84BDsop

All great bits of advice....butg don't forgetg the mechanical aids...good valve oil, for one. Dream's Phil Norris - a pro musician in real life - turned me on to T2 valve oil. He cleaned the valves and applied the stuff back in May (when I was still in the line), then I got DM and stopped playing. I just checked my sop...valves run fine & dandy...re-oiled them and they move like lightening! $8 a bottle, but worth it! I believe Nick Rail Music in Riverside, CA carries it....you just need to wipe away all the existing valve oil from the exterioe and interior of the valves, and the interior of the valve casings because 2 different oil formulas may congeal...

Dunno...I've only heard the finals version...someone who was there earlier could answer it...

Spirit's I&E ensemble this year just blew me away! Cymbal lines on the field...SCV...scary mothers!

80 SCV: Stone Ground Seven....kevlar clean on mylar heads...un ####### believable! 80 Spirit: The Devil Went Down to Georgia...hey...it was a Float line with a 5 tick show! 81 Troopers: Turkey in the Straw: any corps that can make that tune into a good solo....best basses I've heard from the pre-pit era.

Beat me to it!!! The cuica (sp?) stands out when I listen to 83 Cavies, tho!

Sweet-Pea, I believe was his nickname...86 is my all time fave Spirit show...I would KILL to play the hymn and closer...justr amazing stuff!

Jersey Surf appears to be filling the VK/Bridgemen gap...too bad they're on the WRONG coast...

Except that puts the trumpet even more out of tune in G than the old G horns used to be. Still...that's how I trained myself after making BD...the most difficult thing for me was hearing the different key.

It's not just about weight...balance plays a big part in it. The old King K-80 euphs were beasts to cary because most of the weight was out front near the bell. A modern Kanstul euph, although physically heavier, is better balanced and doesn't feel as tough as the K-80. But hey...I;m a sop player...what do I know! :P

Way back when I had hair, cymbal lines usually choked a crash by bringing the edge into the chest. That's how I did it in Dangeham in 86 (and why I wore a heavy sweater to practice). When did the choke change to bringing the flat of the plate against the sides? It certainly makes for a better cutoff of sound...and would I be right in presuming it started in SCV?? Just wondering...

That's a BAD thing??? *ducks Kelli throwing something* About the only thing I appreciate about DM only retreats out west is that the Sr DMs started leaving the field together in '03, arm in arm. Quite a nice bit of cameraderie...except, of course, when RCR and Renedages decide to steer the little Dream guy toward a field goal post! :P :P :P

It used to happen at about every show, local, regional, or otherwise, back in the day. In 84 out of 30+ shows I only experienced 1 DM only retreat (Modesto, CA show to start 2nd tour)...MAYBE one other at the Garfield show, but full corps retreats and trooping the winner was the norm. I will admit, as a DM myself, DM only is easier on the nerves...only have to round up myself and whoever from the guard may be going out with me...or, since Dream tends to go on first in shows I tend to lead the parade out to the line and just give a "here we go" to my fellow DMs behind me. I DO miss the full corps retreats, tho...hopefully we'll have one this year.

84 Finals...we trooped past Garfield playing "Like a Lover" (the closer)....and we did NOT play it well...

I'm pretty sure that it was because of the '86 Velvet Knights that DCI made a rule stating that corps should wear a head cover. Could just be a rumor though... Could also be possible that hats/cover/shako/etc. (and the potential GE that goes along with that) other corps realized that it's not a good idea to march without them... Anyone know more about this?? Anyone? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Rule?? No one said a thing to me in 96 when I got Nightfire on the field...we had no headgear

Re the Spirit vocals in the opener...it's just scat. One of Dream's mellos (who just walked up to the corps one day in '03 and said "Hey...you guys need a mellophone?") was in the corps that year, and I adsked him the same question last year. I believe he still remembers it! Dave Landers from Renegades was also in the line that year, so he might remember it too.

Some would call them A-flats. I would call them a close approximation thereof :P That's one thing I don't miss about G horns anyway. The other '84 B.D. Sam B) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ahhh, what do YOU know....####ing French horn player! Trying to play on YOUR horn is like playing on the leadpipe!! How ya been, Sam?? What's up with you...And Andy? Y'know...my wife STILL laughs when I tell her stories of 1731 Pine St. #1...Andy jumping off the roof into the pool...Hedien ALWAYS being late to leave for Mars...about a billion people in a 2-bedroom apt, etc.

Actually, it's because the old 2-valvers are physically incapable of playing 3rd valve notes in or below the staff (Low C#, low D, low Eb, middle Ab), so thye were never written. Above the staff you can play an Ab using the 1st valve and throwing the 1sy valve slide all the way in.

Email me your email address...if I can find my music pics album I have one from 85 prelims.

I bought my King K-20 sop on Ebay...only problem was the 1st valve retaining bar was broken off, but that was fixed. Plays wonderfully...must rememebr to get it to Ziggy for a refurbishing

Traitor <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No...that would be if I said Garfield in 84.

Oh man....too many to choose from! 1980 Spirit 1982 SCV 1983 Bridgemen 1984 SCV, Crossmen, Suncoast 1985 Suncoast, Troopers, Freelancers 1986 Sky Ryders 1987 SCV 1988 Sky Ryders 1989 Cadets 1990 Star 1991 Cavies 1992 Cadets 1993 Star 1994 BD I'll stop now...

Here's a tech question...when going to/from level/tilt, does any work have to be done of the drums themselves? Adjusting the hooks is simple enough but the snares...a different attachment bracket, perhaps?? I'd hate to have to drill a hole in the shell to make it work...

The tilt would HAVE to be gone...can't play matched on a tilted snare (well..actually THAT line probably could!)

Well heck...wioth that rationale DCA West already has most of the pieces in place...3 sr corps, all three at at least 2 shows...and we use the West Coast Showdown as our title fight...maybe that could be a DCA show. Can you imagine BD "C" scored on DCA sheets?? heh

Do you want DCI (jr corps) or DCA (sr corps) rules? They're different, as are the scoring criteria. Go to DCI.org or dcacorps.org and find the contacts link. you should be able to obtain the appropriate rulebook from them.