BD9

The money for college is no issue. The money for drum corps is. It's raising the moneyfor drum corps with prepping for college and the stress of Attempting both at the same time. Even though I've been admitted and have my scholarships and the like, there's still A LOT of paperwork that needs to be done and things to be arranged for that might hinder my ability to raise the money and be as practiced for drum corps. As for switching...the Academy is an amazing organization. As stated before, the reason I want to move up is because I want to be a part of something as near-perfect as the Blue Devils, not to mention that they are what inspired me in the first place. I would give everything I've got and more to any organization I'm a part of (I don't think it's possible to not do so in drum corps- any corps I march will be a challenge, maybe just in different ways.) whether it be The Academy, Devs, or even OC corps. I do drum corps so I can get better, as well as for that experience of challenging myself and pushing myself farther than I could imagine. Neither of which I would achieve if I didn't give everything.

Staying prepared for the drum corps lifestyle, I mean. Sorry.

Im not planning on staying with my current corps just to keep my chops up. I was worried more about being prepared in the lifestyle sense. The reasons I want to march BD are because they were the first corps I ever saw live, and their hornline was what made me want to be involved with the activity. I never intended Academy to be a step, I just wanted to march anywhere. Now that I am able to understand just how close to perfection a group can get...I want to get to that level. The main reason I want to march Academy again for 2012 is because of the great group of people there.

Will do!

I'll be studying music ed at Arizona State, I've got a scholarship so college money isn't an issue...I agree with the connections part, I marched last year and met a lot of people who will be able to help me a lot inthe future.

It's mostly just getting living arrangements and moving out and that, everything I need to do for my first year. Also money is a big issue for marching as well, I have to fundraise it all and that's a lot of time and stress on top of college.

I was thinking of taking a season off from marching so that I could get ready for college, etc, but I've heard a lot of downsides to it. Have any of you ever taken a year (or more) off? What did you think of that, and do you think it will make it harder for me when I come back? (note: I have 5 years of marching left. If I march this season it'll be with the corps I marched in 2011, I just miss them too much, but I will want to audition for the Blue Devils either 2013 or 2014, so I'm worried I might be too out of practice..)

2008 end of phantom. The long chord in 2000 scv's Adagio. Creep definitely. Also for me personally was the ballad of 09 Academy, first live show I had ever seen. It was amazing. Boston 2000s ballad. Madison's closer this year. BDs WAMLAW, also 2005 in the final (first?) push of the show, with the narrator's "dancers, are you ready? Audience, are you ready?", basically that whole section.

Edit: didn't make the video. Just found it hilarious.

For the most part, people tend to respect anything with difficulty, competition, intensity. Which is all in drum corps. Also, there was a documentary...the Life of Jenks or Jenkins or World of Jenks or something on MtV a few years ago that was popular. Basically, a documentary maker went into different situations and live life with a rock star for a week, or a gangster, or an autistic kid, to learn how the experience was. One episode was a marching band kid, if I remember right. And people loved that show. Just do something like their 16 and pregnant show format wise but take the outlook Of the other show and apply it to drum corps.

m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=No1TjlpCCQQ Hope that link works...I want to see them do THIS. Could be awesome on field.

It would be amazing if they did Emmanuel Variants...

Maybe (back to the reality TV show thing) it would be cool to take a member or two of a few of the corps fighting for the ring and/or a few from other corps. Follow them around for the summer. There's plenty of stuff that people can relate to as well as find completely absurd, as well as funny. Audience members could laugh at silly drumline antics and laundry day mishaps, and get into the competition. I had a blog that even my non drum corps friends found hilarious and interesting this summer. Just have to portray it right and get the dollars and it could be really popular.

Agreed. Check out their rendition of William Tell. It's hilarious...they're amazing performers all around.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted! :)

BD WAMLAW Cadets 2000. Scouts' Malagueña. Many many more. Also one that prolly won't be mentioned, but for some reason pops into my mind as very entertaining was Academy 06. No not the level of those above, but still pretty darn cool.

Marching drum corps changed my life. I know it doesn't have as direct an effect as other charities, but it changes people. It inspires people, shows people like me that amazing things really are possible, that we are capable of incredible things. It arms us with tools that make us successful. Maybe it doesnt directly help lower costs or anything but it ensures that the experience and activity is still there, and still able to impact a lot of kids.

Please vote for The Academy! We're barely holding on to the 4 spot and we need everyone's help!

I agree. Spread the word to everybody! Friends, family, bands you teach at are really helpful as well. There's a lot of money at stake here that could really help a lot of people, whether it's funding an extended tour, buying new instruments or whatever... Www.voteacademy.com ..I don't have the rest of the links, sorry. But I know Blue Knights, Crossmen, Oregon Crusaders, Pioneer, the Colts boosters, CorpsVets, and a few others are in it. Spread the word and thanks, these means a lot to me and other members of every one of these organizations!

When their favorite corps doesn't place well, many of my students claimed that the judges are just a bunch dullards. New Word: tuxedo

Maybe try unliking it then liking it again?

I'm sure most of you guys have heard of the Chase Community Giving program. If you haven't, basically it's where a bunch of charities/non-profits are in the running for large donations from Chase Bank. You can vote over Facebook, and the groups with the most votes receive donations. If you haven't already heard on Facebook, The Academy and Crossmen are in the running this time, so make sure you vote for them! You can vote on Facebook, or I'm sure there's a way to do it online elsewhere. Every vote counts!

Well this should be interesting!

That actually sounds really cool. I was tempted to do one last season...that'd be pretty cool for others to be able to see what tour life is like/remember what it's like.

The organization that does most of the competitions for my school's program has separate percussion judges, and the score impacts ours quite a bit...I think it's a fifth of our music ensemble score.