SYMPOSIUM ADDRESS
Education and Ownership: Picking it all Apart
Alex McKinley
The purpose of this paper is to discuss and share with music educators issues involving works
and arrangements. There has been some controversy over individuals submitting drum corps
arrangements to web sites who in turn post the artist's works. This is mainly found within the
drumline arena. Sites like "The Postal Music Page" and "Drummers Heaven" post exercises and
arrangements which are accessible to the public. My hope with this paper is to let instructors
and arrangers know that there are only positive benefits with sharing their thoughts.
Far and Away.
Many potential corps members are not from a drumcorps town. There are many kids that will
only experience drum corps from the bleachers. Obviously there are many reasons why this is
so. I would like to focus on the individuals who do not get the chance to study their passion
correctly.
What are the kids to do? They love it and want to be apart of the activity. This is seen all across
the state. Its amazing that this state does not have a corps of their own. Many kids show up to
watch the corps practice every year. Every year you see the same familiar faces. You can hear
the enthusiasm rush like a fire through the crowds with kids making comments like "I'm going
to march with the Blue Devils next year" or "I could make that drumline." Comprehension?
No, they have none. Do they have any idea of what it takes to make a top 12 drumline? Hardly.
The truth of the matter is there is a very small rudimental drumming scene in these drumcorps
"rural" states. Is it fair to have someone fly or drive out to Denver or Santa Clara not knowing
what they are getting into. No. I do understand that video auditions are now very regular and
I'm sure they will eliminating such trends. Yet how else could we prevent kids from ruining
their aspirations? I believe that is where the distribution of materials would help greatly. With
no real market to make drum corps exercises profitable, why not share. Share not only the music
but the techniques and philosophies.
Availability vs. Ownership.
There is no need to worry about music being shared. Although information is sometimes leaked
into the hands of a drum corps junkie through unofficial sources (corps members, recordings,
osmosis), it need not be. Arrangers, you may be able to make some money off of your scores if
you sold them at the "souvie booths."
I must applaud the few drum corps arrangers that have and are attempting to share their ideas.
Some arrangers seem to cringe at the idea of sharing their music. Is there a market for it? No.
They seem to be to worried about copyrights. Why worry about copyrighting? Who is going to
teach their drumline to play the Santa Clara 89 show? The worst that would happen is some kid
would pick the score apart in his room. Maybe he will play a few licks with his buddies and
learn something.
Lets not limit ourselves as educators. You should want all who desire to master and understand
your works to have that opportunity. DCI is a tool for music education.
References.
www.members.zoom.com/TANCO/
www.members.zoom.com/TALLYWAKER/
www.thedrumclub.com