snare_guy_83

Crown's GE was amazing, no doubt about that... However a bunch of dirty drumline phrases next to an amazing brass, as well as a lack of marching in the ballad knocked them down for me.

1. Bluecoats -Very innovative and exciting throughout. Coats are on their way to a Championship soon. 2. Cadets - Technically tough all the way around. Waltz was impressive. 3. Carolina Crown - Should be listed in the encyclopedia next to General Effect. Too bad the percussion weighed them down. 4. Santa Clara Vanguard - Fun concept and energy. 5. Blue Devils - Fundamentally excellent across the board. Not a BD fan but have to give credit Best GE: Crown - Yay huge tarp/flags and acting Best Visual: BD - Duh Best Music: Bluecoats - What they attempted is amazing Best Percussion: Bluecoats - Their book was insanely good and they played it very well

Last year they didn't use a dr beat at finals lot though, just stick clicks. Could have just done that again. I believe the drumset was for a broader purpose and worked out very well. Will be interested to see if it comes back next year and if any other corps uses one as well.

This year the Coats went with Roger Carter on drumset instead of stick clicks or a dr. beat to keep time. At first I really did not like it and wanted to focus more on what the line was playing but by the end of the season I really dug it. I was able to feel the groove of the book more and when listening to the full corps I found myself nodding along with the drumset beat in the back of my head. So the question here is did this new method help more than the clicks or dr. beat? Were they able to get in the groove together easier with this method? The 99 in Achievement at Semis and Finals this year sure does point to it. Thoughts???

I'd pay for all of the Bluecoats expenses... I would travel with them and we would always stay in hotels I would get all the sheet music and play with the drumline on my practice pad Would that blow all of the $$$???