Reauxbee

What? No Oso bueno before the show????

From La Crosse , Wisconsin .....

MY son would sew the one end of the legs to make stick bags .... #drummer mentality.

Thanks! He's a rookie in the trumpet line~~~ Great young man!

A lookout and an American flag. The view is spectacular!!!!!!

How I miss seeing those bluffs. I plan on dragging my wife to La Crosse in the near future to see the sights. Tonight will be special for my Godson. He's marching with Genesis this year as a rookie. He has heard stories about my corps and La Crosse most of his life. If you're in the stadium give a yell to "Jack"! Good luck to all the corps and especially all of the volunteers with all the corps and those running the contest!

Somebody knows some Blue Star trivia .... I still haven't figured out who you are. I do like your perspective.

I'm very pleased that he is staying, he's doing an amazing job, and I love his values. Now with the percussion staff announcements everything is falling into place. We only had 30 age outs this year, Imagine if we can retain all the kids this will be a very interesting year! FCO!

She is in there rehearsing with the rest, especially during visual rehearsals. If you follow here during the show she covers the entire field moving more tha realized at first glance. Also she will be at important visual moments of the show.

It's been fun to read up on the show and hear how things are going, I'll see my first show next Saturday when I join up for the remaining of tour. I hope to meet some of you guys, so it you get to a show.. Look me up!

Not looking good! Be safe!

Grab an umbrella Hat! ... Send the rain to me, we've had too many days of 110+ heat down here in Texas already!

From DCI 1 Phantom Regiment 81.900 2 Boston Crusaders 80.400 3 Blue Stars 79.000 4 Glassmen 78.100 5 Spirit 74.350 Open Class 1 Teal Sound 75.100 2 Legends 61.550 All age corps 1 Atlanta CorpsVets 72.113 2 Sun Devils 55.713

Oh, that's funnnnny!

I was ok with the cup of cereal until the fatefull night after a show in Montreal in 78. It seems that all the corps ended up at a school. I awakend to find marchers all asleep in this massive ditch... Most of it is still fuzzy exept that I notice that all the Phantom marchers were all carrying their personal cereal bowls and spoons...... I'm still going through therapy for that memory. In fact, to this day I won't let my kids eat out of my favorite bowl.

roflmao='s rolling on the floor laughing my (Baalum's wife) off I miss people thowing babies....... my parents used to play catch with me.... badoom ching.

I tell my own son that it's a good idea to keep your mouth shut....... I make you appear much smarter than you really are. My friend you are right,,, I should have done a personal message rather than public... Please except my humble appologies... :( BTW... I have no clue as who you are.

The Phantom banner is on the grassy knoll, next to the Muchacho's Soloist's birth certificate.

First, judges like umpires have the most thankless jobs in the world. Judges primarily do it for the love of the activity. The honorariums they get hardly pay expenses. Second, as a marcher, I hated judges. I felt that we were never given the credit that we deserved. Then I grew up. Judges go into the day and do the best that they can. It is a difficult at best... try to go to a big contest and rank the middle groups accuratly. The top and bottom is easy.... it's the middle ones that are hard.... Ranking groups that perform two hours apart is a nightmare. The approach they have is specific, detailed, placement driven, and falable. As varied as the education the judges have, so will their opinions. I can't give you the specific details of the DCI training and selection of judges, but I can give a general idea. Most organizations give prospective judges oportunites to attend training sessions where they will learn the ruberics and specifics of each caption. Then applicants will make sample tapes to submit to be evaluated along with resumes containing performance, teaching and judging experiences. From there a pool of judges is set and assigned for contests based on availibility and priority. Do I agree with all the results? NO,, but I can understand now how there are variations. Hopefully, the judges do thier job properly where not one judges decides the final outcome. I hope to begin a career in marching ajudication... perhaps oneday I'll get to judge the big one.

Everytime I hear this discussion I have to shake my head... First any time of music education in our country need to stay relevant and expecially in the public eye. We all need to support both activites enthusiastically. I've seen so many ignorant snobs from both sides of the activity. Even worse is the "professor types" that snub thier noses at any marching activity believeing that is is beneath them. The bottom line is in this "athletic" minded society we live in contests that declares a "winner" ( whatever that means in music") can be related to and validated as a worthwhile activity. For some reason more people will attend something where a trophey is attatched than not. I think we can all agree that both activites compliment each other. If we take our rose colored glasses off and strip everything away .. oh, well, I really don't want to go there. However, I would say that Drum Corps would greatly suffer and would die away with out "School marching bands". As a music educator I fear the repercusssions in my state everytime I hear about other states' demises. In fact, I left my home state to go to the "green pastures" of Texas early in my career. "Segue" Those of you that don't believe that "marching band has evolved" and is as viable a medium as Drum Corps, either needs to attend the Texas State Marching Festival or the BOA Super Regional @ San Antonio. Wait.... the top drum corps will always be at a higher level due to the sheer age difference in the performing groups. I'm speaking of the validity of the medium. What is accomplish in only 8 hours a week is increadible. I believe in drum corps. I believe in the school band......... I hope none of us in either activity ever have and Mr. Hollands Opus. FCO

Phantom ... yes... but do you know how many times a year that gets imitated... barf

Great reply,,, actually in reality I believe the salute is important. As our "art" progresses we tend to forget that our activty is militariistic in it's origins. I feel that we need to keep much of those roots. You are right, there's a reason that they are called "Drum Major". Thier roles within the performing group go beyound the conducting. I'm called on yearly to judge DM auditions and you usually can tell how that person will funtion by the salute. To the point, the salute should be short, to the point, and within the style of the group he/she represents. I would agree that a wave from VK drum majors would be appropriate.

Since we have amplification how bout........ cow bell band or drum and jug band.... oh, I can't resist ..... The Rocky Mountain "Hooter's" Drum and Jug Corps. Beat that!

Seriously, I can't stand a salute with more that 4 moves....... and please no more batons..... in slow motion...... there's an old saying about more than two shakes....... I bet it could be tied in here.....