What does it take to be a DCI drum major?

Question

I'm not in brass, drumline, or colorguard, but I want to be in a drum core, so I was wondering about being a drum major.

Answer 1

Well, gee - don't you think you might have to have some experience and work your way up?  This is like asking what it takes to conduct the Boston Symphony, and you do not read music or play an instrument. Drum corps (you  might want to learn to spell it correctly) is SERIOUS BUSINESS - it takes a great deal of work, and although it is NOT the same kind of music as being in s symphony, a choir, or a jazz group, it is VERY demanding.  I am a classical musician and teacher, and a violinist colleague of mine really surprised me - she said she had a judging gig, and I thought it was violin - her major instrument - NOPE!  Drum corps! She is a *closet* drum corps judge - having been in them forever, she now does not tell most other classical musicians, since they would be aghast!  How snooty of them!

Answer 2

haha to be a DCI drum major? Well, go to a good drum major camp for the summer or for a little while. Get good at it. There are no instrumental requirements to be a drum major, but it's best to know at least some music theory, and it's basically conducting and marching.

Drum major camp.

Oh, and mamianka's absolutely right, it is extremely demanding.