End of Week 1- Drum Corps Boot Camp

Well, we made it. After 5 days of intense work by the hornline, boot camp has finally come to an end. This has been the toughest one yet. We have been pushing these guys and girls hard and they stayed right there with us. A few tears were shed in pain as some dug inside themselves for more heart and energy. But, they kept going and didn't give up. I am pleased with our accomplishments and progress thus far.

So, now on to full corps "everydays". We call it everydays because it is the point in the year when we start to rehearse EVERY DAY versus on weekends like we do throughout the winter and spring. The corps will kick it off tonight with music ensemble rehearsal and then parade rehearsal. PR will do the Memorial Day Parade tomorrow as we have always done. Hopefully once we get the corps marching down the parade route tomorrow the staff will go have Swedish pancakes like always! If you've never had them, you are seriously missing out.

Anyhow, we did a little show and tell last night for the volunteers, drumline, and guard. The drumline is smokin this year for real. They play with so much intensity and I've never heard them this clean this early in the year. We still have like a month until our first show! Cordova percussion/guard camp will have come and gone by the time Regiment's first show rolls around. I forget how long "everydays" really is.

Well, I will post again in a few days. I am leaving Rockford next weekend to be in a friend's wedding, but I am only gonna be away from the corps for like 3 days.

Peace-
Mr. C

Trip to Rockford

For those of you who are unfamiliar where Rockford, Illinois is...........

View Larger Map

My flight left Memphis at around 10 AM and by 2pm I was in Rockford. I flew from Memphis to O'Hare Airport in Chicago and then took the bus up to Rockford. This has been the easiest and fastest trip up here that I've ever had.

Anyhow, I'm sitting in the Phantom Regiment office on the campus of Rockford college waiting for students and other staff members to show up. We will assign dorm rooms tonight to everyone for the duration of our stay in Rockford. The corps will be here for about 3 weeks until we move into a high school gym. That is when the real drum corps starts!

The brassline is in what we call "Brass Boot Camp" this week. We will start up tomorrow. 12 hour a day rehearsals outside in the elements learning brass fundamentals and cleaning up parts of the show musically. This Saturday we will march in the Memorial Day Parade in Loves Park, which is right next to Rockford. Some of you older drum corps fans may remember that they used to announce the corps as from Rockford/Loves Park Illinois. But, now we only claim Rockford :)

Anyhow, check back soon for an update on how rehearsals are going for our 2008 production "SPARTACUS".

TC

OnQ National Drumming Camp

For those of you out there wanting to improve your snare chops or learn how to play, this camp is for you.

This is a REALLY good camp. I will be there along with the entire Phantom Regiment. You will work with and learn from some of the nation's top percussionists and get a sneak preview of the 2008 Phantom Regiment!

Welcome!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know how much fun it was to finally meet some of you! You guys and gals are really going to love the show "Volare". We are going to have a good time this fall working to make the show amazing. Please, if you haven't already done so, sign up for band in the fall and get your name on the personnel list!! We need to know who is going to be in band so we can start writing the show. This process will be a little easier next year, but for now GET ON THE BALL PEOPLE!!

By the way, I will be blogging all summer while on the road with Phantom Regiment. I will let you know where I am and tell you what is happening in the land of DCI. I probably won't be posting everyday, but when I have a moment on tour, I will.

PS. I hope you all are ready to work really hard!