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Inside the Arc
“Riggie, Maynard & Me”

Ironically, there exist some individuals who have had a profound effect on the drum corps activity yet are generally unknown to many younger practitioners of the art. It’s the duty of the rest of us to pass along knowledge of their substantial contributions. That said, here’s a story about one of them, a man whose [...]

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Brass Advantage with Wayne Downey
Issue 20

Welcome back to the land of “All Things Brass.” This installment of Brass Advantage is “Part Two” of an article written by Mr. Marty Erickson (a fabulous musician, tuba player and a world-class teacher) that was written for both music educators and tuba players seeking advice and counsel from a professional tuba player to improve [...]

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Inside the Arc
“Echo – Schmecho”

It’s a blazing hot Sunday afternoon in 1962 and a couple of thousand of us are watching the Garfield Cadets challenge Blessed Sacrament for bragging rights to Jersey and the rest of the civilized world. They build a massive company front, push it forward to the very edge of the sideline and high mark time [...]

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Inside the Arc
“This Is Your Brain On Drums”

Percussion General Effect has been around a long time. In his book “The World in Six Songs”, Daniel Levitin (“This is Your Brain on Music”) poses the following scenario describing why our ancestors who could drum held some distinct advantages: A small group of early humans are asleep in the pre-dawn, near the embers of [...]

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Brass Advantage with Wayne Downey
Issue 19

Welcome back to the land of “All Things Brass.” This installment of Brass Advantage is dedicated to a topic that I regard as a one of the most important factors in a brass players success, proper lip care and maintenance. The article was authored by Dan Gosling, the ChopSaver Guy and includes invaluable information for [...]

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Brass Advantage with Wayne Downey
Issue 18

Welcome back to the land of “All Things Brass.” This installment of Brass Advantage was written for both music educators and tuba players seeking advice and counsel from a professional tuba player to improve their performance qualities. Written by Mr. Marty Erickson who is both a fabulous musician (tuba player) and a world-class teacher, this [...]

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Inside the Arc
“Abe, Charles and the Alumni”

This year marks the bicentennial of the births of two extraordinary individuals, each of whom represents a legacy and a point of view that has shaped modern times. Their relevance and influence are clear and undeniable: Lincoln reminds us of our heritage and a people’s need for leadership that is strong yet wise and compassionate. [...]

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Remembering Cozy

The celebration of the life of Michael "Cozy" Baker took place on Sunday, January 18, 2009 at the Lodge of the Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville, AL. Over 50 family members and friends attended to honor the memory of this special individual with their memories, prayers, and music. "Georgia", Benediction, and Taps

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Brass Advantage with Wayne Downey
Issue 17

Welcome back to the land of “All Things Brass.” This installment of Brass Advantage delves into an all-important musical technique that is a must for both amateur and professional musicians to better understand and incorporate into their performances, “Vibrato.” Vibrato is a musical effect, produced in singing and on musical instruments by a regular pulsating [...]

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Inside the Arc
“Bugles, Blasphemy and the Baptist Church”

It’s a marvelous tale, spun out in classic Homeric fashion by a master story-teller. Before your very eyes, an entire neighborhood of colorful characters parades by in the saga of an inner-city kid with a disability who not only discovers his life’s true passion but a ticket to ride out of a dingy back alley [...]

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