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Since its early beginnings as a camp in Syracuse, Indiana in 1949, the Smith Walbridge
tradition of training the nation's finest drum majors, flags, rifles, and student leaders continues to flourish. The creators of the country's first school for drum majors never imagined that the reputation of this innovative concept of teaching would eventually attract nearly 500 high school and college drum majors and student leaders from almost every state and six countries.
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Margaret and
Merl Smith
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Gary E. Smith
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This unique program was begun and developed over many years through the collaboration of the camp's owner and founder, Merl Smith, and the Marching Band Director from Butler University, Dr. Charles Henzie. Smith and Henzie felt there was a need to train drum majors with both comprehensive skills and valuable knowledge needed to assist band directors in developing successful marching bands. The attendance of the first year of the camp was six drum majors.
These pioneers proved to be an ideal match. Smith was a national champion twirler and a drum major of the Navy Seabees band. Dr. Henzie was known for his success with the Butler Marching Bulldog Band, which at that time enjoyed a national reputation ion. Together they created a tradition that has become a model that many other clinics and camps would imitate.
Presently, the Smith Walbridge Clinics are administered by Gary Smith, son of Merl Smith and Marching Band Director at the University of Illinois. This former college drum major has incorporated contemporary ideas into the program and utilizes a curriculum that serves the needs of the different drum major styles of modern marching bands. His experience as the director of the Marching Illini has proven invaluable in developing philosophies and methods to train students as effective and knowledgeable student leaders.
The Smith Walbridge tradition has enjoyed 58 years of success and progress. The consistent support of nearly 300 schools combined with an outstanding teaching staff insure the future success of this program.
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| FEATURED BOOK |
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NEW Edition
"The System" Marching Band
Methods
(click to order)
by Gary E. Smith
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