Imperial

I don't "put" my drill into Pyware, I create with it. I find that's what it is so useful for. You can watch the transition which you've just easily created, then play with adjusting the angles, paths and velocities until you reach the proper dynamic level. If you don't like it, you just trash it, as it didn't take a long time to create it in Pyware in the first place. It also comes in handy for large groups, as you are never spending any time drawing dots and numbering. With Pyware, you spend your time writing in a sofware environment becuase you save time on dotting the page. I do however like to hand chart for very small bands. For that I use the best drill paper out there from our sponsor: Pathway Productions. They also have the best dot books. http://www.pathwayproductions.org

Bumpas

Looks like the famouse Jim Centorino to me. He is a recording artist now and has some great albums. Check out: http://www.centorino.com/ John Stark

El Bumparoonie, Hope to see some of you drum corps nuts this week-end at our oopen house! It will be an enjoyable 1 & 1/2 hours Sincerely, John S. Bumpas

Thanks for your continued support and compliments, Chris! Good luck with Frontier in 2006. John

On Sunday, December 4th, 2005, from 4:00- 6:00pm, the Imperials will host their Open House at the Pembroke Middle School, Rt. 27, Pembroke Mass. There will be a brief social in the cafeteria with light refreshments and info outlining our 2006 campaign. Then there will be a slide presentation in the auditorium, followed by a stage performance by the 2005 edition of the Imperials! If you are someone who is interested in being a part of an all age drum corps, or know a friend or relative who might be, or if you like drum corps and just want to check us out, please do come by. We will make sure that this will be an enjoyable way to close out your weekend. Imperials Alumni whom we haven’t seen in awhile are especially encouraged to stop by. More info will be posted on our website soon at: http://www.pathwayproductions.org/imperials.htm Sincerely, John Stark, Director

Hi Chris! Thanks for the thought! Yes we hope to jump to class A next season. That is defininely a goal for us. Our goal this year was for mini corps and it worked out so lets see where we can take it. Good luck to Frontier too and congrats!! John

Hey Russ, Did you know Lisa Doucette? She was in Guardsmen and then North Star. I dated her in North Star. Thanks.

Don't forget the Pembroke Imperials won the 1973 VFW Nationals by beating the Belleville Black Knights, who placed 10th at DCI that year. It was Pembroke's folly not to go to DCI, but had they gone, they probably would have made top 12. Back then DCI was only 2 years old and VFW had equal cachet. I also like Alliance and it should be noted that as late as 1999, the best corps never to make it was definitely The Boston Crusaders. Many feel Boston got kicked in the teeth on several occasions when they were close to making it (1977, 1990, 1994). I'm not shy about saying I feel that way too. J Stark - Imperials.

I can definitelty understand why a transition from DCI to DCA at age 22 could be a tough one. But if you have marched DCI until age out and you do love drum corps, just take a decade or two off to go to school and get married, etc. Then check out DCA... By that time you will welcome the more relaxed schedule and practice intensity and you will marvel how you ever cut it in DCI. I know I do/did. Also, in DCA, experience and talent -placed strategically- makes up for the lack of very long rehearsals, a la DCI. All age corps is a different experience, but to me (I've marched DCI and all age), it's all drum corps and part of who I am. I've found with our new corps we have members who are either teenage or middle age . Our young people either can't commit to the rigors of DCI or don't have enough experience yet, or simply aren't interested. Our older members tend to be settled have have some more time to commit. Our older members are generally in their late 30's or early 40's . The great thing is that increasingly, drum corps is expanding to offer programs which fit your life style. :) John Stark Director - Imperials

The Imperials are doing: God Bless America, Arranged by Joe Taylor, Land of Make Believe, and closing with Tiger of San Pedro. J.S.

Thanks all for making us feel welcome!!!

Thanks CODI, I'm not sure we will "knock em Dead" but we will be there and our hope is to sound and look good and not subject our audience to bad playing or boredom. At the time of this writing we believe that is very achievable for us. Then, we can work next year on the wow factor! :) I don't think any mini corps needs to shake in their boots over us now LOL. I also don't want any hype surrounding us that we cannot back up. We have been working very hard and are very excitied about this opportunity. Mini Corps competition will serve very well as a venue for us to perform and the trip will allow us to bond as a corps. Someone said it earlier in this thread that Mini Corps is a great way to jump start drum corps. I believe that to be true. We just hope that we are worthy of sharing a place with some of the groups we know will be great on that night. Sincerely, John Stark - Director, Pembroke Imperials of the South Shore of Massachusetts.

I agree. Also Allentown 86 was reduced to a standstill. They tried to dry the field with a helicopter but to no avail. A standstill was the only workable compromise between the parks dept and the crowd, which would have been an angry mob if they didn't at least get something for their money. Now there is field turf and drainage, which should cut down on the rainouts.

Great, Vince! And you?!!

Pembroke Imperials Please see our site. Thanks http://www.pathwayproductions.org/imperials.htm

I’m the Director of the Imperials and we began our reformation 3 years ago. We had originally set out to outfit the new corps in G Bugles. I guess it was just the thing to do. Guess what? In our quest for actually acquiring the horns we discovered that a set of G bugles was not that easy to come by and we were shocked at how expensive individual G horns were on average. This experience caused us to sit down and re-think, or actually really think –for the first time LOL. When we started pricing out Bb horns, new and used, we were amazed at how reasonable the prices were. Of course it was no surprise how accessible Bb & F horns are. So we factored a bunch of things: Bb Horns are inexpensive (relatively). Bb Horns are plentiful Our members are mostly band students who have no prior drum corps exposure, so Bb & F was a no-brainer there. The only negative I could see would be with our members who had previous drum corps experience. My fear was they would not embrace the idea of Bb, F. Luckily for us, our corps had been dead for so long (25 years) and so many other changes in horns had taken place in that time span, that the alumni hardly cared at all. To them, getting used to valves -and 3 at that- was the big adjustment! What key the horns are in didn’t matter to them because they basically were starting over. The additional benefit to Bb is that the music students joining are bringing their own trumpets, which means we are focusing our purchasing efforts on mostly mid-range and low brass. Also, to my amazement our board of directors employed logic over emotion and sentiment when deciding our fundamental direction. In one meeting they decided the future lies with Bb & F. So that’s how we went from that point but I’ve since learned that we could still mix the brass if we wrote out parts in the key of G. We will remain open to that idea should some G devotees want to join and if they insist.

Hi, Allow me to make a couple of clarifications: In 1979, Spectra was in the second year of their 2 year existance (I was a member) before they merged with Heightsmen. (marched in Pembroke Imperials until 77, then Spectra, 78-79 then North Star 80, 81). The Brigs looking like Boston I think was no accident. Many of their instructors were Crusaders or Crusader alum. There aren't many corps left in Mass but here are the ones in Eastern Ma: Boston Crusaders, Crusaders Seniors, East Coast Jazz, Citations, Light Brigade, Mass Brass, and I'm proud to tell you that the Imperials have been resurrected. I am the Director!

This is a no brainer... North Star's snare stick sunburst from the chrome wall. The 11 snares stepped off to the first chord of Killian and with one arm thrust out with and extended stick held at different individual angles to create a sunburst or corona affect. It was one of the first times a visual affect had been used in quite that fashsion and it begat many more. :)

The Pembroke Imperials Drum & Bugle Corps (South Shore, MA) were reorganized in 2003 and are gearing up for DCA Competition in 2005, as either a Mini Corps (With full guard and drill) or a Class A Corps!! In addition to welcoming all new performing members who are interested, we are also seeking instructional staff in the areas of Brass and Percussion. Also Brass and Percussion Scoring to transition our corps from a small parade corps to a true DCA competitor. We seek rare and special talent in our instructors. We need goal oriented individuals who posses a special blend of talent, maturity, vision, determination and cooperation. We are looking for non egocentric, team players, who can advance us in excellence, while working with staff coordinators to realize their vision for the corps. To please our financially supportive alumni base, the corps seeks to re-explore the Big Band, Jazz and Jazz/Pop repertoires, which made the Imperials fan favorites in the 1970’s. However, we definitely want to repackage that material -in a modern context. We will attempt to please both the modern enthusiast, as well as satisfy the nostalgic longings of our former members while avoiding being a parody of the former corps. In other words, we intend to be modern while exuding a dignified look and feel, which is both cutting edge and respectful of tradition. If you are motivated experienced and a self starter and live in Eastern Massachusetts, Southern NH or RI, and think you may be that special person, please email your resume to: John Stark at: info@pathwayproductions.org Sincerely, John Stark, Director – Imperials http://www.pathwayproductions.org/imperials.htm

Staff for 2005 DCA Needed in Massachusetts! The Pembroke Imperials Drum & Bugle Corps (South Shore, MA) were reorganized in 2003 and are gearing up for DCA Competition in 2005, as either a Mini Corps (With full guard and drill) or a Class A Corps!! In addition to welcoming all new performing members who are interested, we are also seeking instructional staff in the areas of Brass and Percussion. Also Brass and Percussion Scoring to transition our corps from a small parade corps to a true DCA competitor. We seek rare and special talent in our instructors. We need goal oriented individuals who posses a special blend of talent, maturity, vision, determination and cooperation. We are looking for non egocentric, team players, who can advance us in excellence, while working with staff coordinators to realize their vision for the corps. To please our financially supportive alumni base, the corps seeks to re-explore the Big Band, Jazz and Jazz/Pop repertoires, which made the Imperials fan favorites in the 1970’s. However, we definitely want to repackage that material -in a modern context. We will attempt to please both the modern enthusiast, as well as satisfy the nostalgic longings of our former members while avoiding being a parody of the former corps. In other words, we intend to be modern while exuding a dignified look and feel, which is both cutting edge and respectful of tradition. If you are motivated experienced and a self starter and live in Eastern Massachusetts, Southern NH or RI, and think you may be that special person, please email your resume to: John Stark at: info@pathwayproductions.org Sincerely, John Stark, Director – Imperials http://www.pathwayproductions.org/imperials.htm

For great drill paper and dot books visit: http://www.pathwayproductions.org

I was in North Star then and on the same tour. Found out about it at the next morning rehearsal. JS

bump

Hello, Abington H.S. Greenwave Marching Band of Abington, MA (19 Miles South of Boston), is agressively seeking a Head Percussion Instructor for the upcoming 2004 fall band season. We seek a canditate who possesses experience in all aspects of modern competitive marching and pitted percussion. Candidates must have a mature and professional mind-set, be results oriented and possess vision for our percussion section, within the context of an educational envoronment. We offer competitive compensation. Ability in editing arrangements to improve them and make them custom to the membership would be helpful. Interested candidates are asked to please contact: The staff. Please send email to: info@pathwayproductions.org For more info on the band, please visit the band's website @ http://www.pathwayproductions.org/greenwaveband.htm Successful candidates will also be considered for a top percussion instructor postition for the newly re-formed Pembroke Imperials Drum & Bugle Corps of the South Shore for the 2005 season. http://www.pathwayproductions.org/imperials.htm