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iamnivtop

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  • Your Drum Corps Experience
    Lamplighters, Paterson, NJ; Crusaders, Paerson, Nj; Monarchs, Wayne, NJ; Black Knights, Belleville, Il; Skyliners, NYC

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  1. I've always liked Spirit. But 'Kansas' to be 'exciting'? Maybe next year they can follow up with 'Bread".
  2. Can't go into it with a negative attitude. If you can't think of enough positive reasons to march, you may or may not finish it out. Why take the spot of someone wo really wants to be there only to possibly back out. On the other side, your life and attitude will never be the same should you decide to commit yourself for the season!
  3. Happy Birthday Mike!!!!! Here's a small testament to his character: He probably won't remember me but in 1977 I had just come to Sky and was marching xylo. I really tore up my knee that fall and Mike came up, introduced himself, without telling me he was the asst DM at the time, and helped me hump that thing up and down the stairs in the Union City Post, and then through a couple of stand stills and exhibitions that winter while I was still on crutches. Great guy, and good to know he can still get around at what must be a very advanced age by now!
  4. Imagine what Jack would think of the way the activity has evolved. I bet he would love it!
  5. The 'Historical' ones that stand out for me are the Bleau Raiders in the early seventies when the triple tenors came out, they just blew every crowd away! Madison's 'Dueling Banjo's' has yet to be surpassed in my opinion, and the '75 Skyliners drum solo after Elks. I mean, WTF!
  6. I think the best advice that I've read so far is that a major part of it is in the volume of air you put through the horn. I was always a fairly good screamer but not much flexibility. When Brian Pennington got a hold of me, he literally threw out my Parduba 5 star double cup, and gave me a 3C. He changed everything about the way I played. No more tilting my head down and applying as much pressure as possible to squeeze out the notes. He had me lift up my chin to open the airway more. I also practiced by holding my soprano flat in my hand and playing without any pressue to my lips whatsoever. Frustration was king during those couple of months but it didn't take long until I was back to the point I was when I switched. From there it was a lot of interval studies in the mid range and always cooling down with low, long tones. Right before the season started he changed me over to a Schilke 14A4A, and I've been using that same mouthpiece ever since. My overall sound, endurance, range and screamability was so far and above my old style of playing. Once You get real comfortable with the high mid-range, it really doesn't take that more to throw in some dog whistles. Remember, no one really screams through the whole show. Just practice and like a previous poster stated, a season of marching is going to more for your playing abilities than you can imagine! Good louck!
  7. I grew up watching my uncle march with the Paterson Cadets (remember when almost every city had a 'Cadets'?). So I started marching at age eight. paterson Lamplighters; Paterson Crusaders; Wayne Monarchs; Belleville Black Knights; and NY Skyliners. When other kids were singing whatever songs were popular at the time, I'd be running Corps tunes and shows through my head! I would know the corps arrangements for a lot of songs but had no clue as to what the originals actually sounded like! A true DC geek in my day. But to me there was nothing as heart thumping as going to the Dream each year in Jersey City.
  8. Without watching the drill this sounds like a bad sixties movie soundtrack.
  9. I know that BD will take this one but it just seems that no one really nailed their show tonight.
  10. Love the 'Speed Racer' opening on the mallets!
  11. Yeah, but that's kind of what makes it sell so well.
  12. Someone please explain to me how that prattle did anything to enhance that show. WTF!
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