What is Prelude to Drums Along the Waterfront?

In both 2005 and 2006 Drums along the Waterfront, Inc. held DCI Division II/III shows entitled "Finale to Drums Along the Waterfront, at Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion located on the East Side of Buffalo. The event is called "Prelude to DATW" or "Finale to DATW" based on the date of the event in relationship to DATW. A Finale show was not held in 2007 due to stadium unavailability. In 2008 Prelude to DATW moved to the newly refurbished All High Stadium (Buffalo's north side)
with the assistance of the Buffalo Public Schools. These free events for the Buffalo community were performed before packed houses. Tremendous support was provided by WBLK FM 93.7, The Challenger newspaper and the Wellness Institute of Buffalo, amongst others.

The participating Division II/III corps, now referred to as "Open Class " corps, are part of the drum corps extended family, just smaller in numbers and members are usually younger than World Class corps (those that participate in Drums Along the Waterfront).

Educational music and marching clinics were held prior to the start of each show. A highlight at the end of the 2006 Finale show was a community youth participation with the raider Drum & Bugle Corps drumline in a percussion "jam session." This outstanding, collaborative effort was made possible by the generous donation of drumsticks, from both Regal Tip and McClellan Music House, and "make shift drums" from Mayer Bros.

The event was developed with a number of goals, three of which were to expose our great activity to those who may never have an opportunity to see such an event, incorporate all the positive aspects of a wellness model and to generate enough enthusiasm to start our very own drum corps in Buffalo.