Approved Rule Proposals

[Tubalord11]

Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts of the new approved proposals. I personally have mixed feelings. I think having a WW soloists could definitely bring some more esthetics and effect to the show, especially the ballad, but I do think it needs to remain at the soloists level, as I do think DCI needs to stay brass only as it’s what it’s known for since the start, but I’m very excited to see what creative ideas corps will use with the new addition! 

Edited February 12 by LeanderMomma

[youraveragebandkid]

Wait a minute…they have woodwind solos now? 😭 I’m a clarinet player and I have very mixed feelings about this 😭

[Liam Allen]

I don’t really care.  If that’s the direction that the corps want to go then they are allowed to do that.  It’s one featured soloist.  The end of drum corps is not nigh.

All the stuff about tradition being broken doesn’t really make much sense to me.  The tradition is being the best in the marching arts.  One dude ripping on sax is not going to change that.  Also it’s not just woodwinds; it’s anything.  I suspect that this will function basically like BD’s violin in 2019.

Now to what I’m sure is the big controversy: full woodwind lines.  When it happens(and it will sooner or later), I still won’t much care.  The argument for not doing this seems to be along the lines of “you can’t hear them over the brass, you’d have to mic them”.  My response to that is what are we already doing to the brass?  Micing them.  No difference whatsoever.  In addition, all you have to do is look at bands such as Hebron to see that you can certainly hear woodwinds through brass.  Just adds texture.  Personally I don’t see any reason why we should be preventing half of eligible wind players from participating in high level music making.  The obvious response is they can just learn brass.  I think that while that’s good for expanding brass knowledge and pedagogy, it also reduces woodwind pedagogy that could be acquired.  While these players may know some high-level woodwind techniques already, the same can be said of brass players and brass technique.  They may also not be high-level woodwind players just as some brass members may not be great brass players.  I see no reason to keep them out of marching music’s major league, especially since it has always been marching music’s major league(except for woodwinds, you nerds can take your wood planks and go somewhere else).

[LeanderMomma]

Ok it took me all day to realize what on earth “Tule” was in the title of this thread. 🤣🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

[Tubalord11]

25 minutes ago, LeanderMomma said:

Ok it took me all day to realize what on earth “Tule” was in the title of this thread. 🤣🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

Yeah I’m just seeing I misspelled that and can’t change it 💀

[packwick]

im surprised they haven't gone full woodwind already, what with the financial issues corps have been having.

my primary instrument was brass, though i now play "all three," and i see no problem w/ this. expanding the boring old drum corps color palette is a good thing. they've already been trying to do it w/ electronic instruments/synths, which in my view have helped tremendously to enrich the drum corps listening experience. adds complexity to the flavors, less McDonalds more Michelin star.

i also think of all those music educators whose primary instruments are woodwinds who are shut out of "marching band's major league" unless they pick up a brass instrument or whatever. not fair to them when they start applying for jobs at the HS level, where DCI experience can be a great asset. def im used to seeing 3 brass/perc directors plus 1 woodwind specialist.

[packwick]

on the other hand, woodwinds look incredible dorky on the field, somehow even dorkier than the brass and perc...

so many things to consider... LOL

[fluteyboi]

Well a reason why woodwinds haven't yet been incorporated more to DCI is that they are a hassle to maintain. You have paddings to worry about, the potential of chipped reeds, they're more susceptible to moisture and heat, etc. It could end up being more expensive to maintain many woodwind instruments at a time. 

[SaltySynth]

As a Synth player I know the electronics was a huge jump in innovation and change for DCI and marching band as a whole. I know electronics are still taken rather poorly by older players but its something that I really enjoy and I think it helps modernize this sport. Even with this belief with electronics I'm mixed with the fact that WW might be getting added to DCI even if it is just for solos. I would be interested in have a season or two of WW just to see how it turns out but I think adding electronics was a stretch and it helped a lot. I have a feeling that WW being added would be similar were those who always marched DCI without WW would disapprove but those who marched with WW would enjoy it.

 

Final result:
Add it for a season and see how people respond. I would enjoy the change but that pure brass sound is just so iconic and even my WW friends don't like the idea.

[packwick]

On 1/13/2025 at 12:58 PM, fluteyboi said:

Well a reason why woodwinds haven't yet been incorporated more to DCI is that they are a hassle to maintain. You have paddings to worry about, the potential of chipped reeds, they're more susceptible to moisture and heat, etc. It could end up being more expensive to maintain many woodwind instruments at a time. 

it might be a hassle, but the money aspect of it??? ehhh, that doesn't pass the sniff test, what with the obscene amount of money already being spent on set pieces, costuming, silks, drill writers, music arrangers, electronics, etc. etc. also adding performers would bring in more money, part of which could be used for maintenance costs.

mostly just seems like tradition is why ppl balk at it. similar to the whole costume debate. which is fine, tho i gotta say the newer costumes make a helluva lot more sense w/ the show themes than the typical 1800s military uniforms do.

[youraveragebandkid]

7 hours ago, SaltySynth said:

As a Synth player I know the electronics was a huge jump in innovation and change for DCI and marching band as a whole. I know electronics are still taken rather poorly by older players but its something that I really enjoy and I think it helps modernize this sport. Even with this belief with electronics I'm mixed with the fact that WW might be getting added to DCI even if it is just for solos. I would be interested in have a season or two of WW just to see how it turns out but I think adding electronics was a stretch and it helped a lot. I have a feeling that WW being added would be similar were those who always marched DCI without WW would disapprove but those who marched with WW would enjoy it.

 

Final result:
Add it for a season and see how people respond. I would enjoy the change but that pure brass sound is just so iconic and even my WW friends don't like the idea.

I’m a clarinet player but I just genuinely don’t understand the need for them- DCI is supposed to be separate from high school for a reason and the fact that they just took that reason away makes me feel…things…

[clarinetistkai05]

Here’s my take:

It’s honestly not as much of a deal people make it out to be. I don’t want to get into the nastiness I had experienced when the rule changes were announced cause that’s a different ballpark. Anyway! According to Tarek (2024 Troopers Head Drum Major) via Instagram stories, the harmonica solo in 2023 took so many loopholes to make the harmonica solo possible. The rules gives a clear possibility for solos to be listed as such and no more dancing around the rules for that to be possible. If they have to include woodwinds cause eventually someone wants an oboe solo, then so be it. If they want an aux solo, then so be it. It was bound to happen eventually, genuinely you cannot prevent the inevitable.

As for woodwinds being soloists, corps will probably do what the Troopers (yes another example) did for the guitar soloist this past season. He was contracted as a mellophone, but they were able to find use in his ability for the guitar. It is very likely a woodwind soloist wouldnt be contracted for the sole purpose of being a soloist, they’ll get contracted for a brass instrument (like baritone) but prove their abilities on other instruments (like clarinet or sax). The possibilities are genuinely endless.

I feel this gives more opportunities and insentive for woodwinds to do DCI: by giving them opportunities to prove themselves on their originating instrument. Along with that, there will be so many more creative opportunities these next few seasons, and I certainly am excited on the direction corps may take with this rule.

[SaltySynth]

I also have a feeling that this change would be to bring more fame to DCI. Outside of the band community its not all that big and I would assume it doesn't stay with WW players very long after highschool. I think that if woodwinds are not allowed then they will also need to flush out the rules on what a solo can have to eliminate the "loop holes" used by Troopers. I mean the Troopers used a chelo in 2022 but you can't use a WW???? After sleeping on it I see the the argument but it still would take some getting use to.

[SaltySynth]

Been watching this video of 2 current phantom member. I do like their argument for why not to add wood Winds around the 45 min mark. They go into arguments for all the rule changes that were talked about before the 45min mark.

 

[LeanderMomma]

On 1/12/2025 at 7:15 PM, Tubalord11 said:

Yeah I’m just seeing I misspelled that and can’t change it 💀

I figured out how to edit it. You have to go into the actual original post and click on edit and it will let you change the title from there. 

[cheeto2401]

i think adding this rule would be great, adds opprotunities for great solos by either a drum major or another marcher, imagine a mello switching to a flute, wouldnt that be great to see

[bassboneman]

On 1/15/2025 at 10:41 AM, SaltySynth said:

I also have a feeling that this change would be to bring more fame to DCI. Outside of the band community its not all that big and I would assume it doesn't stay with WW players very long after highschool. I think that if woodwinds are not allowed then they will also need to flush out the rules on what a solo can have to eliminate the "loop holes" used by Troopers. I mean the Troopers used a chelo in 2022 but you can't use a WW???? After sleeping on it I see the the argument but it still would take some getting use to.

Yeah... The WWs don't tend to watch DCI b/c its all brass. Adding WW elements will make it more friendly to all fans.

[Liam Allen]

12 hours ago, bassboneman said:

Yeah... The WWs don't tend to watch DCI b/c its all brass. Adding WW elements will make it more friendly to all fans.

Me, a saxophone major, obsessed with DCI lol

[bassboneman]

On 2/26/2025 at 8:41 PM, Liam Allen said:

Me, a saxophone major, obsessed with DCI lol

Some are, Just must don't tend to care about it. When my school hosts a finals watch party its like 75% brass.