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Web Exclusives
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After months of planning, Drum Corps International is setting up a
competition next summer unlike any the state of Minnesota has ever
known. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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One-of-a-kind string basses hand-painted by Disney artists will be auctioned to support music education. FULL STORY » |
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This fall, Music for All has been busy handing out awards to high school bands across the country at its many regional events. In September, the organizations received numerous awards of its own—a record-setting 15 honors from the International Festival and Events Association Pinnacle Awards. FULL STORY » |
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NAMM, the International Music Products Association, recently created the Wanna Play Fund to provide monetary support to organizations that expand access to music. Former Governor of Arkansas and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee helped launch the program by announcing it on Sept. 29, 2009, during his self-titled commentary show on the FOX News Channel. FULL STORY » |
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On Nov. 11, 2009, VH1 Save the Music gave a $1 million donation to Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) for their elementary school music programs. With this donation, IPS has been able to put music programs into each of its elementary schools, making it one of only a very few school systems to have instrumental band programs for all of its elementary schools. FULL STORY » |
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Drum Corps International (DCI) gave several special awards on finals night as the corps wrapped up their 2009 seasons. Find out who won the Director of the Year, Most Improved and Jim Jones Leadership Awards. FULL STORY » |
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Cadets staff and some board members, including several Hall of Famers, signed an enlarged matted poster of Halftime Magazine's July/August 2009 issue commemorating the corps' 75th anniversary. Age-out Jim Watkins won the framed poster at a raffle held at this year's DCI World Championships. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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“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. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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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. ... FULL STORY » |
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The Yamaha Band and Orchestral Division announces the sale of custom
marching drums at the Drum Corps International World Championships. FULL STORY » |
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Halftime Magazine, a print publication and online community, has assembled a list of "Top 10 Band Trips" including parades, festivals and venues to perform. Of course, many more opportunities exist. Add your thoughts to the mix. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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Any of the 1.25 million Americans who have participated in Bands of America (BOA) or other Music for All programs are invited to a celebration event Saturday, August 8, outside the Drum Corps International Championships. FULL STORY » |
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Halftime Magazine is assembling your thoughts about the "Top 10 Band
Trips" including parades, festivals and venues to perform. Make your voice heard! FULL STORY » |
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The journey of a young, shy musician in her quest to join the marching band and her agony when giving it up. FULL STORY » |
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Filmmaker Seana Carroll began filming a documentary, "The Band Never Loses a Game," about the
Washington Redskins Marching Band in September 2008, taking on an idea
she formed eight years earlier at her uncle's funeral. FULL STORY » |
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On May 4, 2009, students across North America participated in Music
Monday, which centered around a continent-wide performance of Serena
Ryder’s “Sing Sing.” Organizers believe the simultaneous performance,
involving more than 700,000 students, symbolically demonstrates the
power of music education. FULL STORY » |
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Halftime Magazine sends our condolences to friends and family of Andrew Gerke, a member of the 2005 Boston Crusaders, who passed away on April 14. FULL STORY » |
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Seattle's new Major League Soccer team also boasts a new pep band, creating excitement before and during the match. FULL STORY » |
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USC's drumlab is one of the first in the nation, leading to a requirement for drum set proficiency as part of its newly-created Popular Music Performance program. FULL STORY » |
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Halftime Magazine recently received this correspondence from the Los Angeles Unified School District Beyond the Bell program, calling for help to allow students to take marching band for physical education credit through your support of California Legislature Assembly Bill 351. Here's how you can help. FULL STORY » |
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Halftime Magazine is assembling your thoughts about the top 10 college alumni marching bands as we look at ways to stay involved in music beyond college for our May/June 2009 issue. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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Last Thursday (March 12, 2009), Halftime Magazine received the following email from an ABC casting producer for "Wife Swap." The show is looking to feature a marching band family in a future episode.In addition, i f you appear on the show, Halftime Magazine will feature your experiences in an upcoming issue. So we hope you will take advantage of this opportunity; mention that you heard about the opportunity from us, and keep us posted. FULL STORY » |
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Halftime Magazine is assembling your thoughts about 2008's Top 10 Marching Moments. These moments could include bands or marching ensembles in college, high school, drum corps, indoor percussion, winter guard, pageantry/parade, all-age groups or any type marching activity. FULL STORY » |
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Indianapolis – January 14, 2009 – Music for All Inc., one of the largest and most influential
national music education organizations in support of active music-making, today announced that
Robert Morrison, executive vice-president and founder of the Music for All Foundation, has
resigned his management position with the organization. Mr. Morrison will transition out of the
organization over the next month. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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"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. FULL STORY » |
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Who really wrote "The Victors," the University of Michigan's fight song? Read Dale R. Leslie's story that researches how it came to be. FULL STORY » |
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What’s it like to suddenly realize the end of all your hard work and efforts is near? Read about one band member’s reflection with four weeks left in the season. FULL STORY » |
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Some say the drum corps experience lives through us all. But for some people, it lives through those around us. Find out from a trumpet player's wife about her life on the other side of the bell. FULL STORY » |
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In its center lies an “X,” where the journey begins. The “X” is insignificant to most and more often than not overlooked. But to those that understand its importance, it appears as a glimmer of hope, a uniting force among an overwhelming sea of separation; it is the heart.
FULL STORY » |
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Typical “box drill” gets boring. Sure, it teaches kids to stay in line. But field shows are more than just box drill. One person has found a way to help students better understand and respond to the demands of today’s complicated drill by studying the moves behind our 2-D choreography. Here are ten improvisational drill exercises, one for each move, in order of difficulty. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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A video interview with David Gibbs, executive director of The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. Live from the 2008 Drum Corps International World Championships in Bloomington, Ind. Also includes video of The Blue Devils' warmup rehearsal prior to its semifinals appearance. Produced by Halftime Magazine, a bimonthly print publication and online community. FULL STORY » |
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Freelance writer Stuart Rice interviews Gary Doherty, the former
executive director of Drum Corps International’s OnQ Performance
Education division, about his history and his opinions regarding the
drum corps activity, changes at DCI and the future of music education. Part 3 (in a three-part series): The Band/Corps Divide? FULL STORY » |
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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. FULL STORY » |
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Freelance writer Stuart Rice interviews Gary Doherty, the
former executive director of Drum Corps International’s OnQ Performance
Education division, about his history and his opinions regarding the
drum corps activity, changes at DCI and the future of music education.
Part 2 (in a three-part series): Marching Standards FULL STORY » |
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Who are you rooting for this year? Read a synopsis of all the 2008 drum corps programs, listed alphabetically in each class. FULL STORY » |
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Organizations are trying to fill the void in the midst of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE)'s recent collapse. FULL STORY » |
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