It has been noted that LOTS of music education graduates have spent time in drum corps (that is a MAJOR function of the "new DCI corps) getting experience. Looks good on their teaching resumes.

Given that, I am surprised that DCI corps don't look for support funding from university music schools. They could run the drum corps summer program as a college credit course!

If a local school were involved, the corps could use the school as a practice site, thus saving more money!

Full sponsorship by the University could bring even MORE benefits!

What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958-63

Most Public Universities are so strapped for cash they barely scrape by with their own programs. The private schools and the major universities could care less about DCI. They don't need DCI.

What did you do in the Corps? Baritone

What years were you a Corps member? Cadets 1959 to 1961 Imperials 1962 to 1966

You are right about cash, John. But, if they could make the "drum corps course" into a PAYING affair .. who knows?

What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958-63

Why would they want to do that? Giving credit for marching drum corps just points out their possible inability to give the music education major/student proper or complete training to teach high school marching band. That would also undercut a much needed recruitment tool for their collegiate marching bands. If kids got college credit for marching band from their experiences with drum corps, then many music majors would pass on marching band so they could put all of their efforts into Theory and their academic classes during the fall. Sorry, that idea would never fly at a major university.

What did you do in the Corps? Brass Instructor, Corps Manager

Many corps do have college credits given for marching in drum corps. In the corps I am with, we have a deal with Minnesota State University in Mankato where music students can spend a summer with the Govenaires and earn a credit towards their academics. We also use their band facilities in winter rehearsals. And yes Bill, it is a great deal all the way around. Perhaps Bob knows about what the link between Spirit and JSU. I know there's some kind of university backing there.

The 1 credit hour thing has been there and went back to the days of Star of Indiana, who got 1 credit how of Liberal Arts credit for being in the drum corps, not music school credit though. But I was referring to funding and major credits being given through the music department, that would otherwise divert student away from their own offerings, which includes their own marching band. Minor Universities who don't have large marching bands or any marching band will be more likely to give those kinds of credit. But receiving college credit in their field requires that the activity be accredited by that college by NCA and have staff that are both highly degreed and qualified to teach college courses. I doubt very seriously that many 'big time' schools are going to allow kids credit toward their Music Ed degrees without spending time in their marching music ensembles, not outside ones that don't have those specific qualifications. That's what I was elaborating on. There are always exceptions to every rule, but not so frequently with 'major' educational institutions.

What did you do in the Corps? Brass Instructor, Corps Manager

Spirit is now run BY JSU, and it is basically that band during the summer (but, in many ways, Spirit was ALWAYS that, just unofficially).

What did you do in the Corps? Snare, Drum Major, Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

If DCI was smart, they would partner with MTV / VH1's "Save the Music" program and tap into the funding.

This could be used to start up those little corps to keep the activity flourishing.

This could be used to start and fund corps in the inner city to help keep kids out of trouble.

What did you do in the Corps? Cymbals, Bass Drum, Tenor

What years were you a Corps member? 1980-1983

Jim said:

If DCI was smart, they would partner with MTV / VH1's "Save the Music" program and tap into the funding.

This could be used to start up those little corps to keep the activity flourishing.

This could be used to start and fund corps in the inner city to help keep kids out of trouble.

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1. If DCI were smart? Duh!
2. Yes, help the little corps
3. Corps in the inner city .. to help keep kids out of trouble? That is one of the primary reasons that drum corps started years ago!

What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958-63