The Bushwackers are pleased to offer a new group for members that have less experience or are just starting out – The Bushwackers “Junior Corps”. The Junior Corps is a youth music group that performs in parades and exhibitions. This group is an opportunity for woodwinds and brass to get a drum corps experience and enhance their marching music skills. This is a recreation type of activity where we encourage everyone to attend all practices and performances, but attendance is not mandatory. All interested musicians are welcome. We do ask that you have at least a year of playing an instrument to get the full effect of the activity. If you have your own brass or woodwind instrument, please bring that with you to rehearsal. No marching experience is needed to participate, just come with a willingness to learn and have fun!
During the hour and a half rehearsal, students will be guided by a certified music teacher to enhance their performing skills. In addition to their own rehearsals, students will have also have a chance to rehearse several times with the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps as well as perform in some local parades alongside them. They will also have a chance to perform in exhibition at a drum corps show, giving them a chance to show off their hard work through out the season.
We will be available at the beginning of all rehearsals to talk to parents and explain the program to them. Students can join at any time and will have a chance to learn about the group, learn marching techniques, get to play music and learn technical exercises appropriate for their instrument. This activity is a great way to make new friends and stay physically active. It will be an educational and fun experience for the students that will inspire them to learn how to play better and make more music!
For more information on the open house, please visit our Facebook Event Page.
The Junior Corps will be run in two sessions. Each session will focus on a different aspect of marching. Session 1, will focus on parade technique with the ensemble participating in several parades. This session will start with an Open House on April 5th and run every Friday from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Tentatively it will end the weekend of June 7. Session 2 will focus more on ensemble marching and playing. Tentatively session 2 will start June 21st.
Rehearsal will be at John Witherspoon Middle School, 217 Walnut Ln, Princeton, NJ 08540. Room #A104
For more information, please use the contact form below, or call the Director at 973.310.BUSH.
Our Background
At the heart of the drum corps experience is a set of values – dedication, discipline, commitment, and achievement through teamwork – that enhances the student’s life. Young people soon discover that dedication and hard work enable them to achieve tremendous success. Success, in turn, promotes confidence in their abilities. Students learn and improve valuable personal skills like teamwork, time management and problem solving. Above all, one of the key things our participants learn is simply stated, but complex to convey – how to get things done.
While some of our alums are music and performing arts educators and professional performers, most are doctors, lawyers, business professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders in their chosen fields and in their communities. Regardless of the life path our members choose to follow, the Bushwackers Drum Corps experience enhances the likelihood of success.