FlamMan

Question: Why in the world would a corp need both an Executive Director, & a corps director? Were talking about a drum corp here, not Mocrosoft.

In the '70's, '80's & '90's, the music stood on it's own. I remember my buddies & me listening to the DCI albums & tapes repeatedly at home, in the car, on the bus...because the musicality of the programs was so strong. Today's drum corps put more emphasis on the visual content & gimmicks like the Cavies, Cadets, & others use. Who the heck would listed to the CD of the 2006 Cavies show? Or half of the other top 12 corps??? Yuk... I think I'll listen to 1976 Blue Devils now...then 1975 Madison...then 1980 27TH & Spirit...

Actually, the reason matched grip became popular around 1979 was the Santa Clara Vanguard. They switched to matched grip & won a couple of drum titles...so everyone else went matched. Personally, I much prefer traditional grip. I had to play matched grip in 1979 & was not happy about it. Heck, even Madison played matched grip in 1983. Thankfully, everyone has returned to traditional...which is the way the snare drum was meant to be played.

Yup...personal preference. Heck, I also like music with melody & volume...but that's just me...

The snare tilt is a gimmick. Too old school for me. I played snare for 10 years & playing a tilted snare drum is more difficult to me. Also, watching a snare line with tilted snares isn't as pleasing to me..I mean thee is no symmetry to the style. To me snare tilt = marching band

Love the drill & visual program...hated the music. Music made me nervous & uncomfortable!

So...Scouts appoint 3 new board members, all who marched in the Madison Scout Alumni Coprs...then they appoint Spanos as the new corps director...I think many Scout alumni, current corp members, & fans are going to like he new (old) direction. And hey, I would be happy to donate my alumni uniform if the Scouts want to return to wearing the classic Scout uni! I hava a feeling that the Scouts 2007 show will be a crowd pleaser...

I am pumped about te choice of Jeff Spanos as Scouts director...and dare I say that he kinda reminds me of a young Scott Stewart! I am proud to have marched a few drums away from Jeff in the Madison Scout Alumni Corps. The Scouts will be back!

EXACTLY! And that is a dangerous position for a corps to be in since drum corps count on alumni financial support. I have a feeling that I will be throwing more supprt towards the Scouts with their intended "change in direction"...which is/was sorely needed!

Boy, am I glad someone said this. The "I know something that you don't" folks here need to get a life.

Mine did. I agree 100% with Mdnsctfan.

Your post summarizes my feelings exactly.

You folks really don't get it do you...NO ONE HAS FLAMED THE SCOUTS MARCHING MEMBERS...ONLY THE STAF, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, SHOW DESIGN, ETC...UNDERSTAND??? And where do some of you find the time to post here all freaking day long???

Playing Malaguena, using the fleu de lis & playing louder would make for a good start!

I wish I had the time to give your question the proper response. In short, Madison tradition = entertainment, melody, emotion & goose bumps. The 2006 Scouts show was not very entertaining, contained little melody, little emotion, & no goose bump moments...pretty much a ho-hum for me & most in the crowd. John

Did you see this years show? No Scout tradition or sound whatsoever.

You said exactly what I was trying to say, but with more eloquence! Bravo.

This would be the best thing to happen in drum corps history. Seriously.

I would never do that to a scout. The would have been just a little bit rude & uncalled for dontcha think??? The kids in the corps are not at fault for the direction the staff took the corps.

After seeing the Scouts 2006 show & uniforms, I for one am thrilled that the Scouts BOD made the decision to change directions. I know that Sal is a Scout alum, but the Scouts have completely abandoned the traditions that made the Scouts unique. The Scouts today are a generic drum corps who have lost their identity, & therefore no longer get the wild crowd reaction that we were known for. I happen to think that you will see some of the old school scout traditions return, first & foremost of which will be a return to a uniform that will resemble the classic scout uniform, as well as a return to exciting music that is musical rather than a race to see who can play the most notes & run the fastest drill. And while they are at it, PLEASE hire some staff members who actually marched in the scouts...& get rid of the bando's. I want to see the scouts march like Men rather than running around the field in chiep looking jester uniforms...& what the #### was that the color guard wore? The scouts are an all male drum corps...please look & act like it! No more Michael Cesario please... I smell a very accessable & exciting show from the scouts in 2007! The return of the Scouts!

8 tenors is correct...clean tenors...and 21 very clean snares.

I gotta jump in here...the Cavies color guard uni's were the wierdest **** that I have ever seen...except for maybe the Scouts guard uni's... Rainbow indeed...

The "kids in corps today" unfortunatly are missing out on the very reason that I marched Madison in 1981...the crowd reaction. Todays corps kids are subjected to their self indulgent instructors wanting to write original compositions for their corps to play. Todays drum corps shows are like going to the symphony...polite applause. The music played today is cold & unemotional. Its all about playing as many notes as fast as you can. Big deal. Apparently, about 20,000 fans felt the same way Friday night during the Scouts alumnni performance. I know...I'm an old guy who is sour grapes. but it is disturbing to see this activity become high-brow & waaay too sophisticated. I miss the drum corps traditions & the tear jerking closers, head chops, maypoles, loud horn lines & music that actually contains a melody. Todays corps have all abandoned their identity, & that is a shame. When I marched Scouts, our ENTIRE staff was Scout alumni...I don't think there is an alumnni member on the Scouts staff today, perhaps maybe 1 or 2, obviously, Sal is 1. Anyway, I certainly don't expect much to change, but wouldn't it be great to see a return to melody, volume, company fronts, & standing ovations??? Thanks to everyone in attendance Friday night. It was the greatest experience of my drum corps life, far outweighing any previous shows, victories, etc... MYNWA

The "kids in corps today" unfortunatly are missing out on the very reason that I marched Madison in 1981...the crowd reaction. Todays corps kids are subjected to their self indulgent instructors wanting to write original compositions for their corps to play. Todays drum corps shows are like going to the symphony...polite applause. The music played today is cold & unemotional. Its all about playing as many notes as fast as you can. Big deal. Apparently, about 20,000 fans felt the same way Friday night during the Scouts alumnni performance. I know...I'm an old guy who is sour grapes. but it is disturbing to see this activity become high-brow & waaay too sophisticated. I miss the drum corps traditions & the tear jerking closers, head chops, maypoles, loud horn lines & music that actually contains a melody. Todays corps have all abandoned their identity, & that is a shame. When I marched Scouts, our ENTIRE staff was Scout alumni...I don't think there is an alumnni member on the Scouts staff today, perhaps maybe 1 or 2, obviously, Sal is 1. Anyway, I certainly don't expect much to change, but wouldn't it be great to see a return to melody, volume, company fronts, & standing ovations??? Thanks to everyone in attendance Friday night. It was the greatest experience of my drum corps life, far outweighing any previous shows, victories, etc... MYNWA