Hirsbrunner

I auditioned last year for both BD and SCV last year, and I didn't make either because my visual was not up to par (I've never touched a contra before). After both audition camps I decided I will only be auditioning for SCV this year. I really respect what BD put on the field this year but as a serious music performance major, I'm slightly glad I wasn't accepted to tour with BD. Their program was not one I would like to be apart of when I could have spent the summer working on my musicianship in more productive ways (lessons with pros, clinics, camps etc.). SCV's style these past two years has been more what I look for in a drum corps show. And yes, the possibility that SCV will medal is bonus incentive, but I think I would tour choose to tour with them regardless.

Sorry, like I've mentioned I'm a newer drum corps fan. If I had seen 89 knowing they had done it the year before it probably would have bothered me in the back of my mind a little bit.

Well from what I've seen this season, their design was what primarily was holding them back score-wise. Especially early to mid season percussion was going back and forth with BD and Cadets (I believe SCV's guard was high in score too). Almost all their captions had high achievement scores and low (in comparison) content scores. I feel like the talent/achievement was there. So I guess another question I have is, is the low content score difficulty oriented or is there some other reason they were scored low there?

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand a modern (SCV modern) full-out rendition of this could be great. But they just used Phantom of the Opera music last year in Music of the Starry night.

Last year I auditioned for BD and SCV. I aced both music auditions and failed both visuals. The auditions (and following this season) have made me decide that this year am only auditioning for SCV. And I am ready for the visual part of the audition! Good luck to everyone.

SCV had by far the most enjoyable show for me personally this year. The style of their show was just something that I personally care a lot for. I am a recent fan of drum corps (within the last 5 years) and others call this type of show more vintage compared to others. I know that Vanguard's hornline could have been stronger and it seems to be a general consensus that their music arrangers across the board under cut the talent that the corps had (thus the lower content scores throughout the season). My questions are: this next year can the Vanguard maintain their "vintage" style while performing a harder book that scores better with the judges? Or do the sheets today only reward innovative envelope pushers? Personally I would rather see a similar style/design of show rather than pulling away from this to score higher.

After watching this entire season unfold (as a newer fan of drum corps), I just want to say I've fallen in love with both your "Les Mis" and the Vanguard organization as a whole. I'm going to do everything I can to be apart of this next year and hope to spend the next 3 years as a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard. Thank you for your amazing show!!!

On a side note anyone know why SCVC was penalized yesterday?

Anyone know what SCVC .5 penalty was for last night?

19, I'll be marching with a corps for the first time next year.

I find it interesting that there are really active threads for the Scouts, Crown, and other threads talking about specific corps shows, yet Vanguard's most active thread is about whether or not flags are offensive.

Is there a specific forum/category here on DCP where you can ask about corps auditions?

SCV's show gives me a lot of hope for the coming years, I just hope their staff doesn't try to follow others trends next year because they're content often is scored lower on the sheets.

I've only been following drum corps for about four years now, and I absolutely love the overall concept of it. And I totally agree and do not like where it is going. I've only seen/heard poor quality recordings and videos of corps from 20+ years ago and all I can think is why can't DCI be like it was then because what I'm seeing from then is awesome.

Come finals SCV will be third!!! As of tonight only .05 more to go. They've got this!

Anyone have any idea why, they had a 3rd in that sub-caption in Atlanta, I know a week can mean a lot of difference but it seems like a big leap.

Anyone know why SCV got 7th in their content for Music Brass? I know their content doesn't quite compare to the top three but they haven't been doing that bad.

Are tonight's scores supposed to be comparable to last night's scores?

I'm no guard or drum corps expert, but I think it is possible. I graduated recently and a lot of the high schools in the area I live would occasionally have a guard member or two that were in BD and/or Vanguard (I think my memory could be wrong though). It really just depends on how solid of a guard member you are, It sounds like you have a decent amount of experience. Good Luck

I feel like people are really over-reacting to the OPs question. Anyways, the way I see it, the show still goes on and the scoring of all the remaining captions and sub-captions still gives us results. They show where the corps line-up sub-caption by sub-caption and maybe the actual placing is skewed by the missing perc. judge and maybe it isn't. And on another note it's an opportunity for many to see corps live when they might not have had the chance otherwise.

Thanks, so the Content score (4th) will not go up this season?

I'm a little bit new to DCI scorings, can someone explain the 1st in the Visual Proficiency Achievement sub-caption that SCV got at Atlanta?

I auditioned this last year for a corps and the only reason I didn't make it was because I've never touched a contra before. I'm a good player (music major) and a decent marcher (the staff was constructive and in my audition the only thing they said my problem was was that I obviously was not prepared for holding/working with a contra). Are there any suggestions on how to prepare for another audition this year, I'm determined to make it for 2014, but I most likely won't get at another contra until the audition weekend again. Also any suggestions on how to prepare some upper body strength/endurance with this in mind would be appreciated too. Thanks

+ Santa Clara, back in the top four! For me, I auditioned for BD and SCV last year. My experience at both these auditions has made me decide that regardless of who places where, I will be marching with the Vanguard next year. If SCV manages to bring the heat by the end of this season and places higher then that's just bonus incentive. I've noticed that it seems like the mindset of most people who audition for SCV tend to want to be a part of the organization and don't care whether they're 4th, 1st, or 13th.

So I've been a huge drum corps fan for a while, and I have three more seasons to possibly be a part of a corps, I auditioned for several corps this last year and I almost made all the groups I tried for. I've decided that this year I will do everything I can to be ready to get into the Vanguard. My problem is I can play really well and march decently, but I have no upper body strength (I play tuba/contra). And I never touched a contra before my audition and won't have access to one until my next audition. I was only turned away from the auditions because I was struggling to learn how to deal with the weight of the horn. Does anyone have any advice on how to prepare for my next try at a corps? I've been doing some weightlifting / upper-body endurance training but any specific suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks