Drum and Bugle Corps

(dci.org)

In response to the most recent developments with the coronavirus (COVID-19), Drum Corps International convened a special meeting of its voting membership on Tuesday, March 17 via teleconference to discuss the current impact on the DCI community. Representatives from member organizations shared mitigation strategies and discussed planning options for the 2020 DCI Summer Tour.

To date, all DCI corps have canceled their in-person weekend rehearsal camps for the balance of March and are in the process of canceling for the month of April as well, adhering to current guidance (President’s Guidelines PDF 0316) regarding non-essential travel and avoiding social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the White House. Corps will continue to respond accordingly as the situation unfolds over the next few weeks.

Working closely with the Board of Directors, the Indianapolis-based DCI professional staff has shifted its focus from standard pre-season preparation to business continuity and contingency planning. With hope for a safe and vastly improved environment in the coming weeks, current efforts include developing a revised and compressed schedule for the 2020 DCI Summer Tour.

The entire DCI community is unified in its commitment to protect performers, staff, and volunteers, along with housing site hosts and all who are associated with the tour’s nationwide operational structure. This commitment remains the top priority.

DCI will continue to release information as more details become available.

(dci.org)

Drum Corps International is continuing to monitor the impact of COVID-19 across the country. Specifically, we are following the quickly evolving developments at all levels as well as the ongoing determinations by local and national public health officials. We are also receiving tremendous assistance from our extended network of career healthcare professionals working through the Marching Music Health, Wellness & Safety Project.

Our top priority remains the health and safety of everyone in the DCI community.

DCI will continue to adhere to all national directives and incorporate the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public health authorities, and physicians to ensure the safety of our performers, staff, volunteers, partners, audience members, and everyone associated with DCI’s nationwide operational structure.

With so many schools and events affected at this point, we understand that many in the DCI community are concerned about the 2020 Summer Tour, which begins three months from now. While there have already been some disruptions to rehearsal camps for the individual corps this month depending on their geographic locations, there will likely be more impact on spring activities. However, at this point, we are continuing to plan for a 2020 DCI Summer Tour.

We share in the disappointment of all those at WGI-Sport of the Arts on the decision to cancel the 2020 WGI World Championships and other scheduled events. We understand that the decision was extremely difficult, and we salute the thousands of passionate performers, instructors, and administrators around the world who devote their winter months to elevating their standards of excellence.

As the situation unfolds over the coming days and weeks, we will continue to work with corps administrators, tour event partners, stadium managers, and hundreds of housing site hosts from coast to coast to assess all available information and make necessary adjustments.

Also: WGI Statement on Remaining 2020 Events

(dci.org)

Brass Amplification Limitations

Proposed by: Michael Martin, The Cavaliers

Summary: Previously proposed under the same title in 2018 and ultimately not making it out of the instructor caucus sessions for a vote, this new proposal does not call for limits on the number of soloists who can be amplified at any one time, rather looks to prohibit the use of short-range microphones to reinforce the entire musical ensemble.

On the record: “The drum corps brass fan is savvy and perceptive. The difference in fidelity between an acoustic tuttie brass moment and an amplified or electronically-reinforced tutti brass moment is noticeable to the average DCI show-goer, and certainly to the avid fan. What has always made this activity unique is the power and precision of the well-taught brass section. This maintains the integrity of that aspect of our activity.”

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Evaluation Structure Innovation

Proposed by: Chris Komnick, Nick Monzi, Jason Robb, Madison Scouts

Summary: This proposal calls for a pilot of a new evaluation structure centered on fan engagement, that would give audience members the opportunity to rank and rate their favorite corps in various categories. At Monday-Tuesday shows, groups would receive an overall ranking based on fan voting; no adjudicator feedback or scores. At Wednesday-Thursday shows, groups would receive an overall ranking based on fan voting and adjudicator feedback; no scores. At Friday-Sunday shows, groups would receive only adjudicator feedback and scores based on the current adjudication structure.

On the record: “We propose to introduce new layers within the evaluation and feedback system, so as to better maximize fan engagement, the dosage of information provided to corps and adjudicators, and the quality of adjudicator feedback.”

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Color Guard Sheet Enhancement

Proposed by: Denise Bonfiglio, The Cadets

Summary: This proposal would shift the judging criteria on the color guard adjudication sheets away from “exclusive skills” to a mix of “skills and big picture.”

On the record: “DCI has a very small pool of judges that are expert at evaluating skills. Opening the sheet up to include the big picture would make the sheet more accessible to a larger segment of the judging community.”

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Any Instrument Policy

Proposed by: Kathy Black, DCI Board of Directors

Summary: This proposal would allow the use of any instrument, including woodwinds, effective for the 2021 season.

On the record: “Opening the drum corps activity to young musicians currently excluded is consistent with the DCI mission to bring the life-enriching benefits and enjoyment of marching music performing arts to more people worldwide.”

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Allow for Live Sampling Created in Real Time

Proposed by: Matt Jordan, Jon Vanderkolff, Bluecoats

Summary: This proposal would allow rhythmic effects such as delay and live looping to be used by corps in performances. Not intended to legalize pre-recorded or sequenced music, this proposal aims for performers to use the stated effects on instruments being played in real time.

On the record: “If our goal is to train performers to have a future in music performance, using delay effects and live looping are educating our students more accurately than the current time-consuming system of having an electronics designer ‘approximate’ those effects.”

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Rules and Systems Task Force Voted On by the Membership

Proposed by: Lindsey Vento, The Academy

Summary: DCI’s Rules and Systems Task Force, which is made up of a group of corps-affiliated representatives from the instructional community and members of the judge leadership team, helps determine and guide the ongoing process of how drum corps are adjudicated and provides direction to the artistic standards related to rules and systems. Currently these individuals are appointed by the DCI artistic director who serves as the chair of the committee. This proposal would shift the selection of the committee into the hands of DCI’s voting member corps every three years.

On the record: “Anything we can do to potentially spread the voice and representation across more organizations, allowing feedback and discussion to occur with various backgrounds and differing organizational makeups, can only benefit the students/members.”

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Scoring System Update

Proposed by: Marie Czapinski, DCI Adjudicator

Summary: This proposal would adjust the current scoring system to include six judges who would all adjudicate off the field from within the stands. The proposal calls for these judges with the following percentages factored into a corps’ total score. One overall general effect judge with a music background (20%), one overall general effect judge with a visual background (20%), one visual ensemble judge with a visual design background (15%), one visual ensemble judge with a color guard background (15%), one music ensemble judge with a percussion background (15%), one music ensemble judge with a brass background (15%).

On the record: “When the current judging system was devised, the speed and velocity of movement on the field was considerably less and more predictable. There were few props, if any. We have adjusted through the past decade as designers became more creative, however, we have now moved to a level of presenting through the interdisciplinary arts that is setting new standards for outdoor production and the evaluation system should be updated to properly reward the efforts being presented.”

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Sound Reinforcement Limits

Proposed by: Steve Vento, The Academy

Summary: This proposal would create sound reinforcement decibel limits based on the size of the venue.

On the record: “This will ensure a more enjoyable experience to the fan … This will also ensure a better listening environment under the statutes of health and wellness. There is no need to go over 110 decibels.”

Read the proposals in their entirety

(dci.org)

View the complete schedule of 2020 DCI Tour events

Premier Event Series

Detroit, MI
DCI Tour Premiere presented by DeMoulin Bros. & Co.
Ford Field
Thursday, June 18

Stanford, CA
DCI West
Stanford Stadium
Saturday, June 20

Zionsville, IN
DCI Crossroads
Zionsville Community High School
Sunday, June 21

Muncie, IN
DCI Central Indiana
Scheumann Stadium
Friday, June 26

Pasadena, CA
Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Stadium
Saturday, June 27

Richmond Area, VA
Stadium TBA
Thursday, July 2

La Crosse, WI
DCI La Crosse
Veterans Memorial Stadium
Sunday, July 5

Orlando, FL
DCI Orlando
Camping World Stadium
Sunday, July 5

Memphis, TN
DCI Memphis
Liberty Bowl Stadium
Saturday, July 11

Denver, CO
Drums Along the Rockies
Broncos Stadium at Mile High
Sunday, July 12

St. Louis, MO
DCI Midwestern Championship presented by DeMoulin Bros. & Co.
The Dome at America’s Center
Sunday, July 12

Ardmore, OK
DCI Ardmore
Ardmore High School
Tuesday, July 14

Denton, TX
DCI Denton
Apogee Stadium
Thursday, July 16

Austin, TX
DCI Austin presented by FloMarching
Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex
Thursday, July 16

Katy, TX
DCI Katy presented by Band Shoppe
Legacy Stadium
Friday, July 17

San Antonio, TX
DCI San Antonio presented by Fred J. Miller, Inc.
Judson High School
Saturday, July 18

Corpus Christi, TX
DCI Corpus Christi presented by Fred J. Miller, Inc.
Calallen High School
Saturday, July 18

Mesquite, TX
DCI Mesquite presented by The U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps
Mesquite Memorial Stadium
Monday, July 20

McKinney, TX
DCI McKinney
McKinney ISD Stadium
Tuesday, July 21

Hattiesburg, MS
DCI Hattiesburg
M.M. Roberts Stadium
Wednesday, July 22

Little Rock, AR
DCI Little Rock
War Memorial Stadium
Wednesday, July 22

Montgomery, AL
DCI Montgomery
Foshee-Henderson Stadium
Thursday, July 23

Trussville, AL
DCI Birmingham
Hewitt Trussville Football Stadium
Friday, July 24

Murfreesboro, TN
The Masters of the Summer Music Games presented by Jupiter, Mapex & Majestic
Middle Tennessee State University
Friday, July 24

Atlanta, GA
DCI Southeastern Championship presented by Stanbury Uniforms
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Saturday, July 25

Syracuse, NY
DCI Syracuse
Stadium TBA
Thursday, July 30

Allentown, PA
DCI Eastern Classic presented by Big, Loud & Live
J. Birney Crum Stadium
Friday, July 31 & Saturday, August 1

Charleston, IL
DCI Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois University
Saturday, August 1

Pittsburgh, PA
DCI Pittsburgh
Baldwin High School
Sunday, August 2

View all 2020 DCI Tour events

DCI World Championships

Open Class Prelims
Marion, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University
Monday, August 3

Open Class Finals
Marion, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University
Tuesday, August 4

World Championship Prelims presented by GPG Music
Indianapolis, IN
Lucas Oil Stadium
Thursday, August 6

World Championship Semifinals presented by EARasers & InEarz Audio
Indianapolis, IN
Lucas Oil Stadium
Friday, August 7

SoundSport International Music & Food Festival presented by Motif Music
Indianapolis, IN
North side of Lucas Oil Stadium
Saturday, August 8

World Championship Finals
Indianapolis, IN
Lucas Oil Stadium
Saturday, August 8

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