davidmccain
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Posts posted by davidmccain
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I saw the same thing at their last rehearsal before Semis -- they (and the staff) weren't about to just give up. And they didn't -- their Semifinals performance was one of their best.
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Spirit is now 18th going into Prelims behind Vanguard Cadets and BDB.
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I haven't seen the Cadets or Bluecoats live, I was merely commenting on what I heard on Friday night. Interesting, though.
I think they are all using Heavy Synth these days.
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I really liked Spirit's show when I saw it in Allentown, but there was one thing that really drove me nuts about their performance - they have the horses to put out a really loud, decent sound, but for some reason the synth was doubling what seemed like all of the brass parts for the major hits. A bass/tuba patch is something all corps use these days, but I thought Spirit was using the synth as more of a volume enhancer.
Hopefully this isn't as apparent from up top - I was down pretty low in the stands. They used the synth doubling a lot more than the other corps imo. They don't need to.
Hopefully Spirit is on the upswing, I've always liked them. This isn't a "bash", just an observation.
If you really want to hear synth doubling sit through Cadets practice. With horns on air, there was very little difference between horns and no-horns. Bluecoats are synth thru-and-thru as well.
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I honestly would be very surprised if any one stayed on staff. They will either be forced to leave, get fired or just leave on their own. Hopefully none ofthis is the case.
I haven't heard anything about staff leaving. Brass staff is really good.
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Take this for what it's worth (my typing what you're about to read)...I was at rehearsals yesterday in Opelika, and stayed through their run through. I like the show!! Horn line is loud, but not over playing (but, I am snare/quad guy, so...). During rehearsals, I noticed JW would go up to a member, put his around them and not knowing what he said, each one of the members laughed and smiled when he was finished speaking with them. During his talk after the run through, he was very complimentary and positive, and let them know their hard work is appreciated.
Afterwards, I met JW, and surprisingly we stood there and talked for about 20 minutes, we talked about the members and their positive attitude and work ethic, I asked him what are they hearing from the judges, and he was very open about all of that (that's another topic).
The conversation then shifted to longer term...He told me he sees the light at the end of tunnel. I asked why? Here's the basics of what he said: They have 23 age outs, that's it. They have 49 members that are between 16 - 17 years old....49! He also discussed the challenges of working with 16-17yo's as they are more timid, thinking too much instead of performing, and it takes a little longer for things to "sink in" (I assumed he was referring to drill/music, etc). They have 1 vet on the snare line, and they have a 16 year old, female rookie on the snare line. He flat out said, his goal and the goal of the staff right now is to ensure these members have a positive experience, and hopes they want to come back...He wants all of them back, this is basically a football team starting freshmen and sophomores with a couple of seniors sprinkled in. The goal is have these members all return for the next few years, that is what his vision is and what he said he is building for, not today, but for long term. In the here and now, some of the things I observed during rehearsal made sense...yes they are working them, duh, but they are not being overly critical, that I could see, the staff all being upbeat, positive, encouraging and really focusing on getting the members to believe in who they are...worthy of marching with this organization and helping them mature from a mental standpoint.
So, that was my take away...we then discussed some alumni stuff, and I gave him a hard time about how difficult it must have been to go from Phantom in 08 to SCV in 09
Super nice man, very open and honest and I sensed a genuine caring, coupled with a long term plan>>>MEMBER RETENTION.
They had a lot of competition for the snare line this year. That girl you are talking about beat out a lot of older kids and really talented kids to get the job. And, she can play and has a great attitude. Plus, I liked her from day one when I saw her whistling "Georgia" everywhere she went.
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Just read that Spirit is taking on the two British members of Coastal Surge. They are on their way to meet up with them. Just when I bash them, they do something wonderful. Guilt much for me.
I met those to young people tonight. They are excited to join and finish out the Summer with Spirit. Great kids and I love the accents.
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And as of now, it doesn't look like she's 'scoping.
Do you know the twitter name? I can't find it.
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" Laissez les bons temps rouler " (Lazay-Lay Bon-Tom Roulay) which means "Let the Good Times Roll" in Cajun. Good Luck to all the Corps tonight and I hope you get some Quality H20 from Bobby Boucher after the show.
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VERY telling show for The Academy, time to see if those scores are the real deal. I bet they are.
I love Academy's stragegy this year. Seems to be: come out late with cleaner than normal show, then test the waters and take another little break to fix, change, clean. Then a lot of shows coming into the home stretch to give opportunities to seperate from the crowd late. But, that's just my opinion.
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I am cool. Not offended. People, including me, sometimes get offended too easily. I really just try to keep it real. Being honest about reality and not what I hope or wish to be real. My definition of mature player here is my own drum corps definition, not one for graduate school or the real world of professional brass playing. In those cases, the definition would be more detailed and representative of much fewer players than what I indicated here.
I do not think everyone at Spirit is a scrub, thus my second paragrah explaining what I was seeing as a mature player. My expanded point is that if your son is in, let's say the top 25% of brass talent there, what is the next 25% like? the next? the bottom 25%? It may not be a matter of those kids listening to the instruction and that guarenteeing that they get better. That assumes they are getting exactly the kind of instruction they need for where they are as players. A brass staff member at BD may not have the depth of knowledge that someone at Spirit does, because it may not be necessary. And, visa versa.
I think there is probably 5 tiers of brass lines in DCI. It is not an ego assessment, or me trying to put any
corps down at all:
Tier 1: Few players make charcteristc brass sounds. The line includes more than a few ww players and new brass players.
Tier 2: Each section has a few players that make good sounds. The line inlcudes ww players and new brass players
Tier 3: Each section has about half of their players that are mature with few fundamental problems, including wws and maybe a new brass player or two.
Tier 4: Each section has 75% or so that are mature players. WW transfers are good brass players, some weaker players exist
Tier 5: Most all players are mature with little to no fundamental issues. WW transfers are good. No weak players.
The top five or so lines have Tier 5 players. That is hard to beat, and, those cats are probably 19+ years old.
The next five corps or so have Tier 4 players.
Next seven or so have Tier 3 players.
etc.
There are always some individaul exceptions. There are also from time to time unfortunately talented lines that comes across as less than they really are due to bad show design, bad planning, bad instruction, bad organization, bad admin decisions, etc. Bottom line, talent and age goes a long way. All the more reason corps in that 10-17 or so range cannot putts around with bad show design, later starts, disorganized staff, etc. It is unfair to the kidos. They have much more to overcome than those with more talent.
For the record, I have been/was a huge supporter of the corps for several years cause I was digging their #### and happy to see them making really smart choices. I have no doubt all members in all corps are deserving. Thus some of my sharp criticisms of the Spirit adminstration of late. I hope the members are having fun. I really do. I am not sure that is going to remain easy through the summer. I would love to be wrong about that. Its about the members' experiences first and foremost.
Cool. I am actually really digging the exchange with you as well. You've got some really great points. Success breeds future success when they attract the best kids. Yo-yo seasons cripple the efforts. Staff changes cause kids to re-think where they want to be. A huge number of vets didn't return this year. But it is what it is. We Southerners like to hold on to what used to be sometimes. (and, no I'm not talking about that stupid flag thing.) I grew up with Spirit and would like to see them successful again. But then again there are different ways to define success.
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Not sure they are that much better unless in the hands of extremely mature performers, which I guess most of Spirit's brass players are not. So why the purchase? Why are the top corps not playing Kanstuls? There is a trade off between quality and initial cost as well as maintenance and repair costs. Did those with the purse strings do their research?
For Spirit supporters that are offended by my statement about mature players, let me define such:
All state high schoolers from states with a lot of top programs (Texas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, etc.), players in the top of their college studios, players that could be in the top of their respective college studios but are not majoring in music. Players without notable embouchure issues, range issues, pitch matching issues, breath support issues, articulation issues, etc.
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Yes I know Elmo. He left and went to the then Garfield Cadets. And, yes I know Nolan, he left and went to Madison a year before I did. Wow, what a small world! Nolan is now on the brass staff for Music City.
Nolan was my kid's Band Director from 8th to 11th grade in Mississippi. He's a really good guy. He seems to be having a lot fun with MCDC this year.
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Not sure they are that much better unless in the hands of extremely mature performers, which I guess most of Spirit's brass players are not. So why the purchase? Why are the top corps not playing Kanstuls? There is a trade of between quality and initial cost as well as maintenance and repair costs. Did those with the purse strings do their research?
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One thing for sure, those kanstul horns are x1000% nicer than yamaha horns. I'm jealous those kids get to play on those horns.
One thing for sure, those kanstul horns are x1000% nicer than yamaha horns. I'm jealous those kids get to play on those horns.
They sound really good. Deep rich sound that the Yamahas don't produce. The kids are louder. Last year I used the cheap Iphone dB meter app at got Spirit at 108dB. This year I got them consistently at 110dB and as much as 112dB. That was early on when the Caption Head was working on tone quality instead of volume.
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Hey, I marched at Memphis State with a Tuba Player named Elmo that was in MB3. I guess you know him too.
And I guess you know Nolan Jones as well.
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David I marched in that show that night with the Memphis Blues!
Hey, I marched at Memphis State with a Tuba Player named Elmo that was in MB3. I guess you know him too.
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By the way, today is the 35 anniversary of Jim Ott's death and the first live performance of Spirit of Atlanta that I attended in 1980 in Memphis. He was only 30 years old at the time but he acheived more than a lot will ever do in their lifetime. One tragedy on July 8th is enough.
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Confirmed with a board member. A general request for fundraising that was blown out of proportion. Back to the field!
I agree
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There is a pic on Instagram of Spirits guard that is not flattering. My read is "kiss our ###" to the critics. Maybe that is not the message, but that pose is in bad taste and nothing offends me!
I saw the picture when it was posted. I thought nothing of it and didn't see anything inappropriate. After your comment, I went back and looked at it again and I still don't get your prospective. I sincerely doubt that that your person has any intention to say "kiss our ###" to anyone nor does she care about any critics. They are probably too busy having fun to log in here and read the BS. But, I respect everyone's opinion and I enjoy the exchange of others who have different views other than my own. And, I would be honest with you whether or not we agreed on the subject. Have a great summer and if you see me at a show somewhere please say hello. Cheers.
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I imagine raising nearly a million dollars each year to put a drum corps down the road is a major undertaking and nerve-racking as well. I hope the person who put it out there that Spirit is in trouble when it turns out that it isn't in trouble is shown the door. News of that nature should come from the Board CEO and not some person who doesn't have all of the facts.
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removed post - sorry
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Changes to the middle. Story related I think.
Well at least 1 GE judge like it.
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As did Spirit.
What did Spirit add?
SOA '15
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
You're right. The last show was exciting and fun.