dsb2007

I disagree. Division 1 has nothing to do with how a corps tours. It has to do with the quality of the corps. Just like Academy in 06, corps like Spartans and Jersey Surf are getting too big and too good for their participation in Division 2 to even be fair. It's ridiculous to suggest that the Academy should be in Division 2 full schedule or not when they were so close to Division 1 finals. That would be a total waste! If a corps is good enough to compete with the top 12 - top 17 corps, they belong in Division 1 no matter how much they tour or don't tour.

I agree with you! Jersey Surf was amazing last year. Them and Spartans were easily at the same level as Academy in 06. If Jersey Surf really does make this move I will... I hope this rumor is true!

I'm not desputing that directors see the value of a kid's educational benefits of marching drum corps nor do I doubt for a minute that directors realize how much better of an asset that kid will be to the program. What I disagree with in your point is that the director wants themselves to be the only source of musical and educational growth for their students. I don't think I've ever met a band director who doesn't want their students to get as much out of their music education as they can. I do however think that directors have an obligation to provide the very best for their programs and having kids miss an entire summer puts directors in a tough position which is why some directors do discourage it. Either way, I still think that if the majority of Division 1 corps only did a limited tour, more directors would give a head nod.

There was quite a bit of controversy this summer over corps like The Academy and whether they should be allowed to participate as a D1 corps in the capasity that they did with the benefits they got. For a while, I was very torn on the issue and agreed with some of the people that were complaining about it. Now, after thinking longer and harder about it...I'm actually wondering if it not only should be allowed...but should it maybe even be the way to go or even REQUIRED for more Division 1 corps...maybe even MOST Division 1 corps. With the price of fule and overall financial demands of a corps in general, I wonder of corps would survive longer and have better success taking this rout. Here are some points I have considered. - Less touring = stronger budget: Corps would have more longevity and run less of a risk of folding if they did not tour between 75-90 days out of the year. This would allow corps to spend money in other ways that could be more beneficial to the educational value of the corps...such as staff - as in offering a better dollar to recieve a better result from staff members or even better staff period. A corps would also have more money to work with for spending money on equipment. - Less touring = smaller need for large tour fees: Lets face it, drum corps is for the kid with rich parents now. Thousands of dollars go into just one kid's tour fee in most Division 1 corps these days. Parents have to take out loans now for their kids to march. I've even heard of some parents who knowing that their kid will want to march drum corps someday...or want them to themselves are setting up both a "college fund" and a "drum corps fund". While that sounds great on the surface...knowing that the activity is getting better support than it used to...it's sad that it's that difficult for a kid with middle class parents to afford to march. What if, kids only had to pay half of what the normal going rate is? - Less touring = more balanced life for the drum corps kid (and staff) When I talk to kids who are in corps that tour full time and then talk to kids who tour part time (I met some Academy kids last year in fact), it seems like the kids in the part time touring corps are...well...if I may be this honest...MORE NORMAL! They can have days where they can jump in the pool or go to the beach and live a normal teenage summer life and still have the benefits of drum corps. In addition, they can take summer classes easier if need be (depending on the type of class)...and here is a big one...BE AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE BAND CAMP! Now lets think about that one for a minute. We all know that there are HUNDREDS of high school and college band directors out there who have a bad taste in their mouth over drum corps because kids miss summer band camps and activities that are important to the growth and stability of their band programs...and yes...that IS important. If a kid can march drum corps and hardly (if at all) skip a beat with their band programs...don't you think a good percentage of those directors would have a better attitude about the activity? I do. Now I know some people will say that because the corps rehearses less and tours and performs less that the quality of the corps' performance would go down. Well, two years ago, there was no way to argue with that because we had yet to see a corps be at a finalist contending level who was only a part time touring corps. This past season, we were esposed to The Academy who despite what critics may say...PROVED that a corps can perform at that level with only a partial tour and not rehearsing every day. Something to think about. Enjoy discussing!

I don't think you can make a blanket statement like that. First of all, consider The Academy who were the Division II champions in 06 and then Division I 13th place in 07...making a strong contention for finals......THEN compare them to corps like The Spartans who are easily comparable..... Now...consider this question in light of what I just said. Are the top 5 high school marching bands at BOA better than the lower placing DCI Division I finalists (keep Academy and Spartans in mind before you answer)? I would say no. I've been to both places several times and know that there is a clear difference. NOW, could one say that the top 5 bands at BOA Grand Nationals might be comparable to the 15-17 pacing corps in Division I? Yes! have no doubt. In light of that, I would conclude that DCI Division II/III finals as a whole is on about a level playing field with BOA GN finals...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF the top 2 or 3 Division II/III corps who might even be a little better than the top 2 or 3 high school bands and BOA Nationals. That being said, I think EITHER arena....DCI Division II/III...OR a good high school band program could be an equilly good place to prepare for the hope of making a Division I corps.

Part of me actually wants to say 2002 simply for the fact that the tempos were faster and as much as I hate to say it.....the quality of today's corps is just better. Sorry old schoolers. BUT.......I'm going to vote for 1986 because the arrangement was just better in my opinion. The problem with the 2002 arrangement is that it's just to short and spliced. But again I still think 2002 was performed better.