Keep the Amps out of Drum Corps

To:  Drum Corps International

Drum and Bugle Corps is a unique activity with long-established traditional roots. Historically, it has involved an acoustic musical idiom consisting of brass and percussion instruments, along with marching and color guard programs to create an entertaining and compelling form of competitive musical and visual pageantry. Also in drum and bugle corps' uniqueness is the fact that while it shares many similarities with the traditional marching band activity, drum and bugle corps remains something distinctly different.

Over the last several months, there have been several controversial rules changes implemented that have blurred the distinctive boundaries between drum and bugle corps and marching bands. Specifically, these changes are the implementation of electronic amplifiers, for the purpose of amplifying the pit ensemble as well as allowing for miked voice-overs, singing, and narration during portions of corps shows. While such changes are not necessarily a bad thing, they do not fit in with what the traditional scope of drum and bugle corps is supposed to be as a musical idiom. We are deeply concerned that the introduction of amplification into drum and bugle corps will take us further down a path where, at the end of which, drum corps and marching band are indiscernable from each other. We value drum corps for what it is, and we value marching band for what it is. We do not wish to see these two fundamentally different activities become further blended and lose their unique aspects that make them each so entertaining and enjoyable for audiences.

Those that support the use of amplification ask that we "give it time" for people to get used to the idea. We have already taken all the time we need to form our conclusions. Already, we have witnessed corps shows where such voice-overs, singing, narration, amping pits, etc. do not provide any meaningful additions to the corps' program. In some cases, they distract from the musicians and color guard performers. In some cases, they are simply unnecessary or redundant, and are being relied on too heavily to produce music that the actual musicians are just as capable of producing by themselves, without any vocal accompiament. In some cases, they lead to shows that rely too heavily on the narration or vocalization, and that, when performed by themselves with only the musicians and color guard members, cannot stand up in the rigorous competitive environment.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, having witnessed that amplification has not contributed anything positive to the drum and bugle corps activity, hereby call upon all competing corps currently using amplification to remove these elements from their programming. We also petition the Drum Corps International Board of Directors to vote to rescind all rules and policies regarding the use of amplification at the earliest possible opportunity. Let us keep Drum and Bugle Corps as the distinct and unique activity that it is supposed to be.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Keep the Amps out of Drum Corps Petition to Drum Corps International was created by Drum Corps Fans and written by Matthew Briddell.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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