OldBones

Watch the tram car please... b**bs b**bs

A lot of the corps that were in the Garden State Circuit were also in the Eastern States Circuit (late 60's to mid 70's) and the National Judges Association. I don't know when NJA started but I think it still exists in some judging capacity today. All the corps came from the Pa, NJ, NY, DE areas.

I know they were trying two years ago but I don't think they were ever able to get off the ground. I know there is an alumni corps but I don't think there is a jr corps anymore.

I also competed against CMCC. From what I see today, there are only 2 Div 3 corps whose membership is mainly inner city kids, Spirit of Newark NJ and Vision Elite. They placed 11th and 12th in Madison. There is a corps from Brockton trying to get started for the city kids in the Boston Area and a corps in St Louis trying to start an inner city corps. I really don't know of any others. Spirit is coming out this year and is going to Pasadena, I haven't seen anything from Vision Elite (there is nothing on their web site about this year), I think the corps from St Louis is looking to be evaluated and the Crimson Knights from Brockton are in the process of getting their corps on the field. Other than that. . . . . . .

Thank you. We are really looking forward to this summer.

Im from NJ and my daughter graduated from NAU in 04. Flagstaff is a GREAT place. We are bringing our corps, Spirit of New Jersey, up there to see the Grand Canyon before we go to Tucson. I've been there several times and always marvel at it when I get there. Does anyone have a contact in the Flagstaff area where we may be able to stay for about 3 days? It would be appreciated.

Spirit of New Jersey has only a couple of openings left. Tour to Pasadena for only $500. Perfect for anyone who could not make the financial or time commitment of another corps. Email Bigelow1@comcast.net for more details.

I must agree

Wow, Eastern States Reunion time. I marched Bracken. We couldn't beat Brookhaven except for one time at Eastern States Championships. :P Even though, they were great times. Then marching with those guys in Crossmen. Lots of fun.

There is no way to compare the hornlines of yesteryear to the hornlines of today. Back then, we played on horns that weren't suppose to sound good. Awful pitch, played in the key of G. They were just converted army bugles with a valve and a slide or rotor. I played on both. The real challenge was to keep the horn in tune. That is the real difference between todays performers and those of us who played back in the day. The talent of the members in the top 5 from the early days of DCI is just as good as todays players. When I listen to Phantom and SCV from back then, what they achieved with their hornlines, I am just in awe. A lot of hornlines may have been THAT bad back then, only because there were three times the amount of drum corps back then and the talent level thinned dramatically once you got past the the big boys. There were also some great Pre-DCI hornlines, St Joes of Batavia in 67 (I still cant believe the sound they got with what 27 horn players?), St Lucys in 67, Blessed Sac in 69 + 70, Argonne Rebels, the year of JC Superstar to name some of the ones I heard in my day. There were some real good small corps hornlines also. Take a real listen to these hornlines and try to visualize the horn they played on. Did they always play in tune? No. Where a lot of these guys acomplished musicians? Maybe. Quite a few of these guys went on to have amazing carrers, even today. Many of todays players would have the same issues playing on G horns, only because the pitch and key is so different they would have many problems adjusting. Think of us oldtimers as being the Bob Beamon of the Mexico Olympics compared to the Mike Powells of today. That may give you an appreciation of what the players from back then really accomplished.

Thank you Oldguard for the nice compliment. ALL the kids are trying. Some who join late in the Spring are very green and they work hard too. They just don't have the time to really grasp the whole drum corps thing. Fortunately for us this year, we have an excellent retention rate and are continuing to add some excellent experienced players. Should be fun for the kids and the fans. BTW, I think all the non finalist Div 3 corps have their finger on what is really going on and is working very hard and doing a great job with the talent they have. As far as working with colleges go, stay tuned for a new program from DCI named "SOUND" Its a program that works with colleges. I only caught the tail end of it but it sounded intriguing.

I am on staff with one of the 30+ member non-finalist Div III corps and we had a member from the 2000 Magic corps march with us. We also had a member from the Crusaders come for a short time. Kids like these are great. Unfortunately, there are not too many of them. At the meetings in Atlanta, I talked to several recent age outs of Div 1 corps who are teching this season. I asked the simple question "when you auditioned for xxxxx corps, if you were told to come back next year, would you consider going to a Div II-III corps for training. To a person, the answer was "No". They wanted to march Div 1 only. Unfortunately, I also heard that a lot while recruiting this off season. It is getting a lot harder to get members out of the mindset that "Div 1 is my ONLY option" or "Why march with you when I can march in a large All Age corps". Even if you offer them a tour fee of only $500 to Pasadena. Even though, I am still looking forward to this summer. We are not just California Dreamin', we goin' to see that Big Hole in the Ground during one of our off days.

I come from way back in the day when tenors were a single drum played with fuzzy sticks and the G bugle had a slide and a valve. I have seen drum corps fully evolve into the product it is today. Some of the changes added value some didn't. I don't mind the amps. It added value to some shows (when the sound board worked properly). I personally feel that all the corps should learn to use amps better and get a full knowledge of how it can truly enhance a show before taking the next step in electronics. I also appreciate great music, wether it's classical, modern, jazz. . . Personally, I appreciate the corps who produces amazing music like Faust on the field. And that goes for any corps that can produce the quality sound that todays corps produce. In a few years, electronics will be a part of drum corps. and when it is, I sure there will be those who will use it effectively and those who will not. But I will still show up and support my favorite corps as always. And, as always, I will appreciate the corps who produces great music without using the electronic toys more. java script:emoticon('',%20'smid_10')

I doubt if anyone who marched with a Div 1 corps would want to march with a Div III corps. Some will think about and and join a Div II corps though. I feel that at Div 1 audition camps, those who were told to try again after getting extra training should be handed a list of the Div II-III corps and be encouraged to check them out, especially the ones in their area of the country. A couple of Div 1 corps do help kids find an appropriate corps to march in if they do not make the cut. Some of the Div 1 corps will encourage kids to march a lower Div 1 corps and not mention II-III at all. Unfortunately, a lot of kids who try out for a Div 1 corps and get cut, will not tryout for a Div II-III corps. Some don't even know Div II-III even exsists. A lot of kids would rather not march the summer at all then tryout for the same corps again next year. I know there ARE those who will go to another corps, but the majority will not. I reason I say Div 1 should help, is because the sponsors of the Div II-III shows pay a lot of money to DCI to sponsor these shows. I do not know of any II-III corps that gets performance fees to help pay for their travels. Some corps have to travel 8-10-12+ hours to get to a show. Teal Sound has to go all the way to Mass and NY in the beginning of the season to get shows this year. Div 1 reaps most of the benefits of Div II-III. Kids from Div II - III march in Div 1, some, if not most, of the money raised by sponsoring Div II-III shows goes to promoting DCI, which promotes the cream of the crop (and I'm not talking about the corps who will make Grand Finals at Pasadena Community College). That is why, Div 1 should help. Div III corps seems to need the most help. They do their best to retain and recruit. They help kids get sponsors, they give the kids a quality drum corps experience, they may not have the top names teaching, but they have quality instructors. There were a lot of entertaining shows in Div III. Even corps with small horn lines did a very good job with their music. Especially at prelims. Wouldn't it be nice if out of the 400-500 kids who are cut at the November auditions were encouraged to go to a Div II-III corps for experience and they took the advise, Div II-III would get a lot stronger. A lot of these smaller corps only need about 10-15 more kids, especially in their horn lines. Then we wouldn't have to worry about the extra kids who make Div 1. Hell, they might even find out that some of the Div III corps are a real bargain. Most costing a lot less than Div 1 and are still being given a chance to go on tour, though it is only for 2 - 3 weeks, and go to finals.

Spirit of Newark New Jersey is going. Capitol Sound announced they were not going back in October. We look forward to seeing some of the corps we never get to see like Gold, Jester, Mystical and Spokane Thunder while on tour. Also, while on tour this year we get to see some great competitions with Revo, Raiders, and Dutch Boy going head to head. Unless Raiders go Div 2. Heard they are having great turnouts at their camps. Should be a real fun summer.

Spirit of Newark NJ is still looking to fill a couple of spots in the horn line, percussion section, and color guard. If you were recently cut, made the corps you tried out for but couldn't afford the fees, or are just looking for a place to march, Spirit of Newark NJ is looking to fill a couple of spots. We are going to Pasadena. We are planning a side trip to the Grand Canyon. Our tour fees are only $500. Our next rehearsal is this Saturday Jan 13th. Go to our web page www.spiritofnewark.org for directions and additional information. If interested please email Bigelow1@comcast.net

Spirit of Newark New Jersey is looking for a couple of additional techs to help with our pit and our new cymbal line. We are putting together a strong percussion staff and are in need a couple of techs Spirit of New Jersey is a Div 3 corps from Newark NJ. We are going to Pasadena. We are not looking for arrangers, just someone who has aged out recently and is looking to teach. If interested, please contact Phil Bigelow at Bigelow1@comcast.net

Spirit of Newark New Jersey is looking for a couple of techs to help with our pit and our new cymbal line. We are putting together a strong percussion staff and are in need a couple of techs Spirit of New Jersey is a Div 3 corps from Newark NJ. We are going to Pasadena. We are not looking for arrangers, just someone who has aged out and is looking to teach. If interested, please contact Phil Bigelow at Bigelow1@comcast.net

Heres another

DCis new division? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y79bDM5UYws...ted&search=

Allee is aging out this year. She is with Spirit of NJ. Playing tympani.

I marched with the Bracken Cavaliers, a GSC and NJA corps, and in 1974 we merged with the Earls of Bucks, another GSC and NJA corps. Though it did help a little with the numbers, we did not fair well on the field. That caused half our corps to go to Cabs and the other half to traveled 1/2 hour south to that other new merger corps from the Philly area. It was a sad day when we broke up, but everyone seemed to end up in a very good situation. I marched with Crossmen, that other merger corps, until my age-out year in 76. I always wished I could have marched just one more year.

Spirit of New Jersey wants to thank everyone who came to the Open House this past Saturday. The Spirit of St Lucy's must have been smiling as we had an excellent turnout. It was great to see the vets and so many new faces. Our next rehearsal is Jan 13. We still have a few spots open, so anyone who is interested in joining a corps where the tour fee is very affordable email Bigelow1@comcast.net

Bump