LoveSOS

HAHAHA, yes...but only because in 2000, we had a percussion camp the week before move-in at Bluecoats, and it was held at Fort Indiantown Gap, and the parking lot that we marched on ran up hill....plus it was made of gravel, lol! Fond memories...

'74 SCV '76 BD '80 Spirit '83 Garfield '85 Suncoast '86 BD '87 SCV '89 Phantom '91 Star '93 Star '96 Phantom '98 Cadets I guess is what I would pick... i don't know, I change my mind alot. But that is a pretty constant group of favorites.

I like almost all of those shows! I wanted to vote for them all :( Here is what I finally decided on... 1980 Bridgemen 1983 Garfield Cadets 1987 Santa Clara Vanguard 1991 Star of Indiana 1993 Star of Indiana 1994 Blue Devils 1996 Phantom Regiment 2000 The Cavaliers I was sad to see no Bluecoats.... :(

I guess it depends on what is most important to you, the line you play in, or the instructor. I have both marched and taught cymbal lines in drum corps and I also teach at the high school level, always have used Garfield grip... makes the most sense. If you are in it to play a large variety of techniques, go with this grip. First and foremost, the grip needs to be functional and comfortable enough to last through long hours of practice. I always tell my students, "make it tight enough that it borders on being too tight...meaning, any tighter and it would be uncomfortable." That will ensure good grip without going into the realm of uncontrollability. A huge part of a cymbal lines presence is their initial look... I always grit my teeth and sneer when I see a cymbal line that isn't controlling their cymbals...it makes them look sloopy and is honestly an eye sore. I would use the other grip only when crashing cymbals in the pit or in a concert style setting.

i love that pic of the Matadors on your signiture...

It has gotta be the Matadors, although Westshoremen would be a close second.

two corps I marched with...Reading Buccaneers and Hawthorne Caballeros.... The Buccalleros or the Cabaneers???

I agree with the commemeration, naming it the Holton award and what not, but if it doesn't go to the group that wins high percussion, it would be a slap in the face... Unless they are going to have a seperate judge for front ensembles...??? which doesn't make much sense.

YES! Also add, 84 Garfield and 90 Star

Some corps make it a point to have current members realize the past. From personal experience, when I first joined the Caballeros and first walked into Post 199 in November of 2002, the guys (who at the time i didn;t know) sitting at the bar were watching old corps videos of the Cabs from previous years. I loved it! It was a way of tying two cultures together. I have never heard of anyone bashing the way things were done in the past, I just hope people can be open and not bash the way thigns are done in the present, or will be done in the future. It just doesn't make sense.

I see it like this... all things evolve. Think about any major pro sport. They have all evolved over the years. I feel that tradition is not being left behind...the tradition of all corps (i hope) is to go out there, have a great time, learn something, entertain a crowd, perform excellence, have the feeling of adrenaline, acheivement, and satisfaction for hours of long work. THAT IS STILL THE SAME. The only thing that is different is programming (what and how things are taught and performed). The feeling at the end of the performance or at the end of the summer or at the end of a weekend is still the same...that tradition is not lost. After my first summer of marching drum corps, i went home with my family, and I spoke of the feeling I had after knowing that I had done my best and left it on the field. My father (who marched in the mid 1970's) looked at me and said, "I know the feeling." 25 years apart, and the "tradition" or the reason we do this activity was no different. The end justifies the means.

that is awesome. rock the rack, i like it. I never have, but maybe I should, it always did look fun! :) I have always had a desire to try the pit sometime, but I have always talked myself out of it because I am not a great mallet player or timpanists. ::shrugs:: I guess I (wrongly) looked over the aux. percussion as a possibility. Hmmm....

I'm sure they will be great, they are always great. Narration or not. They will be great. I probably won't like it much, but there is no way in denying that they will be great. The Cadets are always great. Great musicians, great marchers, great performers. So i don't think the narration will matter, they will still be a top 5 contender, for sure. And yes, Rex Grossmen is our quarterback. Thank you.

Tradition comes from the people who have marched before...the Alumni! If you are concerned about "your" corps tradition then, as an alumni, you should get involved! Be on support staff, talk with current members, tell stories from when you marched, support the corps with donations, support current members by helping to pay their fees, just show up to a camp weekend with your old corps jacket on, join in and sing the corps song with the current members. There is alot that can be done... #####ing about it won't solve anything though.

I think it is good that people are actually open to change more and more these days. I mean, if the activity is never meant to change, then these meetings wouldn't exist in the first place. I am sure that the rules that have been added, deleted, or modified are all worthwhile and for the betterment of the activity. Especially, I like the rule about setting a standard number of members a corps must have to participate. A corps with under 35 people is almost sure to be unsucessful in competition. The rule change is specifically designed to guarantee the most successful season possible for any one corps. On a side note, since I will be a FAN this year of DCA and now a member, it will be nice to get to cheer for my favorite DCA corps! Go Bucs and Go Cabs!!! Best of luck to both of you!