Mean Guru

http://mastersmarchingarts.com/winter_hopkins_interview.doc I suspect this link wasn't available when this was first discussed... 2 years ago. Anyways, MMA offers it right on their home page. George comes off well. -Means

Practice marching. -Means

I agree the phrase "wanting it bad enough" implies that the one who wants will take action. I disagree that this always happens. I've seen many students who attest--probably genuinely--to wanting to be in Blue Devils, Cavaliers, or whoever, but don't do the things necessary to prepare. This may be because they simply don't know how to prepare, but I tend to believe now that they *must* know, because the process is obvious: get instruction of some kind, practice effectively, don't arrive completely out of shape, etc. Instead, for these and many other students, I think there is simply a disconnect between wanting the goal (that is, being in the corps you've always admired) and a willingness to perform the tasks needed to accomplish that goal (long hours of practice, perhaps some injured pride from feedback you didn't want to hear, and so forth). There are many other fine instructors who espouse the "wanting it bad enough" view, some whom help create terrific hornlines, and whom I greatly admire. Our disagreement on this particular issue does not induce us to question each other's merits as instructors (at least, as far as I know). I have decided not to provide my name and credentials, except to say I have auditioned hundreds of horn players for drum corps. Perhaps I can aid your understanding in responding to any questions you may have. For that matter, guided instruction specifically for auditioning for drum corps is not something I do at all, so I'm willing to listen to anyone on this topic. Your last paragraph is most interesting. Getting instruction and practicing effectively are precisely the things that I mentioned in my previous post. Getting actual instruction did not appear in your previous posts in this thread. Yet this paragraph flips things around, making it appear as though you support these methods and I do not. However, if I get the gist of it right, it seems we are largely in agreement. Again, I will stress that these so-called "solutions" should be obvious to any beginner. As for my being wrong: it happens all the time. -Means

Appreciate your attempts to be constructive (honestly), but I doubt either of us can help much. If the question from a new player is "I'm switching to brass, [insert some excuse for not practicing a brass instrument for 8 months], and I'm learning on my own... Any tips from anyone?" There is little we can offer. We have no idea what he or she may need work on. The student himself/herself has already ruled out the best possible (and perhaps, only realistic) advice: getting actual, non-internet instruction. Good luck, indeed. If the question is "what are the chances I can make Bluecoats with 5 months of practice?" Again, I don't know of anyone that could possibly answer this. It will depend of course on how effectively this student practices, how good the other auditioners will be, natural talent, and a host of other factors. I must respectfully disagree with the oft-given advice that it "depends on how badly you want it." I believe the outcome will turn more on whether the student does the proper things to prepare. I have found that many students often engage in strategies that are destructive to achieving their goals, despite perhaps "wanting it" a great deal. See the above example. I dealt with questions like these in a more brusque manner in my FAQ (see sig): "Good luck," -Means

Good luck with auditions. -Means

What was it about camps that gave you a hard time? What did you do to improve in between? I'm always interested in different members' responses. -Means

From a very good authority: But honestly OP, you should have started weeks, if not months ago (maybe you did). Best of luck, -Means

Oh God, make it stop.

Since there seem to be a lot of VK staff in this thread... Any chance on letting us hear any audio or video recordings from any of the camps? -Means

Ugh. Study harder, 1Ls... -Means

You know, if VK put up some audio or video from its camps, it might help back up some of the hype. Talk is cheap! Any chance, VK? -Means

No, not a joke. -Means

"Tubas are fatties" was meant as a joke. Mostly. -Means

YEAH BUT OMG 40 EUPHS 20 TUBAZ YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! Seriously. Put the 15 on guard and make it a bigger visual spectacle than if they were just extra drill dots. Most low brass are terrible players anyways. The ones you add will be worse. Plus, tubas are fatties. -Means

I don't think that people are complaining that people think the new VK is the same as the old VK. I think the complaint is that VK might be trying to capitalize on the reputation and history of the Velvet Knights, a reputation and history that VK did not themselves earn. Now why might people think that VK might be trying to capitalize on the reputation and history of the Velvet Knights? What motive might VK have in "playing up" the reputation and history of the Velvet Knights (without calling themselves that, of course)? Advantages are obvious enough: increased membership, improved PR/hype, increased fundraising, fan interest, "allumni" interest, etc. Hopefully, no one is pretending that the name of the corps, VK, was chosen as a wacky pairing of consonants, and such a name would have been chosen if Velvet Knights had not previously existed. Nothing is won easily in drum corps, and I can sympathize with the Southern California corps who have gone to the hard work and dedication of creating a history of their own, with yearly efforts to survive and grow, only to see their member talent pool (and perhaps staff?) predated on by another area corps, with the unfair advatage that it is naturally associated (albeit not legally) with a past corps itself recognized as "VK." By the way, it appears even VK can become confused on the matter of its identity: (vkyao website, staff page). (Emphasis added).Staff comments: (Emphasis added)And on their own myspace (http://myspace.com/vkyao), under "Band [sic?] Members" (Emphasis added) Just typos and misstatements? I'll hasten to add that I don't believe the authors of these quotes are being deceitful or manipulative. It is just that the association between two organizations (which, I suppose *legally*, are completely distinct) is so transparent it wouldn't be worth trying to hide it, were it not for the legal issue. I'm not trying to pass myself off as an investigative journalist (that would be pathetic, since these examples took about 15 seconds of "investigation" on Google), and I'm not out to "get" VK. I'm all for more drum corps. But I think we should be honest about this matter, and realize than naming this new corps VK was a move intended to capitalize on a previous corps' history and accomplishments for their own gain. Although most people seem to have reacted to this obvious association with overall bemusement (e.g., "tee hee, it's VK, not Velvet Knights!") we should understand that this may have real, detrimental effects on other corps, and that their complaints may be legitimate. -Means

If you switch to low brass, your chops will become a hideously mangled mess, and you will never be able to play trumpet again. You will also become extremely unattractive, laugh at things that aren't funny, and gain 50 pounds due to a willingness to eat anything. You'll be fine. You may have to practice trumpet again for a little while to get your chops back (few weeks? Might depend on your current skill), but it won't kill you. Learning a new instrument is a good thing. -Means

I would be interested in knowing what proportion of DCP posters marched drum corps (not sure if this is specifically what you're after as well). Unfortunately, I don't think an answer to this will come from this poll. I somehow doubt that 85% of the people on here actually marched. The question is fine. I just suspect that most people who haven't marched won't respond. -Means

The kid of a big donor. A virtual lock on tour payments, and running a corps is expensive. -Means

Hmm... asking a drum corps site about healthy food? Good luck, but I'll add that my favorite breakfast is throwing oats and an apple in a blender with some milk and chugging that baby down. Physical preparation depends on one's specific performance demands. Colorguard members have different demands than bass drummers, for instance. Who could eat better than that? Sounds like a feast!

There's no crying in drum corps.

Attitude is quite important in nearly every endeavor, including auditioning. It is not, in itself, measured when auditioning for corps (and, as before, it would probably make no difference if it were). Spamming my guide? I don't have a guide. I have a link to one in my sig (written by *Feet* Guru... the confusion is understandable). I have 12 posts, counting this one, so I suppose the sig would appear on all 12. I don't consider your sig announcing your intentions to audition for SCV on the 12th "spamming." To others, I understand this is a contention that flies in the face of what we have all been told, and you are correct to view it with a degree of skepticism. But corps don't factor in "attitude" for auditions. As before, members and waitlisters can and do get cut for attitude problems later on in the winter and spring. -Means

Everybody ready for a little drum corps myth-busting? Corps don't factor in "attitude" for auditions. They may say they do, but they don't. And they shouldn't. Everybody pretends they are positive and hardworking during auditions. It would be a "washed" factor. Maybe if you punch an instructor or toss your horn in the dumpster, sure, you'll get cut because of "attitude." Otherwise, no. Take note: this does not mean that attitude is unrelated to how well you do in audition. Further, members and waitlisters can (and do) get cut for attitude problems later on in the winter and spring. -Means

This is just common sense. /signed for justice. -Means

You win "the internets". And drum corps. -Means

(It's hard to communicate a long, drawn-out sigh via message board. Just assume I did one) -Means