Masters of the Marching Arts

Devoted to the past, present, and future
of drum and bugle corps and other marching activities

Devoted to the past, present, and future of drum and bugle corps and other marching activities

This Quarter’s Featured Articles

R.I.P. (Temporarily?), Cadets

R.I.P. (Temporarily?), Cadets

Recently, a friend asked me why the Cadets are my favorite corps. That decision took 12 minutes and 36 seconds to make as they finished their semifinal performance on August 14, 1985. That was my first live viewing of the Garfield Cadets, and I made it my mission to...

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The Human Jurrasic Park

The Human Jurrasic Park

Introduction by Linda O'Connor My head's been spinning this morning. How could it already be Labor Day weekend? Somehow, life has, once again, stepped in the way of great plans. I'd hoped to be in Rochester, New York, this weekend for the last DCA show. No, not the...

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Threepeat*

Threepeat*

DCI committed another championship to its annals. Per usual, the Internet reacted from all sides of the dodecagon (one side for every finalist). Who let Judge A work Finals? Corps B was CLEARLY better; everybody on Drum Corps Planet SAID so! Park and bark! What are...

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2023 DCI REVIEW

2023 DCI REVIEW

Indianapolis – August 10-12, 2023 It is the first intermission of Thursday’s Preliminary show in Indy. I turned to head up the stairs to the food court when I thought I recognized the guy behind me. “Hey, aren’t you The Czar?” I said. “I’ve read some of your columns...

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Anybody (Else?) But BD

Anybody (Else?) But BD

From 1976-1980, DCI fans experienced the first Reign of Terror by the Concord Blue Devils. They won four out of five championships, and despite placing third in 1978, they were a few mere tenths away from winning that one. Ditto to 1981 where their percussion hit an...

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Ka-Ching, Ka-Ching, DCI

Ka-Ching, Ka-Ching, DCI

  Santa Clara Vanguard’s tragic decision not to field a 2023 corps shocked the DCI world. Drum Corps Planet, Twitter, and Facebook exploded with elegies, eulogies, and touching memoirs. One of the common thoughts of the social media: if it happened to SCV, no...

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2022 DCI REVIEW

2022 DCI REVIEW

Indianapolis  –  August 11-13, 2022: Drum Corps is alive and well. From my seat in Row 1 on about the 48-yard line, I turn around and look up to the top row where it meets the rooftop of Lucas Oil Stadium. I nearly need binoculars to see that far. Fans are packed in...

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DCI’s 50th

DCI’s 50th

Finally! Another full season, complete with scores, is in the books. I spent Thursday in my local theatre sparingly taking notes on my iPhone and emailing them to myself. "Big, Loud & Live" takes me back to my Boomer days of the live PBS broadcasts which I still...

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How ‘Fair’ Is the Judging System?

How ‘Fair’ Is the Judging System?

  People who have followed drum corps for decades have seen significant changes in the activity and in the rules and logistics that govern competition. Most people who are passionate about the activity have - at one time or another - expressed strong opinions...

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Letters to Aunt Mildred

by Rick Connor
Many years ago, I became friendly with a lady at Mission Drums whose name was Mildred. She was at the show with her two sisters, Phoebe and Henrietta and her brother, Phineas. I found Mildred to be an astute drum corps fan who …
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Uncle Phineas Comments on DCI

Dear Aunt Mildred,

Some people seem unhappy about some of the changes in drum corps over the years. I love all the changes. I see them as major improvements, with better instruments, better performances, and more interesting programs.

Quelling Covid

Dear Aunt Mildred, As I sit here checking my social calendar, I feel like a homely girl (person – does that make it more p.c.?), sitting at home by the telephone on a Saturday night. My older brother’s birthday was on February 2nd so I checked in with him and asked,...

Who Were Your Favorites?

Dear Aunt Mildred, I’ve missed you and your family, except for Uncle Phineas. He’s a bore. It’s great to have MMA back and I wish you lots of luck with your new web site. I think it’s going to be great. My questions are how have been dealing with the pandemic and who...

The Story of Aunt Mildred

Many years ago I became friendly with a lady at Mission Drums whose name was Mildred. She was at the show with her two sisters, Phoebe and Henrietta and her brother, Phineas. I found Mildred to be an astute drum corps fan who fell in love with the Princemen and their...

A Letter from Orlando

Dear Aunt Mildred: Here I am, waiting for my plane at Orlando International Airport. I've just finished watching three days of the Drum Corps International Championships. Editor Rick, you may know, asked me to do coverage of DCI for Masters of the Marching Arts. Wow!!...

The Check’s in the Mail

Hi Aunt Millie, I love reading your different letters in this fine magazine. I do have one complaint though. Your editor, Rick Connor, sent this message to me with his latest issue, "Send your check or I'll kill you." Could you please tell Rick his tactics are a...

Was Jim Wedge Kidding Me?

Dear Aunt Mildred:  When I first met Jim Wedge he only drank milk and coffee. Now he drinks beer. I just don't know when he's kidding me now. He claims that the Alumni Corps of Revere has an age limit of 90. I know that seems pretty old, but I was at the show in...

Why Did Everyone Call Him Scotty?

Dear Aunt Mildred: I just got one question for you. A lot of people seem to think you have all the answers.The jury's still out in my book and I don't refer to the O.J. trial. I've been in drum corps for fifty or sixty years and everyone's always talking about this...

A Rift in the 27th Lancers?

Dear Aunt Mildred, You're probably wondering why I sent this letter to you care of Masters of the Marching Arts. I happen to be a personal friend of your nephew, R.C., and he gave me the inside track on this new gig of yours and told me that you don't get paid if...

Why Did the Cambridge Caballeros Break Up?

Dear Aunt Mildred, My favorite corps was the Cambridge Caballeros and it seems that they broke up when they were at their peak. Why? Also, they had a short tenor drummer, who really looked old, and a chaperone who both had the same name, but with the drummer it was...

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