SACMellos2010

What makes someone unethical if they went through the correct channels and got permission to use the design? What if the design was not under any restrictions and they liked it and decided to use it? To me that is flattery to appreciate someone elses work and want to utilize it.

My memory is old and I cannot remember the numbers off the top of my head but for some reason thought we did have a perfect brass score one of the nights finals week in 1992... but if that wasnt the case forgive me. I know that the second half of the season we talked frequently about doing what we could to achieve that and felt earning that number was an attainable goal with our line. But it would also take the judging community not being afraid to stick that number out there.

It was 1975 and no way I am giving that record away.... the record player was going but now it is staying as a way to listen to Dad's collection of records sometime. Lots of DCI records and even found an original Michael Jackson Thriller record and cassette tape in original packing and unopened. But the DCI stuff was the best find:)

So last night I was going through some of my Dad's stuff to donate and came across his old record player..... guess what was the last record he had playing however long ago it was that he last used his record player. DCI World Championship from Philadelphia, PA... the 4 corps on the record that he was playing were Madison Scouts, Crusaders, Kilts, and Troopers.... Just figured I would share this find and also if this needs to be moved please move it.

Three cheers and a Star of Indiana version of Happy Birthday for Bill. He is greatly missed and will never be forgotten!!

I am sure this is going to be accepted on this forum and in this thread like a turd in a punch bowl but sometimes you just cannot be as PC as everyone would like. After reading this thread, it further confirmed why our young people and future continue to get further behind. It is our job to raise young people to be adults yet we continue to want to coddle and pasify and then cannot understand why they cannot accept the first time someone tells them they are not the best, told no, or do not get the job or part that they want. Is it wrong for a kid to be around older and more mature people for a summer so they can mature and grow up? Or shoudl they stay in daycare and mommy's care until the day the go off to college?? Maybe when that happens colleges should start having shared living with the parent in the other room because heaven forbid Little Johnny ever have to make a decision, deal with adversity, deal with an uncomfortable situation or grow up and be a responsible adult. I marched at 14 and sure I was exposed to things other kids my age weren't and what happened?? OH that's right I grew up faster than they did and was at a competitive advantage to other kids my age that didnt march drum corps. Stop trying to keep your kids as children for their entire life and allow them to grow up and experience life that includes adversity and uncomfort at times. They will be rewarded later in life and will thank you for it. SO now feel free to blast away... I have thick skin and can take it... Must be because I was exposed to all of those awful things like showering with older people, riding a bus with older people, being held accountable for my choices, and learning to set goals and achieve them.

My first year in the Star of Indiana I was 14 years old and it was definitely a learning and life changing experience. It definitely made me grow up and mature much quicker than my friends that were home preparing for their freshman year of high school by hanging out playing baseball of video games along with time at the mall. I would not change the experience for anything in the world and feel there is no better way for a young person to be taught discipline and work ethic as well as a way to set them well ahead of their peers. Your child may come back to school and start to migrate towards hanging out with older kids, as I did, because of the accelerated maturity level leads to boredom with those of your same age. Anyway, I think it is a great opportunity if your child wants to do it, understands the demands, and you and your wife can live without them for a few months. I think that may be harder than anything your child will experience in a summer on the road as I now look at if from a parental perspective:)

Most incredible hornline - Crown And since the title did not limit 2011 to the drum corps season....Most excitement heading into 2012: Spirit (just from the Youtube clip)

Loved it... a lot of fun to listen to and starting a season with an audition camp like that should lead to a fun and successful summer for SOA!!!

If I misinterpretted what was meant as a compliment then I apologize but the theme that seemed to come from multiple posts about the Star Alumni was the "Time" that Star had to prepare and I was simply clarifying that there was not that much time involved. I thank you for the compliment that the end result appeared that way or that the way that we prepared during those 18 days was successful. We simply applied the same approach that was used back in the competitive days just with MUCH older people but luckily the core group that organized, designed and taught us are still at the top of their game!! Then it came down to each player and performer taking it upon themself to determine how good they wanted the end product to be and not settling for anything less than their absolute best performance. As I said if I misinterpretted I apologize.

Sorry that the beginning of this post will not be about the Bridgeman but I have had to read an incorrect claim more than once in this thread by "3rd Glasgow BB". Your claim of the time that we, Star Alumni, had to prepare is simply wrong and please do a little research before laying claim. We had a total of I believe 18 rehearsal days which included the 5 days of Finals week and then performed. SO please we had enough embellished or outright false claims during our years as a competitive drum corps to now have the same being made about our Alumni performance in 2010. I am sure the next will be that we were all professional musicians that were paid by Bill Cook to perform just as we were back when we marched, and traveled from show to show on private jets and ate Filet and Lobster for every meal.... As for the thread, I have not seen the Bridgeman Alumni so I cannot make claims as to their previous approach but I would think if they were going to perform for at Semi-finals then it would be a throwback show. And if they do not perform what will fill that time slot?

But Jeff you made the "visual demand" easier by adding the body movement segment. I thought since it was a "penalty" it should have higher demand so that would include just marching since we have all been informed that body movement lessens demand. Oh yeah and that no matter our experience or education we are not qualified to assess in a reasonable and accurate manner. With Yogi's attitude he wouldn't have lasted long in my hornline or his attitude would have been adjusted quite quickly. Actually with that attitude he would have earned what we always referred to as "4th part" because there weren't any in the room so time to go home.

In this case maybe "ejection" is more appropriate?? lol

I had marched Star in 85 and 86 and then right before move-in 1987 I got a call from Garfield since Zingali and Sylvestor had gone back to Garfield and wow what a show that would have been to perform and be a part of. I chose to stay loyal to Star in 87 although my style was definitely more in the Garfield approach. I got that same call from Garfield in 88 but again chose no but that year it was to prepare myself for college sports. Obviously after a short break I came back to drum corps to finish what I had started as well as to grow more as a person and the rest is history. I am glad that I chose not to make the move to Garfield because I know I would not have come back to Star and what is a great extended family that encompasses people I marched with in the early years and the later years of our corps existence. Nothing against Garfield/Cadets because I have always viewed them as the trend setters but hey I was able to learn under the staff that really took them to the next level in the early 80's.

Yogi- Your credibility continues to be discredited the more you try and speak on the topic of hornlines and especially with your claim to 2 hornlines that were much better. As much respect that I have for what the Cavaliers do I would never call their strength of programming the hornline and definitely not in discussion of best lines in DCI history. There are numerous BD, Garfield/Cadets, SCV, Star and now Crown lines that I would put ahead of the Cavalier lines of 02-03. Obviously the Cavaliers are incredible at programming, effect, drumline, etc and they do play well but not at the highest level. Since I am sure your next comment will be a negative to Crown.... Crown's hornline is their STRENGTH with their visual program seeming to be the weakest point. Lastly, as someone that marched a pretty demanding show, it is easier to march and play at 200 bpm well than to add in the body movement and dance. Yes that is visual demand and just as demanding as marching and playing. And also playing together and well spread across the field is also demanding. Obviously you do not like Crown for some reason but at some point hopefully you will respect the level at which they have achieved from a brass perspective. Every corps has their niche and better to give credit where credit is due.

Yogi- I will let others that have spent time with me assess my qualifications as a brass player and/or abililties to assess whether a hornline is using great technique and producing great sound as well. I have no bias to Crown because they have been labeled the new Star of Indiana. I think that is an insult to what Crown has accomplished as they are their own entity and other than having a staff that grew up in the Star ranks there are no correlations between the two. My observations of Crown's hornline are very unbiased other than I love the way they approach ensemble brass playing and the sound and clarity which they achieved this year. To me great hornlines produce balanced sound with great attention to detail not only from a balance and blend but also from a clarity of the sound and silence that makes up music. Let me hear a solid attack and release with full balanced sound in between and that makes my day. And one last thing that those that I have marched with and spent time with can tell you..... If a corps is using what we called the "program" I will listen to it with even more critical ears than corps that approach brass playing differently. I cannot stand when a hornline gives up the little #### and doesn't address every detail. As I have said a few times since August..... I feel the Crown hornline from this year has raised the bar as the most complete hornline in DCI history. Yes we all have our opinion but prior to this year when I would listen to lines for balance, blend, pure sound and clarity I always did compare them to our line of 1992. There is now a new sheriff in town from my perspective.

I personally enjoyed Crown's show and, in my opinion, that was the best hornline in DCI history. I felt their visual demand was very adequate and part of the visual that raised the demand on the hornline was how spread out they were. I do accept that they stood during the triple tonguing but please tell me of another line that had a triple tonguing passage much less to the degree Crown pulled it off. Anyways, I said it was just my opinion:)

It could be as simple as the majority of fans aren't moved enough to want to stand up and cheer. I think the kids in drum corps today do a phenomenal job in performing the product they are given and I feel it safe to say there is more talent in today's drum corps than in the past because of training as well as there are simply less drum corps to dilute the talent. With that being said, and I am sure I will get lots of "positive crowd response" for this one, I don't feel the shows have the energy or grab people out of their seats programming. When looking back throughout all of drum corps history it was the music primarily that grabbed peoples attention and then the jump out of their seat moments was when you combined great music with a visual impact via a great drill move. Today it seems to be about the visual and arts side versus the music and energy but as always just one person's opinion. I think it would be amazing to see what the kids in drum corps today could showcase with a music centered program with the visual demand they have put on them. I was at a Crown rehearsal last year and can tell you the visual and physical demand is much greater for a sustained period than we ever experienced and we were considered a trend setter for demand.

Euphman89 - loved the fill in the blank response and very appropriate. Yogibear... maybe you need to hug Booboo a little more and get over your sensitivity. His response was spot on.

Crown!!! What an amazing book Klesch has written for them and they are playing it very tasty!!!!

Question... when I go to the site to not be named and find the WCU video and click on it I get a message that it is a private video... how would I get access to the "private" video from WCU???

Sorry but the effects other corps have put into their show go along with the theme... as has been said before playing upside down etc... I never thought that is cool I thought wow that is a far reach at stupid... then I thought... that belonged in our 1987 circus show with the juggler, carts, etc... and btw I hated that show and most everyone in the organization chooses to forget that year... but hey the upside down stuff would fit perfectly... And as for the Cavaliers placing so high in all captions at this point... that doesn't necessarily mean it is the best just because the judging community is giving marks. I cannot speak on percussion but from a brass perspective not even close but at least this year they are playing some cool parts in a few spots but balance, blend and approach leave a lot to be desired... of course imo. In the end no matter what any of us here think or say it will be decided by subjective scores.

Cadets I feel have a show that is as complete as Crown but with Cavaliers I find it gimicky as another poster said and there were a few times during the show that I found myself thinking about what kind of dressing I wanted with my salad as my mind wandered because it didn't hold my attention or leave me wanting more. Blue Devils may be defending a title but I see them in 4th this year. JMO

I think it safe to say that the BAC nickname was quite appropriate for the corps even into the 80's!!

Or you could simply ask DCI to release their Mn placements as well as their DCI placements and then sit back and enjoy the performances:) LOL I feel Cadets or Crown, possibly both, will be better drum corps than Cavaliers definitely by August. JMO