corpsband Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I'm a dinosaur from the days of 128 members on the field. When did they change it, btw? My real question is, is there a place where various shows "lineups" are available? 14 Tubas, how many in front ensemble, color guard, etc.? Back to the OT When 150 became the limit (2008) the "standard" instrumentation was 24 trumpets,16 mellos ,24 bari/euphs,16 tubas (80 in the hornline, balance in guard and pit) for those corps who could march a full corps. BD stayed with 12 tubas Since then some corps have a lot of trouble filling 16 quality tuba spots and march fewer, So you see 72 horns (lose 4 tubas and 4 mellos). But I'd still say the 24/16/24/16 is as close to a "standard" as exists. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumno5 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 (edited) Again it is a matter of subjective opinion, taste, and past experience. Yes, getting 150 members within the 10 yardlines, or never going out past the 35/20 yardline markers or past the front hashes as we have recently seen with certain DCI shows is congested. But as so many of the DCI top drill designers also write for mega-size high school and/or college bands, 150 is quite small compared to, say, Michigan universities, Ohio universities, and the University of Massachusetts whose ensembles can at times be as many as 400. Perspective, perspective, perspective. Yes, it is a matter of personal opinion, no argument. I think those 400+ mega bands are really congetsed looking, their drills being written by the DCI top designers notwithstanding. The bodies to field area ratio is just too high for my taste. Just my perspective, perspective, perspective. Regards, thanks for the dialogue. Fred O. Edited November 28, 2015 by drumno5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frachel Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Since then some corps have a lot of trouble filling 16 quality tuba spots and march fewer, So you see 72 horns (lose 4 tubas and 4 mellos). But I'd still say the 24/16/24/16 is as close to a "standard" as exists. You think it's trouble finding quality Tuba performers, or that they can just replace it with the synth and use those spots for other positions? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 You think it's trouble finding quality Tuba performers, or that they can just replace it with the synth and use those spots for other positions? With the advent of the synth, your thought might be gaining more importance to designers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) Again it is a matter of subjective opinion, taste, and past experience. Yes, getting 150 members within the 10 yardlines, or never going out past the 35/20 yardline markers or past the front hashes as we have recently seen with certain DCI shows is congested. But as so many of the DCI top drill designers also write for mega-size high school and/or college bands, 150 is quite small compared to, say, Michigan universities, Ohio universities, and the University of Massachusetts whose ensembles can at times be as many as 400. Perspective, perspective, perspective. True enough. I noticed these large member College Marching Bands are so huge that there is actually a bit more of the conventional " park and bark " being done by the musicians in these huge units in longer portions of their performances.. With the advent of the grounded large front ensembles, the " marchers " in these increasingly larger sections really don't do any visual movement at all, let alone " march ". In DCI, these non movement people are principally found in Percussion sections. Since the current DCI scoring sheets award more " visual " build up points to other sections, ie Guard for example, these grounded, non movement, front ensemble Percussionists ( 2 dozen or more in numbers in many Corps ) are really limited thus in the amount of build up points they can accrue for their Corps in DCI competition ( compared to a Brass marcher, Guard marcher ). Edited November 30, 2015 by BRASSO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 True enough. I noticed these large member College Marching Bands are so huge that there is actually a bit more of the conventional " park and bark " being done by the musicians in these huge units in longer portions of their performances.. With the advent of the grounded large front ensembles, the " marchers " in these increasingly larger sections really don't do any visual movement at all, let alone " march ". In DCI, these non movement people are principally found in Percussion sections. Since the current DCI scoring sheets award more " visual " build up points to other sections, ie Guard for example, these grounded, non movement, front ensemble Percussionists ( 2 dozen or more in numbers in many Corps ) are really limited thus in the amount of build up points they can accrue for their Corps in DCI competition ( compared to a Brass marcher, Guard marcher ). Which is exactly why, IMO, we've seen an increase in head-bobbing time-keeping (I was told here by one insulted poster that it's called "pulsing") in order to add some judge-able movement to the pit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) Your question is one I've been curious about, but my cynicism tells me they follow each other like ducks in a line. The only argument ever is only who is leading that line, IMO, and that naturally depends on who you ask. Good point. Seems that over the years, there have been various trends. Larger snare lines (10, 11 or so) were the "it" thing at one point... then it became de rigueur to have a smaller line (6-7 snares). Among other examples. Talk about dinosaurs... I remember the days of the 3-3-3-3 drum line configuration, back in the day, pre-DCI era. (3 snares, tenors, bass drums, and cymbals.) Edited November 30, 2015 by Fran Haring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shempy Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Which is exactly why, IMO, we've seen an increase in head-bobbing time-keeping (I was told here by one insulted poster that it's called "pulsing") in order to add some judge-able movement to the pit. For some reason, this is one thing that I can't stand. I don't even have a reason for disliking it - I just can't get over it when pit members are head-bobbing with big grins on their faces. I really hope it's not a trend that continues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpsband Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) You think it's trouble finding quality Tuba performers, or that they can just replace it with the synth and use those spots for other positions? Both. Some teams are making the choice to go with fewer tubas and some teams are having the choice made for them. Edited December 1, 2015 by corpsband Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumno5 Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) head-bobbing time-keeping (I was told here by one insulted poster that it's called "pulsing") "Pulsing," someone said that? That's even funnier than when corps list their "faculty." Peace to all, no personal disrespect intended, Fred O. Edited November 30, 2015 by drumno5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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