drilltech1
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Posts posted by drilltech1
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I make a living from this? Someone forgot to tell me that.
Ya mean the Internet lies??!!!???!!! I thought it had to be true to be posted on the Internet, especially DCP.
http://drumcorpswiki.com/Michael_Boo
http://www.mostlymarimba.com/composers/composers-a-e/778.html?itemid=27
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To those who have marched the "right foot" style: How long did it take for it to seem natural? How long before you no longer thought about it?
Can someone enlighten about why Glassmen adopted the same? Did someone bring it over from Cadets?
at least part of the Gmen story of being right footers had to do with the image Brian Hickman, their new director, wanted to reshape the Toledo corps, just like the Gmen usually came out onto a field down the fifty in a block formation which was the same as The Cadets who called it "the prayer block" for various reasons; most publicly, it was the first thing they did after they had sung the O Holy Name corps song before entering the public's view. Remember Brian marched Cadets in the percussion line back when the pit actually marched, like yourself, and then he became the assistant director of The Cadets before being hired by the Toledo corps. Brian brought with him a few Cadet alums, particularly Pat Miller who was part of the Gmen's viz staff. There are a few other nuances to the story, but I will leave that for Glassmen alumni to relive.
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I believe the right foot step off started in 1984.
... it was a Mark Sylvester contribution which Zingali loved. It made the corps members focus more, reflected the particular music being played, and challenged the activity another level.
Mike D, that's how I remember it too.
...if you can't nab Mark Sylvester between here and DBQ Colts to get a full answer, I know there is some discussion of it in the great book that was written for the Cadets' 75th anniversary by Gregg Cinzio and Dave Shaw. The book is also online and was featured here on DCP since the jubilee back in 2009.
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As a vibist, I feel fairly confident in stating that the use of resonator fans on a single vibes would make an imperceptible difference outside and would not change the tone quality of the sound.
But then, what do I know? I can't figure out why we need four vibes and five marimbas in every pit when we've got amplification, when we need bigger trucks for the haul and when legalized electronics can alter the sound of any percussion instrument to create any sound imaginable. It's something I've long referred to as the "arms race." Why does one corps, even on a restricted budget, need so many instruments? My opinion (which I reserve the right to be wrong) is, "Duh...because the next guys have it. We can't let them be the only ones."
And don't get me started about some corps removing the synthetic bars of the marimbas prior to contest performances and replacing them with genuine (and very expensive) rosewood bars. I believe I've got a pretty good ear and although I can easily tell the difference between synthetic bars and rosewood bars in a recital-like setting, the difference from more than two feet away in a stadium environment escapes me.
And while I'm ranting, (because it feels so good to finally get this off my chest), what's with the instructors having a triangle player do the repetitive waving in-and-out hand motion after striking a triangle to create a vibrato effect during the sound decay? Really? On a drum corps field? And what about the time I noticed someone bending over a vibes and doing a "waa-waa" reverb effect over the bar by rapidly opening and closing their mouth? Are you kidding me?
Okay...that felt kind of good.
Mike (calling for logic and sensibility on the field, knowing it will never happen) Boo
Thanks Mike for a straight-up answer, although it took a minute to realize that this was the serious Boo talking about something most serious from which he makes his living. As a non-percussionist, what you stated was clear, accessible, and didn't need a degree in drum speak to understand. Your ability to relate it to the financial situations which plague corps is also a nice touch. But I especially like that you can critique the reality of the situation beyond the "Back in my day" thinking which too often throws temper tantrums in the posts ("thunderous goo" and the like) which make a lot of heat but not a lot of light. Guess this is why they'll keep you around for another year.
You've got a birthday coming too, don't you. Maybe since we won't need all those extra equipment trucks for the pit equipment now they will give you one as a birthday gift to store all your articles, speeches, and the beginning of the Boo library.
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I have to think about this a bit more before I vote.
My observations of percussionists is that they form a special bond in their drumlines which makes the Sanford a bit more personal than in the larger corps. Since WGI has highlighted both percussion and color guard but not brass, I am wondering if the way caption awards and winning rings are looked at is different today than BITD. (Just thinking out loud here.)
But today's drumlines do much more than park on the 50 and drag out a few rolls. So the DCI ring is also an acknowledgement of their visual skills within the whole drill and not just the musicianship within the whole ensemble.Those who mock Crown's 6th place drum finish in light of their first place ring never mention how much moving about those Crown percussionists did on the whole field and sidelines with several staging areas for various percussion instruments.
I also wonder which of these two I would stress on my resume if I were applying for a teaching gig which included being a percussion specialist in addition to other duties. I know that 99.9 per cent of getting jobs today is who you know, but I am wondering aloud which would be more impressive to those unknown strangers who also have to sign-off on the contract before I get the job. Everything everyone has said about being the best in my skill and being a team player I agree with. But what would personally give me more pride I am not yet sure.
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Not being a computer geek, I was unable to cut and paste the original FB post of the logo which makes the split chevrons look more like an arrow. I did post an adaption from someone's comment because I was able to transfer it. I figured interested folks would do their own research and not be as disparaging as Corpsband's usually snide self.
So if the Jonz311 accurately attributes the log to connote a new indoor percussion ensemble, might the split arrow-like chevrons be stylistically representing three sets of hands with a drum stick in each? Clever.
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as I said you have every right to have you kid where you want them. Just remember in most of these corps 90% of the time they are on that field and nowhere to even carry a cell phone . During down time is another story....As I keep saying but noone addressing its not just the calls its the social media and news group stuff that corps have had real issues with
like who said what about us on DCP....
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In it's TRAVELS, I think this thread has lost it's way
Are you seeking a "release" to get back on track?
Summary of thread: Northeast corps do not regularly travel to compete with Southern, Western, and Midwest corps in non-Northeastern locales. Financing questions reveal how many corps in the Northeast are barely financially sustainable. Some feel Northeast runs DCA as a cartel. MBI proposed as a financial model to consider. Changing situations offer reflections on past practices.
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IIRC, the snipping of the show length had to do with how many corps would the TV program fit when championships were televised and could we get more corps on TV. Of course, the thirteen minutes was a maximum number with most DCI world class corsp spending less time before the judge's analysis for better scores and less tick-ability even after subjective judging was acknowledged. [by drilltech 1]
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In my old memory...pre-DCI shows were between 11:30 and 13:00. At 11:30 the first gun went off to signify the end of execution judging. Only GE was judged after that.
My guess is that most corps were in the 12:00-12:30 range in total show length, depending on how much of a finale they decided to do. [by Mike D]
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Interestingly as an aside, Hopkins proposed at a recent Janual to return show lengths to the 13 minute mark and was unanimously voted down by the other corps who felt they already struggled for quality with the time limits currently in place. Check past threads. I heard from some who were there at that time that other directors referred to the 13 minutes as "DCA" lengths. I wasn't there, just sharing the gossip.
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Drilltech's humor notwithstanding, Crown is *not* auditioning for vocalists. Rather they're looking for Guard, Percussion and Horn players who *also* have vocal talent.
Most of the Crown staff and members I know over the years, particularly the 2013 Crown crew, have some of the greatest senses of humor.
I'm not talking about the tag-alongs and wannabees.
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Yup...that is why I was careful to say it was my own experience/knowledge. I also wonder if the practice in general got less and less stringent through the 60's into the 70's. I don't really know. One GSC Corps I taught in the mid/late 70's in the GSC had a group of kids from another GSC corps join, but it may have been the same sitation as your wife - their own corps may have disbanded.
Two points to add to this part of the conversation.
All Catholic sponsored units with any CYO affiliation had to get a release if a member switched from another CYO affiliated unit; this was true until the late '70's and was true nationwide. It was also a policy of some American Legion governance in some parts of the country. Often however, the kids had no knowledge of this and it was handled director to director. The reason for it was to prevent raiding, to maintain parish involvement, and to make sure when the bishop made transfers, that units didn't wholesale church shop following a favorite cleric who might be the chaplain, parish liasion, or even the director. I know it was true in the NY, NJ, Boston, and Chicago units until the whole issue of maintaining parish schools were given a greater priority; regionalization of programs and schools ended the demands as did the arrival of DCI.
I was part of the discussions at the early DCI rules congresses and I know the topic came and went several times. The issue usually revolved around trooping after instructors, who left what corps owing them money while trying to sign up for another; the directors were more concerned about inheriting someone else's problem and not having their bills paid. Formal release requests gave way to the Corpsdata accounting method of profiling individual marchers and relying on respect unit to unit rather than a written statement. However, I think many know of ancecdotal accounts where some marching members moved and the new directors did not worry about past payments but only that their own bills would be paid. The mid-70's slew of disqualifications due to falsified birth certificates within the experience of several DCI corps got the greater priority of discussions. The release requirement gave way to the discussion of the happiness/satisfaction/education of the member and who wanted a disgruntled participant in their unit. The computer age of checking records and histories made the matter moot eventually.
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Yesterday I noticed on the Trooper's site that the design staff from last year is coming back!
This same news surfaced last year about this time and there was a great deal of anticipation about the future of the Troopers. Nobody was really quite certain what we would get, although we were cautiously optimistic because a number of these men had returned the Scouts to being the Scouts. What they gave us with the Troopers last year was simply amazing!
I think it's okay for me to be excited . . . right?
You are not the only one excited with this great news, Granny.
I think the announcement was meant to be a birthday present for Territroop who this week celebrates her 29th.......and in famous drum corps rehearsal words, AGAIN!
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Crown fee schedule for pit, vocalists, horn players and all: http://carolinacrown.org/web/index.php/crowncorps/membership-info/fees
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no kidding . . . it's carolina crown.
Where's the bluegrass show at?
Someone at crown needs to get the sleepy man banjo boy's agent on the phone . . .
banjo? heck, the Cavie pit did accordian sounds a few years back!!!
But if it's 2 banjos, then that belongs to Spirit, no? Duelling banjos!
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Crown's 2014 fees for those interested: http://carolinacrown.org/web/index.php/crowncorps/membership-info/fees
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.....and the Blue Saints.
if the poster is trying to be a Saint and a Devil, isn't there a problem, he, he?
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Helicopter parenting is now considered by many mental health experts as a sickness, sometimes an addiction which like most addictions cannot be reasoned with or conquered until one admits that there is a problem.
And no the Garfield Cadets had no cell phones but could write a great letter and postcard, a skill that has gone the way of 8 minute prelim performances.
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I think you're ignoring the fact that uniforms have changed significantly since all corps wore wool. Wool uniforms were far more durable (lasting 10 (or in some cases far more) years). The light-weight, machine washable uniforms corps march in today -- while significantly less expensive than traditional construction -- are also less durable. So replacement cycle is also much shorter. Last time I actually looked at numbers I seem to recall the 10 year cost was about the same for both types. This has probably driven the frequency of the replacement cycle more than anything else (including some nebulous "a new look will improve scores" marketing hype) .
I have no quibbles with what you say about the materials used to make a uniform. Not using wool sure makes those tour buses smell a lot nicer today compared to BITD. My disagreement is with the frequency of the design changes of said uniform, no matter what the material, and the myth that uniform design changes will improve a score or placement more than skill improvement will.
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One change nobody seems to have mentioned: performances seem to have gotten shorter in 1986, apparently going from a maximum length of 13 minutes to a maximum length of 11 minutes 30 seconds. (Do I have that right?) Was that a positive or negative change? Does anyone know what the reason for that change was?
IIRC, the snipping of the show length had to do with how many corps would the TV program fit when championships were televised and could we get more corps on TV. Of course, the thirteen minutes was a maximum number with most DCI world class corsp spending less time before the judge's analysis for better scores and less tick-ability even after subjective judging was acknowledged.
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C'mon, Pat - Don't you know it ALWAYS ends up beng about the cartel in the northeast
?Do you mean Islanders, Rangers, Devils, Bruins,Flyers, Penguins, Capitals and Sabres???
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If the Crossmen had maintained a singular uniform style over an extended period of time (i.e. over multiple uniform changes), then yes, changing the appearance would be a big deal and the motivation could be questioned. But they haven't. The change from 03 to 04 was quite drastic, as was the change before that. We aren't talking about the Kilties or Cadets having the same look for 75+ years. We aren't talking centuries like the Swiss Guard. Heck, even over the past 10 years, Crossmen have made these current uni's look significantly different (red detail, white detail, capes, no capes, different gauntlets, different aussies). If they need a new set anyway since these are at least twice as old as almost any other WC corps, I don't see any problem coming up with a new design in the process. The Crossmen have changed their uniforms multiple times over their history, and this will just be one more of those changes.
actually Kilties have changed the color of the chosen kilt several times in their history as a junior, all-boy, and now co-ed all-age corps.
To seen it all: were there not some licensing issues raised in the last decade when the next generation of Bernstein's estate challenged what others were doing with re-arranging (snip and paste/chop and bop) his music? the issue came up regarding WSS in 2009 or so after Cadets did their 75th show. I don't know whether the estate holds the rights to Bernstein's Mass but the licensing could be an issue of complexity.
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This is a copy of a paragraph from the Crown 2014 registration announcement.
"If you have the special talent of being a Choral or Voice enthusiast in addition to playing brass & percussion instruments or participate in guard & dance, we absolutely would like to see you as there will many of these positions to fill."
Crown insiders: what does it mean for the theme of the 2014 show?
Einstein liked Myrtle Beach so much the first time that he decided to go back again.
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Since we're talking about Cavies and contemporary media communication, I see that a lady who has done seamstress work for them and for another corps psted this morning on the other corps' website that one of the staff members of the Cavaliers has recently been shot and robbed (money, not scores.) Anything to it? or just off season gossip?
Random Cadets question...
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted · Edited by drilltech1
off the top of my balding head:
didn't Brian Hickman succeed Dan Acheson as director of the Glassmen from 1985? And Dan started at DCI in 1995 and Brian Hickman became director of Glassmen then... And the Cadets started right footing in 85, the same year Acheson became the Toledo director....
So therefore the Norwegian will live in the blue house and have lutefisk for holidays... ...in tribute to Michael Boo's birthday..