TimbreDeBrass

I personally think it's something trombone players would have to just come past. I know woodwind players who managed to learn a brass instrument to march corps, it couldn't be THAT dramatic of a change. I am also just a fan of 4 part harmony. 5 part harmony would just never compare to the way 4 part harmony works out. Most corps these days have an 80 member hornline as a standard, and it would be difficult to evenly split parts within that 80 among 5 instruments in the hornline. 5 voice counterpoint would have to include... Soprano voices - Trumpets Alto voices - Mellos Tenor voices - Tromboniums?????? Bari voices???? (meaning baritones would have to play everything lower...????) Bass Voices - Contras

Maybe the trumpets are going to be similar to the epic mellophone line they had last year? Can't wait to hear the show announcement. Lots of cleaning to be done but it's only February. I bet it will sound better outside.

One Word - Epic

Not responding to alumni at all? Keep the entire decision/discussion a secret. Removing those from FB that ask too many questions? This sounds like immature, sophomoric behavior by the heads of the Cadets. Incredibly foolish. I am starting to think that there are things in the back of George Hopkins' mind that he is not telling anyone. A change is being brought to drum corps that practically no one likes. Ya know, this sounds like a high school break up. And the dumpee just wants to know why it happened and extreme measures are being taken so the dumpee doesn't know about a new guy/girl in their ex's life. THAT's how immature this SERIOUS issue is getting. This. Is. Freaking. Crazy.

/answer to all and done

I see a multi-poll thread(s) coming?

I believe it is still too early to have started this thread like others have said. Some corps don't even have repertoire or show titles out there yet! Nonetheless... I will conform.... Due to analyzing last years performances and including staff changes/lack of changes I'd say the corps to watch are SCV - Paul Rennick is going to be the addition to their percussion program that they NEED. I expect them to finish higher if they build up from last year. Blue Stars - Yet again, Amazing. Staff. Lineup. (consistency is key for them, looks like they are going to be moving up if they build on what they had last year another 8th place finish would drive someone nuts). Big question is, what are they going to follow Houdini with? Interestingly enough: Phantom - with Paul Rennick gone(ha, his initials are PR), it is going to be an interesting season to say the least Cadets/Bluecoats - The reason I put these 2 together is because I put them in the same boat with my reasoning why they are to be watched. I believe that the returning Cadets members are going to make them one heck of a drum corps next year. Same goes for Bluecoats (although bloo had a lot of age outs last year, they will more than make up for it by the number of talented auditionees). I'd like to see another top 3 cadets show.

Ahhh, only a matter of time before hans zimmer showed up in Drum Corps

Blue Stars tends to have a star in their show, excluding last year

My order: 1) BD 2) Cavaliers 3) Bluecoats 4) Crown 5) Cadets 6) SCV/Blue Stars Tie 8) PR 9) Crusaders 10)Madison 11)BK 12)The G-Men 13)Colts 14)Academy 15)Troopers 16)Teal Sound 17)Spirit 18)crossmen 19Pacific Crest 20)Cascades 21)Pioneer 22)Mandarins 22)Jersey Surf

In reply to SFZFAN, I'm going to have to agree with Howdy on a couple things - with regard to my personal input. As for the random bolding, I bolded every other message/response to make it easier to read :) (maybe I'm just crazy...) 1) Blue Devils in 4th - I think that a lot of us "fans" would like to see this happen, but it just isn't going to anytime soon unless BD craps all over themselves next year (and with recent trends, the future doesn't look like it's going to change much). I would keep them in 1st, because it's just the "way it is". They know how to mask their mistakes, and they are pretty clean overall. 2) Phantom in 5th - I believe Phantom's Percussion line was outstanding and was the corps' redeeming factor this year; the intonation and the overall musicality of the brass was terrible. I suppose the visual package has gotten better. I liked The Red Violin better (mostly because I'm a brass player. If it wasn't for their percussion, I would put them in 9th, but to make all the Phantom Phans happy, I have them in 8th. 3) SCV in 6th - yes, they were clean, but their package just wasn't all there for me and their brass line sound is nothing like it was in '09. I have them in 7th. 4. Madison in 7th - They were good, and they had a major comeback this year. They just aren't top 8 material yet. I'd keep them where the judges had them, above BK, below BAC. 5. Crown in 8th? Nuff said. Crown hasn't been in 9th since... 2006? Strong corps, don't see too many ups or downs. If i do see ups or downs, likely ups (as in, another silver, or another bronze, maybe if they work real hard and have the right show, a gold is in their near future). (I'd keep them in 4th, if they were any more clean this year, they'd be an easy 3rd for me).. 6. Blue Stars in 11th - This one makes little sense to me. This corps has been on the rise despite their placement in the past 3 years (On my notecard I got from the finals dvd I received, it says that they have achieved the highest 8th place score in DCI history, quite an accomplishment if you ask me, and rediculous at the same time). They moved from 14th in '07 to 8th in 2008, it's hard to imagine them going down. Another 8th place finish would be outrageous after this year (4 years in a row is unheard of). Soon it's going to be called "Star Place".... I wouldn't want to see that happen as I see great potential in this corps to rise up next year to a top 6 finish. Putting them below Blue Knights is very strange to me as well. Blue Knights were fantastic at the beginning of the 2010 season. The problem was that they peaked half way through the season. Being a brass player again, the quality of sound is not terrible at all. The sound is there, cleanliness needs some work. They went from beating SCV (which caused quite a stir) to finishing below the Scouts(who never peaked). In conclusion - I'd put the Stars in a tie with SCV for 7th, if not in 6th. 7. The Colts in 15th - ehhh.... don't see that happening, below the crossmen too? My guess is they'll fall back into finals one of these years and knock out the Glassmen who have been strong some years and shaky others.

Um, I'll say one thing... glad I'm not one of those guys. a) that's plain scary b) that is so unsafe c) see a and b above, repeat x50

Disagree, I find it highly strange that they would do that. From what I heard from my friends at Phantom and the Blue Stars, they call you by name, and they are respectful. I talked to my friend who goes to college with me here who was in the Blue Stars and they are highly family oriented there, very good atmosphere.

hehehe, from what I hear from a friend of mine at the stars, they are definitely not sacrificing quality just to save a penny here and there

1. BD - Keeps staring through the wine glasses at the table, but is unsuccessful and complains that wine is too dark and it shouldn't be made that way 2. SCV - Loud and sparatic rants lead to an interesting conversation at the table 3. Scouts - Come up with a fantastic and delicious dish, but it remains nameless, it was still entertaining to make though 4. Cavs - complain that "This is, their turkey!" and that everyone should eat something else 5. Blue Stars - Hide the turkey and disappear, upsetting the other corps

Ooo that's clever hehehehehe

Curious, how much does standard tuition cost for the summer look like for a cadets member?

I am in college and doing an analysis of crown's 2010 performance of "A Second Chance" for a paper Is it possible that someone could be so kind as to list the names of the songs that Crown arranged and played and the estimated time windows in the show in which they played them? Thank You

this video looks pretty sweet in my opinion, just throwing it out there for those who haven't seen http://vimeo.com/15968306

I'm just going to encourage people to look at the differences in scores from night to night.... This is making me question an idea, why can't we have 1 judge do the same caption for all 3 nights? For example Phantom Regiment was 10th in Visual Ensemble and 12th specifically in Visual Ensemble excl on Quarterfinals night, and 7th overall on Semifinals night with 7th in Visual Ensemble excl., Blue Stars' brass was 6th both Quarter's and Semi's but fell to 8th overall on Finals night Quarter's http://www.dci.org/scores/recap/view.cfm?e...63-01b019e4edba Semi's http://www.dci.org/scores/recap/view.cfm?e...fc-5ddc3ed4e432 Finals http://www.dci.org/scores/recap/view.cfm?e...cda-dac41a7cf0a

Yeah, sure the G-7 is intact.... by One TENTH of a point if anyone doesn't obviously see the politics involved in this, please please please let me know there are a few names I would like to mention but won't....

agreed, and did you notice how the Blue Stars' brass was placed 6th in quarters and semis? 8th in finals, I hardly think they would have gotten much worse... the G-7 proposal has definitely influenced some of the judging this year