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Folks can beach about Lucas Oil Stadium all they want, but at least this doesn't happen there.

that poor kid's back

Why would anyone complain about music majors in drum corps?

Potter was in the toilet.

That's an interesting comment considering crowns colorguard designer just won both the world classes at wgi this year with Carmel high school and Pride of Cincinatti, those two groups are in the cutting edge of the winter activity. And I see nothing less when watching crowns colorguard. I think they are the best, but to each their own I guess. Old school in the fact that they interpret the music note for note. Nothing old school about what they are being asked to do, that's for sure.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I'm just not seeing much improvement in a week...especially with their marching. Just not use to seeing Cavies with so many issues involving intervals and feet.

Scouts, to learn from Brad Green. Coats, to be apart of the best tuba lines of this decade. Coats consistently have the best tuba line.

June

Boston fans arn't freaking out of Boston not making Finals, and I suspect neither are the Cavaliers fans. My guess, it comes from people that perhaps get caught up in comparing scores from different shows in June, ( happens every year ) or the freaking out is coming from fans of other Corps that are unhappy with the Cavaliers plight right now. We will find both Boston and Cavaliers in Finals come August in my opinion, and we can look back at the " freaking out " on the Cavs not making Finals and find that it was rather silly in retrospect.

Interesting, different shows....BUT: Madison 74.6 Phantom 73.9 Coats 73.2 Cavies 72.9 Less then 2 points separating the above corps Then: Spirit 70.8 Boston 69.2 Amazing the Cavies are this dirty, yet still in there. If people on this board think The Cavaliers are in danger of making finals, then Boston fans must freaking out (still haven't broke 70.0).

I think I hear some fuzz in the drumline

So... anyone else notice the Cavaliers looked better marching that brief snippet without the robes than they did in their actual show? Looks like they really need to lose those stupid black robes. Going to just drag their visual scores down all season

First thing I noticed with Madison was that their snare and tenor line appears to have been improved over last year, and they have more demand and meat in their drill this year that if executed should not have them fade a bit competitive wise in August as has been their tendency of late. Nice closer... when has Madison not had a killer closer ? Good stuff from Madison. I was hoping to see what Cavs had coming on right after them... but Madison's performance brought the thunder and lightening down from the Heavens and has stopped everything in its tracks.

Love Madison, but by far the worst amplification and thunderous goo in DCI - totally distorts the pit and covers up the horn line a lot!!

Wow i actually liked the blue stars show, unlike the last two years. Way better than the troopers and colts, i am surprised the troopers beat them the other day.

If you're really being sincere about pursuing a much broader audience for drum corps in this country (especially as it relates to getting more exposure on television), be prepared to see more changes that you might not be all that happy with to the activity you claim to love.

It's been reported that BK did their full show last night in Medford. I hope someone will describe it to us tonight.

The DCI judging community soon will be able to move along to having their future judges meetings at a 55 + Adult Community's Recreation Center. 85% of 'em now qualify for AARP membership. These are good people and some of these judges and show designers have been involved in Drum Corps since the early 60's, but DCI really could use some younger, fresher faces ( and perspectives ) doing the judging as well as designing these shows, imo. Its been pretty much the same few and influential people running things for between 30-50 years now.

My son ran into that difference last year when he marched with BK. He is a music ed major, but one of his professors wants him to spend more time with his horn. That professor told him he was making a mistake marching drum corps because he should be concentrating on his horn playing...not running around the country playing a mellophone.It seems drum corps didn't ruin his horn playing after all, though. He got accepted as an apprentice horn player with his local symphony orchestra.

(from Crown FB)A BIG thank you to Phantom Regiment Mom, Barbara Kauppi, for providing Carolina Crown members and staff with a fantastic Mexican style dinner this evening in California! Barbara usually provides the meal for Phantom Regiment when they tour the west coast, but this year she offered to provide for Crown while in California. Thank you so much Barbara!! It was delicious! So cool that drum corps parents can't help taking care of corps kids no matter the corps :-)

I don't have a problem with DCI doing something to generate revenue, but there is no way it should impact the scores. That's just asking for trouble.

Disclaimer: I am not a BD honk (if anything, more of a Cavies and Crown fan, well, at least earlier '00's Cavies) I was about to post this in the latest anti-BD thread, but it was locked by the time I finished writing. Throught it might stimulate some interesting conversation: In the circles I travel in it is generally accepted that from around '00-'08 the Championship was Cavaliers' to loose. With the way their design staff was putting together music and visual, if they didn't push too far such that they couldn't clean it up ('03), or pick something that did not have a strong enough visual component ('05, '07, and '08 itself), the gold medal was theirs. None of us could see how any other corps would be able to put together music and visual in a way that could beat Cavies in the years when their staff got it right. But then in '08, the Blue Devils showed us all something we hadn't seen before. I remember seeing Constantly Risking Absurdity live for the first time and being blown away by the game changing nature of it. Though they had won in '07, it was only because the next greatest challenger was Cadets with "This I Believe...", and THAT is saying something (not to mention Cavies with Billy Joel, a show I LOVE musically, but a theme which has little to offer in terms of strong visual connectivity). BD '08 was a clean break with what they had been doing for the past 7 years or so. I remember almost feeling like the Blue Devils staff got tired of waiting around for Cavies off years and their own ON years to line up (I mean, they freakin lost with The Godfather Part Blue!!!! that must have hurt!!!). When none of us could see how anyone could beat Cavies in the game of combining music and visual, BD went out and changed the game in an important (and in my opinion exciting) way and has been pursuing that same model ever since. The Championship is now BD's to lose and has been ever since '09. Don't like it? Figure out what's next.

These are my inital thoughts on this years shows that I've seen: The Academy - “Piano Man” is a fun and cutesy show, a departure from their darker predecesors in 2011 and 2012. I still haven't seen the closer, but if it's anything like the first half, it'll be a blast. The standout section is definetely the drumline, reminiscent of their 2011 line which sat 10th in Quarters and 12th in semis that year to me. Finalist quality? Due to the fact of the hugely talented corps above them, they have a lot of work to do to get there, but they'll be a fan favorite for sure. Predicted August placement - 14th – 17th. Blue Devils - “The re:Rite of Spring” is definetely your modern Blue Devils. Keeping true to the source music, this is a show that does not make you happy. Dark mood, stabbing brass moments, and the presence of the absolutely primal rhythms of Stravinsky's infamous work. This show in my eyes is not meant to be a crowd pleaser in the normal sense. The brass is incredible, the guard is going to be, and the drumlines book has more notes than anyone else this year. This show has a ways to go, but they are in contention again. I might not like it, but I can sure appreciate it. 1st – 2nd. Blue Knights - “NoBeginingNoEnd” is a very intersting show theme, one that is brought to life by their absolutely incredible visual program this year. The colors brought by the guard in their costuming and silks is a perfect compliment to their very classy uniforms. The brass and percussion are in good places right now, and I'm excited to see the closer. I think they're in contention for a top 8 placement this year. Predicted August placement - 7th – 10th. Blue Stars -“VooDoo” is a ridiculously intense show. The drill is easier than last year, but the music book makes up for that. Every section of the corps has a beast of a show on their hands, brass, percussion, and guard. If they get this show cleaned up and add a little more GE to get the theme across throughout the whole production, they're a shoe in for finals. Did I say their percussion is fantastic? The drumline is great, but that front ensemble is the standout section of the corps to me, ESPECIALLY that drumset player. Man he can play! This is a late season bloomer in my eyes. Predicted August placement - 10th – 13th. Bluecoats - “to look for America” is their best show since “Metropolis” in my opinion. The first 3/4s of this show are absolutely fantastaic in terms of bringing the show theme across, the opening especially. I love the idea of incorporating the parade feel throughout as a recurring theme to tie the show together. The back end of the show needs to find a way to incorporate the bleechers and show theme more, but I don't think we have anything to worry about. My favorite part of this show has got to be the American flag set they do at the end of the first number and then bring it back in at the end. Depending on what they do with this show, they could be a top 3 dark horse in my eyes. Great show theme. Late season bloomer IMO. Predicted August placement - 3rd – 6th. Boston Crusaders - “Rise” is a much more mature and risky theme than the last few years, I can tell they want to move up. The biggest issue I have with this show right now, is the theme is not really coming across anywhere but the opener and ballad. The drill design is weakest since 2007 as well in my opinion, not bad, but not up to par with what they've offered the last few years. I know someone I the front ensemble, and he says there are MANY things to come, so I'll wait to see this show develop. My second late season bloomer, get the theme through the whole show, and this will be much more of a memorable show than it is right now. Predicted August placement – 7th – 10th. The Cadets “Side by Side” has grown on me a lot in the three times I have watched it. I still want a little more emotion from the show, but they sound and look absolutely incredible. If there is a group that will challenge BD and SCV in percussion, it's these guys. Hands down the best drumline right now. The closer is a good several notches down from the rest of the show, but I know this will change. The props work well most of the time, but I think they need to think like marchers and get the placement of these in relation to eachother a little cleaner. For sure a contdner, my dark horse to win. Predicted August placement - 1st – 3rd. Carolina Crown – “E=MC2” intriguing and innovative show while still being the Crown we love. Brass is incredible, guard is fantastic, and percussion is improved. My favorite show of the season right now. I think the vocals and nararation need some tweaks, but I love that they weave the elements of “Einstein on the Beach” through the show to depict this work by Phillip Glass without any singular section featuring just that piece. Can this show get them the gold? They have a 33% shot along with two other absolutely phenomenal corps this year. Predicted August Placement - 1st – 4th. Cavaliers - “Secret Society” is dirty, really dirty right now. But the show is so much better than that travesty of a production they put on last year. The brass is pretty weak right now, but guard and percussion are fine in my opinion, especially guard. Visually the drill is better, but still not amazing. I think the cloaks in the opener do more harm than good, they really muddy up the field. I don't think they'll miss out on finals, but I don't think they're top 8. How well they place in August is COMPLETELY dependent on how much they clean. They have a pretty cool show IMO (except for the Secret Society whisper, PLEASE trash that). Predicted August placement - 8th – 11th. Mandarins - “Destination America” is my favorite show, ever from them. It's in their grasp, and it's a show theme that they can REALLY connect to. Musically they are fantastic, the drumline especially which always seems to be their strength. The drum feature in the opener had me smiling on the webcast. Drill and guard are their downfalls, not terrible, but they won't help the corps. Overall, a surprising show to me in a good way. Predicted August Placement - 16h – 21st. Pacific Crest - “Transfixed” is not as strong of a show as last year in terms of GE, but they are performing it VERY well right now. This corps is the next to rise up in my opinion. The percussion section wins the most improved award this year, I can tell they have a new staff there, in a VERY good way. Don't remember a whole lot about the show, but they're getting better year in year out. Predicted August placement - 15th – 19th. Phantom Regiment - “Triumphant Journey” is another show theme that fits them VERY well. I was afraid it was going to be too much like “Turandot” and “Juliet”, but I think this is a little different. Guard and drill really bring this show to life. The trees are a cool idea, and I love the equipment they use in terms of color and use. The drill though is the star of this show in my opinion. The storybook opening up in the beginning, and the castle that makes an appearance at the end of the opener and in the last set are two of my favorite Jamey Thompson moments this year. The only thing I think they need to do to get this show farther is find a way to make this triumpant journey a little more evident. Predicted finals placement - 4th – 6th. Santa Clara Vanguard - “Les Miserables” is full on 90s drum corps. Just great music and drill that's in your face. Brass is getting better every year, guard is great once again, and the drums of course are amazing. The only issues I have with this show are the music needs to flow a little better from piece to piece, the drill needs some major cleaning, and there needs to be a little more of the theme evident, right now it's just the music of Les Mis, it needs to be brought to life a little more. A baby thrower for sure though. Predicted August placement - 4th – 6th. Spirit of Atlanta - “Speakeasy” is another show that's right up their alley lately. It is more challenging musically and visually than last year, but I can still see that glass ceiling hitting in August again, maybe not the extent it did last year where BK overtook em and Crossmen almost caught them, but I think some of the corps they beat early this year will come back late in the season. Regardless, this is their best show in years, and it's just a blast. The drinking company front is priceless. Brass is great, guard is fun, and the percussion is solid. A finalist for sure. Predicted August placement - 9th -12th. My top 3 right now: Blue Devils Crown Cadets My picks to make a late season surge: Blue Stars Bluecoats Boston Crusaders Personal top 5 favorite shows so far: Carolina Crown Bluecoats Phantom Regiment Blue Knights Boston Crusaders (I see the potential here)

Exactly HOW do they end a show with NoBeginningNoEnd?

I wonder if these scores are just a little inflated; Pacific Crest is 0.15 higher than Boston Crusaders. I know they were at different shows, but that's still pretty crazy.

And boom goes the dynamite..... Carolina Crown 80.050

I loved BK. The guard uniforms look awesome under the lights and the show seems to have grown since Stanford. Nice use of the white ball as a prop. Closer is still a little rough but it still got the first standing O of the night

I really enjoyed seeing them twice last week. I think that they finally wrote a show appropriate for the corps they have, and it will do well for them. I think they'll end up somewhere between 16-20 once all is said and done, which is a nice improvement for them. The narration really works, because it perfectly matches their show and tells a great story.

Agreed. Even if you get a good-sounding patch, the articulation never sounds quite right. I think they can be okay as a sort of padding, but if you can hear it as a distinct voice, that usually means it won't sound good.

Remember, though, we now reward intentional visual clutter... (See: Blue Devils 08-13)

Don't need wind. Ask the Crossmen. Just need the motion to cause the fabric to throw all of the forms off. I think the story would be just fine without them, and is keeping the robes for the story really worth not making Finals? Cause that's a possibility if they don't do something drastic.

This performance with the marching band kids is ######. What an awesome idea, and what an experience for the kids, if only for just a brief snippet.

Withers.... Da Man !!

"I wish it would rain"????? Rather inappropriate, don't you think?

Have you heard the bluecoats yet?

Have you noticed that Jupiter/Majestic/Mapex players are all really sweaty?

If you're sincere, get to the friggin point in your letter!

@ PR rehearsal working ensemble end of show...staff on box to corps..."it's not about a drum corps show...it's about the feeling the audience gets"

Quite possibly, but might they win with shows that larger audiences enjoy more?

I like that SCV seems to be doing their own thing. Are they really influenced by anyone ?

Excited to finally have good video of Madison, Crossmen, Blue Stars, Colts and Troopers. And as always, hyping my team. Go Spirit!

That does make a lot more sense, although for about 24 hours there it did secretly have me hoping to see some really weird stuff going on!

I have heard the "music major" comment for years, on DCP and in conversations, and usually it is followed by referring to guard members in a derogatory way. Now when I speak with kids marching today or their parents, most seem to be majoring in some kind of engineering field, but I do not keep a record of my conversations and quite frankly, I don't even speak with what could be considered a handful of today's marching members. For me, there is a distinction between music majors and music education majors that is important for drum corps. Music major would refer primarily to performance, perhaps composition or arranging. As another poster mentioned, music education usually refers to requirements for a teaching degree. My guess is that most kids who major in music who march drum corps are probably ed majors and this id a good thing. Think about it: don't you want a person teaching English who loves to read and perhaps tries his/her hands at writing the great American novel? Do you want a science teacher who only assigns materials from a text book or one who may love to experiment? Would you put your faith in a math teacher who cannot balance a checkbook even with the help of Quicken? Wouldn't a history teacher who visits Williamsburg, VA and prefers the stops along the Colonial Highway to neighboring Busch Gardens have more credibility? We would want a creative art teacher rather than one who simply hands out Crayolas and coloring books. A music education major involved in drum corps would be a perfect combination. They have to love music, are totally immersed in it and can bring that enthusiasm to a school situation. Since music programs can be the "catch-all" in many schools and quite often the only place a kid feels at home, someone enthusiastic who knows what hard work is, works well with others, and is dedicated would be a perfect candidate. I say all of this as someone who ahs both taught and hired teachers. Now I attend live musical performances too, so I am not slighting performance majors or those in composition either, but since educational excellence is crucial, I am glad there are music ed majors in drum corps.

Don, The sheets tell the judges what numbers fall into a frame (box) using definitive criteria and descriptors to base the number on. The numbers in the boxes that DCA utilizes are close to the numbers in a whole box lower with similar criteria in DCI World Class. So...you do the math. I have heard that it will translate to around 12 points higher with a full panel. That number is not fact, but I would think it sounds about right. Does that mean they PAD the scores? No...It means they are judged on a different set of numbers to get the final score. This system is also used in many band circuits to keep lower class bands happy with their scores. US Bands has a very definitive way of doing it. Class A bands can score as high as open bands and everyone goes home happy. Box 4 on Open bands is "virtually" the same criteria as Box 5 in Class A. The criteria that determines box 5 in Open class is not used in class A. DCI has also used this model to judge the Open Class. Therefore, Blues Devils and Blue Devils B COULD end up with the SAME score on DIFFERENT sheets. So...DCA and DCI do not use the same sheets...therefore the scores do not translate. DA

The mello spot is still available. Message either of us for details. Thanks!

(from Crown FB)A BIG thank you to Phantom Regiment Mom, Barbara Kauppi, for providing Carolina Crown members and staff with a fantastic Mexican style dinner this evening in California! Barbara usually provides the meal for Phantom Regiment when they tour the west coast, but this year she offered to provide for Crown while in California. Thank you so much Barbara!! It was delicious! So cool that drum corps parents can't help taking care of corps kids no matter the corps :-)

I was not thrilled when I saw Regiment's decision to put Nimrod in their show, since the piece has been done so much, and so well - as recently as by BK & Crown just a couple of years ago. That said, now that I've heard it & seen it, it's fantastic. Kudos on the arrangement - it's a different take on the piece - more regal, majestic & powerful. This fits perfectly, I think, with the direction they are taking their show this year, and I can't wait to experience it live in July!

From what I've heard from some...Hopkins, for instance...there should probably be a third category of shows. Shall we call them "futuristic"?

I'm guessing someone will never work for the Florida Tourism Bureau.

The SUMMER MUSIC GAMES of Southwest Virginia Salem Stadium 1008 Texas St Salem, VA 24153 Show time : 7pm Cascades 7:45 Jersey Surf 8:02 Crossmen 8:19 Colts 8:36 INT 8:53 Glassmen 9:13 Carolina Crown 9:30 Blue Devils 9:47 Twitter Link This show is sold out ! General admission (back side and grass) seats only!