Bandguy

No doubt Amazing Grace. I want that played at my funeral.

So what you're saying is the Kingsmen aren't remembered as much for a song or a move as much as their style and history. I like that! Thanks

Sorry I'm not up on corps history - but can anyone tell me a particular piece of music or a drill move that serves like a signature thing for the Kingsmen?

Do remember, though, that's an operating budget. If you have to purchase things like horns, drums, guard equipment and uniforms your initial cost is going to be crazy high. Finding used equipment is a possibility, but even that could be pretty high. Yeah, a startup budget is going to be WAY different from an operating budget.

I'm a high school band director. I encourage any student of mine to participate in drum corps. My band competes. It's NOT all about me or my ego or the perceived threat to my ability as a musician or a teacher. I don't get threats from parents or administrators concerning the treatment of students. On the surface, one would think life is just grand. There are two issues with this no one has mentioned: 1. The level of high school competition: Personally, I think this has gotten WAY out of focus. I'm hearing about band programs who have a competition budget that rivals a third world country's. There is tremendous pressure on a lot of high school band directors NOT to educate their child, but to come home with a trophy. Those band directors face problems just like any DCI director, because as was mentioned earlier they are on the public's payroll. That, I believe, is where you will find some opposition to students leaving a program to be with a corps. 2. Pre-tour: There seems to be a lot of complaining about band directors not allowing a drum corps participant to miss rehearsal due to summer tour and more than likely missing band camp because of DCI finals. I am one of those directors who are flexible with kids in drum corps. However, there must be the same flexibility shown by the drum corps, too. There are drum corps now who are looking at pretour rehearsals almost a whole month before tour begins. I have no problem at all with a student of mine marching in open or world class corps. However, I'm asking the drum corps folks to be as flexible with me and my program as I'm being asked to be with them. Let me finish my thing in the spring by having all my students at my school's performances.

I've both known and heard of Ohio State fanatics whose last name is Gray. They have daughters who are named Scarlett Ann. I once had a student named Candi Apple.

I've only read through about half the thread, so forgive me if I wind up repeating someone's opinion. I think more in terms of year-by-year when I consider difficulty in a show. After reading through some of the responses I'll agree that over the course of time Cadets wind up with the most difficult shows. We all have been told about George Hopkins' desire for introducing new things. It seems to me every year the Cadets wind up taking on a faster and harder show than the previous year. As for a single show, I would submit Medea. That was the year you recall someone decided to put a heart monitor on one of Star's tenor players to check heart rate and he wound up in the 180 beats/minute range. If I recall correctly that heart rate equals a marathon runner's. I don't know if the Medea show was the most difficult ever, but it was sure difficult for it's time and advertised the demands on the players pretty well.

We've all seen some mind blowing drill and heard music that creates those "moments" we never forget. For me the total package has to be 89 Santa Clara. That show got my total attention from the beginning and never let up. It's been almost 20 years (yes, 20 YEARS)since Kansas City and I still find myself comparing shows to what Vanguard did that night.

My goodness, folks - do you realize the significance of all the songs you've been mentioning on here? It brings goose bumps just thinking about all those performances. I wonder if DCI or whoever has the rights to these songs ever thought about producing a CD of corps songs or retreat songs?

This comes not from a drum corps experienced person, but from a high school band director. I think, though, that any drum corps staff member, volunteer, or director can relate to this. There is a yearly ritual I have with my graduating seniors. Part of it is included a copy of the lyrics to Rod Stewart's "Forever Young". Take a look at them and I'm sure you'll get it.

For those of us who remember retreats - I'm trying to remember particular songs done by corps at retreat. I know there was a time when a corps would do a snippet of their show as a retreat piece. However, from that came some of (IMO) the most emotional moments I ever had watching drum corps: To hear Madison play You'll Never Walk Alone To hear Bluecoats play Autumn Leaves To hear Spirit play Georgia Sigh.... What were the signature retreat songs?

I'm sorry, but I think something has been forgotten in all the discussion. I thought 'Coats visual package was great. However, look at what placed above them. Those were some pretty darn well marched shows, too. I think they did a great job in a year that had fabulous programs.

I'll first apologize for my laziness in that I'm not doing my own research. I'd like to know about the evolution of batteries moving in shows. In the 70s the battery pretty much floated up and down midfield. Who decided to incorporate them more into the drill, and about when did this evolution take place?

I tell you what, folks - I'm SO glad the "quarterfinals at the theater" thing exists! I had the chance to see several shows this year, but I missed some others as well. I heard all kinds of talk about some and not a lot of talk about others. I really had no way of determining what was overrated and underrated because I didn't see all the shows. Then I went to the theater for quarterfinals.... I know my impression is distorted because all I saw was what the cameras decided to show me during the presentation. Having said that, I'm of the belief that ALL the shows were underrated. One can pick this or that point apart, and we all will have our own biases. The bottom line (at least for me) is this - I don't think in all my years of being a drum corps fan have I ever enjoyed every single performance as I did in '07. Overrated or underrated, whatever - 2007 will be a banner year for me.

I just read this whole thread. I think I just went through a mass A D D moment..... Wanna ride bikes?

Speaking of a private concert - It was 1989 or 90, and I was going to be hosting my first drum corps ever. All the preparations were done and I was waiting for the Spirit of Atlanta to show up at my school. They showed up all right - five hours late, and in awful shape. Come to learn the entire corps was sick. These kids couldn't even sit up without throwing up. My band room looked like a MASH unit. Their originally planned eight hour stay at my school lasted three days. Those that could remain standing (about a third of the corps) went to the show and did a standstill. Now, having said all the awful things here is the magic moment for me. I got the opportunity to get to know some of the people in the corps. I met and worked with the staff and the volunteers during that time. I got a chance to meet and talk with some pretty outstanding kids. In short, I was given the rare opportunity of being an outsider who got the chance to be inside for just a little while. And as normal drum corps thinking would have it - the corps rehearsed on the final day of their stay. At the conclusion of the rehearsal the horn line arced up for some announcements. I couldn't hold myself back, and asked one of the staff if the horn line would play "Georgia" before they left. And they DID it - for me. All you good people involved with the Spirit of JSU - I love you all and I love what you do. And there is a history to remember.......... I just realized that the ageouts from that year are now 40 years old. OK - so much for THAT reality check!

Goodness, DON'T be ashamed! From what I understand the people at NIU handled the problem with dignity and respect. CR handled it also with dignity and respect. Everyone agreed that what happened was senseless, and it was resolved. Seems to me that the people at both CR and NIU were a classy bunch.

Thanks for the suggestions, all. I think I have some checking out to do, with the exception of the porn movie! lol b**bs

Perhaps I can get some help here - my daughter lost my copy of Blast, and I'm looking to replace it. I'm not an EBay kind of guy, so I'm wondering if there is a website or a place I can purchase a new copy. Thanks for your help!

Jay Bocook arranged a couple of really cool ballads for Capital Regiment - Homage (2005, I think) and Sleep (2006). Both produced the "drum corps moment" for me.

OK - Before I say this I'll apologize. But, I just can't help myself................... It's the return of VK! And YOU TOO can place your ad on our sousaphones!

For goodness sakes - give it a rest!

Cadets doing "Bridgemen Greatest Moments"