DCIMelloMom

For starters, I would hate to think of any band director discouraging a student from auditioning for drum corps, especially if, as you said, he has experience with corps and knows what this experience would do for you (and also for the band). Also, you said you dont want to disappoint him if you dont make it... he should be proud of you for auditioning, not disappointed. You also said you didnt know how he would react to a junior trying out...once again he should be proud. That all being said, yes I agree that you should let him know your intentions. Not only is it fair to him to let him know of any possible conflict with your band responsibilities as soon as you think there may be some, but he also may be able to offer you some pointers. I wish you the best in your auditions, THINK POSITIVE, and have a ball :)

My first show was the first show I marched in 1986. Some staff from Northern Aurora had come to talk to our band about auditions, and 3 girls in our guard marched with the Glassmen and confirmed how great of an experience it would be. I went with two guys to audition and although we all made it, they opted to not pursue it. I loved band and the idea of being away from home all summer at 16 sounded 'cool' so I tried it and loved it. However, my first show as a spectator wasn't until 2005 - and I still love it :).

I agree with drumcorpsguardmom that I apprecieated hearing from my daughter. I hope no one misinterpreted my original post as meaning that I didn't want to hear from her or didn't miss her. Trust me, I missed her terribly and I made sure that she knew that. I just remember that in my own marching experience, the bond I had with the other members was the best part of marching corps (for me) and I wanted her to have the full benefit of that experience as well. She wasn't getting it as long as she was spending ALL her free time calling home. I am glad that the corps she marches with DOES allow them, because it was nice to be able to talk to her on occassion to know how she was doing, and being her rookie year and first time away from home I'm sure that it helped with the homesickness. I do feel, however, that there should be some restrictions (maybe designate the time to prepare for bed as cell phone time as well) so they don't feel cut off from home, but it will also promote the socializing that IMO is key in a full corps experience.

We bought our daughter a cell phone just in time for her to go on tour so that she could easily get in touch with us. As the season began, I started to regret having done that. I missed my daughter a great deal, and I loved hearing from her, but she started the season off by calling us several times a day. When she woke up, before she went to bed, and any time she had a free moment. In other words, any time she had to socialize and get to know the other members she was talking to us instead. I finally told her that I did love to talk to her, but she needed to spend that time being a part of the corps and making friends. She began just calling us at night, then that became a phone call only on performance nights so I could listen to the scores with her and then she would go so that she could be a part of the activities on the bus. And the less she called, the more I heard about the great friends she was making. So although it is nice to have the luxury of being able to leave her voicemail or text messages, or have her call when she needs too without hunting for a payphone and standing in line (although we all survived it before cellphones :) ) I do think that cell phones, to a certain extent, hinder the bonding between members.

Southwind had 6 members from Japan. 3 guys (2 snares and 1 cymbal), and 3 girls (2 mellos and 1 contra). It was the first year for both mellos and they both aged out, but the contra player returned from last year and didn't age out this year. I'm not sure about the guys. My daughter tells me that because it was a returning year for the contra player, her english was very good, and she said that the mellos weren't too bad to begin with and by the end of the summer their english was very good as well. Once again, not sure about the guys as my daughter is in the horn line. I do know that my daughter picked up a little japanese over the course of the summer :). Minami kaze ichiban!!

I dont think anyone was asking DCI to change the rules. If 'the rules' were to place the corps in order based on their averages for last week, and people have done the math and Southwind's average was higher than Mandarin's, then the question of order is a fair one. But as I said before, good luck to all the corps. Whatever the order is, they will all put on a great show and I can't wait to see them all. :)

I certainly didn't mean to suggest that Southwind's goal was making the cinecast, or that they are even worried about it. I was speaking only of my own feelings on the matter. But for a grandparent who doesn't even know what drum corps is, their only reason for going is seeing their grandchild's corps and they probably will not want to even stay for the rest of the show. But you are right, they never did advertise it as 'top 17 only'. I gave my family that info based on what I had heard happened last year. My mistake.

I hope they do get it straightened out. But in the meantime there are a lot of SW family and friends left hanging on whether to go to the cinecast or not. As I'm sure a lot of Mandarins family and friends might go buy tickets only to have them not be shown (if the order is changed). Either way, people are going to be upset.

I'm sure he meant have the cinecast on Friday. It's just frustrating because lately, with the exception of Capital scoring higher in Allentown, Southwind has been beating Capital, Pacific Crest, Magic, Madarins, and even Seattle. Face to face they are better, but when averaging others come out ahead simply because they had less shows. I know they have to pick a way to decide and stick with it, and yes they all agreed to this method. I also agree with the statements that Southwind will just have to come out and make Semis to 'show them', but in the meantime the friends and family back home that had bought tickets for the cinecast because Southwind has been ranking 15-17 wont be able to see them. If DCI only wanted to show the top 17 corps, then they should've shown the Friday performances instead of calling these corps the top 17 when it hasnt been proven yet. I don't mean to sound bitter, it is just frustrating. But I do wish all the corps the best...ALL the kids have worked their butts off and this has been a very exciting season :).

Cadets 96.225 Phantom 94.3 Scouts 92.375 Crown 89.5 SCV 87.25 Crossmen 83.65 Colts 83.3 Southwind 79.725 Cascades 79.45 Magic 77.7 Esperanza 76.55 Troopers 73.475 Disclaimer: Like I said, these were given over the phone so please allow for bad reception :)

Great pics...thanks for sharing!! :D

You get the same feeling when your child marches <_< and when I watch them rehearse on those 100 degree days I think 'oh man, how in the world did I do that?'

When I marched we were an A-60, then A corps. We didn't have anywhere near the budget that the Div. 1 corps have, but we always had warm food and a smiling cook staff. So my favorite recipe isn't anything fancy, but I still crave it all the time - grilled cheese and tomato soup. The key was that the sandwiches were always slightly blackened (most likely because of the quantity being cooked), and as they were cooked they were stacked in a cooler to keep them hot. The end result was moist (never crispy) sandwiches (because the cooler kept the steam in), that got thinner as you worked your way deeper into the cooler because of the weight of all the sandwiches on top. Today when I make grilled cheese I always overcook them and smoosh them down with a spatula. Too bad I cant get the same moistness, but I suppose when you dip them in the soup they soften up anyway. Meals like that you love not because of the way they taste, but because of the fantastic memories they bring back :)