5thbassman

I'm pretty sure there's a band nearby that'll take you as a teacher the moment you say you're marching with _______. Anyone who fires a DCI vet over band camp is a fool. I too got my first legit job because of DCI. Within a couple years I'm now instructing, writing for multiple schools (drill and drum books), as well as a main design position with a top band.

I try to go out and watch lot during some of the less amazing shows... I don't think I'm going to have a gap this year. I'm staying put.

The crowd really reacts well to this show. I imagine they will focus more on cleaning than changes to the show. Just what I expect, having watched the Colts over the years. Honestly I've never been a fan of the overall concept as it's so vague, and visually they don't what they could with it, but BOY do I like to watch it!! The end gets me every time!

Cascades get a "go-en" (a five yen coin) for each year they march. The coin represents destiny (different people from different places destined to come together to form one unit)

The judges are using their knowledge and experience to determine who is best. That's the point of a competition. This is an activity born in military precision, not comedy and tragedy. Yes, it has evolved, but has it's overall purpose? I believe that it is when a corps can connect with an audience, make the purest music, while pushing themselves to conquer physical challenges beyond that of a normal human... that a DCI champion is made. We say we are the best. So let's be it and stop complaining that the cleaner corps occasionally beats the crowd pleaser.

You can't replicate the real thing. plus, 4 of the same signal essentially (4 of the same marimba sample) played at the the same time... it would either be very obvious dirt, or very awkward clean. If you consider then only having one on "marimba" the you loose the sound that's created by 4. Acoustic keyboards are safe.

Great show! Colts were spectacular! Cavaliers have made great improvements! the show is getting cooler! Phantom ripped my heart out... now I just want to understand the story. Cadets took me by surprise! I was not expecting to love it... but I did. Great night for all corps!

Thank you!

NOTE: this is coming from a former (I guess) non-BD fan, but this year I have a friend in the corps, so I put my bias aside to enjoy the show. I haven't seen it live, just video. Honestly I'm willing to accept that the blue devils are different... they don't make me cry, but they have their own thing going on and it's just different. Not bad. Not boring if you can really pay attention. And as far as a show about Dadaism goes... totally perfect for them. It's abstract art. And that's really what the blue devils have become... many of the other corps cover the "Van Gogh"s and "Da Vinci"s... Let's just say, the blue devils are... Picasso.... with a drum set Doesn't mean that for what it is, it isn't good... Love the hoops, love the opener. Looking forward to seeing the rest.

Do you mean you'd have it so not all of the corps go to Indy?

This year is incredible. Loving what I'm seeing. What do you think will happen this weekend? Do you think they will keep the momentum and have a swing at the top 3 next year for their 75th?

hahaha.... I have.

yes! I think a lot of people forget that nobody really knows what drum corps is... hearing about it, or seeing an ad in the paper says nothing about what the event will really produce. It seems that most marketing is aimed at band kids... I saw an electric billboard advertising the local show the other day... at had a picture of a cavie, the title of the show and the date....... If I don't know what that is, how the flam am do you expect that to interest me???????? DCI's marketing seems so lazy... it's not a money issue either. I have a studio, and if you give me $300 and I'll have a video 10x more intriguing than DCI's videos flashing up on every youtuber in the area of my home show! but noooo. *breathes.... okay hit a soft spot there.

I feel as though my finals tickets have dropped in value. So sad to hear!

The first thing that comes to my mind is that the easiest way to vote would be by text. (in such a time constraint) and that could be greatly influenced by online fan base. If BK has a thousand more Facebook likes than the Scouts, they'd have an advantage. A mere online presence could make or break a corps opportunity for finals. Just a thought.

Blue Stars - Phantom - Carolina Crown - Cavaliers - Cadets - Bluecoats -

I'd like to say I started this just to see what people thought. I don't think it's a big deal at all. But there are some people out there who are dead set on 5. And while it's not a new concept, it has been a while since we've had 6 basses of the same color on the field. Almost as if we're looking back on this 40th anniversary of DCI.

https://www.facebook.com/ILoveSmartMusic/app_397681130260114 This exercise is written for, and played by 6 basses. Cadets used 6 last year because of the half and half thing... did it just work so well it's catching on? Thoughts?

I was at the last one. Increased numbers. And while they (like many corps at this level) are still looking for a few people, I can't say anyone's worried about the talent. They played some new music at the end of the camp... look out.

Okay, one of the cool things about drum corps is its non-mainstream..ness... But just as it took every other sport a long time to grow, where could drum corps be in another few decades? Just as a fun discussion I thought I'd inspire some abstract predictions of what lies down the road a couple decades. no limits! Would DCI be as big as the superbowl? would members finally get PAID to march? Can you imagine a stadium built FOR drum corps primarily, then used for other events around the year. "Welcome to Mars Stadium, home of the Blue Devils" Now don't poo poo on the party, all of this is unlikely, but this is about having fun dreaming about the possibilities. So do that! Have fun!

I expect they'll hop back up a bit. Not sure how far. Would love to see them back in the Saturday show. REALLY hoping for a better drum book :) Also... I have no idea what the show will be but it seems like it's about time they surprised us a bit.

My thoughts exactly

Cavaliers - The Three Musketeers Phantom - Into the Dark (back to black uniforms) B5

I don't want to be that guy who re-boots other popular topics. but we've got stories on the crown guy (who I watched break his leg right in front of me while I was on the front row) and we've got stories about the 3 corps marching 4 basses, and along with those topics come countless stories of other injuries. I marched a 32" in a world class corps this summer.... on a bad knee.... and I mean in all-days there was a lot of popping and cracking. However, as my technique improved, so did the injury, and I made it out of Indy in about the same shape I was before move-ins. I should probably mention that the injury was a dislocated knee in the spring of 2009. yes it hurt. but was it worth it? yes. Is it really normal for this many injuries to happen in one year? Is marching technique getting worse? -B5

For an instructor at a high school who will be hosting a corps for the first time this year, (due to our institution being very uneasy about the endeavor) I'd like to ask... what should we REALLY expect? In my marching experience, I never left a school without personally spending 20 minutes doing something to clean up...