Drum Korps Fan Man

I love tradition. I know that, when I marched, I remember loving the feeling that by carrying on certain traditions, I was carrying the 'spirit' of the alumni with me (no I didn't march spirit). At the same time, the corps which I called home did not and does not have a large number of alumni, so I was also trying to forge traditions which could help future members feel the sense of family which I loved so much. Obviously we cannot dismiss that changes will happen- and that is good. But when a major change does happen, I would hope that it happens naturally in the membership, and is not forced in by a new director or new staff member. I do feel that occasionally changes in the administration or staffing of a drum corps change the corps' identity more than it should. I will also say that I have found that many of the most important traditions to me exist in different forms in many corps. This can create a solidarity between members of different corps, which is a great thing. Edit for spelling.

Sorry- bad turn of phrase. I found the concept- before I had seen the show- and some of the things I heard about it extremely cheesy, at least in my mind. The same was true, for me, of Carolina Crown 2007 (Triple Crown), as well as the shouting "I am Spartacus" in PR 2008. I love it when I corps forces me to change my mind though (which all these examples did). Actually, I can't find an instance where I found something cheesy or overdone before the season and didn't end up liking it. You'd think I would have learned by now

Not to start a bash-fest, but in 2010, was it recognizable? How many people listened to the show and said "Ooh, that's Laura!"? Same question for 2009. Having not heard the source music for either show, I am NOT trying to bash anyone, I am honestly wondering. Yeah they did, and it was fantastic- as much as I wanted to hate that show, it worked spectacularly, and ended up being amazing.

thank you! I was almost angry (not really) at the lack of mentiona of George or Star. When I think "drill fitting the music" I think Star. 86 and 91 come to mind, but my guess wouuld be that any of their shows are great examples.

Might I be so bold as to suggest, in light of the season, the Hallelujah chorus? it would be sweet and you could do some really cool things with side-by-side choirs that pass through each other. On another note, I would love to see any kind of baroque music- some full-out fugues. Maybe not as modern-day as some things (Mackey) but I think it would be really cool.

I have played on the model the corps will be using- at least for the trumpets (apparently they are using the professional model horn) and I was a fan. I like it better than a Yamaha Xeno, for my .02.

point. I don't mean to offend anyone- I try to be a voice of reason in this mad mad mad mad cyberworld I stand by my argument that I don't think BozzlyB meant to attack you.

woah woah... calm down. BozzlyB wasn't trying to insult you, and wasn't claiming that you were either the same person as brassEXPERT or even a 13 year old... He was just saying you could be. Back on topic; has anyone actually tried the newest line of jupiter horns, or are we going purely on reputation?

For what it's worth, I have played on friend's Yamaha Xenos and pro-model Jupiters, and I preferred the Jupiters. I know that that is personal taste, but it's my .02. I would also add that while there are many people switching to Jupiter, it is hard for people to switch to Yamaha, because it requires that they switch both horns and drums, which is both expensive and some drummers don't like Yamahas. That debate I can't get into... Don't know enough about Yamaha drums vs. Pearl/Dynasty etc.

not to nitpick, but aren't those the same person? edit: assuming, of course, that I am reading "WWW" correctly as "Wicked Witch of the West"

woah... really? maybe if you are talking about the quantum marching brass, but I thougth I saw on a forum somewhere that the Blue Stars are using one of the professional model horns. Which I have played, and was very impressed with.

My guestimations would be: 10% perception of the corps- combination of politics/competitive inertia/all that ethereal stuff that may or may not exist (I believe it does because we all talk about it- if we didn't talk about it, maybe it wouldn't exist) 10% staff talent 20% talent 10% Administration 40% attitudes of the students 15% attitudes of the staff 5% how much the corps 'gels'- do they mesh? is there synergy? etc. some of mine are rather vague, but I tried to describe what I mean... yeah pretty much. You are absolutely correct- and I knew when I made my post that this would be everyone's first thought I don't mean to make it sound like my team (which I don't make obvious simply so my opinions don't reflect on them) was in 8th place and should have been 1st, but there were times when we were 9th and should have been 8th or 7th, and while I know I am biased, in those years after finals in my corps jacket I had multiple people from other staffs come up to me without prompting and say that we should have beaten this or that team. Back to the topic... Again, clearly not everything in one show will be more difficult than another show, but taken as a package, if a show is at 180+ for the whole time, (double timing the ballad), with loud chords as well as many soft, exposed sections, and another show is at 160ish the whole time at mezzo dynamics constantly, the fast one will be more difficult. And now, to cover my behind some more: I don't mean to badmouth shows like I just described- I actually enjoy many of them- but to say that a slow, medium-volume show is just as difficult as a fast, soft-loud-soft-loud show is ludicrous. AGAIN: I LIKE BOTH KINDS, but we have to recognize difficulty somewhere.

I completely agree, but I think this misses the point the OP was trying to make. Correct me if I'm wrong (which, contrary to public opinion, DOES happen ) but I think the OP was wondering about why marching bands get such a bad rep here on DCP. Now the cynic in me says "well, we all badmouth our own activity so what's to stop us from going off on others as well", but I think the problem arises when outsiders come here and read. I was working with a high school band and the director was talking about how his students would come here to read about drum coprs, and were wondering why the drum corps people hated high school marching bands? We, as a community, need to stop takling about how much better drum corps are than BOA, and stop badmouthing BOA. I completely understand it, and I am guilty of it at times as well, but we need to keep in mind that this is where our recruiting comes from: high schools. Almost every single member of a drum corps marched in a high school band in some way, and for our largest member base to be thinking that we don't like them and don't want them will ruin the activity faster than any "G" proposal, be it 7,8,or 9. Just my .02- take it for what it's worth to you

not to bring a dead argument back to life... but I believe the corps' first camp is over- any news on how the horns were? was it the apocalypse we all feared?

So... not to be that guy... but where does the 'politics' or 'benefit of the doubt' fit in here? Or do you not believe that? Because I know that when I marched, we did things that were much more difficult than the people above us and weren't given as much credit for it as simple things that they did... So either show design doesn't enter into it as much as you think, or there is another factor somewhere. Not trying to start a fight, just my .02