RockyGranite

My son, Fountain-Fort Carson High School class of '11, is marching mello with BK. There has been one other from Fountain, played baritone, who marched for two years during high school but isn't marching this year. I'm not aware of any others from the Springs area. I'll ask my son. btw, Fountain is the second-best marching band in the area...I don't care WHAT Liberty or Mesa Ridge say about it. LOL!!!

The Corps are GREAT people... Including BK. (they did a show in the lot, as well)

shrug... I SAID I was new. Three years ago, when my son told me he wanted to perform with the Blue Knights, I had no idea they even existed.

You know...I'm pretty new to this drum corps thing, so I'll ask you old-timers a question: Back when front ensembles became stationary, back when various new instruments were being added...especially back when electronic keyboards became commonplace, did y'all complain this much?

Did you, by any chance, hear their closer? THAT was the dominant part of their show...and it was all drum corps. The synth is pretty much nothing but sci-fi sound effects.

I guess I'm not a purist when it comes to Marching programs. There was a high school marching band in Colorado a few years ago who did a program based on music from "Dream Theater". They had a freshman guitarist who was amazing and their show was quite entertaining. The judges, unfortunately, weren't impressed. They didn't score well. But I really liked their show.

I wasn't being critical of you liking BK's show. I like it too...mainly because it isn't JABOM/M. Now, I do appreciate a quality performance. From any kind of show. This is what wins. But as a spectator I really like the shows that tie everything together. Spartacus comes to mind as a prime example.

One thing BK doesn't have in their show is what I call "JABOM/M". (Just A Bunch Of Music/Movement) It seems some Corps put five dice in a yahtze cup...shake it up...dump them out...and whatever combination of horn music, drumline music, ensemble music, guard movement and drill comes up on the dice is what they go with.

Here's an anecdote: My son started playing clarinet in elementary school. He found that he had a love for classical music and he found that he was quite good as a clarinetist. He started marching, as a freshman, in his high school marching band and found that he loved that. Then, his Director took the kids to see a DCI show at a theater. At the end of his sophomore year he surprised everyone by deciding to switch to horn/mello. He told me his primary reason for switching was to march with the Blue Knights. His senior year of high school he became mello section leader and given the task of teaching two other members to play the mello. That's when he found out that he really liked teaching. Last fall, while in his freshman year in college...working for a music ed degree...he decided he might be good enough, after three years, to get an invite to the Blue Knights. He was good enough and he's touring with them right now. So...what will my son have gained from his DCI experience this summer? I didn't read all the posts in this thread so I'm sure all of his benefits have been mentioned. But here are the most important, in my opinion: Decisiveness. Setting a goal. Working for that goal. Attaining that goal. Knowing he "can do it if he tries" is, in my mind, the greatest benefit. First-hand exposure to and immersion into the major league of marching. Some day he will be expected to provide a school with a marching band. This summer will teach him what marching is all about in ways he never learned in four years of high school. He will have "walked the walk". Is it worth the money his mother and I had to scrape together to pay for this experience? Hell, yes.

4.9 point rise in three shows...Good Job, BK!! Not a bad way to begin a 28 show national tour.

All I've seen are their early run-throughs before their tour started, but it irritates me...and I think it does a disservice to BK...when anyone compares this show to PR 07. Not only are there distinct differences in the arrangement, but the shows themselves have totally different themes. Furthermore, BK's music is ONLY from Firebird...not a mashup of different music. That being said, I think this show has the potential to take them to surprising heights in the final standings...depending, of course, upon their ability to tighten up their show and peak at the right time.

LOL!!! Of course, it's rough. They haven't even had their first competition yet. Do you know of ANY corps that isn't rough at this time?

They are also helped by new members like my son. He switched from clarinet to horn/mello after his sophomore year in high school because he wanted to be a member of BK. Three years later, after his freshman year in college, he felt he might be good enough to get an invite. He was. He plays mello as good as others who have been playing brass their whole lives and he marched in a very good marching band in high school. That being said, he also worked his butt off in all days to learn the Corps ways...and all that dancing. LOL!! With rookies like him in the Corps...along with the veterans...I think BK is poised to do great things this year and on into the future.

I saw this performance. I was quite impressed. This show is different from the "normal" BK show. Much more dancing by the hornline. And then there's the sci-fi element in conjunction with the Firebird Suite. Depending on how well they tighten up their performance and on how well the other Corps do, this show could get BK into the top five. I am really looking forward to Drums Along The Rockies.