In conjunction with the Apalachin Grenadier Alumni Drumline, they are seeking brass players, percussionists, color guard members, and drum majors to participate in their first ever Drum and Bugle Corps Fantasy Flashback Weekend.
This will take place over the Fourth of July weekend and is open to anyone who may be interested regardless of whom you may have marched with. It is also open to people who have never marched but love drum corps, know someone who was in a drum corps, watched drum corps, once saw a drum corps or would just like to try it.
In addition, if there is enough interest, the Alumni Drumline has two other performances on different weekends that you may participate in. You may choose one or all of these events, but the July 4th weekend is the main event.
They have two very playable short tunes that have been arranged by Ken Turner for this occasion, God Bless America (1 minute long) and Uptown Funk (1:40 long). They are playable for people who play every day and for those who have not played in several years (mid-range, very few notes, patterned and easy to memorize). The color guard work will also be patterned, simple and easy to learn.
Participation areas are as follows: Trumpet (for people who play regularly) and Trumpet (for those who have not played in a while), Mellophone, Baritone, Tuba, Snare Drum, Multi Tenor (four drums), Single Tenor (one drum which doubles the multi tenor part), Bass Drum, Drum Major(s), Parade Banner (Grenadier Alumni and Friends) – two people, Honor Guard (American Flag Section with required weapon guard), Flag and Rifle.
They will get the music and an audio MP3 file out to anyone who is interested. These MP3’s will have the full version of each song as well as your individual part. They will also produce a video of the color guard work and get it to you.
If you would like to participate in any or all of these events, they would ask that you let them know soon so they can start planning.
Listed below is the specific information you will need. Additional details will be added as they have them. A new Facebook page dedicated to this project has been created to communicate the information to everyone who will be involved or is interested. Please search Facebook for the Grenadiers and Friends group.
The Grenadiers Alumni Drumline has been well received in the two years since their formation. So many people in the area remember Drum Corps fondly and cannot contain themselves when they hear a street beat by bona fide Drum Corps alumni. Imagine what they will do when they hear and see a ‘full’ Corps. This is also an opportunity to introduce the young people in this area to the sight and sound of Drum Corps. Most importantly, it is a chance to have a great time doing something you love with some of the only other people in this area who have a clue what sleeping on gym floors and riding buses with 75 of your best friends is all about.
The July 4th Flashback Weekend has a schedule of Friday, July 1 for Brass, Percussion and Guard Sectionals; the evening will offer a head start for locals or anyone who is in time with a time and location to be announced; Saturday, July 2 will have morning sectionals with everyone and an afternoon and evening performance; Sunday, July 3 will be a noon picnic at Hickories, and short rehearsals and a performance; July 4 will be the parade in Candor or Montrose, and then a performance and celebration.
Additional performance considerations are the Apalachin Fireman’s Field Day Parade on June 4 and the Owego Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 18.
Since no one makes G bugles anymore, and since instruments in good working order are not easy to find, they will be using Bb Instruments (Trumpet, Mellophone, Baritone and Tuba). They have contacted area schools and will be able to borrow enough brass, percussion and color guard equipment for the weekend.
These instruments are much easier to play than the old G bugles. If you have not played in some time and have not played any of these instruments, don’t worry. They will provide the fingerings, recordings and some basic information you will need to be able to play. Their goal is to make it as easy as possible for as many people as possible to participate. If you need an instrument to practice with, they will do their best to help you find something.
They will all wear their own khaki shorts and sneakers. You will be asked to purchase a white, short-sleeved polo/golf shirt that will be embroidered with a “Grenadiers Alumni and Friends” logo as well as a logo on the sleeve indicating which organization you marched with. They will notify you of the cost of the shirt when they know how many people will be participating. They are also trying to locate some shakos or appropriate headgear to wear.
If you are interested in participating in any of these events, email Grenadiersalumni@gmail.com. You will need to provide contact information (email, phone, cell phone) and indicate your area of interest (trumpet, mellophone, snare, bass drum, color guard, etc.), what equipment you have and your degree of expertise, shirt size (the shirts are men’s shirts, so ladies order accordingly) and your Drum and Bugle Corp Affiliate. Most important, please indicate the performances in which you plan to participate.
For more information, contact Brian Turner (bturner1956@gmail.com), Ken Turner (kturner125@aol.com), Rick Jordan (fwj1@cornell.edu) and Kurt Clark (kclark1@stny.rr.com).
