elementwrx

I really dig this....it does sound like a return to the zone, as if you've reentered the door, but reaquainted this time with it, and you're just flying across the sky... It's really neat, I can't wait to hear more of this + the drumline!

You really can't compare drills from 20 or 30 years ago to today. They were revolutionary in their own time, but if presented today would not score well at all. Today's drill is creative for today, and tomorrow's drill will be creative for tomorrow, but you can't compare eras. Oh, and I totally agree with the comment about the company fronts.

Well, that's not completely accurate, probably just a guideline, seeing as a lot of those songs have been written for marching band or drum corps.

After our worst season to date in dcp-i 4, you can expect to see a new FUSION organization making the return to dcp-i, stronger than ever. We are currently setting everything up, and you can expect to see more information in the coming weeks. For those of you who don't know, FUSION is one of the oldest organizations to field in dcp-i. In the summer of 2005, we fielded an unprecidented nine corps, although due to other committments the director was unable to keep up as the season progressed.

I know that the point is brought up that many great band programs are in texas (and i mean A LOT...i don't think you non-BOA outsiders understand the quality here in Texas). I have been fortunate enough to be a member of one of these programs. You have to remember that a kid that marches in a great program isn't going to want to go march in a DIII corps with 60 kids that is maybe 1/3 the size of his HS program. Although many see the DII/III experience to be worthwhile, a lot of kids coming from powerhouse programs would nearly be taking a step down to march Revolution and Trinity. I'd assume that most of the makeup of these two corps are of kids from smaller bands that don't have the opportunity to leave the state to march corps.

Of course it's dirty, from the video it looks like there's at least 15 or so snares playing, probably more like 20+. Snare lines are never CLEAN at auditions....

Can anyone who was there tell if Nick Williams was there or not? I find it odd that Key Poulan was doing all the brass stuff in the pictures and videos.....

Looks promising, that chorale (is it possibly the show music?) that Key Poulan was conducting sounded really good! It was a bit saddening to see the drumline playing with flat drums, but I'm ready to see what they'll throw out. It looks like a great camp turnout! (Although the hornline seems a bit small from the pictures?) http://www.scvanguard.org/about/news.php?id=1133422299

Kennesaw Mountain sounded quite good, but they're one of the top HS Marching Bands out there.... Anyways, I thought it was great exposure, and yes, the drum thing at the beginning was hardly noticable, it zoomed in on a drum tapping off and then went through all the drumline doing zig zag drill....pretty lame, but still, good exposure. Yeah, I typed to my friend on AIM "they didn't call them a band!" and the second i sent it, Matt said the b-word, but like someone has said, any exposure is good, and the Cadets did a great job!

You do realize that BOA isn't only Grand Nationals, right? They have regionals across the country, and for example - in Texas alone there are four regionals that pull in at least 40 or so bands each (with the exception of La Joya)...some bands are repeats, but the vast majority only attend one regional, and also with the San Antonio Super Regional, you have 60 bands, with only two that actually attended Grand Nationals. I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure that BOA has at least the same number of competing bands as USSBA, if not more (due to being geared to across the country)

Apparently most of you haven't actually read the BOA guide on judging GE. here is your Music GE ajudication sheet, and here is the Visual GE ajudication sheet. It has nothing to do with amplification/vocals or anything. Again, like I stated above, I come from a very successful BOA band that doesn't use narration, and only minor amplification. We still score VERY well in General Effect, due to our incredible arranger putting together arrangements that are so different. I'm not going to argue that a lot of bands are concealing their flaws through narration and such, this is something I noticed a lot when I got a chance to sit in the stands and watch bands. Does it bug me, yes? Do I let it affect the entertainment value of these bands? no. I don't stay so focused on this narration thing. Like I said, in the end, I want to sit and watch the best in the activity when watching marching band, and the best compete in BOA. I'm not downing the quality of USSBA, I think it's done incredible things for the bands up in the Northeast, giving them a great circuit to compete in, get quality judging and such, but when it comes down to it, the best bands in the country compete in BOA.

DCI - Definitely! BOA - Most Definitely! DCA - Why not? It'd be worth the new experience USSBA - Probably not....BOA is just a few steps ahead of USSBA.... Why is everyone bashing on BOA groups? I don't understand why narration is so "frowned upon." Although I come from a very successful BOA program that doesn't use any narration, it is simply another aspect of the shows. I personally don't enjoy the narration, but everyone here is so hung up on this ONE aspect of high school marching band, that you fail to simply look at the big picture. Most of these bands (whether you like it or not) could give the non-finalist corps, and even some of the finalist corps a run for their money. You look at the groups like Ronald Reagan, Carmel, Avon, LD Bell, etc., these bands can flat out play music and march harder drill than most drum corps out there, on a fraction of the rehearsal time (just look at the Texas UIL 8 hour rule). I know that when you take into account what these kids are doing, the amount of time they have to put into it WITH the added time they have to spend on school and a social life, it is probably more incredible than 135 kids spending an entire summer perfecting a show. Now, in terms of circuits, I have no question that BOA is the top marching circuit in the country. At the San Antonio Super Regional, between prelims and finals, I was judged by Gino Cipriani, Richard Saucedo, Adam Sage, and an abundance of the top marching activity people. You compare USSBA to BOA, and look at South Bruswick HS: 2nd place in Group VI open, scored a 97.00, at BOA Grand Nationals, they score a 74.80 in prelims (not even high enough to constitute a Division 1 rating), and they're ranked 51st overall in prelims (don't even advance to semi-finals). There's no arguing that the top talent in the country competes in BOA (with few exceptions like Duncanville HS in Texas), and without a doubt, BOA is also a huge driving force in these bands upping the competition every year. Having competed the last 4 seasons in BOA, the competition has without a doubt, gotten harder and harder each year. Key to this is - don't get so hung up on the narration. Look at the overall talent of the group being presented, becuase you're missing out on a lot.

If you're interested in checking out some clips of Avon, check out http://www.indianamarching.com/ Really is an INCREDIBLY difficult show, with an incredible wind section, and the biggest drumline I've ever seen a BOA Band field (usually they field about 8-10 snares, 5 tenors, 5 bases, cleanly...Jeff Queen teaches their drumline). Apparently a lot of Crown staff teaches there. Rosander wrote the drill, and Bocook wrote the wind book. Good stuff.

Just saw this on DCI's site here. Wow, Capital Regiment sure is bringing in some incredible consultants. Should play out to be a great season for them! Especially with that Texas audition as well, they'll bring in some great talent from Houston/Texas. Houston has some great bands, Stephen F. Austin (where the audition is being held), Westfield, Spring, The Woodlands, Brazoswood, etc., the list could go on forever.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Star 93....I may be wrong, but in Dance of Vengance, they're bookin it the whole time!

no

no

yes

no

No, this will be annoying to try and compile a tour schedule!

Abstain

yes

No, I like the other idea better, of having a show in the middle of the season with the current top corps.

Yes, but why not use the Average Percussion Score...Why do you have to use one of the judges? Seems as though the average would give a more balanced view of the corps' actual percussion score. I do have to admit, it was a pain having to buy crappy corps for percussion, since it was double price....

Yes, although it should be run like real D2/3 finals week: Quarterfinals: All Corps Semi-Finals: Top 9 from each division (maybe change the number depending on how many corps there are) Finals: Top 3 from each division + next 6 regardless of division Seems like it'd be more fair, since you could have a D3 corps outscoring D2, and they wouldn't get in under the current rule.