2012: Progress despite recession?

At the start of the new year, the editors of Drumcorps.org.uk interviewed the Chairman of Drum Corps Europe, Marcel Matthijsse. He talks about the opportunities, challenges and resolutions Drum Corps Europe will face in 2012.

 
What important developments is DCE expecting for 2012?
 
Of course we can't deny the presence of the economic crisis. I don't know how this will affect our activity. There is a risk of losing sponsors and funders. This means that we have to be creative in order to make a fantastic drum corps season in Europe a reality for 2012. Altogether, the European Music Games, all the national contests and the DCE Championships will probably have one additional contest compared to 2011. The number of participants remains the same or will increase slightly on a national level. At this point we definitely have no reason to complain.
 
There are a number of challenges for DCE to face this year. For example, the expansion of the judging pool remains one of the priorities. Mainly people with experience in teaching and design within a corps are warmly invited to be trained as members of the judging community. The judging community is about more than just judging, it can also teach corps how to improve. In the past year, we have started up the concept of 'education through assessment'. Our judging manual, which has been revised in its entirety in 2011, has ben made for this purpose. Those who read the manual will come to understand that it is not just about the design (content) but equally about the way in which this is achieved (achievement). The best result can only be achieved with an optimal balance.
 
Another point that we will be focusing on is facilitating the corps. They are currently lacking a platform where corps can share their expertise in a European context. We have to move away from the idea that corps are in competition with each other. We are working on a too small scale for such an attitude. Of course they are competitors on the field. But if we want a great drum corps future in Europe, corps will have to start helping one another. I would especially urge the experienced corps to support the newcomers. Whether it's about music, choreography, programming, management, teaching, recruiting members, travel, anything at all, just help each other. We at DCE will look into the best ways to support you.
 
We ourselves are doing our best to share our knowledge. The DCE judging panel helps partner organisations in Asia to improve drum corps activity over there. The first requests for this were received a few years ago. You could keep your knowledge to yourself, but why not share it?
 
 
Is drum corps still drum corps in 2012?
 
Many people ask: What is drum corps? The problem is that the answer is often linked to what is visible: the corps, uniforms, choreography, music: everything has to meet a certain drum corps standard. But who sets this standard? No, we don't think that's really the point. It's also important to consider that drum corps is a way of making music that challenges both the members and the audience. Since the beginning of DCE we have renounced all sorts of rules that were customary in the States. Since 2011, even the last rule about instruments and amplification has gone. Anything goes, butâ?¦ the judging manual does impose certain restrictions. The use of electronics may be very creative, but it is not by definition a challenge. Replacing field percussion by a drum computer is allowed, but will never score you the same number of points. Using violins instead of trumpets is also allowed, but may score differently for General Effect.
 
So what is drum corps? G-bugles, without valves, nicely polished shoes, all of which can earn you points, like in the old days? I prefer to go for maximum creativity, musical and visual challenges for members and audience. Use the manual to the full. Every show band, drum corps, marching band, youth band and whatever corps and bands want to call themselves, they are all invited to participate. But for those who want to achieve the highest results, the drum corps philosophy must apply. In short: follow a plan, learn to work with the judging manual, make a good working programme that suits your corps, create a good balance in everything and make it as attractive as possible for members and audience.


What makes DCE DCE?
 
Firstly, our organisational structure, it's a 'flat' structure. We keep it as simple as possible; everyone has their own role and responsibilities. It is important to respect this and to communicate openly about it. Of course that can be difficult sometimes, but we always reach a solution in the end. We are all volunteers who enjoy setting up a competition with our ultimate highlight in mind: organising the DCE Championships. We try to minimise the number of formal structures of consultation. The board discusses issues as and when this is necessary, which can be on a weekly basis during the competition season. We use Skype for this in order to reduce travel time and costs wherever possible. Outside of the competition season, we only meet up 'in real life' once or twice. Recently we have also started using Yammer, which is ideal for informing each other of what we are doing 24/7.
 
Another important aspect is our independence. We offer corps a competition, and nobody within the management team is directly linked to a corps. Everyone can participate in the competition, but the responsibility is taken by DCE, in conjunction with its partner organisations. You are probably thinking: that means the corps have no democratic input. I always have a simple answer to that: there are not many organisations in the non-profit sector where democracy guarantees success. It is often an obstacle to development and creativity, comes with a lot of political fuss and only leads to more 'talking about it'. We prefer just doing things, and we develop from there. Of course, we do listen to what corps want, and what the audience has to say. It's just business: we offer a product (competition) and we will do everything we can to ensure that this is taken up by corps and the audience. This has been the DCE philosophy from the start and I think that this is one of the main reasons why DCE is where it is today.
 
 
Do you have any New Year's resolutions?
 
Why would you only have good resolutions at New Year's? I always have goals. Whether they are good, that is for other people to judge, and whether I reach themâ?¦ that's not always in my power to control. As for DCE, we just keep doing what we do best, and hopefully we get a little better at it every time. I would like to wish everyone reading this a happy and healthy 2012. May this year bring you what you want and let us all have a fantastic drum corps year.