Morehead State University - Raconteur Yearbook (Morehead, KY)

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o be the very best is the goal of many people in a myriad of fields, but few actually achieve this dis- tinction to the degree that Marc Whit- lock has. Whitlock, a senior music education major from Russell, marched as the prin- ciple bass player in the world champion drum and bugle corps, the Garfield Cadets. The Garfield corps, based in Garfield, N.J., is the oldest in the world having been founded in 1934. A drum and bugle corps is much like a marching band, but it consists only of brass, colorguard and a drum line. Par- ticipants can be anywhere from 14 to 21 years of age. Most people, upon witness- ing their first drum corps show, swear that they have never seen anything like it. iiDrum corps is becoming an art form. It combines theatre, all kinds of dance and even athletics with the usual aspects of a marching musical unit, Whitlock said. On an average day of training we ran two miles, did 100 sit-ups and did about 500 push-ups. The Garfield Cadets travel about 12,000 miles in a three-month period, through 20 states and parts of Canada. Its not exactly glamorouslii Whitlock laughed. iiWe usually ended up sleeping on gym floors. We had to sleep where we could . . . there werenit any fancy h0- tels, and the meals usually weren,t the greatest. A corps practices for 12 to 16 hours a day, every day, in hot summer tempera- tures sometimes reaching up to 120 de- grees. The rewards outweigh the diffi- culties, however, in the form of close friendships which develop. iiFriends are the biggest reward, said Whitlock. iiYou live with about 1 50 peo- ple for three months, 24 hours a day. You get to know them, and everything they stand for, extremely well. You share their pain and their joys, which are sometimes one and the samef he re- Hected. One of these times was the 1987 world championship. Garfield won, but five days before, four of their crew got seriously injured in an accident involv- ing their semi-trailer, which was carry- ing uniforms and equipment. An eight- year-old girl in another vehicle was killed. iiWe took a day off to grieve and pray for those involved, but the next day it Group Feature 54 was back to business, Whitlock said. Another reward drum corps members get is the appreciation of their fans. iiYour end reward happens when you are marching for 40,000 people at finals and theyire all on their feet, yelling and clapping, said Whitlock. iiNothing feels quite like that? Whitlock was introduced to drum corps before he was a freshman in high school by some friends who were drum corps members. He started in 1980 with the Blessed Golden Knights, a defunct corps which was based in Newport, KY. Then, in 1985, he went to the Star of Indiana, which is based in Bloomington, IN. In 1 987 he marched with the Garfield Cadets for the first time. Whitlock marched with the Star of In- diana the first year of their existence in 1985. The group made it to finals, and was the first corps ever to make it to the top twelve their premiere year. It is more than winning that makes drum corps a worthwhile experience, however. iiIFs the personal relation- ships you develop, the music you create, the art form you administer and the pro- fessionalism you exude that make drum and bugle corps special? Whitlock said. Whitlock is also active in ensembles at the University, He has participated in symphony band, concert band, percus- sion ensemble, jazz band, orchestra, brass choir, brass quintet, low brass ensemble, concert choir, marching band and pep band. He has also been in several community ensembles, includ- ing the prestigious New York City Youth Orchestra. Tuba, baritone and various percussion equipment make up Whit- lockis primary instruments. Studying music at the University has been a positive experience for Whit- lock. iiThe best thing about marching band is the enthusiasm of Richard Miles, the director, he said. iiHe has such a positive attitude about learning and is a really good motivator. My least favorite part of marching band is spending six days a week and at least two hours a day for just one credit hour. Whitlock also considers symphony band a positive experience. iiWe are ex- posed to the best music out there and get to play some really challenging material. The group is outstanding and once again, much of the credit goes to Mr. Miles. Whitlock, who is a first chair player and a marching band field assistant, also plays a part in improving the ensemble. About being a field assistant he said, uI enjoy taking an active role in helping perfect the bands performance. F uture plans for Whitlock might in- clude teaching at a university level, playing in a symphony orchestra, or be- ing a music therapist. iiMusic therapy is a relatively new field which is experi- encing great success. I have a strong de- sire to help children and others who cant help themselves, and I can see no better way to do that, he commented.

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Mars Bowling Front Row: Mike Day, Gerard A. Klepacz. Second Row: Andy Parker, Lonnie Downs, Bob Watson, Steve Todd, Mike Boratyn, Bob Martin, Scott Johnson. Third Row: Robert ttBeantt Kinnaird, Bill Watson, John Taylor All students that hold at least a 3.25 g.p.a. and has 12 hours completed can join Gamma Beta Phi honor society. Students with these qualifications receive an invitation to an informational. Games are played to get to know the active members during the informational held Tuesday, April 5th in the Eagle Room in ADUC. PHOTO BY: Tim Conn Wamaf 5 Bowling Lisa McGinnis, Tracy Burkhardt, Terri Kaelin, Chris Gawlik, Sharon Owen 53

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A conta-bass player for the world champion Garfield Cadets drum and bugle corps, senior mu- sic education maj or Marc Whitlock ofRussell, now teaches at the Cadetis summer camps. PHOTO BY: IeffColquhoun Each member of the 1987 world championship drum corps received a memento as a token of their achievement. PHOTO BY: jeffColquhoun Whitlock attributes much of his own success to the help of Gene Parr, the Baptist Student Union campus minister, and Dr. Earle Louder, professor of mu- 510. Music is the most competitive field I can think of, said Whitlock. It is more than an art; its a science. Many people think a music major just plays his or her horn and gets a grade. We must be able to look at a full score and analyze it. A music major must be able to recognize all the pitches and rhythms as well as understanding the composer behind the music? Whitlock is a member of Phi Mu Al- pha, a professsional music fraternity for men. It is the third largest fraternity in the country, including all of the social fraternities. iiThe neat thing about Phi Mu Alpha is the brotherhoodf said Whitlock. uBe- cause members all have a mutual purpose imusici dominating their lives, there is an instant bond between broth- ers. The purpose of the fraternity is to en- courage the highest standards ofcreativ- ity, performance and education in music in America. tilt has encouraged me to research music and enjoy learning about it, said Whitlock. Itis main directive is to promote the knowledge and love of music in America. Clearly, Whitlock adheres to these ideals in his extremely music-oriented lifestyle. It takes a lot of physical and mental discipline to be a good role model for a section or a corps, he said. iiIn addition to leadership ability and the ability to give and take constructive crit- icism, you must simply love what you are doing. That goes for anything you try to accomplish in life. . Marc Whitlock 55