Opportunities to Learn. Resources to Grow.
March Drum Corps provides educational programs and opportunities designed to help marching arts students develop their skills, pursue their goals, and access the experiences that make marching possible.
Find an Instructor
01 · Private Instruction
Personalized Instruction. Real Opportunities.
Private lessons are at the heart of MDC. Through MarchLink, students connect with experienced marching arts educators for one-on-one instruction built around their goals, whether that’s a first audition or a spot on a world-class corps.
Individualized instruction
Lessons are tailored by your instructor to your goals, instrument and experience.
Experienced educators and performers
Learn from people who have marched and taught in drum corps.
Online lessons
Take lessons from home, wherever you live.
Multiple disciplines
Instruction across brass, percussion, and drum major and conducting.
Easy discovery and booking
Browse instructors and book lessons directly through MarchLink, on a schedule that works for you.
Instructional areas
Brass
Private lessons for drum corps brass players, from audition preparation to performance.
Percussion
Private lessons for drum corps percussionists, from audition preparation to performance.
Drum Major & Conducting
Instruction for current and aspiring drum majors and student conductors.
Lessons may cover:
- Conducting technique and patterns
- Rehearsal leadership and communication
- Score study and musical interpretation
- Ensemble rehearsal techniques
- Drum major audition preparation
Instructor availability varies by discipline. Browse MarchLink to see which instructors are currently teaching.
How MarchLink works
- 1Browse instructors on MarchLink
- 2Book a lesson that fits your schedule
- 3Start learning
02 · Scholarships
Making Opportunities More Accessible.
The cost of a drum corps season can keep talented students off the field. MDC is committed to reducing those financial barriers, and every lesson booked helps.
- Scholarship opportunities
- A portion of every lesson fee goes to MDC’s scholarship fund to help students take part in drum corps.
- Support for marching arts education
- Scholarships help students invest in the training and experiences that move them forward.
- Students across the activity
- MDC has helped students contracted with organizations such as the Bluecoats and River City Rhythm.
- Achievement and development
- Past recipients have gone on to march with Eclipse, the Madison Scouts and the Bluecoats.
03 · Movement Academy
Movement Is Part of the Performance.
In drum corps, how you move is as visible as how you play. The Movement Academy is a dance and movement series developed specifically for drum corps students. Its 13 videos build the fundamental movement skills needed for auditions and performance, helping students develop the body awareness and visual performance quality that drum corps asks of every member.
What the series covers
- Ballet positions
- Jazz runs
- Flexibility
- Injury prevention
- A complete dance combination
- 13
- video lessons
Created by Courtney Coffey, founder of Simply Colorguard.
Explore Movement Academy04 · Educational Resources
Learn Beyond the Rehearsal Field.
Growth doesn’t stop when rehearsal ends. MDC’s educational resources give students more ways to learn from experienced educators and performers, at home and on their own schedule.
Video lessons
Students enrolled in MDC’s lesson program get access to over 2 hours of online video material, organized as bite-sized lessons they can revisit between sessions.
Book a lesson on MarchLinkVideo audition review
Get detailed feedback from MDC’s instructional team on your audition video before you make your final submission.
- 1Upload your audition video to YouTube (unlisted) or Google Drive.
- 2Send MDC the link and the corps you’re auditioning for.
- 3Our instructional team emails you detailed feedback within 3 days.
Drum Corps Chats
Free, live Q&As on Zoom with experienced performers and educators from across the activity.
- Coming Soon
Blog and glossary
Articles, advice and plain-language definitions of marching arts terms.
- Coming Soon
Find a Corps
Explore DCI World Class and Open Class corps as you plan your audition season.
- Coming Soon
Planned Workshops & Masterclasses
MDC is planning workshops and masterclasses with experienced educators. They aren’t available to register for yet.
Take the Next Step in Your Marching Arts Journey.
Whether you’re looking for personalized instruction, financial assistance, or new educational opportunities, March Drum Corps is here to help you move forward.