Modernettes by Ruby Daugerty featured Vince Schaefer

Vince Schaefer plays first national level gigs with the Modernettes

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Vince Schaefer: Second Place National Finish in: Solo Snare Drum

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Modernettes Drum & Baton Corps

Ruby Daughertys' Modernettes was the first ensemble I performed with, outside of high school band. Long practices at the Dance School or at the Childrens' Playground in South Park set the tone for a heavily chops oriented career in music. We worked very hard, sometimes as much as 4 times a week with 8 hour practices in the summer. Bob Potter, and then Denny Trozzo were my drum instructors during those years with the nationally acclaimed Modernettes. My first tours, to Port Huron, MI, and to the National Championship at Notre Dame also helped to prepare me for the 'road' which would be home for a good part of my future life. Performing for the large crowds at the sports arena in Notre Dame was also an outstanding experience for that age, few of my friends could share! Ruby had many corps that competed at finals, and the drum-line played for 7 of them. (if I remember correctly) We wore three different uniforms, and had different shows for each corps, though they sometimes shared elements of the book.

I remember many people and faces, though have a little trouble with the names. I do remember: Charles Fiedler, Dan Buckley, Gary Bittner, Debbie Giles, Judy ??, Linda Giles, Ron Armento, Harry Dewar, Shelly Dewar, and I remember Patty Jester and Paulette Pilgrim from the dancers, but the other names are hazy. If you remember, remind me: vin.drums@verizon.net Also, I remember we were always highly ranked, but have no statistics to post, so any help out there.........

Terry Dobos is a national champion baton twirler, that is one of the fastest moving humans I know! I remember fondly: rehearsing on a gym floor with her at one end and me at the other. I always had to keep my perception tuned, because, when she did lose control of something she was practicing, the baton would fly the length of the floor and sometimes even stick in the wall. She taught me a couple important things about drumming and life, just being around her when she practiced. I worked with Terry a couple times after that including teaching at South Park High School. Sue Gibson and Terry were captains of the Senior Show-corp at Modernettes, the last year I participated. (Ruby decided to use pre-recorded music, so I moved to Silver Sabres)

I must also note, that the Finleyville Royal Crusaders Corps actually broke off from the Modernettes before I started. How ironic that after my years with Rubys' corps and a couple years at Silver Sabres, I would end up in Finleyville to finish my youth experience and age out?

As to my sewing skills: My mother and I made the uniforms for the drumline! I actually was cutting and sewing the shirts by myself, which few of my 14 year old friends could begin to fathom. Someday I'll put a couple of those pictures up, after I get them scanned.

My first national snare solo competition was with Modernettes at Notre Dame. Practiced various solos throughout the year, and after watching the competition, got up there jammed. I don't think I played more than 50 bars of anything that was written, though my 'backsticking' figures pulled the whole thing together. All my drum-mates encouraged me to just play, and they would watch the clock and signal. (a supposedly old Modernette tradition) It was a wild experience to stand up there by myself in front of all those people! The corps was actually leaving, when I realized I had to get to a certain room to pick up my score-sheet..........
Standing there along with that one man, who was handing out the sheets, I learned that I was #2 in the country on snare drum in that drum & baton world championship. Inside myself.....I yelled real loud; though I just smiled and silently walked back to the bus, with my trophy and medallion.