I've found this board to be very interesting in the past, so I'm sure you all will have some great input.
Drum Corps vs. Concert marimba playing...
Is one better or does one "outrank" the other?
What are the values of each?
In your eyes, is drum corps a good idea for a marimba player?
Can a person successfully do both?

Looking forward to what everyone has to say.

Sarah

hi,

Im thinking the same thing myself, i think that my hands have improved greatly but my head got left in the dust and all that stuff took a few months for me to fix. I would have to say that it is good in some aspects but bad in others. Depending on how much time it will take for you with rehearsals, and how internally sound you are in your playing could help you anwser this question. Yes it is very difficult. Many instructors have asked me to join drum corps , but i dont think i can do it because of the "brain overload" it causes sometimes. It really depends on you, Good luck,
bill,

I read your message and decided to wait and see what others had to say before I said my peace. Well...here it is.

So you want to be a better marimba player, eh? Where else are you going to go over the summer to achieve that? You could study privately with a teacher, pay lots of $$, have a lesson MAYBE once a week...OR you could march corps, have a lesson every day by multiple people, pay lots of $$ (sorry), and make hundreds of new and wonderful friends. Having marched 2 years in corps (to remain nameless) and having played marimba both years I cannot even begin to explain everything there is to gain. Sure one can argue you learn to play loudly all the time and, lets face it, a lot of the time you do. But if you're any kind of a musician you will be able to pick out the corps where the pit is expressive, sensitive, and the like. You build great chops, you learn how to play as an ensemble, and you build ENDURANCE, which is key to playing much of the standard marimba repertoire (ie. Merlin). You become a better musician, you make friends all over the country, you perform for great audiences all over the country, you have the time of your life, AND you get a great tan. What else do you want?? 🙂

Drum Corps vs. Concert playing. Good job at picking a subject that will stir percussionists emotions. First of all I would like to define my approach/opinion to Drum Corps front ensemble playing. Yes it is loud, but your objective is to be heard at the top of a filled stadium over 30 drums and 60 horns using concert instruments. But these comments about Corps using less musicallity in the pit I find absurd and feel these people have never payed attention to a good DCI front ensemble.
First of all the volume is cranked up but within that higher volume, you redifine mp, mf, f, ff, crecendo's and decrecendo's. The ensemble responsibility (i.e. musical awareness and rhythmical awareness) of a drum corps is much more demanding the a concert ensemble. corps have to deal with listening, dealing with staging (50 yards or better), dealing with ensemble tears, being in front of the drum majors hands, not to mention unison sounds coming from 30 yards apart,etc....... There is a high mental awarness for drum corps which I believe will enhance your concert playing. Yes, you build chops playing outside, but when you get inside you have to redifne your dynamics and phrasing styles, but the chops are still nice to have.
"Is one better than the other", in my opinion they go hand in hand. You take a "concert" mentality of entertainment and put it in an outdoor arena and call it "Drum Corps". If you can relate the "different" stylistic traits to one another, you'll find out that your still making music. One's outdoor and has different requirements than the indoor. This does not make one better then the other (in a musical sense). Although with different opinions people often prefer one or the other.
I had to deal with the same struggle in my musical career and I'm extremely glad that I played in a front ensemble of a Division one Percussion Champion Drum Corps. It has done wonders for me with my musicianship, performance ability, work ethic, and also help me build strong friendships along the way.
I hope these comments are useful, sorry about any spelling errors.

Sincerely
FletchUK@hotmail.com

Oh boy. The great Drum Corps vs, Musicality debate.
First let me say asking if one is better than the other is like asking if a carrot is better than a plum. It is a valid question, but there really isn't a logical way to determine the answer. In the end it all comes down to personal taste.
I have marched Corps in the pit for 2 years. I loved it. IT was a great experience and I came out so much better than when I went in that it was like I was a different person. Playing 8 hours a day every day for months will do that to you. Go for it if you think you have the mindset to deal with it. My only advice is look into what corps you are going to march. You don't want to end up in a small corps that has a non existent drumline staff. I think it is harder to learn if there isn't a good staff and that affords little opportunity for personal improvement.
If you are at a high playing level and it is financially possible I would try for BD. Jeff Lee is an amazing teacher. Also Crossmen is going to hava a great staff this year. Other than those 2 I am not sure. Vanguard is always good. Look into it.Figure out what style you like and what atmosphere you want to be in. Corps can have dramatically different teaching styles, living conditions, etc...
I am an orchestral player now, so while I may be a bit biased, I do love the musicallity that concert percussion offers. Corps is musical....in a precise way. I know it is a shocker....but I have played piano in a pit. We don't play triple forte every living second!
One last thing.... the music I played in corps was just incredible. Not often as a percussionist do we get the chance to have such a interactive role with the ensemble. How many times have you sat in an orchestral situation and played really cool hard parts for the entire concert? It can happen, I know, but because there are no string parts in Corps alot of times if you are playing an orchestral score the pit will play wind parts or other parts that aren't covered (beefed up of course). In corps you will play. You will play alot. And you will play challenging parts that make you an integral part of the ensemble as a whole.
Of course I reccommend it. Just be prepared. It is mentally, emotionally and definately physically challenging......and worth every second of it.