FarmerFred

My 5 years they made recommendations so as to help the individual's sound fit the book and the overall balance of the horn line. Obviously bright "peashooters" wouldn't help a dark and classical book and vice versa with a jazz book. I had to justify my Schilke to Regiment but it made the requirements on the basis of it's customizations.

Regiment at that time didn't want the leads to use Schilkes at all so we could have a darker sound. The mouthpiece I used, 14B5E, has a deeper cup and the widest bore they could put on it so I was able to get by with it. I've still got my 14A4A and it helps me out quite a bit ;) but I like the broader sound I get with my other mouthpiece. Really I guess it comes down to the music style and the line someone marches with. I wish I could remember one mouthpiece that a guy I marched with in Sky Ryders used. We called it the "Nickel with a hole in it" and he could hit notes that caused mosquitos to leave. :p

I used a Schilke 14B5E for the five years I marched. Most brass staff cringed when I mentioned Schilke but I showed them the bore was wide enough to get the sound they needed.

No....we were actually nice guys and girls...just havin' a little fun with the music. :p

I'm interested in hearing what everyone's favorite horn lick, rip, riff, show-off...whatever you want to call it. Post it here and see if there's some the others never noticed. Personally my favorite tie is between the 1989 Blue Devils soprano feature and the 1993 Freelancers Bill Chase Opener.

The only tip I can offer is repetition. Snap with your right hand and catch with your left. Just make sure you don't start breaking the welds or rings off your instrument. I've seen many come loose over the years. :)

A good number of Texas folks have gone up to Rockford to march over the years. Many during my two years with them in the early '90s. Actually after you said that it makes me wonder who all was there. Good to hear the great things on Legend of Texas. Stefan Hildebrand Sky Ryders 1989,1990,1991 Phantom Regiment 1992,1993

Two of the most memorable players I was around in DCI were not brass players. I knew a saxaphone player who told the '88 VK brass staff that he could play. He wound up playing flugelhorn for them without having tried it before. Turns out he was pretty good at it. I knew another guy in '93 Regiment that played soprano. He actually was a violin performance major but he really poured himself into it and turned out to be a really good player. S. Hildebrand Sky Ryder 1989,1990,1991 Phantom Regiment 1992,1993

I marched from 1989 to 1993 and had the pleasure of seeing many incredible corps (other than the ones I marched for) during those summers. While I will agree that 1991 was an incredible year for Star and indisputably one of the defining shows of DCI through the years I have to say that the 1990 edition of Star of Indiana was a pivotal show not only for their own growth but for DCI altogether. Belshazzar's Feast (sp) was certainly a memorable show from the many that occured in 1990. It was a close call between 1991 and 1990 but Iid have to tip my hat to 1990. S. Hildebrand Sky Ryders 1989,1990,1991 Phantom Regiment 1992,1993