Tale of a Drum Line:
The 1993 Santa Clara Vanguard
Copyright Lee Rudnicki 1998

The Introduction
Music: "Stand or Fall" by the Fixx

There comes a time in the history of every drum corps, where for any number of reasons, things don't go as planned. Instead of preparing for a run at a possible Championship or other significant accomplishment, the corps finds itself in a struggle for its very survival.

The members and staff of a corps in such a predicament have two choices. The first is to accept the corps downfall and/or rationalize the disastrous season as a "rebuilding year." The second is to take a stand and fight to get the corps back on its feet, until no one has anything left inside to give, and the season finally runs out.

This is a story about some young men and women that chose to take a stand.

A Cold October Night at Vanguard Hall
Music: "Do you know the way to San Jose? by Dionne Warwick

After a brief stint in Los Angeles, I find myself living in San Jose (again) and on the Santa Clara Vanguard drum staff (again). It is the 1993 SCV "Orientation Night" and the drum staff meets with Percussion Caption Head Scott Johnson. At around 5:30 p.m., we hear prospective drummers in the parking lot furiously attempt to play flam drags on the heavy copper snare and tenor drums. Although their drums are still here, the vast majority of eligible veterans from the talented 1992 drum line are conspicuously not in attendance.

After an unbelievably long speech from new corps director Dr. Len Kruszecki, the auditions begin. One by one, scared young drummers enter the room as we sit behind a long table. Over the next three hours, we audition the majority of the SCV b-corps drum line, some Freelancers, one Canton Bluecoat, the entire Oak Grove High School snare line and a few local "percussionists" that might be better off trying out for a soccer team. As it turns out, some of our new recruits have never even seen a live drum corps, let alone marched in one. We spend most of the night waiting for talent that never arrives.

Uh-oh. Not good.

The evening concludes in San Jose with a spirited game of Sega video-football between fellow drum staff member Kevin Murray and myself. Kevin was Blue Devil's center snare in 1988, but is now head coach of the 1993 Dallas Cowboys. I was Vanguard's center snare in 1988, but am now the offensive coordinator of the 1993 San Francisco 49ers. The game keeps us from dwelling on the disastrous Orientation Night. Unfortunately for me, Dallas triumphs in the video mud of Candlestick Park, 28-14.

Live from Santa Clara: Saturday Night Ensemble
Music: "Bring on the Night" by Sting

It is the Saturday night of the camp weekend, and things look grim. Several of our veteran pit percussionists handed in their resignations yesterday, but they still lurk in the shadows and watch us rehearse in the poorly lit parking lot. There's not much for them to see. Age-wise, the group looks more like a middle school band than a drum corps. The intensity level is three levels below "ham sandwich in a puddle." Luckily, we recently filled a few holes in the drum line with seasoned veterans. We filled a bass spot with a seasoned veteran of the San Jose Raiders Colorguard. We also recruited an assorted cast of seasoned veterans from the b-corps to play the role of our snare and tenor line.

As the alumni watching rehearsal soon discover, we have a unique ensemble sound to compliment our impressive display of inexperience. It could politely be described as "not quite presentable." In fact, the only section of the corps playing at a level anything near what SCV is traditionally known for is the bass line, taught by bass drumming legend Kent Cater.

Instead of the music from Sir William Walton, our crummy ensemble sounds more like an episode of the TV show THE Waltons (when you can actually understand what they're attempting to play). This is the lowest point of the season so far. Our pit is in hiding. The horn line sounds like a kazoo band. The drum line sounds like a loud AM radio in-between stations. Wonderful. We have a kazoo band on the radio. Maybe we should just call it performance art and tour Quebec all summer. After the dismal rehearsal, the drum staff convenes an important meeting at my house in San Jose, where Scott unveils his new video-football offensive scheme and becomes nearly unbeatable as the all-star team of the Oakland Raiders. At around 11:30 p.m., Kent Cater inadvertently discovers the "quick slant pass" to Sega video 49er Brent Jones, and scores his second touchdown of the evening.

The Overfelt Mud Bowl
Music: "Wipeout"

SCV spends most of the rain-soaked weekend learning drill at Overfelt High School in San Jose. Every eight counts or so, corps members fall into pools of mud that cover the football field. The corps soon resembles a mass audition for a rugby team, and it doesn't take long for most members to be covered from head to toe in thick black mud. Despite the horrific conditions, the marching staff continues to demand that the mud covered corps gives their absolute best efforts.

At the end of the camp, our section leader makes the painful decision to leave the Vanguard to march with the Denver Blue Knights. He is in tears as he tells the drum line, and many drummers sit in the bleachers after rehearsal in a state of sadness and shock. Despite the bad news, no one holds it against him. You have to march where your heart is, and he decided to study with one of the finest percussion arrangers of all time, Ralph Hardimon. I can't blame him, as I made the same difficult decision, when I left the Garfield Cadets to march with SCV and study with Ralph in 1987. Apparently, this was also the correct decision for him, as he went on to win snare "individuals" before he aged out, and the Blue Knights drum line was outstanding.

In any event, not only are we left without a section leader, but we are now without any veterans in the snare line whatsoever. The drum staff reacts quickly. We "knight" a rookie snare drummer by the name of Tony to the position of section leader.

After one year of marching with the Freelancers, and a few months of our rag-tag rehearsals, Tony finds himself in the unexpected situation of having been drafted into a position of leadership by the drum staff. We salute him and shake his hand. "Congratulations Tony. Thank you for attending. You are now the center snare and Drum Line Section Leader of the five-time World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard. Congratulations and Good Luck."

Tony is stunned.

So are we.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Music: "Squeak, Boom, Quack, Buzz-Buzz"

On the Sunday evening of Memorial Day weekend, SCV prepares to perform its traditional "preview show" for the local townspeople, band members and assorted alumni within driving distance of the school. Pit arranger Scotty Sells flew in from North Carolina, and the drum staff is at full strength. As our inexperienced corps takes the field, we climb to the top of a rickety press box for the first public run-through of the season.

Announcer: Santa Clara Vanguard, you may enter the field for exhibition!

The drum major salutes, and the corps begins. It doesn't take long for everything to completely fall apart. Within fifteen seconds, the entire horn line stops playing except for one soprano enthusiastically engaged in something resembling a duck-call. The drum line fares somewhat better, as we have two musicians that don't stop. Unfortunately, they are 40 yards apart, and neither one is in time, in step or watching the drum major. Several corps members trip and fall down. A member of the audience laughs. Somehow, the corps regroups and the miserable show continues.

The World Premier of our drum solo begins with a loud suspended cymbal crash from every member of the pit, after which they quickly kneel down behind their keyboards. They are not performing a visual--they dropped out of sight to hide the fact that they don't know their music to anything after the initial downbeat of the drum solo. To complete our "fine presentation," the terrible drumming going on behind our hidden pit is probably the loudest "Rice Krispies being smashed in a bowl" sound in the history of the Free World. Eventually, everything just kind of stops with a raucous barrage of "ticks," and a loud "schlock."

Oh. Chirp.

The show is over?

Chirp. Chirp.

The sound of polite applause and chirping crickets follows the corps as they dejectedly march off the field.

clap. clap. Chirp. clap. Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.

(crowd murmur).

Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Santa Clara Vanguard ! The Staff includes...

Music: The buzzing of stadium lights and some crickets.

It is official. Chirp. A new standard has been set. We just had the distinct honor of witnessing (and producing) the absolute worst performance in Vanguard's history, and quite possibly the worst performance in the history of the entire drum corps activity. Luckily, this is one of the few times when the announcer pronounces all of our names correctly. Wonderful. Maybe we can sign autographs in the parking lot.

Later that night, after the corps falls asleep in the humid gym, we convene the 3rd annual SCV drum staff "brass ensemble." This year's edition is led by cymbal instructor Robert Chavira, due to his ability to get the "oom-pah" sound from a brass instrument. We aren't good (or even mediocre), but at least we're having fun. At one point, someone remarks that our ensemble should include the horn staff on drums. Then we would sound exactly like the corps did in the opener tonight. Bummer.

Music: "Ball of Confusion" by Love and Rockets

On Monday morning, we decide the battery will get back to basics. Once again, we try to get them to play simple sixteenth note check patterns as they march around the field. Once again, with the solitary exception of the bass line, we are unsuccessful. Off in the distance, a pit player chases her music after it blows off the music stand. The whole drum staff is thinking the same thing. Inexperienced corps or not, we are in serious trouble.

The First Show: Public Humiliation #2
Music: Theme from Sega's "John Madden Football" Video Game

It is the first show, and we're fortunate enough to have added one veteran from 1991 to our snare line. Our competition is none other than the Concord Blue Devils. As usual, the Blue Devil horn line is spectacular. Unfortunately for us, the rest of their corps is just as prepared as their horn line. The Devils have approximately fifteen seconds of slight ensemble phasing in their show. We have approximately fifteen seconds in our show where we're not completely falling apart, and exactly "zero" where the entire corps is in step.

After our stellar performance, my girlfriend (at her very first drum corps show) looks at me and tactfully announces, "You guys suck." I have no rebuttal to her at this time.

When the scores are announced, we're lucky enough to have only lost by eleven points to the Blue Devils. The drive home is depressing, as my girlfriend tells me about the amazing Blue Devils all the way to San Jose. The Sega is fired up as soon as we walk in the door. Dallas 21 - San Francisco 20. Kevin Murray blocks the final extra point that would've put the game into overtime. I wonder if we can bring the Sega on tour. We might need it.

Staff Bus Incident #17
Music: "Shadows in Silence" by Enigma

As our bus navigates through the mountains, I lay on the floor in my sleeping bag and stare out the window at the full moon. I'm amazed that we finally finished the show and the corps is now on the road (although we still don't have an ending to the drum solo). As I drift off to sleep, I'm distracted, as our bus driver gets out of his seat, steps over me, and walks down the aisle toward the back of the bus with a video tape in his hand. "Who's movie is this?" he asks.

Subconscious dream-state thought: "Whose movie is this?" Heh. Now there is an interesting development. Our driver has just walked down the aisle of the bus, and is standing in the back inquiring about Beverly Hills Cop II. That means our bus is hurtling through the Rocky Mountains at 65 miles per hour with no one in the driver's seat. Hmmm.

"NO ONE IS DRIVING THE BUS!!!" comes the startled reply from the back. All conversation on the bus immediately comes to a screeching halt. I am suddenly wide awake. "Attention Group."

The bus driver now has the undivided attention of the staff.

And he is smiling.

Music: "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson

It doesn't take long to realize that someone is driving the bus, and that we're not headed to our doom. The roar of laughter is deafening. Apparently, a relief driver took over at the last minute before we left the last truck stop. Our usual driver was crouched down in the seat behind him looking for for a video. We, the half asleep staff, never noticed the driver change. Someone jokingly comments that they thought they saw the Grim Reaper when they looked up at our driver. Ultimately, we decide the Grim Reaper was among us that night, but was so scared that he jumped off and was last seen running next to the bus. hahaha. Somehow, despite our disappointing competitive status, we are still easily amused.

A Very Strange Place in Kentucky
Music: "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring

Although the corps made a dramatic improvement in the last few weeks, this fact appears to escape the drum line. We're in the midst of the worst pre-show warm-up of the year, and the drummers are suddenly and mysteriously unable to play the most basic of exercises clean. The drum staff eventually evacuates the warm-up altogether, leaving them with explicit instructions: "Get your $%!# together!"

Unfortunately, they do not, and the entire corps proceeds to have a terrible performance that could be the new "worst show of the season." To add to our misery, periodic rain made the field very slippery and corps members fall down into the wet grass continuously throughout our show.

I wonder what you get for last place with a full corps score of "9"? Honorable Mention? One hundred and twenty-eight coupons for a Whopper with cheese? A "thank you for attending" card from the mayor? I guess we will find out.

The exemplary performance inspires the staff. In fact, a few of us are so inspired, we immediately set out on a mission to a local convenience store. As we return with our (non)alcoholic beverages (p.c.?), we hear the distant strains of the victory concert, which we're sure is being performed by the Blue Knights. The closer we get to the stadium, the more the music sounds like our show. As we enter the parking lot, our driver gleefully tells us that we won. And we had ours highest score of the year. You've got to be kidding.
We may have had some good shows recently, but this was definitely not one of them. Oh I get it. We're back in the Twilight Zone. What's next? The Grim Reaper appears again? hahaha.

Music: Off

back on the bus
Music: "to wish impossible things" by the Cure

The staff has an informal meeting as we prepare to leave the show site. The consensus is that the corps must never perform that poorly again. We collectively decide to run tomorrow's rehearsal with an approach and pacing that will later be described by corps members as "relentless."

As the SCV convoy heads off into the dark Kentucky night, the drum staff stays awake and tries to brainstorm a new ending to the drum solo. We're officially out of ideas. We've tried everything, yet nothing works. Eventually, at 3:00 a.m., I suggest ending the solo by "drumming slow." So slow in fact, that the drum line will be in slow motion.

Narrator: The idea catches on, and the concept evolves throughout the "Twilight-Zone Evening" as the drum staff finishes off the beverages. The Jackal subsequently creates the first official written transcription of the "slow motion" ending by writing it down on a napkin he found on the floor. At tomorrow's rehearsal, the staff will constantly refer to the scribbled notes.

Music: Theme from the "Twilight Zone" TV show.

As the staff bus starts down the dark winding road, a rather humored, but somewhat out of breath, shadowy figure sits on the curb with a judges' recap at his feet. He smiles, pokes an ethereal skeleton hand out from the sleeve of his cloak, and waves good-bye.
(Fadeout)

THE PREVIEW.
Music: "Stand" by REM

It is the DCI Preview of Champions show, and SCV is finally starting to perform consistently well after weeks of intense rehearsal. We're relatively close to the Missouri home of one of our snare drummers, Tyler Dempsey, and his parents and friends can hardly wait until the corps arrives at the stadium.

Suddenly, three sparking white and silver corps buses (with license plates that read "SCV 1," "SCV 2" and "SCV 3") roll into the parking lot in a tight formation. As the imposing vehicles near a group of fans, it becomes noticeable that the green curtains on the side windows are closed. The message of the SCV time-honored tradition of closing the curtains before rolling into a show-site is subtle, but clear. "Attention everyone: The corps has arrived." The convoy comes to a halt and determined corps members spill out into the parking lot.

At precisely this moment, Tyler realizes that his uniform is sitting on a hanger back at the school. Conveniently enough, the school is only a one hour drive from here. This is unfortunate, but not a complete surprise, as this is our snare line's standard operating procedure. There has only been a handful of times when all six have arrived to a warm-up with all of the equipment and/or uniform parts needed for a show. Interestingly enough, it is usually a different snare drummer that forgets something back at the truck, on the bus or at the school each time.

Eventually, the corps enters the stadium, and marches by several competitors with a snare drummer being hastily put into uniform by support staff. The drum line proceeds to have one of its first great shows of the season. Although they performed well, we half-jokingly present them with a pre-show checklist written on a white board on the side of the food truck. It includes such items as drum sticks, drum, tunic, pants, hat, socks and brain.

DCI Individual and Ensemble Competition
Music: A suspended cymbal roll played behind you with stealth.

There are several memorable individual and ensemble performances from the corps, especially from our now-magnificent pit and bass line, but none is more symbolic of the 1993 season than our cymbal ensemble. Until four days ago, there was no SCV cymbal ensemble. It was on that day that rookie/age-out Anthony Aranda publicly announced that HE would become the cymbal ensemble if the corps would not field one, because this year was his one and only chance to march with Vanguard. The cymbal line rallied around his decision, and Robert Chavira hastily, but ingeniously, put together their ensemble piece.

It's now the afternoon of the DCI individual and ensemble competition. Robert deploys the members of the street-clothed cymbal line to various locations around the concert hall. They enter with stealth, and are soon in seats or standing among the crowd. They remain unnoticed and are effectively disguised as audience members. The only one actually wearing a Vanguard uniform is Anthony, and he proudly takes his place on center stage. The judges and audience are initially confused by the fact that our "ensemble" has only one member.

After the signal to begin, Anthony starts to make the soft scraping cymbal sound known by SCV as a "whale call." Suddenly, the vast hall comes to life with the sound of cymbal rolls, wind chimes and various other sound effects swirling around the room from within the astonished audience itself. The stealth ensemble eventually concludes with Anthony actually drinking out of the bizarre percussion instrument known as a waterphone (which is not played with water).

Although they do not win, the SCV tradition of cymbal ensemble innovation continues, and the conceptual limitations of the DCI ensemble competition are changed forever. The standing ovation lasts for several minutes.

DCI Prelims
Music: "Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana

It is the morning of Prelims at the World Championships, and the corps has started its next to last rehearsal block of the season. Over the last 14 days, we've seen an unbelievable rate of improvement from the corps. Despite the oppressive Mississippi heat, and the fact that many members are sick and/or injured, the corps rehearses without any visible let-up in intensity.

The drum line seems nervous, although they're playing well and continue to draw strength and resolve from vets like tenor player Mike Apodaca. This is Mike's age-out year, and he refuses to sit out of rehearsal, despite having knees that are so badly injured that he must be helped from the field after run-throughs. The staff is amazed by the determination and resilience of the kids in the corps. After rehearsal, Scott tells us that the plan for Prelims is for the drum line to have fun and to be as relaxed as possible.

With these instructions, Kevin, Christy (one of the guard instructors) and I retreat to a local mall in search of dinner and proper attire for the show. Our mission is to find a clothing ensemble that will help the drum line relax and hopefully have a great performance. Eventually we decide upon our wardrobe -- black plastic glasses with "holographic female eyes" and white T-shirts that read "Thank You for not Projectile Vomiting."

Surrounded by a large group of fans with cameras and tape recorders, and a drum staff run amok, the drum line has the best, most confident and most fun warm-up of the year. The efforts pay off, and a relaxed, if not humored, SCV drum line marches down the ramp to take the field for Prelims.

Announcer: Santa Clara Vanguard, you may enter the field for competition!

And then something magical happened.
Music: 1993 SCV

The corps stands at attention as fans, family and staff members yell encouragement. Suddenly, the drum major counts off, and the field comes alive. As the drum line starts the eerie musical introduction, they find something inside themselves we've not seen all season. They begin to play and march with an aura of extreme confidence. The drum line comes together in the middle of the field, and charges directly into what will be later described by many of them as the greatest performance of their lives. The pit's performance equals the battery's, and they perform at an emotional level we did not think possible.

Finally, it's time for the drum solo. The drum line does not just "begin" the solo tonight. They attack it. It is clear, from the look on their faces, that we are witnessing something incredible. The house is officially coming down.

We wrote the middle of the solo to give each individual section of the drum line a chance to shine. One after another, each section plays their feature perfectly. Scott's "stick on stick" snare feature is the last to be played, and the snare line nails it directly in the face of the drum judge. It appears that the drum line has not only taken command of their instruments, but for approximately eleven minutes or so, they have taken command of Jackson, Mississippi.

The drum solo ends with the new "Slow Motion Sequence." The crowd is mesmerized as snares, tenors and cymbals move in a Matrix-like "slow motion time-flux" set to a musical back drop of lightning fast 32nd note runs played by the bass line. Suddenly, all sound abruptly halts. After a millisecond of silence - Kaboom! The drum line hits a cannon rim shot as the horns play the loud chords of the closer. Crowd members near the field go berserk. So does the drum judge.

It is official. There's magic on the field tonight -- the drum line just had The Golden Show. There is no other way to describe it. As the Vanguard drummers march out through the tunnel, they look at one another in astonishment. As their staff follows, they're also looking at one another in astonishment.

The Post-Performance Fiasco.
Music: "These are the Days" by 10,000 Maniacs

As we wait in the parking lot for our staff bus to leave, Dr. Len walks up with a judges' recap and announces that we won field percussion tonight

"What?" (stunned silence) Apparently, we won field percussion tonight. (random yelling and jumping around) Touchdown SCV! The reaction that erupts from the staff (and director) can be described as nothing less than complete and total euphoric chaos. I regret that this isn't the forum to tell the complete story, but I'll always remember the night of Prelims as one of the most fun, happy and absolutely out-of-control times of my entire life.

Eventually, a large contingency of the staff returns with cat-like stealth to our "zone" at the school, a few minutes before the morning sun appears over the Mississippi forest. God Bless America.

the talk under the tree
Music: "One" by U2

On the morning of DCI Finals, Scott Johnson gathers the drum line and staff under a large tree near the practice field. We're still in a state of disbelief from the fantastic events of Prelims and the subsequent post-performance fiasco. As Scott gives an emotional summary of the season, and congratulate everyone on their achievement, the entire drum line starts to cry (followed by the staff).

Everyone gets some time to express his or her feelings about the season, but most are too choked up to say more than a few tearful words. It does not matter. The drum line and the staff are both thinking the same thing: We succeeded. Any final score or placement the corps receives tonight is irrelevant. No one can ever take this moment away. What started as a rag-tag, blue-light-special, group of drum line rejects has miraculously transformed.

They have become the Santa Clara Vanguard.

In all my years of drum corps, I've never seen a group of kids who had such little experience, went through so much adversity and who cared about, and believed in, one another as much as the 1993 Santa Clara Vanguard. It's unfortunate that Gail Royer, the Vanguard's founder, didn't live to see what the 1993 corps accomplished by the end of the season. He would have been proud.

Although the kids in the 1993 corps never received the trophies or accolades of many other great SCV corps ... on one hot August night in Mississippi, they showed the world what is possible when you refuse to surrender to adversity.

And that my friends, is what drum corps is all about.

the end.




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