System Blue Private Lessons

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System Blue wants to help you strive for excellence. Join us and take advantage of an opportunity to have a private one-on-one lesson with the educators of the 19-time DCI World Champion Blue Devils.

Work on your technique. Receive assistance with a piece of music you’re working on? Plan for an audition for a drum corps or college band. Learn tips and tricks on arranging and working in Sibelius. No matter what education you are seeking, System Blue wants to help you go for and achieve your goals and dreams.

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: you can sign up for a 30-minute lesson for only $5. Sign up quickly. There are only a limited number of available spots and these $5 lessons will only last through April 10.

We are kicking off the System Blue Private Lessons with a few of the premier educators at Blue Devils:

Dr. Chip Crotts

Topics: All Brass Instruments (for high school and college students only)

Brian Dinkel

Topics: Mallet Percussion (instrument not necessary, and for high school and college students only) or Sibelius/Percussion Arranging.

Scott Johnson

Topics: Battery Percussion (for high school and college students only)

John Meehan

Topics: Sibelius/Winds Arranging


We will be adding more Blue Devil Educational staff soon. System Blue Director of Education, Frank Troyka, will be available for instruction in the next couple of weeks. Be sure to check back often.

Sign up for your System Blue Private Lesson now. 

Details: All lessons will utilize the free Zoom platform. Make

sure your computer or mobile device can run Zoom. Get started with Zoom now. 

System Blue EDU Event Featuring RCC Indoor Percussion

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System Blue Educational Events provide an opportunity for students, educators, and fans alike to hone their performance, leadership, and teaching skills under the instruction of the finest educators in the marching arts.

Join us on Sunday, March 29 for the System Blue Educational Event featuring RCC Indoor Percussion.

Advance registration: $75
Late registration (starting March 24): $95

NOTE: This event is for battery percussion only. No front ensemble.

Price includes:

  • Instruction and materials
  • Lunch
  • One pair of System Blue sticks
  • T-shirt

Register now.

Talk To Us

Program directors and educators, are you attending the Midwest Music Convention in Chicago on December 18 – 20, 2019? Join us in the System Blue booth for a tour and a talk. Sean Vega and the entire crew are excited to meet you! Whether you are in need of products, education, a combination of both or something in between – we have solutions for you.

Schedule a talk and a tour with us and enjoy some FREE coffee and swag! You’ll also be automatically registered to win a System Blue Educational Event in your city!

Talk to us.

Rick Valenzuela joins System Blue as Vice President of Education and Special Projects

Rick Valenzuela joins System Blue as Vice President of Education and Special Projects

Concord, CA – October 29, 2019 – Rick Valenzuela joins System Blue as Vice President of Education and Special Projects.

System Blue, a producer of innovative musical and educational products, is pleased to announce that Rick Valenzuela will be joining their team as Vice President of Education and Special Projects.

Valenzuela, who brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the world of pageantry, has served as Executive Director of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps since 2007. He has also been active in the leadership of Drum Corps International where he has served on the Membership Affairs Committee, the Governance Committee, and is currently the Voting Membership Chairperson. Valenzuela will be joining System Blue in January of 2020. 

As Phantom Regiment’s Executive Director, Valenzuela led the corps to a World Championship in 2008 and now leaves them in great standing for a bright future ahead. Rick is no stranger to excellence, a keen business acumen, and innovation. His remarkable skill sets will be a great fit with the System Blue brand.  

In this new role at System Blue, Valenzuela will be working closely with Frank Troyka, System Blue’s Director of Education to build new educational programs and experiences for the marching arts. “I am thrilled with the opportunity to be working with Rick,” said Troyka, “The world of pageantry grows quickly with new demands on performers and educators alike. Bringing Rick on board allows us, at System Blue, to expand our offerings and create remarkable educational experiences for every aspect of the activity. I look forward to collaborating with him.” 

Shaun Gallant, President of System Blue said, “We’re excited to have Rick on board. His depth of experience, knowledge, and ability to connect the dots between performers and educators will be a wonderful addition to our System Blue family as we continue to strive for excellence in all of our products and services, most especially in our work with students.”

System Blue’s educational programs foster confidence and maturity, and promote growth and leadership skills. The brand is passionately focused on the marching arts and each person’s place in its culture. The addition of Rick Valenzuela to the System Blue family is another step in building an incredible team of professionals to service the world of pageantry. 

Congratulations To The Blue Devils and Spartans

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Congratulations to The Blue Devils on winning the gold at the 2019 DCI World Championships. BD Percussion had the highest drum score on Saturday evening with a perfect 10 in achievement. The Blue Devils proudly perform on all System Blue professional instruments.

Congratulations to the Spartans for winning the gold at the 2019 DCI Open Class Championships. Spartans won the high brass caption and proudly perform on System Blue Professional Brass instruments.

WGI Solo & Ensemble Powered By System Blue Events Update

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Amazing things happened this weekend in Dallas Texas, as WGI Sport of the Arts kicked off their second of three Solo & Ensemble events of 2019. From wicked snare solos, to enticing movement solos, audience members and participants saw anything and everything imaginable. Thinking about showing off your skills in Irvine, CA as WGI hits off their final Solo & Ensemble series of events this summer? See more details here:

Have photos that you want to show off from WGI Sport of the ArtsSolo & Ensemble? Tag us along with them and use#WGISoloEnsemble to possibly be featured in the future!

WGI Solo & Ensemble Powered By System Blue

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On Saturday, June 1, 2019, WGI launched the first of three WGI Solo & Ensemble events, powered by System Blue.

WGI Solo & Ensemble is a new educational performance opportunity for marching arts performers of all ages. Positioned in WGI’s typical off-season—and before the start of summer band—WGI Solo & Ensemble offers a venue for performers to showcase their skills as an individual or small ensemble. Unique in its format, WGI Solo & Ensemble welcomes any and all performers, including those not currently or previously affiliated with a WGI-performing group. To learn more about WGI Solo & Ensemble powered by System Blue, visit www.wgi.org/soloensemble.

The Blue Devils Announce Their 2019 Production – Ghostlight

The Blue Devils Present Their 2019 Production – Ghostlight

“A bare bulb atop a rudimentary pole, it stands at center stage, lit by the last person to leave the theatre each night and extinguished by the first person to arrive in the morning. Though stark in stature and artless in form, the ghost light fulfills many functions…some practical, some supernatural.”

– Jim Dougherty

Some people maintain that the function of the lone stage light is to chase away mischievous spirits; others insist it illuminates the space for the spirits that are said to inhabit virtually every theatre, keeping them happy and contented. Without a doubt, the paranormal dance of the empty theatre is mysterious, magical and rich in folklore.

The 2019 Blue Devils take a look into the mesmerizing illuminant with Ghostlight. Musically diverse, globally nomadic references weave together a world of emotion and drama. From Khachaturian to Lorne Balfe to original work by Dave Glyde, Ghostlight is an exploration of mood, melody, and virtuosity.

Ghostlight shines a light on 154 extraordinary performers as the Blue Devils travel the United States for a summer of music, motion and imagination. With a rich history of excellence and innovation, Drum Corps International’s most honored drum corps celebrates one hundred yards of discovery. On a stage where anything is possible, Ghostlight reveals the traveling performance troupe of contemporary drum and bugle corps we all treasure.

Music inspired by:

“Cycle Song”
Imogen Heap

“Rhythm Song”
Imogen Heap

“A True Passion”
Lorne Balfe

“Stroke of Genius”
Lorne Balfe

“Symphony No. 3”
Aram Khachaturian

“Ghostlight”
Dave Glyde

“Circus”
Britney Spears


Learn more →

John Meehan – DCI Hall Of Fame Class of 2019

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Congratulations to John Meehan for your incredible accomplishments. Your induction into the DCI Hall of Fame – Class of 2019 is well deserved. We are proud to have you as our brass product designer and all that you have achieved. Best of luck in the upcoming season with The Blue Devils. We are excited to see what the season will bring.