SaxmanSilver

11th.

Yes, 2nd and 3rd get medals. So do 4 - 12.

I didn't mention it because I didn't think it was relevant.

OH SNAP!!! What if Crown catches Bluecoats and Cadets to take silver?

BD was undefeated all season long in '08 until Finals Night; and you can pretty much see the same trend with Madison catching SCV at semis in '88. Just because the Bluecoats haven't beaten the Cadets yet this year doesn't mean they won't.

You gotta see BD this year. That corps is smokin'!!!

Bluecoats beat Cadets on Finals Night in '06. The bus ride back to Reedsburg, WI was nuts. It's definitely in the realm of possibility as the Bluecoats have been closing the gap all season. Stranger things have happened.

HAVE AT YE!!!!

You bring up an interesting point, BoyWonder. Sometimes it's not how good you are. It's how much better you are than your competition...

Eric Shriver

BD hit a new high score last night for the Allentown show. The last corps to do that was the 2005 Cadets... BD took all captions, including drums. I realize the likely-hood of that happening Finals Night isn't very high; however, they could very well take all captions except for brass (which would go to the very deserving members and staff at Crown). I won't be heartbroken if Devils don't break 99.15 next Saturday night, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do either; especially if they can get those rotating blocks to look like they did in 1997. Now that would really be something.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Blue Devils have ever hit 94 by this point in the season. Will we see a new high score at the end of this season?

98 BD, 99 Cadets, & 01 Spirit

Snag a spot in a corps this summer if you can. There are probably some openings in some of the Open Class horn lines and World Class corps like Pioneer too. Check out the other forums and ask around. I don't know where you're located geographically, but marching DCA this summer wouldn't be a bad idea either. Any experience you can get marching on mello between now and the next round of audition camps will be invaluable. Find a good teacher and take some lessons if you're not already. IMO... a trumpeter would be better than a horn player. Most real horn players hate the mellophone and there are more similarities between mello and trumpet than mello and horn anyway; most composers write for mello as if it's an alto trumpet anyway. Develop a consistent practice routine that covers all aspects of playing if you don't have one already; do it every day too. (Remember, you'll be competing with college music majors next winter.) Arban's is fantastic and it's a book you'll be able to use for the rest of your life. You'll get your money's worth for sure. I have specific page numbers and exercises if you're interested in that. Etudes and simple songs are great too since you're just getting started. Play everything can get your hands on! Transposing is a useful skill too. You never know when it will come in handy. Maybe see if you can get your hands on some corps audition packets just to get a better idea of what they're looking for at that level and the type of abilities you need to develop. Also, work out if you're not in great shape already. Strengthen that core and run. You'll be glad you did. And if you are in great shape... keep improving. I hope this helps.

large or medium/european or small shank?

I think continuity of staff is the formula being referred to. Granted, staff do move between corps; however, BD and others (like The Cadets) have and have had a certain continuity of staff in the major roles of the design team over many years. This is pure speculation, but I don't think it is unreasonable to think that Star of Indiana would have done something similar in terms of staff continuity had they remained in the activity. And where would that leave Crown? Who knows. Watch '93 Star. Then watch Crown from 2008 - 2012 and tell me you don't see any similarities at all. Even as far back as 2003 Carolina Crown begins to look very different from the Crown of 2002 and before.

You took the words right out of my mouth, azul.

What? No love for '93 Star yet?! That show is essentially the birth of modern drum corps from a design perspective. Most of what you're seeing on the field from today's corps can be traced back to what Star was doing. The Carolina Crown of today that fans love so much would not exist without Star and fans new to the activity need to be introduced to one of the most iconic shows and hornlines in the history of the activity.

I can't speak for the guard, but on the active side we simply don't have enough bands with enough trumpet players to travel to every single cemetery across the country and play taps for every single funeral. It's sad, but it's true. And at the rate veterans are dying and the military is drawing down... this trend will sadly continue. Bugles Across America is a fantastic organization and I hope more trumpeters continue to join and honor our veterans.

'93 Star.

Get some Never Dull during your next Wal-mart run. Your horn will blind the sun.

Haha I won't.

Getting closer and closer to that naked bus ride, Baby Blue!!!

Yeah, it's not really about whether or not your show wins the title. It's about what you learn through the process of learning and performing the show throughout the summer. However, that being said, I still kind of hope another corps can manage another TRUE three-peat like The Cadets of '83-'85.

Fiscal responsibility?! Now that's a novel concept.