Kevin Doherty

Don't disagree, Jeff and Charlie, but these are the Cadets and ultimately they want to put a quality Corps on the field rather than an experiment. I know there is some hand wringing going on and even though I have an opinion, their staff will have to determine where to take it. I mentioned Kidsgrove because - so what if you want 56. If you don't get them, you can still put on a world class show. WC, I don't know to what extent you use an aspiring field Corps to develop players through competitive experience, especially a weekend only Corps. I would rather see off-season development. but once again. I don't manage the organization. It would be great if YEA had an off-season development program, they are an Educational organization, and I also take my hat hat off to BD for working on the same goal in their way. Also, as a drummer, percussionist, I don't think you fill up the horn section to match the size of the percussion section. I would consider reducing the percussion section. but rotating the players. I've never heard of this being done, but why not try? If someone doesn't like it where are they going to go? Reading or Hawthorne, but why aren't they already there? Kevin This will not be a quiet discussion, but it will be interesting. If one gets unhappy see Ream. He has the ladle if it hasn't dissolved.

Interesting question, but I'm not sure if it means much in the longer run. If an instructor has ambitions to move to a larger HS or to the College level or to go from one DC level to another, I don't think one can turn down this opportunity and thus the connection becomes broken, but maybe you get a better replacement. What difference does it make whether the DC's staff all teach at the same school or not, other than it's statistically interesting but probably a moving target? Drum Corps whack-a -mole? Arguably diversity can get you good results. Nevertheless, If someone has answers to the question, I still want to hear them. Kevin

What's over hype?

Very interesting Russ You are definitely using your Way Back Machine. K

...meoldic phrases is now melodic phrases. There...I moved the l for you. Now, get the barrel open. I invited Curly and he is getting impatient. K

Not sure, and I don't know where you find out other than individual Corps sites, or what difference it would make, other than for Contras/Tubas. I do know that in the days of the 128/132 size limitation, that Phantom Regiment was regarded as having the biggest Contra line and may have had as many as 14. Wierd number since we're used to thinking in fours, but I don't suppose it made any difference with curvilinear drill. Boo might know something on the subject and this site has many posts about balance numbers, e.g 4 sops, 2 altos (mellos ) 4 baris,2 basses, or whatever the recommondation may be, (and I am not qualified to make any, other than load up on the bass horns and put them in the front). May not help and I will either get blasted or get some of those viral emoticoms. Good luck. K

Jeff, Some examples, please, I don't see it happening in the Dallas area. I express my ignorance (which means one doesn't know, not that you're too dense to know. I know you know this unless you're dense. Still working on the discount, I think I have it down to $8,900, but they charge $200 for the non-destruct ladle). But seriously I wish this was a regular national trend. Do the West Coast all-agers appear at the BD and SCV shows? Don't know. Ignorance is not bliss, it's frustrating. Cups up on four. K

Yup, pretty lengthy, but informative. Go there at your own schtick. K

OK Friends, I Wikied Mace. it seems to be authoritative. Dates from the 1200s and was a weapon The US H of R has an official Mace. Next I will look up Baton. This could take a week to read. K

I do seem to remember a baton expert, perhaps Cadets, but don't recall year, show, Corps,etc. I'm not getting senile, but I may need to clean up my hard drive or take my finger out of the wall socket. K

Talked with same Cadets folks yesterday as well as some extremely wise experienced veterans from outside the Corps. They may not be able to field 56 horns, and yes it is a big deal that they have 56 new horns. The point of the discussion is that as a beginning Corps one puts the best players and the best repertoire and drill on the field and see what happens. I have never been one who believed that filling up a line with unprepared players helps other than to fill some drill placement gaps, but the drill should not be written for more marchers than you can expect to be ready at a set point in the year. (April 15, May 15, experts weigh in). If they put 40 great horns on the field, Woohoo. Witness Kidsgove with about 45. Another point is that there were concerns C2 would rob existing area All-agers of their best players and try to turn DCA into an annual Cadets triumph. My sources tell me this is not happening. I will not reveal my sources because these have been casual conversations and I don't have their permission to share, nor did I ask. Let's hear and see what happens. K

Jeff, Do you want to move your l or do you want me to do it for you? K

Friends, Please educate me about this. Into the late 60s, the National Dream was the biggest DC event in the NE. (OK CYO Nationals fans, feel free to disagree) The competition had a Junior competition first, then the Seniors, usually 5-6 Corps in each. I understood this concept was being executed between DCI and DCA, but I'm not hearing so much about it, so I'm wondering what's happening. I looked at the DCI schedule yesterday to see if some area all-agers were on the schedule for the Dallas shows. Didn't see anything. Even if the all-age Corps is the only one there. they should at least get a judged exhibiton and not be put on the back seat either unless they play during the DCI final tabulations - and should not be put on during a break where everyone is leaving their seats. A retired DCA exec told me DCI judges are perfectly qualified to work off DCA sheets. I would like to see this come together so all-agers can have a meaningful experience and get the advantage of playing to a DCI crowd. Sparse turnout hurts my heart. Kevin

Keith, Carleen has mine. Please also offer prayers over the repose of the soul of the late Father Jim Reilly, although, arguably he doesn't need them because he was a Saint. We should hope he is praying for us. Kevin

We'll have to quabble over this in an Irish Pub. I'll have to buy you a celery stalk for your Mary, whether virgin or bloody (c'mon folks don't give me any grief. That's what they're called). I'm also busy misspelling "too". K

Mike, We don't quibble, but don't you mean within reason? I lived in Alabama when Southwind started up. A breath of fresh air for a state with good band programs, but no Drum Corps. Large audiences were drawn to Legion Field and even to Gadsden where I saw BD for the first time I think in 77- I was knocked out - along with Madison for the first time in about 25 years. Congratulations to Michael et. al. for keeping the vision alive. Boohoo that there isn't a strong movement in Alabama where there are lot of good programs. I don't know how many DC marchers there are from the Alabama and Auburn marching bands and I don't know where Southwind wants to base itself. but it would be nice to have them come back to AL. And no, I will not quote that overplayed song. It would be interesting to see a database of how many players came from which schools. I won't do it because I'm to busy misspelling (One S or two?) Kevin

Jeff, That's sad, and I feel bad if any musician/teacher feels underappreciated and that their musicians are abused. However, one has to wonder how so many major Universities maintain huge marching bands, e.g SEC, Big Ten, PAC 10, etc. if there is no interest and support. Perhaps smaller schools face a different probem, but some don't, witness Jacksonville State, AL which consistently produces a better marching band and Drum Corps players than they do winning football teams and NFL players. BTW, the University I went to was not big by any standards, but we have many National Championships under our belts. The band was not that great by DC standards and had a very tight budget, but we were respected. The bad behaviors at NIU possibly should be dealt with as a crime, maybe only at the misdemeanor level including administrators, but it shouldn't,be avoided (I know this not a new story, but we don't often get NI news in Texas unless there is a disaster and likewise from NI. Jeff. still working on your barrel, but don't see it coming below $9,000. Wood and Coopers are not cheap. Kevin

John, I knew Father Jim. He was so humble and friendly I didn't know he was a priest until someone told me. A great loss not only to his friends, but his community. No one loved Drum Corps more than he. Kevin

Ran, Well said. Right on the mark IMO. Going back to earlier comments, I was in the Band at a major college football school. Our practices often coincided, side by side. If our practices ran a little longer than theirs they would often come by to cheer us on. A number of them said we worked harder than they. Kevin

Z, That's why we need you. Lots of memory power out there, but never enough. What did you think about the lists of marches that were generated? Kevin

Holly and Ralph, As a Jersey guy I think it's great that there are two DCA Corps in North Jersey. Congratulations on your Hokyoke results and your DCA Championship. What size Corps are you hoping to field this year? Thinking about the good DC representation at Holyoke reminds me of what I consider the best parade for DC that ever existed (so I'm being nostalgic. Delete me youse guys from PA and Boston) It was the Holy Name Day parade in Newark in the 50s and 60s. It was almost as big as the NYC St. Paddy's Day Parade, but had a slightly higher IQ. Every Corps in NE NJ marched including the premier Corps, Cadets, SAC, St. Joe's, Vinnies, Cabs. But also Reilly, Sky, Archie. There were probably two Corps for every HS marching band. These extremely sloppy HS bands with 12 flutes, 8 clarinets, two trumpets, a trombone and Sousaphone would come slouching down the street and right behind them would be SAC in perfect precision blowing the glass out of office buildings. Much fun along with bread pretzels. Actually my point is not nostalgia, but when DC gets in a parade, we know we are better than anyone else and we should act and perform that way and not take it lightly. Your award in Holyoke shows that you do. Also hats off to the Hurcs. They are in Holyoke every year, always perform well and deserve the awards they get. For DCI Corps, times are different because you can't keep the Corps together year round, which means you can't easily do fall and spring parades. Thus you do summer parades on the same day you have a competition. It has to be exhausting. I think my enthusiasm would flag somewhat, but we have to remember it's done to promote the activity and that night's show. Nuff said. Have a great season Kevin

Fred and Andyroo (Merman) You are both on topic IMO. I think marketing analysis should be brought into play as well as creating a good stadium family experience. I can't say why or whether DCA isn't using the kind of Zip Code analysis that Andy suggests (maybe they are) and I hope they could attract an intern to help. After many years of busting their fannies MB won a Championship, so wouldn't they want to have DCA finals close to home, they deserve it. How many would attend? This is where another area where a marketing tool might help. A poll e,g, at Annapolis. Would you be willing to come to the Midwest for a DCA final? No more than 10 questions which would include transportation and housing issues with only yes/no answers. People will throw out questionnaires that ask you to give written answers. Considerations for DCA : What's the easiest airport to get in and out of. O'Hare no. Balimore, yes (they leave out the T. Last time I was there, I was gently corrected) Stadium: Put the audience between the twenties as Fred says. Closer than that if it can be done, but I don't know if you can go beyond row 30 unless it's a pretty big open air stadium. (Never been to White Water, but old Giant's Stadium row 30 was awful -second deck overhang just above and sound bouncing around all over the place). Just some thoughts since yours were so good. Kevin RIP Father Jim

Tim, I think Flam was being facetious, if not sarcastic, (one doesn't elevate one's opinion by cutting down someone else's) and it's entirely possible there were some programs who had a vignette that mocked majorettes and batons (French for stick. Baton Rouge = Red Stick. e.g.) to make a humorous contrast between the high performance level of Drum Corps vs. Marching Band. I have not seen the performance of every DC for the last 60 years, so historians weigh in (give us your knowledge) or wade in (give us your opinion). Tim, I am also thinking you're talking about the Mace. the long verical stick with the orb on top, which comes from the British Marching Band tradition. I'll have to look it up, but it may date back to Roman times. I didn't know Zingali used one. I really want to see it. He may have been the inspiration for George Parks, Reading Bucs and UMass faculty, who is widely considered to be the modern Merkin master of the Mace. It had a practical and spectacle application. The practical application was that in a loud parade, the DM could use it to signal the musicians, especially if he was vertically challenged. The Spectacle was that as good as the best British Marching Bands are, they don't do drill, so you put your DM with his Mace throws in front of the Queen to impress her. Don't mean to be be pedantic, but the post raised these thoughts. Apologies to all those who already know this stuff. Kevin

Fran, It could be done by moving the Navy game to FedEx stadium, but unless you're playing ND or Army you are not going to fill up the stadium and cover the costs they will charge Navy to use the Redskin' s stadium. If Navy fills up their stadium for home games, but DCA can't, I know what decision I'd make. Thanks, but no thanks, our fans bring more money to the economy than DCA fans do. You are right on the mark. However, I am salivating over the thought of Chesapeake Bay Clam Cakes. None in NE Texas. Want to trade for some Brisket? Kevin

Hurcs10 I don't think there is any tempo data out there that will meet your thesis, even if some information exists, because tempos change during the course of the show. So perhaps the best you can do is average tempo, but I don't think that data exists either. The Cadets have been known to do the highest tempo rates at 206-208, (which doesnt mean that other Corps haven't also), but they may have done their ballad at 60 and had moments when the tempo was zero, e.g. a silent aux toss with no music or movement where the only action was the toss. Interesting thesis idea, but I don't think the data you are looking for exists. Even if it did, I understand that your result may be "insignificant correlation". I don't think that it is commonly understood that this type result is important because if people believe there is a correlation between tempo and winning and you present evidence that there isn't, you've done your job as a scientific researcher. Unfortunately, I think you will be hampered by a lack of data and too many variables. Kevin