phoenix_aurora

what, no pit? I don't live down south, but have family in TX (Houston)...and occationally consider moving there. Austin is great and theres a music school there that I've considered. If I do move to TX I know I would definitly seek out a drumline or corps to play with. (although I know that doesn't help your cause at the moment...) Good Luck! (:

Perhaps it’s "C" for corps, not "C" for C horns, or "G" for G horns. Avoiding the whole horn tunage debate. As far as I know, I think we'll still be using the G horns we have... but then again, I'm not in the horn line. Any who, it’s a cool show idea; I think it’s been too long since America's Entertainers have done an American themed show. (yeah..so we did "A tribute to American Composers" in 2002, but it didn't feel as in-your-face-American-tribute, as much as a Bernstien-and-friends one) Sounds like it'll be very tasteful too. I like the selections of the more modern/alternative patriotic music, as apposed to the traditional patriotic tunes.

I'll remember that for '09! I'll DEFINITLY be there as long as my corps is allowed to do I&E (some years we don't, but that’s all up to the directors.) Thanks Brian, and Congrats on your I&Es as well! (: Hahah, I know! I find it hilarious! Now that’s a corps I don't think any one would mind being listed in. (:

I have to say, of the few Renegades members that I did meet finals weekend, they were all really nice, positive and fun. I wish we could meet half way for a show in the middle of the season...it would probably end up in Kansas… To Sam the Marimba Champ- thank you for the congrats and the company on that I&E stage, and thank you for the cheers as we came off the field on finals! It’s so cool and humbling to have other corps' members cheering for you! Seriously, you guys are all wonderful! Congrats to you all on another successful season!

Statesmen's drum solo isn't Officer Krupke (We played that in '02, though!) it's the Rumble. There's some melodic bits of WWS's rumble in the opening, with a few horn chords and Lots o' pit. I was so happy to see you and Tammy and the kids at the show! You all look very happy! Thanks for coming and thank you for the great review, I like how honest you are in your writing. I have a better idea of how the other corps sound/look on the field, too. I hope to see your family again this coming weekend! (:

Wow. You are too kind! I know that our entire corps really appreciated that Fusion was there to watch us, and that they also really enjoyed getting the opportunity to see you in your first Victory Concert. What a cool experience for all of us!!! (Unfortunately I didn't get to watch you upfront - I was behind the stadium looking for our pit trailor...we didn't know where it parked...From what I could hear, it sounds like you guys have a fun show! You sounded great!) I can't speak for everyone, but as an individual, I couldn't have been more excited to see Fusion Core win Class A last night. To see a new corps on the rise, especially one in its second year of existence do what you guys are doing- well it’s an amazing and special, thing to see. To our fellow hatless entertainment corps- congratulations and thank you. You made our victory concert more fun to perform, too, that’s for sure! It was fun cheering on and briefly chatting with some of your pitsters before the victory concert, and during the concert I loved making eye contact with a number of your members parked in front of the pit. So, so cool to make those connections as a performer. Thank you so much for that!!!!! You guys ROCK!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS! (: I also have to say- Saturday at lunch I was talking with a fellow corps members who had marched with the Grenadiers in '05, and how it was so sad and a huge shame that they had to "fold." It’s a sad day for the entire drum corps activity when any corps needs to take a year or more off. It really is. I also hated seeing that it was our only Canadian corps. Especially after their Class A world championship in '04. So, I'm sure you could imagine my utter surprise, excitement and happiness to see the Bright Yellow and shinning Maple Leafs marching to the field Saturday. YES!!!!!!!! Grennies are back! That is really, really, really awesome! I hope you are having a great season and having a fantastic time out there. WELCOME BACK!!!!!! (That’s right, I live under a rock-so I really didn't know this until Saturday...) Ok, time to go back to sleep.

Cool! Thank you very much for the kind words and feed back!

Would it be possible for you give a brief one-liner for each pit? I'm sure all the pitsters out there would appreciate it! So many reviews neglect that corps section. (although one of these Clifton reviews did say that Reading's pit is on fire- very cool!) Thanks, (:

unfortunatly I can't help you, (already performing, etc...) but I do want to wish you the best of luck in your percusisonist search. I hope your #1 gets better! And Good luck to you on the field this year too! Its great to hear that you guys are back for a 2nd season!!!!! ps I went to college with the Spatz's - they are great people!

I'm not saying that I agree or disagree. However this is a topic that I'm interested in. But after reading all that I can't help but toss in my worthless 2 cents. Bejamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, and Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portiat both are written and commonly performed with narraiton. Fantastic orchestral pieces, the later having also been transcribed for wind ensembles. Narration can work. Corps have been pushing the envolope for years and years and years in both DCI and DCA. It is what develops thier individual corps style. People choose to march with which corps they like. There's something for every one out there, fans and marchers alike, and that I do like. If a corps tests the narration amp waters, and they like it and find it successful, then good for them. If a corps finds that narration isn't thier cup of tea, then good for them. Amps, pits, pants, kilts, hats or no hats, sunglasses, Bflat or G, dancing or no dancing, chanting/singing or none, creative props, classical, modern, jazz, broadway - what is it really that entertains the audience? It depends on the individual who's looking for entertainment. I respect you all for your opinions, and hope the healthy discussion continues. (:

I'm really starting to get pumped about the alumni performance at the Rochester show! Saturday's rehearsal with the alumni was really a special, special thing, and to think it was only a rehearsal! Seeing old friends I've marched with and meeting alumni from pre2000s was really amazing. Hearing the stories, and reflecting on Statesmen past, and seeing some great people/players poping back from no where was inspiring. I saw ALOT of people that I really miss this weekend, and getting to perform with them again should be a BLAST! My section recently did a neat thing: After rehearsal we all met at one of our player's houses and watched the tapes of each of our "rookie" years, and some of the championship years too. It was in our hopes to show the new members what a huge and amaizng expirience this activity can be. It got our section talking alot about the corps' history, too!

I haven't checked DCP in months, and ofcourse I find our corps at the top of the discussion boards! I love the photos Ken! Thanks for sharing! I especially enjoy the one with the pit and guard in it- looks like the wedge from the middle of the drum solo?

I use a crummy wooden bar stool, it used to be padded with a leather top that was falling apart, I "re-upholstered" it with some foam from a couch cushion, quilt batting and some smooth cloth. I still find it hard to twist from side to side and still find it uncomfortable (I tend to sit on the edge rather then on top) I've tested out a Roc-n-Soc drum set throne and found it super comfortable. I haven't seen a specific Timpani version, I'm sure it’s awesome though. I've used a large, swivel, height adjustable chair, and found it quite comfy and really easy to get from one drum to the next- it also had a back to it for support, but again, I sit on the edge and found that I didn't need the chair back. I'm not sure if any of this helps you at all... but I'll be sure to come back to this thread and see if more people post- I'd like to see what other people recommend too! Cheers!

I just saw the story and photos on the news, and find it horrifying. This should never happen, ever... I'll be keeping your corps in my prayers. I wish the best of luck to you all this weekend and throughout the season.

I have to say, I've never been so excited to perform in a winter show before! The corps has brought back some classic statesmen tunes, have a few new ones in store, and for the first time ever the pit will be playing melodic material on ALL of these tunes- material that really complements and fills out that true drum corps sound! If any ES alumni come, PLEASE stop afterwards to say hi! Don't be shy! Also, this past camp a whole family that used to march with us stopped by. A cymbal player, Bari, Gaurd and Pit. It was great seeing all of them! I'm glad that these fantastic alumni were able to visit their drum corps family and see us practice. Gah, I miss them! If you used to march, it's totally ok to come back and visit! Take care,

awww Gadget! I love your icon! (: Its great to see that a few alum are showing interest! As a current member I'm excited to meet alumni from the 80's and 90's- and hear thier stories! The corps has grown and changed so much over the years- but its awesome to know we still have the same purpose and goals in mind as the corps did when it formed in '83. Just throwin' my 2 cents out there. Have a nice day!

bowing on anything is awesome and fun. Some suspended cymbals don't resonate as well as others, but you can bow on just about anything, criotles are really eerie sounding, and Marimbas are fun too. Tam-tams can sound great if you get it buzzing enough! There's a percusison ensemble piece I played in college (Normandy...something. . . it was about D Day) and everyone on mallet percussion had to bow for a while. I've seen some pitch bending done on a vibraphone with a rubber headed mallet, but I'm not really sure how it was done. It was in a piece that also had bowing, I think the title had something to do with Mourning Doves. Mourning Dove Sonnet? Water Gongs are really cool, they just take alot of preperation, a tub of water and a gong. You hit the gong and then slowly lower it in the water and it changes the pitch. Very, very cool. A fun timpani trick is to have a suspended cymbal sit upside down on the timpani, and the timpanist rolls on the cymbal while glissing the pitch up and down. Hope this helps! (:

Thanks for the honest review. Its interesting to see the range of oppinions fans and corpsnuts alike have on all the shows. Weather people love or hate, its neat to see the emotional reactions caused from a performance... to Patrick and Adam- I <3 you both. You both chose your words wisely, and gave excelent report of what we're doing this for. to sunsnare06- just, Thank you. From my P.O.V. as a performer, the audience seemed to mostly enjoy us- and the other corps. Bushwackers came off the field pretty happy and even waved to us to say it was a fun crowd to perform for. What a lovely way to cheer on other corps! Thank you Bush! :) Although not my personal best, there was alot of energy coming from the horns, gaurd and percussion behind me (and infront of me!) Its a mixture of that and the audience that really inspire me as a performer! I hope all the corps had a good show last night, and I just want to personaly wish every one good luck for finals. It'll certiantly be an exciting weekend! Take Care

Thanks for the kind words! :) This was definitly a fun crowd to play for, and there was a lot of energy on the field. From talking to some Fusion Corps members I learned about how this is thier first year out and all, and I have to say it was really cool that they were able to come so far for a show. I just want to wish them good luck this season! I can't even emagine how challenging - and yet how educational and fun - it can be to start a new corps from scratch.

I am in full agreement with Heather and melligene the other members who've posted. As a member who gets to perform in this show, I am super psyched! More so than any of our other shows this season. Other than prelims and finals I can only think of one show...years ago... where Minnisota Brass inc. were on the same filed as the Statesmen. I think that was in 2001. . . ? This is going to be really awesome seeing different corps and getting a chance to hear different show music. A great way to mix it up long before labor day weekend. I'm personally looking forward to hearing/seeing both MBI and Kilties! YEAY!

yeah, Jami, I knew WGI doesn't have a class for all agers... but that doesn't mean that a bunch of "old" kids didn't (or couldn't) get together to do something. right? I'm not sure if State circuits have to undergo WGI rules, but I'm pretty sure they can wander from the WGI norm...I'm only familiar with NYSPC, and its only been recently that they've had enough lines to create the classes ranked in simialr fashion as the regional and national levels. There's only one independent class line in NY and thats OCC. Kiltie Bass, it would be cool to make a line. It seems that you know whats going on in the central part of the country. Its nice to see that you are also curious on the topic!

oh... I do that alot! Sorry, Sorry!

But isn't that the point? The paying customers really do want to be entertained, they want to get up on thier feet. I'm not sure about other corps, but I know Empire prides ourselves on entertaining the crowd. From the looks of the reviews, it seems that many other corps are geting some great crowd reaction! Those crowd reactions aren't accedental...there must be staff out there who DO obsess over getting the fans on their feet! ^_^ Besides, I personally have more fun putting that goal in mind then stressing about the guys in the maroon polos. Best of luck to you this season, and to those with the review writing skills- Keep it up! B)

The college band didn't assign audition material? I suggest finding rudimental solos out of any of the Wilcoxin books, or in a more modern corps style Colin McNutt's "In the Lot" book. I hear that’s a really good one. I don't own it, but I know folks who do and love it. Practice sight reading...I'm not sure if college marching band auditions would have sight reading, but you never know. And it wouldn't hurt. I've also been asked to play rolls with different metric basses while marking time. (Both on Snare and on Bass...just to see if I could roll on bass.) As well as rudiments...so polish up on those too. Contact the Band director or Percussion instructor to find out what their expectations are. Some college bands are not of the same caliber of DCI and DCA lines. Also try to get in touch with current students who march in the drumline there. They would be your best resource. Good luck! :)

Is there such a thing as an All-Age indoor drumline? I was active in my high school’s winter drumline for 5 years (Bass, Snare, Pit), and love teaching the activity today. I have friends in my corps who have marched in independent lines as college students…its like DCI but WGI. Hehe. It just stinks that it’s only for 22-year-olds and younger. I’m curious if any one has tried to pull together an “alumni” line or “senior” line and what has come of it? I know that there is no such class for All-Agers at the WGI national level, but that doesn't mean a line hasn't existed. I miss the theatrical musical artistic product that results of a WGI line; it would be great to play in one again. Is the activity still so young that an All-Age/Alumni/Senior line wouldn’t be realistically possible? What do you think?