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Just got back from Kidsgrove's 1st 2012 Weekend. So i can safely confirm the brits are already on their way. This show is going to be awesome (if I do say so myself). So when Kidsgrove return to DCA in Annapolis sure you guys are going to love it ! Get booking your tickets now. it's going to be a blast !!!!

Really? Why would people downrate that? My reputation has gone from 100 to 36 in the past week and I haven't posted anything.

Chase is giving away HUGE grants and several drum corps are in the running. This could be a real game-changer for any one of them. The Academy has been in the number one spot by a slim margin all week; Crossmen and others are in the top 100. Others are hovering just outside the top 100 and need just a few votes to put them into the money. No matter who you vote for, don't let your ten votes go unused when you have an opportunity to do so much good for our activity. Don't have a FaceBook account? Open one! Right now! It's so easy and it costs you nothing. If they closed the voting right now, every person who voted for The Academy would have earned them a donation of $115 at no cost to themselves. That's a lot of good for very little effort on your part. The power of giving is in your hands. Vote here. Vote now.

If I could gather the greatest marchers and players in the world to form an uber corps, I would get Myron Rosander for the drill. I love Gaines and Sachtigs programs but there is something special with Rosanders work that resonates with me.

Academy- top 12.

No... I meant awful... I would justify it, but I would rather not start and BD flame war...

Easy to have wind for stuff like that when you wander around in free form for several minutes of your show.

As a apprentice instrument technician myself. (1 year) I have to say you've picked a very difficult project. I resurrected 7 totally crushed Tubas for the Philadelphia school district over the summer. One customers horn "tuba" came in missing a main tuning slide and every knuckle was crushed. Needless to say I'm an expert on tubas now. It goes much faster taking a torch to it. Even did a french horn (Conn 4D) that was sat on. I know it was worthless.. >< My advice. Do your math. make the tuning slide you are adding adjust < 3-4 inches. You can always flatten. Sharpening is a pain in the gonads. Over bracing will cause the horn to sound thin, tinnie, loss of overtones. Brass is plumbing. Don't overthink a problem, think like the manufacturer. How would they have done this, and apply their ideas to solve your problem. You might think up a better solution. I've been thinking of getting a crushed rotary valve tuba with a complete valve section, and a crushed sousaphone with missing valves to play. "Let's make a Rotary Valve Sousaphone" My current personal project is a Bundy II Tenor Sax I powder coated the body. I used aluminum oxide blasting media to remove the remaining lacquer and corrosion. Sprayed it and baked it. I like the low gloss black but the Master I'm apprenticing under thinks it looks weird. You can rub it against keys like they were hanging off your belt and the finish doesn't even scratch or scuff. I might have that ready to assemble this week.. Ugg we got a lot of work in suddenly.. None of it good. LOL Always remember to do perfect work. Your "Good enough" might not be as high as your customers. Sign your work well. Not so much for the customer but to the next guy he shows the horn off to. Good Luck PJ Frank Woodwind Repair. And we do brass. LOL

...they DID include version numbers which let you know exactly how old each version was. DCP offers a similar feature. It lets you know how old a thread is before you post in it.

Excellent point. The days of pulling a corps together by the old "seat of the pants" method and fielding a reasonably competitive unit on short notice are pretty much gone.

So for all the people who complain about The Academy and that they need to do a full tour here's your shot to do something about it. There's roughly 20k members on this site. I know not all of them visit, but I'm sure a vast majority do. So rather than complaining about The Academy and that they aren't being fair to all the other corps why don't you go and vote for them to help them on their full tour this year. You don't even have to spend a single penny!! You have 10 votes, so vote for The Academy and then all of the other drum corps that are listed as well.

Sage advise! But I would add just a couple more things. Visit a DCA open house near you to get the flavor of what they are all about, but most importantly, if you do nothing in DCI, you will reflect the rest of your life on what could have been so "Just do it!"

Now that I am no longer a point man for DCA and very much out of the loop information wise... I join the rest of you in relying on DCP for timely updates. This is an interesting thread (despite the mispelling in the heading) and should be taken seriously. So far, we have identified several corps who at least for now plan on competing in Annapolis 2012. I would ask a few things - call them guidelines for this thread: 1. Let's put the levity elsewhere. While I have judged the blousemen (I'd tell you where but then Donny A. would have to shoot you), let's not confuse this thread with delightful fantasy. 2. Those who post a corps should have enough knowledge to state whether the corps' intent "wishful thinking though it may be" for 2012 is All Aged Competitive, mini corps, junior corps or alumni type exhibition corps. It is my belief that the creator of this thread intended it to be DCA all aged competitive. We're all still hoping to see a coninued growth in DCA prelims and I for one, see Annapolis as a huge opportunity... 3. Don't tease... if you don't know, don't post or at least don't post as if you KNOW what a corps is doing... ask the question if you don't... as the person just did with Music City Legend... a very good question. 4. Some unofficial sage advice from a retired warrior in this arena: It's mid-November first camp time already. Over the next 3 weeks, most competing corps will have their first camp. If you have even the slightest possibility of sending a competing corps to DCA prelims... you ought to know by now... If you don't know, you're probably talking 2013 at a minimum. There are steps to follow that take time. Hotels are already booked for most corps. If you're thinking of bringing a corps and haven't been in touch with dca - you should correct that NOW. The name you need to know is Dick Eschenman, DCA Business Manager. businessmanager@dcacorps.org should work fine. Thanks... it will be fun to see if DCA can approach that elusive 30 corps in prelims mark. Oh and.... buy my book and help support my trip to Annapolis... Tom

It will be interesting to see how they market their new marching line. Tama makes some of the very best drums (if not the very best) and their marching line is no different. Pearl and Yamaha make good stuff but neither company makes anything that compares with Tama's Starclassic Maple drums and their marching drums are of that same quality. Dye Nasty isn't even close.

The plan from the beginning is to form a solid membership based corps and go from there. Most likely a mini corps for 2012.

Plan 9 - Defender of all things Blue Devil! The new GMichael!

<humor tag: Because we need to use them on DCP> I, DCIHasBeen, have peered into my crystal ball (while drinking a bottle of Cristal or something), and have seen the future. In the year 2012: 1) A corps will make a uniform change that will delight/inspire some, while evoking rage and anger from others. 2) A perennial favorite will make a bid for the DCI World Championship title and loose, evoking rage and anger from some, while others will be delighted and overjoyed with the outcome. 3) A perennial favorite will make a bid for the DCI World Championship title and win, evoking rage and anger from some, while others will be delighted and overjoyed with the outcome. 4) A corps will make a movement up or down in placement that will delight/inspire some, while evoking rage and anger from others. 5) The Blue Knights will continue to do that strange salute with the tip-toe-thingy that delight/inspire some, while leaving others completely perplexed. 6) The Blue Devils will be accused of something or other, by someone or other, and there will be much discussion on DCP that will, in the end, mean nothing. 7) In the end, it will all be George Hopkins' fault, because it is always George Hopkins' fault, and it will always be George Hopkins' fault, as long as there is a Hopkins to find fault with. 8) Dennis DeLucia will continue to look 50 years younger than his actual age, and cause continued conjecture about there being a portrait in his attic that looks very, very, old. 9) Michael Cesario will continue to make "Wonderful" a seven syllable word, and this, after all, is as it should be. 10) Rondo will not only continue to be reliable, but he will also continue to have great hair. This is also as it should be. Thus has it ever been, thus shall it ever be... </humor>

Trombone players are weird.

Crossmen Productions are in the top. I'm voting for them. It's their turn to win this thing.

LOL. John Stewart's version was pretty good, too.

Here are some of my favorites in year order.... Cadets 87 Star 91 Cavaliers 91 Star 93 Cadets 93 Phantom 93 SCV 97 Cadets 98 Cavaliers 01 Cavaliers 02 Blue Devils 03 SCV 04 Phantom 11 Cadets 11 Other than the genius of Zingali and Brubaker, my favorites were also Gaines and Sacktig. I do think that Jay Murphy is underrated. He may not be exciting but he has continually set standards in staging. To me the most underrated designer though is Jamey Thompson. I absolutely loved his work this past season.

If you look at the scoring, playing well counts. In fact, on the PA sheet, performer is 25 of the 40 points, not book. yes the visual stuff can be a little out there from SOME groups...but not all. As a staff member from a Scholastic A Class finalist, I will openly admit those that beat us played better. I saw all of World at prelims, and the best playing teams won. now if you want old school rams with tons of notes that don't make musical sense, then WGI may not be the place for you, which is my hunch on where this topic is aimed. But it's far more than "he who plays the most notes wins". I think the current admin team is doing an AWESOME job with how they are running WGI percussion. We were only able to attend one regional, yet we had many second reads at Dayton over the 2 days we performed. I know some first reads turned out better for us than the second reads did. Mark made a comment to me last year that after seeing many groups shows me playing the best wins: "The groups that focus on the visual sheet and overall effect will never win. They focus too much on 40% of the total number, and not enough on the 60% that playing well counts for." He was 100% right

1. / 2. - Blue Devils/Cadets - They've got the most momentum coming from last year, and will probably put the cleanest shows out there again. 3. Crown - The usual crowd pleaser with a harder and cleaner book. Might push into 2nd. 4. Cavies - Loss of Gaines will have an impact, but not as much as people think. 5. SCV - Wozniak + Shaw + Rennick. A transition year, but still a solid program nonetheless. 6. Phantom - Lives on without Shaw. 7. Boston - Will possibly win the crowd over more this year, possibly pass Phantom. 8. Madison - They've got everything going for them design and staff-wise, so they'll likely break out of 10th. 9. Bluecoats - Program this past year might weaken them member-wise, and new staff might make it difficult to return to previous competitive placement. 10. Blue Knights - Even better design than before, but some staff changes may be problematic. With good recruiting, may push past Coats. 11. The Academy - Andre Feagin 12. Blue Stars - Weak program this past year might make recruiting difficult, but will not let other corps break into that Saturday Night show. 13. Spirit - Great momentum will carry over this year, but it will be difficult to get past the others. 14. Crossmen - Also good momentum, 2nd year of staff and design team will lead the corps to high places. 15. Troopers 16. Glassmen 17. Colts/Pacific Crest My knowledge of the inner workings beyond the top 17 is too limited to make any kind of real prediciton...

1. Cavaliers 2. Blue Devils(Just cause they always get 1 or 2, even with an awful show) 3. Crown(I am a Crown fan, and I don't put the first because 1. I want when I march to be the 1st win Hahah /selfish and 2. Cavaliers have been nudging at it forever) 4. Bluecoats 5. Cadets 6. Phantom 7. Spirit of Atlanta 8. Madison Scouts 9. Blue Stars 10 Santa Clara 11. Boston 12. Blue Knights High Brass will go to Crown Percussion will go to Santa Clara Guard will go to Cavaliers BRING ON THE -1s Hahahaha

At least BK doesn't get last place every year. Also, if you're going to dis on how entertaining a corps is, don't make the corps you march obvious, and if you're going to make it obvious, make sure the shows you march are actually entertaining and has "WOOOOO" moments itself.

I marched 09. The best part of that (Umm "Shiver: Winter in colorado" correct me if i'm wrong) was that their guard was hot. Like the shows are overall "good" but is there a moment that makes you want to go "WOOOOO". Like 2010 BD, it just feels like the golf clap is the best I can give them. You had 08 spartacus, 09 crown's whole show, blue stars awesome, BD was better then we allow, cadets not talking, bluecoats imagine. 2010 cavies, bloo, phantoms show, scouts hit, cadets were pretty good. BK IMO is kind of like SCV recently. Look at the Bartok. That's not a show that you go "i want the cd so i can hear that over and over again". It doesn't give you chills and make you remember why you love DCI and what it's all about.

That's the vibe I got from

George Hopkins

I really liked that Dutch Boy show!

I think I'll take Boo out for some waffles!

I'd like to personally thank Geoff for keeping the political crap out. It would have really lowered the quality of this fine thread.

If they played those same arrangements I wouldn't care if they marched at all!

Nice thing they did there.

It was neck and neck there between him and Dr. Schmidt but evidently the better Dr. won. (or the only DR.)

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Mr. Bud is SCV alum. He is a protégé of Mr. Royer. He has been the director of one of the east coasts most decorated HS marching bands for close to 35 years. He, like many alumni, is tired of SCV not living up to the standards set by its founder.

Also: - Cavies will play right side up!

The Cavaliers, The Cadets, and Santa Clara Vanguard. Since their inceptions. What, I think, makes The Cadets and Santa Clara Vanguard so special is the fact that they have made such outstanding innovations to the Drum Corps activity. And The Cavaliers, they just make my jaw drop every time I see them, especially nowadays in the Gaines era. I think they all have amazingly good drill in their own ways. The Cavaliers and their whole geometric thing (I'm huge huge HUGE Michael Gaines fan!), The Cadets and the revolutionary Z-pull (Go Zingali!), and the Vanguard's introduction of the asymmetric drill. All three of them had made exemplary innovations in this activity in the past, and still continue to to this day. I dunno about specific shows or anything, but I'd just say that these guys have had some of the best drill since, like, forever. Go Drum Corps.

Even tho I'm not the biggest BD fan, I have to agree about blue devils drill. I remember going back and fourth with someone here on DCP who was saying in 07 how bluecoats drill was better than Blue Devils. Blue Devils drill is not flashy, there may not be those OOOOOOOH AHHHHHH moments like there are with some other drum corps. But that corps is staged outrageously well, their drill is absolutely with out a doubt some of the best every single year. There is so much more to drill design than 'flashy' moments and ....it kind of pains me to say this.... I think the Blue Devils are often under-rated by the general public in this regard. Jay Murphy is one of the best designers there is.

The last 20 something years: Cavies/Cadets/SCV...without a doubt.

The Cavaliers, Geometry in Motion, they have had so many great visual designs! What they do on the field is amazing! Then the other two corps that pop out to me would have to be SCV and Cadets. Both have great visuals and, like the cavies, they keep adding great visual effects to the field.

I think over the last 20 years, Cavaliers have had the best drill of any corps, probably followed by either SCV or Cadets. I think Cavaliers have only had one weak year in the last decade. Maybe weak isn't even quite the right word, other than it wasn't as stellar as the other 9 years. I think Cavies 2000-02 were probably 3 of the best years ever in drill design. And their execution was superb.

87 Cadets 90 Cadets 90-91 Star 91 Cavaliers 93 Cadets 95 Cavaliers 97 SCV 98 Cadets 99 SCV 99 Blue Devils 2000 Cadets 2000 Cavaliers 2001 Cavaliers 2002 Cavaliers 2003 Cavaliers 2003 Blue Devils 2004 Blue Devils 2004 SCV 2004 Cavaliers 2006 Cavaliers 2006 SCV 2007 SCV 2007 Cadets 2007 -2010 Blue Devils Most of those would be nice suggestions but I don't think most people appreciate Jay Murphy's staging brilliance.

If you're talking about historically best drill, I would go with Cadets and Cavaliers. They have innovated to an extent that has influenced the activity probably more than any other corps in the history of DCI.

I was wondering...where would they put AN EASTER EGG!!! on a DVD???????????????????????????