the rules highschool aged students CAN march, but I don’t quite get how that works. What happens if the winter/spring camps overlap with school?

Considering the guardians' funding situation last year and the very well possibility of them folding, I'm quite disappointed since they're the only open class corp in Texas and I was wanting to audition. Currently I'm looking to march open class because of my skill level and inexperience in drum corps, but there's just none in texas, let alone near the houston area. And I'm not willing or able to drive across the country or fly either.

I signed up for genesis auditions, but they're world class and I'm not sure if I'll be able to get in. I really wanted to march this year too!

Are there any other options for drum corps in Texas? Or any close on nearby states for that matter.

I have a jersey with my name,graduation year, and instrument on it that’s from my high school’s drumline as like a warmup uniform. Would it be looked down upon or weird to wear that to an audition?

I haven't seen one of these on this subreddit in a few years. I hope I can help bring it back!

This list will be updated as shows and repertoire are officially announced. Please submit a comment with any information as it gets released; with a reminder that any information not officially announced by a corps is considered a leak and will be reported.

----------------World Class----------------

The Academy -

Blue Devils -

Blue Knights -

Blue Stars -

Bluecoats -

Boston Crusaders -

Carolina Crown -

The Cavaliers -

Colts -

Crossmen -

Genesis -

Madison Scouts -

Mandarins -

Music City -

Pacific Crest -

Phantom Regiment -

Santa Clara Vanguard -

Seattle Cascades -

Spirit of Atlanta -

Troopers - "The Final Sunset"

----------------Open Class----------------

7th Regiment -

The Battalion -

Blue Devils B -

Blue Devils C -

Colt Cadets -

Columbians -

Gold -

Golden Empire -

Guardians -

Heat Wave -

Impulse -

Les Stentors -

Raiders -

River City Rhythm -

Spartans -

Vessel -

----------------All Age Class----------------

Atlanta CV -

Bushwackers -

Cincinnati Tradition -

Columbus Saints -

Fusion Core -

Govenaires -

Hawthorne Caballeros - "On The Edge"

Hurricanes -

New York Skyliners -

Reading Buccaneers - "On Display"

Rogues Hollow Regiment - "toXic"

Sunrisers -

White Sabers -

I’m auditioning for a corps this saturday and sunday (7th and 8th), on drumset- This is basically my first dci audition and I was just wondering what should I know before getting into it. I already know all the audition music and exercises given, but is there anything else?

Question for anyone that has been through this same scenario. Our band uses the long ranger speakers on field but we have it hardwired into the Boss DB-90 metronome , does anyone know if there’s any solution to make it wireless so the drum major can use the met on the podium and save time from running back and forth?

I’m signed up for an audition camp that happens in about a week (December 8th); I’m auditioning for their color guard, this is my first time auditioning/ doing anything like this and was wondering what I should expect going into it. I know it varies from group to group but I’m starting to get nervous. I know that even if I don’t get a contract this is a good experience for the future, but would really appreciate any advice that could help with this process.