Musicman1084

Oooooh... sounds fun :)

He was also appointed Assistant Band Director during my junior year there. No wonder Saktig and Bocook also write their shows. I plan on making a few trips home to see them practice that week. Should be fun.

It's not that I can listen to it repeatedly, it's that I can't STOP listening to it. Crown's performance from Orlando was on repeat for the longest time... you know, until I got their San Antonio recording :P I also enjoy listening to The Cadets show this year. Their ballad is awesome. I love it.

http://www.drumcorpsplanet.org/forums//ind...showtopic=67789 I wonder how many times this will be posted? :P

Wow, thanks to all of you for your responses. I didn't expect this post to get that much attention, but I am very grateful. I will take all of these things into consideration. I just dropped off the mellophone at my buddy's place so that he can check it out and see if everything's ok. One thing that I noticed (which I probably should have noticed earlier) is that one of the spit valves is missing a little bit of cork, and it is slightly off center. I might be PMing a few of you this next week to see if you can clarify on certain points. One more question I'd like to ask, though, is actually a two part question... What is typical of a D1 corps' mellophone section range? And secondly, does anybody know where I can find sample sheet music from any drum corps show so that I can perhaps try to play through it and attempt to guage the difficulty level of the music? Thanks again to ALL of you for your responses. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to help me with this. Now all I need is to find a private lesson instructor, which can be pretty difficult in a city with no music shops that deal with horn instruments...

http://www.drumcorpsplanet.org/forums//ind...showtopic=67789

They are looking at what really matters. I'm not sure if you've seen the Cadets' show this year, but it's not all gimmicks as you may think. These kids can PERFORM! They have a great visual program to go along with VERY well played music. Their brassline absolutely blew me away when I saw them in Bristol, and until tonight, I thought their percussion section was untouchable. DCI doesn't have to be all about classical music. There are many other genres out there that can be considered great music other than "American" music. I can also do without the door and all the gimmicks, but unlike you, I am able to look past that and see the show for what it is... extremely talented kids playing some very difficult stuff and EXCELLING at it. Maybe DCI isn't the problem... maybe your closed-mindedness and personal bias is the problem here.

Here are the caption breakdowns for the San Antonio Afternoon show. I thought some others may be interested in seeing it this way. GE Visual 01. 17.100 Blue Knights 02. 17.000 SCV 03. 16.900 Glassmen 04. 16.700 Spirit of JSU 05. 16.300 Crossmen 06. 16.000 Mandarins 07. 15.800 Colts 08. 15.400 Capital Regiment 09. 15.100 Southwind 10. 15.000 The Magic 11. 14.900 Cascades 12. 14.100 Esperanza 13. 13.500 Troopers 14. 13.100 Kiwanis Kavaliers GE Music 01. 17.200 SCV 02. 17.000 Glassmen 03. 16.800 Spirit of JSU 04. 16.700 Blue Knights 05. 16.600 Colts 06. 16.500 Crossmen 07. 15.700 Cascades 08. 15.500 Southwind 09. 15.300 Mandarins 10. 15.200 Esperanza 11. 14.500 Troopers 12. 14.400 Capital Regiment 13. 14.200 The Magic 14. 13.100 Kiwanis Kavaliers GE Total 01. 34.200 SCV 02. 33.900 Glassmen 03. 33.800 Blue Knights 04. 33.500 Spirit of JSU 05. 32.800 Crossmen 06. 32.400 Colts 07. 31.300 Mandarins 08. 30.600 Cascades 08. 30.600 Southwind 10. 29.800 Capital Regiment 11. 29.300 Esperanza 12. 29.200 The Magic 13. 28.000 Troopers 14. 26.200 Kiwanis Kavaliers -------------------------------------- Performance Visual 01. 16.900 Blue Knights 02. 16.500 Crossmen 03. 16.300 SCV 04. 16.200 Spirit of JSU 05. 15.900 Glassmen 06. 15.800 Colts 07. 15.600 Mandarins 08. 15.500 Southwind 09. 15.200 Cascades 10. 14.700 Capital Regiment 11. 14.200 Esperanza 12. 14.100 Troopers 13. 13.800 The Magic 14. 13.200 Kiwanis Kavaliers Ensemble Visual 01. 17.000 SCV 02. 16.900 Spirit of JSU 03. 16.800 Glassmen 04. 16.700 Blue Knights 05. 16.600 Colts 06. 16.400 Crossmen 07. 16.200 Mandarins 08. 15.800 Southwind 09. 15.600 Cascades 10. 15.400 Capital Regiment 11. 15.300 The Magic 12. 15.000 Troopers 13. 14.700 Esperanza 14. 13.200 Kiwanis Kavaliers Colorguard 01. 16.600 Glassmen 02. 16.500 Blue Knights 03. 15.900 SCV 04. 15.700 Spirit of JSU 05. 14.900 Colts 06. 14.800 Crossmen 07. 14.500 Mandarins 08. 14.100 Capital Regiment 09. 13.600 Esperanza 10. 13.400 Cascades 11. 13.200 Southwind 12. 12.800 The Magic 13. 12.600 Troopers 14. 12.100 Kiwanis Kavaliers Visual 01. 25.050 Blue Knights 02. 24.650 Glassmen 03. 24.600 SCV 04. 24.400 Spirit of JSU 05. 23.850 Crossmen 06. 23.650 Colts 07. 23.150 Mandarins 08. 22.250 Southwind 09. 22.100 Cascades 09. 22.100 Capital Regiment 11. 21.250 Esperanza 12. 20.950 The Magic 13. 20.850 Troopers 14. 19.450 Kiwanis Kavaliers ------------------------------------- Brass 01. 17.200 SCV 02. 16.800 Blue Knights 03. 16.300 Spirit of JSU 04. 16.000 Glassmen 05. 15.800 Colts 06. 15.300 Mandarins 07. 15.200 The Magic 08. 15.100 Crossmen 09. 15.000 Cascades 10. 14.800 Southwind 11. 14.500 Capital Regiment 12. 13.900 Esperanza 13. 13.600 Troopers 14. 12.300 Kiwanis Kavaliers Ensemble Music 01. 16.900 Blue Knights 02. 16.600 Crossmen 03. 16.400 Spirit of JSU 04. 16.300 SCV 05. 15.900 Glassmen 06. 15.700 Cascades 07. 15.600 Colts 08. 15.500 CapitalRegiment 09. 15.400 The Magic 10. 15.300 Mandarins 11. 15.100 Troopers 12. 15.000 Southwind 13. 14.800 Esperanza 14. 13.700 Kiwanis Kavaliers Percussion 01. 16.900 Glassmen 02. 16.700 SCV 03. 16.600 Spirit of JSU 04. 16.100 BlueKnights 05. 15.850 Colts 06. 15.500 Crossmen 07. 15.250 Cascades 08. 15.150 Capital Regiment 09. 15.000 The Magic 10. 14.750 Esperanza 11. 14.650 Southwind 12. 14.400 Mandarins 13. 13.250 Troopers 14. 13.200 Kiwanis Kavaliers Music 01. 25.100 SCV 02. 24.900 Blue Knights 03. 24.650 Spiritof JSU 04. 24.400 Glassmen 05. 23.625 Colts 06. 23.600 Crossmen 07. 22.975 Cascades 08. 22.800 The Magic 09. 22.575 CapitalRegiment 10. 22.500 Mandarins 11. 22.225 Southwind 12. 21.725 Esperanza 13. 20.975 Troopers 14. 19.600 Kiwanis Kavaliers

Wasn't the format different that year? If I remember correctly, Glassmen were in the night show because they placed top 8 the previous year, when in reality, they were the 13th place corps to that point in time, making Magic the 12th place corps but having to perform in the afternoon show.

(DCI Major) DCI Southwestern, San Antonio, TX July 23, 2005 DIVISION I 01 83.900 Santa Clara Vanguard 02 83.750 Blue Knights 03 82.950 Glassmen 04 82.550 Spirit from JSU 05 80.250 Crossmen 06 79.675 Colts 07 76.950 Mandarins 08 75.675 Seattle Cascades 09 75.075 Southwind 10 74.475 Capital Regiment 11 72.950 The Magic 12 72.275 Esperanza 13 69.825 Troopers 14 65.250 Kiwanis Kavaliers High Percussion - Glassmen High Brass - SCV High Guard - Glassmen GE - SCV Visual - Blue Knights Music - SCV DIVISION III 1 Revolution 66.850

Looking back on history... Average Number of corps to break 90: Early 70s - 0 Late 70s - 3 80's - 6 Early 90s - 6-7 Late 90's-2000s - 8 The number of corps breaking 90 has definitely increased over the years. The record is 9 in 1992 and 2004. For along time in the late 90s and well into the 2000s there was a string of years where 8 broke 90. I have a feeling one of these years, if not this year, we will finally see 10 break 90. I can see it happen this year...

Great review, Harvey! Thank you. I completely agree with your Crown comments. Their design staff has come up with some VERY creative, clever, and entertaining ideas over the past few years. Last year the visual program seemed to be their strength, but this year it appears as though they are fairly even in music and marching. They have great marching technique and their hornline puts out such a BEAUTIFUL sound that I have yet to hear duplicated. I think I like their sound so much because of the rich mellophone sound. They appear to be the strength of the corps, musically, in my opinion. This year's show is very clever, as the theme isn't too in-your-face, but there's no way that you can't "get" it. The visuals in the ballad from the hornline are great, and the guard costumes, although simple in design, are very effective and used well in the ballad. Like you said, their show is extremely elegant and just beautiful. Those who appreciate the creativity in drum corps will LOVE this show, I know I do. Well done, Crown!

That makes me really happy :)

Would you happen to know of a site online where I can purchase a mouthpiece, or better yet, do you have any mouthpiece recommendations? I just tried buzzing through the mouthpiece, and again, it sounds like too much air coming through. Is this normal? I don't seem to remember this happening back in the day... I attend Northeastern University in Boston, MA... there really aren't any instructors to help me out. The band programs are primarily student run. Do you know of any books or instructional videos with exercises or other tips? Thanks a lot for responding, I really appreciate it!

So I appear to be having a bit of a problem... I played mellophone all throughout high school, but it's been three years since I've played. I wanted to join drum corps upon graduating high school, but my parents forbode me to do so (god knows why...). Without a good music program here at college, and with the thought that I would never get to march again, I regretfully stopped playing. Recently I decided that I was going against my parents wishes and march my age-out year (even if that does mean they won't help pay for my senior year of college). Now that I've overcome this obstacle, I have an even bigger one on my hands... I rented a mellophone from school a few weeks ago and I've started practicing regularly. The only problem is, it appears that I have lost some of the talent I once had... I no longer have any range (I can only play from F-A comfortably, it's sad isn't it?) and I have this weird problem where it sounds like there is a ridiculous amount of excess air coming out of the horn. At first I attributed my shortcomings to the difference in mouthpieces... I'm playing on a 7c right now and I used to play on a 3c back in the day (both trumpet mouthpieces), but now I'm starting to doubt that the mouthpiece is the reason why I am not playing to my potential. I'm not sure what to do and I can't afford a lesson teacher at the moment (nor can I find one). I guess what I am asking is for someone to give me some advice... What am I doing wrong that I can't get decent range without having to push for it? Is my air coming from the wrong place? Am I using too much pressure? And why does it sound like so much air is coming out of my horn? This is my one and only chance at marching junior corps and I don't want to pass this up. It's been my dream ever since I saw my first show in 1998, and now that I finally have the chance to march, I refuse to let anything get in my way. I would appreciate any help or advice. Thanks guys!

1. Cadets 2. Blue Devils 3. Cavaliers 4. Phantom 5. Scouts 6. Coats 7. Crown 8. Boston 9. Blue Knights 10. SCV 11. Glassmen 12. Spirit

Lee, you and the Renegades are truley a class act. I thank you for this story... it definitely brightened my day.

I agree with you. A lot of people have been skeptical regarding the amount of time they will be sight-seeing and how little feedback they will be getting. I did the math on another thread and, if I did my math correctly, they should be having the same amount of practice time per week... if not more. I'm confident that the staff knows what's best for the corps from a design standpoint. They'll be just fine.

Great review, Matt. Thanks a lot. I agree with your comments about the Cadets. When I saw their show I was expecting the worst from all the negative feedback it had been receiving. When I saw it I still didn't know what to think, but looking back now I find the show to be VERY well put together. That, coupled with these incredible performers, makes them a shoe-in for at least the top 3 in my opinion. And you're right... the encore performance was the best part of the evening. Did they do the little 5 person ensemble that started off with 1812 Overture?

1. Cadets - 98.35 2. Blue Devils - 98.00 3. Madison Scouts - 96.325 4. Cavaliers - 96.30 5. Phantom Regiment - 95.8 6. Bluecoats - 94.775 7. SCV - 94.70 8. Glassmen - 92.15 9. Crown - 91.75 10. Boston - 90.90 11. Spirit - 88.3 12. Crossmen - 86.85 13. Colts - 86.55 14. Seattle Cascades - 86.4 15. Blue Knights - 85.7 16. Mandarins - 82.45 17. Pacific Crest - 81.95 18. Magic - 79.1 19. Southwind - 78.775 20. Capital Regiment - 76.4 21. Esperanza - 76.25 22. Pioneer - 75.475 23. Troopers - 72.3 24. Kiwanis - 67.4 Am I crazy for predicting Madison in 3rd? Yes. This isn't exactly what I think will happen... it's also a mix of what I hope will happen. But for the most part, this is just what I think. I have a feeling Crossmen will have a hard time getting into finals, but it just wouldn't be the same without them. They'll kick it up a notch.

Does anybody remember anything about Whalers Drum Corps? I had a boss a few years ago who kept mentioning that he marched with them. Based out of New Bedford, I think.