buckeyemusicman

Completely agree that they are in a class by themselves. There is nothing else out there like it. I really think that it could help me with my arranging. My ear has been really good at adjusting to what finale says will happen (and more so what happens that finale doesn't playback properly). For example, I've studied a few charts with color hits in the trumpets - they really weren't chords, but just a collection of notes for color. Well I know how they sound in a real marching band setting which was crunchy but good, however you put them into finale and it sounds like wrong notes. I'm hoping fanfare would allow me to fix some of those little issues. I'm just at a point in my career where finale playback is almost a hinderance for me to grow. Luckily I write music often enough at the moment its not an issue. .....sorry I'm rambling.

I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has done any brass arranging (professionally or for fun) and has used the Sample Logic sound library called Fanfare. It was produced by BD within the last year or two. Here is more info on the product: http://www.samplelogic.com/products/fanfare Basically I'm curious if anyone has tried using it with Finale and if they have had any issues or not. I'm hesitant to buy it at this point (mainly financial) and I haven't had the best responses in dealing with the company which has also been a turnoff. Thanks all! Cheers! PS - the soundcloud stuff is not that great for drum corps arranging, but watch the video on Sibelius 7 halfway down on the right side.

Keep in mind that with 24 trumpets, 16 mellos, 24 Bari's/Euph's, and 16 contras its balanced in relation to parts. 3 trumpet parts where the 1st part is sometimes split on chords, 2 mello parts, usually 2 bari / 1 euph part, and 1 contra part which sometimes is in octaves or 5th's. If you think about the balance pyramid that has been taught in schools this is pretty balanced IMO. Adding more to the bottom was the perfect solution a couple years ago.

I was wondering if anyone out there had a break down (roughly) on how many players are placed on each instrument in a hornline and what the part breakdown is? For point of discussion, lets say the hornline has 80 members. How many Soprano's, Mello's, Bari/Euph's, Contra's? How many on each part? Say 3 sop's, 2 mello, & 2 bari. Obviously there will only be one euph & contra part. I know some corps have slightly different instrumentation. Just trying to get a rough idea. Thanks!

C on mello would be a concert F :) Mellos do tend to be sharp at times.

When you say the "F Horn (alto)." Its actually an Eb Alto Horn, not in F. The Eb Alto Horn was used in a lot of american marching bands before 1950's (or early 1960's) before the mellophone took off. The Eb Alto horn is used in british style brass bands. Mellophones are by far the most stable of the horns. G bugles (for better or worse) have died out. Band programs won't use them, and the only people in the world that I know of that have used them is DCI years ago. Obvious there are some DCA and alumni corps probably using them. I've only heard bad things about a true Bb Horn. Now, I know there are some groups that use Flugelhorns as Bb Horns. Which can be okay when written right, and if you have a good flugel. The mellophone (in F obviously) is IMO by far the best option for marching horns. Easily accessible for purchase (bc of its wide use), and a lot of quality made mellos are out there (Yamaha and King being the top two). The mellophone responds just like a trumpet. Similar pitch tendencies, same fingering system, the instrument has the same written power range as a trumpet (except most horn players can't hit a high C off the staff unless they are a true trumpet player which has moved over). The ONLY issue that comes of the F mello is that they are the odd ball pitched instrument on the horn line. Tuning to concert Bb can be difficult b.c. the low brass and trumpets are on open partials, while the mellos are using a first finger valve combo. Tuning to a concert F can be a good idea which some corps do b.c. that puts everyone on the line on an open note.

Never been to Chicago.... well i've driven through it once, and past it another time. I need to go at some point. Are you in school, teacher?

I'm in Columbus, Ohio. Yourself?

Of course its based off tempo! I do the same thing with my breathing exercises I use as well. When I teach breathing (doesn't matter 5th grade or College), I have them put their hand over their belly button and breathe in thinking about pushing their belly button to the floor. This USUALLY forces a low breath from the diaphragm. I also like the using a similar technique having them lay down, and push their hand in the air when they breathe.

Cool! I could see that working in certain situations. My thought has been (and I haven't had the opportunity to try this out yet with students) is to have the students take their normal deep breath, and when their personal power gets below 75%-65% have them take a quick 2 count breath, and legato tongue and re-enter. But I haven't had the chance to try this out like I said, and everything is good in theory until you try it. I hope we hear some other ideas as well! Thanks!

Hey I was wondering if anyone could shed some insight into how the corps teach / discuss / implement stagger breathing? Maybe share some insight on their philosophy as well? I know it will be different from corps to corps but I'm just curious! Thanks!

Greetings everyone! I am John Brennan. I joined the forum back in 2009 (I think) but I have never really been active on the forums. I'm starting to change that now! I do not have any drum corps experience but I am a fan of the activity and hope to become a brass arranger for a corps sometime in the near future. I hold a bachelor in music education, and I am currently writing for the OSU Marching Band, along with other high schools in the state of Ohio. Thats all for now. Feel free to contact me if you wish! More info on me and my writing can be found at www.JMBMusic.net Cheers!