Roger Ellis

Always a senior, never a junior. I played trumpet in elementary school and junior high (middle school), but my high school did not have a music program, nor did the college that I attended. There were no junior corps in the home town area, and traveling to one was out of the question, so seniors were the only option. I have managed to march seniors 16 of the past 38 summers during my travels around the country pursuing a career, and my only regret is that it wasn't more.

I marched Hamburg Kingsmen for several years in the 1970's. In 1972 our exit number was "Shuffle Off to Buffalo", and when we reached the traditional finish line we stepped off the field, formed squads and proceeded down the finish line and down the front sideline playing the ending fanfare all the way. The show ended with the full corps facing the stands in front of the front sideline. I remember that the following year (1973) we did not do this. I can't quote what the rule was in 1972, but the rules were in transition at the time to allow entry and exit from other than the traditional start and finish lines. I remember that in 1973 we entered from both the traditional starting line and over the back sideline.

Hi Rich. The "good old days" were different for a lot of reasons. In thinking back, one was that people did not travel nearly as extensively as today and there was not a lot of information available about what was going on in other parts of the country like there is today. As a result, corps did not know a lot about each other except by reputation. As a kid who grew up in a small town in Western PA and starting marching seniors when I was in high school, corps like the Hawthorne Cabs and the New York Skyliners were "legendary". My impression after I saw Hawthorne the first time (1967) was that they all looked about the same age as my father, they all had gray hair, they all had won about 15 American Legion National Championships, and they could all mark time higher and play better than I could. Part of the game when you go on the field is knowing in your head that you can win. Corps like the Cabs and Sky not only knew that they could win, but they went out of their way at times to help you understand that you had no chance against them, on the field or off. An example from my personal experience came during the 1973 DCA preliminary competition in Rochester NY. There was a corps on the field. Lined up under the back stands waiting to go on next in order of appearance were Hurricanes, my corps (Hamburg Kingsmen) and Skyliners. Being sandwiched between Hurcs and Sky was intimidating enough. After the Hurcs went out on the field and were getting toward the end of their performance, we gathered around into a huddle for the typical rah-rah speech, let's go do a great show, etc. A bunch of Skyliners pushed their way in and started mocking us, saying things like "Oh, you guys are really great" in a very condescending way. All a head game. The bottom line was that no one from our corps did anything because we knew they would kill us if we reacted. I remember thinking "Isn't it time for us to get out on the field and away from these guys"? As fate would have it I wound up marching Skyliners many years later (2000). The old-timers laugh about how they were able to intimidate other corps - it was all a game to them, and man they were good at it. For another story you can look at the one I posted in the "Favorite DCA Stories" thread in the regular senior forum about the famous 1972 Ithaca NY post-show party. I played hockey during high school and in a couple of men's leagues in Buffalo after I got out of college. One of my favorite sport's quotes comes from the legendary Gordie Howe. When asked about the violence in professional hockey, Gordie replied "It's a man's game". I suppose the same was true for DCA back in the day - it was a man's game, and boys trying to play the man's game didn't get too far. I really admire what you folks have accomplished with Renegades and wish you all the best in competition this year.

When Steve Vickers was putting together the first History of Drum Corps volume a couple of years ago I wrote a piece on the Red Carpet Association that I don't believe was ever published. Contributors to my research included Jeff Ream, Jeff Davis and Ron Allard. I also have a spreadsheet with all scores from the RCA shows. Here is the history article: The Red Carpet Association was formed in the fall of 1968 as a circuit for senior drum and bugle corps, providing an alternative to the relatively new Drum Corps Associates circuit. The Red Carpet Association provided a competitive arena for corps that did not attain membership in the more exclusive DCA circuit on a competitive basis, or were not interested in being members of DCA for other reasons such as geographical location and the expense of traveling to DCA contests. The Red Carpet Association sponsored contests and held a championship show each year from 1969 through 1977. The circuit included corps from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland and Ontario, Canada. Three corps appeared in all nine RCA championship shows. The Guelph Royalaires were the most consistent competitor in the circuit, with two wins (outright in 1969 and tied with Erie Thunderbirds in 1974) and five second-place finishes in nine appearances. The Hanover Lancers appeared nine times with an average placement of 6.4, and won the final RCA Championship in 1977. The Dunkirk Patriots appeared nine times and averaged 8.7 in placement. The honors for best winning percentage went to the Rochester Phoenix – one appearance and one win, for an average placement of first. In existence for just two years, the Phoenix won the 1975 RCA championship by over four points in their first year on the field and went on to a top-five finish at DCA. The other two corps to win circuit championships were the Pittsburgh Rockets and the Erie Thunderbirds. The Pittsburgh Rockets appeared six times with an average placement of 2.5 and deserve special recognition for winning three in a row (1970, 1971 and 1972). The Erie Thunderbirds had an enviable record as well, appearing seven times for an average placement of 3.1. Erie won outright in 1973 and 1976 and tied with the Guelph Royalaires for first in 1974. The corps that showed the most improvement was the Johnsonburg Diplomats. They competed four times, placing 14th in 1972, 11th in 1975, second in 1976, and third in 1977. The dubious honor of the lowest average placement went to the Versailles PA Vigilantes, who finished 13th in their only appearance. The Red Carpet Association served the needs of its member corps in several different ways. Corps such as the Rhode Island Matadors and the Rochester Phoenix used Red Carpet as a stepping-stone to reach DCA membership. Corps like the Pittsburgh Rockets, Hanover Lancers, Guelph Royalaires and the Erie Thunderbirds competed successfully in both RCA and DCA. The Hamburg Kingsmen found a home in Red Carpet after failing to retain their DCA membership at the end of the 1974 season. Many other corps found that the level of competition and the location of the shows that were sanctioned by RCA was right for them and competed just in RCA. It is interesting to note that the Syracuse Brigadiers appeared just one time, during their attempted comeback in 1973, and finished in fourth place. The Brigs went on to finish 13th at DCA that year, just missing a membership position, and subsequently folded. The Brigs returned to the competitive field many years later and are now one of the strongest and most consistent senior corps. The following were the show locations and champions for each year that the RCA was in existence: August 16, 1969 Allentown PA Guelph Royalaires August 29, 1970 Erie PA Pittsburgh Rockets August 28, 1971 Erie PA Pittsburgh Rockets August 21, 1972 Erie PA Pittsburgh Rockets August 25, 1973 Erie PA Erie Thunderbirds August 24, 1974 Erie PA Guelph Royalaires, Erie Thunderbirds (tie) August 23, 1975 Hamilton ONT The Phoenix August 28, 1976 Hamilton ONT Erie Thunderbirds August 27, 1977 Jamestown NY Hanover Lancers What follows is a complete listing of all of the corps that competed in the RCA championship shows. It is believed that a preliminary competition was held at one or more of the RCA Championship shows, but no scores were found during the research that was conducted for this article. Phoenix Rochester NY Royalaires Guelph ONT Pittsburgh Rockets Pittsburgh PA Westshoremen Harrisburg PA Canada's Marching Ambassadors Toronto ONT Erie Thunderbirds Erie PA Canadian Commanders Burlington ONT Syracuse Brigadiers Syracuse NY Connecticut Yankees Stratford CT Brass Inc. St. Paul MN Hamburg Kingsmen Hamburg NY Emmaus Sentinels Emmaus PA Rhode Island Matadors Providence RI Grenadiers/Yardmen Kingston ONT Hanover Lancers Hanover PA Kawartha Kavaliers Lindsay ONT Dansville White Sabers Dansville NY Johnsonburg Diplomats Johnsonburg PA Maumee Demons Maumee OH Gardner Guards Altoona PA Suburban Knights Getzville NY Dunkirk Patriots Dunkirk NY Imperial Knights Sudbury ONT Esquires Westmoreland PA Garden Statesmen Dover NJ York White Roses York PA Vern Acklin Cavaliers Verona PA Freestatesmen Cumberland MD Vigilantes Versailles PA

I voted against a corp-mandated mouthpiece. I DO believe that instructors should insist on an "appropriate for the horn and the part being played" mouthpiece.

Go to www.cozychops.com and then click on "Brass Tacts" to find 152 helpful hints on brass playing, courtesy of Cozy Baker. An interesting and informative compilation of brass playing wisdom assembled by a good friend of mine.

Kanstul still offers a french horn G bugle. The folowing information was taken directly from the Kanstul website. It is interesting to note that the french horn is somewhat more expensive than the mello. Mellophone Bugle KMB 180 Bore = .470 10 1/2" Bell - 17 1/2" Length 3 1/2 lbs $770.00 French Horn Bugle KHB 185 Bore = .470 10" Bell - 18" Length 4 1/2 lbs $1015.00

Mellos are the meat of the line. I agree with the comments about the 3 valve Kanstul being the best. Off and on over the past 30 years I have played the valve-rotor Whalley Royce (a garbage can that we played with trumpet mouthpieces), the 2 valve DEG (my second least favorite), a 2 valve King (a great horn even though it was worn out) and the Kanstul 3 valve (the only mello that ever sounded in tune with other mellos in the section when standing in the line). One thing that you must remember regarding the sound - there is NOTHING mellow about a mellophone! They aren't SUPPOSED to sound like concert french horns.

The following DCI Yearbooks are up for auction on eBay, all with a minimum bid of only $9.99. Please take a look if you are interested in any of the years, and good luck! 1982 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585127716 1983 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585131121 1984 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585133256 1985 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585135148 1986 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585136518 1988 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585139390 1989 (1 of 2) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585139390 1989 (2 of 2) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585141665 1990 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585142959 1992 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585144505 1993 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585146007 1996 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585147294 1998 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585148367 1999 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585149479 2000 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1585150659

There are still a couple of days left to get in on the action. Several yearbooks/programs remain available for the minimum bid of $9.99 - check it out.

I have posted a collection of thirty DCI Yearbooks/Championship Programs on eBay.com. All items have a minimum bid of $9.99. Items listed include 1975, 1977 through 1996 inclusive, 1996 DCI Year in Review, and 1998 through 2001 inclusive (some years have two pieces). Go to eBay.com and find these items in "books-non fiction-entertainment/performing arts - other", or do a search on drum corps. Items were listed Saturday 10/5 or Sunday 10/6/2002 and have a five-day bidding period. Good luck!

The newer Kanstul models, IMHO. I bought a new one in the spring of 2000 - price was around $700. Plays freely, available with a matched mouthpiece, comfortable to hold for long periods, the only mello I have ever played that will resonate in tune with other similar (Kanstul) horns, comes with a high quality case. Disclaimer - the Kanstul is the only three valve horn that I have played for any extended period.

Another 2 cents on a couple of issues that came up during this discussion. One is the register that is written for the mellophone section, as Ray Vasquez alluded to. The instrument has roughly a one and one half octave useful range. The farther that range is pushed on both ends, the more difficult the mouthpiece issue becomes, IMHO. I have always played second mello because I find it difficult to consistently sustain volume and good intonation above G when using a mouthpiece intended for the instrument, such as the Kanstul M6. Another issue is the matching of instruments and mouthpieces. What I mean here is that consistent results will be more difficult for a mello section to achieve if there is a mix of horns (Kanstul and DEG) in the line, and/or if there is a large variety of mouthpieces being used. Combine extremes in the register that the parts are arranged in (high or low) with mixed horns and mixed mouthpieces and you are in for some interesting intonation problems. It makes sense to me to decide what sound you are after (example - dark, large lush sound a la Phantom Regiment) and then experiment regarding what it takes (mouthpiece wise and technique wise) for your players and your instruments to achieve that sound. Final caveat - in my experience it is difficult to convince most players that they should change from the mouthpiece that they are used to using.

Hey Jeff - wish you would have said hi at mini-corps show. You still owe me a beer for the Harrisburg CD, and we needed every one we could get for the victory party!

My experience tells me that the necessity of playing and practicing every day depends on the individual. I personally know drum corps soloists who barely practice - they just show up and play - and are fabulous. Then there are the guys and gals like me that need to play every day just to have enough chops to be in their back up band.

Thanks a lot for all of the suggestions. I'll try some of the standard bags that were suggested and see which one seems to fit best.

I have been looking for a gig bag (soft carrying case) for my Kanstul "G" mellophone for some time and have not been able to locate a source. The closest thing I have seen was a bag for a flugel horn, but the bell on the mello is much too large for that bag. Does anyone know of a source for an off-the-shelf bag that will fit a mello? I don't want to get into the expense of a custom made item. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

I saw St. Ignatius for the first time in 1967 at an American Legion show in Buffalo. I was a "mature" man of 17 or so marching in a senior corps, and to us they looked like a bunch of little 12 year old girls who didn't belong on the field when they lined up. Then they started off the line. Jaw-dropping good. Strong, determined horn line and man could they march. High mark time with knees higher than mine ever went. The impact of their instructional staff cannot be overemphasized. A great memory. I'm just glad they weren't in the senior division.

Kanstul M6 (with a Kanstul 3 valve horn, of course). Matched to the horn - comfortable for long periods - better tone quality than anything else I have used.

I voted for Kanstul (the lone ranger so far). I play one of their mellophones and I use the matched mouthpiece that Kanstul sells for the horn. I have found it to be very comfortable, and great from an endurance standpoint. I am curious about what anyone else uses to play one of their mellophones, especially if you can compare your experience to playing the horn on a Kanstul mouthpiece.

Gayle Royer - He worked with our horn line (Hamburg Kingsmen) one night during a weekend seminar in Buffalo (1974??). He taught us just how much under our potential we had been playing - an experience I have never forgotten. We stood taller and played better when he was out front. Ed Cozzolino - again, a man who could get the max out of the talent he had to work with. The 2000 Skyliner staff - John Arietano, Ken MacLean and Tom "Bucky" Swan. John wrote the most interesting and complex arrangements I have ever played - Ken had the best ear I have ever experienced - and Bucky taught us to perform like Skyliners. I learned how to really perform (not just play the notes correctly) from these guys. I am also looking forward to working with Jeff Gibbens this summer - I just rented a place in Erie for the summer and plan to play with the Erie Thunderbirds Alumni this summer.

The Skyliner signature.

Interestingly enough, in my sixteen years of senior experience, the issue rarely comes up. And I have seen a lot of people playing on what I considered to be inapproriate mouthpieces. The bottom line - it is the sound that counts, not the mouthpiece that you use to generate the sound. I do believe that many brass players could benefit from a mouthpiece that is matched specifically to their horn, as the Kanstul mouthpieces are. I bought a new Kanstul mello in 2000 along with their matched mouthpiece. I found that the horn played very freely, pitches were easy to center, and I had good endurance using their mouthpiece. It did not help me generate volume, but power never was my long suit.