Should I Join Cadet Drum and Bugle Corps?

[Skyhawk]

I’ve been debating over whether to try to join drum and bugle corps.

I’m curious if anybody could give input on the commitment, what you do every day, etc. For background I am an all-state bass player and would love to find a way to play music but I’m not sure the corps is the way if it is a huge commitment. Do I need to know how to play before the “audition”? They said if you play string instruments you could join. What instruments are available to choose from? How much time does it require compared to other things that would take that slot? Can I choose to audition now and change my decision later?

Thanks! I’m just trying to figure out if this is a good idea considering I have no idea what my schedule is going to look like right now.

 

[LTBob87]

I’ve been debating over whether to try to join drum and bugle corps.

I’m curious if anybody could give input on the commitment, what you do every day, etc. For background I am an all-state bass player and would love to find a way to play music but I’m not sure the corps is the way if it is a huge commitment. Do I need to know how to play before the “audition”? They said if you play string instruments you could join. What instruments are available to choose from? How much time does it require compared to other things that would take that slot? Can I choose to audition now and change my decision later?

Thanks! I’m just trying to figure out if this is a good idea considering I have no idea what my schedule is going to look like right now.

My DS is in the same boat with this question. He played percussion but was in the pit so he never marched. He is concerned about the time commitment. From other forums pulling this way, the typical time is about 3 hrs a day. It takes the place of intramurals and they supposedly do not participate in lunch formation. Someone mentioned their DS was able to get a dorm fridge just like an IC for "proper nutrition", but I would love to have feedback from a recent or current cadet if possible.

Best of luck at the Academy. You will be there with my DS.

 

[702mom]

I’ve been debating over whether to try to join drum and bugle corps.

I’m curious if anybody could give input on the commitment, what you do every day, etc. For background I am an all-state bass player and would love to find a way to play music but I’m not sure the corps is the way if it is a huge commitment. Do I need to know how to play before the “audition”? They said if you play string instruments you could join. What instruments are available to choose from? How much time does it require compared to other things that would take that slot? Can I choose to audition now and change my decision later?

Thanks! I’m just trying to figure out if this is a good idea considering I have no idea what my schedule is going to look like right now.

My DS has been in for 2 years playing trumpet. Yes a time commitment but the benefits are the people and travel. He loves it.

 

[nmdad]

Here's my two cents. My DS was in D&B for all four years. It is a HUGE time commitment. He was able to travel to various places and had a great time. We had to adjust Thanksgiving since he had to be at USAFA for football games. He did have friendships that were very strong since they were together most of the time. I asked him if he had a do over, would he do D&B again. He said he probably still would do it again. By the way, my son never played a horn instrument before USAFA. He played violin. Also I have another son that is going to be class of 2026 and he plays trumpet, but is probably not going to do D&B.

 

[T-37IP]

My DS just finished his doolie year in D&B. Loved it. He is a woodwind player, but picked up brass without an issue. It is time commitment, BUT, yo will have to do something, and music isn't really work for him. He loved being able to "escape" to away football games, bowl game, and going to Mardi Gras. He is planning on doing it again, and recommends it to his brother, a hopeful class of 27. The marching isn't difficult and there isn't the "drama" associated with high school marching bands. It also gets you out of parades and noon meal formation.

 

[Skyhawk]

By joining do you remove the option for spots for other clubs or does it just replace a sport?

 

[shiner]

By joining do you remove the option for spots for other clubs or does it just replace a sport?

The time commitment will effectively prohibit you from most other clubs and activities. Something like Ski Club would be ok because there are no meetings and you decide what outings to attend. Something like Church Choir may be ok if practice aligns with your schedule. Falconry or Jump team - no chance because those too are time consuming in their own right.

If you are expecting DCI caliber performances from USAFA D&B, you will be upset. It is fun, and you get to travel on the government's dime, but the marching execution and musicianship are low compared to just about any high school program in the country because so many people are learning new instruments or field marching for the first time. Everyone is well intended and they try hard, but think through the lineup of how a drum corps compares to the horns from High School? Trumpets are still trumpets. French Horn move to Mellophone. Euphoniums move to Baritone, and Tuba move to contrabass. What about slide trombone........... you get to learn valves. Woodwinds and strings............... all new embouchure and fingerings.

In the end, it was still band and I thought it was fun -- just different that what you would see at a typical D1A College music program. You can still play your primary instrument in the Basketball pep-band.

 

[Skyhawk]

The time commitment will effectively prohibit you from most other clubs and activities. Something like Ski Club would be ok because there are no meetings and you decide what outings to attend. Something like Church Choir may be ok if practice aligns with your schedule. Falconry or Jump team - no chance because those too are time consuming in their own right.

If you are expecting DCI caliber performances from USAFA D&B, you will be upset. It is fun, and you get to travel on the government's dime, but the marching execution and musicianship are low compared to just about any high school program in the country because so many people are learning new instruments or field marching for the first time. Everyone is well intended and they try hard, but think through the lineup of how a drum corps compares to the horns from High School? Trumpets are still trumpets. French Horn move to Mellophone. Euphoniums move to Baritone, and Tuba move to contrabass. What about slide trombone........... you get to learn valves. Woodwinds and strings............... all new embouchure and fingerings.

In the end, it was still band and I thought it was fun -- just different that what you would see at a typical D1A College music program. You can still play your primary instrument in the Basketball pep-band.

Thanks. I think that settles my decision if it takes away that much time. Since you probably know, can you join the jump team or the flying team with no prior experience? I would absolutely love to fly or something.

 

[shiner]

Jump team is a pipeline program. You start as a student during the summer AFTER your freshman year (so you could still do D&B for year 1). You take and complete course Airmanship 490. You then elect to go for Wings of Green. About 100 try out and 25 make it to next round. This consumes the sophomore year prior to being selected to the final phase - Wings of Blue.

Wings of Green

Wings of Green, a one-year program, trains Air Force Academy cadets to become official members of the Wings of Blue Parachuting team.

www.usafa.edu

I cannot speak to flying teams, but there are programs for people who want to learn to fly.

 

[ItsChallenger]

Hey! Just realized I am a bit late hopping on to this post but I'm currently finishing my doolie year as a member of D&B, and will 1000% be doing it again next year. Just like any program here, it's not always easy. The time commitments were hard at times, but the program itself ensured that we maintained our cadet duties such as fitness and academics by giving us Academic Days with no practice (usually on a Monday), and around PFT season, we would have Corps fitness days after practice. Music has always been a passion of mine, so being able to play every day is a great outlet that's really allowed me to detach from USAFA when I really needed it most., and that's without even mentioning the trips yet! I believe next season we're going to all but one of the away games, (The Army - Air Force Game was an experience), Mardi Gras, and talks of Ireland for Saint Patricks Day next year. Like any program here, it's a huge time commitment, but it's really important to get involved in some type of club your doolie year. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but personally, the good definitely outweighs the bad!