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FOURTEEN OF YOU DM'D ME ASKING FOR THE LETTER. I'm not sure how legal it is to pass on when I'm not even sure if it's legal that I got it. There is some stuff in there that alleges things that may or may not be true and I don't want to get in trouble for passing along false accusations. THAT SAID... here are some excerpts of what I would consider the non-controversial stuff. Lots of content and personal information snipped out. I should add that I have NO IDEA IF THIS LETTER IS REAL OR NOT, but I think it is based on some conversations that I've had:

WikiLeaks.

Wheres the letter??

Well then, my work here is done.

Where would one look, if they wanted to read said letter?

Most of my likings of shows come from the music, and so much of the early to mid 2000’s Cavies shows don’t really do it for me. With that said, my favorites include 1995 - a classic. I wish they had a better hornline for it, but great show regardless 2008 - musically so cool, loved the exploration they did with unique percussion instruments 2013 - I love the music book for this. It was another weak hornline from them but doesn’t matter to me 2014 - Probably my all time favorite show from the Cavies. No narration, minimal electronics, and just a pure show that put equal emphasis on music and visual rather than skewing one way. 2017 - just pure fun. If this is the future of the Cavies, I can’t wait to see more of it

Absolutely. People jump at chances with the best of intentions and hope for the best. Then reality sinks in.

Sounds like bad planning. “Fail to plan. Plan to fail”.

It blew up on Facebook right before Labor Day. Granted their shows seem admin top heavy compared to other places in the region but waiting til the last minute wasn't well received

Wow. That inspires a workforce. Cut my salary and ask me to do more. Sounds like a dream job.

Shockingly predictable. I’m sure the problem doesn’t see their self as the problem, yet the door to YEA goes round and round and round. Scott McCormick was there for as long as a cup of coffee.

He's having a hard time staffing shows now and cut pay for admin etc the week before the first shows

True, but if it somehow ended up in my inbox....

Yes, someone should start a thread to discuss this impact!

My top 5 are: 1991 1995 1994 1989 1999 My least favorite: 2002 2012 1996

I think sadness or despair that is the result of events or circumstances in one's life can absolutely benefit, at least in some cases, from engagement in such an activity. However, at least in my observation, the kind of clinical depression or other mental disorders that are not the result of events or circumstances but are purely physiological, may not receive much benefit from anything other than medication that counteracts the imbalance in brain chemistry. After that is restored, I would think that engaging in something like drum corps could help heal from the negative impact of the experience itself.

Sounds like a fantastic project. I don't have any personal experience with this, but I imagine their may be research available in how arts organizations and arts events can benefit those who suffer from depression. There has to be music listening and music performance research on this, and maybe there is in the area of visual arts. I wonder if there are benefits to the competitive aspect of drum corps? Rooting for your team, being a fan, following your team year around, and even donating money or volunteering your time which might be a benefit that makes you feel part of the team.

Asking people in the D.C. area to get along is as dangerous as a hurricane. The economy is largely dependent on disagreement and blame. Hurricane Harmony could knock out power there for weeks.

I think it depends on whether the composer is living. The Boston Symphony usually performs on traditional work and one contemporary piece at concerts. The genius of the classic composer is never challenged, the selection may be (local critics are tired of the BSO performing Brahms Symphony #1 and Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique), and usually the performance is reviewed. Contemporary works can be slammed, but the orchestra's performance will be praised, so you know it's the composer and his/her composition.

If you need to get reengaged with 2002...watch on high cam

Oh, I don't know about that. Seems to me that classical music critics are usually reviewing a well-established piece, and their opinions are almost entirely restricted to how well the conductor and musicians do in conveying what the composer intended. You rarely read a review where the author questions what, say, Mozart or Brahms thought they were doing.

Careful, you'll anger Mr. 2000Cadet

Is no one going to bring up that the Director of USBands resigned on Friday... in the middle of band season... via the most scathing, bridge-burning letter that I think I've ever seen? If half of the stuff alleged is true... GH is a very bad person. No one?

Ha! I have aunts and uncles who live in or near Belpre... Marietta used to be a powerhouse group.

It's possible today's judges feel the older judging systems were off the mark. I doubt many feel the actual judges were bad or that they didn't get it. Judges from the 1970s did not deal with electronics, amps, singing, the more casual use of props, and the modern design and integration of guard into the total show. The judging system was setup to penalize mistakes more so than to reward great design. It was ultimately about who marched and played the best, with some GE thrown in for good measure. The Blue Devils and SCV were masters of this period, with Madison giving us a perfect show in 1975. The 80s saw a shift to the Build-Up system (1984 I think). Judges from this era -- 1984 through the 1990s or so -- were asked to look for artistry is design, demand and exposure to error, and the GE caption began to take on more importance. Design trumped performance providing the corps with the better design could clean enough to be in the ballpark of the corps that performed the best. The Garfield Cadets were the classic example of a corps built to take advantage of this style. From 1983 to 1998 they won 7 titles with smart design, excellence performance (even if not the best in some areas), plenty of demand, and great integration of all show elements. The main differences I see today compared to the 70s, 80, and 90s are as follows: You need to CLEAN. Effect is better than demand. How difficult does something really need to be? Tough question. There is a fine line. But I believe today's judges are looking for a cross between good demand with excellent effect qualities. What is considered demand? Simply marching blazing fast traditional drill and playing a killer music book are no longer the only things judges consider to be demanding. Body movement, dance, jazz running, guard integration, artistic performance qualities, and other elements have been tossed in. Hence the reason some are saying "variety" is the new king. They are right. I think judges today have great respect for their predecessors, but today's judges clearly have different criteria to consider.

Belpre was über competitive in the local Ohio and WV circuit back in the '80s/ early '90s and produced a few DCI players. Went through a major downsizing/elimination in the mid 90s (due to lack of kids) and now rebuilding to what you see now. I was there '87-91 and was very much patterned after Garfield the first two years (pointed toe roll step... high speed curvilinear drill). I never marched DCI, but the availability of small shows like the one at Warren High School or at Parkersburg (WV) High in the mid '80s was the catalyst for my interest in DCI. Garfield, the Cavies, Dutch Boy all used our housing in Belpre. Nothing like heading home for dinner and hearing Firebird ringing out through the neighborhood!!

Ben is an all around great guy on and off the field and his podium. You are correct. He was DM from 2009-2011. The video of the final minute of A&D closes with his salute to the crowd and his Cheshire cat grin from ear to ear for the energy he elicited from the corps that victorious night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmxvwgWvac

And 1976. BD's first DCI title. They were unbelievable that night. As were the Scouts in '75.

The first was 1975, the year my middle school band director introduced me to drum corps by showing me a video of the DCI top 12 finals. Second, was 1981, the 1st year I marched in drum corps.