Drum Corps Instagram Challenge!  

winnie winnie who are you marching with? what section?

M Banks Several World Class corps are still looking for members. I'm with Pioneer, and we're still hunting for about three guard spots and a couple of mellophones.

Shelby Niehaus lol I would other than the fact I'm 15 and a sophomore in high school 😂

M Banks I was 13 and the summer before 8th grade when I started marching! I'm a member of the color guard and I love doing this so much! Except for the fact that this will be my 9th and final season as I recently turned 21 :( But I'm so crazy I'll be back in 2016 to help teach! I was so lucky to be a part of 2 corps Colt Cadets Open Class and Jersey Surf World Class. Don't let your age hold you back!

ForeverColorguard wait have you been doing drum corps since you where 13!?!?!? Because I started at 13 as well but with my high school guard...how could you afford 9 seasons of drum corps?!?!?!

M Banks Yes this is my 9th season with a DCi corps, I also did 4rs of high school marching band and winter guard. I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a part of the US Army ALL American Marching Band 2012 (which you should definitely look into such an experience. it's for high school seniors only but you audition your junior year) and also a member of the Macy's Great American Marching Band 2011 which was formed in 2006 for the Thanksgiving Day Parade and I get to do the parade again this year as they will be having a 10yr Alumni Band so excited about this!!! And countless solo's :) So here's how I paid for all of it: First I began with an Open Class corps, was lucky enough to have one based where I lived. OC is less expensive, there's not as many practice days usually about 5 a week for about 8hrs and you still get to travel a lot. I did this for 5yrs. All corps have fund raising opportunities, many have scholarships and if the corps has a bingo hall, which many of them do, you can usually volunteer at bingo and each time you do, x amount will go towards your fees, even family members and friends can volunteer for you (at least at my corps they could) so my mom and others would volunteer every once in awhile, it adds up. Then every penny from BD, Christmas, etc was used for dues and I did other fundraisers on my own and I had sponsors donate sometimes. Then I moved to a World Class corps which is more expensive and I had the extra costs of travel. And it's the same thing, fundraisers, some people use the crowdfunding websites, or like JD he did the rubber bracelets, there's someone on Etsy who sells bracelets made from hemp with stones. I've done car washes with friends who were happy to help, my mom makes these beautiful necklaces and I sell those. And like today I set up at a donut shop where they know me (free wifi a college students dream lol) And I put a sign out that I was raising money to march with Macy's and had my lovely necklaces and magnets that my wonderful mom made to sell and I raised $45 today, some from donations and some for selling :) If you babysit save that money or any job save the money. Find something that you can do like the jewelry or bracelets or whatever and sell those. Also there's a company by the name of Butter Braid Bread and their product is amazing sells really well and will allow individuals to fundraise on their own (lots of places you need to be part of a group) Well probably wrote WAY too much LOL But wanted to give you a lot of options to think about. It can be done, it just takes a lot of work but it is so worth it! People do think I'm crazy because I've marched this long but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. if you need/want to know more send me an email at gmalat@gmail.com Hope this helps you and whoever else finds it useful!!

Ellie Swan Miss my Colt Cadet family!!! Good Luck this season!!

Ellie Swan what section are you in?

Lupita Preciado Congratulations!! Have a great summer. You'll hate it, then love it, then tolerate it, then like it, then during finals you'll love it more than anything and cry because it's over!