Penn State

Not sure how the MMB was when ou were at UM. I can say under Prof. Nix, the MMB is one of the best bands in The Big Ten and in the country. They play and march extremelly well and they always memorize their music. The only complaint about MMB I have heard reecently is a uniform issue. They don't have a consistent hem with the pants, its a bit shabby. Great college band now though.

I certainly agree contras are for corps. Sousas aren't all bad, the Conn 20K is a pretty darn good horn. It's hard for me to compare the two right now. I have played a Conn 20K for the past 5yrs and played a Dynasty 4/4 marching tuba for 2 camps. What I have noticed so far: tone quality: 20K, fatter, rounder DEG, focused, very direct sound Valves: 20K, off set, short action <very comfortable>, welded metal valve guides DEG, standard placement, standard stroke, plastic valve guides, I have small hands and find it difficult to play with good technique (hand in a 'C' position) Intonation: 20K, low E is flat even when the slide is pushed in all the way, third valve slide needs to be pulled out, low C tends to be sharp. DEG, middle F (right bellow the staff) is very flat Bore: 20K, .734" DEG, .728" Bell: 20K, 26" DEG, 19" weight: 20K, 50lbs DEG, 24lbs The 20K is very free blowing. Range of the instrument is very even, eg a low Bb sits as well as the Bb two octaves up (Bb on top of staff) DEG plays well from pedal Bb up to around C on the staff. The upper register, D on the staff, and up, partials are not as clear, stuffy. The 4th valve helps with the intonation of low C, F and B. The Deg does play well but not as good as I like it to. Features i would like in a contra/marching tuba I would def want off set short action valves.

Actually, that's why we have the (tuning) bits. The horn angle should be adjusted so the bell is forward facing. The bits are used to adjust the angle of the mouthpiece so the horn can be played in a proper and comfortable manner

Can't forget cheerleading

Is it possible that brass instructors are taking a different approach to teaching and playing the horns? If you took any current jr corps and put them on G bugles I'm not so sure they wouldn't much louder. imho....I prefer playing on Bb horns, I do however miss the sound of the g bugle lines. I just feel today's horn lines and techs have an overly obsessive worry about playing too loud and not souding 'pretty'

Just to clear this up: A true mellophone mouthpiece has a slightly smaller shank than a trumpet piece. The pieces you mentioned are more like trumpet pieces with a V cup. True mellophone and alto horn pieces have deep V like cups with rims that are larger than the Conn mello 6 or the Deg 6V. My apologies for not mentioning that earlier.

Thanks for clearing that up, appreciate it! Seems we are more on the same page than I originally thought. A show done well in this style could be very popular with the crowd but could end up being written off by the judges. I would really love to hear a corps play Tower of Power's Mr Toad's Wild Ride. Drill could be sweet for that tune!

If you want to use a true alto voice mouthpiece: 1) trumpet shank mellos, tenor/alto horn mouthpieces 2) cornet shank mellos, mellophone mouthpiece note: the only difference between tenor/alto moutpiece and a mellophone mouthpiece is the shank size. Cups and rims are identical on both models. I'm currently waiting on a new Denis Wick tenor piece. I'll post a review as soon as I can (may be a week or two). For more info visit A'ls mello site (link in sig) or the middlehornleader.com for mello motuhpiece info

If any Big Ten band or HBCU band would practice as much as junior corps do, there shows would be just as clean or maybe (in the case of tOUS, UM, Illinois, PSU, FAMU, BCC) cleaner. Keep in mind HBCU bands have new halftime shows for every game (Big Ten only home games). It is unrealistic and inapropriate to compare that product to a junior corps that works on the same show for several months.

Obviously I can only speak for myself. Taking a year off from college as you suggest may have worked for you, and thats great. If I took a year off from college, that act alone would have taken me away from a lot of music, Blue Band, Pride of the Lions bball pep band, and concert band. Dr Bundy, Blue Band director, got me into Penn State. Taking a year off and not performing/marching under him so I could afford to march for someone else would have been a slap in the face to him. Would also have missed out on some unforgettable trips. Not to mention my parents would have killed me :P

I believe that would be Drum major Becky! met her once (DCI East '05), seemed like a cool girl. I was looking for one of my Blue Band sousas who was marching X-men and she was the first X-men I came accross in the lot. My sousa later told me Becky was with X-men (if i remember correctly) since she was 13 y.o.

I really like that Rich!

Steve, you raise some very good points. Concerning your statement I highlighted in Tennesse orange, I couldn't agree with you more. It has gotten so expensive to march jr. corps, who else really can afford it? I wasn't able to march jr corps (DI) due to money, and my parents were oppossed to me marching, but thats not my point. Would any Old Schoolers be able to tell me if dc was this exclusive in the 'good 'ole days'? A fact of interest..hopefully :) ....Most HBCU marching bands were started after WWII, the African -American troops returned home from Europe. HBCU bands and DC share roughly a same starting point.

What about music from Earth, Wind, and Fire, Chicago, Tower of Power, or classic Motown? I'm not arguing that a lot of new hip-hop/pop music is very repetetive , becuase it is, I just feel there is enough good music out there that a corps could do this style of show with out borring our beloved 'Old Schoolers'. assuming electronics and vocals were kept out, could it really be more pianful to watch than some fat chick sining on the 50 yard line

Mellos, gotta ask: Where you on the Shockwave cast that performed at Penn State fall 2002?

I just thought of that right before I read your post Sam! I'm thrilled to see them dump those Cesario abominations (sp?). This uni is what the Cadets are suppossed to wear. :)

Not refuting what you said, this is what I know so far in my limited experience: I am currently working toward an audition for the USMC drum and bugle corps. I can only speak of my experience so far: Audition consists of: 1) Prepared Solo (grade IV or higher) 40% 2) Scales (major) 10% 3) Sight Reading 50% All field band and drum corps musicians must complete Marine Recruit training. After successful completion of recruit training, field band members will attend the Armed forces school of music. That is the extent of information I know for the field bands. Following information is only for the drum corps: The new drum corps members bypass the school of music; all training is on the job. The dc currently utilizes Custom Kanstul 2 valve G horns ('bugles'). As dc member your primary job is as a musician. Even with a college degree you can retire from the Corps as musician, more than likely you won't pass the rank of Sergeant though. There's been a stronger push recently for college experienced musicians. That's al I can remember right now. The information came from my local recruiter, dc recruiter MS Meier, (director) Gunnery Sergeant Call, (director) and Staff Sergeant Stanley. I'll be glad to answer any questions to the best of my ability

lmao

Unlike the current state of DCI, Tradition rules Big Ten marching bands. tOSU uses straps, PSU Blue Band uses higher steppers for pre-game, all high step, but not the same way. Marching Illini use ankle knee when they do high step, tOSU and MMB use a traditional high step, Blue Band chair steps.... tOSU bowl game halftime show was entitled "Hollywood Blockbusters" heres a link for the show as done at the Michigan game: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=77...+band&hl=en

^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^ ^OO^

In all honesty, tOSU marching band isn't that 'high' on themselves. There just down to earth good people. As for the nick name TBDBITL, Coach Woody Hayes coined it and made it popular not the band

Ahhhh...Tennessee marching band.......you must love Rocky Top and War Chant!?!

It's the 4/4 http://www.dynastyband.com/graphics/010-M875big.jpg

Curious to fing out what you guys think. How do the Yamaha marching tuba stack up against the Dynasty marching tuba. I've played the Dynasty and wasn't thrilled with it. I haven't played a Yamaha marching only horn and was wondering if anyone has? Info I'm looking for: 1) the overal sound 2) projection 3) intonation (eg any bad notes?) 4) balance for marching 5) valve placement

-G and F (mellos) work well together. I can only guess that is so because the F mello is one full step lower than the G.