MelloRick

Fair question well put, thank you... Admittedly it had been about 20 years since she spun and tossed a rifle, but had been working feverishly on her skills for about a year prior to even showing up there. Of course none of this even came out before she got the cold shoulder. As for a younger look, well is that what our all age corps have sunk to? I mean really, drum corps had grown to what it was because of the "all inclusive" nature of it. BTW, I should point out, I am not in any way insinuating that corps don't have the right to put people in positions they see fit. Myself, I know I could not jaunt around the field as most corps do today, and since the closest competing corps is well over 2 hours away, I can't even attempt it these days. I simply get my fix in Minicorps and the Defenders in Rockland. Tried to get sis involved, but she has found other stuff now to fill her competitive desire. She competes in Cross Fit now, and runs road races. She is #### good at it I might add! My comment was just a "personal" experience to the original post, nothing more. Certainly was not meant as a slam on ANY corps! It's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL...

Cool, but a long commute from RI.. :)

Why is it when somebody expresses an experience people have to find it "hard to believe"? Don't post stuff if you don't want input! Having gone to DCA, it is obvious some corps seem to be either a stepping stone, OR an alternate to DCI. Of course that is my opinion and is not meant to mean ALL, and you are welcome to find that "hard to believe". My sisters situation is fact, I assure you! As I said, they didn't come out and tell her, your too old, but they did say the average age of the guard was 24, and perhaps she would be better in another section.

Gary, this is the absolute truth! I nor my sister make things up. This was about 3 years ago...

Well I can say this, my 40 something year old sister went to see about marching with one of the top 5 DCA corps and was told (in not so many words) you are too old, maybe the national section would be ok. I will point out my sister runs road races and is doing a half marathon, so she is in very good shape, and could probably show some young'uns a few things, but if this is the attitude of staff of our "all age" corps, then yes, there is a problem. So back to your question, where are they? Look around in the Alumni/Sr corps, and Minicorps, this is where many of us have migrated. Myself, I am 54 and wouldn't even attempt traveling to a competing corps. I have chosen Minicorps, and an Alumni corps to spend my time playing and doing what I love.

I am so sorry to hear this Fran.. May she rest in peace and forever live in the hearts of those who knew and loved her!

Great job guys....Sounded just as great on youtube! Thanks BFDTV for once again allowing us to re-live a great performance!

My review...Incredible camaraderie and from the seats the sound was awesome from ALL the performers, but as a performer, the sound from the stage was greatest! Thank you all for the great applause and kind words... And how about my nephew...isn't he a great drummer! (the little rope snare drummer) :) Special welcome to the Centurions! You guys rocked the house out of the gate...look forward to seeing you in Rachacha, if not sooner.... Chris told me you guys were doing great...she was right!

Yeah, it was a hoot 4 times over :) See you in Bridgeport....

I know times change and corps must change with the times, but seems to me when I was a youngster, we used to look to the "senior" corps as being entertainment. The days of Sky taking the paint off the stadium walls, The Cabs keeping the audience dancing, the Hurcs putting out pure excitement, etc...are over. Not saying that the present corps are all the same stuff, but it is apparent that many corps are trying to emulate what wins, therefore many (note, not all) clones of the Bucs. Individual identity is lacking, again, this is purely my opinion, so please don't jump on me for it. You could almost take any of the top 5 switch uniforms, and outside of the Bucs performing it better, they are pretty much all the same...again...MY opinion, yours may and probably does vary .

Hello everyone...Last night was a great night for Sr Corps. I have done this show for 5 years now, and last night truly exceeded my expectations. Good size crowd, probably the best performance from Boston's own Crusader Sr. Corps who closed the 70 year anniversary year with a truly great performance. I loved every minute of it, and I will share it with you all. From what I understand everyone brought their A game last night, but I will leave it to those members to share their performances with you. Thanks to my wife Rose for recording this great performance. Shout out to my Crusader Mellophone-mates! We ROCKED! Enjoy!

Here you go: Performance Time 6:30 – 6:45 OPENING CEREMONY 6:45 – 7:05 PARK CITY PRIDE 7:05 – 7:25 REILLY RAIDERS 7:25 – 7:45 ST. KEVINS 7:45 – 8:05 HANOVER 8:05- 8:25 BSGK INTERMISSION 8:45 – 9:05 CRUSADERS 9:05 – 9:25 DEFENDERS 9:25 – 9:45 BRIDGEMEN 9:45 HAWTHORNE Enjoy!!!

Sure you can have both. They do make bell forward french horns in F just like the mellophones (actually it's the other way around). My guess is the French Horns are a very hard horn to play while running around the field (as they do today), which is one very GOOD reason they don't use them much if at all. Not sure, but are any DCI/DCA competing corps using French Horns these days? I got my King F mellophone yesterday, and I gotta say it is such a nice playing horn. I use my trumpet mouthpiece I have been playing on since Mr. Tottle made it for me back in 1976. This horn does have a darker richer tone than does my G Dynasty. I will stop short of saying it sounds like a french horn, but it does get closer to that sound than does the G mellophone. I did notice it seems to take more air than my G does too.

I left the Crownsmen in 73 and went to the Valley Airs. My dad was one of the first instructors, and instrumental in getting it going with Walter "Smitty" Smith, Bill Nadeau, and a few others... We had some talented instructors in our time, like Rick Connor (I believe it was one of his first teaching gigs), Paul Flaherty...to name a couple... Rick was my first instructor and my last in junior corps when I went to North Star in 78, and I am still playing for him today with the Boston Crusaders Sr. corps... :) Check this out, I still have a Stetson Ricmond recording of the Crownsmen from I think 1970 at (13 years old) World Open class B championships. I will have to try and digitize that! I played a french horn duet with my buddy Johnny Menna...haven't seen him in years. BTW, I still have my Crownsmen tshirt, and an ascot. Of course neither would come close to fitting me today ! Still kind of neat to take out and look at once in a while.

I will further admit that while I did enjoy playing the french horn, and I still own my french horn I played from 1966-1971 with the Regal Crownsmen from Cranston, RI, I have never regretted the change to mellophone. I for one would NEVER want to go back. I know this goes against every other post here, but it is my personal opinion. I have come to love my mellophone and everything about it. I personally believe the player is capable of making it sound any way they want. Is it easier to play, well to get notes out, yes, but to do it correctly, no it's not. Intonation is still a bear on the mellophone, although I will admit the new ones in F are WAYYYY easier to play in tune. IMHO. This is not to sound like I didn't enjoy and am proud of my years on FH. My dad bought me my getzen from the Skylarks, one of the predecessors of the Matadors, and it is in perfect shape with the "magic slide". I take it out every now and then to clean it and play a few notes, including doing my best to emulate Pepe playing Aquarius! It belonged to Jackie Lopes, who was also one of my french horn hero's.

Yeah, and Pepe was my hero !!! As a 10 year old, I used to tell my dad I wanted to shake his lip... I can't tell you how many times I played my Fleetwood album just to hear the rip at the end of is solo in Aquarius! I will also admit that when I was in his presence, I was always tongue tied, and stood there in awe.. Well, you know who I thought was the best!

Once upon a time you just needed 12-21 semi dedicated "honkers" and a desire to keep honking. Like everything else, Minicorps has evolved into a viable "real" drum corps experience. Before I get some of the old timers from the beginning of this activity getting their shorts in a knot, I am not downplaying what you guys started with, but more of the evolutionary tact or the natural order of progression that everything takes. I know 5 years ago we at Mass Brass would not have even considered the 4 hours in the pouring rain we endured just a couple weeks ago, but it is what it is now, and it has evolved into a highly competitive, but still extremely fun activity. We are blessed to have a couple members who tirelessly work behind the scenes to procure practice facilities, paying gigs to be sure to have money for both meager and not so meager uniforms, charts, and then of course rights to the music we play. Travel is not as much as an issue as our field counterparts since there is a simple 21 to move around, however, note more and more mini's are now carrying pit equipment, so make sure one of your members has access to a good size van. Staff wise, you need a brass guy, a few very good friends who are judges to come critique you prior to performances (if your lucky as we are, an extra 6 pack and your golden ), and staging person, body movement person (that is patient with aging chubby people that don't move like they use to ) and now that percussion is increasing in use, a good percussion guy is needed. Of course all this is dependent on what your expectations are. It is evolving to a more polished "serious" form of the activity each year. Take this years performances, they are at a level that 3-5 years ago were thought unattainable. I know I was impressed top to bottom of all the competitors on the stage this year. So it looks like the activity is a strong alternative for those of us that can't or don't want to run around the field while maintaining enough air to keep that whole note from wavering and of course that desire to entertain people, but make no mistake, it is evolving and growing. Who knows what next year will bring, but on a personal note I can tell you this....We don't like 3rd so plans are underway to correct that! More rainy day parking lot practices are in the forecast!

Drop all the crap with the electronics, narration, ANY thought of adding reeds, start a song and actually finish it! Perhaps follow the Madison lead from this year and you may have a winner. Finally, SACK Hopkins! I mean really, why march around close to $100,000 in contra bass just to have a bass guitar chime in to cover it up... I don't agree that the Cadets are the leaders of the parade to the death of drum corps, rather it's the leadership...

So, you choose this rant to be your very first post. Good, very good... It's all opinion, and this DCP is a place people come to voice it. I guess you don't agree... FYI...most of the people here and on the field came from "the land of DCI" many were involved in what made DCI what it was. You came across as very arrogant, and righteous. Are some over critical because of the unending winning streak of the Bucs? I am sure! One only need look to pro sports to see "our sport" is no different. People hate the Yankees, not because they actually suck (can't believe I just said that ) but because they are good. IMO, that hate is the ultimate compliment. We see the same thing in the minicorps arena. I for one don't share that sentiment. I guess I am asking that you don't hate the haters, but rather embrace those that are old and cranky (myself included - ) and learn from them, let them vent and save sure heart conditions by calming stress. Now, HAVE FUN

Cause we're special Ray!! Besides, I'm from RODE EYELAND...think outside the box...

Why thank you very much...That is my nephew Nick, and it was his very first time playing in an individuals, and this uncle is so very proud! My dad, Dick Simard, started teaching him how to play when he was 3, and I know my dad was grinning ear to ear up there in heaven! BTW, he plays with Nutmeg Fife and Drum Corps. Thanks to the BHOF to have given him this chance to get totally hooked! He wanted to know when we can do that again...LOL

Mike, I enjoyed your "French Horn" piece...Cool horn...I got one with a Magic Slide. My dad bought it for me in 1968 from Jack Lopes. I still have it and it is still in mint condition!

Rick, Sorry to hear that news. I know what an effort you and your staff have put in to keeping it on the field. As a member of a minicorps, I look forward to sharing the stage with the Brigs, and wish you all the best with the future.

Still feeling pretty good about our performance last night in Plymouth. I think it's the best we ever sounded, and looked. It was obvious early on when we were warming up that this would be a special evening. I never heard the corps song "Giant" sound sound great. We hit the floor and just nailed it. From what I saw, everyone was outstanding. Seemed to me all the stars where in the correct alignment and everyone had their A game last night. I particularly enjoyed seeing so many people that were such a huge part of my childhood. The after party was fantastic, just a bit too short, IMO. 1 AM, c'mon, I guess they don't know drum corps people. I guess what impressed me most is the fact that the Boston area has three great corps thriving in the area. Competition, yep you bet. But that is what makes three great corps. Each of us trying to outdo the other is what drives us all to be as good as we possibly can be. Anyhow, here is the links to our show in two parts...enjoy... Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt2YJxdzltg Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDuWdNeaufo Enjoy!

Where's the video?