Tim K

To be fair to the mother who posted a bit frantic, there may have been some serious miscommunication about Teal Sound yesterday. I was at Beanpot in Lynn, MA and we began hearing rumblings prior to the show that Teal was in an accident, Teal had a breakdown and kids were stranded on the Mass Pike, Teal had decided not to show because they needed more practice, and Teal ran out of money where everyone quipped that it is a tragedy drum corps costs so much today though no one passed the hat to take up a collection. It was later announced that Teal would not be competing due to a transportation issue, but they were safe and sound and the community in New York hosting them was thanked profusely. In an age where Tweets, texts, cellphones, and social media are the rule of the day, facts and rumors spread rather quickly.

I agree that Cadets will be 1st. Colts and Crossmen have been neck and neck, so I'd have them a bit closer. I wouldn't rule out Surf, however and would place them closer to Crossmen and Colts, all three within a point of each other. I know everyone predicts Surf will be a fan favorite, but I've heard their show is solid. I've also heard that their more ambitious tour schedule this year is reflective of their determination. If I'm correct, I didn't cheat and hear about tonight's performance which has probably taken place (it's about 9:00 as I write this). If I'm wrong, it may be bias on my part. I'll be seeing them tomorrow night in Lynn and I'm anxious to see what they'll do.

I'm not sure I'd use the word "better" to describe today's corps, because so much has changed. I think advanced is a fairer term. Advancement often means better, but at times things get lost as we advance. This is not just a drum corps phenomenon. Digital cameras often produce better photographs, but if you ask anyone who took photography serious in the film days and switched to digital, chances are they'll say their technique was better in the film days when you had to pay for processing and didn't have Photoshop. Technology has transformed education, but kids often lack the basics. As far as spelling, I'm the first to admit I was a far better speller prior to spell check. Now I miss spelling errors all the time. Certainly the musical arrangements are more sophisticated than in the past, and the instruments used can handle the arrangements. It's been years since I've heard a corps out of tune, again due to the instruments. It's also been a while since I've been blown away by a wall of sound which is considered old fashioned. As a matter of fact, the last time I really remember being blown away in an old school kind of way was in 1999 with Madison. Pits add musical nuances to a show, but drum lines don't have the power they once had. Guards are more versatile, but could a guard member maneuver equipment for an entire show? There are pros and cons no matter how you look at it. When I watch the Legacy DVD's, some corps seem timeless; BD, 27th, Cadets, Madison. Some are clearly products of their time: Bidgemen, North Star, Star of Indiana. Some do seem dated: Kilties, Findleyville Royal Crusaders. Still, the shows are fun to watch and in their day, were considered better than what preceded them. There are some things that never change. I still expect and always find that those who are near the top are pursuing excellence. A good drum corps show still excites me, and even if there are fewer corps, I'm glad drum corps still continues.

That's another reason why you should march. Kids in drum corps are usually very motivated.

Yes you do want to march if you have the opportunity--drum corps is like a family but sometimes the family is a bit dysfunctional.... Now if you're in Indy this summer, chances are there will be all kinds of tributes to long past corps such as Bridgemen, North Star, and 27th Lancers. I can remember people complaining that North Star was too informal because of their musical selections and relaxed atmosphere (for the day). The Bridgemen were viewed as a disgrace to everything drum corps believed was sacred. 27th Lancers were considered by some to be upstarts because their director challenged the politics of drum corps. Chances are when the name North Star is mentioned at DCI this year, there will be loud applause. The Bridgemen will get all kinds of hoots and hollers, and perhaps a standing ovation. The crowd will go wild for 27th Lancers, perhaps the most sorely missed corps of all time, and this same director will be viewed as visionary. Cranks are a part of drum corps and always have been. Shows get panned continuously and when they become historic, they often rise to greatness. It's called nostalgia. As a Key of G, traditional guard kind of guy, I'm probably guilty of this from time to time, but I still appreciate what happens on the field today. Should you march? Again the answer is yes so stop posting on DCP, get a summer job so you can pay for next year or if you already have one work extra hours for the same reason, go to shows, and practice for your audition.

Shots as good as this with only six months experience with the camera? I can't wait to see what you do next year. As one poster noted, you really tell a story with your photos, which of course is the point. You also do some interesting things with selective focus so I'm assuming you use a DSLR. I've been taking photos at shows with mixed results for about fifteen years. My film days were disasters, mainly due to changing light conditions. Digital has made life easier in that regard, and of course Photoshop helps. Good luck and keep posting your photos.

As a former woodwind player and a drum corps fan since sixth grade, approximately 38 years ago, I have never longed to see woodwinds in drum corps. I also attend shows, support corps, and I buy souvenirs. The absence of woodwinds has never detracted me, nor would it attract me to shows. So I don't think instrumentation plays a role at all. The shows I see each year are usually well attended by a wide variety of people. Old schoolers reconnect, young people are interested. The atmosphere is enjoyable. Concessions are reasonably priced though ticket prices may prohibit bringing an entire family. It also helps if at least some of the corps are known for being audience friendly. So to me, an important aspect of drawing a new fan base is providing shows that make attending a drum corps an experience. Of course most fans at the shows I attend have some drum corps connection. I live outside of Boston and grew up when there were circuits with competitive bands, drum corps, and drill teams competing side by side. The majority of people in attendance in Boston area shows seem to be alums of CYO, Eastern Mass, and Mayflower circuit corps. There are young people who were born after most of drum corps, bands, and drill teams disbanded, probably involved in high school programs, but I'm not sure it will sustain shows in ten or twenty years. Better marketing, perhaps some television exposure might help but my guess is that with fewer drum corps, audiences will diminish. Since starting new drum corps or reviving now defunct corps are unrealistic solutions, I'm not sure how we attract new audiences.

For me, there's no competition--27th Lancers "Once More in 94" at the DCI finals in Foxboro. I knew something special was planned. I assumed it might be "Danny Boy" and perhaps "Crown Imperial" in concert with drum solo and a nod to some of the great color guard moments. This would have been enough and it would have had an impact and I and many others would have left the show happy. However, as a loyal 27th fan over the years, I should have known it would have been more than just an appearance and it turned out to be perhaps 27th's greatest moment. Yes there were great competitive moments. I still watch my Legacy DVD's and enjoy the great shows, but "Once More in 94" was the 27th Lancer family from inception to 1986, along with their many friends over the years giving their all, and "Once More in 94" captured what 27th meant to so many of us.

I'm glad West Coast fans are loving BAC's visit, because I have a feeling that a lot of us will be missing BAC at Beanpot this Saturday and at Bristol and CYO next week.

I've heard arrangements that thoroughly amaze me. I've also heard arrangements that all but leave me in horror. I also know that some of the arrangements I have loved have been panned by others, and some of the terrible arrangements have been highly praised. Bottom line--it's a matter of opinion and taste. Now as far as the intention of the composer is concerned, last year many of us were gaga over Phantom's "Elsa's Procession." It was a dignified arrangement and received high praise but Wagner never wanted his work excerpted, so if we adhere strictly to the composer's intentions, we would have to take his music out of drum corps, most concert halls, and hear the music compete at Bayreuth in Germany. Now Verdi, Wagner's contemporary, knew his music was great when organ grinders performed it. Many of the greatest composers may have composed for royalty and aristocrats, but considered it a compliment when the public at large enjoyed it. In opera, there was a push to be as close to the composer's intentions as possible and all kinds of musical flourishes were removed, and the music sounded great technically, but something was missing. Autographed scores were then discovered, and even though the composer did not change the score, there are markings that show that many composers seemed to love embellishments and approve liberties from time to time. If the composer is not living, we can't know intentions for certain. So for me, what matters is first, the dignity of the music is upheld, second it can be performed well by a corps, and it fits a show.

Why stop with #3 at season's end?

Years ago I would never have imagined that I'd miss the Bridgemen, but I do. I also never would have expected that a show I cannot wait to see would be a tribute to the Bridgemen. Times do change! The Bridgemen would have loved the gimmick Jersey Surf is planning. Bridgemen fed off of audience enthusiasm. I can remember quite a few times when the Bridgemen started off somewhat tepidly but improved steadily as the audience responded. These would have been early season shows, and they tested as to what would and would not work with the audience. Sure, their shows had many worthy qualities, they were excellent musicians, but a huge part of the Bridgemen experience was audience involvement. So if Jersey Surf wants to pay tribute to the Bridgemen, involving the audience not just a great idea, it's essential. Besides, it looks like it will be fun.

You're correct about school boards, budgets, and bands. A friend of mine is married to the director of one of our areas better high school bands and the local school committee expects the band to be top notch, but fundraising covers the costs of uniforms, transportation, and a host of other costs, and this school is located in an affluent suburb of Boston. This is also a symptom of a larger problem. We want schools to solve all our problems, but we don't want to invest in education. Enough soap box. In my situation, the school is a Catholic school and the local public schools do not have a music program other than classroom education. So we'll be offering something I value and something that may one day attract students. I won't have to convince any unenlightened bureaucrats either--I'm the pastor of the parish that runs the school. We'll be working with a company that provides instructors in lieu of commissions to the school for instruments sold, so initially it's no cost to the school. I'm hoping a winter guard will be the next step. This will involve salaries for the instructors, but if the band works out, this will not be a problem. In time we'll hire a director (I already know a potential drum corps alum music major who will finish school in three years who has a minor in elementary education). I'd love to have them learn to march, and who knwows, perhaps they'll be a rebirth of Boston' CYO Circuit, but I'm jumping way ahead and I'll be happy with a good music program that the kids learn from and enjoy.

I believe that drum corps is worth the expense, and it offers something that other activities cannot. I also believe that people who march are in it for more than just the opportunity to make music. Travel, working together to perform a show, making friends, and being more independent are just some of the reasons people march. If we want to see the value, just look at some of the people who post on DCP. They marched 40 to 50 years ago in some cases and they still relish it and relive it. I say this as a long time drum corps fan and someone who wanted to march with a corps that traveled and competed nationally. Now, if I put on another hat as someone who works with young people and is currently hoping to start a band program at an elementary school, it is difficult to justify the minimal expenses involved to people who do not get it. Multiply those costs by about ten for a drum corps, and you've completely lost people. Raising money for any kind of arts program has challenges. Even raising money for sports programs is a challenge. Try raising money for lacrosse, hockey or even football equipment and chances are you'll hear all you need for soccer is a ball. In the 70's and 80's, we lost all kinds of drum corps from the great and phenomenal such as 27th Lancers and Bridgemen to the local corps with about thirty members, perhaps not as much talent but made up for it with heart, dedication, and a love of what they did. We'll never get that back. If it's decided it's not worth the cost, and lose the remaining corps, it will be gone forever.

George Hopkins seems to be the kind of person who says quite a bit and gets discussions going. Some of his ideas and strategies have been worthwhile--you can't argue with his success, but he also floats some controversial and quite frankly bad ideas. Great thinkers often do this not to suggest a new way as much as to get discussions going, and obviously that has happened. Adding woodwinds will not solve any problems with drum corps today. During the heyday of drum corps, the Boston are also had competitive bands and drill teams along with drum corps. They all rose at the same time and declined at the same time. As someone who was in a band and a clarinetist, I loved drum corps for their pure brass sound. The bands often had better musicians and could do what drum corps could not due based on the range of instruments, and the guards and drum lines were equally as good as drum corps, the shows were designed by people who did drum corps shows, but drum corps still had something special that bands and drill teams, no matter how good, didn't offer. I think it was due to a uniform look and that special sound. Adding woodwinds will not spark a renewal in drum corps. Also, kids in drum corps are musicians at heart. I'm willing to bet many young people in horn lines today can also play a sax, flute, or clarinet. A ban on woodwinds is probably not keeping anyone who is serious about drum corps out of drum corps. My understanding is that kids in drum corps today can often play two or three instruments well. Also, I've never heard of anyone who has refused to attend a show because oboe players are not allowed in drum corps or has left in disgust due to an absence of piccolos. Anytime an advancement is made in drum corps, something is lost. Color guards have many talented members and can dance a storm, but can they handle equipment for an entire show as in the past? The front ensemble adds a great deal to the nuances of music, but the powerful drum lines of the past were also remarkable. B-flat instruments do sound better and they are much more in tune than their Key of G counterparts, but what makes a drum corps distinct from the brass section of a band? Drum corps has never been static and in order to be competitive, change is inevitable. This was the case in the past and it's the case today. However, what needs to happen that drum corps needs to define what is essential for drum corps. Drum corps can still be innovative with parameters. Achieving excellence cannot be the only goal. Achieving excellence with boundaries is possible.

I remember some story like that from the 1970's, but I can't remember the corps and it may have been a tall tale. I also heard a tale similar to the person being struck by lightning, but it was an American flag bearer from an unnamed junior corps from the CYO or Eastern Mass circuit who was struck while in competition but she remained at attention and didn't move and the shoe went on. Drill instructors were full of these stories which probably were not true but we believed them. I do know Boston Crusaders ran out of money in 1983 while in England and had to phone home for emergency cash which I believe came from the city of Boston. I'm not sure any corps has survived from as many disappointments as BAC which is one major reason why I enjoy seeing them do so well today.

I agree that this post needs another name and the conclusions of many are premature at best. Drum corps has all kinds of stories from the past up to the present of early season disasters and late season victories. The corps that tend to rebound are corps with strong organizations and talented members which historically has been the case with the Cavaliers. Cavies rebounded after a disappointing 1978 season in 1979 and haven't looked back since. Yes Cavies usually have the basic outline of their show prepared as the season begins and yes, it has been about fifteen years since Cavies placed so low, but it happens. Great improvements also happen. This may not be the Cavies' year, but I'm willing to bet they'll still have a respectable finish. So, before the medical examiner and undertaker are called, the casket is selected, and the funeral and collation afterwards are planned, it may be best to wait till the season concludes.

I go to live performances from the Met and drum corps shows at the movies. I'm not sure I applaud at the Met that often (except at the end) even though I'm really into the opera because it's a very individual event like seeing a movie. At Big, Live, and Loud, there's space between corps, people share opinions, and it has a similar atmosphere to a live competition so applauding seems appropriate. Now one poster believes that clapping tells movie theater managers that a show is appreciated. This is an excellent point. Met performances sell out, sometimes weeks in advance. Theaters are going to continue carrying the event. Do DCI events sell out? My guess is that they do not.. I've also heard some people say that some movie theater employees have no idea of what a drum corps is or what's being shown. A friend who works for AMC claims that managers have a good deal of say as far as the special events that take place in their theater, and live events would fit in this category, so an enthusiastic audience lets a manager who does not know drum corps that this activity has followers and could make the difference between whether a live drum corps event is broadcast in that theater next year.

In 1979, Cavies were 11th to Blue Stars 10th but we're also talking about radically different Cavies and Blue Stars. I'm only basing this opinion on the fact Cavie's show is not finished and it sounded like Blue Stars had a major case of the jitters last night. Of course a well performed partially completed show should score better than a complete show performed poorly, so Cavies could fare better than I predict and better than some of the Akron posters believe.

Judging from another thread, it seems that at last evening's show Cadets were stronger than most anticipated, Phantom a bit weaker, Bluecoats and Crown about as expected, Cavies a bit unprepared, and Blue Stars uneven. As far as Louisville results, my thoughts regarding placement would be due to nerves and how much is due to the need for more practice. In the case of Blue Stars it sounded like the show is rather solid but last night a major case of nerves was their problem, so they may have a totally different experience this evening. Cavies need to finish their show, or so it sounds. Not much can be accomplished on a day that would require so much travel. Bluecoats, Cadets, and Crown are solid for this time of year. For Bluecoats, they were playing to a hometown crowd (according to Mapquest Akron is about 30 minutes from Canton), so it's not surprising they were good. For tonight, I predict first goes to Cadets, second to Bluecoats, third to Crown, fourth to Blue Stars, fifth to Cavies, but I will admit that a fifth place Cavies at this point does not mean they will not be contenders as the season progresses.

For top honors this year I am predicting Crown. Crown is hungry and ready, and it's time for a new corps to reach the top. I haven't heard much about Blue Devils for this year, but it's safe to bet that they'll be in the running and it's even safer to bet they won't concede a title. Love'm or not, they know how to compete. Some have mentioned Bluecoats but seventh last year to first this year may be a stretch, but then again deep down I am hoping for an eighth to first place jump with BAC. As far as finalists are concerned, I have no doubt that SCV and Cavies will be in the Top 12 and expect Blue Stars to be there as well. However, I would love to see Troopers as finalists this year since DCI is celebrating its 40th and SCV, Cavies, Blue Stars, and Troopers were all finalists in 1972, the only four corps from the original Top 12 still competing.

Since others are predicting, here's my choices based on show potential, news that has leaked, and videos that have surfaced. I am not being biased. I'll be glad for whoever is on top and feel bad for the corps in sixth place because this is a top notch roster. 1st and 2nd will be a battle between Phantom and Crown. Phantom has a show with perhaps the greatest potential this year, at least on paper. Turandot" can work for a drum corps, Puccini's music can stir a heart more than most composers. Of course a corps can choose music with great promise, but at times it can be hard to live up to the promise of the music. Crown is hungry for a title this year, and perhaps no corps is better at positive publicity than Crown, so this may not be that objective sounding to some, but Crown does seem to hit the ground running in the early season so I predict they will fare well. 3rd: I'm going with Bluecoats. They're a solid corps, reports sound favorable, and they're seasoned competitors. I'm also sure they'd be more than happy to return to the top 3 again at finals and will want to be competitive from the get go. 4th and 5th: Cavies or Cadets. Cavies videos do not look as strong as last year at this time and the guys look awfully young, but Cavies can and have surprised people before and will no doubt do it again. Cadets could have the feel good show of the year, and I love the new uniforms, but will the show have the impact needed? Of course I also thought "Angels and Demons" was not going to be their strongest show and by August I was eating my words. 6th: Blue Stars: I'm not writing Blue Stars off this year, and believe they will be a finalist, but Cadets, Cavies, Crown, Bluecoats, and Phantom could very well be five of the top six at finals.

If the quality is bad, you should speak with the theater because it's probably not a DCI problem. I go about four times a year to see the operas broadcast through the Met Live in HD series which would be the same technology as the live broadcast of DCI. The quality can vary from theater to theater. However there is one significant disadvantage regarding the drum corps broadcasts--the Met draws a larger audience and more theaters offer it, so drum corps fans in some parts of the country may have to suffer poor quality due to lack of demand. I have found a theater where the live opera broadcasts are great and it's also the theater where I see Big, Live, and Loud each year and the quality is great too. The Troopers are dressed in blue, not hot pink, same holds true with Blue Devils and Bluecoats, and BAC is in its classic red and black.

Fife and Drum Corps could be considered ancestors of drum corps. Originally the fifes were used give commands and to locate troop movements. By the Civil war, bugles were used for the same purpose and replaced the fifes. I know in the Northeast, some of the Fife and Drum Corps were associated with Revolutionary War reenactments and the members of the fife and drum corps were often the children of the colonial soldiers. Some just did parades. Now if you want to see the DCI level equivalent of Fife and Drum Corps, head to Colonial Williamsburg. They use authentic period instruments, the young people are accomplished musicians, and work hard at their craft. They can also march through anything: crazy tourists breaking up their formations for a photo op, remnants from horse and carriages, and canon fire. Their uniforms are crisp and their maneuvers are precise, and they even have a nearby rival--Yorktown! They have shows called Tattoos and the Williamsburg Drummer's Call in May would be their equivalent of DCI. Any young person who has participated in this activity has all the endurance skills for a drum corps. I will admit that if you're not a colonial history buff, Williamsburg may not exactly be DCI but it's a good take and if my plans go as I hope, I'll be making a quick trip to Williamsburg between Allentown and Indy!

Most of us who marched either in a drum corps or a band would see the educational value in a marching program, but I understand why the concert band program would be a top priority. For one thing, it would be the focus of anywhere from two thirds to three quarters of the school year. Concert band takes place during the school day whereas marching takes place after school and in some areas is considered a "club." Also, in many schools concert band would be what justifies the music teacher's position. As I look back, concert band taught musical technique and introduced different styles of muisc. Any lessons as far as marching was concerned would have been "on the job" training. Both have value and both teach lessons that go far beyond the days we played our clarinets, mellophones, snare drums or contrabasses.