Meaghatron

I try. :)

1. Bluecoats 2. Blue Devils 3. Blue Knights 4. Boston Crusaders 5. (The) Cadets 6. Carolina Crown 7. (The) Cavaliers 8. Glassmen 9. Madison Scouts 10. Phantom Regiment 11. Santa Clara Vanguard 12. Spirit of JSU :D

I started following DCI like a year or so ago. Therefore, I've never experienced a championship show here. So I'll live with going to ATL and then to the Alabama show. A friend and I are making it our summer road trip. It should be pretty fun actually. ^OO^ I just wish I didn't have to travel so far, that's all. :(

That's what I was thinking. SCV's drill was much harder and dirty, but BK was simpler and dirty. Points to SCV. :)

I live in Florida, and I am going to Atlanta. Except, where I live, the trip is over 8 hours long. Not exactly the most fun drive, but it's a major show, so I'll make it anyways B) A friend and I are then going over to the show in Alabama the next day. Should make for a great weekend.

I think The Cavaliers, Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard, Madison Scouts, and Star of Indiana made it... And Carolina Crown will round out the top 8. :)

I LOVE Florida. :P And I live there. It's quite a wonderful place. :)

When I watched it, I caught Machine, Faust, and In.Trance.It. in it. But they also showed stuff from previous Classic Countdowns, if memory serves me correct. I think they probably put the 8 winners in there, but put other shows in there so you can't figure it out.

Definitely, Tristan, awesome post. That is probably one of the most beneficial posts I have ever read on DCP. Nice job. :) B) ^OO^

I agree with this one the most. It's not what I want to happen though. Maybe more like Cavies, BD, Phantom, Cadets, your 5-12 :P

I would love to have a show down here in Florida. Instead, I have to travel 8 hours up to Atlanta or over to Alabama. I guess I will just continue to hope for a show down here and head to another state if I want to see one until then. It's not my ideal situation <**> ... but I'll manage. :P

I'm pretty sure Machine made it too.

Eh, I didn't like either one.

It's says at the bottom: "(this post adjusted to fit current month but the intent is still the same)." I believe it said March last time.

Eh. They predicted the outcome of the NCAA Championship game pretty well. :P

(regarding emphasis) Wouldn't that mean something closer to the Cavaliers winning another title again this year?

I should give that picture to my band director at my old school. He teaches 5th grade through high school. At least the older ones might find it amusing. :P

Awesome idea. I love anything that can get us fans involved. ^OO^

I liked the Cadets drill for the most part, but I just couldn't stand the props. <**>

I'm Meaghan, and I was born on November 18, 1988. I got into music in elementary school, when I started playing violin. I was much more into sports though, so I gave that up to play basketball and volleyball in MS and HS (JV and V). When I switched schools my sophomore year of high school, I became best friends with a clarinet player in the marching band (who later became the drum major). After tons of persuasion from my friends, I joined. I learned how to play marimba by sight. The other keyboardist (only 2 of us, small school) would play the sections and I would follow suit. After a while, I actually learned how to read the music better. I was able to learn a lot during concert season though :) The next year (my Senior year) I became percussion captain, thanks to being the only returning member. We had a grounded battery, so we switched instruments. I played snare for 2 songs, bass drums for one, and tenors for the last. I also played bells. Needless to say, I got tons of experience during that year. During my time in marching/concert band, I learned to play the djembe. I ended up playing it during two mission trips to Arizona and for my college group's praise team. I can play piano a bit too. Oh, and one scale on the clarinet. My next instrument to tackle is baritone. I got into drum corps thanks to one of my best friends. He marched with Kiwanis Kavaliers for 3 years and then with the Rosemont Cavaliers in 06 (ages out with them this summer). The first show I ever saw was Cavies 02. From then on, I was hooked. I got to go to my first contest last summer in Atlanta. Since then, I've watched tons of DVDs and shows online. I appreciate the activity even more now. I have a better understanding of the visual and musical aspects of programs. Recently, I've gotten into WGI too, thanks to the above-mentioned clarinet player. I'm currently in college. I'll have my general A.A. after this semester, and I'm transferring to Southeastern University in the fall to get my Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Math Education. I can't wait to educate the youth of America, lol. Oh, and I hope to marry a brass player ^OO^

Since you said 1997 to 2004, thought I'd add that the Cavaliers won in 2004, making it 4 championships in 5 years. Quite a nice dynasty going on there (which is now 5 in 7).

And this is when individual tastes come in... I actually LOVED the Cavies music this year, and almost every year from this decade (minus 2003). I thought the effect it created was great, and that ballad is beautiful. I can understand why people might not like their music though. I enjoyed Carolina Crown from this year too, in both aspects. I'd rather listen to PR than watch them though (now something like '03 is another story :) ).

I would definitely distribute money to all the corps in Div. I/II/III over however long a time (depending on the amount given out). Also, I would set aside a fund specifically for giving so many $1,000 (or whatever X amount) college scholarships a year to individuals nominated by their respective corps. I think recognizing their off-the-field success is just as important as their on-the-field success. :)

I liked the Bluecoats show too. They had some nice visual stuff, and I loved the steel drums B)

When I first saw the Cadets live last season, I really did not like their show. When I saw it again during quarterfinals (in theater), I still did not like. However, after trying to objectively watch the Finals DVD, I have found that the show isn't really that bad. I don't love it, but I definitely don't hate it as much as I used to. After listening to just the music from the top 12 shows, I found that I really enjoy the Cadets. :) I love the ballad. Yes, even with the singing. :P Would I like it better without the singing? Sure. But it doesn't bother me as much anymore. And I LOVE that drum feature. However, I prefer to listen to the show rather than watch it. Are there any shows from 2006 that you prefer to listen to over watching it or vice versa? Are there shows that you enjoy both aspects?