The Director's Chair
Archive The Director's Chair
What has it been almost 25 years? At least 25 years since Avant Garde folded,
27 if you are a Volunteer.
When the Vols & AG came together back in the 80’s,
it was for the preservation of a Junior Drum Corps.
Two groups coming together because drum corps as
WE knew it was everything to us.
For some it was our lives, where we played, sweat, learned, fought,
grew… loved.
Some of the best years of our lives were dedicated and committed to each other, to the CORE, making it better each year becoming more and more COMPETITIVE
We grew older, and as we matured, so did the corps. Never really realizing that,
that which we worked so hard to save was not being carefully preserved…
Preserved through our own involvement with educating new people who would go on to enable the corps to survive… And so…
It Did Not
and In 1986, the last Drum & Bugle Corps in the Capital District closed its doors on an era that would end its future here.
Here in the Capital Region
Sure some folks of course, attempted to bring it back not a junior corps this time but rather an all age corps.
Why ?
Because, those who loved and knew drum corps were older now but alas it never really hung on, corps died out almost as fast as they came up.
Longevity was not in the cards.
Most likely because all those involved were not all on the same page.
In 2004 a group of folks decided to give it yet another try.
A mix of personalities both young and old, some with DCI experience, some Alumni and DCA experience, hoping to some how join their bond into yet another all aged drum corps.
This time setting their sights on only parades, exhibitions and an easy schedule. This turned out, 36 horns several drummers, Honor and Color Guards.
The Problem ?
The Corps and its staff were on different pages.
AGAIN!
Some thought compete while other well… just wanted to have a good time
and...
that was o.k. but again not on the same page.
Those who wanted to compete left.
It was time for direction and well, not everyone can be a
Jeff Perkins
or
John Rustin
If you get my point.
They say...
"Leaders are not born, they are put there by those
who would be lead by them”
and in June of 2007 Excelsior changed hands.
Now under new management the goals changed and it was time to compete…
Time to once again bring competitive drum corps back to the Capital Region.
An opportunity to not only give the mature a chance to do what they loved but, to give youth an opportunity to perform,
have 20-40 hours/month of music education,
build character, leadership skills, discipline and confidence.
I know I don’t have to tell YOU what drum corps is.
I used to think that my kids would never really understand where I came from.
Never really understand what I got out of Drum Corps ~
I used to think ... they would think it was stupid... not cool.
The problem is…
That in our day we did not have to contend with the internet, XBOX, heavy sports schedules, WGI etc. etc. The worse part is in today’s society, to obtain a music scholarship would be far more easy to accomplish then say
a sports scholarship,
so what are they thinking???
Why is drum corps so dehydrated in the Capital with all the talent in this area ?
Hmmmm.....?
Why is it that a kid will do 4-5 hours of football but,
cant last 5 hours in a drum corps rehearsal?
Is what we do that much more challenging?
Have we not taught our kids to have more tenacity then that?
Last year a staffer said to me, that it was up to us to make the rehearsal interesting and fun. Exciting enough to want to return.
Although an interesting concept,
I don’t believe that is the entire problem.
Is it in the Eye of the Beholder ?
Have you ever noticed when you go into say… a Yankee Candle shop that even though you know what a candle is, how is smells you still need to touch, feel and smell them all AGAIN?
How impressive it is, all those candles lined up so neatly?
REVELATION !!!!
As I do every year, I attended another drum corps’ rehearsal.
This time though I brought my 15 year old son, a soprano in Excelsior’s line.
He's been there since he was 9 ~
HOW DID I DO THAT you ask ?
- Well...
I didn't have to. I convinced him to come to 1 rehearsal - his brother's too.
Just so he would feel comfortable.
He was happy to see that he could read the music and tried it out.
He thought It was cool but, BUT
The first time we snapped together at attention - a put horns up well...
I could hear his breath stop.
He was hooked.
Later that night he said Mom ... I get it.
Thought you might appreciate hearing that
anyway....
At this rehearsal at another corps...
I paid more attention to how much fun and or interaction I had and really...
there was no real difference between them and us.
In fact,
my 15 year old said, he thought we were more disciplined and that is saying a lot.
However, HOWEVER…
he was jumping up and down excited
and ill tell you why.
“IT IS ALL ABOUT SIZE”
This line had 65 + horns and let me tell you …
IT LOOKED GOOD, FELT GOOD & SMELLED GOOD.
So there you have it.
The real answer to the lack of success in this area,
Not enough folks dedicating their time to their own back yard.
They travel 3-4 plus hours to make some other city some other state more prosperous in drum corps.
Bringing their “brick” if you will to someone else’s wall.
Never willing to build the foundation of drum corps here,
right next to all the people
they have marched in drum corps with before.
Drum Corps in the Capital, needs your HELP.
YOU… those of you who are still here, still here,
not doing drum corps at all for that matter.
I know, too busy, kids, work, wives, husbands etc.
I know I’ve been there too, In my mind.
Who knew that “all age drum corps” would be easier to do then that which I remembered. Who knew that now I could include my loved ones and that as a family we could all do this thing that I loved and was so a part of me.
Who knew that what I did would be so impressive to my
Family.
Happily my family was more interested in getting to
know a part of me they did not know about before.
They supported me and helped.
We have great family outings now, which
we did not always have before because,
we would choose to work on the house or
they would go hang with their friends play XBOX internet whatever…
Now we together, grow confidence, spend time together and yet have time apart making new friends while still building a common goal.
I am 43 now.
Through drum corps and because of drum corps
I have become a strong and independent person.
Continuing to learn skills , growing my family as well as other’s and in all that, drum corps has brought back to me the other love of my life
Greg Mataruga.
As most of you know he was one of the soloists for Avant Garde and when
the Vols & AG came together we met.
He impressed me so much then because - he had many opportunities to go
play with other Drum Corps -
Drum Corps that were at the top of the game - Drum corps that were so good
they are still at the top of their game but,
HE DID NOT GO-
Loyalty .... Respect and Dedication
Was instilled in him... and well - Thank God
Today, 25 years later, we are together again, married !
and now together we embark on this adventure called Drum Corps .
In 2009 Excelsior stepped foot on the competing field –
an historic event for the Capital Region.
Armed with a much bigger staff for the 2010 season, Excelsior’s goal is to become more competitive so that we too
will look good, feel good and smell good
to new on lookers in order to preserve this thing that gave us
a start to most of our lives our careers - our families.
I've re-met many of you again... and was thrilled to see that most of you
also married from drum corps, some said to us...
"What took you two so long"... I loved that.
So... here we are.
Help us to really jump start this, what ever that means for you.
Marching, helping, supporting, teaching, recruiting – what ever you are capable of.
Greg and I ask you to help us out in 2010,
To not only compete, but to become competitive and pass on the legacy that
WE were all apart of creating ….
DR_M & B_GLE
CORPS
"The only thing missing is ?"
"U"
