The leadership track is available to everyone, including current section/squad leaders, captains, drum majors, drill instructors, and officers. We also welcome aspiring leaders and those who may not have “official” leadership titles but still want to develop their leadership skills. (Ages 14 and up).

Students (including drum majors) should bring their woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument (including carrier/stand). Color guard leaders should bring a flag and/or rifle. All leaders will integrate directly with The Blue Devil performers and learn from the staff.

USBands Leadership is “reality” leadership. The curriculum is designed to offer a combination of information-rich motivational workshops and activity-based initiatives with clear takeaways. Each USBands Leadership event brings culture to the forefront and focuses on four primary areas critical to student leader effectiveness: Performance Excellence, Humble Followership, Effective Communication, and Teaching Ability. Students will learn the tools and strategies to help make an immediate difference when they return to their programs.

• Procedures and strategies for effective peer teaching
• How effective leaders communicate
• The four components of leadership effectiveness
• Seven levels of thinking and rehearsal awareness
• Characteristics of high-quality leaders
• Conducting skills (for drum majors). Note: our workshops do not address mace or military-style baton skills.

Most workshops feature side-by-side experiences with the members and staff of The Blue Devils, where students learn and rehearse ensemble exercises and excerpts from the current Blue Devils field production.

We also offer drum major and advanced leadership breakout sessions for returning USBands workshop attendees.

Drum major breakouts include:

• Conducting fundamentals
• Understanding how pulse and tempo maintenance are affected by staging
• Rehearsal management and pacing

Breakouts for returning leadership campers include:

• Advanced communication skills
• Advanced teaching skills
• Advanced rehearsal techniques

USBands percussion events are for students who are enthusiastic about marching percussion technique and performance. The workshops are designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced performers, ages 13 and up, and include instruction on snare, tenor, and bass. The focus is on establishing solid technique and applying it to individual skills and ensemble performance. Specific content includes:

• Extensive overview of Blue Devils technique
• How to prepare for live performance
• Exercises in creating consistency through technique
• How to set proficiency goals and achieve them
• Exploring improvisation in tempo
• Exposure to diverse styles of drumming
• Q&A session with the BD drum line and Scott Johnson (at select events)
• Tips on how to prepare for an audition

One of the unique and most exciting components of USBands educational workshops is the personal interaction with the instructors and members of the DCI World Champion Blue Devils!

Students who are passionate about contemporary color guard technique and performance are well suited for USBands color guard events. The workshops are designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced performers, ages 13 and up, and include instruction on movement, flag, and rifle. Sessions will focus on establishing solid technique and applying it to individual skills and ensemble performance. Specific content includes:

• Overview of equipment technique
• How to prepare for live performance
• Exercises in creating consistency through technique
• How to set proficiency goals and achieve them
• Exploring improvisation
• Exposure to diverse styles of choreography
• Understanding and identifying performance quality
• Q&A session with Blue Devils Color Guard alumni
• Tips on how to prepare for an audition

One of the unique and most exciting components of USBands educational workshops is the personal interaction with the instructors and members of the DCI World Champion Blue Devils!

USBands Educator sessions work in complete alignment with the Leadership, Drum Line, and Color Guard workshops to coordinate and unify the efforts between students and their directors. These workshops feature intimate, personalized insight from some of the most respected names in the marching and concert worlds.

USBands Educator workshops are attendee-driven for each event. You tell us what you're looking for and we design the curriculum to meet those needs. Based on attendee feedback, previous sessions have included:

• Educator session topics vary by event and include:
• Adapting Drum Corps Marching Technique for the High School Band
• Staging, Timing, and Ensemble Cohesiveness
• Developing Form Awareness in Young Performers
• Elements of Show Design and Pacing
• Why Student Leaders Fail
• How to Adapt World-Class Rehearsal Technique for the High School Band
• Technology and the Outdoor Wind Section
• Demystifying Electronics
• Contemporary Trends in Marching Technique
• Show Design for Bands of All Sizes and Levels of Experience
• Effective Training and Use of Student Leaders in Rehearsal
• Strategies and Exercises to Strengthen the Percussion Section
• Rehearsal Pacing and Protocol
• The Blue Devils approach to Intonation in the Outdoor Environment

Of course, it would be impossible to include all the topics above in a single two- or three-day workshop. Let us know your needs so we can build the experience around you. When you register for an event as an educator, you'll be asked to select the four most urgent topics you would like to learn more about from the list above. If what you're looking for isn't listed, you'll have the option to suggest topics for inclusion.