Gamekid

Phantom but that's just me.

Sorry I can't help with the mellophone player... but I may be able to help with some other stuff. It's good you have a plan - because a goal without a plan is only a dream. Now that you have a good plan for it, it's definitely a goal. First - Get in shape. Look up "First Running" (Google it) follow that training program (or another if you wish) to prepare for a 5K (run.) This will get you in shape. After that, do similar work outs (most long runs) just to stay in good cardio shape. This helps a lot in playing your horn. It helps your breathing (lung capacity) playing (support) and your overall physical wellness. Along with this, add other physical training. Such as sit ups and pushups. Nothing helps support like a 6-pack (dead serious) and nothing helps you keep your horn to the box at the end of your show in August (or November for marching band) like some push ups before then. That physical training will help you prepare both for drum corps and for your marching band. Second - playing ability. The big things are: Tone, technical ability, sight reading, musicianship, practice ability. If you have these, you'll be able to whip any piece of music in no time. I'll send you my daily practice in a PM or an email sometime. But basically, do tone training, scale and articulation studies, sight reading, etudes and solos on a daily basis. Also, practice your in band class. Be sure to make it 'musical' read around the music. Figure, dynamics, articulations, etc. Get picky with it. Make every little bit perfect. In a corps, you'll practice your music that well, might as well get used to doing it now. Third - never give up. You've gotta begin with the end in mind. Remember your goals, your plan, and everything you want to end up to be. This is the best motivation to keep on pushing. Fourth - (probably should have been 3rd) Marching. You should strive to be the best marcher in your high school band. Learn how to teach others to march, because you learn a lot about your own bad habits when you teach somebody else how to. Learn how to separate your upper and lower half (so as not to 'hear' your steps in your sounds.) Learn horn carriage, marching style, etc. Everything involved in marching. Being a good marcher is as important as being a great player. Speak with as many former corps members as you can. Of course speaking to vets of your dream corps would be the best - however, it'll be beneficial to talk to any vet at all. One great way to do this - dci.org. Somewhere on there - is an audition tip section. Read through some of those (made by vets) to get an idea of how to audition. Seek private lessons. Both for playing and for marching. My trombone lessons range from $15 for a half hour (from a college student) to$ 40 and hour (the professor.) It may seem expensive - but they're worth every penny. I'd say good luck, but luck is only the meeting of opportunity and preparation. Your opportunity will come, so come prepared. :)

Kevin - Thanks for an honest starting opinion. I have been considering looking at some DCA - if I can find one near me. Garfield - Thanks for all of the tips, they mean a ton to me. And yes - I love classical music, that's why my love for PR stays strong. Jim - Ain't that the truth, it's the worst being able to hear the note, singing it in my head, and I press the wrong valve and am lipping it way up or down and it sounds terrible. Kicks - Thanks, I'm enough of a realist that I can take some heat from posts like Kevins. And I am trying out for a world class corps this month!! Thanks for the welcoming and advice! Here's a little more... I'm from Kentucky. At the end of this month, I'm trying out for the Mad Scouts (I can't wait)

I'm going to the camp at the end of this month (to audtition). I'm pretty excited to be going. I just printed out my show music (Bari 3) it's pretty exciting music!!!

This makes me think of that one athlete that bought like 10k lottery tickets a week or so ago - on ESPN that's all they talked about. Which franchises (of course only for the boring 'sports' like basketball, hockey, football, and baseball) you could buy. My first thought - I would buy a drum corps!! But I'd say Lancers for this one.

Just introducing myself as a new forum member. I found the forum when I was trying to find out which Corps I want to try out for next year, a Google corps lead me to a topic on here. I read around and decided to join. To tell you a little about myself - first as a music lover.... I'm a junior in high school, I've played trombone since 5th grade, I picked up the baritone a couple months ago (for the obvious reason) and have had a ton of fun with it. My first DCI experience was really my brothers going when they were in high school - they brought back a video for me. :) I fell in love with Phantom, mainly because they had too. My favorite corps are: Phantom, Crown, Mad Scouts, Pioneer. Other than that... I play tennis (although I quit the school's team this year) I run (although I similarly quit the school's XC team this year) so yeah, I just do band and academic team now. :) I've got two older brothers, both marched sax in high school. One marches sax in college right now.