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So I've been following this post lately and finally decided to speak. As a former member of the OSUMB (2005-2006) and now current member of the OSUMB (2014), the level of hard work and dedication it takes to be in the band is far more than in many drum corps. Most people just assume OSU is another college band that pumps out campy shows. The show themes are selected by students at the end of the previous school year. The season begins in June with twice weekly practices that cover typical school songs and drill fundamentals. All band members go through a rigorous tryout process during the first week of August that includes one playing audition and four marching auditions. There were two brand new candidates this year try out on Sousaphone that marched DCI. One did Blue Stars, the other Cavaliers. A summer of competitive marching and playing did not give them enough of an edge to make the band. Neither of those kids made it. We routinely have band members who march in DCI. Corps represented over the past few years include Cavaliers, Bluecoats, Glassmen, Madison Scouts, and Carolina Crown. Once the band is selected, they rehearse for nearly 12 hours a day for two and a half weeks until school starts. These rehearsals teach the basics of the Pregame show as well as the first halftime show. Once school is in session, the band rehearses for two hours a day. Everything else is done on personal time. Most shows are learned in 5-10 class days, depending on the football schedule. The music and charts are handed out on Monday, and performed either that Saturday or the following Saturday. Every show is written in a different style to expand the musical horizons of the students in the band. There are swing charts, classical charts, modern charts, etc. The band typically refrains from playing pop/top 40, there's another Ohio college that does that plenty. The band has a huge following not because of the football team, but rather because of their continued quality. Some shows that the band plays are not always as wildly popular with the crowds as others. Many alumni of the band have gone on to join the Brass Band of Columbus, which is a competitive British style Brass Band. I will admit that even at OSU, not all of the instrument professors are totally sold on their students being in the band. Mostly it is because of the time commitment, not because of anything else. People have said they wouldn't mind seeing OSU do something more "corps style." Truth be told, OSU has continued to perform shows in a consistent style since the 1970s. I believe I posted before links to DCI shows from the 70s and shows from the OSUMB of the same era. Similar style and content really. Perhaps it should be the corps that begin to emulate programs like OSU. Perhaps then it wouldn't be the same few of us attending shows. The style of show that is DCI today loses the average audience member, and even loses me as a drum corps performer. Shows that require audience thought or seek to evoke some hidden emotion do nothing to the average person in the stands. OSU didn't gain attention in media outlets on six continents by playing an avant garde show featuring synths, dancers, and a pit. They gained attention by learning a show in 5 days and performing familiar drill and music to captivate the audience. This notion that OSU or other college bands aren't educational while drum corps is, is questionable to me. Just as many of you don't see the benefits of playing "pop" charts, I don't see the benefit of playing the same 5 warmup chorales and the same 12 minutes of music everyday, for 12-16 hours a day, for nearly three months. The only thing that is being proven is that the corps members can learn and perfect a single show with a single style of performance. The flip side to that is drum corps do something that I wish OSU could do, and that is to play really loud, really well. The OSU band should be louder than any DCI corps simply because of the numbers. The biggest DCI hot line has what, 70-80 horns? OSU has 168 horns on the field. At any rate, as someone who performs in the OSU band, has performed in a DCA corps, won a DCA I&E medal, is staffing a DCI SoundSport team, and performing in and staffing a new WGI Winds team, I do appreciate the many facets of the marching arts. To say that a college band doesn't work hard because of the type of show they do is not giving the group any credit where credit is due. That's akin to saying that Pioneer doesn't work as hard as Carolina Crown and the evidence is in the scores. That is simply not true. Both corps work extremely hard and give their kids experiences and memories they'll never forget. I digress, this is a topic that I am very passionate about. I will entertain reasonable questions...

I just ran across this. This had nothing to do with drum corps, but Gail had been involved in the Gowrie, Iowa corps around this time period. http://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4830&context=etd

In the percussion world, this happens all the time.

Isn't Cialis supposed to help that?

While, at the same time, the director of The _kid's symphonic winds at Capital Univ calls his music staff "coaches". I don't know whether to cry or laugh.

Bsader, You are correct that speculation and facts are not the same thing. However, there is a value to perusing ramifications of new rules as they are applied in fact or as they may be (speculation) applied for the future. That discussion is the basis of this thread. Your above post could be read as defensiveness as if there is something hidden. I believe most of the posters in this thread are affirming their preference for a live performer being judged. The questions remain of how pre-recorded performances are considered in judging and in audience appreciation. To impugn motives for people raising questions doesn't further the discussion but could be perceived as a ploy to divert it. JMHO

Right, but there seems to be some confusion about what sort of prerecording is allowed. Obviously there has been plenty of prerecorded voice lately, some of it by people who aren't even performing on the field, and with Bluecoats 2014, even plainly prerecorded brass. When synthesizers were approved starting in 2009, there was a "one stroke, one note" rule. That restriction seems to have fallen by the wayside but without many fans ever noticing an announcement of the change. And so the question is: why can't a corps just hire Al Chez to record a trumpet solo for them? What rule prohibits that? And why doesn't it prohibit vocals from being prerecorded? (Or for that matter, Bluecoats' pitch-bend this year?)

That is likely true, but we should remember that the majority is often, perhaps even usually, wrong. I mean, how many songs in the current Top 40, which by definition are popular with the majority, are actually any good? Should drum corps really be playing Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda"?

I want to personally wish the Sunrisers the best of luck with their new music arranger JD Shaw. He is a great arranger! I am glad that I had an opportunity to write for the corps for a year, and would still hope to believe that I gave you what you needed for that short time. Donny

uh - they will get some great recruits with the techs that will be there as well... trust me - you'll see a big leap this coming season from Crown percussion

I wonder why Floyd Bennet was never a part of that failed project? The name then might have been The Brass By Night-men.

Oooh - it's coming - Arnold... Arnold Schwartzenegger? I didn't remember them being married... You sure they weren't just fooling around while he was married to that Kennedy cousin, Sergeant Shriver or whatever her name is?

Although all my memories are of 27 as a merger, it's easy now with the help of Google. etc. to see that you're correct. Once again my rewritten histories of the Universe shattered by shabby facts. It's not fair.

Yup, but the question was "most successful" and few corps were more successful that 27. They were a real possibiltiy for DCI Champ, almost the first authentic possibility from the East, in the early 80s. They defined movement on the field in a way that gave birth to what we have now. The Chrome Wall was one of the first big time percussion sections. I love Crossmen, I've had 2 kids play there and I worked on the brass staff for one season, but most successful? I'm sticking with 27.

This is so far off topic it's not funny. Can we just close this thread? No one wants to talk about Ohio.

FSU has the "CHOP" and UF has the "CHOMP", as in a gator biting yer ars. Univ. of Miami just has post game mauling in the parking lot.

The quality of what they put out IS. Sorry. I've been around the block plenty. I've performed in a championship DCI corps and OSU ( Spring band no less). That band works HARD. Good for the rest of the bands that work that hard too, but don't dismiss the 100 quality there. They've had people who have march many a DCI finalist corps who can not make their band. It's different.

you'd be amazed how little state of the art stuff is being used out there

I agree. ( Shenandoah Sound ) Always pleasing to watch and listen to. Then add some of the Nicest, friendly people, that I met in my 50 years of Drum Corps. No matter their size. A Class Act for sure.

Sun Devils Announce 2015 Executive Director and Corps Director FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The Sun Devils Drum and Bugle Corps are excited to announce that corps founding member John “JJ” Johnson will once again return as the Executive Director. JJ’s leadership has been crucial to organization since the beginning. As a founding father of this drum corps his consistent involvement has helped to truly develop the personality of the drum corps. Anthony Parisi will be taking over the responsibilities of Corps Director. Anthony has been an integral part of the corps resurgence. He has worked tirelessly on both the design and administrative direction of the corps over the last 2 years. Anthony’s experience with the Sun Devils family has made him a natural fit to replace our friend Robb Van Eck who retired as corps director after the 2014 season. Anthony looks forward to continuing many of the standards that have been set over the history of the corps while helping the corps to grow and take our next steps toward success. Anthony had this to say about the 2015 season “The team of staff and members we have assembled over the last few years are a true family. We are in the process of adding some amazing people to further move the corps in the right direction, competitively, educationally and administratively. I am looking forward to working closely with JJ and the rest of the management team to reach our true potential while never losing site of the fact why we really do this, Family! ” More announcements about additional administrative and Creative staff will be coming shortly, so stay tuned! See the bios for JJ and Anthony below. John “JJ” Johnson, Executive Director JJ has been involved with the marching arts since 1989, starting with the 7 time BOA Grand National Champions, Marian Catholic High School. As a graduate of Marian Catholic, the lessons learned have spanned a lifetime. While at NIU, JJ garnered several accolades including, Rookie of the Year, Director's award, and he also was a two time recipient of the Marching Huskie of the Year Award. JJ started his drum corps career back in 2000. While with Heat Wave, which happened to be JJ's first drum corps experience, he played soprano, mellophone, and then eventually Drum Major. Utilizing the skills learned from Marian Catholic and Northern Illinois University, he excelled and eventually became Executive Director of Heat Wave and more recently, the Sun Devils. "I am looking forward to another fun and challenging season. We have every intention on building upon last year's successes." Anthony Parisi, Corps Director Anthony Parisi has spent most of the last 20 years deeply involved in many aspects of the marching activity. In high school and college he marched both brass and percussion. Anthony moved on and participated in junior corps for partial seasons with both the Bluecoats and Boston Crusaders. He began his DCA career with a year in the Sunrisers and then marched for the next 8 years with the World Champion Hawthorne Caballeros playing both baritone and euphonium. Anthony has been involved with the Tampa Bay Thunder drum and bugle corps as both a visual and brass tech and was also involved for several years with the WGI World Finalist Emanon Winter Guard as a visual tech/consultant. Anthony has been the Assistant Director/Drill Designer/Show Coordinator for several bands in the NY/NJ/PA area, including 4 time winner of the Yamaha Cup and Northern States/NJ Champions, Pequannock Township High School. Anthony has also worked with Riptide Indoor Percussion(RPT)Recently he was the Drill Designer for the St. Augustine Ancient City Regiment. Outside the marching arena Anthony works for Expedia Local Experts as a concierge in the Orlando hospitality market.

As a person not in the middle of this discussion, but a long time observer from the perifery - I've been like many fans of the Plaid. It pains me to see the lack of improvement of a competitive product, as the original nucleus of the Kilties begins to wain. Yeah, when they began the experiment, it wasn't easy to come out of nowhere. When they had their peak DCM and DCA - wise, they quickly came to a crossroads IMO. I had hoped bringing in Scott Stewart was going to start the climb up the competitive ladder..I always felt that Scott had the passion for "entertainment for the crowd", along with his connections to keeping his former corps in the hunt, until such time as the powers that be chose to follow the pack to save face with the brand and the circuit. I knew a lot of the original members of the Kilties when they resurrected the name. There might be 3 or 4 folks left of that group. I'd like to be able to have 3 or 4 groups from DCA Central end up in finals - but it seems that the frustration of members and alums are coming to the surface..and they're doing it in a way that is NOT the norm. To my friend Bill - it ain't easy to change. Fans from all over the drum corps world who have enjoyed seeing the Kilties are lining up to show their love for the Plaid, and their hopes to see it continue and thrive. It now needs to be a forum where brainstorming from all angles MUST be considered in order to "perpetuate the species"..I have a hard time watching one of my favorite groups continue on a path that needs correction. I would hope that the Kilties know that their brothers and sisters to the West will do what they can to help. Because I can recall when my drum corps family went through these types of circumstances. It was with the help of one of our alums from Cheeseland that our road back developed.. Keep the faith, baby!!!! WWBD Pat

Judging from the fact there are several brass guys in the DCI Hall of Fame who never marched, I'd say yes, absolutely.

I'll disagree (we seem to be doing that here and there) I think the most successful merger was 27th Lancers.

Maybe Sandra Opie could consult with the brass staff.

I think they came from Saturns and Mercuries.

Phantom Regiment: Bump the hornline up a bit in size. Bring back Jim Wren as brass arranger and let him go nuts. Canning the current set of program coordinators might not be a bad idea, either.

My heart always goes with the Troopers. Since I won't pretend to have the level of expertise contained on the staff which they currently employ, I will trust them to do the best job for the Corps which they have always done. I think they act and perform sincerely...AND with the best interests of the Corps in mind. They are the professionals...I am not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2u0ioKgSMs

7th was a gift IMO

7th place was hugely philanthropic. I bit my tongue all summer long but I'm sorry they did not impress me one bit.

Brass: Matt Harloff Percussion: Paul Rennick Guard: Bruno Zuccala Drill: Michael Gaines Arranger: Michael Klesch Visual: Todd Ryan Corps Director: Jeff Fiedler Public Relations: George Hopkins (just kidding)

Crown's Brass staff BD's color guard staff Cadets Visual guy (the brain child behind Angels and Demons, whoever that is). SCV drums Phantom's food person & truck :)