Phan_of_Drumming

More videos from the pit! https://www.facebook.com/BlueStarsPit/videos/821278807971808/

The pattern on the piece this year is taken from the painting that inspired the show.

Updated link: https://www.facebook.com/BlueStarsPit/posts/817274318372257:0

That's after two days. This group's going to be special. There's a second clip on their Instagram and Facebook pages right now, but I'm not sure how to link it.

Fifth place is hardly out of contention, and it's only one placement different than last year. That being said, I completely understand and appreciate the immense amount of talent at the Cadets. I'm just worried about the show design - which is why that's what I mentioned in my placement for them. If their design equals their talent, they will be right up there for the gold. (Also, Cadets came in third in drums last year, not second.) As for Blue Stars, they came in 11th last year and finished 7th in percussion. If the corps goes up four places overall, it's hardly unimaginable to think their drums could do the same. Like DrumManTX said, they had one of the best front ensembles in DCI last year - and this year they have two age-outs from BD, and a lot of vets. If they live up to their potential they'll be the best front on the field this summer. Battery is loaded with vets this year, too.

A mixture of bold predictions and a dash of homer-ism, here's my predictions: 1st: Bluecoats - It finally happens. They win GE and Percussion. Third in Brass. Third in Guard. 2nd: Blue Devils - Can't drop them out of the Top 2. You just can't, until they give you a reason to. They win Brass. Second in Guard. Third in GE. 3rd: Crown - Still not sold on their percussion, which will keep them from the title. They win Guard. Second in GE. Second in Brass. 4th: SCV - I'm a bit of a homer here, but I absolutely adore the run of shows SCV has been on since 2012. They come in second for Percussion. 5th: Cadets - A bit of a drop for a show whose design seems a little all over the place right now. 6th: Blue Knights - I don't see them breaking into the Top 5 yet, but their year is coming. They give Cadets a scare and are a fan favorite. 7th: Blue Stars - Their percussion finally gets its due, and a design team that has been hit or miss nails it this year. They come third in Percussion. 8th: Madison Scouts - Back and forth with Blue Stars all year long, but slightly less demand keeps them in eighth. 9th: Cavaliers - I hope this show surprises me. Until then, I can't see them hanging with the Top 8. Large gap between them and Madison. 10th: Boston Crusaders - Back and forth with Cavies all season long with a show theme that looks and sounds good so far. 11th: Phantom Regiment - I hope I'm wrong here; I just don't think they'll be able to take a step forward this year. Too many other groups getting better. 12th: Crossmen - By a comfortable margin, the last Finalist corps. 13th: Academy - I'm choosing Academy as a dark horse to place higher than most think they will. 14th: Colts - They could end up pushing for a Finals spot, but I don't know enough to justify putting them higher than this. I hope they do! 15th: BDB - Blue Devils get their second group a step closer to Finals night. It will happen by the end of the decade. 16th: Pacific Crest - Like Colts, I could see this group being a lot higher OR a lot lower come Semi-Finals night. This is a good balance of the two. 17th: Troopers - Sorry, but this year looks like a major step back from a group that historically has been among my favorites. Those uniforms. Yuck. 18th: Oregon Crusaders - They're getting there, but still a long way to go in order to beat out entrenched names above them. 19th: Spirit of Atlanta - Not sure what's going on with this organization. I really hope they bounce back soon. 20th: Mandarins - The last corps I really feel comfortable predicting anything about.

Just posted a new video of what seems like a big percussion feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHa_-fBAQW4&feature=youtu.be That's some impressive playing! They've built quite the tight ship over there in the Blue Stars percussion land. And I love how the front ensemble is lining up - alternating marimbas and vibraphones. Do any other corps do that?

Blue Stars killing it with the social media lately. Check out this interview with two of their front ensemble members: https://www.facebook.com/BlueStarsPit/posts/813980995368256:0

Rumor has it Tim Fairbanks is gone at Blue Stars, and Saucedo might be returning to Cavies...?

Also, alignment between pit and battery is seen as a fundamental component of a percussion section's ability to perform the show. Alignment between brass sections is not because usually they're listening to one of the percussion sections, or watching the drum major. The on the field percussion judge is able to look at all the same things an on the field brass judge would. The up top percussion judge gets the extra vantage point to assess how well the two sections communicate to establish time for the rest of the ensemble. It could also be argued that today's front ensembles and drumlines play such dramatically different roles and have such drastically different sets of training that two judges are required to really get a good look. Someone who plays trumpet can still, at a pretty reasonable level, judge a tuba line for its tone quality, timing, articulation, overall musicality, etc. But your average snare drummer could never accurately assess the difficulty of a DCI front ensemble book, and vice-versa. I think we're headed to a day - still far in the future, but fast approaching - where the judging of front ensembles and drumlines are separated categories.

Blue Stars - Reach higher with your show design. You have the talent in your members to be a consistent Top 8 contender - ESPECIALLY in percussion. Take advantage. Lean more heavily on the percussion in your design (particularly that killer front ensemble), go for a more complex show instead of a WGI rehash, and please find a new drill writer. This corps could be SOOO good with the right design team in place. At the moment those kids are being done a disservice.

You'd have to imagine that if the percussion were stronger, Music Analysis would also go up, though. The percussion section has cost this corps big time in the last few years. And not for lack of talent - it's a design and instruction issue. Time for a change? Probably. Just my $.02.

Blue Stars coming in 12th across the board in all captions, except Music GE (11th) and percussion (7th). That front ensemble and battery single handedly dragged this corps into Finals - show design or not - and kept them in 11th tonight. Wow. What a performance.

Really shocked at the drum and guard scores. Blue Stars was ahead of BK in both of those captions just a week ago or so. Glad to see their visual and brass scores going up, but hopefully their traditional strengths don't continue to slip as they go into Allentown and Finals. They could really make a move if those captions lead the way like they have all year.

They also took third in drums and guard, which makes no sense...a weird day for captions all around. How many of these judges were getting their first read of the shows? Wonder if that made a difference.

I have no idea what the balance is between the two. I'm sure they're playing. Just saying that all I could hear from field level was the synth effect.

Visual analysis is the up top judge, and visual proficiency is the on the field judge. Am I right on that, or do I have them reversed? Proficiency keeps killing them, too.

I've seen their show twice from the field - the synth player is pressing a button for every note of the group feature and the solo. It's incredibly disappointing.

However much I didn't enjoy the electronics in Cadets show last year - the mobile narration - what they do to those French horns this year is even more infuriating. Don't put a dozen French horns on a podium and then give me an electronic sample. Even the soloist is pre recorded!! I feel like Blue Knights 2013 (giant blue balls...)

Agreed. This horn line is strong enough to not need the heavy dose of electronics that Grom and Mapes tend to put in their shows. I wonder if, as they push the horn volume, they'll finally back down on the goo. I hope so.

There was also apparently a near collision between a Boston Crusaders vehicle and the Blue Stars buses tonight. BAC vehicle had to slide off road into the median to avoid a Blue Stars bus that had stopped for an accident ahead. A Blue Stars equipment truck suffered some damage. Scary thoughts. Everyone stay safe out there!

Specifically it's the visual. If Blue Stars could do to their feet what they've done to their brass over the last week or so, they'd be on fire. Guard is cleaning up and looks like they'll end up just as strong as last year, percussion (specifically pit) are on fire, brass is getting stronger...at the moment, visual is an anchor sinking their scores. They have so much potential. It's time to start canceling music blocks and doing some extra hard visual cleaning. If they can get that in order, look out.

They're a Top 8 music ensemble and a non-finalist marching ensemble. Time for some loooooong basics blocks.

That's what critique is for. Every few shows, corps staff get the opportunity to meet with judges and discuss the show. It's not as though the judges are totally in the dark - they have the intent behind the show explained to them, usually multiple times over the course of the season. I wouldn't be so concerned.

Not being sarcastic: Why? Who says it has to work that way?