Masters of the Marching Arts
Devoted to the past, present, and future
of drum and bugle corps and other marching activities
This Quarter’s Featured Articles
Innovation and Evolution in Modern Drum Corps – Visual: (Part 4A) Introduction + Rules/Judging
Introduction Among the aspects of the drum corps activity that have changed over the past five decades, it could be argued that the visual elements have been the most affected. The standards "back in the day" included marching in straight lines, wearing uniforms that...
Innovation and Evolution in Modern Drum Corps Visual (Part 4B): Attire
In Part 4A we discussed Rules and Judging. In this article, we will cover Attire. Attire For decades it was easy to identify a corps marching into a stadium from a simple glimpse of their uniforms. Until the late 1970s most corps wore uniforms that were a part of...
The Scarecrow Chronicles
Mars Free State, October 12, 2067 On a recent trip to Mars, I dropped in on Jim Wedge. We spoke at Wedge’s suite in the Emperor Bezos Home for Cranky Earthlings. "Gee, Hymie" said Wedge, as he sipped a Red Planet Lite, "You didn't have to drag your ass to Mars. You...
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.
How Jack Whalen Saved Me (and Three Others) from Going AWOL
By Jim “Mac” McKenzie
By 1968 Jack Whelan was already known nationwide as a potential Drum Corps Hall of Fame member.
2021 Drum Corps East Review
Allentown – August 7, 2021 Drum corps fans packed the stands at Birney Crum Stadium Saturday night under perfect weather. The wide range of age of those in attendance showed that drum corps is alive and well and sought after by fans of all ages. We drove a six hour...
The Greatest
Should there be competition among the Arts? Easy decisions are made on the football field, baseball diamond or at the track meet tape. Whoever is fastest or scores more points wins. With Art, subjective minds decide what/who is best – usually for the rest of us. Is...
Random Thoughts Inspired by an Old Photo
The picture with this article is from my mother’s 1948 high school yearbook. The resolution is poor, but one can see that the corps uniforms resembled those of Salvation Army ladies and that the girls wore sensible shoes. I don’t know whether they were a competitive...
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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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