The CDA offers a wide variety of events and services geared towards scholastic drumlines and marching programs accross the country. Our main events are the competitions, but we also offer Pro-D workshops, non-competitive marching intensives, as well as a variety of private clinics. Check out our events page for our calendar of events.
Regional and Provincial Competitions
Like a festival, CDA competitions allow students to showcase the skills they have built over the course of the year and show that they have developed to their peers and a panel of qualified judges who will then give the director feedback after the event ("Critique"). Each ensemble is given 11 minutes on the floor to put forth their best work and are scored and ranked within their own categories. These scores and ranks are announced at the end of the competition ("Retreat") and then published on this website with a more in depth breakdown of the scoring. Schools also receive recorded verbal feedback of their performance from all 3 judges, and their performance will be filmed and posted to the CDA YouTube page.
Group Definitions:
Drumline - A Drumline consists of marching snare drums, marching tenor drums, marching bass drums, and marching cymbals. A competing ensemble must be 51% drumline.
Marching Winds - A Marching Winds Group consists of wind instruments found in a concert or marching band including Woodwinds and Brass instruments and may be accompanied by traditional concert percussion instruments, but no drumline instruments are permitted. A competing ensemble must be 51% winds
Drumline Group Classification:
Concert - ensembles who perform standing still, and demonstrate basic technical skills.
Intermediate - ensembles who march and demonstrate moderate technical skills
Premier - ensembles who demonstrate advanced marching and technical skills
Collegiate Concert - performers aged 22 and younger who perform standing still, and demonstrate intermediate technical skills
Collegiate Marching - performers aged 22 and younger who demonstrate advanced marching and technical skills
Marching Winds Classification:
Marching Winds - ensembles who march and demonstrate moderate to advanced marching technical skills
Collegiate Marching Winds - performers aged 22 and younger who demonstrate advanced marching and technical skills
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RULES AND REGULATIONS (Coming Soon)
Virtual Solos Competition
Students in registered ensembles may enter the National Virtual Solos competition by recording a 2.5 to 4 minute solo on snare or tenor drums, or by entering as a duet (with any combination of the two drums) or by entering a small bass ensemble. Submissions are due March 31st, 2026.
Register Your Soloist Here!
Drumline and Marching Winds Intensive
These days are an opportunity to try out your show for other groups without the pressure of competition. Groups will perform their shows in pods of 2 or 3 for eachother and clinicians. After the 3 performances, the clinicians will work with each group for 15 minutes to work on Visuals, Music, and overall presentation
Workshops
The CDA provides a wide variety of workshops not limited to this list. Please contact us if you would like to discuss a custom workshop for your organization
District Pro-D Workshops
Pro-D days can be used as a workshop opportunity for a qualified clinician to come in for the day to work with a school drumline and teachers are invited to come observe and assist in the event so both students and teachers come out of the day with a deeper understanding of drumline. Click here to view our calendar to see if there is a Pro-D Workshop near you. Interested in sponsoring a Pro-D workshop? Contact us to see what services we can offer for
Educational Workshops with Michael Beauclerc
The CDA is excited to offer Drumline workshops across Canada with Michael Beauclerc to help foster new scholastic drumline programs, and support existing ensembles. There are two workshops available:
Discover Drumline Workshop - For schools and groups interested in starting a Drumline
Technical Drumline Workshop - For current drumlines
Starting at $600
Private Clinics
The CDA will provide a qualified drumline clinician to come in and work with you and your drumline to help them work towards excellence. Drumming and marching techniques can be focused, or a general workshop can be provided and is completely bespoke to your needs. For those who want, a warm-up can be written for your group that best reflects their abilities and prepares them for their competition. Click here to request your private clinic today.
