FireSop1

"WOW"!!!! What "EXCITING" news!!! I can't wait to hear this new "Excelsior Fanfare"!......And, if it's by "Robert Smith", no doubt it is going to be "GREAT"!! I also love the idea of the "Robin Hood/Sherwood Forest" Theme! "BEST OF WISHES" for a "FANTASTIC 2006 SEASON"!!! And, in the spirit of "Northern Corps Comradarie", the "G-Force D & B Corps" look forward to seeing you out there in 2006!!!!

GIVE ME A "G"........... GIVE ME A "F.......... GIVE ME A "O"....... GIVE ME A "R"....... GIVE ME A "C"........ GIVE ME A "E"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"BEST OF WISHES" to MCL for a "FANTASTIC 2006 SEASON"!!!! And, since I don't see any of you on here yet, I am going to presume that the "Open House" was everything that was hoped for!! Ed, I'll want a full report by "IM" at your earliest convienence!!!!

This sounds "AWESOME"!!! We, your "PA Corps" Brothers and Sisters will have to come to some Shows, to show our Support! "Best of Wishes" for both the "Indoor Guard" and "Indoor Percussion"!!!!

BUMP in the "KEY OF G"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“DON’T BE SHY AND DON’T BE FRUGAL.....FORGET YOUR INHIBITIONS AND PLAY A G-BUGLE”!!! The “G-Force Drum & Bugle Corps” will be holding it’s “Open House/Membership Day” on January 14, 2006 at 1:00 PM at the “Tree of Life” Church in Latrobe, PA. 1006 Cedar Street - Latrobe, PA 15650. COME ONE....COME ALL!.....And experience the EXCITEMENT and RAW POWER of playing authentic “G-Bugles”!!! Our goal is to field a solid “Class A” DCA Corps, with a minimum of 25 Brass, 20 Percussion, and 8 Guard members. No need to worry if you don’t have your own equipment....We have a full line of“G-Bugles”, a full inventory of Percussion, as well as Guard Equipment! In fact, unlike most new Corps, we have the capability to field a full 128 member Drum Corps!!! All we need now is YOU.....to help us make the Music of the “G-FORCE”.....the “MUSIC” that will “CAPTIVATE” and “INSPIRE” the entire Drum Corps Activity with it’s unmatched “FORCE OF POWER”!!!! Come make new friends, bring your old friends, and make the memories of a lifetime with others who also “LONG TO FEEL THE G’S”.......OF THE “G-FORCE” THAT IS!!! And, remember.....”IF IT’S NOT IN ‘G’, IT’S NOT DRUM CORPS”!!!! For More Information, please contact: Corps Director: Randall Kratofil at: 412-601-0152 Or, visit the official Corps WebSite at: WWW.GForceDBC.org

"BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS" to Brent and the "Austin Stars"!!! Looking forward to seeing you guys out there in 2007!!!! P.S. - Interesting history on the Texas "Lone Star"!

Just remember.....the "Force" made me do it!!!! "BUMPITY BUMP"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe, Thanks for the background info on the name. I must admit, I was also wondering how you guys came up with the name "Excelsior".....and, I do think it's an "Excellent" and "Unique" name! Also, who came up with the "beautiful multi-colored" logo that is on your WebSite?! It is a "Great" idea!!! Have you thought of including that logo on the uniforms?! Now that would be "very unique"!!!

Yes, it's about that time again! BU-BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To The New Orleans "Echoes": My heart goes out to you....after Katrina hit, you guys were one of the first things I thought of....though I've never met any of you in person, I consider all "Drum Corps" people part of my "extended family". So, as horrible as it was seeing all of New Orleans so devastated....it hurt even worse to know that part of the Drum Corps community was hurt as well. You WILL come back from this! And, you will re-build yourselves even stronger than before!! May "faith" and the "bonds of brotherhood" that is our "Great Activity" forever strengthen you!!!! "May God Bless Echoes"!

Excellent Idea! It should have happened sooner!

BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck, Excelsior!!! Hope to see you out there sometime in 2006! Great Corps name....and I also love your "catch phrase" about where you're located! "Original & Creative"!

"ATTENTION DRUM CORPS ENTHUSIASTS"!!! The G-Force Drum & Bugle Corps will be holding it’s “OPEN HOUSE/MEMBERSHIP DAY” On January 14, 2006 at 1:00 PM. The OPEN HOUSE will be held at the "Tree of Life" Church in Latrobe, PA. 1006 Cedar Street - Latrobe, PA 15650 Come experience the EXCITEMENT and RAW POWER of playing authentic “G-Bugles”!!!..... Many tout G-Bugles as having excellent “projection on the field” and also a certain “brillance of sound” that is unmatched by Bugles in any other key....Now is the time to come check out G-Force and find out for yourself if it is all true!!! If you live in the Western, PA, Northern Ohio, West Virginia or Maryland areas, G-Force is pratically right in your backyard! Why drive hundreds of miles to do drum corps somewhere else, when you can be part of a “growing” and “ambitious” drum corps, much closer to where you live?! G-Force is already equipped with a full line of G-Bugles, Percussion and Guard equipment....so all you need to do is just come on out,“plug yourself in”, and “presto”!.....You will be part of “Great Drum Corps History” in the making! Let’s show the Drum Corps Activity that a Quality, Competitive, All-Age Corps is alive and well in Western, PA! Come make new friends, bring your old friends with you, and make memories that will last a lifetime!....Become part of the "FORCE" that will CAPTIVATE and INSPIRE the entire Drum Corps Activity with it’s UNMATCHED FORCE OF POWER.....Join the “G-FORCE DRUM & BUGLE CORPS”!!!!!!! And, remember...."IF IT'S NOT IN 'G', IT'S NOT DRUM CORPS"!!! For More Information, please contact: Corps Director - Randall Kratofil at: 412-601-0152 Or, visit the official Corps WebSite at: WWW.GForceDBC.org

The "CROSSMEN ALUMNI CORPS" will hold their next rehearsal on: SUNDAY, JANUARY 30.TH, FROM 12 - 6 PM AT THE "NORTH PENN VFW POST" - 2519 JENKINTOWN ROAD GLENSIDE, PA 19038 Come out and join us for "BONES NEW ERA"......as we "ROCK THE WORLD" with "RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS" and other Crossmen Favorites for our "2005 Show"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For "Directions" to the "North Penn VFW Post" visit our official WebSite at: WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/CROSSMENALUMNI/ For more info contact: Kevin McDermott - CrossmenCorps30@optonline.net OR Brenda Kurtz - BonesFire89.90@earthlink.net

Good Luck, Brigs!!! I always look forward to seeing you guys....but, am especially intrigued by this year's show music.....can't wait to hear it!!! B)

Thanks So Much, Chris! :D

Oh, I love this thread! My favorite and most influential Brass Instructors were, without a doubt, Jack Meehan, Jerry Kelsey and Andy Reese. Jack Meehan....he is, simply put, one of the most talented and "inspiring" instructors I have ever had! He came to work with us in Crossmen 1990, and he was able to elevate our hornline to a level that we had never been to before. He just had a way of getting things out of us...musicality and emotion, that no one else could! He took our sound and "refined" it....he made it "beautiful", while at the same time, increasing our technique and power. I attribute Jack Meehan to the start of the new, and better Crossmen sound, which set the stage for the rest of the 90's, which the Corps was able to build on from there. Jerry Kelsey....he is just brilliant....a genious! I had the privilage of being taught by him when I was in Florida Wave. He was an excellent motivator...and, when he was in front of the line, he commanded so much respect. He just had a way of getting things out of us that no one else could. There was an "intensity" to him when he instructed, that also brought that out in us, as musicians. Not to mention his writing and arranging abilities....which are second to none! He wrote and arranged an original piece for us in Florida Wave 1987 called "Cuban Candy"....it is an amazing piece to perform....highly charged and exciting....I just loved it! Andy Reese....he was Soprano Instructor for Florida Wave, all 3 of the years I was in. This man was just amazing....He was great at getting the line to work through parts on a "technical" standpoint. He was precise and thorough....and, as a result, we all became much better musicians. He would never stand for anyone in the line, from top to bottom, not knowing their parts completely...even down to one or two notes...and he wouldn't stop working the line until it was completely tight. When I think about how solid we used to play, as a line, at the end of a sectional with him....it is "mind blowing"! He was incredibly "intense" in his teaching style...he was all about business when it came to playing. He used to say to us, "I know you guys like to have fun on your breaks and after rehearsal, but remember, the "real fun" is playing the crap out of your music, and giving a kick butt performance....that's the "serious fun". He couldn't have been more right!!! I feel very blessed to have had some of, in my opinion, the "best instructors" in the Activity! :)

My suggestion to you would be the "Marcinkiewicz" line of mouthpieces. I absolutely love these mouthpieces. I like them because they are comfortable...no sharp rim like a "bach" mouthpiece...they give you good endurance, are great for range and produce an all around good sound. They work well for all different styles of music, and are great for corps playing. If you are going to be doing mostly classical playing, you would be better to go with either a #1 or a #3...which will give you a darker sound. Otherwise, if you are going to be playing a lot of different styles, you could go with some of the higher numbers. I am playing on a Marcinkiewicz #5 which works very well for a variety of different styles. I would suggest trying either a #3 or a #5...but, try as many as you need to find the one that's right for you. The Bach Strad 37 is a great all around horn. I stand by these horns and wouldn't trade mine for anything! Best of Wishes to you for your plans to march Corps....it is an experience like no other....and one that you will treasure forever. :)

Favorites that come to mind: Dean Dukes - Florida Wave - '86, '87, '88 James Hosmer - Phantom Regiment - '87 I believe The soloist in Suncoast Sound '85 Mike Wessling - Vanguard '86

Well said!!! I'll take a bath in that PR chocolate any day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! B) :P

"Great Minds Think Alike"!!!!!!! B)

My best recommendation would be the Yamaha "Silent Brass" System. I have used several other types of practice mutes in the past, but I much prefer using the Silent Brass, as you don't get as much "back pressure" as you will with other types of practice mutes. You will still get "some" back pressure with the "Silent Brass" system, as well, but the pros to using this system, far out weigh the cons and, in my opinion, is just a better practice system, all the way around, if you are not able to play freely where you live. Believe me, I understand how you feel....I have the same predicament.....I live in an Apt where I am not able to play freely, without a practice mute of some sort. I've never actually tried the "Peacemaker Practice Mute", but since it uses a similar concept to the "Silent Brass", I think it would definately be worth looking in to, as well, especially if you aren't in a position to put out the extra money for the Silent Brass system. On a side note, another benefit I have noticed with using the Silent Brass system is that it really forces you to keep your "corners" firm while you are playing. And, as long as you don't play "too long on it", it can also work as an overall strengthener for your chops, as well. At least, this has been my experience.

I can't believe it either! What a terrible "Tragedy"!!!!!!!!!! :(