Tuokaerf10

It's been a while since I've heard a DCI tape when working with a group with amps and it was in 2006. Balance issues absolutely should be addressed by the judges. In WGI, it's been my experience you'll get called out hard for that. Typically the kids run the boards and have had a few incidents when one of the electronics kids didn't set a level correctly and the PA and GE judge immediately made mention of it.

By standardize, do you mean: 4 marimbas 3 vibes 1 Xylophone 1 Tympani 2 racks players And you can't deviate from this?

That's a quite valid point. Amps can be used very poorly. DCI went through some growing pains with that early on where the pit played the same and the volume was just turned up and it was a hot mess. Synths aside, check out SCV from this past summer for how I feel amplification can really add to the pit's contributions. Does anyone know if the rule allows for a staff member to run the board?

If you really want to fry your brain, there are different sizes of mallet instruments by octave size, many different mallet choices, marimbas can have rosewood or synthetic bars, etc. it's hard enough getting a high school trumpet player to remember their horn, not to mention a marimba player with 5 different sets of mallets :).

I was waiting for someone to bring up woodwinds. Adding amps has nothing to do with that. Amplification is not changing standard horn instrumentation and I don't see anyone advocating for that seriously other than a push from Hopkins a few years ago for saxes. Arrangers can use already legal instruments more effectively. Also, no one has really brought forth a cohesive argument on why amplifing existing legal instruments are bad other than cost and "it's not drum corps". I can't wait until synths are approved in 5 years, that should make for interesting discussion :-).

It's not better or worse, things change over the years. As I said in a previous post, the activity is very different today than it was even 20 years ago. Shows are designed totally differently. So if we want to have grounded pits with X different types of mallet instruments and X criteria and expectations for what they should be playing from a book standpoint, we need to make some changes to allow for that properly. No one is advocating removing the pit or changing their role, so why are we fighting this then?

The frontline has more option in regard to complexity of the book without pounding away.

There's nothing insulting about it, that's the opinion of many DCI fans that are not familiar with DCA. I don't want that view. As for declining membership and growth, look at where new members come from: Marching band > DCI/WGI > DCA Marching band > DCA > DCI > DCA All of those minus DCA have more progressive rules in what equipment can be used and how you can design a show.

Of course it's an excuse to use amps, it's a benefit to the arranger and performer. Performers no longer have to play with questionable techniques that are hard on hands and instruments. Arrangers have more options as well. It's not being an apologist, it's reality (I'd assume you're not a percussionist).

Because it diversifies what instruments you can use. Why should design be hindered? It's legal instrumentation so if it enhances your show, why ask the performer to play unnaturally to make it heard? It's surprising to see people complaining about the activity shrinking and low attendance compared to other circuits. Maybe that's because DCA is far behind in allowing corps to design shows that fans want. DCA already has a bad connotation with mainstream drum corps fans as being a dinosaur circuit. As for amps "not being drum corps", should we go back to what some on this board consider what drum corps is? Rotary valve horns, symmetrical drill? Nothing wrong with that, but I guarantee you'll be playing for 10's of people and no one will join your corps. You can't take some advancements while dismissing others. Asymmetrical drill, pits, Bb horns, non-tick judging, and amps have pushed the activity forward.

It would be great to have that short of a drive to shows. Everyone west of PA has to deal with this and it's immensely more expensive. One of those corps remained competitive enough to win a championship. Anyways, I'm sure there are some corps in the area that are more than willing to take on the other members after this year and maybe help grow the circuit.