MAV

Back in the early 80's when I marched - we waited for newspapers or magazines to come out with the scores. That's if we didn't know anybody who marched. In the 90's when the internet came around, people would post, but it was hours sometimes days after the event. In the late 90's, cell phones made that easier. And yes - corps had a hotline set up where the director would leave a message about how the day went, and what the scores were. I was flabbergasted the first time someone actually wrote an onsite as-it-happened review of a show. It's escalated over the past couple of years and now anyone can do it from just their cell phone and maybe a connection to Twitter or Facebook. Anybody remember when we started an email drop off program? People would volunteer to print out letters and deliver them to kids on tour. Now, except for a few corps who do not allow cell phones, most kids chat with mom, dad, friends right from the bus or pick up email direct. I remember waiting for my own kid to call from tour once a week or so - but it was a struggle because the pay phone lines were so long. Those were the days, eh? P.S. Looks like we all had the same story!

The DCI team has done a great job. Multi-cam...on the first show? Wow! Thanks, y'all!

Beautiful pallet - drums too! Plus we have Tinker Bell and Peter Pan! Sweet!

Still no audio but nice drill! Guard changes their sashes for a nice effect.

lost audio

YES! Especially the beginning. It's an echo effect from side to side - not tears. When you see the full marching show, you will understand. Like I said... genius concept. Think "playing a horn in the Grand Canyon."

Actually the 'phasing' you heard was intentional. And I thought a genius effect. Rather than use electronics, they voiced echo's to create a chasm feel - that 'great divide'. With the guard and marching added - it will work quite nicely. Mav

All good tonight. As much as we wanted to see the guard and drill, hearing the music and a few encores made it very satisfactory. Just a thought: the corps who put their drumline in front of the hornline came across as more entertaining. This was especially true with Bluecoats who had their hornline as close as possible to the stands with the battery in the center. Snares had insane sticks tricks, tenors too. I really couldn't keep my eyes off their work. Hats off to Bluecoats who changed their mind to stay & play. I know one set of parents who drove hours just too see their son perform. Also many 'thank you's' to the amazing Show of Show's staff who 'weathered' this storm with grace and charm. They kept the fans up to date with constant announcements. 3 AM...sleep. Mav...zzzzzzzzz

I believe Myron Rosander, hand-picked by Gail to carry the SCV mantel of all things Vanguard, has lived up to that role. And carries on the legacy to this day.

SIX! Sweet! Go, Jenny and her amazing cymbals! Catch you all on Friday... Mav

Does anyone know the back-up plan for the wet stuff since that seems to be the prediction for Friday? I'm going out there regardless, but since I'm unfamiliar with the area - I wanted to make sure I had directions to possible schools for an indoor concert. Just in case! BTW - I'll be bringing ye ol' care packages for...wait for it...50+ performers & staff. 48 Cavaliers guard, a Phantom mello, a Spirit visual tech, and probably Spirit's cymbal line as well. Already bought the sundries yesterday and will be on cookie duty tonight - can you say "sugar high!" (Toll House, oatmeal, and molasses spice on the menu this round.) Letters tomorrow. Mav...who is trying to wrap her head around the thought of making 200-300 cookies

Letter winging its way to Joel!

Good for you! Last year I made a huge batch of cookies and gathered another box full of fun stuff - but the person I was supposed to get it to wasn't around. I made sure the letter eventually got to them, but the rest I gave to kids hanging out at a bus with directions to make sure it all got to the rookies on the bus. Don't know if that happened - but I know there were a couple of happy SCV mellos. They ended up scarfing most of the Toll House cookies before they got onboard. :) I've never had a problem giving away stuff. We drum corps folks are pretty trusting. And I look like a mom so that might help. In the past we had the "Adopt A Corps" program through RAMD. Made loads of cupcakes or cookies for a pre-determined group of kids (VK Tenors, Cavaliers Bass Line, BK Guard...who had to pass it along to the drummers...long story). I love your idea, btw.

I think this comes up every year - probably the definitive care page should be compiled and then pinned. :) Here's what I usually send: 1. Cookies - homemade, usually hand-carried 2. Gold Bond - small 3. Bag of quarters (laundry, etc.) 4. Fabric sheets - small box (smells good, helps with laundry, keeps away bugs) 5. Lip ointment - plus other toiletries are usually welcome (speaking of which - a travel-size role of TP is much aprepeciated) 6. Socks - black and white 7. TIME magazine - or the latest reading material like Drum Corps World 8. Fun - usually water balloons, Mad Libs, deck of cards, water pistol, a cool DCI pin or pen, a mix CD (although nobody has CD players anymore), or book. 9. Clothes- T-shirts, shorts, baseball hat and/or corps gear. 10. Sweets/Savorys - Turkey jerkey, red licorice 10. Finally, DO NOT forget a personal letter or card. More than anything, I think this is the most important. In the past I use to send my daughter the Harry Potter books when they came out and it use to make the rounds on the bus. She never read them - but gobbled up the "Lovely Bones" and "Memoires of a Geisha". Sending the personal item really means a lot on tour. Momma Mav

As posted on DCI.org: Apply for the ’09 Jim Ott Scholarship Sponsors of Musical Enrichment, Inc., a non-profit organization, is now accepting applications for the Jim Ott Scholarship. The $3000 award will be given to a graduating high school senior or a student presently attending an institution of higher learning. To be eligible, the student must: Demonstrate a financial need Be a member of a drum corps Demonstrate leadership qualities Be accepted to or in attendance at an institution of continuing education (public or private) Be a music major (this is not strictly a brass scholarship) Sponsors of Musical Enrichment created the Jim Ott Scholarship in memory of the legendary brass arranger and instructor. Ott was known for his work with well-known brass sections in the 1970s including the Blue Devils, Spirit of Atlanta and the Stockton Commodores. All drum corps members are encouraged to apply. Applications must be received by July 15, 2009, and the recipient will be recognized at the Drum Corps International World Championships in August. Please note that there is no age limitation, and more than one application per corps can be accepted. CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION!

The story behind this tradition - as told by Myron Rosander - will be in this year's DCI yearbook.

Good morning: I wrote back in 1999, reposted in 2002, and now on the 10th anniversary, I tell you once more: Ladies and gentlemen of the corps of 2009: Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the season, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your corps. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your corps until you age-out. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at videos of your corps and yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as awkward as you imagine. Don't worry about competition. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve a guard problem by chewing out the contras. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blind-side you at 4 am on Rookie Initiation Night. Do one thing every day that pushes your endurance. Sing your corps song. Don't be reckless near other people's drill moves. Don't put up with people who are reckless near yours. Hydrate. Don't waste your time comparing scores. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, you only compete with yourself. Remember applause you receive. Forget the boos. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old patches. Throw away your summer drill books. Stretch. Don't feel guilty if you like drum corps for the rest of your life. The most interesting people I knew at 22 are still involved with their corps. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know should be. Use plenty of Gold Bond. Be kind to your chops. You'll miss them when they're gone. Maybe you'll age-out with your corps, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll get a medal, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll instruct at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on DCI's 75th anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are all the other performers. Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. Dance, even if you have two left feet and your guard instructor wonders out loud if brass folk lost the coordination gene. Read corps handouts, even if you don't remember them two minutes later. Do not read RAMD posts. They will only make you feel angry. Get to know your bus drivers - they hold your life in their hands. Be nice to your section. They're your best link to your corps past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends, like corps, come and go, but there are a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in drill and personalities, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were a rookie. Perform in Texas once, but leave before you melt. Perform In Madison once, but leave before it makes you think all cities know about drum corps. Travel. Other than on a bus. Accept certain inalienable truths: Scores will fluctuate. Judges will be controversial. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, Scores were reasonable, Judges were noble, and Members respected their staff. Respect your staff. Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a bingo game. Maybe you'll have a wealthy sponsor. But you never know when either one might run out. Don't mess too much with props or by the time it's the end of the season, they'll look like crap. Be careful getting too caught up with drum corps history, but learn from those who lived it. Drum corps history is a form of nostalgia. Reliving it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it better than it actually was. But trust me on the sunscreen. - with love from a drum corps mom Based on an original poem by Mary Schmich

As someone who has worked with fabric (too many years in community theatre), black can be made with a blue/purple or red base. Typically most black fabric is created off a red base, like this DM's uniform. BTW - really nice guys, all three DMs. - Chase Jones (new) - Kyle Nijoka (3rd year) - Koji Mori (head DM) Great photos. Great night. And JD Shaw recreating his '91 solo? Priceless. MAV

What a fantastic evening! The weather cooperated, the seats were open with great site lines. It's a band shell, like a mini-Hollywood Bowl. The uniforms sparkled. Music was almost 1.5 hours between Phantom Regiment and Boston Brass. National Emblem (parade song) 1989 - New World Symphony 2006 - Ave Maria (Beibl) 1992 - 1812 Overture w/ Boston Brass Boston Brass then played Moscow something (Moscow Cheryomushki?) by Shostakovich 1993 - Danza Final (very fast!) A funk song featuring Paul Rennick at set and JD Shaw's (sort of) final song with Boston Brass after 15 years - Caravan (Dude! Had we known, we would have thrown flowers!) He rocked the house! JD started on French horn and then migrated over to play trumpet. AND THEN...It's just too special. I actually started crying when this happened. The corps then played their show and the evening ended with BB playing "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" and PR coming in behind to push it to the grand finale. I could go into great detail - but suffice to say there are lots of exciting things with the Red Violin! Thanks, Regiment! Lots of music that kept the huge crowd quite entertained - including the high school kids who spotted themselves in front of the drum line...as if they were watching a "lot" gig! Mav

I totally remember those days! Those phone lines! In contrast, last year I use to get text updates from tour members literally minutes after they performed! How times have changed. Here's my dilemma - I use to create mix CDs for kids on tour. But now nobody has CD players (except guard with their boom box). What's the alternative these days? Putting it on a flash drive? Mav...who use to be techno savvy, but feels behind the curve at this point!

Bernstein = 12 (4 DCI, 1 International, 7 DCA) Curiale = 5 (3 DCI, 2 DCA) And then there's the talented Key Poulan with one in each: Vanguard (DCI World) Vanguard Cadets (DCI Open), Millennium (International), and Bushwackers (DCA). Mav

2. What?! No love for '81? It was the original and very melodic. And while we'd 'huh' during rehearsals, I think the staff were the only ones to really be faintly heard on the recordings. 3. When a Man Loves A Woman, Legend, and '88 Since I Fell for You (isn't that the one with the audience clapping in the 'instant encore'?) MAV

Thank you! Couldn't find anything announced or online. Mav

I actually went straight to the source...the directors. Also up now is the Colts music - very exciting! Jersey Surf's full music too - FUN! With Troopers music now out there...I think the reps are set for all the World Class corps. This year's #1 on the hit parade? Music from by Bernstein (Cascades, Cadets, Crown, and Troopers) I've also tried to sync up the art work for each show as well - some pieces are forthcoming according the directors. Mav

Here's yet another list - miss anyone? 7th Regiment - “Excalibur” Liturgical Dances (David Holsinger) Of Kingdoms & Glory (Anthony Dilorenzo) Wind Dances - Mov. II (Philip Sparke) Lavos Battle (Mitsuda/Uematsa) Blue Devils B – “Pursuit” Hide & Seek (Imogen Heap) Selections by John Meehan and John Mapes Blue Devils C – “ClassiCool” The William Tell Overture (Gioachino Rossini) The Carnival of the Animals (Camille Saint-Saëns) Carmen (Georges Bizet) Blue Saints - "Aurora Borealis" Incantation from Cirque du Soleil's Quidam (Benoit Jutras) Shadowplay Ninkou Latora Capital Regiment - “The Storm” Two Tribes (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) Hello (Evanescence) Chrono Cross (Chrono Cross) New Century Dawn (David Gillingham) Citations - “Portraits of Desire” Michelangelo 70/Libertango (Astor Piazolla) Vincent (Don McLean/Josh Groban) Day Danse (Chick Corea) Nights In White Satin (Moody Blues) Colt Cadets - “Lullaby and Good Nightmare” Big Top Pee Wee (Danny Elfman) The Place Where Dreams Come True from Field of Dreams (James Horner) Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt Suite (Edvard Grieg) [*]Dutch Boy - “Bizzaro” Bizzaro (Michael Daugherty) selections by Anthony Lorenzo Gold - “Entomology” original composition by Travis Larson Impulse – “A New American Classic” Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna Overture (Franz von Suppé) Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite (Edvard Greig) Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore (Giuseppe Verdi) Dance of the Comedians from The Bartered Bride (Bedřich Smetana) Blue Danube Waltz (Johann Strauss II) Poet and Peasant Overture (Franz von Suppé) Incognito - “Life” Adrenaline Love Anger Enlightenment Legends - "Incrementum" (Latin for 'growth') Dawning - to become recognized, birth Striving - struggle to break free and to discover Mutatio - development into independence Imago - metamorphosis Les Stentors – “The Incredibles” Glory Days Bob vs. The Omnidroid Marital Rescue Escaping Nomanisan Road Trip Saving Metroville Memphis Sound - “Celebrations . . . Rebirth of a Planet” Theme from Earth Day (Patrick Williams) Appalachian Morning (Paul Halley) Palladio (Carl Jenkins) Overture to a New Age (Jan De Haan) Music City – “Strike it Up . . . A Celebration” Strike up the Band (George Gershwin) Tennessee Waltz (Redd Stewart) Appalachian Morning (Paul Winter) Mystikal – “Relentless: The Music of Andrew Boysen Jr” Symphony # 4 Unraveling Song for Lindsay Relentless Oregon Crusaders - “Equilibrium” Philadelphia Stories (Michael Daugherty) Racine Scouts – “New York Under Chrome Lights” New York State of Mind Give My Regards to Broadway from Yankee Doodle Dandy 42nd Street Harlem Nocturne Sing Sang Sung Manhattan Skyline New York, New York from New York, New York Raiders - “Isle of Hope” An American Elegy (Frank Ticheli) Hungarian Peasant Songs (Bela Bartok) Romanian Dances (Bela Bartok) Swineherds (Bela Bartok) Gan Ainm (traditional) Overture from Barber of Seville (Gioachimo Rossini) Revolution - “ElementAll” Heat of the Day (Metheny) August's Rhapsody (Mancina) The Gravel Road (Howard) To Tame the Perlious Skies (Holsinger) Simple Gifts (Brackett) Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets - “Story of Love” When I Fall in Love (Victor Young) Seasons of Love from Rent (Jonathan Larson) Elephant Love Medley from Moulin Rouge (Craig Armstrong) Tango de Roxanne from Moulin Rouge (Sting) Nessum Dorma from Turandot (Giacamo Puccini) Spirit of Newark -“The White Show: A Tribute to the ’60s” A Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum) Nights in White Satin (Moody Blues) White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane) Teal Sound - “The Velvet Rope” selections by Janet Jackson Cold Play Blue Man Group Justin Timberlake Christina Aguilera Velvet Knights - “Cirque d' VK” Thunder & Blazes (Julius Fucik) Toy Story Jam (Randy Newman) Mahoney’s Debut (Aaron Zigman) Temper Tantrum 2 (Aaron Zigman) Flight of the Magorium (Alexander Desplat and Aaron Zigman) Carnival Capers (Rich Hinshaw and Tony Nelson) Hungarian Rhapsody (Franz Liszt) Spokane Thunder, who received last year’s Most Improved Corps and placed in finals, merged with Seattle Cascades this year. There are indications of coming back in 2010. Yamato will not be fielding a competitive corps this year, but will be offering a brass theater production and percussion master class. Gone this year: Spartans. Missing: Targets Mav