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Minnesota Dominates at DCA Championships
Congratulations
to Minnesota Brass Inc. and the Govenaires (St. Peter, Minn.) for
taking first place in their competitive classes at the 2011 Drum Corps Associates
World Championships on Sept. 4 in Rochester, N.Y.!
Minnesota
Brass pulled off a historic win as it brought home the first-ever DCA
Open Class championship in Minnesota's history by beating the reigning
DCA champion Reading Buccaneers (Reading, Pa.) and ending that corps'
six-year undefeated competitive streak.
And
the Govenaires won their third A Class championship in six years (also
won in 2006 and 2009) by beating Fusion Core from New Jersey.
Congratulations to the all the corps members, staff and supporters for their hard work and making Minnesota proud.
A Look Back: First-Year Reflections on DCI
Marching
drum corps is a life-changing experience, especially a
performer's first year. Read on for Minnesota Brass Indoor member Joe Jaeger's
thoughts on his first season of DCI with the 2011
Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps.
Joe Jaeger
Age: 20
From: Minnesota Brass Indoor
Favorite drum corps show: Carolina Crown 2009 “The Grass is Always Greener”
Favorite indoor drumline show of all time: Music City Mystique 2009 “Requiem”
Favorite food while on tour this summer: Burgers…And PB&J!
Best memory of tour:
Staying in dorms in Virginia, and getting to watch “Shark
Week” on the first TV we had been around all summer!
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Joe performing with the 2011 Blue Stars
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Sum up your experience at drum corps this summer in one sentence.
This summer was the most fun I have ever had playing drums.
Why did you want to march junior corps in the first place?
My
family was always into drum corps and were long time members of
Minnesota Brass Inc. when I was growing up, so I have always wanted to
march. I learned everything about drumming while marching with MBI. I
was having a great time there, but I think I was crazy because I wanted
to drum every single day which wasn’t possible with MBI. I
wanted to experience firsthand what this DCI tour experience was that
everyone was talking about.
Best part of drum corps, based on your experience?
The fact that 150 people can work together to achieve the same
goal, everyone having their own job, is pretty cool. The energy I felt
from the rest of the corps on finals night, knowing that it was the
best performance we had, was a great feeling.
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Tri-State Band Festival
Saturday, Sept. 24
Luverne, Minn.
Click
here for more info.
Irondale Music of the Knight
Saturday, Sept. 24
New Brighton, Minn.
Click
here for more info.
MPA Fall General Membership Meeting
4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25
Black Hawk Middle School
Eagan, Minn.
Click
here for directions.
Rebel Classic
Saturday, Oct. 1
Champlin, Minn.
Click here for more info.
Prairie Colors Festival
Saturday, Oct. 8
Eden Prairie, Minn.
Click here for more info.
Youth in Music Championships
Saturday, Oct. 22
Minneapolis, Minn.
Click here for more info.
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Was there anything that was completely or slightly untrue from how people described drum corps before you did it?
A lot of people
said, “You are going to be so tired all the time and hate
your life until the season is over!” Sometimes, yes that was
true. But on an overall scale, I had a great time. It helped knowing
that everyone was just as tired as I was, and we all could forget about
it and push through together.
What about drum corps were you surprised was actually just like people described it?
I always thought
sleeping on gym floors would be awful, but everyone I talked to who had
marched before said I would get used to it quickly. That was 100% true.
After sitting on a bus for hours, there was nothing I looked forward to
more than sprawling out on my air mattress and just passing out!
Worst part of drum corps, based on your experience?
Arriving at a
small Texas high school in the middle of the night, only to find out
the gym lights don’t turn on and the A/C doesn’t
work. The next day it is 100+ degrees, the ensemble field is nothing
but dirt, dead grass, and burrs all over the place, the water is warm
and tastes terrible, and only one shower is available for 100 guys to
use! Talk about character building!
Why should students want to march drum corps?
For me, a lot of it was about
taking what I was doing in high school to the highest level possible,
that being drum corps. If you really enjoy marching band, and
working hard with your friends to create the best show you can, drum
corps will only amplify that. It’s a fantastic experience!
Plus you will become the absolute best at what you do.
What advice do you have for people wanting to march a junior corps?
It is said a lot, but
don’t be afraid to try out. The first step is simply being
ready for the audition. Work hard on your own, and know your music
inside and out. If you have questions…ask them!
What if they think they're not good enough?
So what? Go to the camp
anyway! Audition camps are where I learned the most. There are a lot of
kids (including myself) in the same boat who will still get an awesome
experience, even if they don’t get a spot.
How are you going to use what you learned this summer and your
experiences for the future, both in your musical career and life in
general?
Drum corps not only helped me
to be the best musician I could be, but taught me a few life lessons as
well. After drum corps, I feel like I can motivate myself to do
anything. I worked so hard every day for 3 months, just for one 11
minute performance. If I apply how hard I worked to everything else in
life, I can accomplish a lot.
Going back next year?
Yes. I became good friends
with the guys I drummed with, and I’ve been looking forward
to drumming with them again ever since I arrived home from tour.
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