2ndSop4Life

So let me get this straight... 19 year old kid has marched a whopping 3 years of drum corps Is listed as the executive director, music arranger, brass caption head, and mello tech He's also listed as the new drum major for a completely different corps ......what? Seems to me something isn't 100% right up in the ol' noggin.

So I don't know anything about the Crossmen, which I found to be odd because I know at least a few of the best shows of each corps. Seems like the Crossmen have a good following on here and generate a lot of hype. So my question is, can anyone let me know what are must-see Crossmen shows? I need to put my Fan Network account to work anyway. Thanks guys

My opinions that haven't already been stated by someone else: Blue Knights: Boring music, boring drill. What the heck was their show about? Not a fan. Boston: The past few years have provided shows that fail to keep me awake. Yes, I have fallen asleep at a drum corps show. In a dome. Glassmen: Uh, what? Why are they still in finals? Crossmen: A little over-rated. Not sure how they spent so much time in 12th place with that show. Edit: I take back my comment about the Blue Stars. I was misinformed by a previous member who left the organization through "frustration with where the corps was going." My rant was immature. My apologies to anyone I have offended.

And another corps releases a show title with no other information at all. How is one supposed to get excited over a word? Corps X is proud to present: "Cheese" ZOMG IT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST SHOW EVAR!!!!!!111!!!!1!one1!!!!!

Weren't a bunch of these guys on Glassmen's brass staff last year? What does that mean for them? But dang, that is one good brass staff right there.

Weird, cause I thought of JEJ just now too...

End of Phantom 07 would work pretty well. They're busting ### and playing well. Maybe Phantom 03?

Yes, cause the Scouts have never "felt the wrath" of DCP. Ever...

This is how I see it, and if it has already been said, I apologize but I just don't have time to read 11 pages of replies right now. The activity is moving in a new direction. If you don't follow the direction the activity is moving, you fall behind. Falling behind turns into not being competitive Not being competitive means less income and less interest Low income and low interest turns into corps folding So we can have the Scouts using a synth, or we can have the Scouts eventually fold. (Maybe a little extreme, but you get my point, yes?) Let's all get angry about it before we even know what they're planning. "The Scouts are going to suck because they mentioned they're using a synth. And the Cadets are going to win because they've announced their show first." Both of those statements make equal sense to me. Seriously, why are people acting like they're automatically going to make the show focused solely on the synth player and the remaining 149 members are just going to play second fiddle to him? And that it will be used in a non tasteful matter? OMG SYNTH SOLO!!!1!!11! What if it's actually maybe, a really good addition and everyone loves it?

Phones are good. Nice to get in touch with the real world. Bring the wall charger and charge it overnight in the gym. You really don't have anywhere to plug a car charger in to. But it's a good idea to have a good hiding place or something for it when you're on the field. Anyone can just walk in to a gym and say "look, I now have a new iPod." I couldn't last all summer without an iPod. Helps me fall asleep on the bus. Put on some relaxing music and I'm out.

Not necessarily. All you need is a pair of cheap sandals that won't fall apart. I found mine at a dollar store. Lasted all summer. My feet didn't get nasty and they pack real well in your suitcase.

I can count many times this summer where I hated everything and just wanted to go home. Put a lot of thought into whether I wanted to march this upcoming summer, and where I would go. A lot of things factored into that, including treatment of staff, other members, questioning if I made the right choice on how to spend my summer, and even my personal arrogance wondering why people couldn't pick up on things I found so simple. Lo and behold, come offseason and all I want is for this summer to arrive so I can be back with my corps for another great three months (after all days of course ) Turned out to be just a couple of rough weeks that I soon got over and enjoyed the rest of my summer with the people I wouldn't get to see again for a while. It still makes me happy to see corps that didn't necessarily have a "successful" season see an incredible retention rate. That says an awful lot about the corps and the experience one receives there. Winning isn't everything, it just generates a lot of interest for prospective members who think it is.

You know, now that I think of it, I'm trying to figure out what years they did play Latin lately. 08 obviously. 05 had Latin flavor. 04 had Malaga. Then the next years I can think of are 94-96. Then Malaguena in 88. So that's it for the past 20 years. Oh wait, sorry, I forgot they played Stars and Stripes Forever in 87... Thank you corpsreps

I was talking to a guy I met at school who marched Madison last year, and this is what I gathered about their show: Their drill: not the easiest in the world. I'm anxious to get the DVD and see if it's true there was really only one part in their ballad-less show where they stood still for a period longer than a couple seconds. Second, it was all above 180 besides the, as he referred to it, "lush hit" before the drum break, which I know isn't that special anymore with shows getting faster and faster (Cadets.) Staff changes: only big change is in the visual staff. And from what I understand, is completely for the good. Apparently every day they had a beat down basics that really didn't improve their technique at all. Just had them busting ### for 30-60 minutes straight. And I guess their visual rehearsals weren't the most productive either. The design team and brass staff are still the same, and the color guard only saw minor changes. And with how much everyone talks about their guard being sloppy, I can't see how that is necessarily a bad thing. I wish the DVD would include the Crossmen because I did not get a chance to see them this summer, and am really anxious to see what they did with the way you all hype it. Hopefully it will find its way on to a website or two where someone like me could get a chance to watch it. Anyway, best of luck to both corps this summer. I imagine they will both be excellent programs and highly entertaining. I apologize for my interlude, you may now proceed to discuss the 2009 Madison Scouts show title like this thread was intended for. For now it's only a title. Let's hope we get some musical selections soon.

Well, if they are going with the spin of using El Relampago the superhero, I can see Barrera putting a product on the field that will not disappoint you, or me!

Where are you finding this info? When I go to the site, I don't see any info on 09 besides audition stuff. Anything that hasn't already been mentioned on here?

Well, since right now their visual staff is one person, maybe they're waiting to fill their visual staff before they make a formal announcement. Or maybe they're waiting for April to announce everything like last year.

Sounds like they'll close it if it's supposed to rain at all. The field isn't designed for water drainage like that of an outdoor stadium.

Whenever it comes up randomly on my iPod. I don't go out of my way to listen to it. Unless I for some reason have some new stuff. Then I usually listen to it for a day or two, then back to the full shuffle. Often I find myself skipping it when it comes up. Depends on the show. I have a lot.

Why's that? You don't think Southwind is good enough to compete with Crown?

I know, I know, another one of THESE threads. But give it a chance maybe? I was sitting in my music history class talking about Notker Balbulus, and for those who don't know who he is (and I don't expect you too) he wrote a famous sequence called Dies irae (Day of Wrath), which really has nothing to do with this topic, but led to us listening to other pieces written by later composers. Anyway... Verdi wrote an awesome piece, also titled Dies irae which I think would be perfect on a football field, at least the first movement anyway. And even more, it's perfect for Phantom. I already know I'm not the only person who thinks so because my professor (a Bluecoats alumni) agrees with me. It has that in-your-face attitude that I find similar to the emotion of Sparticus. I mean, the piece is about dying, so you know they'd do something incredible with it. While you're at it, listen to the second movement, especially if you're a trumpet player like myself. It's sick. Just something for you guys to check out if you have some time. You can probably find it on Google, or another website I know of that allows you to share files or something like that.

Haha, what about that little note in your sig? Giving up on Madison?

You don't like Arban's? I've never heard that before. Hmm. Ok. Edit: For flow studies, I love the Concone book.

how do you breath when you're not playing? breath in the meter (in 4/out 4) to control your heart rate and relax your body.

And I'm just being the typical DCP flamer and taking complete offense from your opinion. Cause nobody else's opinion matters besides my own! But really, it's all good. Honestly, I could care less. Just wanted to share my opinion, because I don't think too many people feel the same way.