BlueStar98

EEK! Sorry to hear that happened. God love the rookies...

So, like, Crossmen haven't been out yet? I must have missed a memo. Why so late?

Dave, Yes, this member was playing sop tonight. In '03, she had an injury early on but still wanted to march, so in the pit she went. Some shuffling went down and that's where she ended up. She had played sop with the corps 2 years before that. No she's back!

I wouldn't try it on anything too expensive. I did on my 6 1/2 and it worked out wonderfully. The intonation was pretty whacky at first, but I soon got used to it and the sound was much better. Basically, try others until you find something you like, or ask your local university prof to help you out.

Good luck guys! Go DCM!

The Blue Stars hornline is off to a fantastic start. With the goal of marching 45 this season, we are well on our way. Just a spot or two to fill in the contra line and two in the baritones, and all spots should be filled. If you are interested in being part of the history of the corps, check out the corps webpage for audition materials and the final opportunity to audition in December. Jump on this opportunity! Blue Stars webpage Jeff Appel - alum and brass staff

Wow, that's a price cut from the $99 it started at. Maybe I'll order one for the school!

I can understand putting out a brass DVD, I'm surprised Wayne hasn't before now. However, what is it that the DVD will show someone that a pretty good private teacher couldn't? It sort of seems like a scam, though I have not yet viewed it. My only real concern is the price. $99!!!!!!!!! Honestly, I wouldn't even care about what was included on this DVD if it was reasonable. By my count, that’s ($99) around 6-8 lessons with a teacher who will be able to teach (hopefully) you and help fix problems, not say, "This is the way we do it." However, perhaps that is what those who are purchasing this are looking for. I would usually reserve judgment on something like this, but the price is out of control in my opinion.

Wow, I'm really sorry. That stinks a lot. Were you getting G's or Bb's? Were you part of the experimental line that PR is using? Is everyone who is checking these horns out not going to be able to get them tweeked?

Wow, that is a much bigger question than you may realize. First of all, do you want to go far from home? Region can play a role. Public or private? Moneymoneymoney. Your ability is also a factor. Do you want to get in right away with ensembles or do you want to have to fight a little to get in? Bigger schools may have more students. Keep in mind this does not mean that they will always be good. Here is a QUICK list of other things to consider. Does the school have a reputation for producing well rounded musicians and educators? Do you like your potential studio teacher? What is the experience of the MusEd faculty and does that faculty publish often? Will you be able to change your major and still be happy at that school? Often, music majors change their minds after the first year. This is not to scare you, it's just the way it is. Can you get in? I personally think that a School of Music that is bigger but not huge is the way to go. It can provide healthy competition and let you get ensemble experince, which is not always the case at bigger name schools. Off the top of my head I can think of some schools that have a good rep for mused faculty. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI Ball State University, Muncie, IN Kent State University, Kent, OH Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PN (?)- has many grad students I think Unversity of Wisconsin at Eau Clair (sp?) Many others are out there, this was just off the top of my head. I'm sure others will chime in.

They are available in small bore. Be sure to specify when you order.

I am curious to see how many people are familiar with the up/down-streaming concept and if there are any players out there who marched using it. Often, instructors insist on having a specific placement of the mouthpiece (50/50) to try and create a unified sound, though this is not always the best course of action. The "streaming" concept has to do with physical makeup and size; jaw, teeth, gums and face of an individual. The idea is that for different physical makeups is a different placement of the mouthpiece, which means that the air is traveling to a different place in the cup for different partials. Upstreamers generally find it easier to play higher and focus the air stream away from the throat and closer to the "top" of the cup. The stream is focused more towards the throat for lower pitches and up for higher pitches. Mouthpiece placement would have the rim just above the top lip. For downstreamers, everything is reversed, the air is focused towards the "bottom" of the cup for higher pitches and the rim is just below the bottom lip. This can vary and these examples are of the extremes. I know this may sound fishy, I thought so when I first heard of this from my studio teacher. When I was introduced to it just after I aged-out, I almost immediately made huge improvements in my playing. I know this may not have flown when I marched, so I'm intersted to see what everyone has to say.

Dave, this isn't Ray, but what your talking about is a DW, but it is a Steaven Mead model, SM4. Find it at Mouthpieceexpress.com . If you're an "upstreamer" this and the 51D aren't ideal, but for just about everyone else in the world, they are both great.

Starting off in brass playing, I would suggest something a little smaller to get a result with a little less effort. The sound isn't quite what you want, but it's to get started. Since you have an immediate application, like rehearsing in arc, you may want to start with the 6 1/2. IMHO, anything bigger would be too much to deal with without a private instructor. Later in your brass experience you might want to look into the 5G, 51D, SM4 and others. You really should get some basic experience first.

Obvious? Seems like a no brainer, but here's my vote: Magic Cap Reg Mandarins Esperanza SCVC Just 2002, yes?

Perhaps someone could comment on this, but here is my ASSUMPTION of the differences. I haven't checked my data here, so please comment. The bugle, even in its 3 valve state, is designed differently than any other valved instrument (sop to keyed trumpets). It's bore size and taper in the bell make it more suited for PROJECTION than other trumpets. It's intonation difficulties are inhearent to the design. In my experience, this is not the case with C, Bb, Eb trumpets. Projection was very noticable to me at DI quarters. I sat almost at pressbox level on the 45 and projection hit a wall at PR. Cavs quality of sound and intonation was amazing, thusly it carried, but not everyone has the staff or talent of that particular hornline. To me, this was the advantage for smaller corps using G's, and why I think large hornlines who stay have a more impactful sound. Perhaps this impactful sound is what needs to be left behind or evolved from, but its what got me into the activity. Anyway, I don't really have any firm facts about this so chim in.

I do believe that was Ray Vasquez on sop. His rookie year out there. He is now the Jazz Studies chair of the ITG and Caption Head at Blue Stars. Great guy, he also teaches at U of MN - Duluth. The guy who played the Nessun Dorma solo in '91 was a Mellophone player (who if I'm not mistaken is now the Brass Arranger for Phantom)....it was not a Soprano solo. Definitely one of the best Mellophone solos ever....very FAT sound. I always felt bad for him though, cause you can see his plume come off during the Finals video. I think you may be confusing what came later in the show during Pagliacci. Also didn't that same Soprano player (Ray Vasquez ?) win Soprano Individuals that year ? Completly right, nice catch man. Yeah, that's the guy. Guess i'll have to watch that show a little more carefully!

I was at the top of Camp Randell at quarters and no on e projected like PR, no one. Could it be the G's? Probably. They're gone now too. Welcome to Drum & Brass Corps everybody! Sorry, wrong forum...

I do believe that was Ray Vasquez on sop. His rookie year out there. He is now the Jazz Studies chair of the ITG and Caption Head at Blue Stars. Great guy, he also teaches at U of MN - Duluth. Also, I'd like to put my vote in for East Coast Jazz '98. Some guy named Adam on sop. I've never heard a better solo before or since in all of DCI. If you get the chance check it out, amazing.