To provide you and your students with an inside look at what it takes to perform at the highest level, Drum Corps International and Bands of America will again present the Festival Workshop Series: Marching Leadership for Students at DCI major events throughout the summer. There are also several other clinics that are presented by the corps themselves prior to tour events.

400 band students attended a Cadets' clinic in Indianapolis last summer.
The Festival Workshop Series: Marching Leadership for Students provides students and directors practical information that can be utilized in the classroom. For students there is the added benefit of meeting the extraordinary young performers that participate in the world's best drum corps. This experience can be very motivating as they begin to understand that the drum corps performers aren't that different from themselves and the other members of your band. Festival Workshop Series: Marching Leadership for Students details and group rates are available for DCI events in Louisville, DeKalb, San Antonio, Murfreesboro, Indianapolis and Orlando. Here is the schedule of which corps will be leading these workshops next summer: June 21 – Louisville, Ky. – The Cadets
June 22 -- Birmingham, Ala. -- Spirit of JSU
June 23 -- Atlanta -- Spirit of JSU
June 27 -- E. Rutherford, N.J. -- The Cadets
June 28 -- Allentown, Pa. -- The Cadets
June 28 -- Buffalo, N.Y. -- Madison Scouts
July 3 -- Frankfort, Ill. -- The Cavaliers
July 5 -- Seattle, Wash. -- Seattle Cascades
July 6 -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- Phantom Regiment
July 6 -- Spokane, Wash. -- Blue Devils
July 8 -- Cincinnati – Glassmen
July 9 -- Murray, Ky. -- The Cadets
July 9 -- Madison, Wis. -- Madison Scouts
July 12 – DeKalb, Ill. -- The Cavaliers
July 16 -- Enid, Okla. -- The Cavaliers
July 16 -- Midland, Texas -- Phantom Regiment
July 17 -- Dallas -- Blue Devils
July 19 -- San Antonio – The Cavaliers
July 20 -- Loomis, Calif. -- Pacific Crest
July 21 -- Wichita Falls, Texas – The Cavaliers
July 21 -- Baton Rouge, La. -- Santa Clara Vanguard
July 22 -- Tulsa, Okla. -- The Cavaliers
July 22 -- Pascagoula, Miss. -- Phantom Regiment
July 24 -- Jacksonville, Ala. -- Spirit of JSU
July 25 -- Murfreesboro, Tenn. -- Santa Clara Vanguard
July 26 – Indianapolis -- Blue Devils
July 28 -- Centerville, Ohio -- Glassmen
July 30 -- Rome, N.Y. -- Boston Crusaders
Aug. 8 – Orlando -- Phantom Regiment
Jeff Fiedler, director of the Cavaliers, is a strong supporter of student workshops, and stressed the importance of such clinics. "I think it spreads the word about the drum corps activity, that there's something out there beyond their marching band experience," Fiedler said. "The members of the corps can share some of our 'secrets' with marching band kids to help to motivate the kids at home," Fiedler said. Noel Alvarez, a 16-year-old snare drummer from Kissimmee, Fla., said he attended a Cadets-led clinic in Indianapolis last summer for "a learning experience, for the excitement, and because it's cool." In addition to learning about leadership, performance and musicianship, some attendees came to learn more about their favorite corps. Cymbal player J.T. Barber, 16, of Land O'Lakes, Fla., said he went to the Indianapolis clinic last summer to learn "what the Cadets are all about." "Student workshops are an opportunity to showcase the amazing aspects of a drum corps performance from a grassroots point of view. Take off the uniform and we see the corps members are just like the band students watching the clinic, but trained and polished after countless hours of rehearsal and an outstanding commitment to excellence in marching music. Drum Corps International is very proud to work with the corps and band directors in each area to bring the drum corps experience closer to the students," said Drum Corps International Executive Director Dan Acheson.