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G-horns

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    Horn line balance

    in Brass Forum

    Posted

    What's a general ratio for the numbers of each individual instrument in a horn line? I know corps tinker with it depending on the sound they want, but what's a basic starting point? Specifically I'm thinking of a smaller horn line, anywhere between 20-40.

    I think a good answer to your question depends on what kind of sound you want and how experienced your players are. In general, here's what I would consider appropriate...

    20 total = 8 sops split 2 ways (5 & 3 or 4 & 4 depending on the book); 4 mid range; 6 baritones split 2 ways; 2 contras. To get more bottom, drop a middle horn and add a third contra.

    30 total = 12 sops split 3 ways (5/3/4); 6 mid range (3/3); 9 baris (3/3/3); 3 contras.

    40 total = 15 sops (7/4/4); 8 mid (3/2/3); 12 baris (4/4/4); 5 contras.

    That's assuming G horns. If you're using Bb/F horns, it might be slightly different in the trumpet and tuba counts depending on the hardware. Rule number one: NEVER have a section with one player.

    I've written successfully for lines as small as 12, and played in a line with only ONE baritone and no contra/tuba.

    French horns. what a sound

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I think there are a number of reasons for the demise of french horns in drum corps. (Funny how marching bands still use 'em.)

    There is no doubt that in the "tick" era, a frenchie in inexperienced hands was a judge's dream. Just follow the frenchies around the field and fill the sheet.

    Another reason, albiet a lousy one in my opinion, is that the mouthpiece is uncontrolable while marching. Don't tell that to my man Henry Lynch, who will ONLY play frenchie with Skyliners Alumni and can march better than most competing corps members. What makes me chuckle is the number of mellophones equipped with adapters to allow the use of a frenchie mouthpiece. Not just in corps, but a lot of bands!

    There are other reasons, but I don't want to start any trouble.

    If you want to hear frenchies, c'mon down to a Sky Alumni rehearsal or catch a performance. Believe me, you'll hear 'em - all of 'em.

    ISOs

    in Brass Forum

    Posted

    UPDATE:

    I talked to Yunie Mojica last night. Yunie studied with Jackie McLean, his son Rene and with Jimmy Greene while at Hartt and recently completed an internship with Jazz at Lincoln Center. She told me that the Virtuoso line of saxes is excellent. I asked her about the student models and she didn't know much about them. She promised to check out the student saxes the next time she is there. I might see a couple of other endorsers on Monday. (Yeah, I hear a lot of live jazz. All in Hartford, believe it or not.) Steve Davis is leading a group at Black Eyed Sally's this week.

    FINAL UPDATE:

    I was able to talk to a very reputable instrument repairman over the weekend. He recommended staying away from the Berkeley student model instruments. He gets a fair number of them in his shop. Unfortunately, I didn't see any other of the listed sax endorsers over the weekend so Yunie's opinion is the only one available. I'm guessing that the endorsers of the sax line are just endorsing that line and nothing else. I wish I could offer more, but I think you get the picture.

    New York Skyliners Alumni Announce 2011 OPEN HOUSE

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    THE TRADITION CONTINUES....

    If you haven't yet read the thread "Most Exciting Senior Corps...." do it now.

    If you have already done it, you know what we're talking about here. Bob "Vito" Gironda came to the SKYLINERS after finishing his stint in Bayonne. Anyone who knows who Johnny "Grass" is, knows he's still playing the high notes. A host of other horn players too numerous to mention. Let's not forget the drummers, including that dynamic duo, Joe Fontana and Jack Murray of DCA I&E fame!

    Don't let these remarkable people scare you into staying away thinking you don't have the chops. Come to the corps that a certain Midwest drum corps icon chooses to perform with. Be there this Sunday. What have you got to lose?

    Free refreshments - and we don't mean cookies and milk!

    Frank Dorrities article

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    But the majority of people who say the dut shouldn't even be used at all, even unheard by the audience, are either from another era when the demands weren't the same, or are horn players, where a bad attack is much easier masked.

    A bad attack is a bad attack. There is no masking it. I don't care if it is a drum, horn or a friggin' piano.

    Dot Book Pages?

    in Brass Forum

    Posted

    Hi folks,

    I know this isn't exactly brass related, but....

    We're taking our middle school drum line and band section leaders to a clinic at a state university this coming Friday. The kids will get an hour of intensive help from the university band staff and then they'll watch a rehearsal of the band from the stands. I'd like to have a few pages from a dot book to show the kids on the bus ride, so they can get an idea as to how you get a huge number of people to move from spot to spot without orally telling them what to do.

    So, if anyone can provide a few pages in PDF format, please PM me and I'll give you an email addy where you can send them.

    Thanks a bunch.

    ISOs

    in Brass Forum

    Posted · Edited by G-horns

    Thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! I personally didn't like the trombone or flute... but have not seen their saxes.

    UPDATE:

    I talked to Yunie Mojica last night. Yunie studied with Jackie McLean, his son Rene and with Jimmy Greene while at Hartt and recently completed an internship with Jazz at Lincoln Center. She told me that the Virtuoso line of saxes is excellent. I asked her about the student models and she didn't know much about them. She promised to check out the student saxes the next time she is there. I might see a couple of other endorsers on Monday. (Yeah, I hear a lot of live jazz. All in Hartford, believe it or not.) Steve Davis is leading a group at Black Eyed Sally's this week.

    ISOs

    in Brass Forum

    Posted

    Yes, thanks for all of your replies. I'll clarify my problem.

    I've been doing this for 10 years, and (I was hoping) by the name of my post that it was implied that I understand what instruments i like, and I know how to present them to parents. I don't accept the walmart brands, etc.

    THE PROBLEM IS: We have two instrument rental companies. One of them has started to rent the kids RS Berkeley instruments. Interestingly, the instruments are made in NJ, only 11 minutes from Berkeley Heights, NJ, where the rental company is based.

    My assumption that I can not prove is that the instruments are the music store's brand that they are trying to make go national (I'm in upstate NY).

    The instruments are "endorsed" by tons of musicians (who I can only assume are being paid to make these endorsements, so you can't really trust it).

    If you want to see the instrument company, its at rsberkeley.com

    Again, I am basically looking for a review from someone who has actually heard of these monsters, I'm not looking for advice about how to run my program or how to introduce instruments to parents. This is a rental company problem.

    Thanks again

    Ahhh. Now I see your problem. You would rather not endorse a company that is renting crap, but don't want to exclude them if the instruments, overall, are acceptable student models. I sincerely doubt that these are being made in New Jersey. More likely, they are coming out of the shipping container in New Jersey. I'd ask for local musician or teacher references who can be contacted to verify the endorsement or level of satisfaction. Keep in mind that even the best student model instruments will vary in performance from item to item.

    I just checked the rsberkeley website. I personally know some of the endorsers, all of whom are sax players, and they are listed under the Virtuoso line of saxes. I may see some of them over the weekend or on Monday night. I'll ask the hard question - "What do you think of the student model instruments?" Will report back on Tuesday.

    ISOs

    in Brass Forum

    Posted

    A few years back one of the kids in our middle school had a trumpet that was purchased at CostCo. One of the valves literally disintegrated in the casing. He ended up buying a Yamaha.

    Another kid had a bargain clarinet that was so bad that it couldn't be tuned.

    And, to join the chorus with HornsUp, some repair shops won't even touch one of these instruments because it will cost the customer more than they paid for it.

    The parent who is looking for a bargain instrument will be the parent who will not get it repaired, maintained or otherwise want to spend a dime for the good of their young musician. "I bought you an instrument. I'm not going to be spending money on new (corks, pads, EVEN REEDS) all the time just because your teacher says you have to get it fixed."

    One local district actually acquired a substantial number of new band instruments and rents them to the students at a competitive rate. Everybody wins.

    I would tell the parents up front that any instrument purchased new from a bargain source will not be acceptable. Period.

    ISOs

    in Brass Forum

    Posted

    Ask your trusted local brass repair technician if he can service these off-brand impostors. You'll quickly find out what a bargain they aren't.

    Amen to that!

    Starting a kid on Multi-Tenor

    in Percussion Planet

    Posted

    We use trips at the middle school here. They can barely handle those. You'll get the complaints that the harness is sitting too low so get used to it.

    Consider using cymbals. We use 5 pair of 16 inchers. The smaller kids can handle 'em and after playing those for a year, they are usually ready to move to a drum.

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