DCI Press Release for Any Key Brass DCI Lifts Instrumentation Restriction Rule Drum Corps International’s Board of Directors passed one of three rules change proposals as a part of their Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas on January 31. This rules change lifts the long-standing restriction requiring com-peting units of the SUMMER MUSIC GAMES to use G keyed bugles. Effective for the 1999 competitive season, corps will now have the opportunity, as defined by the proposal, to utilize “brass bell-front valve instruments in any key with the exception of sousaphones and trombones”. Submitted by Blue Devils Executive Director David Gibbs a nearly unanimous vote approved the Multi-Key Instruments proposal by a count of 17–3. Three abstentions were also recorded coming from three of the four At-Large Directors. Additionally, two other rules change proposals were submitted as a part of this meeting but were defeated or withdrawn. According to Gibbs, “The primary intent of this latest rule change is to ease the restrictive nature of the existing regulations by offering more choice. Under no circumstances will a corps be required to use instruments other than those they are now using as a result of this change. Instead, those corps that choose to explore other options in brass voicing may do so.” The vote was a part of a yearlong rules process that was researched by the committees of the DCI Board of Directors and the DCI Instructors/ Judges Task Force. The rules proposals were then presented to the Instructors caucuses in mid-January where they were approved and forwarded to the DCI Board of Directors for the final stage of the process. Gibbs added, “The DCI Board of Directors were satisfied with the new rules process that allows for thoughtful and reasonable consideration and as a result cast their vote on the three proposals. Although we will likely see some experimentation throughout the next year or two I do not anticipate any corps utilizing substantially different instrumentation for some time. In almost all cases there will be no impact on the visual character of the performances.” Ironically, this rule change somewhat preserves the root character of the drum and bugle corps activity by specifically prohibiting the use of trombones and sousaphones. Prior to today’s rules change the use of such instruments was permitted if pitched in the key of “G”. In fact, Dr. David Kampschroer who is one of DCI’s founding fathers from 1971 as Director of the Blue Stars, points out, “Clearly the history of the activity has been evolutionary versus revolutionary. After weighing the months of discussion and debate on this issue I do not feel as though this latest rule change jeopardizes the unique qualities of the activity nor does it counter the spirit of the founding fathers”. Dr. Kampschroer currently serves as Director of Programs of the Phantom Regiment and voted in support of the proposal. Of the two remaining rules change proposals submitted only one was formally discussed and brought to a vote by the delegates. Submitted by YEA! Executive Director George Hopkins, these remaining proposals focused on electronic amplification and the use of electronic instruments. Recognizing that the use of electronic instruments without electronic amplification is impractical, the last proposal up for ratification was withdrawn by Mr. Hopkins after the proposal to allow the use of electronic amplification was defeated by a 10–12 vote. Initially, five proposals were considered by Instructors and Judges throughout the DCI community as a part of the DCI Instructors/Judges College held in Chicago just two weeks ago. After involving the advisory input of DCI Instructors/Judges Task Force, however, only three of these five rules change proposals were submitted to the Board of Directors for ratification. Those proposals addressing Audience Judging and Unit Size did not meet the criteria for further consideration by the Board of Directors as dictated by the DCI Rules Change Process. The Process This rule change is the result of months of debate as part of an updated rules change process developed by the DCI Board of Directors over the past 2 years. Designed to create a series of checks and balances by formally engaging Instructors and Judges, and informally fans and participants, the 1999 DCI Rules Change Process described below was used to bring about the latest DCI rules change. October 1 Deadline for submitting Rule Change Proposals. The Rules Committee chairperson is responsible to receive all proposals, review for completeness and prepare for distribution to the Rules Committee members. Incomplete proposals will be immediately returned to the submitter without any further review. Each proposal will be assigned to an individual member of the Rules Committee to ensure that all questions/challenges are answered. This “coordinator” would contact the submitter for any additional information. Coordinators will also seek input from the various committees of DCI. October 27 Rules Committee Coordinators return all assigned proposals along with research reports to the Chairperson. All completed proposals will then be distributed to the Rules Committee members for review. November 15 The Rules Committee reviews the proposals for potential impact to the judges and the judging system, logistics for show promoters, operational changes for the DCI office and a recommended time and plan for implementation. Each proposal will be assigned to the appropriate caption (visual, brass, percussion or guard) caucus for discussion and voting at the annual DCI Instructors/Judges College. Rules proposals may be rejected by the committee on the basis of insufficient data/research or lack of clarity to the proposal. December 1 All reviewed and approved proposals are distributed to judges, corps directors and instruct-ional staff members for their review. At this time, representatives of each interest group shall be consulted by the corps directors and staffs. January Instructors/Judges College Each proposal is discussed, debated and voted on in the appropriate caption meetings for advance-ment to the full Instructors/Judges caucus. Full caucus vote will result in the proposal being rejected or passed on to the DCI Board of Directors. Voting: Each drum corps present at the Instructors/Judges College will have one vote per caption. A simple majority vote of qualified votes at the college will pass the proposal on to a vote by the DCI Board of Directors. February Board of Directors Meeting Those proposals receiving a favorable majority vote of the DCI Board of Directors will be scheduled for implementation based on the recommended time frame and process previously determined by the Rules Committee. copyright 1999 drum corps international