euphononium

Uhm..no. Neither corps are clean right now, but Troopers are way dirtier than Academy at this point, and Academy's hornline..just, wow. Personally, I don't think either corps is going to make it into finals, based off of Academy's tendency to peak early and the fact that the Troopers have so much ground to cover right now. 2010 is going to be a great year for drum corps!

I don't know how this is possible, really, but Bristol is the closest to the sun I've ever been. Seriously, it has never been under 100 degrees or 200% humidity.

You say this as if they're the only corps that is light years ahead of what they did in 2007. Most other corps are. Hell, some are light years ahead of 2009 right now.

No.

thanks Bob!

1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. 1982, 1984. G k, i love all of those shows, but there are corps around right now in june that are cleaner than some of those shows at finals.

also - since when has PR been anywhere near clean in "june"?! this year isn't a whole lot different than most others previous as far as cleaniness...just add in a boatload more of potential.

well, there's about 12 hours left in June, technically. also, I'd go as far as saying it is "june" until there's a full panel everywhere. i'll wait to judge how well Myron and the Regiment go together before i see the final product (which won't be until August 14th). one can't help but acknowledge that almost anything at all will be better than last year's final product. i can't also help but point out the fact that "success" and "compatibility" for the Regiment may not something as tangible as beating corps "x" and "y" and breaking an 80 before "july", nor is it as simple as getting a raving review by "Brasso" on DCP. i'm sure the drumline will be just fine. i plan on enjoying this corps' growth and augmentation of the show every single second of the season. same with all the other corps. seriously, this is going to be one hell of a season.

Exactly.

I don't get/don't like this. All of the other corps could march, drum, play, and spin better, but the corps with "better programming" wins?

Have yet to see the show, but I smell another 2007 coming. I'm sure the corps is incredibly talented -- in fact, I KNOW the corps is. But nobody gives a hoot about who wins in June (or even most of July for that matter). This is going to be one heck of a season.

Go hang a salami, I'm a lasagna hog.

uh, yes? if anything, i feel like the MTX's were a little big. but that might just be my brain remembering how clunky and heavy the MTX's felt... i dunno.

also - - i've worn vipers, mtx, dinkles, style plus, etc... style plus has been by far the worst.

vipers ftw.

They may be bored - try diamond drill or basics in the drill. Focus on timing, rolling through the foot, and using the knee in whatever fashion you do..whether it be straight or bent. Break it down not only step by step - but each subdivision should have an exact assignment to where the body needs to be. Plus one minus one can help solidify direction changes. Also, if you're doing basic 8 count blocks, don't ignore the last count of each 8 count phrase. Stop on 8 and make sure every foot looks exactly the same - one really easy way to instantly make your direction changes uniform. I think that in the high school setting having leaders/drum majors help teach basics is a good thing... as long as they actually have some sort of clue about the technique.

I have friends down in Florida this week and they've tagged him in several pictures on Facebook today... I think the rules have been broken :-P

it makes me sad that corps are starting to shy away from 32" drums... they make such a difference in sound quality to me.

no, not entirely...i started in DCA in 2001 at the age of 14. my first "friday night before finals in the parking lot" rehearsal, someone went around and put a beer in front of all of the baritone players. all of the baritone players then drank their beer. i happened to play baritone.

Is this one of the times you're not being sarcastic?

No. Well, not as of a few years ago. I think their approach has changed slightly in the last two years or so. However, prior to this I know that much of the horn line's rehearsal time, especially in the beginning of the season, is devoted to "finding the edge" and then expanding it further and further while also attempting to control it. That is what JD does with his own playing and has done with probably every horn line he's been in front of, so I'm sure he realizes the risk in this system. I'm also sure that he realizes not everyone likes the results, and I'm pretty sure he and nobody else at Regiment really care a whole lot, because there are several die hard Regiment fans and people that really enjoy performing at the edge. So while the reward is never a guarantee, it must feel good to stand in front of a horn line that has "found itself", a la 2005 - 2008, IMO, of course and with few exceptions... I love that Regiment isn't afraid to wear their emotions on their sleeve, in a sense. I'd rather have a little hype like finals in 2007 (although I believe that semi-finals was a much better show) and 2009. Yeah, it is a little out of tune, and there are a couple individuals popping out of the ensemble, but I feel that if you're really listening so closely and picking out so many minute details, then you really need to just step back for a second. I got to that point a couple years ago, and when I was watching a show I couldn't enjoy a single corps because I was SO CRITICAL of everything that every corps did! It really wasn't any fun and definitely not my money's worth. Last thought. I'm watching a performance of Mahler's 2nd right now. I can't imagine the brass section performing this piece any other way than "on the edge"... it is borderline crass, and there are a few intonation problems, but overall, listening to this piece is a deeply emotional and moving experience that would likely not have quite the same effect without that aspect of the performance - the human factor, if you will. And yes. Euphoniums Buicks FTW.

The first time I played with a professional ensemble I ended up behind the horns... and ended up shocked. At times it sounded like a cross between flatulence and a dying cat. It was the best horn section I've ever heard from up front and actually ended up turning me into a horn player.

I was told by my corps that DCI was going to start handing out fines to corps who left too much "garbage" on the field and to corps that didn't clear the field in a reasonable amount of time. This was for retreat after finals, though.. not the age out ceremony.

Colts FTW

At the Normal, IL show, I observed a rather annoying event unfold. I'm totally guilty of this - but a few people decided to sneak closer to the 50 and cram into some empty seats. Well, the people who paid for a couple of the seats in front of me showed up after a few corps had performed. A middle aged woman (who'd obviously been on a cook truck with a certain corps for several years) farther down the isle decided to "take control" of the situation. She thought it'd be best to ask everyone in the entire row to move down two seats towards the 50 and give worse seats to the people who actually paid for better seats. She kept stating "this is how we do it in drum corps!!" Fortunately the people who showed up late were pretty easy going, and just sat down in the two seats this woman cleared for them. I would have been pretty angry to end up on the 20 yard line when my seats were actually on the 35. I don't care if that's how you "do it in drum corps"... I paid for my #### seats!!