Ch1k3n

never mind xD

So what did you end up getting?

Bluecoats are pretty consistent :)

I actually like Bluecoat's tuba section better than Devils. Just my opinion, but I thought Bloo's tubas sounded a lot fuller and had much more presence than Devil's, both of which are essential to a tuba section in my mind. Phantom? Well... they're just Phantom. Loud, in your face tuba section.

Hello! Since I've just gotten into DCI recently, I've only been to one DCI show, DCI SW. One of the best experiences of my life. My highlights of this experience were definitely Scout's closer, SCV's opener, and both Crown and BLOO's shows. Why? Because they emotionally impacted me so hard that I was on my feet cheering (or BLOOOOOing ) at the top of my lungs for these corps because of their beautiful blend of powerful drill, music, and amazing hornlines. Since this is the only live DCI show I've been to, these are the only ones I can talk about a true emotional impact. Of course, what's an avid drum corps fan without his Youtube marathons? I've spent many hours on Youtube watching different videos and choosing the ones I like best. My meter stick of choice? Goosebump height. I LOVE those show segments/videos that make my skin pop. Videos I've watched on Youtube over and over again: Phanton's closer 2011 Phantom's Firebird Suite BK's opener 2011 Crown Bohemian Rhapsody Crown's MMX tuning sequence SCV's Simple gifts SCV's Closer 2011 Cavaliers opener 2006 Cavaliers closer 2011 Star of Indiana Cross to Cross (a must!) Bluecoats Creep Just to name a few. Anyone else have this sort of experience they want to share?

Elsa's Procession Phantom 2011? Simple Gifts SCV 2009? SCV's closer 2011? All these moments brought down my musical house

haha well I was just comparing the SB to the standard King.

Are you calling the SB a monster? Have you SEEN the standard king?

System Blues are basically modified King Ultimate euphoniums designed with the BD staff. The result is an instrument that is more comfortable to carry for longer periods of time, has a nice full sound, and is WAY lighter than the standard King Ultimate euphonium! I can't notice any big difference in playing quality between the instruments but the valves on the SB are much larger. I got to play one at DCI SW. The first valve was stuck though, so I just played some long tones and it felt pretty good. One difference between the SB and the King is that the SB doesn't have any pinky or thumb rings etc. to push out the first and third valve slides as opposed to the King, which has both to allow you to do some corrective tuning while playing. In the right hands, this will allow you to play basically everything in tune. I guess the SB was designed to not have to have this function, as it seems to do well without them. Those are just some differences!

Effective isn't the word I would use..... it covers up the hornline and doesn't do much for overall effect because it's so loud! lol

How can you not like the rotating box at the end??? I thought the drill flowed well with the music as well. Still don't get the middle part though XD

Man I feel sorry for the Bluecoats... Being booed since forever before they even step on the field! LOL jkjkjk! In all seriousness, as much as I didn't like BD's show at DCI SW, I did not boo them. I even applauded, but didn't go nuts like I did with Crown, Bluecoats, SCV, Cadets, Scouts (oh boy I went ABSOLUTELY NUTS for scouts!!!), Cavvies, BK, even OC! But didn't go nuts for BD, but I certainly did not Boo them.

Here it is in better quality

New ending?

lol are you talking about the euphonium? or the contra? I'm not sure the leadpipe on the euphonium rests on the back of your hand.

Ok thanks for the anatomy info. Actually it's more of a sharp pain, not a tingling. So having my elbow tucked in can cause problems with my arm/shoulder/neck? That's a good incentive to keep it out where it's supposed to be! Here's a new rundown of things: Kings are a bit different from the Yamahas in that they have a little paddle type thing that you use to push out the first valve slide. It's like a see-saw that when you push it in the slide will push out.So while you're holding the horn around the valve section like any old horn, your thumb will rest on this paddle thing. This is comfortable for the first few seconds as it seems that your hand is ergonomically sound. After you start playing and your fingers start depressing the valves, the front of the horn tips down because 1.) Your fingers pressing down on the valves 2.) Your thumb pulling up on the leadpipe to make sure that your fingers depress the valves and not simply push the horn down. This causes your left hand to try to find a way to counter this. The easiest and most effective way is to push down on the base of the paddle thing with your left thumb as there is a little protrusion that is just large enough to rest your thumb on. This fix is ok for the first few minutes, but after that there becomes a very concentrated pressure or cramp in my hand at the base of my left thumb about an inch to the left from the crease in my skin on my palm that runs from in between my thumb and first finger to my wrist and about an inch up from the wrist. Hope this info helps a little more! Thanks for all the feedback so far!

Haha yeah the horn does get heavy but the main pain is the cramp in my hand. I'm sure raising the horn angle slightly will shift the weight but I also take pride in pursuing visual perfection so horn angles are big to me. I'm using it for my HS marching band season to (attempt to ) prepare for drum corps, and we do 10 degrees up. (which to our rank leaders, means about 30 degrees XD) So I'll see how things go there.

I personally absolutely loved BK's 2011 opener. The beautiful singing integrated right into the show drill, the nice hornline coming in softly as a snare rolles out a crisp solo, the hornline building intensity all the way up to the first impact, and they weren't done there! They continue to move and exude lines of song, especially the beautiful mello licks. Intense drill leading up to the company front where the music slows down but stays powerful while the corps moves into a sort of angry eyebrows type thingy. The form breaks and the music speeds up again with more delicious mello rips and the whole corps moves into the closing arc while playing glorious music, mellos belting away. It was hard to put in words, but I tried.

Ok so after holding the horn again I found that the problem is not in me squeezing it, it's that I'm pushing my thumb down on the 1st valve tuning slide trigger to try to counter the bell heavy-ness of the horn.

There wasn't anything to fix......

This is exactly how I feel. The BD can execute their show amazingly, people can cheer at their level of performance, but that cheer is different, and most certainly not as loud, as a cheer for emotional impact. Scouts closer? SCV first impact? Crown closer (it's a 3D rotating box!!!!)?

Ok thanks for the tips, I've been squeezing because of the horn imbalance. When I practice on a Yamaha bari, which is much more balanced, my left hand is relaxed, but since the King is very bell heavy, I have been squeezing to try to hold the horn level when it wants to tip forward. I find it very difficult to not squeeze unless I stick my pinky in the pinky ring to hold the front end of the horn up, but then my fingers aren't as flexible.

Hello! So when I practice with my standard King euph holding it up and playing, I will get pretty severe pains/cramps in my left hand at the base of my left thumb. This only happens when I'm playing and not when I'm just holding the horn because when I'm playing, I press the valves down and that will push the horn bell down. Since the King is very bell heavy, this means I have to try to balance the horn and the way I can do that is with my thumb pushing down or trying to grip the valves harder. With the paddle thing that you push to extend the 3rd valve tuning slide in the position that it is, it is hard to do either so my thumb is left in a very uncomfortable position that eventually turns into a cramp that I cannot tolerate anymore and have to put the horn down. I have tried holding the horn without pressing valves and seeing how my hands are then trying to keep it that way when I do press valves, but it is near impossible to keep the horn balanced while pressing the valves. The horn is very comfortable when you're not playing, but once you start playing it is near impossible (at least for me) to keep it balanced and not causing the bell to try to tip forward. Does anyone have experience with this and have any remedies or suggestions? Thanks so much!

Most epic parts of the night? Madison's rotating company front. Emotional impact level 9000+ SCV playing backfield....... "proud to present"....... music stops, slow rotation to front....... in ominous voice: "The Santa Clara Vanguard." ....... Insert music impact here. These 2 stick out in my head as easily the most epic parts of the night, especially SCV. I get chills every time I replay the moment in my head.

And people need to stop booing the bluecoats! haha in all serioiusness, it is a bit unsettling to be BLOOOOing and then someone in the rows in front of you turns back and looks at you in disgust.