Joseph Ledesma

Your picking apart my opinion amuses me. Especially since I was talking about Boston's drumline, not Blue Stars. I like how you bluntly insult me also. It may have something to do with my signature no? You're probably a Boston Crusaders fan or alumni or something. Colts haven't made finals for some time so far as I recall until JB was there, whatever makes you think they'll stay there is trivial. I really hope you don't think you're some sort of 'professional' on this subject. It would offend many people thoroughly I can imagine. You should probably not be so serious about drum corps placement predictions, since they have absolutely no affect on what actually happens, nor does it hurt anybody. Just a thought.

Oh, my mistake. I stand corrected. Thanks. Its obvious I'm not familiar with everyone's staff. From what I hear out of SCV though, I feel they are going to break into the top 3 again. Someone had googly eyes about what I said about the Colts, that amused me, we'll see what happens though. Just my opinions! Anything could happen.

I have a pretty different view of finals than most anyone I think Top 3 I think that SCV, BD, and Cadets will battle it out for these spots this summer, based on BD's championship, Cadets show was great minus the talking, but I have a feeling it will be similar this season. Santa Clara has some great staff lined up this summer, and with as good as they sounded last season, I can see a huge jump this season, former Crown caption head at SCV, old drum staff returning... etc. 4th-5th Cavaliers and Regiment Will probably fight, but not not as they used to, having no updates on staff or anything, nothing seems to be new, I just don't see them going much higher than this. I can see Crown stealing into these places too. 6th-8th Blue Knights, Crown, and probably Bluecoats will make up these spots, just based on past performance and such. I am considering Blue Knights as if I didn't march. New caption head appears to have an edge over past season's, staff is upgraded, young corps, but you never know with groups like this. I can see Crown in 6th if in this section at all, so long as they keep their momentum and their new caption head keeps their quality up. Bluecoats are up and down, and I feel this season may be a temporary drop, I can see them having another great show, but not quite the caliber of last season. 9th-12th Colts drop out of finals, without J-Buck, I highly doubt Colts will live very long without him, I'm pretty sure they'll drop out of finals. I believe Academy will jump into finals, Bluestars and Boston Crusaders will likely stay in finals, but they don't appear to be very strong since the last few seasons, their greatest strength is probably their percussion, but I can't see the hornline or guard improving much. 13th-17th Troopers will make Semis, Madison will be in Semis, but not much better than last season (Why in God's name did they have to change uniforms?). Colts will take a place here somewhere just a drop in quality with there being a new caption head, and staff changes. I can't see Spirit making much improvement over last season, and I feel they will drop out of finals, being replaced by the Bluestars and Academy who REALLY REALLY REALLY want to make finals. I just see the two fighting harder than Spirit and winning them out. I have a feeling that despite good progress that Glassmen will find themselves just barely edged out of finals. Proabably will see Crossmen in Semifinals too. These placements are difficult to predict to me. 18th-last The usual crowd for the most part, Pioneer, Seattle Cascades, Mandarins, Pacific Crest, and someone who gets edged out of semis, I don't think Troopers, Glassmen, Crossmen, or Spirit will be those corps. If anyone... Madison, and I feel bad thinking of that. It makes my stomach turn.

I find it interesting that most of the people who post on here that I have seen, are alumni. Its a real shame you can't see through the changes and still support the people who still march. Who says every drum corps HAS to have all that electronic crap? No-one! 'When drum corps was drum corps... blah blah blah' Great! Sweet! You belittle us! It is unfair to us, who wish it could be how it WAS, and tell us we can't do it, with members OUR age, as you all did! I absolutely disagree with all the electronics, and every Hopkins decision, and I still want to march drum corps, because I know some corps will push through all the change and remain unscathed by this. So far as I know, Santa Clara hasn't been talking on the field, Phantom Regiment hasn't, Troopers hasn't, Blue Knight's hasn't! It was awfully 'great' to see this.

I have a few polls up, one is for the hell of it, one is to see how everyone feels about drum corps, what they like MOST about it, all negative things put aside, and assuming its not about a specific corps, the last is an interesting question. Thanks so much! If you have questions, or whatever, wanna talk. I'm all ears n' stuff. Peace, Joe L.

Marching Blue Knights, experience on our new set of horns... the Euphs play real nice, way better tuning than the last set we had, the Baris feel stuffy when you play them. The tubas sound amazing, the bell is much larger than the previous design, and less tubing... downside is no 4th valve. I hear a lot of instructors and others around me argue that King has a better line of low brass, and better ring to it, and that Yamaha has the better quality lines of high brass instruments. I have little experience with how Yamaha's play, but most people I know, choose King over Yamaha. The Euphs and Tubas are the best sounding of the low brass line though.

Thanks

Hi, My name is Joseph Ledesma. For the past two years I have been a member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps as a part of the Euphonium section. As per the 2007 Fall season I have been enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder. Without assistance, I will not be able to march with the Blue Knights for the 2008 season. I am the Baritone Section Leader, along with my partner in crime in the Euphonium section, but my family is having difficulty with the financial end of this season, which had been barely met the past two years. Acknowledging the good nature of the Drum Corps community, I appeal to anyone's generosity as a member of the Drum Corps International community. Best Regards and My Most Sincere Thanks, Joseph Ledesma