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Let's condemn it now since it's October. This thread is looking like 2015 all over again.

Drum Corps participation was not, and will never be, a panacea for all that ails youth and society's ills. But we would be remiss if we did not recognize that Drum Corps participation ,in the past especially, certainly can be credited with redirecting the energies of at risk youth in a most positive manner. There is no doubt that in the absence of Drum Corps participation, more young lives would have fallen victim to the lure of crime in the streets. Not all would have become mass murderers, of course. Few " loners " ever joined Drum Corps to begin with, as an example. But it was always far better for both youth and its large city communities when its local at risk youth were in a " gang " ( Drum Corps ) and out in competition with one another in controlled environments, than the alternative, ie.. out and about in competition with other " gangs " with live guns, and live ammunition in uncontrolled environments. Drum Corps primary mission was to get at risk youth off the streets and to provide them with needed discipline, adult supervision, proper adult role modeling, love of God, Country. Today, it has changed with the times to a primary mission of Music and Dance Instruction that is an adjunct to the school's successful ( or failure ) mission in this realm. But the tangible and intangible benefits to the individual participant has not waned over the years. But the loss of Drum Corps in the large cities has been both US Society as well as its youth at risk loss. And it has been a huge loss in this regard, imo.

The "loner" aspect is important to keep in mind. I am someone who wishes drum corps cost less and there were more local corps because like the original poster, I see many "fringe" benefits to drum corps as I'm sure many people who post on this sight do as well.. I am also realistic about knowing those days are gone and the attraction of drum corps is not what it was years ago. If such corps were available today, it would be perfect for a shy, withdrawn young person, but these people may not be loners. "Loners" are most likely anti-social and probably need psychological help, whereas the shy or withdrawn young person needs assistance to come out of their shell or gain confidence. A drum corps would be an excellent option for such a person, but keep in mind, such a person would not need psychological help and caring capable adults and good friends would do the trick. For a true loner who may be better described as anti-social, my guess is that drum corps would not help. Identifying such a person and getting therapy is probably the only solution.

I love how if others corp's replay pieces played other years its okay, but if the Cadets do anything that was used before nooooope that's a problem.

so you can name one non-white person that marched in the last 15 years? I think you proved my point. Look at the picture in the signature block of the person you just called out. What do you see?

My post partially agrees with your last statement, but one, most of the time we do not know about these people until it is too late. Do you think those young college students eould have attended class if they knew what was going to happen or would have ignored warning signs? Two, by reducing drum corps to a white upper middle class activity, the two young men responsible for the Columbine High tragedy fit the criteria. Perpetrators of senseless violence range all races and all incomes.

" Pines of Rome " ?.... lets see,.... who has played played" Pines of Rome " before : Hawthorne Muchachos ( almost won a DCI Title with it )....... 1975, 1976. Cavaliers.............................................................................1982, 1983, 1984 Star of Indiana.( won a DCI Title playing it )............................1991 Phantom Regiment...................................................................1998 Phoenix....................................................................................1998 Cadence...................................................................................1998 US Naval Academy...................................................................2001 Hawthorne Caballeros..............................................................2002 Presidents................................................................................2004, 2005 Legends......................................................................................2010 Reading Buccaneers ( won a DCA Title with it ).........................2010 Boston Crusaders.......................................................................2012

Not to get all social commentary here, but no amount of character-building will stop an crazed, insane idiot from carrying out a henious act. People who do things like this cannot be dealt with rationally. Now, back to drum corps.

Times change. The activity is not kids off the street anymore. I'm not making a judgement if that is good or bad. It just is.

Good points B, but I'd nick pick a little about the guns/live ammunition thoughts. Fifty to sixty years ago, I don't believe there were guns used amongst D&BC members during their altercations.

Agreed and guard is NOT the caption to have a weakness. (I.e.: Crown with a 5th place percussion still won GE),,

Many felt this past years show had great marching and playing.

It all starts and ends with the breakdown of the family, in my opinion. I've come to believe that, far from supporting the family, the modern State actually is at odds with and openly opposed to the family. There's a war going on for our children. Who guides and molds them, the family or the state. And what values do kids learn from the state? To value victimhood. To be selfish and feel entitled. To feel like you deserve things. To walk around with a chip on your shoulder. To have grievances. The polar opposite of the values of giving, hard work and self-sacrifice learned in drum corps, in the church, in the family. End rant

I could die happy if they did this.

Thank you, luv4corps. Throughout my life, I have always been interested in the history of the activity, and have constantly sought to become familiar with as much drum corps related information as I possibly could. As I have read various accounts of the pre-DCI days, it became evident to me that, in many cases, corps were built as extensions not only of VFWs and American Legion posts, but even more extensively from Catholic Church parishes in urban settings. This, by many accounts, was done to provide the youth of parish "sons and daughters" (and yes, those within it's reaches) with a source of activity which would be an alternative to a "juvenile delinquent" population within those geographic settings. An activity to keep them off the streets, and provide a positive outlet for their energies (which, in many cases, often resulted in the occasional "rumble" in the post-competition parking lot ). That aside, it DID, in not only my estimation but also based upon the later testimony of those involved at the time, was remarkably successful in its' aims and goals. Did it "save" everyone? No. But I would be willing to wager a good deal of my hard-earned capitol that it resulted in a good deal of success. One person cannot save the world. Nor can one individual, obviously. BUT...I think that, based upon what I've read, the activity provided a positive legacy to something which later resulted in something different than what was commonly seen in West Side Story. It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child...and that may very well be true. But I would submit that it is possible for an activity to raise a child. And in terms of Drum and Bugle Corps, I feel that there is enough anecdotal evidence to support such a claim. Oh, if I only possessed even half the understanding, patience, and fortitude exhibited by those early leaders. We live in an age where the words understanding, patience, and fortitude are misinterpreted as being "weak." However, they are not. They are strong. They are not meek. They are not without exacting expectation. They DO represent a guiding principle which, I feel, is sorely missed in today's society. End of sermon.

You couldn't ask for a better crew than these folks...fun loving, friendly and wall-to-wall Hall of Famers.

I am going to go there. Do I have any idea how Kristy will work out for the Cadets? No, but having known her our entire lives I hope she does well. I have had the pleasure of knowing her and the family since before birth. I have also had the honor of teaching with Kristy for several years at Mechanicsburg, and if she's still there when my daughter reaches guard age, I'd have no issue letting her work with my daughter. I have seen what she inherited with 9 girls in 98, and over time built that program into a world class unit. For any warts or flaws she may have to some, she's ###### good, passionate, and cares for her kids. When a sad incident with a band students death befell the program a few years ago, and one of her kids was involved with that student, Kristy was right there the whole way...not just rehearsal, but god love her, at the scene and driving to the band directors house at midnight to tell him since he wasn't answering his phone. I saw her work with Cabs, which helped get the corps closer to gold than they had been for years. I saw her work with C2 last summer which took a guard that was getting good and made it great. Is Scholastic World or DCA the same as DCI? No, but she has good people around her, several I know. here's what I detest, and it puts me in an uncomfortable position.....as I';ve never been one of George's biggest fans. Kristy is getting #### on by armchair critics because she is dating George. While I have no insight to that except to say they seem happy together.....who ####### cares? if she wasn't good, he wouldn't have brought her on board. the Cadets are too precious to George to just hire someone because they're dating. people that have little if any knowledge of Kristy's work are out here trashing her rep because of her love life....guilt by association. and man, if she pulls another rabbit out of her hat, I can't wait to come in here in August and call out all the naysayers and demand they eat ####### crow. Regardless of who she is dating, when Kristy Templin wants something, she usually get it. if I started a corps tomorrow, I'd be calling her too.

Yes, you speak truth, Long Knife soldier. Actually, it was watching "Rin Tin Tin" that inspired me to learn the bugle. I pestered my folks mercilessly until it arrived under the Christmas tree in 1954. After that, there was a substantial period of further torment as I taught myself to play the calls for my Cub Scout badge. When my father lamented this, mom would say, "Mickey, just be thankful he didn't ask for a drum."

Oh man are you dating yourself!!!!!!!!!

"F Troop": Sgt. Major Morgan O'Rourke from "F Troop". (Forrest Tucker). Elphaba WWW

I'm guessing Sgt. Biff O'Hara from Fort Apache.

as for the Ray Fudge picture... I'd title that... "how to make a pussycat look like a lion" most of the stories I could tell about this gentleman couldn't be told... but I must say, he and his two brothers had the dang nicest parents you could ever ask for... His kid plays almost as well as him on lead and is versatile as he can also strap on a snare and keep up with the best...

Okay, I laughed at this one.