Animal13

Hey guys, Thought I would weigh in on this one. The P90X program is probably one of the best programs that I have ever seen. This program has a few different options in terms of your fitness goals and the way you set up your workouts. There is a three tiered system to it, if I understand it correctly. There is an option for those who are looking to for more intensive cardio workout. There is the standard option, for those are looking to get a great mix of everything (cardio, body sculpting, yoga, plyometrics, etc.). Then there is the more intense option for those who are looking to get just absolutely shredded. For many females, they choose to do the more cardio driven option. Most males go the classic route. You choose what fits best with your fitness goals. The program comes with a fantastic guide that explains all of these various options and how to go about it to be successful. In terms of cost effectiveness, I believe you will actually find that by going with this program and getting the equipment they ask for will be cheaper in the long run than going to the gym and paying for a gym membership every month. The initial cost will seem high because of the equipment, dvd purchase, but in the long run, it seems to be more cost efficient. For those who are not quite ready for the intensity of P90X, check out Power 90, which is the program that was created before P90X. It is a fantastic program and it will get you ready for a successful drum corps season. Personal testimony to this program.....I have done this program and in less than 5 months, I lost 135 lbs. I kid you not!!! Cost wise, it is slightly cheaper than P90X, and the amount of equipment you need is way less. It is set up in a "no fail" manner. If you follow the program, you will get results. Hope this helps.

If the formula works, I can't knock it. The Blue Devils use a formula that is very successful year to year. They may not win every year, but they are always in contention from year to year. Troopers found a formula that worked to get them back into finals. If the vehicle drives, ride it 'til the wheels fall off. I know some would disagree with my logic here.

Just so I can get facts straight.....was the missed show a Crown decision, DCI decision, or combination. I have marched and have worked in drum corps. I can guarantee that a missed show is definitely NOT something that anybody wants, but sometimes it has to happen. Living in tight quarters like they do, a 24 hour bug can quickly become a summer long problem. Constant trading of the virus back and forth. I am sure that the staff has had many conversations with the membership about washing water coolers, mouthpieces, horns, etc. and hopefully they have even gone one step further in making sure the kids have a had a Wal-Mart run to buy new toothbrushes and what have you. What year was it that Boston Crusaders had their infamous virus? I believe they had to miss a few shows, too. If I was the corps director, I would have have made the same decision. A missed show is something nobody wants, but if it is for the better of the corps, then you must do what you have to do. The corps members work awfully hard, but they ain't no Superman. 98% of the fans, while disappointed that the corps will have to miss a show, will understand.

I haven't had much of a chance to see the home team this year in rehearsals, but the word on the street sounds very promising. The music they are playing this year is no joke. I cannot wait to see their show (as well as everyone else's). I have been nothing but pleased by the product they have put out the past few years. Good luck to all the corps this summer (with extra luck given to my friends at Crown and the Crossmen b**bs ). I look forward to a very good year in drum corps.

So here is the deal you guys. As you can see, there were no scores for the show in Charlotte, N.C. posted. Apparently it was an exhibiton after all. This has to be the biggest exhibition I have ever seen. There were seven corps here last night: Carolina Gold (senior corps), Scenic City, Teal Sound, Revolution, Bluecoats, Crossmen, and Carolina Crown. It was a really hot, humid day here in the Carolinas, but the skies were clear, so you can't complain with that. You can tell, though, that the heat has played an affect on some of the corps' performances, though. I know that the Crossmen did not even do a full run-through of the show during ensemble practice to try to save their energy for the show. So enough rambling; on to the review. Carolina Gold-Raliegh, N.C. Their show this year is called L.A. Confidential. Their show includes music from City of Angels andThe Life. It looks like the corps has grown a bit. You can definitely tell just by the sound they are putting out on the field. Compared to last year, this corps has improved a whole lot. Hornline wise, these guys and gals can definitely put some air through the horns. They came out of the gate with a force, which I definitely did not expect. The corps also has a few soprano players that can wail and they provided some nice solos, trios, etc. There are some tuning issues and articulation issues, but they can fix these easily. The drumline is pretty solid. They had some nice stuff going on in that section (the new drums look great). Visually, it is still pretty dirty. A lot of the forms did not hit quite right and there were quite a few spacing issues, but it is still early. The corps was not done with learning the drill for the closer, so they did a standstill performance of it. This part of the show needs some work, but that will get there. Overall, a very entertaining show. Watchout DCA, here comes Carolina Gold. Scenic City-Chattanooga, TN. This was the first junior corps to take the field tonight. Their show this year is entitled Rhythms, which includes music by the rock group, Genesis. This corps is very small, only having two colorguard members. The colorguard members performed like champs, though. This corps right now is still very weak. I am sure that the members of the hornline can play better than what was presented on the field tonight. The big problem with their sound right now does not really even deal with the way they play, but rather with the corps marching technique. Individual technique is very weak right now, as evident from the constant "feet through the horn" sound that was present during the whole show. Their sound was just very bouncy. There is also way too many exposed parts for indivdual sections and these sections are having problems executing them. Visually, you can see the forms, but their is a lot of spacing issues that are hurting them. Another thing to note is the end of the closer. During this section of the show, the brass grab pieces of wood and play syncopated rhythms along with the percussion section. This was pretty cool, however, the hornline has to put these pieces of wood down along the sideline to come in to play, and the hornline members are having to march over and on these pieces of wood. I see an injury to someone in the future if this is continued. Teal Sound-Jacksonville, Fl. Their show this year is Ab Aeterno, which includes music from Stravinsky's Firebird Suite and Holsinger's Litugical Dances. As one can see, these two pieces are no cakewalk to play. This was very evident, hearing this young corps play this show. This corps has a ton of work ahead of them to do. The high brass section, especially the sopranos, are very weak. The low brass section were pretty decent. There is some good things going on in the low brass section. The guard was decent, but nothing eye catching. Visually, the corps is really moving at some fast tempos, but the forms are not really hitting very well. The fast tempo also had a major affect on the corps toward the end of the show. The corps almost seemed to fall apart a few times and by the end of the show, the members were performing like they were out of gas. Revolution-San Antonio, Tx. This corps seems to be starting where they left off last year with their championship. Their show entitled Exploration I includes music from Gregson's Connotations. This corps is really doing well right now with this show. Musically, they are playing with a sound that is very mature. The hornline have moments in this show where they sound absolutely beautiful. There were times when they were playing loudly and were out of tune just a hair, but that will fix with time. The percussion section was playing some nice stuff as well. Visually, these guys are doing pretty well. There are a few problems, but they will fix over time and practice. There are some movements where they are really jettin'. The guard was also pretty solid. Overall, their show was very entertaining. Bluecoats-North Canton, Oh. This was the first Div. I corps to perform. Their show this year is entitled Capture and Escape, which includes Time to Take Back the Knights (Melillo), Prelude: Adagio for Theresa (DiMeola), Mediterraneo (Piazolla), and Code Name: Eternity (Bhatia, Morris). Let me tell you, this show is going to be hot. The hornline is just awesome. They have a very "round" sound. The hornline is playing pretty in tune with each other right now. There are a few moments of being out of tune, but it doesn't occur very often. They are smokin'. The drumline is good and they had some nice moments. Visually, the corps provides the spectator with much "eye candy." Like last year, the visual program is well written. There are some nice dance moves by the hornline and some cool stances. The forms need a little work, though. The guard provides a good array of color to this show and seem to be very good this year. Overall, a fantastic show. Crossmen-Bergenfield, N.J. and Philadelphia, Pa. This corps always seems to provide entertaining shows that the crowd goes nuts for. This year is no exception. Their show this year is entitled Color, which includes Somewhere over the Rainbow (Harbug, Arlen), Welcome to the St. James Club (Freeman), Blue Rondo ala Turk (Brubeck), and Count Bubba (Goodwin). The hornline is very good this year. Each section of the hornline plays well. However, as a whole, their sound wasn't as "together" as the Bluecoats' hornline. Their were some "musical assassins" that just overblew ( I know.......you all are saying how can you overblow in jazz) a little. This will be fixed, though. The percussion are very solid this year. The music is very crowd accessible. The Crossmen really allow the fans to get into this music. The music is well written. Visually, they are continuing with where they left off last year. They are really moving in this show. The guard was very good as always. Carolina Crown-Fort Mill, S.C. O.K...........as an alum of this corps, I am glad see that the corps has had a decent start to their season. Their show this year is entitled as Bell-issimo, which includes "Mass" from La Fiesta Mexicana (Reed), "Earth" from Symphony No. 1 (Sparke), The Engulfed Cathedral (Debussy), and Carol of the Bells (Marsh). The hornline is pretty good this year. Each section is really giving something to this show. The low brass is really kickin'. The mellos are really going for it, too. The trumpets are pretty good but they need to beef up there sound a little. This is weakest section so far. They will pick it up, though. As a whole, the hornline has some real musical moments, especially in Engulfed Cathedral. The percussion is really good as well. The pit has some really nice things going on and they are the highlight of the percussion section. They are featured a couple times in the show. The battery is pretty good, but has some musical issues they have to solve. There is some "mud" that is present right now, but that will be fixed. The guard is great this year. They are performing at a very high level right now. The guard uniforms go well with the show concept and the flag designs are great. Visually, the corps is a lot better than last year. The forms are more present and individual technique is much better. There is some spacing issues but that wiil be fixed. The show was well performed, but the corps has some endurance issues, which could be heard at the end of Carol of the Bells. That will be fixed with constant repetition of the show. The concept of this show is really coming through. The program coordination of this show is very well thought out. The staff has done a great job. Overall, a very good show. P.S. The second pit feature also includes the colorguard in a big way. I won't ruin this surprise for anyone. You need to see this. VERY COOL!!!!

I think I have seen some pics like that. I saw that and was wondering what the #%$@ they were doing. That is a pretty interesting exercise.

My personal favorite show of 2001 was "New Era Metropolis" by SCV.

The statements about the Cavaliers playing "soft" and "minimal" just crack me up. I know that their show was not well received by some, and that is fine. But I will have to say this.......They had the most dynamic range possible (because there were loud as crap moments and soft moments as well), they were the most in-tune corps of the summer (probably the most in-tune corps I have ever heard........but that is only speaking of listnening to corps for 15 years), their articulations were clean and precise, etc. What more can you ask for. Those guys kicked ###. The show, like I said before, may not be your favorite, but you will have to admit they played there ### off. If you heard them live this past summer, I think you will have a better sense of what I am talking about. Overtones were consistently heard in that show, which goes to show there preciseness in tuning. If you are one to take loudness (quantity of sound) over the quality of the sound, that is cool, but me personally will take quality anyday. Not to say that the other corps didn't play with quality, but I feel that Cavies played with the utmost quality this summer. And that is why they got and deserved a 99.15. As for loudest corps, I don't know if any one corps was louder than any other this summer. Corps had loud moments like, for example, Cadets and their "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," but I don't think any stood out as louder than any other. But that could be because I marched all summer and constantly heard the same things over and over.

I may be wrong on this but since I am a Horn major I will throw my opinion out there for ya. I think you you will find that pieces like Morceau de Concert, the Mozart horn concertos, etc. are pretty hard to do on mellophone. IMO, horn and mellophone are two different beasts and pieces such as these are made particularly for the horn. Do I think this pieces can be done on mellophone......yes, but you may have to make adjustments to the way it is written to better suit the mellophone. Agree or disagree, that is cool. I just thought I would pass my thoughts along.

I use the Benge Mello 6 mouthpiece.

I would say that, in my opinion, I would chose the '93 hornline as my first choice, followed by the line of '91 in a close second, and the line from '92 as third. The things they played in '93, in my opinion, required a heck of lot of training not just to play the music, itself, but to also develope the ear to play those dissonances in tune. Some of those chords in that show seemed to be very dissonant. Yet, the '93 corps, with the proper training, seemed to grasp the concept of tuning close notes such as they seemed to be playing. That is always impressive. Not saying the music they played in other years was not equally hard, but I just find that amazing what they pulled off in '93.

The loudest Baritone/Euphonium lines I have ever heard always seem to be from Phantom Regiment. That corps seemed to be like a breeding ground for Baris and Euphs, man. Those PR lines have always impressed me. Not only were they loud, but they seemed to keep decently in tune. Keep up the great job.

I, personally, do not see the problem with you switching from trumpet to mellophone. Both instruments use the same basic embrochure. I am a horn player, who plays mellophone and also trumpet in my college jazz band. If you were a horn player, I would say that there is more difference there than anything, just because I believe most corps use a mellophone mouthpiece, not the typical horn mouthpieces. A hornist embrochure is a little different than what is used on the other brass instrument. But since you are a trumpet player, there isn't much difference. Some differences are you will have to work out the tuning of the mellophone because mellophones are horribly tuned. If you can master that, everything else should go well for you. And on the aspect of keeping up your trumpet chops.......I would say you should be fine, but do expect your higher register notes to be a little harder and you will have to work that out. But it won't take that long to get back into the swing of things.