Interview Post: July, 2006
Website: www.pacific-crest.org
Biography: The mission of Pacific Crest is to provide artistic performance opportunities for young people that help them develop into well-rounded and responsible citizens. Our staff includes an array of Southern California's most impressive designers and teachers, a world class group of dedicated professionals who consistently challenge our students to meet the highest standards of excellence. Our administrative team includes committed volunteers who possess a business-like professionalism that ensures the stability of our organization. Pacific Crest offers three programs in support of our mission. Whether you want to perform in one of the finest drum and bugle corps in the country, refine your performance and leadership skills at our workshops, or participate in our independent winter guard, we know that one of our programs will meet your needs. For more information on the corps and the efforts of the Pacific Crest Youth Arts Organization, please contact Stuart Pompel, Executive Director at: pompel@pacific-crest.org

Questions
The Drummers Lounge (TDL)

Answers
Stuart Pompel (SP), Jacob Caldwell (JC), Jason Morton (JM), Bob Richardson (BR)

SP: Well, for every minute of performance time, we put in about 55 hours of practice time. That includes overall corps practice, as well as each separate section unit practice.
Editor: I can also say that most of the corps members that I talked with also put personal practice time in to improve their skill, which is apparent in their performance.

SP: Our mission is to give life experiences that will provide excellent leadership, teamwork, and discipline that will carry through into life after the corps. The corps is a life changing experience. The friends you make in the corps, will be your friends forever. When you leave the corps, you will have touched excellence, and received a discipline quality that will help guide you through life.
Editor: I heard many comments from people that stated that after the corps, they are so much more prepared for life because of what they learned in the corps. What is demonstrated by their discipline, hard work, and diligence certainly will give them a step up in life.

SP: Meal preparation and drivers are the two big needs that we always have.
Editor: These kids put a lot of hard work into their practice and performance. They need lots of fluids and food to replace what their bodies lose while working so hard. They typically have 5 meals a day, and constant fluids, so you can imagine while on the road they need support with regards to their food, water, rest, and morale.

SP: Our schedule is a little different than some of the other corps. We have between 20-30 competitions each season.
Editor: As their program continues to build and grow, their travel time and destinations will also grow.

SP: We feel that the corps is a step up from marching band. Students come to us to improve their skills to a more professional level.
Editor: It was clear to me that the level of competition was that of a professional sporting event, and not just merely a show for the fans.

SP: This is our 14th year. We worked for about 10 years to get to Division 1. We are fairly young as a corps compared to others.
Editor: To me, that is a great feat to accomplish, working for 10 years and moving up to Division 1. Based on what I saw of the corps in general, all of these programs will continue to grow and build, and hopefully they will get more publicity from it and achieve a mainstream following.

SP: Well, there are a number of judges on and off the field. There are specific judges for each section that view up close each performance. At the end of the competition, all of the scores are tabulated and announced. Every competition's score is calculated overall for the season, and that determines your corps rank.
Editor: It was great to watch the judges on the field. They would have to run back and forth, staying out of the way of the performers, taking verbal recordings of their assessments. Each section was judged independently. At the end of the night, the corps are given all pertinent recordings and judgments. These are valuable tools for the corps to examine. It allows them a critique that can be used to better their next performance.

JM: To execute what we have rehearsed and practiced. To do the best job possible and improve our performance.
Editor: It seemed obvious to me that even a win that night would not have lasted for long because the competition was more geared toward personal improvement and skill, rather than an individual competition win that would be forgotten or taken away at the next challenge. The drive to compete at your personal best is one of the biggest motivators a person can have. If everyone strives for a personal best, there would be one sound as a group, and individual play would not be heard, that seems to be the goal of the corps, and not individual recognition.

JC: Changes. Sometimes we get changes handed to us right before a show. It definitely keeps your chops up. You can't slack off at all, you have to be ready for new music and score changes all of the time. Another difficulty is feedback from the judges. Some things are more difficult to fix and work on than others.
Editor: To me, the changes Jacob is referring to are no challenge to these intense musicians. They are there to prove their talent, and they do it consistently. At this level of performance, I believe these challenges are merely small tests that get passed with flying colors and are only an afterthought later. Not to say that it is hard sometimes to deal with change, but the musicianship of the corps in general is at the top of its game.

JM: Well, on average I would say we put about 20 hours a week with an additional 1-2 hours a day of personal time, so maybe about 30 hours a week. It is a personal preference concerning how much personal time each of us puts in, but in order to stay fresh and on top of our game, we have to work on our individual talent whenever possible.
Editor: It became very apparent that corps members, at least these great guys from Pacific Crest, were 150% devoted to the corps. They eat, live, breathe, and play the corps. It all comes down to practice. How much time are you willing to spend to master your craft? This is a lesson for all of us. If you want to succeed in life, you must devote your time and effort to it.

BR: Life. Everything we do in the corps, helps prepare us for life. The discipline, teamwork, and diligence we learn prepares us for whatever career we are interested in. A lot of us already teach others and probably will continue to teach after the corps.
Editor: Giving back. Most of the guys I talked with, had a great desire to teach their craft to others. They had a great passion for drumming, and wanted to make sure that others were given the same opportunity they had to excel in their passion.

JM: It certainly does. First off, it gives you more patience when dealing with people. It helps you think of others and not just yourself.
Editor: No one at this competition displayed anything but a consideration for others. A lot of other sporting events or musical venues, there are always a few who want the limelight. Not at the corps. They seem to have a genuine need to be seen as a group, and not as individuals.

BR: Well, pretty much the experienced guys teach and lead the line. It is all about experience and leadership.
Editor: My side question here was how a snare drummer could move up in rank on the line and how lead drummers were chosen. The unanimous response was experience. There are no challenges for position, and once the leader is established, he (or she) has full leadership control of the line, of course under the direction of the section leader.

BR, JM, JC: Both. I have seen guys who did not think that they had natural talent, practice hard and match talents with other guys who had an easier time of it due to natural born talent. You just have to be focused. No one is ever doomed from becoming a great drummer!
Editor: I wanted to push this a little because over the years I have heard too many people give up and say that it was just too hard and that they didn't think they had natural ability. I have always believed that if you commit yourself to a task, you need to work hard and persevere. Don't ever give up. It might seem like other people have an easier time achieving success, but in either case, when you work hard to achieve a goal, the result is the same no matter how you got there. So for all you 'unsure' drummers out there, get up. Dust yourself off. Practice, practice, practice. Don't give up your passion. When you encounter struggles, simply work harder to overcome them. You will be glad you persevered for your own satisfaction.

JM, JC: I think drums simply stand alone. The sound and beat just draws you in. You can't escape its pull. Childhood influence also has a lot to do with it. I have played other instruments, and drums was the only one that made sense.
Editor: I typically ask this question to see the different perspectives. It has always been pretty much the same answer, with a few exceptions. People are just pulled in to the sound and feel. Whether it is snares in a drum line, Oshime Daiko drums in a Taiko group, Djembes in an African ensemble, it is the same reason for selection. The instrument speaks to your soul. You feel it, with passion. I am sure that a Flutist or Tuba player feels the same about their instrument as well. It speaks to them like no other instrument can. So to the parents out there, let your kids try different instruments. Let them experience diversity in style, and I am certain they will find their true calling.

JM: Well, obviously Huck. But then probably Buddy Rich and Weckel.
Editor: These drummers have a lot of respect for their section leaders. I will have to agree with the choice for Buddy Rich, as he is one of my personal favorites. I got my start in drums playing Dixieland music to the tunes of Buddy Rich. He is truly amazing.

JC, JM: No, I think we still have a lot to do to educate the public about the corps. It is slowly becoming more popular and mainstream but has a ways to go. More television coverage or media coverage of events will certainly help promote the corps.
Editor: Obviously my goal here is to do just that. This has been an education for me as well. The corps is far more than I had imagined. I was not looking for other press at this event, but if they were there, it was not obvious.

JM, JC: It is all about people, energy, confidence, and discipline.
Editor: It is certainly about people first. I saw so many alumni there supporting their corps. A lot of corps have years and years of history and the supporters that showed up were not only family or friends. There were tons of alumni 'high-fiveing' each other and their respective corps members. It was almost like I had discovered a new sports team in the area. I felt like I had uncovered a hidden treasure. Actually, I had. This is a wonderful forum of talent that needs to be highlighted in the media.

JC, JM: Unfortunately probably money. There is always something to fix, or parts to buy, or travel costs to cover.
Editor: The travel costs alone have got to be very expensive. You have to consider probably 1-2 semi trucks of equipment, plus 2-3 busses for musicians and staff. Food is not free. Imagine trying to feed 150 people, 5 times a day, out of a suitcase basically. This requires volunteers and people who are willing to give of their time to support this great program. Donations are obviously welcomed.