Corps style band

Following the Civil War, many musicians from the North and the South returned home and formed community bands.

Following World War I, the VFW and the American Legion began sponsoring their own bands for local parades and performances.

These groups grew in size and scope to where competitions were held locally, regionally, and finally nationally.

Instead of a constant forward marching, groups would "stand fast" or "mark time" to music, maintaining specific forms.

Through the 1960s the American high school and college bands marched primarily in a military style.

Generally, the style maintains a fixed 8 to 5 stride but can include altered step sizes to accommodate maneuvers such as pinwheels.

Generally, the show band style includes more standing time, and more movement to a drumbeat or cadence, instead of while marching to the music of the winds.

Although one could argue that both these bands have such rich and longstanding traditions which predate the formation of drum corps, they could be considered a style unto themselves.

These types of bands feature mostly playing while marching with only a limited amount of stand fast time.

A significant break from the military tradition used in the corps style is instead of baton twirlers, there is a color guard which uses flags in their routines, as well as rifles and sabres.

In the 1970s and 1980s, specific drum harnesses were developed to accommodate marching with a set of bells, a single fiberglass timpani, or a xylophone.

These types of harnesses are also used for snares, tenors (quads/quints), and bass drums, a significant upgrade to the traditional cloth sling.