jdostie

If corps start ordering, they'll start making them to meet the demand, if they slow down on ordering they'll slow down the ordering. They've always been something of a specialty item. And, there are manufacturers that art still making them today. That said, it's a choice made by the activity/corps directors. There are a lot of practical reasons (portability of equipment, ear training, portability of prepared music) that Bb is an easy choice, however the G horn can be a viable option - particularly if a number of corps wanted them. Not the least of which (lest we forget) are the US military drum and bugle corps.

I actually went and practiced with the Freelancer's alumni. It was cool, but my sight-reading is very poor at this point (never was very good), and the pieces transposed to trumpet have a lot of awkward fingerings - and move quickly. The second parts are within my range - and should not overly tax the chops. Lead is out of the question for the foreseeable future. Anyway, back to the topic, there is a possibility that I'll be getting a G soprano, and I don't want to learn the complicated fingerings and then relearn the music again - thus the question. But, there are some parts that call for 2/3 fingering on the soprano part - so now I have to decide the best approach.

Against the eventuality that we might get G horns, and not wanting to have to learn this twice, that might me the best idea. Thanks.

OK so apparently you can "cheat" at transposition by using the third valve (holding it down) on a Bb horn to play music written in G. So, here is my question, what do you do about Eb and Ab written in the G parts? Or does the cheating break down there? Is there an easy rule to remember?

The way I heard it, Moses' Marauders had a bit of trouble with complaining early on, something about not enough variety in their meals and such, Moses came down pretty hard on em though, I think they learned their lesson.

I guess I don't go back as far as you guys, but I know we had the most powerful horn line. Joshua, our drum major, got mad at us and had us march around this God-forsaken town of Jericho . . . for seven days straight. Then we turned an did a company front! Blew the walls right down. edit - fixed some typos.

Rehearsal bag, not "baggie."

WOW, just WOW.

Rehearsal bag? Wow. kids are so organized these days. We used to show up to practice or be on tour with whatever was in our horn case (valve oil and what not), but once we left the horn cases and hit the field it was nothing but the horn, a hat, and some blitex (no such thing as chopsavers back then). We didn't have bottled water back then, and noone but the chaperones likely thought about aspirin. I don't ever remember having a "dot book," I had to ask my daughter what that is . . . as far as I remember it was - "at this part of the show you are here", so many counts, or at this music cue . . . data data da, oblique to the left or whatever, practice that a gajillion times, and it was automatic.

Of course I was kidding, I hope I didn't offend.

So do you blow everything else off, buy your powerball tickets and gas and hit the road - hoping the engine holds out on the single quart of oil? Hey, all that tapping makes a nice metronome for run-throughs right?

Yes, I'd agree with this. I would not agree with this - the part abut because it was hidden it added something either musically, in terms of M&M efficiency, or military bearing. First, and out of order, efficiency - is about efficiency not difficulty, so that part doesn't work. Second, I don't see why military bearing is better with valve/rotor we're not talking about concealing a battle plan. Third, well, coolness from relatively hidden mechanism, that was cool. But, and of course this could be because I only played on valve/rotor for 1/2 season, I much preferred playing on two valve. I could absolutely do more difficult stuff easier, or said another way, things were not as difficult - which opened the way for more difficult licks. I don't necessarily think drum corps is about doing things the most difficult way possible. Although showing that you can do something in spite of obstacles would be. It, to me is about the military bearing, the precision, and the musicality, and of course doing the difficult stuff. But if you find a more efficient tool, you don't say "oh, now things aren't so difficult," instead, you open the door for more difficult stuff still. But in essence, and in spirit, I understand what Geneva was trying to say.

Hm, that makes it between Casper and Denver me thinks.

Not to change the subject, I remember really liking their show that year . . . Is there some controversy I am not aware of/have forgotten about them not getting into finals? On the subject, I've missed too many seasons in my "hybernation" from drum corps to contribute - everything I know is prior to 1980 - Except a few shows I've watch on youtube with includes the Cadets 2000 show - that was awesome - even on video, it must have been something live.

YES, that's about it. The sound should be defined by the piece they are playing, the genre, the style, and even the expression of the arranger. Now, that's going to vary stylistically between certain corps, one expects a certain type of performance from Blue Devils that Vanguard, but one would expect the theme/music choices to be closely aligned with the styles of these corps. BUT, the sound of the horn line should change based on what's being played.

I remember a girl (can't remember her name) marching with MARIMBA . . . I remember staying within the sidelines. I remember ticks (I don't know what's so subjective about a tick, I always thought GE was the subjective score). I remember getting yelled at "lift your legs." I remember trading in my piston/rotor soprano for a two-valve and being VERY happy about it. I remember lining up on the back sideline, and the next year lining up on the 50 yard line (I think I remember that anyway), at least I remember standing on the 50 during rehearsal - was that for the start of the show, I can't remember that - oh memory fades. I remember rifles, flags, and the guard captain with a saber. I remember hating standing in retreat, attention, parade rest, can we please put these horns down . . . in 4th place . . . please don't let that be us, in 3rd place . . . please don't let that be us, crap, that's us . . . maybe next year . . . (and then never marching again). Snif, I miss the good old days.

I think it was in '77, we spent a night in Yellowstone national park. Four to a room. Apparently the drinking age there is 18, so somehow my cabin-mates got someone to buy some brewskies. I think we would have been about 15 then . . . Somehow we stayed out of trouble, but we got a little rowdy in our cabin. I remember thinking for sure that we were going to get busted. Any minute "MARALYN" (I think that was her name - our corps director) was surely going to knock on that door and we'd be in for it. I never spoke of that after that night, but the secret is out now. I hope Maralyn doesn't come and find me now.

Could be that my views became - "modified" when my girls were growing up. They're pretty much grown now, one in college, the other is HS, but I'm still protective. I can tell you this, there are things I liked the girls wearing back when I was in high school that I would not like "my" girls wearing. Double standard I know . . . Somehow I remember the guard skirts above barely above the knee (we're talking late '70's). But maybe I'm off.

That's so wierd, why is it that all of us have this as a memory? I bet most of us didn't really think much about Elvis to that point. We were somewhere in the midwest as I recall, was this after DCI or before? Whatever, I remember being somewhere where there was a huge fireworks stand - getting back on the bus, and someone telling us the news.

Yearbook! We had a yearbook? No kidding, I must have been so out of touch. That's great. Yeah, it's funny, I remember you and everything, but I can't remember if we had a lot of interaction - you know soprano and snare lines didn't get together much. I'm hoping to run into some people we've marched with in the future. I think I'll be seeing Brian on Tuesday - at Freelancer's. Funny thing, I had nothing Conquistadors - literally everything I did have went away when I went in the Navy - though there may be 1 or 2 photos if I can get to pour through my wifes big box. Anyway, I found Matt Castinada's post with a photo of the equipment truck and lifted the logo from there. Best I could do.

Years ago, I don't remember if it was our corps rules, or a larger rule, but we had to take the top/blouse off. It could have just been to keep it clean, I can't remember (too old). And, yeah, I meant the back stands, but still . . . we are in agreement!

K, that's better then, 'course my little girls would not have been wearing skirts that short. I'm a bit protective I guess.

Best way to watch a show - Play your show, take of your uni-top and hit the stands . . . see the show from the field and the stands.

Those are some short skirts! Especially marching high steps . . .

No, no, none of that. At this point I am going up to sit in, then I can come back with what it looks to be, I'll have more information and all. A little over a year and a half ago I decided to go and check out jujutsu lessons, went one night, and then decided to join, that's a three night a week thing. This is one night every other week, and who knows, I might be willing to cut back on the jujutsu to make this acceptable. She has her American Idol thing going on Tuesday evenings so . . . We'll have to play it by ear, but for the moment, I am in the clear to attend a rehearsal and see "what it's all about." Plus, it gets me out of the house to play my horn rather than in - bonus.