BrassTeacher

I think this describes the original staff of the Carolina Crown very well. Most of us were still there when the corps won the Div. II DCI World Championship in 1993, And a large portion of us were still there when the corps made DCI Finals the first time in 1995. If I remember correctly, the corps started out in 33rd place in 1990, then went 25, 25, 21, 17, 11.

Congrats Tommy!!

Since I responded when you trolled the "Staff Merry-Go-Round" thread with a similar comment, I'll respond with a similar comment here: Yes, a middle school band director. I was a middle school band director for 25 years, even during the brief time I taught HS. I'd like to think that the hornlines I've taught were at least better than average. Also, I've been waiting for the official announcement to do this: Congrats Chuck!!!

I was a middle school band director for over 25 years, even during the brief time I taught high school band (talk about a LONG workday, lol). I would say that most of my hornlines turned out to be at least ok... By the way, been waiting for the official announcement to do this: Congrats Chuck!!!

Well, I could have posted something like this, but it would've been kind of mean to leave people hanging: To demonstrate my ability to keep my mouth shut, I have known for three days now who the new brass caption head is for the Madison Scouts, plus a couple core brass staff members, but I'll wait until they announce for themselves publicly to congratulate them! See how mean that would've been? P.S. Yes, I really do know who it is P.P.S. Everyone rest easy, it's not me! P.P.P.S. It is an old friend of mine, and I am quite happy for him!

Well, there have been some personal attacks, inferences with no factual basis, and at least one outright libelous comment made on this thread. Interestingly, most of those types of comments have come from low-post-count accounts. (See: NewToPosting) Also, depends upon who you are including in the term "we". [EDIT] - And YES, my post count is only 14, but I have been here for eight years. I just happen to be able to keep my mouth shut when necessary :)

You should've seen how crowds at parades reacted to Magic doing Li'l Liza Jane, especially the crowd at the Bristol 4th of July Parade!

This is Chipper:

True, but one particular post (which apparently has been deleted) was so inaccurate and potentially damaging that it had to be addressed.

Thanks Jason

They haven't totally erased me yet: https://ascendperformingarts.org/blue-knights-announce-2017-brass-staff-2/ It is amusing to me how this is considered "news", it is irritating to me that there seems to be some implication that I should have been/have been let go. The amusement comes from the fact that I came home a little after Memorial Day. It seems a combination of altitude and blood pressure was making both ankles swell significantly, and the next week the corps was going to be a few thousand feet higher in elevation. So I went home for awhile. After getting home, I found out one of my cats has inoperable cancer in his sinus passages (He's fine and happy right now, as long as one of us is here to give him his pain medication exactly every 8 hours). The Blue Knights is a wonderful organization, with wonderful kids (Let's face it, EVERY corps has wonderful kids!), and a great administration! I enjoyed my time there immensely. That said, I am looking for a new home that does not require spending large amounts of time at 5,280 feet above sea level. If any of you have read this far, please remember folks that you are not only discussing real human beings here, but real human beings with real lives, and involved in an activity that they are very passionate about.

Really? Do tell...

RE: Barnes Symphony: Yes, the slow movement was written for his deceased child, while the last movement was written in honor of his newborn son. Arrogant composers who really don't care about anything else except how they want their music to be heard. Well, to be honest, and a little blunt (no, not the smoking kind), in recent years there have been more than a few drumcorps that have absolutely BUTCHERED some composer's works. I feel comfortable saying that because I was involved with teaching two different corps that either didn't like what we did, or that I hope never got to hear how their piece mutated radically during the season. For instance, I wouldn't be surprised if Frank Tichelli's music was on the "Don't bother to even ask" list, given what one corps I worked with did to "Blue Shades". I wasn't embarrassed by the kid's performance, but by what a certain person did, supposedly for "cleaning purposes" or "GE purposes". Interestingly enough, this same person is responsible for the ultra-strict rules that the people who handle Bernstein's music have for marching bands and drumcorps asking for copyright permission. As for Steven Melillo and "Stormworks", I worked with a corps that used that piece as an opener, with his permission. He simply just didn't like what was done with it, but it was hardly what I would call butchered, and I don't think he would either, but something about it he just didn't like. It may have been that he would have preferred to do the arrangement himself, as opposed to our arranger at the time. Believe it or not, and I cannot remember the corps, but he was (if not still is) the arranger/composer for one of the DCA corps. And, let's face it, there are a lot of things that are wonderful pieces of music, but just don't translate well to drumcorps instrumentation and format. Say, like John Cage's 4'33", or Phillip Glass' "Einstein on the Beach" (a full "opera" where each movement is over 15 minutes long), or the soundtrack to the movie "Forbidden Planet"... And, one that you wouldn't think would translate all that well that I thought was bad ### and enjoyed immensely, and sorry I can't remember the year, but the Velvet Knight's arrangement of Alice Cooper's "School's Out"!

I believe they are cylindrical, just as in a normal trumpet. BUT, there is a store nearby that has a rotary-valve fluegelhorn that I have my eye on!