Welcome to the Troopers!

What is Drum Corps?

Since the 1800's, drum corps has been a part of the American heritage-starting with the military tradition of drum and fife corps, as known during the American Revolution, through the bugle bands of the early 1900's, to the modern day drum and bugle corps which has evolved into the most disciplined, precise audio/visual display of musical pageantry in existence anywhere in the world.

What makes this youth activity impressive is the level of performance quality displayed in the competitive drum corps achieved by members usually between the ages of 16 and 22 years. The exaggerated display of semi-military marching programs, precisely coordinated with progressive, classical, modern and marching music has grown into one of the largest youth-oriented, crowd appealing activities in the United States and Canada. The competitive atmosphere has much to do with the level of quality drum corps project into their performances. No other competitive or non-competitive youth activity has so consistently attained the performance quality that is common in the average drum corps.

In the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan, competitive drums corps number well over 1,000 units, representing approximately 250,000 boys and girls, and 90,000 to 100,000 adult staff and booster club members. In Drum Corps, the maximum number of annual members is 150.

Drum Corps play strictly marching brass whereas a marching band also includes concert instruments including clarinets, saxophones, flutes and trombones. There are no woodwinds in Drum Corps. The corps' are split in 3 sections: brass, guard, and percussion. The corps spend their summer traveling around the country in usually 3-4 busses, two Semi trucks, practicing, eating, sleeping, and competing at drum corps contests. A Drum Corps will play on average 40 shows in a three-month season, while most marching bands only play/compete around 8-12 shows, not including the football games.

Drum Corps is an experience and not just an activity. It is 6-months of winter one-weekend practices and 3 non-stop summer months of rehearsal; touring, performing, and perfecting. All of this is done on a football field.

Drum Corps is an all day and most of the night activity that presents many emotional highs and lows, intense competition, and an irreplaceable feeling of satisfaction when it's all over with. Drum Corps performers are some of the best musicians, people, and friends on the planet. To see them perform is exciting; to be a part of it is an experience simply unmatched.

To learn more about the Troopers and how YOU can become a member, visit our How to Join and Auditions pages for more information.