Drum Corps: How TOUGH is it?

[@backseatdriver2293]

I did three years in DCI at the Div 1 level (1 in the pit and 2 on the field). I was in insane shape after the year I was in the front ensemble. Loading the equipment on and off the truck at many times up to 4x per day gets your whole body going. As a snare drummer, I would never think of lugging around a set of quads. You guys are collectively keeping chiropractors in business throughout the country.

[@SwimminWitDaFishies]

Phillip Weems No need for a chiropractor if you have a strong core and use proper lifting techniques with good posture.

[@Zetaga]

@@SwimminWitDaFishies still chiro would relieve stress

[@anakinskywalker2953]

@@SwimminWitDaFishies agreed however it still kills the back because there is no other set of muscles that can possibly be used to stabilize the instrument.

[@friedpancakes266]

Make sure to properly adjust your harness as well. It effectively acts as a back support

[@DeuceDeuceDrmmr]

Agreed, Backseat Driver. 5 years in Raiders (open class), best shape of my life. My cardio n lower body were insane the first 2 years while I was in the snareline. When I switched to pit, in addition to loading and moving equipment, on sectional days the pit did sit-ups while the drumline ran. . . For as long as they ran. The post tour 6-pack was a surprise back home.

[@betaomega04]

When I marched at Bluecoats, I had an ingrown toenail that got infected. We were performing pretty much every night, so there wasn't much of an opportunity to go to the ER towards the end of the season. To compensate, I just marched on the outside part of my foot. Bad idea. I was able to finish the season ( like 2 weeks left), but when I got back home, a stress fracture had set in and I was in crutches for a few weeks. Fortunately, I got my toe fixed before finals, but so many people aren't as lucky and have their season cut short because of lingering injuries. It especially sucks whenever an injury sends an age-out home. Take minor injuries seriously and try not to do anything too stupid.

[@dogestep64]

What year did you march btw

[@ryanb5175]

I am in high school marching band and I also had an ingrown toenail but it took me a long time to get it fixed because of my insane phobia of needles. Eventually it got to the point where I could not take the pain and suffered the surgery.

[@xGoldriever]

ingrown toenail at Mandies lol gang gang

[@averybondeson3322]

I tore my ACL in the first of band camp and marched bass 5 for a whole season

[@beefshreekksksksksks8648]

Oh dang

[@James-fj5pe]

Dang that sucks. Was that this season

[@averybondeson3322]

@@James-fj5pe Yeah the 2019 season

[@johnmchugh8049]

I’ve marched bass - most injuries ever (including eating it on the field during competition😂 I got back up but me eating shit hurt our score, I think , embarrassing )

[@sbryan5133]

My friend broke his rib at away camp and still marched the whole season

[@chocolatechip2293]

Sbryan 513 definition of manly I bet him and manly mcman would’ve been the besets of friends

[@liammcelroy2265]

That's not stupidity, that's just awesomeness

[@sealfoam6841]

0:35 birdland. Didn't expect that from drum corp.

[@andrewmastronunzio615]

Crossmen, pretty much every year for many years, always played Birdland

[@AzrealMaximus]

CMCC Warriors D&B played BL in 79

[@Iplayquad]

OMG thats what it is!!! My jazz band is playing this and I was like,, What is that?!

[@sarniasam]

Bleu Raeders Blue Stars Boston Crusaders Fitchburg Kingsmen Kilties Offensive Lions Suncoast Sound West Coast Express That's just in 1979.

[@joechavez784]

Ya me too, I am playing this in jazz band. I was so confused when I heard it here

[@matthewluna8636]

EMC I met you at the marine corps marching band show at Kofa high school in Yuma a few days ago. I asked to take a picture with you and you signed my hat

[@user-wr2hz2uf3c]

I play front ensemble for shows, and cymbols for parades. Can confirm, under appreciated.

[@addalynschmidt8092]

Agree I play front ensemble and cymbals to

[@ProdbyXolar]

At least you don’t play finger cymbals

[@Kettie5]

Y’all are absolutely underrated. I’ve watched several pit headcams, and it’s insane. And the cymbals are just weapons of mass destruction from what I can tell. That’s why the band hall is the best place to be during an intruder, just grab a cymbal and decapitate the bitch like you’re King Henry the 8th.

[@Axee_man]

Same

[@Airlo-rk8wj]

@@ProdbyXolar our mb decided to be different for our 2nd song this year and not include any of the marching percussion instruments for that song. So the bass drummers and snares (the only tenor quit lmao) played toys such as finger cymbals, tambourine, hand bells, and sleigh bells.

[@ickabobroe]

I’m glad to hear that cymbal got a little bit of recognition, whether it be for our bruises or under appreciation, I’m glad we made it in

[@numberonebev]

His allergy is a mixture of gluten(i think) and exercise(i know)

[@Soosh8]

"I have been dealing with a serious injury" *Video cuts to an ad where someone steps on a lego piece*

[@dues_vult9897]

As a cymbal player YES we are hella underrated and underappreciated

[@EmoryBlake4Music]

Man, I'm sorry this happens to you guys because I have much respect for any cymbal line. I know it's much harder than it looks. I have your backs all the way.

[@sixmanephonk]

you guys got the best visuals in percussion tbh. I have a lot of respect for you guys

[@yungardnr]

My high school uses pearl drum corps sized quad sets. Our tech literally made working out over summer and concert season a mandatory thing. He told us the quads we had plus the harness was 40+ lbs and whoever wanted an audition had to actively work out

[@samsignorelli]

Rehearsal scheduling was a little different back in 84 when I was in BD (Btw....major props to the Commandant's Own for playing on 2 valved G horns....the King K-20 was the best horn I ever pushed air through). I moved to Concord the January after I made the line, and we has brass sectionals every Wednesday for about 3 hrs. We were at Mars (BD's long-time practice field...the closest thing to holy ground in the org) I THINK every other weekend at first, then it ramped up to every weekend...both days...all day. Camps were once a month and we'd meet in Concord and the bus fleet (we owned one back then) would go to the actual camp site, which gave everyone a chance to practice the logistics of moving a corps around. Dailies started after high school graduation, and then it was 24/7 until Finals night. 1st tour (old guys will remember that) was a regional tour (in California only for us) for maybe a week/2 weeks, then 2 weeks back at home base to rework the show, and on the big tour. A season at that level was the hardest thing I've ever done....but it made basic training a breeze (yeah....it was USAF....work with me)

[@josephemerson4559]

I just got a baritone contract with Heat Wave (open class, FL). Thanks for the help!

[@ryangroom2959]

I’m a snare, I think it’s probably the easiest instrument to match except piccolo flute because it’s not that much weight on your back and you don’t have to hold your hands up at your face. The only downside is you have to be good

[@Nah_Id_Win69420]

I love that being good is the downside lmaooooo

[@Moosepants12]

Guard is the easiest tbh. From a tenor drummer who can spin

[@adlerbunnuggr8843]

And this is why marching band should be a sport lmao

[@willy5838]

DCI anyway

[@jalakor]

willem depauw Drum and Bugle Corps for sure, but not high school marching band tbh. It’s not nearly as rigorous.

[@willy5838]

StormishBreeze that’s what I was saying, maybe when it gets up there with high school wgi programs/ some competitive bands. Those get pretty intense

[@kobyrozelle544]

It isn’t

[@DjReeceVarnell]

Funny 😂 your comment on this video timed perfectly with his new video ranking marching band as a sport !

[@0Aquamelon]

“Dynasties are definitely heavier than pearls” I have pearls at home and I’ve tried dynasties and dynasties are definitely lighter... well to be fair, the pearls I’ve tried were sonic cut, AKA they were unnecessarily big, so maybe the shallow cut pearls are lighter.

[@kisterdrums]

This school year I was supposed to play quads, and I'm actually pretty good at them. Little did I know that being slightly overweight + marching 30 pound drums for a whole parade wouldn't feel to good. Got so bad that I switched to snare, which I actually like a little more now anyways

[@anthonyy.ontopp]

aint no way its alex kister creater of mandela

[@loganknight6454]

i got cut for the wrong “style” so i guess i just went to the wrong corps

[@Pantsthaniel]

What corps? Unfortunately so many corps do that but there's definitely a lot that don't.

[@loganknight6454]

Pantsthaniel Guardians down in houston. they are an open class corps.

[@sireislas3903]

@@loganknight6454 Dang, they were one of the ones I was considering trying out for. Did they elaborate any more than just your "style?"

[@sireislas3903]

@@loganknight6454 Lol wtf. Oh well, maybe I'll just try my luck somewhere else. I'm mostly thinking Genesis but I'm not sure if I'm good enough.

[@SuperChuy254]

That One Guy I auditioned for genesis for the first time (first dci audition ever) and I got contracted. You never know until you try.

[@adventure_hannah3841]

For cardio, if you can't run, go cycle or swim! When I had a ton of knee and ankle problems in Cross Country and Track, I would cycle (not bike ride... CYCLE, keep it on a light gear and go with a high cadence / 80-90 rpm, a few sprints at 100+) and swim (usually around 1:40 pace per 100yds, ranging from 600 to to 2000yds total). Usually I'd stay about the same cardiovascular fitness. The reduced impact on the knee, especially in the pool, is super great. Another option is "aqua-jogging" which is where you wear a float belt and "run" laps in the pool.

[@jalakor]

Hey EMC! I hope to see you at Finals this year by the way! I’m marching with Phantom Regiment this year, and I’m staying long enough after finals (not assuming a finals run, that’s something everyone has to earn, but will stay to see the Marines anyway) to see y’all!

[@baconlettucepotato69]

my friend gave me shit for picking front ensemble at the start of the season. he went quads. guess who ended up with scoliosis and guess who ended up with an MVP award.

[@blaine8197]

Listening to this as I work out. I want a video of Eric yelling for 10 minutes straight for motivation proposes

[@IanlikesCards]

I love the Front Ensemble appreciation we need all the love we can get 😂❤

[@notimpressedbyyourm4932]

Hell yeah all cymbals represent thanks for the shoutout!❤️

[@nikolaigoodwin6942]

i started getting inspired after watching your sheet music videos then i started watching you in general and ive taken some of the things you do on the tenors in and i just want to say thank you

[@dylanperalta4836]

Him: "go work out right now" Me: (is watching this at 11:49 pm)

[@ProdbyXolar]

Go to workout 24/7

[@Thesevideostrash]

Emc I want to join tenors but I can’t practice because they just don’t let freshman use drums unless you already on the line I’m on pit and I just hate having to always to lug around instruments that weighs more than I do ,but then again I can’t practice and if I don’t practice I can’t make the line, can you try to make a video on how to make a practice pad for under like 50$ or a decent way for me to practice without having to buy expensive stuff, I would and appreciate it I think it would help a lot of people ps.eat you cereal

[@LukeGeppert]

If you haven’t already, talk to your band director or tech. If that doesn’t work then I would recommend talking to people on the line so that you can see how hard the music is. Since you are a freshman going home on sophomore you still have time to make the line. You could use Remo pads and just arrange them in the pattern of a tenor. If the music is too hard then I would recommend trying snare or bass drum or even flubs if they have them. Also, keep in mind that tenors are extremely heavy and hard to march with. Your main problem is the weight so I’m not sure if tenors are the right fit.

[@emmanuelhernandez3618]

I am also a freshman and this outdoor season I marched bass 2 and this indoor season I am marching tenors what I did was buy a Evans Reel Feel pad and did my best to get copies of warm ups from the other tenors and practice them until the audition

[@Thesevideostrash]

Thanks

[@Logan-qi7ed]

Even cheaper than all of that is just some hardback books or textbooks

[@isaiahmoro4991]

trust me coming from a freshman that marched tenors his first year and now this upcoming season. carrying those things unless you have smaller tenors at your school, my school has bigger tenors and those things suck to carry as a freshman

[@lucasmansier]

“For the last 6 months, I have been working on something that will definently win me title of best uncle. I have created 11 fully functional, full operational, nuclear warheads, and we’re gonna drop them on peoples door steps.”

[@captainkiwi77]

Good morning. Once I pulled my back the morning of a competition. Through sitting out of the early morning practice and stretching tons I was able to pull through just barely (although I practically collapsed right after) luckily that was only high school, otherwise the strain would have killed me in corps proper. Turns out at the time I was suffering from what I call “post wrestling career pains” where everything from my wrestling days was finally catching up after I’d finished my last year wrestling and decided to march winter instead. My back pulled 3 separate times that year and only through stretching and yoga have I returned my core strength to a functional corps strength. Anyways for the future you should go on the aged out podcast. They haven’t dealt much with online creators, mostly just techs for various corps. It’s literally a dci drumline related podcast, and they seem to have a penitent for bringing on crown and united guys, so you’d fit the bill perfect

[@Peardon_]

0:33 Birdland Slaps

[@average9166]

WHERE’S THE PLAYTHROUGH OF STROKING THE HEAD! The NFL Drumline has over 5,000 likes!

[@nintonic20]

I was put on Quads for my HS Marching band, and I have never marched an instrument before, and have no lower back strength. The only thing I do have is stamina...wish me luck...pls

[@impow5649]

Hey just wanted to say your performance at Army and Navy Academy was crazy good! My dumbass went straight to wrestling practice, but if you comeback next year it would be something I would really be looking forward to.

[@DrMoneyAndTheBoyWithNoUh]

Had total knee reconstruction right before Christmas, well on my way through recovery and gonna try to get into a core later this year

[@avab5787]

front ensemble can be very physically active as well just with moving equipment. in the Dayton arena, there is a really bad slope that my indoor group had to push out boards up and with an older and very heavy vibe, it’s hard. but in addition to that, loading also requires a lot of strength. we are also in pain after playing with 4 mallets all the time. so many calluses

[@weaponizedtrombone1793]

I'm doing running for my prep. I ran and jogged for 19 minutes straight today, no stopping, 2.36 miles

[@quanyoung6119]

You are the only youtuber i will watch ads for, you deserve the cash and you are my idle

[@lclpurcussion2868]

I'm on quads for my high school Drumline. but it freaking sucks because we carry pearl drums and we don't get any dum stands!!

[@TheJazzGuy75]

It was a privilege to see you play and meet you in person at MCRD! Keep on drumming brother!

[@dangerdingo2962]

2:15 marching timpani has entered the chat

[@RedDogMamaHD]

HEY! 6:12 I was there ... at the performances at MCRD San Diego, Carlsbad High School and Army & Navy Academy. Too bad that with the lockdown, that the Commandant's Own was not able to do a Battle Color Detachment Tour this year. It was so nice to be able to Meet and Greet with the Quads, Bassline, and members of the Silent Drill Platoon after the performances. (posted 8-3-21)

[@JacobKensler]

To add on to what you said about the front ensemble at the beginning, look at our hands after a day of band camp

[@gabe3478]

Can you do more tips on how to get better at quads, and some exercises for quads

[@michaelengle9062]

get Bill Bachmans book , Quad Logic...great place to start

[@brianhynes6493]

Marched 12 years in drum corps back in the day. 6 of it as a contra bass/ marching tuba. Those suckers are heavy and you only use your arms to hold it, not a carrier and your entire body. Yes, when I was playing it was on my shoulder, but not playing all the time. I definitely have the bad back to prove it. Herniated and bulging disks and all. Wouldn't trade it for anything. :)

[@brian_carson_525]

Bird land is a really good tune when my dad did dci they play it

[@psychedahlia]

THANKS YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING FRONT ENSEMBLE (also the after playing cymbals in a t shirt I ended up with like 5 cuts in my arm)

[@xXRunDeathXx]

there you go, you got 5k likes. i am waiting for the allergy reveal

[@DylanPerlet]

I loved when you guys played bird land and how we played it for jazz band

[@deannaholbrook5346]

I'm in middle school and I play oboe as my main instrument but I also play sax for jazz band and for our spring concert we play birdland and I recognized it

[@classicalytrumpet9190]

I run track in the off-season to stay in shape... And then Cross Country while I have marching band. What am I doing?

[@manofrespect9266]

Crying everday? Lol😂 I feel ya!! I am on 4 different hockey teams and I am constantly wrestling combined with both orchestra and marching band its insane😭

[@jplayzow]

on sundays he does head shoulders knees and toes

[@Bryson_J_Kinkead05]

EMC is preaching the truth because im in a high school marching band marching the coolest instrment in the band the quads

[@gabecordrey6835]

i ran cross country and it helped soooo much with marching this year everyone els was tired and i could go another 6-7 more runs.

[@theproghost3522]

Thank you for your service

[@andrewshalaby2663]

its so funny because in my high school's marching band I auditioned for quads and made it but got cut a day before band camp because i couldnt carry the drums. Those things are h e a v y. learned the hard way that having the hands/chops for an instrument doesn't mean crap if you can't carry it LOL

[@swagenheim3rr]

you guys playing birdland is so cool, I played that last year for my middle school jazz band

[@BxCortez2050]

Never knew you were a fellow Marine ... ( hitting subscribed ) Semper Fi

[@gabebell6372]

I hope I can do drum corps one day

[@gaminglife4448]

I'm marching dynasties quads from the blue devils 2007 and we use J bar harnesses and it's a bunch of work

[@gabecordrey6835]

i agree that quads are the hardest to march and this is coming form a trumpet with a ego as big as my range but series props two people who march quads hope to learn to play them correctly someday

[@footsoljier6468]

I march highschool cymbals and I could not tell you how many times I have pinched my arms, stomach, cut my fingers, bruised my hands, arms, and blistered my fingers

[@cristianollison3738]

The amount of tiks on the intro clip tho 😂😂😂

[@bradensteen5599]

His allergy is wheat depended, exercise induced anaphylaxis

[@cvoopr]

I wish there was an EMCproductions that was colorguard. I'm not saying I don't enjoy these drumline based videos (tbh, he's made me want to attempt to learn tenor drums lol), but me being colorguard, I always see the titles of these videos and wonder "hmmm, I wonder how a colorguard version of this would be". I'm really interested in doing colorguard dci in college, but I just feel there isn't enough information that's put in a way where I'll actually not be bored out of my mind just to learn one thing. If anyone knows of a colorguard creator out there PLEASE let me know!

[@cobrown1239]

Thank you for the tips! I’m trying to make my high school snare line and this was vary helpful!

[@Crazyclay78YT]

our marching band is the Rockford (Illinois) Competitive Marching Band and it is the ENTIRE city (school district) including middle and high school and we have a grand total of, drum roll please, 46 people. we have 3 trombones (one of which is me, also a soloist) a ton of flutes and clarinets 1 tuba (2 in the middle of the season) a mellophone and 4 trumpets, 2 of which are bad. there are no tryouts, we can't be picky, there are not enough people, hopefully, we can get a few more since we sent out a flyer to the band directors and told each one to hang it up. we are really bad. Edit: there are 3 percussionists one quad, one snare, one bass drum. Thankfully they are amazing.

[@jjclark56]

2:15 ok what about the sousaphone hmmmmmm. I had to march that and it was pretty difficult. But I’m also pretty short so maybe that was the reason.

[@chriswitmer9754]

Not sure if the add roll half way through saying that the cymbals are the most under appreciated was done on purpose or not, but it still got a LOL out of me.

[@AddicusJ]

I rolled my ankle skateboarding the day before 3 Christmas parades and still marched snare. Then found out 2 days later I had combined stress fractures. Took nearly a year to get it back to 100%.

[@GHRebel]

i play the drumkit for over a decade and got back problems. after all those years it really hard for me to now force myself to sit straight, even while playing. It sounds stupid but i still struggle with after 2 years of hard trying. Young and dumb back in the days and you got problems for years

[@AzrealMaximus]

Maynard Ferguson Birdland. played it in 77 with CMCC Warriors D&B

[@the_grunkler]

loved telling my corps nurse that i thought was something was wrong for my left foot and her telling me just to ice it and take ibuprofen and then i broke it the show that night and then having to go home half way through the season and having surgery and not walking for another 3 months or so

[@thatguy849]

The sousaphone is also pretty hard to march with

[@Kieran.percussion]

As a quadist in a drum corps, the amount my body has to take daily really makes it mentally hard

[@zuzugaming2215]

Is that bird land I hear?funny because I’m playing it for jazz.😂

[@alexcalgra205]

I like how this video came out the day our Marine corps recruiter came in to our band class

[@carsonmiller1313]

Congrats on becoming center tenor!!

[@FE1Marv]

It was great seeing you at Kofa HS hope you can come back to yuma!!!

[@parkerschroeder1531]

I think a EMC Productions Discord would be pretty neat.

[@missoliviacaroline]

My director marched a year on trumpet with the Cascades and ended up shattering the bones in both of her legs. She was told that as little as one more step could have left her permanently paralyzed. I think it's safe to say that drum corps is a pretty dangerous activity lol.

[@i_am_a_music_maker5212]

i usually just down half a bottle of advil before each rehearsal, a full bottle on comp days

[@leofender909]

marching quads is nothing compared to marching strap-on church organ

[@isabelanderson9107]

I had to explain to my newest bass drummer today (bass 4 in eighth grade that if she starts to feel even slightly sick that she needs to put her drum down because her safety is more important than wasting a rep.

[@vaultfox]

marched capital regiment 05 and crown 06 on baritone and yeeeeee i was one of those people who marched on an injury and the staff eventually found out. I filled a hole during spring training and didn't come in in the best shape and developed a stress fracture in my foot over the summer tour ... I was swapped out towards the end of the season but I still was able to stand on the field for finals retreat and such which was nice of them but WOW was it the dumbest thing I ever did. I look back at 18 year old me and question wtf I was thinking but honestly, my whole identity was tied to drum corps at that point and I didn't know what I would do without it so I just pushed through as best I could. Now I know better and realize I was putting the corps in a lot of danger just by being out there

[@robertg0105]

Bro, I marched the 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade with a broken toe, and as a tuba. so screw safety!

[@Vanilla-jd1ez]

I always felt bad for the drum line and low brass. My year in a divi 2 we had our best tenor player only wear his drums for performances because of a mid season back injury. Those old G shoulder contrabasses were no joke either, very hard on shoulders and arms as well as back. It's a lot of weight on one shoulder while not being able to breath freely. The euphoniums have less weight than the basses but it's all held out in front of their faces.

[@frankcabrito7984]

can’t wait to see u at murrieta mesa !!!

[@j.mieses8139]

I was in an HBCU marching Band..Image doing a complete Dance Routine 7 to 10 minutes long while playing Quads...talk about coordination.Some drumlines just played while the rest of the wind instruments do the routine..but not us..ALL of us from Cymbals to largest Bass Drum had to do all the dance steps as well.

[@michaelengle9062]

So...I'm really old. marched a set of 14,16,18" tri toms waaay back in the day. Then I went to college and marched a standard/big block tenor rig (6,10,12,13,14), just as terrible weight wise but looked cooler. Now I'm in my 50's...have a Pearl carboncore 'six pack" just to play around with. between the sheer weight and the distance from the backbar due to that 8" shot drum, I'm thanking God for tenor stands. ....but my hands are still pretty good

[@timothywalkermylike9159]

I took all of ur advice from all your videos and I took a seniors spot on tenors and I am better than most of the people in my drumline so thanks

[@snmfsquirrel87]

The 4th is going to be rough. I have a set of old quints... yikes.

[@carternoble7325]

Nice Birdland at the beginning

[@aidenrose8590]

We had dynasty quads last year lol, now we have all tama, quads are 36.6, snares are 20, and basses are 18-32

[@ianian2425]

I see you using your meme game with those big brains

[@thecrownedcapitalist8427]

My band director was talking about pre 2010 Drum corps and how in 2005 the Bluecoats dancers tendon in her hip was torn throughout most of the season.

[@thecrownedcapitalist8427]

He was staff not a marcher he marched in the earlier 90s

[@addalynschmidt8092]

I play cymbals and I have a scar on my arm from my first time playing cymbals and a burn scar on my thumb

[@chanming3218]

When i was 14 i marched a season as tenor with a broken collar bone for half of the season

[@sammirogers8031]

2:45 is that THE academy jazz trio

[@kennethisip4136]

please make a video all about why you choose tenors instead of snare