We're a Drum Corps

by Gord LeFevre

Fellow Alumni,

Something wonderful happened at the Legion on the weekend of March 27th and 28th. An itinerant, geographically-dispersed group of horn players, cymbalists and drummers morphed into a Drum Corps. We have been on the brink of doing this for the last couple of months now but I think it took the mini camp to provide the focus and format necessary to move us from practitioners to performers.

Some personal thoughts about the mini camp that I would like to share with you:

• At the Thursday night drumline practice before the big weekend, Ric Brown shows me the rehearsal schedule . Privately, I think it's aggressive and that it will take a Herculean effort to maintain it. At the end of the mini camp, I'm pleasantly surprised and greatly satisfied that we have met the schedule.

• On Sunday, we maximize our downtime due to a church service by going outside to practice entrance, set-up and exit logistics for the GAS show. Despite the cold, I'm immensely relieved that we are doing this. I notice the grassy area outside the Legion has been staked out to the dimensions of the stage. We practice entering and exiting the stage area to the street beat. I think to myself, this is the Optimists' Drum Corps I know and love. Leave nothing to chance and be the best you can be!

• On Saturday and Sunday, I notice a rich, full, melodic sound emanating from the Nether regions of the Legion. Other drummers notice and comment about this too. We know the horn line is rounding into form.

• Remarkably, the transition from drumline sectional practices to drumline ensemble practices and vice versa goes without a major issue for the entire weekend. Both instructors and line members are paying attention to all the little things that make a difference. It occurs to me that "all's good in the hood that is the drumline".

• On Sunday, during the last run-through of the show, Kevin Matthew makes a point about the difference between practice and performance and urges the Corps to give its best performance during the last run-through. For me, this is just one more sign that opening night is close. I want to make this run through my best yet. I'm stunned by how good the horn line sounds.

• At the close of the mini camp, I sense something magical has happened and that we are a much different group of people but I'm really not sure why I think this. I'm talking to Vern about this and he casually says that I should have been out in front of the Corps during the last run-through, it was electric. After a few more days of ruminating on this, I can only say, "all's good in the hood that is the Corps." I can hardly wait for our first show in Rochester, N.Y.

Best regards, Gord