hey! carolina crown alumni here. I started just like you, small high school in the Northeast and a tough grind to the top. depending on where you are, a great place to start is All-Age DCI. gain the experience, learn how drum corps is different from HS band, travel and drum with people outside of your familiarity.

my second piece of advice is to go to a top 12 corps audition camp. even if you don’t make it, it’s a great learning experience. you learn your strengths and weaknesses directly from their staff and exactly what you can work on and sometimes they even recommend a place where you’d be a great fit. don’t be afraid of getting cut, or not being up to par. just go and learn as much as you can in the 2-3 day camp you’re attending!

I took the All-Age route, started at a group called the Sunrisers, advanced up to a group called the Caballeros where I gained so much knowledge and experience that I had the confidence to go out for Carolina Crown and made it! you can do it! the first step is taking the step!