NORMAL - Six hundred drum majors in training swarmed the water cooler, armed with hats and sunglasses - and some with 44-inch batons - during a break at the University High School field. | Photo gallery | Video

They were halfway through their morning session, with another 3½ hours to go, and faced two more sessions later in the day.

But they wanted to learn how to be a drum major - the leader of the marching band - who "turns it, stops it and starts it," said George Parks, director of the drum major academy at the Music for All Summer Symposium on the Illinois State University campus. Drum majors also are responsible for keeping time and providing other commands during a parade or field show.

"They act as the field conductor, teacher, performer and commander of the block," he said Tuesday.

The program has students and teachers from across America and from as far away as Australia, Taiwan and Singapore. About 1,500 students participate in the program, making it the largest camp of its kind in the nation.

What makes the program unique is the students' ability to focus on a certain area, like the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.

Bryan Henriquez and Melissa Golliday, both camp first-timers from St. Joseph, Mich., already had learned a lot in two days.

"There is an emphasis on teaching leadership," Golliday said. "You learn a lot of different commands and technique."

As they watched, Parks took his place on the podium and commanded, "Detail to the ready!" In the next instant, 50 neat rows moved as one, responding in unison, "One, two!"

Cassidy Cheray, a camp counselor from Wichita, Kan., was surprised by the students. "It's amazing that, in such a large crowd, every person will pay attention and move with him," he said.

After another command, the group of 600 burst unexpectedly into applause.

"We're all about positive reinforcement," Cheray explained. "Sometimes it feels like a totally different world; you go back into the real world and it almost seems like everyone is sad by comparison."

Parks, who is director of bands at the University of Massachusetts, is celebrating his 30th year as a conductor. He started a drum major camp in 1971 with 25 students. This summer, he will travel to about 15 camps.

"He's incredible and is way pumped up about things," said Richard Flores, a student from American Fork, Utah. He and fellow drum major Deb McKinney traveled more than 20 hours to attend the camp.

Parks said his expectations are high because these students are leaders.

"These kids are the cream of the crop," he said. "It's different from other (high school) leadership (positions) because they are actually teaching the band members."

For now, the students practice with each other, taking turns commanding groups of five.

"By the end of the week, I want to be ready to lead a band," Henriquez said.