Cadets 2018

[xandandl]

1 minute ago, Fran Haring said:

Edited for accuracy.

What, you are NOT a huge donor????

[Jeff Ream]

On 12/11/2017 at 3:17 PM, Icer said:

It was a good show and tell.  MM's appear to be very excited, and from what I heard there were some very talented recruits, and the expectations from the staff were high.  The corps played about 1 minute of music, and despite the echoing in the gym, it was possible to hear some really cool stuff going on in all three areas: brass, percussion and pit.  Much harder to hear the vocalists, but that was a function of the echos more than anything else.  I'm looking forward to hearing more as this develops.

I really like the fact that they are going with 4 vocalists instead of 8.  The quality of the vocals will not suffer (it might actually improve with fewer microphones on the field), and the 4 additional horns will improve both the sound and the mass of people marching.

I would suggest that if you think your son was on the bubble and is talented enough to march Cadets, that you keep in touch with the corps.  When it comes time to pay the fees, some spots could open up, and the opportunity might present itself.

In the meantime, as for DCA, there are a certainly some corps that are second tier (true in DCI Open Class as well).  But the top ones - Bucs, C2, Cabs, and a few others - put on a very good show.  And C2 in particular does a great job of taking kids with mixed levels of experience and getting them to rise to the occasion by DCA finals weekend.  Check out the finals runs of 2016 and 2017.  They are both REALLY impressive. 2016 in particular was such a well-designed show, they probably could have used it as the basis for the Cadets that year and they would have had a better finish.

as I much as I enjoyed C2's championship show, IMO their finals run in 15 was hands down the corps best ever performance.

[Jeff Ream]

On 12/11/2017 at 4:45 PM, xandandl said:

Holy Salt?

yeah thats it

[Jeff Ream]

On 12/11/2017 at 6:51 PM, mkelley said:

Jeff, sorry you were hurt by my comments, but to put it simply my kid said he doesn't want to step backwards to do part-time weekend drum corps!  This isn't his first time on a gym floor, he already cut his teeth sweating it out in DCI, like the majority of kids there at the last two camps I attended they are hard working, ambitious and universally all want to jump up to that next level of competition as a member of the Cadets.    If we lived close to Allentown and he needed to build his chops then sure, why not, but neither is the case.

It is important to note that I was witness to many other students providing a far more articulate and thoughtful view on this exact topic as we left camp, so as adults whether we validate their views or not, kids were and surely still are voting on DCI vs DCA with their own feet!   

Again, my initial comments were in relation to a crowd of kids and those that I shuttled to and from the Airport expressing how much they enjoyed the Cadets camp experience (even those offered only C2 positions) and then my own observations that staff consistently provided a very supportive and positive learning environment.   It was not intended to somehow single you out or provide political commentary on part-time vs full-time, DCA vs DCI or elitist vs snowflake.   I thought that was obvious, but if not I will be much more careful next time I post in the Cadets forum where EVERYTHING seems to go sideways!  :)
 

i understand his POV. My age out opportunity was lost because i had to face real life situations. I ended up back in DCA that summer, with what ended up to be a very disappointing ending ( for me and the corps), especially after sitting in Buffalo 3 weeks prior crying while i watched what should have been me out there.

 

But DCi does not understand the damage they do to DCA by promoting DCA as a step back. For too many kids, it's the only way they can march for a variety of reasons. and while running a DCA corps themselves, some of those expressing that view that hurts DCA is the YEA organization themselves

[Jeff Ream]

10 hours ago, Ediker said:

I hope it's true.  They don't need any obstacles to being able to change things quickly, once the season is underway.

no Lenny's gone for sure

[FTNK]

24 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:

no Lenny's gone for sure

rip

[George Dixon]

Scott Atchison is no longer with the Cadets

[BRASSO]

28 minutes ago, George Dixon said:

Scott Atchison is no longer with the Cadets

 Any word yet on who fills the position in Brass... Branden Hill promoted ?... or will they go outside for a replacement ?

[FTNK]

Probably for the best long term.

[Liahona]

On 12/11/2017 at 8:43 PM, xandandl said:

Mr. Kelley,

I agree with others that you have no obligation to apologize particularly to posters not connected to the organization in any way.

There are some people who have to make themselves the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral. Anyone not affirming that has to be wrong in their estimation, no matter the validity of one's own experience.

While in almost nine decades there are some personalities associated with the Cadets whose actions/attitudes/announcements and decisions haven't always been universally praiseworthy -- in fact even stirring ire in others, on the main all associated with the Cadets are superb. Otherwise the corps would not have lasted 84 years where ever the management "office" was located.

I hope your son holds the good experience he had this weekend to heart, uses it for his greater growth, and arrives wherever it is best for him. Both of you are blessed to have that special bond which allows you both to appreciate such special talents as father and son. Thanks.

.

 

On 12/13/2017 at 12:27 AM, Jeff Ream said:

i understand his POV. My age out opportunity was lost because i had to face real life situations. I ended up back in DCA that summer, with what ended up to be a very disappointing ending ( for me and the corps), especially after sitting in Buffalo 3 weeks prior crying while i watched what should have been me out there.

 

But DCi does not understand the damage they do to DCA by promoting DCA as a step back. For too many kids, it's the only way they can march for a variety of reasons. and while running a DCA corps themselves, some of those expressing that view that hurts DCA is the YEA organization themselves

It is a real shame that I had that same NEGATIVE view of DCA when I was younger after aging out of DCI...I viewed DCA as a step-backward and that it was just for OLD people who were trying to HOLD-ON to their youth...I truly missed the mark and in retrospect realize how WRONG I was about DCA...The sad part is I only marched in a 14th and 16th place DCI corps at the time, but still perceived all groups in DCA as inferior...There even was some active recruiting (from folks that knew me) at the time from the Connecticut Hurricanes, but I declined their offer due to my unfounded perception as to what I thought DCA was all about...Honestly, I really didn't have any basis for my negative opinions towards DCA...I just didn't see DCA as being the COOL place to go...Perhaps if I started in DCA and moved to DCI...my perception at the time would have been quite different...I feel quite different today about DCA, but that took me a few decades to develop...