Patrick_D

Thank you for the help! I think we nipped the problem before it became a huge issue, although I do still have 4 kids on berkeley student instruments. The trombone is built like a tank, but plays like one too. The trumpet is much like the trombone, the sax has annoying raised parts that make it hard to use palm keys, and the flute is just plain hard to play. Again, thanks for your time!

Thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! I personally didn't like the trombone or flute... but have not seen their saxes.

Yes, thanks for all of your replies. I'll clarify my problem. I've been doing this for 10 years, and (I was hoping) by the name of my post that it was implied that I understand what instruments i like, and I know how to present them to parents. I don't accept the walmart brands, etc. THE PROBLEM IS: We have two instrument rental companies. One of them has started to rent the kids RS Berkeley instruments. Interestingly, the instruments are made in NJ, only 11 minutes from Berkeley Heights, NJ, where the rental company is based. My assumption that I can not prove is that the instruments are the music store's brand that they are trying to make go national (I'm in upstate NY). The instruments are "endorsed" by tons of musicians (who I can only assume are being paid to make these endorsements, so you can't really trust it). If you want to see the instrument company, its at rsberkeley.com Again, I am basically looking for a review from someone who has actually heard of these monsters, I'm not looking for advice about how to run my program or how to introduce instruments to parents. This is a rental company problem. Thanks again

Hello all, I'm hoping for some feedback on an instrument brand that i'm starting to see more and more with my beginning brass students. The brand name is RS Berkeley Now... these instruments for what I can find on the internet are priced right between the run of the mill wal-mart ISO's and the normal brand name school instruments (yamaha, etc.). Probably why they are so appealing to the rental companies to give to kids as rentals. I have tried the student model trumpet and trombone out and was not personally impressed with the response, espcially in the upper register. When I called the company they said "did you try different mouthpieces?" After which I of course said "yes, but i'm not going to have my kids change mouth pieces 20 times in every song each time they have to play in the upper register of the horn." Anyone else out there had any experience with this company or their instruments? Thanks in advance for your reviews and suggestions. Patrick

Awesome man! Great article!

The question itself is political... it has to do with the President changing something that will then cause a domino effect into Drum Corps. No offense meant, but its nearly impossible to discuss the original post without mentioning the politics which created your question to begin with.

I'll chime in. I know that you are simply one of several people blaming teachers for things... but I'll tell you that unless you ARE a teacher yourself (and maybe you are), then you have no right to claim them as the group to be fault. (Not as a blanket statement anyway... yes I realize that there are plenty of "bad" teachers out there). Unless you have been a teacher and been given standards to achieve with no financial backing, no administrative support, no parental followthrough... etc... then you have no right to place blame. Unless you have been a teacher, and been forced to comply with "no child left behind" while trying to maintain high standards... then you have no right to place blame. Unless you have been a teacher.... well... you have no right. There are so many issues right now in the "system" that it is easy to place blame. Sure SOME teachers "don't do their jobs." There are also Parents who "don't do their jobs," Governments who "don't do their jobs," people in every facet of life that "don't do their jobs." In response to the OP... I don't see this as ever happening. It comes down to money, just like everything else, and more time = more money... which Obama would rather give to the Car Companies.

Prayers to the entire Glassmen corps family.

No conviction. This post is as bad as anyone who believes that every single teacher or priest "accused" but not convicted is also evil. This is no better then the mentality of colonists during the Witch trials. Grow up. Look at what the man did for modern music, the art of music videos, dance, pop culture... Look at the man when he was the lead singer of the Jackson 5 and remember him from that period of life... afterall this was when he too was a kid and innocent... oh wait... he was never found guilty.

I've been reading both threads about this guy... and all I can think it that I just simply won't watch sports on CBS anymore. No matter how hard you try to prove your point, some people are just way too egocentric to ever see your side of things. Just don't watch CBS sports... and if you are going to write an email to them, simply do it to tell them that you will be using other sports networks to obtain your sporting information due to their obvious support of negative personal profiling. Don't read his articles to see how obsurd he will be in the next article. Don't watch CBS sports. Don't visit their website.

I can't wait for the show! There won't be fireworks going off nearby during the show I hope...

I absolutely agree... and lets not forget the "Mozart effect" 20 years from now, if we continue with this trend there will be far fewer people in this Nation who think creativly and outside the box, and far more people who are simply full of facts and have a hard time with problem solving. I think drum corps membership will remain steady, as the interest in music will always be there, but I think that with every music program lost in a school you will see a decrease in the musicianship and knowledge kids come into the summer with. Patrick

Hey, i'm not saying not to march corps... If you can do it, then do it. My post was more directed twords the sad state of the Nation where people like you, who is obviously a great teacher, having been awarded "teacher of the year" are laid off because music and artistic thought lose out to standardized testing. Best of luck to you, and enjoy your summer! Patrick

I don't get how anyone can claim that Drum Corps isn't affected by the econ.. I feel blessed to work as a Music Teacher... because I get paid to do what I love. BUT I certainly don't take that for granted. And dont think that I'm not saving up every penny I can just incase... so yes, the econ. has definitly (A)ffected my participation in DC. Deny it if you wish, but you are living an egocentric pipe-dream. The Rochester School District is a prime example of how "important" the Arts are being viewed in the big picture... over 50 Art/music/phys-ed jobs are being cut or cut back to half time positions. NOBODY is immune to cutbacks. One of these cuts in Rochester is a man who was awarded the "Mr. Hollands Opus" award. Sad, sad, sad. Agree, or disagree if you wish, but by cuts being made in our Nation's music programs, Drum Corps, and the future of Drum Corps is being affected. To everyone looking for new work, or worrying and saving like me, good luck to you all. There IS a plan... but sometimes its hard to see what that is until far into the future.

It was a great weekend... you were all amazing It was a wonderful to meet all of the new faces in the corps, and see a bunch of old friends. Dundee will always embrace Empire with open arms, open ears, and standing O's! Come back soon! Patrick