Photo courtesy of the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps
On May 18, 2009, I gave birth to my second child, a beautiful girl named Kathryn Elizabeth. With every new beginning, we also experience a vast array of emotions: anxiety, excitement, resolve and joy.
And while we hope for the best, sometimes we must also overcome the unexpected. Labor went relatively smoothly. But within an hour or so, my blood pressure began to drop, plummeting dangerously low. I felt extremely lightheaded and feared that I would drift into unconsciousness at any second.
After six hours of recovery time (almost the same length as my actual labor), I stabilized and began to truly enjoy my new family.
Today, Kathryn’s smiles and my older son’s love for her brighten my day. A similar rollercoaster of emotions and experiences can be felt whenever people—or organizations—go through a major change. And thus, this issue of Halftime Magazine commemorates these new beginnings.
This season, Drum Corps International has allowed electronics to be used in competition for the first time. Although high school and college bands have already embraced electronics and other technology (read “Technology On and Off the Field”), corps directors and fans weren’t quite sure how to perceive this new concept. Would this change result in a radical departure from corps style or something that would expand both the musical opportunities and the fan base of the activity? The article “How Are Drum Corps Using Electronics?”, discusses how some of the top corps have incorporated electronics into their shows as well as their overall feelings about the change.
In addition, there’s a new drum corps—the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps from Nashville, Tenn. (read “Direct From …”)—taking the field this season. As any entrepreneur can attest, starting a new business or organization is like giving birth. There are a lot of decisions to make and many unknowns to monitor. Yet in the end, our “children” take on lives of their own.
On the other end of the spectrum, The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. As the corps enters a new era, we look back at its history and celebrate its past.
Thank you for joining us in honoring these new beginnings.
Musically Yours,
Christine Ngeo Katzman
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
