rzeilinger1

Move to So Cal and start one Dale. :-)

Big Congratulations to the new corps and Executive Director Dan Perry. Hope this venture works out for the long haul.

What do you consider Old? And at what point in the timeline would you say Drum Corps started emphasising musicality?

Sam, You just mentioned some of the most memorable corps to exist, a shame I forgot them (chuckle) Not to make fun, but you make my point. Drum Corps have come an gone like high school garage bands. The ones with a greater purpose prevail, the ones that come into existence because of a fleeting fancy are just that....fleeting. And none of them would want to merge unless there was a hidden agenda...like debt absorption or trojan horse hostile takeovers. After all, it is Southern California, the land of opportunists and consumerism. Impulse and I'm sure PC has had to place some watchful gate keepers at their doors. Seems like Local Drum Corps are a great way to gain personal endorsements, cap feathering to promote oneself...if they are clever enough to pull the wool over some well intentioned lambs eyes. You and I had discussed the "WHY" and "HOW" of starting a drum corps.....in hindsight with your recent personal activity, did anything I offered you come to fruition? Here's a good metaphor. As I was traveling back from Nor Cal, I saw some beautiful Hilltops that would make fantastic spots for huge homes. The vision and dream come first, but reality often times doesn't follow. How to you get utilities and sewage to the top of a hill made of rock? Some have...I bet it cost a pretty penny. I hope anyone considering starting a corps, thinks it through. It's not a toy, its a youth activity and people lives. Treat it with respect.

After aiding in the start up and management of Impulse Drum & Bugle corps, I can tell you the growth of small corps in Southern California is a direct result in the realization (and opportunities created by the any key ruling)that a million dollars in the bank and a million dollar+ annual cash cow are not necessary to "start" a small community drum & "Brass Instrument" corps. So anyone..... a)with an ego and doesn't look before they leap. b)with time on their hands and a wet dream to fulfill and money to burn. c)who is a control freak and needs a small kingdom to rule and needs a non-profit group as a front to raise money so they can pay themselves $60K or more to run it, but not adequately fund the operation. d)who is a disgruntled drum corps vet and/or volunteer with closure issues or something to prove. Or any combination of any of the above. Can start a corps now and put it on the field or street. Because of the reason I stated, mergers are not possible (for the most part) BECAUSE of the reasons I stated. Much like going into a marriage for the wrong reason and ignoring the signs that it may or will fail when the real reason for the marriage comes to light.....many small corps that are started for the wrong reasons I stated (and maybe more) Fold once the poor foundation it was built on, eventually collapses on them. Now if a group of people start a Drum Corps because they..... a)Believe there is a need (because they did the market research).... b)Have the Love the activity in them, not that they Love Themselves in the Activity ... c)Truly believe it is a worthwhile community outreach musical youth activity that will enrich the lives of kids... d)Has a solid business plan, and will work the plan for the sake of the corps, not run away when they can't play with the shiny thing... e)Has good honest volunteers with "time" and "connections" to help start it, fund it (by having a solid plan to raise money and knows how much it will need) and run it.... f)Can schedule community performances, and competitive performances without the belief that serving DCI is the only reason to exist.... g)Knows how to build relationships with the local school band and music education programs... h)Won't ever give up when it gets challenging.... i)Will build a culture of fairness and professional and educational appropriateness.... They just might have a chance of survival. Generally the size and work ethic of the infrastructure will determine the size of the performance unit. Case in point: Southern California. Impulse Youth Arts Org (founded 1998)DBA: Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps DBA: Rhythm Regiment is in it's 12th year of existence, serving the community, encouraging the members to become music educators and solid professionals. Believes in their place as a community outreach program, not just as a competing DCI corps. Open Class size corps, Open Class size operations, in state tour only. They do what they can afford, so kids will benefit for a long time to come. IYAO also were the founding organization for So Cal Dream (All-Age) D&B Corps, Pulse Percussion WGI Champs. Pacific Crest: PC Youth Arts Org. (founded 1992-93)In it's 18th year? Closely tied to it's community, strong infrastructure, deep commitment to music and pageantry education and enrichment....World class, limited national touring corps. They also do what they can afford, so they can continue to be available for many generations to come. come and gone since 2000 (the last ten years) Earthquake - San Diego, CA West Coast Sound - San Diego, CA San Diego Alliance - San Diego (duh) Esperanza - San Diego, CA Fever - Modesto, CA Yamato - Riverside, CA Patriots Praise - Phelan, CA Kingsmen Sr corps - Anaheim, CA Kingsmen Jr Corps - nothing yet Incognito - Garden Grove / Brea CA New arrivals the New VK Jr D&B Corps(Founded around 2007 and not to be confused or associated with the original Velvet Knights (1963-1997)) City Sound around 2010 (Jr Drum & Bugle Corps) their Drum line has been around for 12yrs? Freelancers Alumni and friends. Kingsmen Alumni Corps and friends. Blue Phoenix (All-Age) Corps (parades and standstills) Velvet Knights Alumni Corps and friends.(VK alumni from the 1963-1997 organization)not the new VK. All this activity in the last 10 years. None of the folded or inactive corps were willing to "merge" to create a new identity. All of them were loyal to their brand. Also, no one wanted to take on anyone else's debts by merging, or combine or adopt staff or organizational personnel outside of membership. And that's the way it has been working in California. No one "wants" to merge. Each group has people that create it, claim it, and crash it, all by themselves. Kudos to Pacific Crest and Impulse for their commitment to Longevity. We'll see what the next 5 to 10 years produces. Serve the members, serve the community, don't serve the ego.

My 16 yr old son is marching drum corps this summer with Impulse. They play on Bb/F Yamaha Brass, as of 2004. They were all G from 99-2003. The show is titled "Tribute" the tunes are 82-83 SCV opener(giannini), 86-87 Cavaliers production (var on a korean folk song) closing production ...muchachoes/troop/scv... Selections from A. Copland's Rodeo/Red Pony. The other night I dusted off the DVD collection and Showed him the original productions.... =======The following conversation was great=========== He exclaimed...."They're all playing Bugles in the key of G?!!" I said... "yep" He said.... "All of the instruments have two valves?" I said...."pretty much...Muchachos are playing Rodeo on Piston Rotors." (He knows what they are because I played an Olds PR Bari in the Kingsmen Alumni Corps) This one killed me.... He said..."Then why do we have to use a 3rd Valve?????!!!!" (he is a trombonist in high school, bari on the field) "It's less resistance, the intonation sounds great and the brass sound is more exciting!!" I'm thinking = "!!!!!!HELLO!!!!!!!!" I patted him on the shoulder and said, "The top 3 to 5 World class Finalists have little consideration of the entire activity outside of their own needs and are making these determinations. The Ruling in 2000 was Instruments in "ANY KEY" not "BAN the KEY of G" "Some are fearful to choose G because they have been lead to believe it will be EASIER TO ARRANGE FOR, AND PLAY IN TUNE!" He said..."That's stupid....Symphonies play in mixed keys with varied instrument manufacturers all the time." I said... "Right ON! You have a Brain! And if you make that argument, and someone counters your observation, you will hear some of the worst logic come from their mouths. You will hear fear and complacency. If they don't seem to understand, leave them alone... as the old saying goes....."Ignorance is bliss" Before he went to bed to get ready for the next day of rehearsal (they're not on tour) He said he said "I'm marching in the wrong era!" I explained: "Bugles were designed and used to call the troops over great distances. Trumpets, trombones, tubas etc.. small rooms, small ensembles and concert halls with acoustic architecture to aid the projection and direction of sound." I said "Give it time, the Honeymoon is over and people are slowly realizing conical G Bugles were designed for the outdoors" Cylindrical Bb/F's were designed for indoors. That's why there is amplification. Last word was...."That's dumb and expensive" I love it when the light goes on in a teenagers head. He's a good boy.

Hey Everyone, Things change. Troopers used to be a finalist and are not now, Blue Stars were, weren't and are again, Madison not a finalist, Glassmen, Bluecoats, Blue Knights and Colts were 20 and 30 something placement corps in the early 80's, Crown was a div III corps in the 90's I think, Cavies and Cadets both didn't make finals in the 70's at different times, Capital Regiment small, big, gone, same with Magic of Orlando, Patriots were Div II/III hot shots and went down and up and out...I could go on forever. And in all this....judging and scoring is totally irrelevant. Someone made the comment on one of the early posts about Spartans (if I recall correctly, because I'm too lazy to search and read the post) that Impulse shrank when they went through staff changes that were influenced by the "new" VK coming out...that is incorrect. The new VK coming out had 0% influence on Impulse's situation, a lack of recruiting had an influence on Impulse's situation, Impulse has minor staff changes every year because they are an all volunteer organization (10 years running) and people can only work for free for so long. Not to mention there are 8 corps in southern California now, where there were only 4 when Impulse hit the field in 99 and of those 4, 3 remain. In the following years in So Cal, Esperanza won Div II and they're gone along with Earthquake, Westcoast Sound and San Diego Alliance. Basically San Diego county seems they can't keep a corps running. But I just ran off onto a tangent..... Things change. Spartans are still on the field and are going through a change and will continue to be a great corps to march with regardless of who is teaching where or what scores the judges give them from one day or year to the next. Speculation about Spartans current situation is kinda silly. Staff moved, kids followed, corps shrunk, things keep going. When a restaurant changes it's appearance and menu, clientele changes. It dips and if food and service is really good, it grows again. Same Same. Honored to share. Ron

Someone I know said we (the Z brothers are "evil") I can say Dan is not Evil, and I am.....well....Impulsive. :-)

Sorry ...go to www.xKingsmen.com go to the forums page > public forums > My New Favorite Drum Corps

Thank You, No Malicious intent taken. Didn't even know it happened. (probably because I was in Kingsmen Uniform getting ready to perform) Dan you are without a doubt a V..ery K..lassy feller (for being half filipino born in Nebraska) Ron Zeilinger CEO, (and Dans cuter, younger brother) Impulse

See the link below to the Kingsmen Alumni Public Forum.. xKingsmen.com

Sigh......I'm totally going to punch you in the arm next time I see you at a Board meeting "H". It's not the head gear, it's what is "under" the head gear that counts. BB Caps are only limiting to the limited. (love you still) For you...we will wear hard baseball caps with Plumes next year ...ok? Ron Z PS: (to the reading audience) When Impulse was created..Impulse became the name, because we wanted to do and play whatever we wanted to, whenever we felt the "IMPULSE" to do so (and because Charlie Groh said so). Serious this year, maybe back to whimsical and charming next year. Who knows...who cares?.....The world will have to wait and see.

Impulse Youth Arts is hosting Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau Band Sunday, January 23rd, 2005 Santa Ana High School historic auditorium tickets and information available at NOW - http://www.impulseyoutharts.org/maynard

King K-20 2-Valve Soprano Bugle Key of G w/ Case NR click here Dynasty 2-Valve Super Magnum Contrabass Bugle `G` NR click here Dynasty 3-Valve Soprano Bugle `G` w/ Case NR click here DEG Dynasty II Alto Bugle 2-Valve Key of G + Case NR click here Dynasty 3-Valve Mellophone Bugle `G` w/ Case NR click here