AZFan

You can usually find fruit snacks, such as gushers, fruit by the foot etc, in bulk. If you put those in a cooler with ice, they will become a delicious treat in the heat.

A full serve yourself ice cream bar with two types of ice cream and like 20 different toppings.

Well it wouldn't need to pay for everything, since fundraising and member dues are still a viable source of revenue, but 100k a year would certainly help any organization.

Whenever I talk to someone still in a high school marching program, one of their biggest complaints is about the people who just don't want to be there and are only there because someone is making them.

That is a complaint that i have heard from everyone who really wanted succeeded in any activity, specifically: marching band.

I've really enjoyed the last few years of small ensembles from SCV. In 09, I thought the Eb trumpet use and simple gifts duets were incredibly tasteful.

Finale Notepad is pretty cool, and it's only like $10.

An exercise i've seen to get the groups feet in time is have the band play a quarter note on 1 of 4/4 bars. At a moderate tempo (120-140) have the drum major and the met start and then cut the met, and finally cut the drum major, if they can internalize the pulse and play with their feet, it'll be together.

In my own experience, parallel first (toes together) feels better on my hips than open first. I'm sure that in any basic dance training you've heard "turn out from your hips." Basically it just means to have the rotation up in the ball-socket joint of your hip, instead of twisting down the joints that aren't meant to move that way in the leg. Also, i find less people lock their knees with parallel than with open. Disclaimer: perhaps my high school and college bands just have weird people who do atypical things, no corps experience (YET!!) here.

From what I understand of SCV, the highly prefer horn players to play mellophone for them. I believe on their site where they discuss audition info, they talk about how mello auditionees should give "travel preference" to their concert horn.

They haven't publicized the opening (I heard from a friend who is marching), so I'd rather respect their privacy and not risk getting myself passed over. My apologies.

Perhaps he's looked into it. But it might also stem from my failed attempts to explain what drum corps is to him. Something like "it's like professional marching band, but way harder. Its going to be the hardest and most physically strenuous thing I'll ever do and I won't regret a second of it."

Hi All, So after learning of a late winter season hole in a world class brassline, I've decided that I going to pony up and audition for them. After talking with my parents, my mom was supportive of it and wished me the best but my dad wanted me to go to the doctor and get a physical to make sure that "it won't kill me." Having no personal experience of the physical rigors of spring training/touring, I was hoping that some of you would be able to help me sum up the physical demands of drum corps. I need to be able to adequate explain to a doctor what all it will entail and what specific things to look out for. (example: i'm sure that wearing sunscreen is a major MUST) Any help?

Oh, then most certainly check out a non top 10 corps. Top 10 corps are difficult to get into without at least a really strong brass background when you don't have previous corps experience. I suggest: Surf, Spirit, Madison, Glassmen. Since one of your biggest concern seems to be location, they are the closest to you (other than the Cadets.) If you are really concerned about having practice time, Pioneers, Surf, Crest, Madison, Academy (Judging by the I&E result sheets for which corps had a sizable about of participants). If you are willing to go outside of the World Class, my strongest suggestion is SCVC.

I suggest looking at Woodwind I&E from the last couple years and seeing which corps seem to have the most participants. This would give you a pretty good idea of which corps there is for sure enough time to practice the other instrument, I don't know anyone who would be willing to go into a performance without practicing the prior few weeks. I've heard stories of some corps, such as Vanguard and Academy, where they want to hear you on the brass, but to get an idea of your musical skills, will allow you to play a short piece on your primary instrument to demonstrate your talent for the woodwinds and your potential for brass.