ironlips

A priest, a rabbi and a Timing and Penalty judge walk into a bar. The priest asks, "Is it time to discuss the latest Drum Corps scandal?" "Oy vey", says the rabbi, "not again! Please! Does anybody really know what time it is?" The T&P judge replies, "Yeah. It's time to get back on topic before some conscientious moderator closes this thread". (Ka-boom)

I wouldn't think that very likely. Given the hour and a half commute between the two sites and the demographics of most Bingo players, it seems there would not be much incentive to make that trip. There are quite a few more games running much closer by.

An insightful look at one of the most important inner-city drum corps in history and its ongoing impact in the lives of its former members: Wynn Center Toppers - Precious Memories of an African American Drum and Bugle Corps I received a copy from Amazon today and can't put it down. FD

This is a positive step towards serving community youth, irrespective of all the other issues facing the organization. I applaud this initiative.

I don't think I've ever heard that many concert "D"s in succession!

The Sunrisers marched several Macy's parades in the '60s. The network sent camera crews to rehearsal each time to block our routines. Sometimes the day was chilly, but the parade was always a blast. In '69, with the show still the hot ticket on Broadway, I recall playing a medley of "Hair" and "Aquarius" at Herald Square. On my elbow was a young kid named Wayne Downey. We were duet partners on that tune.

Impressive group of "Old-Timers", but no color guard? Not even a US Flag party? Then again, they had the requisite 76 Trombones.

I'm voting for Kevlar because: 1. It sure sounds like Kevlar. 2. Pipe bands have been using those heads since the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. For a definitive answer, I'd suggest contacting Ralph Hardimon.

I know from "heavy equipment", having driven an M-48A-1 tank. I told the intake officer I played the trumpet and asked for an audition for the Army Band. "No can do", he said, "but would you like to work indoors?"

Right. Sarcasm obvious. Did you get his service record from the DOD? If not, I recommend you do so as there's likely to be quite a good number of interesting tidbits therein. FD

To commemorate Armistice Day, I decided to step out to the driveway with my valveless G and play "To the Colors" for our US vets and "Last Post" for our allies, the British. We are in a fairly rural area so I didn't expect anyone would hear, but after the last note, from the other side of the road, deep into a cherry orchard, a voice yelled "Thank You!" It felt like a scene from some bugler's version of "Field of Dreams". The dream of the world on Nov.11th, 1918 (a mere 105 years ago) was that there would never be another war. Sadly, it's still a dream, albeit a worthy one. Here's hoping it comes true soon.

Veterans invented competitive Drum Corps in this country, following WWI. My very first bugle instructor, Jim Donnelly, served during that conflict. Already in his 70s when he showed me how to hold a single-piston G/D soprano in 1960, he had previously won several American Legion and VFW National titles teaching St. Vincent's Cadets, the Caballeros and the Skyliners, written numerous brass method books and bugle arrangements, and co-invented the French Horn bugle with Caesar LaMonica. Carman Cluna, the famous drill instructor, served in the US Army, and most know of the legendary Col. Truman Crawford who led both the US Air Force and the Marine Corps drum corps, taught and arranged for multiple National Champions, including the Chicago Royal Airs and Baltimore Yankee Rebels, and was the premier brass judge for both DCA and DCI for many years. There are literally hundreds of other examples. Military veterans comprise the force that initiated and sustained drum corps for decades. When DCI corps carry the National Colors onto the field on retreat at Indy, they are honoring that history, though few probably realize it. Did you march? Ever enjoy a parade or drum corps show? Thank a veteran.

The cat was fearless. Imagine, playing Maynard's solo right in front of Maynard, on Finals night, live on a national telecast, and nailing it ...on a 2-piston bugle.

Chalk it up to a youth misspent obsessing about all things Drum Corps. I recall several corps playing Never My Love, Cherish, and/or Windy. The LI Kingsmen come to mind among them. I'm sure if you check the DCX archive you will probably also find Along Comes Mary, and Everything that Touches You, in addition to Requiem. In a day when most corps arrangers worked by ear "off the record" as opposed to analyzing printed scores, the group's charts were easily decipherable by virtue of their clarity of line. They were also harmonically and melodically well suited for brass, clearly a result of Terry Kirkman's early musical training. I'll bet he tried out his tunes on trumpet first rather than keyboard or guitar like most of his contemporaries. Evidence points to a marching background. One can't miss the parade snare in the video from the Smothers Bros. Show.

The Association was an exceptional group that was both musically and lyrically achieving at a much higher level than the vast majority of its contemporaries. Many a Drum Corps found inspiration there, perhaps the most prominent being Blue Rock. One could hope for better audio in this clip, but the essence comes through. I for one will never forget the sound of "Requiem" at Roosevelt Stadium that afternoon in '71 as is reverberated around the covered stands. This video is a mash up, but I believe the sound is from that 1971 Dream Contest. Scroll to about 10:45 to catch the Association tune beginning after the drum solo. Note a very young Moe Knox shooting pix of that huge snare line. Most corps at that time marched only 3 or 4:

Hi, Nate. I am so glad you liked that piece. No doubt you are familiar with the cliche, "write what you know", to which could be added, "and what you truly care about." That's why this little essay was so easy for me to write. Both those conditions were met, long before any keys were tapped. Here's to navigating challenges, for both of us!

My deepest condolences to his family, colleagues and friends. Robert was brilliant, and respected and loved throughout the entire activity. He schooled us all.

Well...that's pretty insightful, I think.

True enough. He should get some GE credit for that.

Ironically, I find this discussion simultaneously both interesting and predictable. The same old tropes are trotted out that one encounters whenever a leader must be chosen. On the other hand, the debate reveals some of the thought processes and biases of the posters, which are fascinating. There is an underlying shaky assumption here, however, to wit, the assumption that the DCI Executive Director wields any actual power. That is reserved for the Board, through whom all significant decisions are made and approved. The job of the ED is more closely related to that of a referee who endeavors to keep the players from harming each other by reminding them that they should play by the rules, the very rules they themselves have created. Of course, she/he can only do that with the Board's approval. This is further complicated by the fact that they are all rivals. Now, other than an individual blending the characteristics of Ghandi and Mother Teresa (neither of whom had Drum Corps experience), who would be qualified and willing? Step right up.

My Tennessee colleague makes an important point here. Having taught at various levels for many years (from elementary school through college, and drum corps throughout), using virtually every method in the book (lecture, seminar, clinic, video, symposium, individual mentoring, ...etc.), I am aware that people have a wide variety of learning styles. The best overall strategy for imparting knowledge is to use multiple methods, of course, but even more important is reinforcement. Whether one is learning the F# Major Scale or practical techniques for protecting your charges, once is not enough. The mantra I repeat to my students of every level is "Repetition is your friend. Repetition is your friend. Repetition is your friend". That said, it is also vital to vary the approach to the material when reinforcing the main principles. Watching the same video yearly, over and over, is just promoting OCD. In the particular case of drum corps, their staffs and performers, it will be helpful to utilize live presenters and enacted role play scenarios as well in follow up. As a society we are just beginning to get our collective head around the importance of these ethical issues and how to address them. Drum Corps has made a good start (generally), and would do well to remember the mantra.

Yes, and at least one LI Kingsmen member and probably several other drum corps vets we don't know about. No need to worry that any of them will be forgotten. They are family.

The Fife and Drum activity was quite healthy in the NYC metropolitan area in those days and almost all of the units were church-sponsored. One of the very best was St. Camillus and that team produced many of the top rudimental drummers who later populated corps like Hawthorne, Skyliners, St. Rita's Brassmen and others.

Working with George on the '86 show for the 27th Lancers was unlike anything I had ever experienced. He asked me to use a green highlighter to mark directly on the score which section had the melody at any given time. Understand that the lead voices jumped around like frogs on a pond in a production consisting of Sondheim excerpts: 2 bars of melo lead, 4 for a solo, baris for 2, sops for 1, back to melos...etc. "And you want me to do this, why exactly?", I asked him. "Because you're writing the drill", he replied. "I'll just put those people in the right spots and see wherever everyone else end up...that's it." And that's precisely what he and Marc Sylverster did. "Hey", said Marc, "you've heard 'form follows function', right?" Good philosophy for today's designers, I daresay.

At this point I wouldn't think so. But if a major team left the synths out they might sound a lot better than (not just different from) the rest of the pack.