Just Another Sop

Having been involved before and after the age change, I have a long list of opinions both in support and against. Here, I just wanted to address the statement above. I can see how this thought is a possibility. However, if someone has the desire to be an instructor, and they have the talent to be the next big name instructor, it will happen. If someone is going to end up a big name instructor, they would have the desire in the first place to instruct and would seek out a place to do so. Perhaps as they are looking they would perform, but when the opportunity arose, I am sure the following year they would instruct instead.

From what you are indicating you are looking for, you might try the Marcinkiewicz CH1S or CHEF3 - Mark Taylor. They are both a little deeper and wider than the MDC. I have played both and like the Marcinkiewicz line and quality. I get a nice dark sound out of both of those, but I always seems to return to my favorite mouthpiece, the Holton XDC. If you like the contour of your MDC, you might want to check out the Stork O-6(that is a letter O not zero). The rim has a simillar contour and the inner diameter is just a hair under 18. I have never been disappointed with the quality of Stork mouthpieces. Regarding the metal content, I have never heard that. The biggest benefit I have found with gold plating is that it warms up faster and holds warmth longer than silver. That is just a personal opinion with no scientific backing other than what my chops feel. Try to find a shop in your area that stocks a lot of mouthpieces so you can go in and try them out. Or you might try to deal with mouthpieceexpress.com. They have a a 15 day trial system. You can order as many pieces as you want, you pay for them all up front, then request a return authorization and ship back what you dont want. They do charge a 10% restocking fee and return shipping is your responsibility. But if you dont have a decent shop near you, it may be the way to go. Have fun!

I know this is a little off topic, but for me, the allure to drum corps was the different horn. First it being in a different key than the trumpet I had been playing for 9 years, then the configuration. The PR I didnt care for, but the 2 valve just made it interesting and a new challenge to conquer. It gave drum and bugle corps that extra uniqueness that I don't feel exists today. Wasn't Pioneer one of the last G lines in world class? I think they made the switch in 2012?

I have been using Al Cass Fast ever since Pro Oil stopped making the blue synthetic they had. Recently, I have found a valve oil that works better than any oil I have ever use in my 45 years of playing brass. It is called "T2". Clean the horn, valve, and valve casings really good so as not to mix oils, then use T2. I think you will be amazed at the performance. For anyone, if you have never tried T2, spend the money and give a bottle a try. It really is amazing how well it works. I also really like the bottle. To dispense, you have to touch the tip to the valve. It doesnt squirt just by tipping it over like most valve oils and thus doesnt spill on the horn or floor.

Xs 2

This thread is already so long I could only get a few pages into it. I will say that I do nto mind using amps on the acoustic instruments but I do have a few concerns about this. 1)I hope this is not a stepping stone to electronic instruments or micing horns as in DCi; and 2)I hope that if the pit overbalances like many in DCi, their score reflects that; and 3)I hope this doen not lead to having the pit be the show with a few impacts and chords out of the hornline. Not to start an argument, but discussion would be nice. The only thing that bothers me with this is how it gets stated over and over, even in the first few pages of this thread, that the modern arranging of the pit books demand that the pit play so hard to be heard and they end up abusing the instruments. The thought I have over and over is why can't the arrangers look at the score and determine where the pit could be heard to add timbre to the sound and write accordingly rather than writting over the entire book and then complain they can't be heard? I know it is a done deal at this point and that is fine with me. Opinions?

Oh, as for the Renegades situation, it is what it is. DCA did what they thought they had to, and the Renegades are making other plans. Move along. One bad thing I keep seeing in posts from the Renegades people is where they say "IF" we return to DCA in 2014. That is a sad thing for DCA to lose another great corps.

Just a passing thought regarding "why don't the Renegades come early" or "come out to another DCA show" or "such and such a corps from somewhere else makes trips to get to other DCA shows". How about why doesn't a corps from the east coast or south or midwest make the trip to California to help DCA expand and grow out west? Having a few corps willing to travel to California so a full DCA show could be held, rather than a couple DCA corps at a DCi show, would show west coast drum corps fans that DCA is a viable drum corps circuit. Then DCA could grow and expand into another rich drum corps region. Would DCA growing be a bad thing? Now, whenever I see something on DCP similar to what I just wrote, it is always met with "why would an east coast corps go out west?" "That travel is too far for one show", etc, etc. That does breed the thought that other regions care less about the west. Not saying it is true, but reading things like that give that appearance. I submit that until you attempt to take an all-age corps all the way across the country in this day and age, that you do not understand the logistics that have to be done to make the trip possible. Yes the renegades choose to do it, but why can't other corps? Also, is there actually a rule that states you must compete in a regular season show to enter championships weekend? I haven't heard that but does it exist? If not, then there is no rule being bent to allow the Renegades or SoCal Dream attend championships. Just to be clear, so it is not thought that I am just another west coast corps member spewing sour grapes, I have no corps affiliation. I am merely a fan of DCA more so than DCi.

If they want to talk to share ideas and such, and perhaps have a major show with groups from all circuts in attendance, great. But I must say that I would never want to see a merger between DCA and DCi.

PARADE: Would this suggestion be a required event for all competing corps? We do parades to get paid. They are a necessary evil for support of the corps. Would a "preview" parade pay us what we are used to being compensated? If not, then the parade should not be a required event. I think forcing a corps to do a parade, if it does not pay their usual compensation, would be wrong. Drum corps, at least since I have been a fan and performer, is about the field competition. As a fan, I would not go to a parade to see drum corps. CLASS A AND OPEN: I personally think that the decision to finally separate the classes completely was a great decision. There is no reason to lump everyone into the same grouping to just end up splitting them apart for finals. I remember there being complaining from at least 1 open class corps that they were unfairly judges because they ended up going on in between class A corps and could not get a fair read against the rest of open class. I think this was a valid complaint. Also, if you score highest in class A, you win class A. No one should be allowed to compete in both classes as someone in the thread suggested. (ie. win class A but also place 10th in open class). If you want to compete against Open class corps for a top 10 position, don't declare class A. Just compete in open from the start. All of that said however, I would like to see more A class corps in finals. When there were just a handful of A class corps, 2 or 3 in finals seemed right. But now, with A class having the same number as Open, there should be more in finals. This year, we ended up with every open class corps going on again on Sunday. Perhaps instead of having an "exhibition" by one open class corps, a fifth A class corps could have been allowed into competition. Yes the exhibition allowed for tabulation time. The mini corps champ should be enough for that. OVERALL SCHEDULE: As a performer, I appreciate the schedule the way it is. We can have rehearsals up until Friday late afternoon, shower and change, and get to the venue for I&E and Minicorps. Saturday is then also left open for rehearsals before the important prelims performance. Sunday, same thing, or if you are one of the corps left out of finals, you can opt to go see the alumni spectacular. Championships has evolved over the years and schedules tweaked and adjusted. I think the current schedule is working great for all involved. Also, if a schedule that is working well is left in place, repeat spectators, of which we need more, from out of town can plan their arrival and schedule easily from year to year. Just my humble opinions.

They have more problems than their score. This past weekend, their director cut the cymbal line from the field and from the corps. What is going on doesn't seem to be good and the feeling seems to be that it all falls onto one person. Things need to change there real fast, really loudly and really really soon or the latest incarnation of VK will also become a corps of the past. I hope this does not happen as I have a personal connection to VK and really want them to succeed. To those that are still marching there, you're doing great. Keep it up and have a great finish to your summer.

At least your review is much more positive than this one from the Open Class forum. It had me a little worried: Also, I had heard that the score originally posted as a 62 but within an hour, it was changed to 66. Is there anyone that was there to hear the score announced that can clarify?

According to another post, their final eval is scheduled for April 24th.

Geeze! For a corps that has never been on the field, we sure seem to see the name in writting a boatload of times on this forum!! More than many real open class corps. To City Sound and Platinum: Here's wishing you good luck and much success with your evaluations!!!!

If that is the case, then the ticketing website is really misleading: DCA Championship Finals LOWER LEVEL SEATING Sunday, September 5, 2010 - 5:30 PM Premium Reserved Seats Inside the 25 Yard Lines Inside the 25s would mean from 25 to 25, not excluding from 40 to 40. Perhaps for "truth in advertising", this should read: DCA Championship Finals LOWER LEVEL SEATING Sunday, September 5, 2010 - 5:30 PM Premium Reserved Seats Between 25 and 40 yard lines