sundown

I'm with you all the way with these questions. I scratch my head over the seemingly unrelated body contortions. Wish it would stop.

Hi Ed, Like you, I’m old school drum corps. I marched in a junior corps called the Sundowners (Warren, PA) and hung around the big boys like St. Joes and Toronto Optimists when I had a chance. I played snare and tenor. I started thinking it’s not the same when I saw keyboards and dance costumes take the field. My wife told me to get over it and accept the changes. I was doing well at that until they started calling soprano horns “trumpets” and contrabass horns “Tubas”. I then heard electronic synthesizers at a DCI show last month and decided they’d gone over the top. It’s probably like anything. The activity will continue to change until it’s no longer called “drum and bugle corps”. There is one convention from the old days that I’d like to revive down here in Houston. All-girl corps once existed – MelloDears and Audubon Bon Bons, to name a few. I’m trying to develop interest in an all-girl drum line which would play for fun in the local area. We’d integrate the “spit and polish” you mentioned, but would also allow them to cut loose and improvise once in a while. The name would be the Houston Yellow Roses. Not sure if this concept will get off the ground; this all depends on interest level. So, as you can see, we older veterans can still have some impact. I hope you get out your horn and blow a few notes for us old schoolers! Randall Buerkle

Thanks, Russ. I'll check it out. It seems our community needs something like this. Too many drum lines run on testosterone!

I am seeking out girls/women (ages 15 and up) who might be interested in a Houston drum line. This would be a professional group of about 12 people, using corps and band style percussion. Ability to carry a beat is first priority; attractiveness is a HIGH second. This would be a show group that would play for personal enjoyment and public appearances. Must exhibit professionalism by showing up at practices and appearances on time. Arrangements would be simple but catchy. Just looking for now to see if there is interest. (FYI - I am a former director of a drum line in Virginia.) Contact me at rndlb@yahoo.com rather than this forum.

Trey, I'm new to Houston and had a small drum line back in Virginia. Is it hard to get into Gulf Coast Sound?

The Rumbo Drum Corps has had just 2 rehearsals and gigs are already in the making! We need more bodies (ages 13 and up) to make a big noise! Rumbo Drum Corps is an all percussion unit that uses snares, toms, cymbals, bass, djembe, and other ethnic percussion to play street beats along with arrangements of Top 10 hits. Our performances are low impact (little or no marching). Rumbo rehearses in a beautiful practice facility every two weeks, Sundays from 3-5. If you're in southwest Virginia, can carry a beat and want to check us out, call 540-588-3670 or email RNDLB@yahoo.com

The staff of the Rumbo Drum Corps is excited to announce the formation of its new concept corps in Roanoke, VA. The corps is looking for ANY percussionists with the desire and commitment to perform at venues in southwest Virginia. Note that this is a percussion ensemble, but with a drum corps look and feel. Rumbo is open to ages 13 through adult. We need 8-15 percussionists. Plans for instrumentation include snare, toms, cymbals, bass, conga, timbales, and djembe. We are looking for people who may have aged out of junior corps or who just want to experience the thrill of corps for the first time. In addition to tight percussion cadences, the corps will also use tracks from popular recordings as accompaniment. We promise awesome fun and hot music! Performing with 'attitude', Rumbo is not your grandfather's drum corps! Rumbo, meaning "direction" in Spanish, is open to individuals from ALL ethnic backgrounds. Rumbo will provide instruments if needed and other items needed for performances. If you are interested, please send an email to rndlb@yahoo.com or call (540) 588-3670. We want to talk Rumbo with you.

Yep, Bridgemen's In the Stone really captured that hesitation 3rd beat which Earth, Wind and Fire are known for.

1971 27th Lancers - Does anyone really know what time it is? (Chicago). That thing cooked!

BKsnare, I've been out of corps for some time, but have always seen this as the most subjective of judging criteria. GE is short for "general effect". It's the WOW! factor in drum corps. GE judges typically place themselvest in the stands, evaluating their own and crowd reaction to the sections of a corps (someone correct me if my info is dated here.) Personally, the way things have been going this season, I'd like to see the fans vote directly for the corps, and no judges. Only problem there would be...too many locals showing up to stuff ballots for the hometown favorites. Hope that helps, Sundown

I'm new here as of today and enjoy the discussions I've been reading. Since someone started the topic of high school bands (and I don't really want to go there), I have a question about corps instrumentation. There was a time when corps were cool. High school bands couldn't touch them, and the instrumentation was unique. Then, corps got on the HS "band"wagon (pardon the pun) and started using keybords (the first sign of losing our identity). Next, we see the brass being called by band instrument nomenclature - trumpets, tubas, and trombones. I'm old school, so can someone explain to me where we lost our frame of reference - after all, they are drum and BUGLE corps??