WPendergrass

A group could come out in over-alls and straw hats for all I care. If they march well, play well, and have a design well suited to the membership---I'll like it. When I think back about shows I really love, I seldom think of the corps uniforms and RARELY think of the guard uniforms. I'm probably in the minority, but the other facets just really take over in my mind.

Drum Corps could be for profit groups, but it would take changing the activity considerably. All the old timers complain about things like G to Bb, but in reality, a variety type show or Blast! type show could be done and be made profitable on a bigger level, an outdoor level, even a competative level. The variety type format that we saw in Rockford last year, is a step closer to that transformation. Making the entire event a spectacle.

If his resting jaw position is an underbite, the chances of an embouchure change from upstream to downstream working are close to zero.

Alright, just checking before we went any further. I would email Doug Elliot and tell him your dillema. Doug is an embouchure guru, the best in the business. He can address most of your concerns and help you equipment wise. Since you are an upstream player, it would be wise to take a lesson with him down the line at some point, as well.

So, is the resting position of your jaw ALSO an underbite?

While I don't think that $5 a gallon is out of the realm of possibility, if it is published in the Huffington Post the likelyhood of occurence is slimmer. There is a fine line between media and tabloids and Huff has been walking it for years, baiting people into miniature freak outs for a variety of reasons.

An incredible show. Finals week was kind of windy, watching that show, with the black sheet across the back stands with wind whipping on it..... That is the idealogical drum corps moment for me. It really added to the wave effect, even more. With as controlled as 01-09 Cavaliers were, it was nice looking back and remembering how raw the corps was in moments that season. 2000 was an excellent year in general!

There is something to be said for difficulty, simultaneous responsibilities, and the differences in percussion sections (specifically battery). Much like the top drum corps, the top BOA units "play the game" very hard. Their shows are designed to hide their weaknesses and make their strengths shine. Their show designs are also extensively planned in advance, unlike lower DCI groups. In lower tier DCI, you may not know who your members are, even when the season starts. You have no idea who the best sections are, who the worst are, sometimes you don't even know how many members you will have. The planning and "playing the game" that you can do there, is pretty limited. They just write a show, and hope that their guesses towards strengths and weaknesses are remotely close.

Yes! I had the wonderful opportunity to work with a talented young flutist in a very small school district. She transferred to Broken Arrow and we have spoken off and on briefly about her experiences. I would agree, that they probably spend more time working on their show than many of the lower tiered corps. The scheduling and time devotion in these groups is pretty intense.

That was a tactful way of saying they would place last.

I have never worked or been affiliated with Broken Arrow. I have, however, been affiliated with other BOA Finalists. In my experiences there is little or no comparison between Drum Corps units and Bands of America units. The biggest problem with that statement is that I feel like it takes away from the wonderful things these groups are doing. It is under the umbrella of "marching arts" but is very different from DCI. Let's not forget, before we speak too much, that these are High School groups and High School kids. These kids are involved in numerous other activities, are going to school, are pubescent, and are going home every night living the family/friends dynamic. Marching Band is a big part of their life, but marching band is not necessarily their entire life. When we sit on a drum corps bus all summer and spend almost all of our days focusing on drum corps, our lives become much more singular and that is present in the execution and content in drum corps shows.

I am pro music education. If this becomes a legitimate non-profit that uses their money wisely and is devoted to music education in an area that NEEDS all the good things happening it can (with the economy and school systems being so rough in the last 10 years), I'm going to donate money and good will. They could be playing instruments in the key of F#, for all I care. We, myself included, have cried over the plight of "hometown drum corps" for years. Well, here is one, whose focus is on the community and making the lives of the youths in it better; and hopefully entertaining some people along the way. Is the objection to mixed key brass so great that people will not support the activity in the same format that brought it to prominence in the marching arts?

If you make a nice sound, that is typical of your instrument. If you are in decent to excellent physical condition. If you are mentally prepared for drum corps type instruction. If you can listen to directions and adapt quickly. You will make the corps. Most people either fail in one of these categories, or cut themselves (because of money, travel obligations, inability to handle criticism, etc). In my experiences (which are limited compared to some, vast compared to others), decisions on membership are rarely made in reference to that person's previous corps experience. Exceptions being veterans of said corps, or its feeders.

This is a solid position for a good, young tuba player! The tuba line is instructed by Paul Nesper. He has a very solid, musical background. The Troopers Tuba Section is one of the few groups to have a Horn Seargent from the Tuba Section, and there is strong leadership in the rest of the section, as well. Good instruction, good peers, a summer you will never forget, and an exciting show design. If you are of age and capable, you should be emailing Kyle, as you read this!

What are we considering "good design"? If we are talking about all the sections, simultaneously presenting the thematic content of the show and providing continuity for the the stated (and assumed) themes... I'd say: Cavaliers: Definitely presenting thematic material thru the show that supports the concept that they are trying to convey. It looks "different" and there are tidbits of the idea over the course of the entire show in all sections. Cadets: Present the thematic material from the get go, and it plays out, everywhere in all facets of the show. PR: Almost to a fault, plays the lyric beauty of Juliet in all parts from Guard to Drill to Brass to Uniforms. It is awesome in the matching of the idea of Juliet to the show, but because there is so much lyricism and other things, can be a difficult watch.

Great point!

PR participated until the dissolution of DCM, then the IE stuff slowly fell by the wayside. There was some awkwardness with people missing rehearsals finals week to participate. Rookies and people that wouldn't be competative in the events, where not discouraged from participating, but generally didn't because they didn't want people to think they were holding the corps' development back.

Any time you get a large group of individuals to do something artistic, in time, and that requires that much body awareness, it will be difficult. I think in our exchange alone, we are seeing the differences in opinion in what is difficult. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if two Joe's can't agree here on DCP, I doubt it is much better in DCI HQ.

Things that don't look hard, but are... 1. Backwards march at a slow tempo, in traditional releve. 2. Drag beats in ballads. 3; Blind follow the leaders. 4. Contiguous military style moves that can't be traditionally notated. 5. Body work. 6. Blind pass thrus at any tempo. 7. Curvilinear pathed box rotations.

I think Mark Twain said it best.... "Sometimes a book is just a book. Stop reading so much into what I write, ######."

Dave is a wealth of information. Focus on having a good sound and being rhythmically accurate. You will get much more "kudos" for playing something easier and playing it well, than playing something harder and butchering it. I imagine you are trying to pull off the VW on contrabass? I know this is possible and some people do it well, that said, I'm not sure this piece would be very suitable for this type of audition. I'd say, go in and play a really nice, lyrical, mid-low range bordogni etude or similar solo. Prove you have a good sound, prove you are rhythmically accurate, and let that person hear the range that most of your ensemble playing would be in. The meat and gravy range. Heck, a great low range orchestral excerpt to play would work well, too. Look at the Planets (Holst). There is stuff in there that is articulate, fast, slow, lyrical, and in the gravy range.

I think you are completely correct. I honestly don't know (and doubt) that it is on the sheets. But that does seem to be the way things go down. I agree, they should be evaluated independently. But just from my perspective, that doesn't seem to occur.

From facebook. J. Holt What a show! Most improved has to be Music City. Cadets were just incredible. Cavies were really entertaining. What a show! Most improved has to be Music City. Cadets were just incredible. Cavies were really entertaining.

It says so in her profile? I'm not that good of a mind reader.