HornTeacher

Ahhh...finally something in which we both believe. And what I've been saying all along. I told you we were arguing the same point. Thank you for your concurrence. And thank you for caring to take the time to write all that you have above. I mean that most sincerely.

OK Stu, I'll bite. You and I have gone back and forth on this whole "perception is reality" bit. You especially seemed to flare when I came out and stated it as my belief. However, I don't think you internalized my entire statement, that being: "Perception IS Reality...but for THAT person, and THAT person only." There are currently approximately 7.22 billion people currently living on earth, and I would submit that there will be 7.22 billions "realities." You are confusing "reality" with "universal truth." To use the example which you cited, of course gorging on arsenic-laced mushrooms will lead to one's death. No argument from me. THAT would be an example of a "universal truth" (although out of 7.22 billion people, there is always the chance that ONE person out of that number might possess some form of biological or metabolic anomaly which renders them immune to arsenic). However, that would be so rare that the general "universal truth" would still hold. Now, let me give you an example on which I base my assertion of "Perception is Reality." Let us assume for a moment that you and I are good friends -- maybe former collegiate classmates. We've stayed in touch over the years. You live in Florida (this is an EXAMPLE only --NOT fact), and I live in central Vermont. You call me one day, and ask "How's the weather?" I look out my window and reply "It's snowing like hxxx." You look our your window in Palm Beach and say "No, it's not." My reality in central Vermont is that it is currently snowing. Your reality in Florida is that it is sunny and 80 degrees -- hence, not snowing. Guess what? We're BOTH right. And our realities are both correct. However, neither of our realities can obviously be considered to be a "universal truth." Did it ever occur to you that we may both very well be arguing the same viewpoint? The only difference is that your are transposing "reality" as being "universal truth." I am not, and never will. However, I DO welcome the debate. Sure as heck is better than sitting and watching the snow fly out my window.

I fully agree with you, quietcity. I think it is very similar to the sports fan who has less emotional investment in their chosen team, simply because of free-agency. We are literally cheering for a "new" team every 3-4 years, instead of the day when a given roster may have been set for, for the most part, 5-10 (or more).

We're not all naysayers, Cadet. Being that my wife grew up in Morris Co., NJ, I won't relate the look I receive from her whenever I question anything "Cadet."

Thanks for the back-up, N.E.

From what I see, the June 21st show in Akron will be taped -- then shown in theaters nationwide on the 23rd.

While maybe not a "rut," I believe the Troopers are caught between a rock and a hard place. I (and many others, obviously) both recognize and respect their commitment to tradition. Such is much more than admirable in this age of "going with the flow," and doing what is required simply for the matter of public and DCI praise/respect/admiration. However, I also know that with the myriad of complications that confront a Corps which is based in what many perceive to be, even in the 21st century, a "backwoods" or excessively rural area, a great hindrance in further developing a competitive Drum Corps is difficult. While it would be easy to succumb to the more trivial modern desire for more "accessible" music (usually meaning "music that is current/hip/popular/cool/hot off the classical drum corps charts), they have paved their way through what it is that THIER tradition dictates what they represent. I suppose in the end, it comes down to a question of "Do we wish to be what we have always been and represented, or do we wish to prostitute ourselves, and our beliefs, simply for the sake of being a one-year number one." If this is a rut, than so be it. But in this mind (mine, and mine alone), I'll admire a commitment to an ideal, reputation, or representation FAR OVER a gold, silver, or bronze medal...any day, week, month, or year. If there is ever a rut in which to exist in a good way -- it is this one. One final statement: I, in no way, shape, or form speak for any singular or organizational member of the Casper Troopers. I am simply a fan. A long-standing fan. But simply a fan, nevertheless.

One would like to believe that, with the level of intellect and talent which we in "fandom" respectfully grant to those directors, they would recognize this. However, this supposition may be merely a matter of folly being stranger than fact.

He's right, Gar. It also takes the muscles found in some people's brains to accomplish the task. At least those where muscle exists in the place of brain cells.

Just sitting here thinking about the various stances, opinions, viewpoints and plain ol' desires (the MUSIC ones, people -- please!!!) of the DCP community and drum corps fans when the thought suddenly struck me... "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" by Krzysztof Penderecki. Talk about wanting to be the proverbial fly-on-the-wall...

And well should be. Adjudicators are not there first and foremost to be entertained; rather, they are there to assess. The audience is there to be entertained. That is not to say that the audience does not perform some form of assessment on their own. However, numerical assessment from them of a Corps' performance doesn't count -- and shouldn't in any way, in my opinion.

Oh, man -- how I'd love to ask back "Was that your perception that they answered, or a reality?" But I won't. Ooops...guess I just did.

I'm still waiting for someone to do a shortened version of the final movement of the Mahler 3rd Symphony. The constant ebb and flow and incessant build would provide one heck of a carrot-on-a-stick for the audience.

I remember that as well -- in fact, I still have it on tape somewhere.. Although I had grown up a Curt Gowdy fan (from all of those Saturday afternoon NBC "Game-of-the-week" telecasts), my immediate thought was "Oh my goodness, Curt...time to get back to baseball." I was, and still am, somewhat baffled by his inclusion on a DCI telecast in the first place.

Idiot's crystal ball, here: I see Troopers coming out shocking everyone. Capped off by a 9th place in finals. I also predicted (to my friends only, mind you) a 12th in 2009. If I manage to hit 2 in a row...my next step will be selling Lottery numbers to interested buyers. :>)

Hmmmm... !) If it is true that many of us hate seeing the downward trend in school funding and/or basic scheduling support for music which has been increasingly happen over the past decade, and; 2) If it is true that "marching band" is increasingly being seen (or at least debated) as being as much a "sport" as an art; and 3) If it is true that many of our nation's schools are becoming little more than "sports academies" (I'll take the conjecture hit on this one, although it is based on what I have seen over the past 33 years as a public school music teacher)... Maybe a "grass-roots" campaign should be started whereby public pressure is placed upon School Boards and Administration to include Marching Band (ALL costs...staffing, travel, equipment) under the aegis of that school's interscholastic sports budget. Hell, we play for the football team's halftime show 4-6 times a year at their games;and supply the expected "Pep Band" at the football and basketball games (face it...where are most of these Pep Band kids coming from? The MARCHING BAND!). Here's the budgetary reality in MY small, rural school district: Amount of budget monies allocated for the 13-14 academic year for the K-12 music department (NOT including salaries): 7.003.00 Amount of budget monies allocated for the 13-14 academic year for 4-12 Interscholastic Athletic department (NOT including salaries): 169,995.00 Maybe it's time we share a little bit of the pie. However, I'm not going to hold my breath while I wait. We'll see real quickly what the public's perception of Marching Band is...Art or Sport.

Look, Stu...it was not my intent to get riled at your viewpoint(s). Lord knows we've been on the same side on a number of points, and will possibly disagree over just as many others. On this point (my getting riled with you), you have my apologies. It just occurred to me that this whole "perception is reality" thing is being carried to the next level by some: that being, "perception is reality" is being equated with "truth" or "'wisdom." There is no correlation. I can say "My perception (and hence, my reality) is that I can gorge myself with arsenic-laced mushrooms until the cows come home." All well and good. But in that case, neither my perception OR my reality is based upon wisdom. If I follow that philosophy, then the only good that will come of it will be that DCP would be saved from any further inanities emanating from my mouth. Hey...take your victories where you can get them. And yes...I'm being slightly sarcastic with myself, not you.

Horsehockey. First, "perception is reality" is a fact...for that person (and that person alone). Your perception is your reality. My perception is my reality. And guess what? There will always be a third person who will jump in and say "XXXX, you're both idiots!!" I would much rather make the statement that "I'm NOT saying I'm correct just because I'm the one that's saying it" than "This is the way it is...it IS because I said so!!!" You can state things any way you wish...as for me, I'd rather not pretend that my views are definitively correct for all.

If you're asking my opinion, then I'll answer. "Baseball" and "softball" are two different games. Very close in their rules, procedures, and method of winning (he who scores the most runs wins). However, they are different in ball size, basepath size, general field size, etc. Hence, one is baseball, and the other is softball. It is much like football/rugby/Australian Rules Football, Ten-pin bowling/duckpin bowling, and golf/miniature golf. All very close, with one being a slight variation of the other(s) ---BUT---variations, nevertheless. Every activity goes through slight change as time goes on...yet the name doesn't change. I'm not saying I'm correct in my philosophy or conjecture -- it's just the way I feel. And that, first and foremost, is only an opinion -- not fact.

X? Is there a new one-letter cuss word that I haven't heard about??

There once was an activity which consisted of 9 players playing the field on defense, and the same 9 players placed on an offense: such activity was called "Baseball." However, at a point in time, an offensive position was added, which was called the "designated hitter", who would bat in place of one defensive position. I don't recall a name change to the activity resulting from this action.

Just to be a devil's advocate...would a group of 4 pianos be termed a "Percussion Ensemble" (based upon the action of a felt hammer striking the string or strings), or a "String Ensemble" (purely through the use of strings)? Why can't it simply be a "Piano Ensemble," and leave it at that? The more things that we create on top of what already exists does little more than further blur the lines of accepted semantic delineation.

Sorry...don't mean to dominate the board, but... In thinking about the subject as discussed, I realized that even academia possesses a certain quandary applicable to all this. 2 buddies graduate the same year from college. Buddy A graduates with a "Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education." Buddy B graduates with a "Bachelor of Science in Music Education." Yes, I know that the difference in the B.A. vs. B.S. distinction lies within the standards for specific study within any individual institution. Still...I find this to be a rather interesting grammatical enigma.

If one were to go by nothing other than the level of physical exertion inherent in the activity, then I suppose there are those who would consider DC to be much more of a sport than "accepted" sports such as golf, bowling, or skeet shooting. Personally, I find the entire discussion to be, while fascinating, also rather trivial. And let's not forget...it was DCI who one year changed the name of their end-of-year "tournament" to the "Summer Music GAMES" (although maybe it was PBS who was primarily responsible for this -- even so, DCI apparently tacitly concurred with the decision). I'm not sure what ramifications this has for activities such as musical chairs, but....

To piggyback on an earlier poster: if you are planning this as some form of "history of" the activity (and it appears that is your intent), I would put together snippets of early DCI (or even earlier VFW) performances as a lead in. As is true in most anything, it is important to know what/where/ who we were in order to fully understand what/where/who we are now. This will give your attendees a basis for comparison across the years, and will show how all caption areas have grown. Just my 2 cents worth.