What people are saying about "Not for the Faint of Heart"

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"A rare look at the emotional intensity of the drum corps activity and
the lasting shape it can give to a young person's self-image."

Chris Thompson
Santa Clara Vanguard
Tenor Line
1994, 1995
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"Not for the Faint of Heart chronicles in great detail the journey that
an individual must take in order to find his way.

Van Wert has taken his personal experiences in the Santa Clara Vanguard
drumline and brought them to readers. Allowing them to follow the truest
and often overlooked and unwritten emotions and stories behind drum
corps at its highest level.

Not for the Faint of Heart is a fantastic read for anybody interested in
learning more about competitive drumming, the drum corps activity, or
the much deeper subject of how an individual can make a difference."

Nick Shilling
Santa Clara Vanguard
Snare Line
1993-94, 1996
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“Not for the Faint of Heart” is an intimate look at the complex relationships that are forged in the world of Drum and Bugle Corps. Both honest and compelling, it takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride of one young man’s failures and successes. Veterans, enthusiasts, and those new to the activity will be swept away by the passionate storytelling of author Jeremy Van Wert.

Jennifer Duckworth
Santa Clara Vanguard
Front Emsemble
1997 - 1999
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"Santa Clara isn't so much a drum corps as it is an odd sort of utopia.
Here, hard work is rewarded with long bus rides, unforgiving gym floors,
blazing temperatures, and perpetually sore muscles. It begins with a
simple audition some dreary November night, and ends as a conquest of
the soul's deepest desire for excellence. Jeremy Van Wert's memoir fully
captures a "behind the scenes" account of one of the most painfully
beautiful journeys known only, until now, by the elite members of the
storied Santa Clara Vanguard."

Chris Turner
Santa Clara Vanguard
Cymbal Line
2002-2004

Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets
Cymbal Line
2000-2001