jordsterr

It was Six Flags in Atlanta. We got a free day there and at Epcot within the same week!! We couldn't believe it. Jordi Vilanova

Now wait justa minute!!! I marched in the 80's. That aint "old school." Old school is for old people!! And I only aged out in....88...uh oh. :(

I really like this. I do like the suggestion of having the DM uniform be more white. You might consider using the darker color on the back of the corps proper uniform so that there can be an effect when they turn around.

I totally love it when people bring this up. If I'm correct, DCI heard this argument liud and clear. They scheduled finals in arguably the most family friendly city with tons to do in the country. What happened? People actually booed Mickey Mouse. Not only thatm but, we had to endure three years of conspiracy theories about how "Disny was taking over DCI." I wonder where those people are now and if they'd be willing to be as loud mouthed about how wrong they were.

There still seems to be a misunderstanding of just what DCI is. It is not some governing entity on high seperate from the corps. It is indeed the corps themselves. This is in actuality not at all liek other sporting events. And, btw, why should it be wrong to speak one's mind about something? Freedom of speech should be allowed in this country. Jordi Vilanova

OK....against my better judgement, I respond. If you truly think about what was said here, you must realize that it makes no sense. Is there anyone who thinks that it's possible in any way shape or form to come in first every year? Not even he Yankees could do that. Yes, there are a few corps who are perennially in the top group, but it would be hard to argue against their deserving to be there in any given year. Even this year when a few people thought that Cades should have been 6th...which they shouldn't....that's simply stating the obvious fact that they are so strong as to be in the top six even when some don't like the show. I guess it's sort of a back handed compliment, but I can certainly think of a number of corps who would like to have their act so much together. And as for the board removing him? When you are able to do the work to keep two corps from falling into bankruptcy and then putting them on secure footing, why would anyone consider removing him? Any competitive issues aside, when you're in a position to move the kids down the road safely, you can feed them and house them, you can give them decent equipment to use and you can provide quality instruction, you are moste certainly doing something very right. He's been responsible for hiring quality management and staff for the Crossmen and Cadets and the USSBA program. I know that there are people who are clearly threatened by the fact this strong personality is doing what he does and is doing it so publicly, but one must remember that he is not the only one who makes proposals. Jordi Vilanova

Couldn't disagree more. All new things take time to develop. Myron is a genius. So is Michael. Recruiting in the color guard is, IMHO opinion, a bigger priority than instructor issues....although losing Jennifo...not so good. Get 'er back! It's cyrtsal clear that they want to play the game for real. Unfortunately (or fortunately for those of us watching) there are at least 11 others out there also playing the game at a very high level.

While not as clean as last year, I still thought they should have been in 3rd juts from a technical standpoint. I found their drill to be cleaner, their horn line to be much better in control and their color guard to have much more vocabulary and to be cleaner than a couple of the groups ahead of them. Just from an enjoyment factor, I totally loved the show. All of that said, I live in Columbus, I know folks associated with the 'coats, and I marched with THE brass guru there. I could not be happier for them. It was one of my favorites this year. Nevertheless.....I do have some maroon and gold floating around in these old veins.

This assumes that your particular opinion is the same as every one else's. It's not. It may be in the majority of those who bother to write on this forum. It may not be in the majority of all who like to watch drum corps. Nevertheless, I remember so many people saying the same about Star of Indiana. My impression is that most folks would really like to have them back Medea and all. Of course, when you're criticized just because of who you are rather than what you do, it's hard to not decide to just do what you want. Disney, John Williams, Cirucs music, Porgy and Bess, British Band music, Respighi, and PATRIOTIC MUSIC!!!! If you still get booed, just play Medea. Moondance, Maleguena, Rocky Point Holiday, Jethro Tull. If you get criticized for trying to be nothing but entertainig (and btw, I love Madison, but they did NOT invent the rotating company front), then you might as well try something new. And you know....I totally loved both years. And Medea. And BD last year too!!!

"I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." I seem to remember people going absolutely ballistic when the Bb horns were allowed. I heard for YEARS about how the brass sounded different. I probably still would if people weren't busy trashing the Cadets instead. But I do have to agree that composers should not use instruments outside of the standard. If that darn Mozart couldn't stick within the same instrumentation set by Haydn, he should have just gotten out of the business. Stick to opera Mozart. Keep your hands off teh symphony. And Beethoven! Who do you think you are adding a chorus to your 9th symphony? And Varese!!! Using electronics!!!!! Shame. And Gershwin!!! And Glass!! And Bernstein!!! And Stravinsky!!! Using pop styles as a basis for synthesis in "classical" music? You've GOT to be kidding!

IMO, this would work just like WGI. Chances are, the older, more experienced and possibly better trained people would be the ones to win auditions. I don't think it would be any more likely to have 16 year olds in with 25 year olds any more than it is to now have 16 year old high school kids in with 19 year old music majors.

I'm just amazed at the current contenders for all time greatest jumping to conclusions champions posting on this thread. While there may or may not be design flaws in this show, I would venture to say that there could be issues with design in any show. I have designed a number of shows, and sometimes, my best idea doesn't come off the way I would wish. That happens. Making the attempt to try something new is difficult, but I've never met any design team that doesn't hope that what they come up with will be cool and that the audience will be receptive. What works is in the eye of the beholder. Although I bleed Maroon and Gold, my personal favorite show last year was the Blue Devils. That was a fabulous concept, and I was totally entertained from beginning to end. I believe that their placement had less to do with a design that didn't work, but rather a concept that had won the previous year in WGI, and the same people brought it to DCI. A lot of the same judges judge both, so they knew. At any rate, I'm tired of debating whether they should amplify or sing or use oboes. I just want my corps to be great and for the students to learn great things. By all accounts, that is the case. I have heard no sign that this is a tough year. Not placing first does not a poor year make. We were a better, safer and happier corps in 88 than in 87. 87 was wonderful....just 88 was better. Speaking for myself alone, it was painful to watch the group next to us in 87 who had so desperately wanted to win. Seeing many of them openly weep was hard. By contrast, it was a real joy to spontaneously break ranks to shake the hands of the Madison Scouts who were next to us in 88. So, eveything that I read, that I see on the internet, and that I have seen in person points to a wonderful season of growth for the members. I'm sure it's also a season of growth for the people trying to create something new. A couple of years ago, member surveys pointed to a desire by the members to go back to being the corps on the edge. I appreciate that fact. It's why I went there to begin with. This corps is in the process of winning. No, they are not going to come in first place, but they, like a lot of corps this summer, will win. Jordi Vilanova

T1 = Crossmen T2 = Carolina Crown T3 = Glassmen T4 = Magic of Orlando T5 = Spirit of Atlanta T6 = Sky Ryders T7 = Suncoast Sound T8 = Star of Indiana T9 = Velvet Knights T10 = Purple Lancers T11 = Bluecoats T12 = Racine Scouts T13 = can't see M1 = M2 = M3 = Colts M4 = Blue Knights M5 = Phantom Regiment M6 = Dutch Boy M7 = M8 = M9 = M10 = M11 = M12 = M13 = Muchachos M14 = B1 = B2 = Madison Scouts B3 = Troopers B4 = Santa Clara Vanguard B5 = Garfield Cadets B6 = B7 = B8 = St. Anthony's Bridgemen? B9 = Boston Crusaders B10 = Anaheim Kingsmen B11 = 27th Lancers B12 = Blue Stars This is really tough! Jordi Vilanova

While I do think that Phantom generally sounds great this season, I'm left flat at the end of the show because (IMO) they let it hang out too much. Is it musically appropriate to be loud and exciting at the end of the show? YES! But I feel that they lose effectiveness by crosing the line to overblown and out of tune. That's not an indictment of the whole show...just the very end the two times I've seen them live. Otherwise, this is a very fine brass ensemble. I do have to wonder about a different certain corps who typically has a great horn line, but this year has immature TQ and not great intonation. I can think of 5 lines I would rather hear. Jordi Vilanova

I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this show. I'm a Cadet, and I love that show as well, and I'm tickled pink that they are doing so well. That said, this BD show is flat out fun. I'm terrifically entertained. Huge fun!! I've seen it three times now, and I like it more and more. BTW, Phantom, Crown and Blue Knights I like more every time I see them too.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this show. I'm a Cadet, and I love that show as well, and I'm tickled pink that they are doing so well. That said, this BD show is flat out fun. I'm terrifically entertained. Huge fun!! I've seen it three times now, and I like it more and more. BTW, Phantom, Crown and Blue Knights I like more every time I see them too.