On the field from Denver, Colorado...The Blue Knights!: One member's experience of the 1994 summer national tour [Paperback]

Gregory Kuzma (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2004

On the Field from Denver, Colorado! is one man's view of the inside world of competitive junior drum corps. Whether you've marched 50 years ago, this past year or just yearned to be standing on the field, G.M. Kuzma's personal tale will give you a new appreciation for this musical art form.

"Good morning Blue Knights. Welcome to DCI Finals. The lights are on, stretch is in 12 and three quarter minutes." A couple of chuckles and moans ensue as we rise to face our destiny. It was finally here, three months of hard work, 12-hour practices, too many performances to count and now we are at the day of Finals.

Journey along with the young men and women of the 1994 Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Experience the Drum Corps International Summer Music Games and the intense preparations it took to arrive there.

Become a part of the action, stand on the field and learn what this life is really like in a drum & bugle corps on tour. The sacrifices, the joys, the heartbreak, the physical agony, the lifelong friendships, the lessons learned and earned.

"This is an essential read for all drum corps enthusiasts!"--Mark Arnold, Director

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

From Boca Raton, Florida, Gregory M. Kuzma surrounded himself with musical arts since a young age. He?s performed with several drum corps (junior and senior level) as well as instructed with high school bands and various drum corps. He resides in Texas serving as a Captain in the Air Force.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.; 1st edition (September 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595322786
• ISBN-13: 978-0595322787
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,056,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

From Boca Raton, Fla, Gregory M. Kuzma, (who goes by "GM") has surrounded myself with musical arts since he was young. He's performed with several drum & bugle corps (junior and senior levels) as well as instructed high school bands and various drum & bugle corps. He currently resides in Florida as a Performing Arts Consultant for bands and drum corps while serving in the Air Force Reserve as a Logistics Officer. He is the author of the published book: "On the field, from Denver, Colorado...The Blue Knights!" "One member's experience of the 1994 summer national tour."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read Whether You Are A Drum Corps Fan or Not!, August 5, 2009

By 

Michael D. Terry (Woodstock, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the field from Denver, Colorado...The Blue Knights!: One member's experience of the 1994 summer national tour (Paperback)

GM has constructed a compelling description of life inside the cultural microcosm that is competitive drum and bugle corps. This is a fascinating read for both experienced drum corps "nuts" and those uninitiated to the world of pageantry arts. GM's chronicle of his experiences as a member of the World Class DCI (Drum Corps International) touring corps, the Blue Knights of Denver, CO has something to hold the interest of everyone as he masterfully tells the story of the behind the scenes experiences of himself and his fellow musician athletes as the long, grueling competitive touring season unfolds. From his retelling of anecdotal incidents along the way, to the descriptions of rehearsals in pursuit of perfection, to the recount of competition successes and failures, to the familial bonding of the corps members as they live, work, laugh, and cry together in the course of a months long winter/spring reahearsal season and several weeks of summer competitive touring, covering thousands of miles and dozens of cities across North America leading up to the DCI World Championship in August this book is a "page turner"! These "kids" (aged 14-21) work harder and longer than you can imagine, rehearsing up to 14 hours a day under the blazing sun to learn and perfect an 11-13 minute musical and visual presentation that is then performed every night in competition against 5-10 other touring corps before wildly cheering crowds in football stadiums in a different city every night. Then the groups load the tour buses and equipment trucks to travel overnight to the next contest city, arriving in the wee hours of the next morning, where the corps members, instructional staff, and volunteers wake from a night of cramped sleeping conditions on the buses to begin another day of grueling rehearsal in preparation for that night's competition. The story is awe inspiring and fascinating - especially when one realizes that the participants are "just kids" who are drawn to the drum corps activity by their passion for excellence and love of music and performance. Trust me - this book will make you a "drum corps nut", too!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 15, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the field from Denver, Colorado...The Blue Knights!: One member's experience of the 1994 summer national tour (Paperback)

This is the story, in journal form, of Mr. Kuzma's first summer in a competitive touring marching band. It appears to have been quite a summer. From bus mishaps, to strange traveling and lodging conditions, instrument-related injuries -- the list goes on and on. There are also random relationships, some fleeting and some destined to last a lifetime.

This book will appeal most to people involved in marching bands. More specifically, anyone who currently competes, or intends to start this kind of adventure. It could provide a reflection of what you've experienced, or give you a good idea of what's in store for you.

What it did for me, one of the people who made fun of the band kids, was give me a newfound respect for anyone who puts themselves through this. I was amazed at how much everyone is expected to learn in such a short period of time, and how hard everyone works. And, how fast it all can change and you very nearly have to start over!

In equal parts exhilarating, frustrating, painful, and funny, it seems to be an interesting life.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for all you drum corps fans!, February 4, 2007

By 

Susanna Laurenti (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the field from Denver, Colorado...The Blue Knights!: One member's experience of the 1994 summer national tour (Paperback)

Anyone out there who has ever marched or wanted to march drum corps, or even been a fan, will enjoy this book. In it, Mr. Kuzma perfectly captures the excitment, camaraderie and bone-draining hard work of a summer on the road with a top corps. Drum corps and marching band enthusiasts of of all ages will get a thrill out of reading the first-hand, play-by-play account of the blood, sweat and tears (literally) that went into the Blue Knights 1994 show. Join Greg Kuzma and the young men and women of Blue Knights for this once-in-a-lifetime journey!