What is Drum & Bugle Corps?
Drum & bugle corps are independent, not-for-profit youth groups that are comprised of musical athletes aged 14-21. Each corps includes 150 youth playing brass, percussion and color guard (dancers). These musical athletes tour the country throughout the summer, sleeping in school gyms and competing against other youth drum & bugle corps. The musical athleticism in drum & bugle corps, rivals the levels achieved by top Olympians. Participants are considered to be “the example” to bands throughout the world. The variety of styles performed at a DATW event are as diverse as music itself. Over the course of the evening you are likely to hear jazz, pop, swing, classical, show tunes, symphonic and even, yes, marches. Most performances run between 10 and 11 minutes. What is the difference between a marching band and drum & bugle corps? Drum & bugle corps are their own main attraction and tend to focus on drawing the audience into the performance. Marching bands, on the other hand, tend to augme
