I have recently auditioned for and been called back to the Phantom Regiment on the mellophone. I couldn’t be more excited, I have always loved Phantom since seeing their show in 2003. This happened to be the first drum corps show I ever saw, even though I had already marched in one. I started marching Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003, at 16 years old. This upcoming summer would have been my 6th and age-out summer with “the yellow team,” but unfortunately the director gave me an earth-shattering phone call this past October and told me that my family would not be on the field in 2007 due to increasing debt. I cried and cried that entire week and beyond: I had never imagined that my final year would be taken away so quickly like that. At first I didn’t think I could possibly march anywhere else, but soon realized I have to age out or I will never forgive myself.

Although I’ve only experienced a weekend of Phantom, I like what I have seen (and definitely heard!). It is of course very different from Southwind, but also comparable in the most important ways. I could bore you to death with more details about the similarities and differences between the organizations, but its probably not necessary.

I smiled when I read that the first year you marched it was 600 dollars. 2003 Southwind was an 800-dollar investment. The next year this increased by 50 percent… in 07 Southwind charged new members 1800 dollars. Phantom this summer will be anywhere between 2200 and 2500. This of course also happens to be the year for my parents to decide they are sick of drum corps… I am looking into any way I know how to raise money to march this summer, from creating a website basically asking for money to getting ready to sell my guitar. Southwind going inactive this summer really let me understand how much drum corps means to me. I never would have realized if this never would have happened.

I am glad to see that drum corps has touched your life the way it has touched mine. If everything works out, I will be on the field this summer and although we don’t know each other, I will be your sister. I love that drum corps connects people in that way.

Hope you have a great holiday season, and thanks for sharing your experiences.
Marie Lauten
SW mello 03-07
hopeful PR mello 08

So even though I don’t know you

My audition happens to be three days from the time I am writing this post. I am not so much nervous, but I am anxious, because I would REALLY like to march this upcoming summer. But my nerves were calmed after reading this:

“As I said earilier in this page, I wasn’t introduced to drum corps until 1989. At that time I was just about to begin my senior year in high school. I still thought you had to be a god to march in corps. It wasn’t until I met some people who marched in Minnesota Brass my first year in college that I realized it was possible for a person like me to march in a junior corps.”

I’ve heard it from people I know, people who have teached me, etc. I thought it was encouragement. Now I know that it truly is possible for me to make the corps. Thank you for your (unplanned) encouragement.

Thanks,
Wesley

This past summer was my first DCI summer, and it was the hardest I’ve ever worked. I was in the Raiders, from Wayne NJ. It was our first year in Division 2; I was in the pit. A lot less mature than a Div 1 corps, and much less power, but it was still a great icebreaker into this awesome addictive world of drum corps.

I didn’t think too much of the Raiders pit instructors, but hellbent on Div 1, and having done pit all through high school with improper technique and focus, I felt it better to give hornline a shot this year. I picked up the baritone for the first time only 6 weeks ago, and I’m excelling faster than I expected. Not only will I be back next year, but I plan on moving to a Div. 1 corps within a year or two. Not hoping. I plan on being in Div 1.

Thanks for being one of the few “drum corps ambassadors” out there who shares their stories with the rest of the world. I still cringe whenever I have to explain drum corps to someone using “marching band” as a comparison. Haha.

And I absolutely agree. After the first week, you learn to fall asleep in any position imaginable.

Take Care,
Bryan

You can age out, but the memories never do.

SUTA, Fish

–Pete