Drum corps is a unique and exciting competitive activity that combines music, marching, and showmanship. Drum corps ensembles perform in parades, festivals, and other civic functions, but also in competitions.

Drum corps has many similarities to marching band, though they differ primarily in instrumentation, age limits, and intensity. Drum corps feature only brass, percussion, and color guard, while marching bands include woodwinds as well. Drum corps members are typically aged 14-21, whereas marching bands accommodate all ages. Drum corps focus on highly polished, theatrical productions in professional competitions, while marching bands balance entertainment, school spirit, and varying competition levels.
Modern drum corps are highly skilled performance groups made up of brass musicians, percussionists, and color guard members. Each corps typically consists of up to 165 members.
The competitive side of drum corps is organized by associations like Drum Corps International (DCI), which hosts competitions across the United States, culminating in the annual DCI World Championships. Competitions are held in large stadiums, where corps perform intricate shows that feature music, marching formations, and visual effects.
The goal is to score as many points as possible based on criteria such as music performance, visual performance, general effect, and overall coordination. During competitions, judges evaluate each corps in specific areas. Brass and percussion sections are judged on their musical precision and sound quality. The visual performance category assesses the execution of complex marching formations and choreography. The color guard, which uses flags, rifles, and other props, adds a theatrical element to the show and is judged on its contribution to the overall visual impact.
Scores are calculated by combining these individual categories into an overall score out of 100. The corps with the highest score at the end of the season is crowned the champion. In addition to the World Championship title, corps can also win awards for specific areas, such as best brass, best percussion, and best visual performance.
Similar Sports
- Marching Band — a large team of participants play musical instruments as they perform various routines while moving around on a huge outdoor field
- Baton Twirling — a metal rod called a baton is manipulated while simultaneously making coordinated dance moves.
- Color Guard — teams perform routines to music, combining dance, flag spinning, rifle and saber handling.
- Winter Guard — an indoor sport of the color guard discipline in which teams perform several routines using supporting equipment to recorded background music.
Related Pages
- Complete list of sports
- Dance and Dance-Related Sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports — a list of every sport from around the world.
