bdavis

I wonder how many boo birds would have the stones to do it right in front of a corps, as they march in two x two, from just a few feet away? Very few, I'd imagine. Of course I wouldnt do it in front of the kids. Would I do it in front of the Judges and staff, hell yeah :) Its not about the kids at all! If I came across as upset, it sure was unintentional. I'm not at all. (And, for what it's worth, I imagine that most of the kids on the field don't really give a #### what a bunch of fools booing at them think anyway. Still doesn't change my opinion of it though.) I certainly don't feel "morally obligated" --just giving my opinion and making an observation. Exactly what I said... The kids are smart enough to realize its not directed towards them! It's silly, IMO, think that booing from the stands is going to fix anything. Seriously. It's like thinking that flipping the guy off that cut you off on the freeway is somehow going to change his driving habits. No--it's strictly for the person making the gesture; an attempt to blow off some steam and maybe make themselves feel a little bigger or more important. But, as I've said more than once, if it makes people feel better, then they can knock themselves out. They just need to understand that some people may think they're being an ### in the process. Its not like flipping someone off on the freeway, because next year, DCI is going to deal with the same fan base, albeit smaller. Its a small world.

If i'm the head of an organization and my fans aren't happy, would it not be prudent to wonder why? ;)

Maybe the right person will hear it.

Instead of addressing the cause, once again, you defer and try to flip my statement back onto me. Its a tactic thats used alot when people dont understand a situation completely. . The reason people are booing is because they are upset with an outcome. They really dont care what you think. The reason you are upset with them is because they booed. Instead of addressing the issue of why they did what they did, you attack them personally, and alas, nothing get solved, because you feel morally obligated to stick up for feelings, instead of fixing a problem because you dont want to offend anyone. Did you address the fact that this happens all summer long, in many different venues? No. Did you address the fact that people pay money, hoping not to be completely disappointed? No. Did you address the fact that the judging system may be a tad bit off with regards to the fan? No. Did you beat around the bush and try to backdoor my post? Yeah. Regardless of what you think about booing, or what I think about it, I hope the point has reached who it needs to reach.

I think I placed that word correctly, considering what people were saying earlier about the "boo'ers". Also, I don't think booing is a problem, or a giant issue, which was the point of the entire posting :) The problem is the people lambasting those who voice their opinions.

Self esteem... boo hoo..... Classless...boohoo....morally reprehensible.... boohoo... I'm completely amazed at how much some of the people on this forum are sooo hypersensitive..... Who the heck are you to tell someone that they cant boo.... Who the heck are you to tell thousands of people that they cant boo? Instead of pointing fingers at the boo'ers, why don't you point a finger at the cause?.... You are too busy coddling the performers feelings that you cant begin to think objectively..... Understand that this doesn't only happen during finals week, but it also happens at countless shows across the nation. People are tired of the judging system, plain and simple.... AND, people pay to watch these shows... If they are disappointed in the outcome of a show/product, and they voice it, are they really wrong? These kids are smart enough to realize where this energy is directed. Im sure they go through things ten times as worse back home with their sports teams, school life, etc..... If you're tough enough and smart enough to stick out 8+ weeks of a brutal summer, then im sure you're tough enough and smart enough to take some fan disagreement. If you cant take fan disagreement, then chances are, you've talked to someone on "The View" or someone on this thread. :( SUCK IT UP!

Cheers sir!

"While we're calling BS on posts, I'll return the favor. I want to see a video of you playing a high C with your trumpet hanging from a string. No, better yet, I want to see a video of you playing ANY NOTE AT ALL on a trumpet hanging from a sting." - If youre referring to me when you say "calling BS on posts", i wasnt calling BS on your post, i just feel that you are underinformed, i apologize if i came off harsh or brash. Im not going to take offense to this quote, because you have every right to call me out, however, you honestly believe that I would post that on a forum and not be able to back it up? Even if you dont think I could play a C above the staff, you really think that I couldnt play any note, with only the pressure provided by the weight of the trumpet on a string? I honestly dont feel comfortable putting a video of myself on the web, but, if youre really interested in seeing the technique involved heres a link of a trumpet player using this system. The first video is his lips rolled completely out, as if he were playing pedal tones, he keeps this rolled out feeling all the way through the partials to the double G, the second is his lips rolled completely in, demonstrating the full range of motion of the lips. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=12...vt=lf&hl=en The idea is, if you can play a pedal C with your lips completely rolled in, and a Double C, with your lips rolled out in the pedal position, then you can find your balance point much easier. Most students, while doing the roll in sessions, will play a G above the staff on their very first lesson. "I'm still never going to be Jon Faddis, Arturo, Maynard, Roger Ingram, the guy who played lead in my jazz band, et al, and the sooner I accepted that, the happier I was." You could have been one of those people, if you wanted to be, but you accepted the fact that you didnt want to take that route( and it seems that you disguised it as thinking you werent "gifted enough"). Trumpet playing is 90% hard work and 10% talent. Where theres a will, theres a way.

Also, just to let you know, playing in the upper register has really nothing to do with the type of mouthpiece you are using, it has everything to do with lip compression and the size of your aperture. People always say " stay relaxed, blow fast air, tighten that diaphragm".. All that is true to some extent, but you havta train your face how to handle the air, and train your lips to move in the right direction, with the correct compression. Take a look at that place, i dont think youll be unhappy. PS Dont let anyone tell you that trumpet playing ( or lead playing) is soley because of natural ability, and some people arent cut out for it. BS!

It really frustrates me to see things like this on the forums. Im going to tell you right now that ANYONE with the right amount of motivation and instruction can learn to play killer lead parts. This whole thing about " you either have it or you dont" is messed up. Now, i understand where youre coming from when you say those sorts of things to these kids, but i know from personal experience that if I can do it anyone can. I was a player who used the pinky ring hook for my octave key. I played lead in Div1 . It got to the point at the end of the seasons where i would have slight scarring on my upper lip. I knew that this wasnt the way to play trumpet. I had no endurance and high range for only a small amount of time. I decided to find out how to play the trumpet, in all ranges, with ease. I got on the internet and started talking to people. I got on trumpetherald.com and saw a thread called "the balanced Embouchure". The place changed my life. After getting this guys book, within 3 sessions of practice, i could play a C above the staff with my trumpet tied to a string with out any pressure. Now, im not advocating that this will be possible for you that quickly, however this guy knows what hes talking about, and i think he can get you where you need to be. This is the Link to the teachers page : ( you can purchase his book here) http://trumpetteacher.net/welcome.html This is the link to the support forum where he, and others on his system, can answer all your questions: http://trumpetherald.com/forum/viewforum.p...afc0d9e498d6dcb Now, I understand that there are many many critics out there who bash this guy into the dirt, but, i know it worked wonders for me, and I hope it can do the same for you, and any other teacher out there looking to enlighten his or her students. BD

Dear Lord, How about crowns opening and closing! 16 contras are rockin..... The amount of air displaced in that stadium tonight was crazy! Teal Sound really suprised me from a musical stand point, and cadets have some incredible starts and stops.... I feel like Boston has a good show that will take them all the way to finals night and Crossmen have that signature laser brass sound..... Over all, I was very pleased with tonights showing.. Regards, BD

Am i the only one with testosterone here...? i mean really, dear lord.... This is why musical marching gets a bad rap ;) BD

Are you kidding me? They had the audacity to do that? Hmmm....

I can completely agree with the fact that shows do exist which have lack of continuity, rather, chaos.... These shows give off an umcomfortable feeling from the start because they dont seem to flow..... Fast movement, doesnt equate to excitement... Why is this? Maybe because they didnt execute well, the thought was there, the forms werent.... I am specifically speaking about those corps who execute the drill package, nearly flawlessly, but the music Isnt up to par with the rest of the pack, due to the physical demands of strenous marching.... The visual package is consistently more exciting, yet, these corps constantly get robbed of the better score, because they decide to push the envelope for the fans, not for necessarily for the gold...... when In all actuality, they belong on top...... In my humble opinion. BDavis

I do realize that the current system in place rewards the cleanliness of shows rather than demand, which, in my opinion, is a shame..... Play it safe and take the win....hmmm, that doesnt jive with me....... Raw, in your face, 200bpm ,3-8 marching , while those mellos are ripping 16th note triplets Drum Corps....... I would always reward demand over cleanliness, within reason of course...... If its a close game, tie goes to demand..... which Is why Im a spectator and not a judge..... Hoorah...