samuelkarafotis

Everyone's holding their breath for those numbers!

What Donny says about immersing yourself in brass pedagogy couldn't be more true. You'll learn so much and retain so much more from a summer of ACTUALLY PLAYING EVERY DAY, even if you're a beginner, than by sitting in a 15 week lecture that meets twice a week for an hour. I had some great teachers in my 4 years at Pioneer, and unlike some of my woodwind colleagues, I have no fear of stepping in front of a group where I might have to work with the brass section. If you are thinking about being a music educator, there couldn't be a better (every day) opportunity. On a side note, I have to take a pre-student teaching screening exam on instrument pedagogy tomorrow, and when looking at the practice test I didn't have to fret at all (however, it was pretty funny watching one of my flutist colleagues frantically looking up the tuning tendency to the trumpet's 3rd line D). Thanks to all of the Pioneer brass staff for what you've given me that I can give to someone else someday!

It would probably be good to own your own. PM Donny Allen the brass caption head to talk about what type of mouthpiece you should have for the instrument you intend on playing. See you soon! SK

Hey everyone, This Saturday, November 7th, the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps will be at the Michigan Competing Band Association State Championships held at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. Feel free to stop by, say hello, and get more information on what promises to be an exciting 2010 season for the Pioneer! If you have any questions about the corps or are interested in trying out, check out our website at www.pioneer-corps.org or give the office a call at (414) 327-2847. Sam Karafotis Pioneer M&M Clinic Coordinator

Hey shrinkingclarinet1991, If you are planning on attending the Michigan audition, I would prefer it if you would send me an email at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com just letting me know that you're coming. I can also send you some more event details (parking, food, etc.) if you get in touch with me via email. I'm guessing you're a clarinetist, so if you are going to need an instrument/equipment provided let me know that in the email too. As for the other auditions, I would get in touch with Murray Davis at the Pioneer office at (414) 327 2847. Looking forward to meeting you soon!

On Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, in collaboration with Eastern Michigan University GEAR UP, will host their 2nd annual Music and Movement Educational Clinic at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center in Ypsilanti, MI. Registration will begin at 9:30 AM and the M&M Clinic will run until 6:00 PM. There will be a $25 registration fee per student. Join the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2nd annual Music and Movement Educational Clinic! Following last year's success, this event will be a one-day clinic where students will be able to partake in the rehearsal experience of the DCI World Class Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps. Students can choose from Brass, Percussion, or Color Guard as they learn what is involved on a day to day basis with this incredible youth performance organization. Students will be able to directly interact with our instructional staff, learning the corps' approach to music, movement, and performance. Interested students will be able to play an informal audition for the spot of their choice in the corps, and will also receive information detailing what is required if they are interested in partaking in the 2010 DCI Summer Music Games Tour with the Pioneer. The day will conclude with a "Show and Tell" of what the students worked on that day, highlighting the achievements of each performing section. During the M&M Clinic there will be a presentation for parents, showing them the benefits and opportunities our organization has to offer their students. Also, Donny Allen, Pioneer's Brass Caption Head and Brass Arranger will be available throughout the day for questions. Mr. Allen is the featured clinician for the Music and Movement Educational Clinic, and is a treasure trove of knowledge on both brass pedagogy and music arrangement. M&M Clinic Tentative Itinerary-November 22nd, 2009 Eastern Michigan University Student Center 900 Oakwood Street Ypsilanti, MI 48197 9:30 AM - Student Registration ($25 Fee) 10:00 AM -Welcome Address 10:30 AM - Sectional Workshop/Rehearsal 10:30 AM - Parent Presentation - "Why Pioneer?" 1:00 PM - Lunch on your own in EMU SC Food Court 1:45 PM - Sectional Workshop/Rehearsal 5:00 PM - Show and Tell/Wrap Up 6:00 PM - Dismissal On the day of the event students should bring: Registration Fee ($25) Instrument or colorguard equipment (some instruments will be provided, please email if this will be an issue) Cash to purchase lunch or bag lunch Copies of sheet music from Pioneer website Folding music stand Comfortable clothes to move in A positive attitude, and a desire to learn and be "Better Every Day!" Interested students can send any questions to Samuel Karafotis, Pioneer M&M Clinic Coordinator at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com or (734) 934-5706. Students planning on attending the M&M Clinic should RSVP at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com. We look forward to meeting you on Sunday, November 22nd! Better Every Day! Samuel Karafotis Pioneer Music and Movement Educational Clinic Coordinator pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com (734) 934-5706

Hello DCPers, Below is some long awaited information concerning the Pioneer's 2nd Annual Music and Movement Educational Clinic in Ypsilanti, MI. This will be our Southeastern Michigan recruitment clinic/audition. On Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, in collaboration with Eastern Michigan University GEAR UP, will host their 2nd annual Music and Movement Educational Clinic at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center in Ypsilanti, MI. Registration will begin at 9:30 AM and the M&M Clinic will run until 6:00 PM. There will be a $25 registration fee per student. Join the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2nd annual Music and Movement Educational Clinic! Following last year's success, this event will be a one-day clinic where students will be able to partake in the rehearsal experience of the DCI World Class Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps. Students can choose from Brass, Percussion, or Color Guard as they learn what is involved on a day to day basis with this incredible youth performance organization. Students will be able to directly interact with our instructional staff, learning the corps' approach to music, movement, and performance. Interested students will be able to play an informal audition for the spot of their choice in the corps, and will also receive information detailing what is required if they are interested in partaking in the 2010 DCI Summer Music Games Tour with the Pioneer. The day will conclude with a "Show and Tell" of what the students worked on that day, highlighting the achievements of each performing section. During the M&M Clinic there will be a presentation for parents, showing them the benefits and opportunities our organization has to offer their students. Also, Donny Allen, Pioneer's Brass Caption Head and Brass Arranger will be available throughout the day for questions. Mr. Allen is the featured clinician for the Music and Movement Educational Clinic, and is a treasure trove of knowledge on both brass pedagogy and music arrangement. M&M Clinic Tentative Itinerary-November 22nd, 2009 Eastern Michigan University Student Center 900 Oakwood Street Ypsilanti, MI 48197 9:30 AM - Student Registration ($25 Fee) 10:00 AM -Welcome Address 10:30 AM - Sectional Workshop/Rehearsal 10:30 AM - Parent Presentation - "Why Pioneer?" 1:00 PM - Lunch on your own in EMU SC Food Court 1:45 PM - Sectional Workshop/Rehearsal 5:00 PM - Show and Tell/Wrap Up 6:00 PM - Dismissal On the day of the event students should bring: Registration Fee ($25) Instrument or colorguard equipment (some instruments will be provided, please email if this will be an issue) Cash to purchase lunch or bag lunch Copies of sheet music from Pioneer website Folding music stand Comfortable clothes to move in A positive attitude, and a desire to learn and be "Better Every Day!" Interested students can send any questions to Samuel Karafotis, Pioneer M&M Clinic Coordinator at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com or (734) 934-5706. Students planning on attending the M&M Clinic should RSVP at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com. We look forward to meeting you on Sunday, November 22nd! Better Every Day! Samuel Karafotis Pioneer Music and Movement Educational Clinic Coordinator pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com (734) 934-5706

Don't let people convince you that because you're a girl you can't hold the horn. Or use it as a cop out. The most ###### baritone in my section this year was also the only girl. If you work at it now, and don't give up until auditions you should be fine. Just remind yourself that when you think you've worked hard enough in one day, you could probably work harder. And that the corps will probably ask that of you. Good luck!

I think that it is pretty unfair to judge Surf and Seattle when they've yet to have a performance or a score this season. A lot of people are already pegging Seattle as the last place corps, and I know from marching with a corps which that has happened to, it is not a very encouraging experience. I'm sure that even through the isolation of drum corps, there are members of that corps who read this board, and I just hope they take it as a personal challenge to do even better, rather than let it discourage them. On another note, I do hope that Pio pulls from last, and from everything I've seen I think they can do it, if the judging community will allow them. For whatever good reasons, this is a completely different corps this year, and despite the number, I think it will be a good season no matter what.

Wow that totally sucks Donny. I hope the luck of the Irish speedily brings your things back to you. Good luck!

I think that idea has potential. Maybe not necessarily a feeder corps, but a feeder "something." I remember reading the Blue Stars operate a youth summer band, and I think that is a really good idea. I know that the Colts also have several community focused youth music programs. The thing with operating another corps is the obvious cost of travel/food/etc. If it were just an additional music program you would only need rehearsal/performance space, instruments, and an instructor(s). None of the costs associated with the travel that corps do. And many of these students in one of these feeder music programs could still feed into the drum corps.

I don't know if this has already been stated, but I would like DCI to make a change to the system to make it more economically conservative for everyone involved. Changes that would trickle down to lower costs for corps, their members, and lower ticket costs. I would like the DCI to do something to increase the number of people who PARTICIPATE in the activity as marching members. Although there are many positive benefits for audience members, parents, volunteers, staff, etc., I think that most people here would agree that the best part of their drum corps experience was as a marching member. I don't know exactly how this would be done, but I think that circuit wide member recruitment needs to become a higher priority than it is. For those who are going to come back and flame me, I know that efforts are already being made to do this, and that many individual corps make efforts to do this, but the number of people whose lives are positively altered by drum corps is still relatively small when we think about how many students are musically trained in this country. I have a few others, but I'm running late to class so maybe later.

For some reason, every time I go to church I sit next to someone who marched Pioneer... Maybe it's because the only time I go to church is with the corps lol.

Hey, I know this is a little late, but I just wanted to throw a shoutout to all of the amazing people who made this event a reality. With Willow Run Community Schools, Larry Gray, Principal Rachel Plumley, WR Admin Derek Shelton, Band Director Alan McWethy, Band Director With EMU GEAR UP, Russ Olwell Scott Teasdale Kathy Couture Melissa Calabrese Kelli Hatfield Lashaun Williams With the Pioneer organization, Roman Blenski Murray Davis Jackie Bilder Brian Wilson Donny Allen Adam Hill Liz Mitton Joe Kuerzi Also thanks to some additional instructional help, Rob Bosma Paul Williams Gary McCombs And to some highly dedicated volunteers, Brandon Boudreau Heather Lipkovich Lauryn Floring Stephen Rafalowski Charlotte Rickerd Steve Iskerka Nick Karafotis Lauren Rickerd Charles Miericke Aaron Gates Sara Salmon Also thanks to Mack Pittard with MCBA, and the Noss family for help with recruiting at MCBA events. As mentioned before this event was extremely successful, and is a testimony to the commitment that the above people have devoted to youth. I am very grateful to all of these people for what they do, and could not have done this otherwise. Thanks again everyone! Better Every Day, Sam

Hey, I hope you enjoyed our parade performance; it was one chilly, early morning that day

Just wanted to remind everyone to come out Saturday for our audition/clinic day. Look forward to meeting all of you! :-) Sam

Not to tease anyone out there, but I was walking to rehearsal today, and I had this tune stuck in my head, and I realized it was the first draft of the Pioneer 09 opener. It is going to be the jam. Donny has got a great start on this year's program. ;-)

Hey everyone! I thought it would be nice to have a little alumni get-together in conjunction with the audition/clinic day that we're hosting in Michigan, so I'm going to make reservations at a local restaurant/bar for anyone who is interested. Pioneer Alumni Dinner Saturday, November 22nd 6-8PM Frenchie's in Depot Town 56 E. Cross St. Ypsilanti, MI If you are an alumni of Pioneer, the Imperial's of St. Patrick, the Mercury Thunderbolts, or the Thing and would like to come to this event, please send me an email at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com so I know how many to make the reservation for. Friends and family are welcome as well. You do not need to attend the clinic during the day to come out to dinner with us. We'd love to see old friends, and make some new ones! Thank you for the togetherness and friendship we share, Samuel Karafotis Pio Sop 05-07 pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com

GEAR UP (which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a Federal Grant Program which is funded by the US Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to help students in disadvantaged areas pursue post-secondary education. EMU GEAR UP is active in the Willow Run, Wayne-Westland, and Ypsilanti schools districts. Each school year, EMU GEAR UP places a number of tutors in each school district to not only help the students academically, but to act as mentors to the students. In addition to this, EMU GEAR UP plans a number of field trips and activities each year which aim to broaden our students academic, socio-cultural, and creative experience. Some of the activities include, a leadership summer camp, a math camp, trips to see fine arts performances (we recently took the kids to see the Stravinsky's ballet Rite of Spring, and we also brought a Detroit Symphony Orchestra flutist to speak with the students about his career and give a performance), a bridge-building/engineering competition, etc. GEAR UP also sponsors a number of clubs and organizations at each school, such as the chess club, the book discussion group, and boys/girls leadership teams. I am involved with the organization as a music tutor (I teach lessons two days a week with two other colleagues of mine) and I have been working at Willow Run since January. In terms of EMU GEAR UP's involvement with the Pioneer, they have been highly instrumental on the administrative end of setting up this event. Through my relationship with GEAR UP, we were able to obtain use of the school building, and they also aided us with printing and distribution of recruitment materials. We are tentatively planning a field trip for about 5-6 students to the Pioneer camp in January. The people at GEAR UP are extremely excited to have the Pioneer staff come in and work with students from our school districts. It will be a great opportunity for the students to work with an eager, diverse, and well-experienced teaching staff. It is also my hope that we will be able to have one of our students march with the corps (pending some sponsorship help, wink wink) should they be interested after this event. I'm sure that anyone who reads this who has marched would agree that drum corps is one of the most unique, diverse, motivating experiences out there. Although no one will ever pursue a BS in Drum Corps, the life skills gained will definitely help our students be successful. Sorry, I guess that might have been more than the one-word answer you were looking for. If you'd like to read more about EMU GEAR UP, you can at www.emugearup.org. If you still live in the Ypsi area, I hope you might consider dropping in on our event, and bringing a few friends with you. Sam

Hey again! We'll be recruiting at the MCBA State Championships in Detroit, MI at Ford Field. If you want to stop by and say hello, and also get some more information about how you can be a part of the 2009 Pioneer, we'd love to talk to you! Also, if you want to pre-register for the Music and Movement Educational Clinic in Ypsilanti, MI on November 22nd, you can do that to! If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com. Looking forward to meeting you all! Better EVERY Day! SK

Hey everyone! My name is Samuel Karafotis, and I am coordinating the Pioneer event in Michigan. If you have any questions, or are interested in coming up to Ypsilanti on Nov. 22nd, just send me an email at pioneer_michigan@hotmail.com. Also, we will be recruiting next weekend at the MCBA Show at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park on the 25th. Stop by our table to say hello, or get some more info on the corps! Better EVERY Day! SK

I was just wondering if Semifinals tickets (the cheap seats) are hard to get at the gate. Should I buy them early, or can I get them the day of? I'm bringing friends, but I don't know how many, so I'd like to wait until the day to get the tickets. If someone could give me some advice on this I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Hey Donny, Great to see that you're recruiting so soon. I've got a few people who I might bring up to camp with me in December. Thanks again for all of your hard work. Sam

Hey DCI89DM, just wanted to say I listened to the Racine Scouts from the hallway, and that they sure do put out a good sound for such a small group! Good luck to your nephew this summer, hope he has a blast! Thanks for the compliments too :-).

I brought about $200 my rookie year and by finals week didn't have enough money to eat (well, I actually spent that food money on a birthday present for a girl back home and they also wouldn't let us bring our cook truck to the Gillette Stadium parking lot). The debit card is really nice too. If you haven't gotten one before, you should try and get one with a national bank so you don't get screwed by foreign ATM fees, and also being able to let other people easily deposit money onto it is nice. I also know that some corps have a "corps bank" and will hold onto your spending money for you until you need to take some out.