Gene Bennett3rd

is the world REALLY ready for Mark Thurston's notes? I know I am. It would be NICE to see a line DRUM...instead of hyping check patterns!!!

This is a step in the RIGHT direction...The Crossmen had an IDENTITY that I feel has been lost "playing the game". I wish my Crossmen family the best this season.

Chesapeake Indoor is having their SECOND rehearsal weekend at Fort Meade High School. We start drumming at 6 pm on Friday. For more information, please check out www.chesapeakeindoor.org

it's a little off topic, BUT Chesapeake Indoor Percussion Ensemble is having their inaugural auditions TOMORROW.....DuBurns arena, Baltimore Maryland!!!! I wish EVERYONE auditioning for corps (or indoor drumlines) the BEST of luck. Play/ spin well, ASK QUESTIONS and the most important thing....HAVE FUN!!!!!

illy B is the MAN.....he mostly plays match, but i've seen him use traditional!!!

Keith Carlock plays Traditional grip only... and his left hand is SICK!!!!

I would think a corps with "internal strife" would not perform as well as a corps with sickness issues. There is clearly a problem with the "Internal Strife Cadets", and those problems can't help but present themselves on the field. The "Sickness Vanguard" wouldn't have the same types of performance issues due to the fact that the corps is probably more cohesive as a "family" unit. So, it is my humble opinion that VANGUARD beats CADETS!!! I just made up some names for levity. If you feel the need to flame, get over yourself!!!

If I were young enough to audition again, I'd go to MADISON...The staff, THE SHOW, the SPATS....This should be a very special year for that corps, and I would sell body parts to be apart of it!!!

personally, I think it takes A LOT of TESTICULAR FORTITUDE to put spats on a corps this day and age. This announcement is a GREAT thing for this corps, who have a DISTINCT IDENTITY, and have strayed away from it. I APPLAUD this announcement, and wish the MEN FROM MADISON nothing but the best this coming season....I may even but a shirt!!!

I'm not sure what is different today. Just because you are a drum corps, does NOT mean you have to have Stanbury Uniforms/ electronics/ full tour schedules YOUR FIRST YEAR OUT OF THE GATE...Whatever happened to TAKING YOUR TIME, building an organization from the ground up, gaining a following IN YOUR COMMUNITY, and THEN going national!!!! The way I see it, THERE AIN'T NOTHING TO IT, BUT TO DO IT!!!! PS. I'm not against Stanbury uniforms or electronics, I'm against the COST for a first year corps....that's all

Well, The EAGLES just "started" a drumline...I put quotes because a group of people got together, put some cadences together and PRESENTED themselves to the EAGLES...Some of those guys are on here, I'm sure they can tell you more about THE TALON DRUMLINE.... I hate to sound like NIKE, but JUST DO IT.... I'm sure you could put a pep band/drumline together with the talent in the area...

THATS ME!!!!!

I thinks its a tribute to SCV that 2 people mentioned the FIRST time their corps beat them in this thread. Being a SCV FANATIC since 1975 ( the first time i saw them) I was humbled and honored to defeat the corps that MADE ME WANT TO MARCH... I didn't mention what happened when we marched past SCV as Gail was conducting "CLOWNS" FOR THE LAST TIME....We just STOPPED...we weren't called to mark time. I guess we ALL knew what this moment meant to them, and couldn't leave without showing them the RESPECT THEY DESERVE...Man, my hands still shake thinking about that moment...

I have 2 1. Semi finals 1990. I was marching with Dutch Boy. The corps placed 13th 2 years in a row. The rehearsal that day was SILENT. I've never seen such focus by a corps in my life. Coming off the field after pouring our SOULS all over Rich stadium, there wasn't a dry eye in the ORGANIZATION. Then we waited....and waited.....Holy #### WE MADE FINALS... 2. August 2, 1992....Marching with The Crossmen. Drum Major retreat. In Second place......SANTA CLARA VANGUARD......WHAT? We BEAT THE VANGUARD? After that, we knew ANYTHING was possible...The rest of the season was a true re-dedication to the show, our staff and OURSELVES...The rest is history.

I hope people will watch this film and be inspired to do something in THEIR community to keep the marching arts ALIVE...Being in this unit has DEFINETLEY inspired me!!!

There WAS a year the Caballeros Bass line had lights in their drums....Every time they hit, the light would flash...Looked cool during runs!!!! This was late 70's-early 80's.....

I was thinking the same thing

We (The Baltimore Ravens Marching Band) just started using the good DR Beat this year. There was a LOT of resentment, just because there was a FEAR OF CHANGE. But once people got over themselves, it has worked very well.

Semi Finals was one of the greatest moments of my life....

In 1995 the Marine D&B did our "Field" show in a "Field house" at the BOA camp...The Cadets did a standstill as well as The Cavies...Our field crew set up a field in 15 minutes, and OUT WE MARCHED....When the drumline turned backfield for Stars and Stripes we realized we had 2 steps before we hit a WALL...there was a unison OH ####!!! We made it through with NO TEARS!!!! Bothe the Cadets and Cavies watched and were amazed we could adapt so quickly...

Next to last note of the show.......Someone screams "CROSSMEN DRUMLINE"

I hope my FIRST drum instructor has a WONDERFUL birthday!!!

This show is gonna look GREAT under the lights!!!

Well, the only drumming I've done indoor was during camps!!! If things go MY way, there will be AT LEAST one more line marching "on the floor" pretty soon!!!

1987-1992 Dutch Boy The story was entitled Our Guard is HOT Our Brass section is Cool Our Drumline Holds this Thing Together What a WONDERFUL STORY But really 1988 Suncoast Sound was a "narrative" without Narration that really REACHED me... I saw the show VERY early season. I sought out a member of Suncoast in the parking lot to ask questions about the "story". He was very responsive to my questions and when I saw it the second time, I was a SCHOLAR ON "SYMPHONIC DANCES FOR THE CONTEMPORARY CHILD" It was also very cool to see Riverside Community College do the music for their indoor drumline for 2007...Brought back fond memories...