Leaderboard

JERK

This isn't funny, it's just cruel. I can't imagine what it must be like as a Dutch Boy alumnus to read this.

Just for the record the term "football" (i.e.soccer) originally earned it's name because the game was played on foot rather than horseback like polo, not because it was played with the feet. "Soccer" was derived from the English "football association" abbreviated "assoc." With that said if it weren't for American football fields Drum Corps would be relugated to marching in parades all summer and with our luck following the horses.

In my community, the school district is begging for more money, stating that without it, they will have to cut programs. Just months prior, they announced they were going to spend over a million dollars to replace a natural turf football field that was less than ten years old with one that is synthetic. Bottom line: For the most part, schools that have football programs are not going to eliminate them because the community would go ballistic. An occasional head trauma here and there isn't considered as big a threat to national security as no football on Friday nights. They might send schoolchildren around town with a photo of a puppy that is captioned, "If we don't get more money out of you, this puppy gets it," but they won't get rid of football. Music, art, drama, science fairs, home economics (or whatever it's called this week) and drivers ed can all go straight to Hades, but football will remain king. Not that I'm bitter.

Favorite Overall: Probably Regiment, they tell such a beautiful story year after year and they never tie together weird songs with some obscure theme like some other corps tend to do. Favorite Music: I really enjoyed BD, musically they did a fantastic job this past season. Other corps of note would be Santa Clara, Madison, Crown, Bloo and Cadets. Favorite Drill: Cadets did so many cool things with their alternating colored uniforms. The Cavaliers left little to be desired, too. Favorite Opener: Bluecoats and Crown were both crowd pleasing openers, but then again, so was Phantom. I felt Boston had a pretty nice opener too, I for one enjoyed what they put on the field. Blue Knights had a cool opener, or prelude, whatever that Danny Boy entrance was. Favorite Closer: MADISON BABY!! Vanguard had an amazing closer too, I was on my toes until the last note finished ringing! Crown definitely brough the house down.

Definitely uncalled for.

It's funny how people's perception of demand and cleanliness can differ. I think Cadets' 07 show was more demanding from a visual standpoint and was also cleaner than 2011. I also think that show should've won.

I marched in a show once where I swore all the judges were deaf, dumb and blind. Does this count ?

It does seem ironic how you have been shushing-down people in this thread to not spill the beans, yet you seem so eager to dance around that line yourself.

The thread is not a discussion thread, they did not pose a question or make a statement that asked for comment. I was just pointing out that they might want to alter or clarify their requirements for a driver. They obviously do not based on the prior post.

And speaking of "looking forward to his return," it was great to see you back in the line in Baltimore, John.

Call me crazy, but I think that WGI type programs are the "wave of the future". They more closely resemble performance art that people are used to seeing... like blast, dance competitions, stomp, variety shows. These programs are also farther from marching band, so a lot of the stigma is removed. The death (although it will probably just be a downturn, not death) of football, will put more people in seats of sports that involve less contact... high school basketball. Which is where these indoor groups will swoop in. Basketball already exists on a wide scale, WGI has been growing; it just seems like a perfect fit.

Here's the answer: not enough.

To this day, that Fourth Ballet Suite opener is the best arranging job I've ever heard in DCI. EVER. Jim Wren's brass book is a work of art.

Debating the legality of requesting a date of birth for a drum corps driving job? This is exactly what the organization had in mind when they started this thread.

Thanks much in part to our 2012 recruitment manager, Matt Steppe, Fusion has just about met our membership goal we wanted for our first year competing in Open. This is Matt's first year in this position and he's done an amazing job, at times manning tables solo for hours on end, but his excitement and enthusiasm quickly spread to the membership and everyone jumped in and started to recruit. Yesterday Fusion held a Colorguard meet and greet and we had a great turnout of some very talented colorguard prospects show up, thanks to the recruitment efforts of Matt, the members and the staff!!! They even learned part of the show!!! This show has got everyone excited and I have to thank the work of our Design team headed by Daniel Bostic and Mike Durburow, our arrangers Chris Bernotas and Terrell Smith and our AMAZING MEMBERS. This is going to be a year that I feel you will all enjoy. Many of you have watched Fusion grow from it's debut in Clifton in 2007 to where we are now. It's very exciting!! Thanks to all of our supporters and our naysayers who have pushed us to accomplish what some people thought we'd never be able to. Sometimes you need that shove :o)!! This Saturday, weather permitting, we will be back at the Walmart in Rockaway. In the event it snows or rains, we will be at the First Presbyterian Church. Please go to our website for more info. We're looking to fill a few more spots. Please contact Matt Steppe for more info. See you all on the 50!!!

But what if we put it to a soundtrack of "Yakkity Sax?" Would that make it better for everyone? Or we could add old sketch comedy sound effects to them?

Not a bad idea though!

We had 21 horns for the St. Pat's Day parade. With all due respect to your friend, the pictures are up on the website. Count them yourself. 5 trumpets, 2 mellos, 8 baritones and 6 tubas. www.pioneer-corps.org We still have 6 coming from across the pond (heck of a commute, don't you think?) and several who had school commitments or a medical issue, and could not be there that weekend. Unlike other corps, we allow you to meet your school responsibilities and don't consider doing so a lack of dedication. That was along with 10 snares, 3 tenors, 4 bass drums, and 5 cymbals. 6 guard; most of our guard are in winterguards and will be in attendance at the April camp. If you know of others that would like to join, you know where to find us. Lansing

Let's face it, it was an entertaining, but dirty year.

Yet, with the new 155 point system, Crunchy Frog will still be able to score a negative number!

To obtain a characteristic tone, the mellophone mpc has a significantly deeper cup, which may be V-shaped. Although the shanks are identical, the body of the mello mpc is almost an inch shorter. Which means the backbore is only about half as long. The trumpet mpc might sound "just fine" to you, but it cannot produce the full mid-register sound used in contemporary hornlines. But in the 60s and 70s, most of us used trumpet mpcs. Mellophones were usually a small section, used soloistically rather than as a workhorse ensemble voice.

Let me Google that for you... or The Middle Horn Leader

The green, blue, and cream team had easy shows? I know that's not exactly what you are saying, but I don't think the level of demand was high enough to justify how dirty it is. Especially when compared to other corps. The cadets were dirty. That being said, it was my favorite show this season. These are my opinions.

I thought Cadets feet were great. I just thought a few corps behind them had better. Hard thing to do, kudos to those corps.

They won feet, correct. But I'm not going to fight about this here, I shouldn't have even brought it up.

I didn't read every post in this thread so I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet. If there was a drive-thru at either the BK Lounge or McyDees, 4 of us would go there, put our order and then proceed to the window. There was a piece of rubber that we had to jump on so that they would think there was a car there. We would even pull up with someone pretending to drive, 2 of us in front and 2 in back. The hilarious part of it was when we got to the pick up window the whole corps in line inside would see us at that window and some would freak, some were a tad envious, others thought "why didn't I think of that".

Belles of St. Mary (Rhinelander) 'cause they got the Hodag.

I'd really have to agree with everyone that there werent any shows that I didn't like, just some I liked more than others. It would be wrong for me to choose favorites

Look, no offense, but if we ever happen to be sitting next to each other at a show, please keep this isolated-snapshot-analysis method to yourself. I'm not saying you're not entitled to employ your own judging criteria for your own edification. I'm just saying I don't want you to interfere with my system, which depends on judging feet in real-time during shows. HH

Madison Xylophone 75/76 had one leg; marched with a prosthetic leg (BITD keyboards were carried. And you had to mark time even if you stayed only in one place (at least one every 32 counts, or something like that).

doesn't that add up to 5 spots? good luck this summer - hope you get the players for those spots

Agree on this. SCV lit it up at Finals in 2005. Not their highest placing SCV Corps... far from it.... that year but they really won over the Crowd in Foxboro, Mass and among all the Corps in the Finals they were one of the favorites with their show performance on Finals Night. The crowd loved them and they got a rousing reception at the end of their show. They finished 8th that nite, but the crowd didn't care about any of that, as they had really sold the show.

1993 SCV. Saw them in June and it was embarrassing. I was glad I had aged out the year before. I thought they might not even make finals. They were shockingly improved in Jackson. read Lee Rudnicki's short book Tale of a Drumline for some really funny stories from that year.

St. Kevin's ... 60 & 61 :-)

There are aspects to modern drum corps that I care little for, does that mean I too should leave?

The San Francisco Renegades are pleased to announce their 2012 show, “TWISTED” TWISTED 1. To move or progress in a winding course. 2. To alter or distort the mental, moral, or emotional character. 3. A contortion or distortion of the body. 4. To alter or distort the intended meaning. 5. A change in direction; a turn. 6. A personal inclination or eccentricity. 7. An unexpected change in a process or a departure from a pattern, often producing a distortion or perversion. Over the past 12 years, the San Francisco Renegades have defied tradition and shattered expectations with their groundbreaking and in your face style of drum corps. 2012 brings their most daring production yet – TWISTED. Featured music includes: ‘Twisted Nerve’ by Bernard Herrmann ‘Death Hunt’ by Bernard Herrmann ‘Uninvited’ by Alanis Morissette ‘Break from Reality’, an original composition by Brian Sears ‘Knights of Cydonia’ by Muse

As long as there's another "Boxer/Creep" moment, I'll be happy!

ALLENTOWN.....

In 3 months, how secret a show was kept won't matter at all. Honestly, I thought it was a joke until people began to get upset about it. Oh well, it's not a big deal. This is an activity where you have to experience it, there are no spoilers.

I vote for California.

When I graduated from Malden Catholic High School (1976), our graduation song was Crown Imperial March I particularly like the 1975 version

Gosh - I thought you would have placed Crown a little higher.

I think the zero is enjoying it.

Looking forward to seeing them again next summer. I'm a bit concerned though: Can you field a hornline without Howdy's "expertise"?

Dan Tewalt: HS band director and composer of band/piano music who formerly marched with Phantom Regiment (a drum and bugle core) and won the World Championship in 2008; he's from Brooklyn Center, OMG they spelt it wrong!

OFFICIAL CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION FOR TEAL SOUND The Teal Sound Board of Directors officially announced the changes in administration for the corps for the 2012 season. Cary Byrd will take over as the Director, while Joel Moody will serve as a Program Facilitator. With the addition of Joel Moody, Teal Sound gains an experienced music educator with a wealth of knowledge in the drum corps activity. Having been a member, as well as part of the administrative and instructional teams for several drum corps, Moody will assist in the hiring of a design and instructional staff for 2012. In the search to fill the position that Joel Moody holds, Teal Sound looked at several applicants. Some things came to light in Joel's past employment as a Band Director that were of a concern for some people. “The Teal Sound organization acknowledges that while past mistakes are evident in Joel’s case, it is not what defines his breadth of overall work. This was over a year and a half ago – people make mistakes, and we all learn from them. We have done our due diligence in our background checks for all employees of Teal Sound, Joel included. We feel that Mr. Moody has been very open and honest about the situation and that speaks volumes about his character. We have the utmost confidence in Joel’s ability to help lead Teal Sound forward and we are very excited that he has agreed to join our Administrative team,” stated Cary Byrd, Director. Moody has been hard at work this off-season and has already put together an outstanding design team that includes Robert W. Smith and John Campese. “I believe first and foremost in the educational aspect of the Drum Corps activity. I am really excited for this opportunity - I want nothing more than to offer the members of Teal Sound an organization that they can be proud of. We have a great deal work ahead of us, but I can’t wait to see what is in store for the 2012!”

I Think the top 8 should be The Cadets Blue Devils Cavaliers Carolina Crown Phantom Regiment Madison Scouts Blue Coats Blue Stars My reasoning in not including Santa Clara Vanguard is that they rarely get the crowd on their feet. The Blue Stars and the Madison Scouts are most definitely more Exciting. To me, "Elite" is not just a Prestigious word. Its more explaining excitement, Precision, Finesse, Power, and the crowd factor. If DCI wants to make more money then just Sponsorship Dollars and the 50,000+ ticket sales, with this Tour of Champions idea, then They need to put out an exciting product.. not just a boring marching band (it's a marching band from an average joe's perspective)

Crown Imperial (yes, its a march!) by William Walton (see sig!) -- best done by 27th!