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Marching Marketing Memories

Advertisers have used marching groups in commercials many times over the years. With the advent of online video, many are preserved online for your viewing pleasure.

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Joplin Donator Letter

Halftime Magazine received another $85 donation benefiting the Joplin (Mo.) Eagle Pride Band. With the check came a touching letter that we wanted to share with all of you.

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Let's Help Rebuild the Joplin Band

Halftime Magazine is joining the efforts to help Joplin rebuild its band program by collecting and donating cash toward student band fees.

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Rose Parade Bands 2011

More than 50 musical groups compete for 16 openings every year, according to the Tournament of Roses website. Se the full list of 23 marching groups (several which receive automatic invitations) that performed in the 2011 Rose Parade.

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Q&A With Kansas' Phil Ehart

While preparing for Kansas’ Collegiate Symphony Tour, drummer Phil Ehart spoke with Halftime Magazine about the band, the upcoming tour, his views on music education and marching bands.

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Legendary Drum Corps Shows: Honorable Mentions

When nominating the “Top 5 Legendary Drum Corps Shows” for our July/August 2010 print issue, corps directors, members and fans also touted the following shows--listed in chronological order--for their impact on the activity.

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More Music Videos

Marching bands and music videos have a long history of working together. Here’s a timeline of some more examples that you can check out on YouTube.

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Center Grove Arts Assistance Fund

With the budget cuts to education in Indiana threatening schools, communities are looking for ways to help save beloved programs. That is why two Center Grove marching band alumni Alyshia Kisor and Jenny Porter teamed up with the Center Grove Education Foundation to form the Center Grove Arts Assistance Fund.

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Legendary Drum Corps Shows: Nominations

Halftime Magazine is writing a feature story about the Most Legendary Drum Corps Shows (focusing on the years since the formation of Drum Corps International). We would love to hear your feedback, which may be included in the article. This is your chance to tell the world which drum corps had the most legendary show ever--not necessarily who was the best champion.

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Rose Parade Bands 2010

Ninety-one parade entries, including the following 21 marching groups, participated in this year’s 121st Tournament of Roses Parade. Enjoy these photos from the 121st Rose Parade.

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Taping a Rifle Photo Handout

Keep your guard equipment shiny and new. Read "Ready for Rifle" to get tips on how to prevent chips and dents. Then, download this handout that includes photos and detailed step-by-step instructions.

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Reaching Higher

Inspiration comes differently to each individual person. It can come from great displays of fantastic artistry or simply something that you find on the street outside of your house. It can strike at any moment in any place and time. Though sometimes we’re prepared for it, I find that it oftentimes strikes when we least expect it—for instance, how music first entered into my life. Read the rest of the essay from the second place winner in the MGM Halftime Magazine "Claim Your FAME" Essay Contest.

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Hard Work Equals Success

“Hard work equals success.” Those four words are so simple, yet so powerful. They are often used in the business world, where a lot of people tend to work alone to get to the top of the ladder. In the marching band, we all work together, oftentimes in sweltering heat to reach our potential, and it shows when we put on a performance out on the football field. Read the rest of the essay from one of the two third place winners in the MGM Halftime Magazine "Claim Your FAME" Essay Contest.

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Living a Better Life

I’ve been in marching band for two years, and it’s inspired me a lot, encouraging me to try new things, accept change, meet new people, set goals, reach them, be a leader, know when to follow and have good sportsmanship. Read the rest of the essay from one of the two third place winners in the MGM Halftime Magazine "Claim Your FAME" Essay Contest.

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Troopers Return to DCI Finals

The only competitive drum and bugle corps from the state of Wyoming marked its triumphant return with an exclamation mark this season. For the first-time in 23 years, the Troopers—founded in 1957 by Jim Jones—performed in Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championship Finals competition, finishing in 12th place with a score of 85.10. For Trooper alumni, it was a sight for sore eyes. ...

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Stay Healthy on Tour

When you’re on the road for months at a time, especially for a summer drum corps tour, it may be more difficult to stay healthy. You’re constantly pounding the pavement, sleeping less and are surrounded by about a hundred other people at any given moment. To avoid getting seriously ill, keep these ideas in mind.

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Buckner's Thoughts About the Sudler Trophy

Western Carolina University’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, under the direction of Bob Buckner, won the 2009 Sudler Trophy, awarded each year to a collegiate marching band that has demonstrated excellence over many years. Find out Buckner's thoughts about the achievement.

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Top 10 Marching Moments of 2008: Details, Photos and Videos

Based on reader suggestions, our editorial staff put together Halftime Magazine’s first annual Top 10 Marching Moments of the Year. 2008 was a great year in the marching arts from coast-to-coast, and here are some of our favorite moments.

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Inaugural Parade Selection Process

The bands and other performing groups that marched in the 2009 inaugural parade went through a relatively fast screening process. Here’s a look at the timeline and selections.

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Inaugural Parade List of Bands

More than 100 groups participated in the inaugural parade, including marching bands, military units, ROTC programs, horse-riding troupes, associations and a few floats. This list celebrates the bands and auxiliary groups.

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Marching Black and Gold

How do you build one of the nation’s top high school band programs? It takes a great team and a ton of patience, according to Jay Webb, director of bands at Avon High School. Here is some more advice from Webb on building a championship program.

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Photos from the 120th Rose Parade

"Hats Off" to all of the groups that performed in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade. Here are some photos of the memorable "entertaining" event.

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Marching Sound Machine

North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Director of Bands Jorim Reid came up with the nickname "Marching Sound Machine," by using the first letter of 20 words, or 20 principles that each band member must live by. Find out about these 20 principles.

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A Mom's Reflection About the Olympic Experience

The following are excerpts from an email journal written by a chaperone who traveled with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Orchestra. Read about the travel experiences (the history-making moments, the heat and the homesickness) from a mom of two kids who took part with the 600-member United States conginent of the Olympic band.

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Pre-Olympic Festivities

Besides the official Beijing 2008 Olympic Orchestra, many other American marching and concert bands made the trip to China this summer to take part in the excitement leading up to these historic games. Read about the Rancho Buena Vista High School Band from Vista, Calif., which traveled to China with the Chinese-American Cultural Bridge Center for 10 days in June.

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Cavaliers 60th Anniversary Alumni Corps

The Cavaliers Anniversary Corps made a special appearance at the DCI World Championships semifinals, providing "glimpses" from each era, to commemorate more than 60 years of history.

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Direct From: David Gibbs - Web Extras

What makes The Blue Devils the winningest drum corps? How does the business operate? What are some of the corps’ philosophies? Halftime Magazine interviewed David Gibbs, executive director of The Blue Devils, for “Direct From” in our July/August 2008 print issue. Here are more of his comments.

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2008 Drum Corps Programs

Who are you rooting for this year? Read a synopsis of all the 2008 drum corps programs, listed alphabetically in each class.

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Starting from Scratch

Sustaining a drum corps can be hard; building one from the ground up can be even harder. Read about the journey being undertaken by the Desert Fire Drum and Bugle Corps.

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Allegheny Adult Band Camp

Can't get enough of band camp? Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., offers Adult Band Camp, a weeklong program where adults from all over the country come together to play concert band music.

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Direct From: Jeff Fiedler - Web Extras

After 35 years with The Cavaliers, Jeff Fiedler retires from the corps and becomes CEO for Santa Clara Vanguard. Read what he plans to do with this new position.

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The Military's Best

Each branch of military has its own special band or bands, whose mission is to promote national pride and foster patriotism. Here are 11 military groups designated as premier bands:

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Direct From: LSU Tiger Marching Band - Web Extras

Read additional comments from Dr. Linda Moorhouse, marching band co-director and associate director of bands for Louisiana State University, regarding motivation and the BCS National Championship experience. For the questions and answers that appeared in the printed article, click here.

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Photos from the 119th Rose Parade

Twenty-one bands from all over the world participated in the 119th Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2008. Enjoy the photos and trivia.

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Photos of the 2007 BOA Grand Nationals Champions

Here are some photos from the 2007 Bands of America Grand Nationals. Congratulations to this year's champions.

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Photos from the 2006 USSBA and BOA national championships

Here are some photos from the 2006 Bands of America and US Scholastic Band Association championships to supplement the images that appeared in the print article "Take the Field" from the Nov/Dec 2007 issue of Halftime Magazine. Enjoy!

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On the Road Again: A Pearl Harbor Experience

Pearl Harbor in Honolulu is a beautiful place for Hawaii-bound bands to perform. On the eve of the D-Day anniversary and the Waikiki Holiday Parade, read a touching tale about a band and a vet.

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Photos from the 2007 DCI World Championships

Here are some photos from the 2007 Drum Corps International World Championships to supplement the images that appeared in the print article. Enjoy!

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Photos of Port Chester in "Spider-Man 3"

Photos of the Port Chester (N.Y.) High School Marching Band, on the set of “Spider-Man 3”

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Marching Band in the Movies: Roll the Credits

With marching bands serving as popular American icons, many major films have featured bands in memorable roles. View a list of some of these films.

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College Band Traditions: Brown Buttons

The Brown University Band shows off its school spirit with its longstanding button tradition.

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College Band Traditions: Grambling State's Greatest Tribute

Despite all its public appearances, the Grambling State University Band considers its private tributes to be most important.

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Fighting on with the Band

March with the USC Trojan Band on game day, starting with practice at the break of dawn, through its many renditions of “Conquest” and ending with its infamous “torture drill” at nearly dusk.

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Letter from Riverside Community College Marching Tigers

The director of "Hollywood's Band" provides a candid discussion about his band's long list of movie credits and their amazing personal impact on the students.

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Halftime Magazine®, a bimonthly print publication and online community, presents the sights, sounds and spirit of the marching arts, providing education, entertainment and inspiration for students, directors, alumni and fans of high school marching band, college marching band, drum corps, color guard and winter guard, indoor drum line or percussion, and all-age ensembles.