SpiritVet

Funny you mention that, because the 2009 Sun Devils totally did a Halo (and other video game music) show. Their drum major was even dressed up as Master Chief.

This year (and last year), Spirit of Atlanta has a girl on tenor, bass, and cymbals. Last year, it was an all girl cymbal line of 5. This video features them demonstrating crashes and there are some "action" clips near the end of the video that probably fit what you're looking for.

I believe it. One of my friends marching all-age is the executive chef of a local restaurant, and he got there the same way (almost literally drum corps style). I was thinking this out more along the lines of how serving a drum corps compares to challenges done by these "reality" shows...as well as the exposure for the activity that would ensue.

So, I got this idea from watching Master Chef tonight, where the challenge was to serve 101 cowboys with prep time of 90 minutes. I'm watching this with my parents (all of us having recently volunteered on a corps food truck), and we all think aloud...been there done that! Wouldn't it be cool if Master Chef went out to a corps rehearsal and gave meal service as a challenge? Small nuances aside, it's quite a challenge to serve 150 members plus staff out of a trailer with limited equipment, and have the members out and ready to go sometimes in as little as 30 minutes. Seeing how this is a summer show, there is the timing issue, but they might be able to make it into someone's all days.

I've never gotten a chance to see a victory run, and the coolest part about this video is seeing all the raw emotion and energy let loose since they all know they've won already. Can every champion do this kind of video from now on? Please?

Rationale of dot vs. form: Your dots on the field are analogous to the notes you play. Theoretically, you should know what note you're playing, the length, articulation, etc. therefore, you should know where exactly your dot is on the field. However, you're a part of an ensemble (musical and visual), so same as you wouldn't play your note dead on A=440Hz when the rest of the hornline is at 442, you wouldn't go to your dot 10.0 steps from the hash when you're supposed to be in a company front that happened to develop at 9.5 during a performance. To add another layer to the thought process, you can even think of form as giving you more information so that you can hit your dot more precisely. Say you're backing into a set that's 5.75 in front of a hash. Something like that is hard to read just off of basic field markings. But, if you know that snare drummer over beside you at 6.0 in front is holding while you're heading into your set, you can look for him instead of trying to spot 11.75 away from the numbers (which may not even be at the next show). WHILE AT THE SAME TIME (back to dot)...you know your mid and quarter sets for this move, which help you understand your path size responsibility to help you go to your dot. tl;dr: drill is fun

Don't get me started on numbers. If they're there, usually 11.25 and 14.5 from the sideline...except in NFL stadiums (10.25 and 13.5 from the hash). Made our company front at the end of 2011 so easy to hit cleanly.

Thanks everyone for their reviews! Mike Miller, you take that back. It's a good thing for you I'm lending my Hammond to a guy in junior right now. :P

Last night's scores.

What if in the end it was 100% the bus company? Then the bus gets thrown under the bus!

Goo referring to synth bass that started sliming into drum corps about three years ago.

Go Corps! Go Spirit!

Had fun at this show last year, even with the lights going out on us! Best of luck to all corps! Go Spirit!

Well yeah, but someone actually there can get us scores a whole 5 seconds earlier. And every second counts.

That would be really cool to see.

Wouldn't apply in this case. Historically, I can think of 1995 when Suncoast Sound chose to end tour early, and several of their members found spots in other corps.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Well, very recently (this weekend), we've seen Spirit and Cavies jump up to the 74-75 range while Crossmen dropped into the 72 range. I'm confident all of these groups will remain competitive with each other and other corps, but from what I've seen, this kind of spread seems appropriate for now.

Go Corps! Go Spirit!

Thanks to all for putting on a great show! I personally had a great time performing and can't wait to see everyone else again!

True, but I know a 4th year vet at Spirit ('09-'12), who says it's gotten harder every year. It's expected for you as an individual to get better over the years, but the demand from design surely can increase as well.

Congrats Spirit of Atlanta! Now that this achievement has happened, I can't wait to see what EVERYONE will be motivated to do from here on out going into the first big show.

Based on my limited experience holding a few instruments for fun, the Yamaha will be slightly lighter and balanced a little closer to you ("shorter" instrument) than a standard king. The space and balance that a Yamaha euph takes up is more similar to a King bari, with the weight being more since it's a euph.

There are two great DCA organizations in place in Atlanta. Well, one this year, but normally two. I'm proud to be one of several people who has made their start in one of these organizations, gone to DCI, and come back when I aged out. Even if there is no true administrative connection between the DCA groups and Spirit of Atlanta, the presence of alumni from all organizations in all organizations has created a great amount of talent and interest in drum corps locally.

Excited to see everyone perform tonight! Go corps! Go Spirit of Atlanta!