Poisonchocolate

This is a very applicable video to this subject. Constraints are not always bad and in fact often good. All evolution, all change, is not always good. Also just as a little anecdote I asked around with people I know that are essentially laymen but do know about DCI and Marching Band and have seen competitions for both. Dominant answer to the question of amplification of the whole horn line was "isn't that cheating?". And I think that's interesting. If these people, who theoretically should care about just seeing a good show, intuitively react with the idea that this must be wrong and it is wildly unfair then I think we have an issue. Huge issue I haven't seen here is the ever-widening gap between poor and rich groups. This is especially evident in marching band, but drum corps as well. Already there are enough advantages to money and ways "buy" success to some extent. Now, almost necessary amplification on this scale massively increases the investment REQUIRED to be competitive. The richer corps and bands get elevated higher and higher while the poorer ones get even further stomped on.

Here in North Carolina, I went to a theater which had two theater rooms completely sold out. I think my two other theaters showing it and they were mostly sold out as well.

I'd honestly say SCV for 2014, 2015, and 2016

I've suggested it so many times before but I sooooo want a corps to play Dark Side of the Moon-- and not the Pink Floyd version. Crown could do it. I think any part of it could be used-- the first loud section, the middle ballad section, or the loud ending section starting at 7:45. Such a beautiful and exciting piece.

SCV medals.

Please please please please Fire in the Blood! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llPj1XwxV5U Or also Dark Side of the Moon, possibly my favorite brass band piece ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgZrRENou1U Could work either as a ballad or as a hard-hitting fast piece.

I don't know, I'm a big fan of cheerwine...

I'm having somewhat of an internal battle here. My plan is to audition (not 100% sure where yet, likely Boston) next November but I just can't decide what instrument I would want to audition on! I play the trumpet, baritone/euphonium, and bass trombone. I have the ability to play all brass instruments to some degree, though those are my main instruments. I feel like I would most prefer to march tuba but that's also the most unrealistic option because I don't primarily play tuba and I have no ability whatsoever to practice on an actual marching tuba. Probably second to that, I actually would quite like to march mellophone-- I absolutely love that instrument and it would be possible for me to get ahold of one to practice on. The other side of that, however, is that I have no clue how to read music written for mellophone and, again, it isn't my primary instrument so I'm not as experienced on it. So this isn't really a very straightforward question, but maybe I could have some insight on what the levels of competition at most corps are for each of these instruments, what level of marching experience might be expected of a tuba player, the possibility of auditioning on multiple instruments, etc. Thank you for any answers!

Only a short prediction here. Blue Devils win, Crown narrowly places second, and Bluecoats lose their steam-- allowing Vanguard to take a medalist spot at third. Madison will be in finals, and Boston will place above Cadets And BD gets a 99.70

Honestly I need someone to examine here... What IS this thread?!?!?!?!

Mellophone soloist for Scouts 1988... Jesus Christ (superstar).

Oh boy. Bluecoats had more difficult drill than Crown? Nice one. I do believe the deserved the win, but absolutely not from visual performance. The difficulty of the drill, however, shouldn't be the basis for the visual performance score. Although it has to be factored in to some extent, the point of the score is to grade the ability of the performers to execute the visual program. If a show is too hard for the performers and they can't execute it cleanly, then that should be reflected in the score. It would be unfair for a corps with extremely difficult drill that the members couldn't execute well (resulting in a show that isn't as entertaining) they shouldn't place higher than a corps with drill written to the ability of the performers that was performed well-- at least, not in the visual score.

PLEASE get a medal next year! I know it's possible!

SCV had a lot of cool drill designs, the Crown Roxanne section was great, and the hanging at the end of Scouts was pretty powerful.

It's mindless discussions like this that make people dislike DCP...

Ol' Hellen Hess!

Looking forward to them getting a medal for an anniversary present!

Carolina Crown.

In a very different way, I thought SCV was very "classy" in their retreat. With no negative feelings towards the members of Blue Knights, Crown, or any other corps, I found the stark contrast amazing. As members of the Blue Knights were dancing on the field and Crown members took selfies, SCV had a very traditional march onto the field line by line and stood absolutely still during the announcement of awards. I'm sure one or two other corps did similar things, I just didn't notice-- and again, no negativity to the corps that were less formal!

That was me at NightBEAT... whoops...

Bluecoats and Cavaliers for sure this year.

My favorite use of trombones is still the SCV 2014 opener!

It's great to see the Cavs back again with the awesome trumpet screamers!

Nothing against the Cadets, but I'm thinking they might have to place 6th this year with these incredible shows from SCV and Cavs!

Vanguard mellos and tubas just continue to be the MVPs... the volume they put out is just absolutely INCREDIBLE!