Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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

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!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have never been in a marching band or drum corps, but I do have a musical background. This book took me into the world of drum corps. It is an intense journey filled with hard work, a little fun and a lot of learning. It describes the daily routine of a mellophone player. I never realized how much work went into these tours. I have a new-found respect for anyone who joins a drum corps. Overall - a great book that's hard to put down.

For anyone who has ever marched, wanted to march or wanted to know more about the drum corps activity, this is the book for you! GM takes you through his 1994 Summer Tour with the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from Denver Colorado. From spring training to rehearsal days on tour to show days and finals, one member's experience of a drum corps national tour is illuminated in this journal like story.

As a former member of the Blue Knights, this book has made me smile and cry every time I read it. Remembering the feel of eating from a food truck, sleeping on a gym floor with my 100+ brothers and sisters, practicing sweating and bleeding together, and watching a crowd react to your three months of work all make me remember why I embarked on one of the hardest and most rewarding times of my life.

GM is a powerful writer, and this book truly displays his character, and the character of anyone who has ever been able to say "I marched."

I actually own a copy of this book and i've read through it several times. It's a great piece; i have shown it to several family members to help explain drum corps (as we both know, "marching band per se" just doesn't cut it). An excellent read for anybody new to drum corps, interested or involved in drum corps, and alumni.

- Justis Kleber

I was never in a drum & bugle corps, but I've been following Drum Corps International (DCI) since my freshmen year in High School Band...Since I never had the money or time to be in a drum & bugle corps, (which I regret tremendously), I thought I should read your book to find out what it was like first hand. Well, I just finished reading it today, and it was a fantastic insight into a Top 12 Division I drum corps. Thank you so much for publishing this book!

I must admit that I was hesitant in purchasing this book considering the unusal format. However, I am quite thrilled that I finally gave in to my love for drum corps. G.M. Kuzma truly captures the essence of summer tour in a way that allows the reader to relive his or her drum corps experience. One particular feature of the book is nostaglic elements such as a copy of the first set for BK 1994, a mellophone part for Trittico, numerous photographs, scores from shows, etc... Truly guys, this is a wonderful read for anyone who has or will march drum corps.

As a former member of the Blue Knights drum and bugle corps (1987-1989), I have a fond place in my heart for the drum corps activity in general, and the Blue Knights in particular. When my wife gave me this book for Christmas, I was enthralled by the idea of an insider's account of a summer on the road with the corps, and I read the book from cover to cover within 24 hours. In retrospect, my expectations may have been too high. Gregory Kuzma's book did bring back a lot of old memories, many good, some bad, of the three years I spent marching with the Blue Knights, but I found its "raw" diary format to be tedious and difficult to read at times. That said, the same dodgy grammar and liberal use of drum corps vernacular (e.g., the word "suck" being used in every imaginable form and context) help give this account a certain authenticity that made me feel like I was 19 all over again, standing in the hot sun on a dusty practice field somewhere near the Wonder Bread factory in north Denver.

I particularly enjoyed Kuzma's descriptions of Blue Knights staff members and instructors, many of whom I knew personally. He does an effective job of capturing the agony and grit of 12-hour rehearsals (where tempers often flare), the persistent sleep deprivation, and the frustration of realizing that not everyone in the corps shares the same level of maturity, or commitment to excellence and achievement. In the end, in spite of everything, the 1994 Blue Knights pull together and wow the crowds and judges, earning themselves a deserved spot among Drum Corps International's prestigious Top 12 finalists.

This book will definitely appeal to young drum corps members and enthusiasts who don't mind wading through grammatical rough spots, and a good deal of corps jargon. Its lack of "big picture" context for those not intimately familiar with the drum corps activity (the Appendixes do provide some after-the-fact), and its general "readability" problems may, however, prevent Kuzma's book from appealing to a wider audience.

I got this book in December wanting to learn more about the drum corps activity, and it exceeded my expectations greatly. It doesn't just tell you what drum corps is, it gives you an insight into what the people that participate in it go through on a day to day basis. It also doesn't just help learn about one activity, it informs us of the day to day challenges of devoting a period of time to something larger than yourself, and the highs and lows you take to achieve something great. A MUST read for any person, but especially a drum corps fan. 5 Stars.