Come Join Us!
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The Towpath Volunteers has grown from an idea brought to light at the 1977 Canal Days parade in Palmyra, to well over 100 marching members today! With four different performing units, we have a group that is just right for YOU! We have something for everyone, regardless of musical or marching experience. When joining the Towpath Volunteers, you're joining a unique organization that prides it self on Family Involvement, Musical Instruction, and American Patriotism! |
30+ Years of Fife and Drum Excellence
What other family activity can be so much fun, learning history and music
and cost so little??
Come visit and find out!!
| The Towpath Volunteers fife and drum corps. Inc. is a Not-for-Profit Corporation, Tax Exempt charitable organization. As a Not-for-Profit organization, nobody, from the board of directors, managers, teachers or members, get paid. We are all Volunteers, working together to create an atmosphere that will allow us to continue Towpath Volunteers fife and drumming excellence. We would much rather invest our income into our equipment, uniforms and off setting the cost of travel to special events such as performaning at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, GA, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City or Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Our Board of Directors set the course of the organization that will insure the corps continuing existence and fair treatment to all our members. Day to Day operations are handled by our Managers, Ms. Linda DePuy and Mr. Paul Willson. |
| Are we affordable?? Most Certainly! There is no charges to join and no dues to pay. We supply all the uniforms, equipment and lessons to help you learn the fife and/or drum. The only cost to you would be a pair of drumstick’s or a fife, and that cost is around $10.00. The only uniform you need to supply is your own pair of Black Tie Shoes (Militia also supplies their own pair of white pants). The only other costs would be transportation to and from standard events. We have special events and functions that the corps will reimburse or arrange travel expense based on participation, such as performances at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia or Disney World in Orlando Florida. |
| Musically, you will find no other group with the teaching experience and know how than the fife and drum instructors with the Towpath Volunteers. The group works with our members individually and as a group. Practices are held Wednesday Evenings at the Macedon Elementary School during the school year or at the Canal Locks Park next to the Macedon Fire Hall in the summer. We gather at 6:30 PM and finish at 8:00pm. E Mail us and will will be glad to answer what ever questions you have! |
| Our Marching Season runs year round, but is more concentrated from the middle of May to the beginning of September. During this span, we will perform around 30 times. Although we have some parades we emphasize attendance to, attending each and every parade is not mandatory. We do ask that everyone tries to make each parade but "Our Philosophy" is to be happy for the parades you do make, not upset with the ones you miss. Being the Largest fife and drum corps with 100+ members has its advantages! |
| Travel. Some of the money earned from performing is used to offset the cost to traveling to special events. For example, for a trip to perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the corps would rent a bus for the weekend and pay for the member’s motel bills. With a large and more expensive trip to perform at the Tournament of Roses Parade and at Disney Land in California, the corps would pay a percentage. It would be based on the percentage of involvement of the member, (If a member makes 50% of the activities - the corps would most likely pay 50% of the travel costs). While we are using the two events above as examples, we try to make marching with our group as affordable and as much fun as possible! |
| We Want You!! We are a family based organization. We don't just say it, we mean it. If you were to check our roster, over half of it is complete families: Mother's, Father's and their children, spending time together, learning and having fun. We have a family with 4 generations marching together! Once you become a member, you become part of our family. Fife and Drum Excellence is what we stand for. We always try to represent the corps in a professional manner, and treat each and every member with respect and honesty. We listen to you and are always striving to make the Towpath Volunteers the best it can be. Come see why! |
Performance Calendar | Joining | Alumni
In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes
Contacting the Corps.
Last modified on: April 6, 2009