Having a place to practice makes perfect.
That's how the members and leadership of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps felt Monday when they used Pilot Point Middle School as their temporary base before performing in McKinney.
'We travel all over the country, and we count on high schools that open their doors to let us make this our home,' Phantom Regiment Tour Director Joe Taylor said.
The five members of the bass drum line found a cluster of trees across the street from Massey Stadium to continue working on their parts with the help of Jacob Wetzel.
He told them to draw from their 'entire bass drum experience' as they performed.
They proceeded to play the section he told them to practice while marking time with their legs.
'Isn't it crazy how that was better than 20 minutes ago,' Wetzel said. '... There's a certain element I think sometimes when you're working and when you're teaching, and you go, I have to think about only what I've been taught here because I'm here, but that's not the case at all.'
He continued to encourage the five bass drummers to trust their experience and skills.
Section leader Alex Gorman, who has been with the Phantom Regiment for three of his four years in the drum and bugle corps, said being part of the drum corps had been a dream for him 'since elementary school.'
'Finally being able to be at the top of the activity and do what I've always wanted to do means just absolutely everything to me,' he said. 'Being here with such special people is such a privilege every day. It's the best thing that we could be doing here with our time.'
He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and he fell in love with the Drum Corps International bands after watching the performances online.
'If people are questioning it or not sure if they should do it, always just try to go out to a camp and see how it turns out,' Gorman said. 'There's no downside to auditioning and trying.'
He also spoke about gaining lifelong friendships, something color guard captain Jocelyn Wallen also spoke about.
'The main thing is the connections with the people that I've met here,' she said. '... We have a similar drive and passion to do this one thing for three months.'
Wallen has been part of the Phantom Regiment, which is based out of Rockford, Illinois, for five years.
Originally from Eastern Tennessee, Wallen spoke about enjoying performing alongside people from across the country and beyond.
'We have people from Japan and Great Britain,' she said.
Like Gorman, she will be aging out after this season.
'You can turn 22 on or after June 1, and my birthday is June 1, ... so it's kind of like meant to be to do this last season for me,' Wallen said.
Monday was the Phantom Regiment's final performance in Texas for the summer.
'It's nice to have a gym like this so we can have AC and be able to practice, especially in the heat of Texas,' she said. '... [Having] the turf field is nice as well.'
Having help from school programs like Pilot Point is crucial for the success of the Drum Corps International program, Taylor said.
'This is the first time that we've been at this facility, and they've been so welcoming,' he said. '... Because Pilot Point opened up for us, we're able to continue doing what we do on a regular basis. Otherwise, this organization just simply couldn't go on.'
He also hopes that being visible in the community helps inspire local students to pursue being part of a Drum Corps International group, as it did him.
'Way back a long time ago, 1989, I saw Phantom Regiment live and I said, 'That's it,'' Taylor said. 'Whatever I have to do, I'm going to make that drum corps.' I'm hoping there was somebody in the stands today that said the same thing.'
Ryan Adamsons, who is the brass caption manager for the bugle and drum corps, was also a Drum Corps International performer as a young adult and has worked with multiple groups since.
'For me, it was the first thing I couldn't do and just get by on talent,' he said. 'So it was just very, very helpful for me as a younger student to understand what it meant to work ... as a team.'
He loves the chance to share that with the young adults in the Phantom Regiment, along with his love of music.
His admiration for his peers is also a major reason he loves being part of the Phantom Regiment staff.
'Everybody here is a world-class expert at what they do,' Adamsons said.
He is a composer who lives in Chicago for his fulltime profession.
'I do a lot of jazz stuff, but I'm basically writing music all the time,' he said.
Being part of multiple Drum Corps International groups has had a lifelong impact on Adamsons, as that's how he met his wife.
He loves the passion and dedication he sees throughout the Phantom Regiment and other DCI touring groups.
'To be able to share [your experiences] and help them get where they want to go is definitely the thing that gets you through the day when it's hot like this,' Adamsons said.
Phantom Regiment bass drum players Carvin Coppersmith, left, Alex Gorman, Zach DeFalco, Brayden Hodge and Jackson Humphreys practice in the shade across the street from Massey Stadium in Pilot Point on Monday afternoon before performing in McKinney that evening. Abigail Bardwell/The Post-Signal
