On A Water Break

On a Water Break

On A Water Break is a weekly podcast for everyone in the marching arts. If you’re talking about it at rehearsal, on the bus ride home, or during a water break — we’re probably planning to talk about it on an upcoming episode. This show is built for performers, instructors, designers, adjudicators, and marching arts enthusiasts who want to stay connected to what’s happening across the activity — without the fluff or the filter. Each week, our rotating panel of experienced hosts dives into: Marching arts news and major stories shaping the activity Real conversations about band, color guard, drumline, drum corps, twirling, and parade performance Educational insights you can actually use in rehearsal Opinion, accountability, and culture conversations that reflect what people are really dealing with Community highlights and wins worth celebratingYou’ll hear recurring segments like: Marching Arts News — stories that matter, with context and discussion 60 Second Tech Block — focused, practical teaching ideas in under a minute Water We Doing?! — calling out habits, trends, and choices that deserve a second look Gush & Go — quick shoutouts to people, programs, and moments moving the activity forwardOn A Water Break isn’t about hot takes for clicks or recycled press releases. It’s about thoughtful conversation, lived experience, and sharing perspectives from people who have marched, taught, designed, judged, and produced at every level of the activity. Whether you’re in the middle of band camp, winter guard season, drum corps tour, or just missing rehearsal life — this podcast is your place to stay plugged in. 🎧 New episodes release weekly 🌐 Learn more at: https://www.onawaterbreak.com 📺 Watch on YouTube or listen on all major podcast platforms 💧 Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. 🎙️ A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

  1. WGI Is 6 Weeks Away: March Drum Corps Open Spots, WGI Silent Auction Dates, and Brass Solidarity

    FEB 21

    WGI Is 6 Weeks Away: March Drum Corps Open Spots, WGI Silent Auction Dates, and Brass Solidarity

    WGI 2026 + DCI 2026 updates for marching arts fans: open drum corps positions, WGI Silent Auction dates, and a community music story from Minneapolis.Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. WGI season is coming fast — and the calendar is moving even faster than it feels. In this Water Break Weekly, Stephen McCarrick, Anne Turner, and Jeremy Denzer break down the biggest marching arts headlines you actually need right now: DCI’s “March Drum Corps” list of open 2026 positions, the official dates for the WGI Sponsor Silent Auction, and a feature on Brass Solidarity in Minneapolis that highlights how music can hold community together. If you’re in color guard, indoor percussion, marching band, or drum corps (or you staff, judge, teach, or parent your way through the activity), this episode is a practical check-in for the stretch run toward Dayton: what’s happening, where to click, and what it means for performers and programs. What this episode answers: Where can I find open drum corps positions for 2026 auditions right now?What is the “March Drum Corps” initiative and who is it meant to help?When is the 2026 WGI Sponsor Silent Auction (Mar 23–27) and where do I view the items?Why does WGI season feel compressed this year — and how are people adjusting?What does “taking a break” look like when the schedule never stops?How do you keep a show concept clear without writing a whole thesis?Topics we hit (fast + searchable): WGI 2026 timing + regional momentumDrum corps recruiting + open positions for the 2026 summer seasonWGI fundraising + sponsor support (silent auction)Performing arts community support + music in public spacesShow design clarity: concept depth vs. audience connectionStaff life + mental reset when “there’s always one more thing”Featured links (from the show):DCI — March Drum Corps open positions (Feb 11, 2026):https://www.dci.org/news/annual-march-drum-corps-initiative-highlights-open-positions-in-corps-across-the-country-2026/WGI — 2026 Sponsor Silent Auction items + dates (Mar 23–27, 2026):https://www.wgi.org/26silentauctionitems/Brass Solidarity in Minneapolis (Guardian feature, Feb 14, 2026):https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/14/minneapolis-brass-solidarity-band-ice Quote moments (from the episode): “I think that we’re just through the first two weeks of regionals and WGI is only six weeks away.” — Jeremy Denzer“What are we doing? Not taking a break for ourselves.” — Jeremy Denzer“If you need to write a five page essay to tell me what your show is about, it’s too deep.” — Jeremy DenzerFeaturing:Stephen McCarrick — @stephenmccarrick / @yeah_bassAnne Turner — @Anne.saberJeremy Denzer — @jeremydenzer Sponsor / support:Guard Closet — @guardcloset Find On A Water Break:Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreakYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterBreakPodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wgaml1T115IsvvZd0XheTApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-a-water-break/id1653637341Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com Enjoying the show? Follow/subscribe, share this episode with your guard/percussion/band group chat, and leave a rating — it helps more marching arts people find us. Search terms:marching arts, winter guard international, WGI 2026, WGI season, WGI percussion, WGI color guard, indoor percussion, color guard, Dayton Ohio, drum corps, DCI 2026, Drum Corps International, drum corps auditions, open drum corps positions, marching band, pageantry arts, show design, band staff, judging, teaching, performing arts community

    33 min
  2. April Gable with College Baton Twirling: Practice Hacks + Burnout Talk + WGI Broward Update | Water Break Weekly

    FEB 14

    April Gable with College Baton Twirling: Practice Hacks + Burnout Talk + WGI Broward Update | Water Break Weekly

    College baton twirling, WGI updates, and routine advice you can use this week.Ashlee, Woody, Haley, and April (college twirling focus) cover this week's marching arts headlines — including the Broward/WGI situation — then go deep on how twirlers can keep improving in college: where to practice, how to break down reps, and how to avoid burnout from too many routines.In this episode, you'll get: How to find practice space in college (band rooms, gyms, parking garages, local businesses) A step-by-step approach to cleaning routines: break it down, rep it smart, build consistency A twirling-focused burnout conversation: too many routines, injury risk, and losing the joy The Broward/WGI update and why it mattered mid-season A judging feedback rant that applies across twirling, guard, and percussionTranscript quotes:"The biggest piece of advice I have is make best friends with the wreck or different areas on campus that you can go and drill with.""Then when it comes to perfecting your routines, break it down. Take your time... Don't overwhelm yourself."Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterbreakNews links:Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremonyhttps://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/ceremonies/the-olympic-opening-ceremonyH. Robert Reynolds Obituary (University of Michigan)https://record.umich.edu/articles/obituary-h-robert-reynolds/SC State Marching 101 on Super Bowl Soulful Celebration (MEAC)https://meacsports.com/news/2026/2/3/football-scsu-represented-at-bets-super-bowl-soulful-celebration-hosted-by-cam-newton.aspxBroward/WGI dispute coverage (Local10)https://www.local10.com/news/local/2026/02/02/future-of-color-guard-programs-at-broward-schools-in-jeopardy/Broward/WGI resolution update (Change.org update page)https://www.change.org/p/broward-county-schools-at-risk-of-being-excluded-from-wgi-events/u/34288952Legacy HS marching band film promo (Review-Journal)https://neon.reviewjournal.com/music/rock-star-legacy-high-marching-band-join-to-promote-upcoming-film-3329173/Find On A Water Break:Websitehttps://www.onawaterbreak.comLinktreehttps://linktr.ee/onawaterbreakSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0wgaml1T115IsvvZd0XheTApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-a-water-break/id1653637341Emailonawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

    58 min
  3. 2026 WGI World Class Performers: Juxtaposition, Alta Marea & AMP (OAWB With Bonus)

    FEB 3

    2026 WGI World Class Performers: Juxtaposition, Alta Marea & AMP (OAWB With Bonus)

    Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. This is an OAWB With (Bonus) episode featuring World Class winter guard performers from Juxtaposition, Alta Marea, and AMP — talking real WGI experience from the floor: culture, auditions, lessons learned, rehearsal expectations, and what the activity needs more (and less) of right now. What this episode answers What do World Class performers want to see more of at WGI? What do they want to see less of in winter guard show trends/culture? What’s something you learn the hard way as a top-level performer? What advice helps most when preparing for World Class auditions? What traditions matter inside successful programs?Performers + socials (personal + ensemble tags) Maria (Juxtaposition) Personal: TikTok Marsco16 | Twitter MariaScott1616 Ensemble: @juxtapositionwg Piper (Alta Marea) Personal: IG/TikTok Piper.K.Click | Spin IG Piper.spins Ensemble: @altamareawinterguard Julian (AMP) Personal: IG/TikTok Juliankahoolian Ensemble: @ampwinterguardHost socialsTrish O’Shea — @trishdish1102 Alicia Sharp — @aliciaoninsta2 Nicole Younger — @o2binpjs OAWB: @onawaterbreak Find On A Water BreakWebsite: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak Listen/Subscribe (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/0wgaml1T115IsvvZd0XheT Listen/Subscribe (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-a-water-break/id1653637341 Be a guest: https://forms.gle/7GcpYZLfY8Uo54pp9 Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com #OnAWaterBreak #MarchingArts #WinterGuard #WGI #ColorGuard

    45 min
4.5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

On A Water Break is a weekly podcast for everyone in the marching arts. If you’re talking about it at rehearsal, on the bus ride home, or during a water break — we’re probably planning to talk about it on an upcoming episode. This show is built for performers, instructors, designers, adjudicators, and marching arts enthusiasts who want to stay connected to what’s happening across the activity — without the fluff or the filter. Each week, our rotating panel of experienced hosts dives into: Marching arts news and major stories shaping the activity Real conversations about band, color guard, drumline, drum corps, twirling, and parade performance Educational insights you can actually use in rehearsal Opinion, accountability, and culture conversations that reflect what people are really dealing with Community highlights and wins worth celebratingYou’ll hear recurring segments like: Marching Arts News — stories that matter, with context and discussion 60 Second Tech Block — focused, practical teaching ideas in under a minute Water We Doing?! — calling out habits, trends, and choices that deserve a second look Gush & Go — quick shoutouts to people, programs, and moments moving the activity forwardOn A Water Break isn’t about hot takes for clicks or recycled press releases. It’s about thoughtful conversation, lived experience, and sharing perspectives from people who have marched, taught, designed, judged, and produced at every level of the activity. Whether you’re in the middle of band camp, winter guard season, drum corps tour, or just missing rehearsal life — this podcast is your place to stay plugged in. 🎧 New episodes release weekly 🌐 Learn more at: https://www.onawaterbreak.com 📺 Watch on YouTube or listen on all major podcast platforms 💧 Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. 🎙️ A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

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