History of Drum Corps and Yamaha
Partnering and innovation for success at DCI.
Yamaha has been supplying drum corps with quality instruments for over 40 years now. At first it was just marching percussion, then brass. Now our Pro Audio systems are also being used. We are proud of the drum corps who have played Yamaha instruments over the years, and of their place in our shared history. This trip down memory lane provides insight into the drum corps, their success at Drum Corps International (DCI) and the related innovations that have come from Yamaha.
Here are some of the accomplishments each year, along with a timeline. As you can see, each drum corps has been notable in its achievements:
- Longevity: The Madison Scouts and Yamaha are now celebrating 40 years of working together. The Cavaliers began using Yamaha products one year later in 1986, beginning their own storied legacy.
- Placement: The corps that use Yamaha instruments have consistently done extremely well, having won 18 DCI Championships, 15 Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Awards and 14 Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Awards.
- Commitment: In the beginning there were a limited number of groups using Yamaha Percussion, and the competition was tough among music instrument manufacturers. Since then, the number of groups using Yamaha instruments has grown from zero to over 34. In fact, more drum corps play Yamaha Percussion than any other brand of percussion instrument.
- Product Development: Over the years, the number of Yamaha products available to drum corps has grown. Yamaha has taken its time, completed the required testing and ensured that the products that are released to the marketplace are the best possible instruments with the most advanced music technology available.
| Year | Drum Corps Playing Yamaha | Product Innovations |
| 2024 | • Bluecoats win the DCI Championship and the Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award • Carolina Crown places 5th • Santa Clara Vanguard places 6th • Blue Stars place 8th • The Colts place 9th • The Cavaliers place 11th • Madison Scouts place 12th | |
| 2023 | • Bluecoats place 2nd • Carolina Crown places 3rd and wins the Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award • The Cadets place 5th • The Cavaliers place 8th and win the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award • The Colts place 9th • Blue Stars place 11th • The Crossmen place 13th • Madison Scouts place 16th | DM3 and DM7 Series Digital Mixers are introduced. |
| 2022 | • The Bluecoats tie for 2nd place and win the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award • Carolina Crown place 4th • Santa Clara Vanguard place 5th • The Cadets place 6th • The Blue Stars place 7th • The Cavaliers place 9th • The Colts place 11th | |
| 2021 | The MS-9414 SFZ Marching Snare Drum is introduced. | |
| 2020 | ||
| 2019 | • The Bluecoats place 2nd • Santa Clara Vangaurd place 3rd and win the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award • Carolina Crown place 4th and win the Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award • The Cavaliers place 5th • The Boston Crusaders place 6th • Blue Stars place 8th • The Cadets place 9th • The Crossmen place 11th | |
| 2018 | • Santa Clara Vangaurd wins the DCI Championship, Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award, and Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award • The Bluecoats place 3rd • Carolina Crown places 4th • Boston Crusaders place 5th • The Cavaliers place 6th • The Cadets place 7th • The Blue Stars place 8th • Crossmen place 12th | |
| 2017 | • Santa Clara Vanguard place 2nd and win the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award • Carolina Crown place 3rd and win the Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award • The Cavaliers place 4th • The Bluecoats place 5th • The Boston Crusaders place 6th • The Cadets place 7th • The Blue Stars place 10th • Crossmen place 11th • The Madison Scouts place 12th | |
| 2016 | • The Blue Stars come back to Yamaha, making them the 8th All-Yamaha Drum & Bugle Corps in DCI World Class • The Boston Crusaders move to Yamaha, making them the 9th All-Yamaha Drum & Bugle Corps in DCI World Class • The Blue Coats win their first ever DCI Championship • Carolina Crown place 3rd and wins the High Brass Award • The Cavaliers place 5th • The Cadets place 6th • The Blue Stars place 9th • The Crossmen place 10th • Boston Crusaders place 12th • The Scouts place 13th • The Colts place 16th | The MONTAGE synthesizer is introduced. |
| 2015 | • Carolina Crown place 2nd • The Bluecoats place 3rd • The Cadets place 4th and win the High Brass Award • Santa Clara Vanguard place 5th • The Madison Scouts place 8th • The Cavaliers place 9th • The Crossmen place 12th | The TF Series mixer is introduced. |
| 2014 | • The Bluecoats place 2nd • The Cadets place 3rd • Santa Clara Vanguard place 4th • Carolina Crown place 5th • The Cavaliers place 6th • The Madison Scouts place 11th • The Crossmen place 12th | The 9300 Series Snare Drums and 8300 Series Multi-Toms and Bass Drums are introduced. The 6300 Series Timpani, 8000 Series Concert Toms and 9000 Series Concert Bass Drums are introduced. |
| 2013 | • Carolina Crown wins the DCI Championship and the High Brass Award • The Cadets place 3rd and win the High Percussion Award • Santa Clara Vanguard places 4th • The Bluecoats place 5th • The Cavaliers place 7th • The Madison Scouts place 9th | |
| 2012 | • Carolina Crown place 2nd and wins the High Brass Award • The Cadets place 4th • Santa Clara Vanguard place 5th • The Bluecoats place 6th • The Cavaliers place 7th • The Madison Scouts place 9th | |
| 2011 | • The Cadets win the DCI Championship • The Cavaliers place 3rd and win the High Percussion Award • Carolina Crown place 4th and wins the High Brass Award • Santa Clara Vanguard place 6th • The Bluecoats place 7th • The Madison Scouts place 10th | |
| 2010 | • The Cavaliers place 2nd • The Bluecoats place 3rd • Carolina Crown place 4th • The Cadets place 5th • Santa Clara Vanguard place 7th • The Madison Scouts place 10th | |
| 2009 | • Carolina Crown place 2nd • The Cadets place 3rd • The Cavaliers place 4th • Santa Clara Vanguard place 5th • The Bluecoats place 6th • The Troopers place 12th | |
| 2008 | • The Cavaliers place 3rd • Carolina Crown place 4th • The Cadets place 5th • The Bluecoats place 6th • Santa Clara Vanguard place 7th • The Madison Scouts place 12th | |
| 2007 | • The Cavaliers and Yamaha celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the corps using Yamaha, placing 3rd overall • Carolina Crown begin using Yamaha brass and percussion and become the next Top 12 DCI Drum Corps to play Yamaha exclusively, placing 6th overall • The Troopers begin using Yamaha brass and percussion and become the next DCI Drum Corps to play Yamaha exclusively • The Cadets place 2nd • Santa Clara Vanguard place 5th • The Bluecoats place 7th • The Colts place 10th | |
| 2006 | • The Cavaliers win the DCI Championship as well as High Brass • The Cadets place 5th • The Vanguard place 6th • The Bluecoats place 4th, the corps highest placement ever • The Madison Scouts purchase Yamaha Brass instruments becoming the next “All-Yamaha” drum corps and place 9th • Spirit place 12th | |
| 2005 | • The Cadets win the DCI Championship as well as the High Brass and the High Percussion Award • The Cavaliers place 2nd • Yamaha and the Madison Scouts celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the corps using Yamaha and place 6th • Spirit from JSU place 12th • The Bluecoats begin using Yamaha and become the next Top 12 DCI Drum Corps to play Yamaha exclusively. They place 5th, the corps’ highest placement ever • The Colts begin using Yamaha and become the next top 12 DCI Drum Corps to play Yamaha exclusively | The Tuba-Shield is introduced for marching tubas. “Battery Pack” percussion bags are introduced. Ten drum corps play on Yamaha Pro Audio equipment. |
| 2004 | • The Cavaliers win the DCI Championship • The Cadets place 4th • The Madison Scouts place 8th • The Crossmen place 10th | The YEP-202M Euphonium is introduced. The YMRD-2900A, a 4.5 octave Acoustalon marimba with Multi-Frame II, is launched and used by four drum corps. Eight drum corps begin using Yamaha Pro Audio equipment. |
| 2003 | • The Cavaliers place 2nd • The Cadets place 3rd and win the High Percussion Award for the 3rd year in a row • The Madison Scouts place 8th • The Crossmen place 9th • Spirit from JSU place 12th | New 8200 Series Field-Corps Marching Toms and Bass Drums I introduced. The Tough-Terrain Frame for concert bass drum, chimes, and gongs is also introduced. |
| 2002 | • The Cavaliers win the DCI Championship and the High Brass Award • The Cadets place 3rd and win the High Percussion Award for the 2nd year in a row • The Crossmen place 9th • Spirit from JSU place 10th | The YBB 202-M Tuba and the Multi-Frame II for pit percussion instruments are both introduced. |
| 2001 | • The Cavaliers win the DCI Championship • The Cadets begin using Yamaha Percussion, place 2nd, and win High Percussion • The Crossmen begin using Yamaha Brass and Percussion and place 7th • The Madison Scouts place 11th | The Tough-Terrain Frame for pit percussion instruments is introduced. |
| 2000 | • The Cadets begin using Yamaha brass • The Cadets are named the DCI Co-Champion and win the DCI High Brass Award • The Cavaliers are named the DCI Co-Champion and win High Percussion • The Madison Scouts place 10th | First year of Yamaha B♭ instruments in DCI use. New products introduced included: YMP-203M mellophone, the MTS Marching Snare Drum, and the Blue Forest line of percussion stains. |
| 1999 | • The Blue Devils win the DCI Co-Championship • The Cavaliers place 3rd • The Madison Scouts place 6th | The Multi-Frame I for pit percussion instruments is introduced. |
| 1998 | • The Blue Devils place 3rd • The Cavaliers place 4th • The Madison Scouts place 6th | |
| 1997 | • The Blue Devils win the DCI Championship • The Cavaliers place 5th • The Madison Scouts place 6th | Yamaha begins distribution of Randy May Carriers and Stadium Hardware products. |
| 1996 | • The Blue Devils win the DCI Co-Championship • The Cavaliers place 4th • The Madison Scouts place 6th | |
| 1995 | • The Cavaliers win the DCI Championship and the High Percussion Award • The Blue Devils place 3rd • The Madison Scouts place 4th | |
| 1994 | • The Blue Devils win the DCI Championship • The Cavaliers place 4th • The Madison Scouts place 6th | The Red Forest line of percussion stains is introduced. |
| 1993 | • The Blue Devils place 4th • The Cavaliers place 5th • The Madison Scouts place 6th | The SFZ Marching Snare Drum and the Black Forest line of percussion stains are both introduced. |
| 1992 | • The Cavaliers win the DCI Championship and the High Percussion Award • The Blue Devils Place 4th • The Madison Scouts place 5th | |
| 1991 | • The Cavaliers place 2nd • The Blue Devils place 5th • The Madison Scouts place 7th | |
| 1990 | • The Blue Devils place 4th • The Cavaliers place 2nd • The Madison Scouts place 9th | Corps-Custom Marching Snare Drum is launched. |
| 1989 | • The Cavaliers place 3rd • The Blue Devils place 4th • The Madison Scouts place 7th | |
| 1988 | • The Madison Scouts win the DCI Championship • The Blue Devils place 3rd • The Cavaliers place 5th | |
| 1987 | • The Cavaliers begin using Yamaha and place 3rd • The Blue Devils place 4th • The Madison Scouts place 6th | |
| 1986 | • The Blue Devils begin using Yamaha Percussion and win the DCI Championship and High Percussion Award • The Madison Scouts place 7th | |
| 1985 | • The Madison Scouts becomes the first drum corps to use Yamaha percussion and place 4th • The Velvet Knights begin using Yamaha and place 11th | First Year of Yamaha Marching Percussion Instruments in DCI use in White, Chrome, and Silky Silver. |
Top photo: The Velvet Knights in 1985, the first year they started using Yamaha instruments.
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