Directorofbands
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Posts posted by Directorofbands
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Indeed. How different is the panel tomorrow night?
Panel is the same, I believe.
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Text from a friend:
"Dude...SCV was gassed man, alt killed them. It was hard to watch, it was like someone let the air out of a balloon."
This gap will close when they come out of Colorado. This little SCV/PR toss is not over yet, I'm sure of it.
(Sorry, daughter is with Phantom, for clarification sakes.)
On the phone with the daughter. Says the guard run tonight was the worst of the season. The horns didn't have a good run either. The altitude is kicking all of their butts.
Agreed, the PR/SCV fight is far from over.
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that is so true. and the whole show sounds like it's being drug along all the way to the end. i think Shaw can write great stuff but this book is sorely lacking his touch. and the score is so thin and not filled out, thus lacking that "wall of sound" PR has been known for in the past.
I have to agree. Folks keep blaming the Jupiter horns, but there are a lot of thinly voiced spots in this book.
I know there has been a tempo bump in the ballad and a few drill changes in the Proko. Hope it'll help.
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Music City is looking for one contra to fill out their line. I think the last contra puts them at 80 brass.
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I just watched the Walnut VOD from July 2, and I didn't notice anything strikingly new about the ballad. Am I missing something?
The introduction of Juliet to Romeo in the transition into the ballad is more focused. The corps and the music stop while the bass drum "heartbeat" helps draw the focus to the two characters. It works a lot better and helps the audience follow the two characters through the first part of the ballad. Subtle but effective.
I'm looking forward to changes that could be added next week during the 4 rehearsal days going into the Minnesota show.
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Yellow, I can't believe I red the hole thing. I think he got my umber. Now I'm feeling violet and want to puce. Someone should call the copper on him.
>>>>Turns a Whiter Shade of Pale. I hate the coppers!<<<<<
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So, I've been thinking that in order to foster more entertaining shows, what if one of Cesario's new roles would be to pick out one major theme that all corps would have to tailor their show to. Truly shows the creativity of a staff to stretch the limits while staying in the confines dictated.
For example, 2012 could be "2012 - The world of colors!"
BD - Show title: Blue. Selections include Blue Skies, Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue and Blue Suede Shoes! They would actually bring their own turf, similar to a WGI show and unroll it on the field. (Yes, in blue ala Boise State) Easily win visual since the corps uniforms are the same color as the field and the corps can't actually be seen.
Cadets - Show Title: The Blender. All 150 members of the corps are in a different shade of color uniform. Show goes horribly wrong when someone bleaches all of the unis at a laundry day.
Phantom would come out in unis that change color for each selection: Part I - Purple unis and the musical salute to Barney, Part II - Yellow unis and the musical salute to Spongebob Squarepants, Part III - Blue unis and a salute to the Smurfs and Part IV - All black, but it's the world's blackest black, which coalesces into a black hole, sucking the entire corps in, which takes high GE visual.
Crown could continue to cash in on their success with the rock and roll genre by doing "The Best of Simply Red".
Bluecoats would use the same show title as BD, but use selections like Blues in the Night, Bye Bye Blues, St. Louis Blues and C Jam Blues. A crowd favorite, they would be disqualified at finals after Cesario has to explain that Blue is a color, blues is a genre.
Madison would go back to the Late 80's green uni, field 148 brass players and one person in the pit running Virtual Drumline and 1 DM. Their show:Red and Green ala Madison. Red for the blood gushing from your eface and ears as the 148 brass players literally burst your eardrums and rip the skin from your face with their unmatched brass volume and Green for the envy felt by the other corps' brass lines.
Thoughts.........
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Not sure what you're on, but I'd like some so I can go back and watch BD 2010 with a different mindset.
I'm really not sure where all that came from. If I was on something, I would share, ESPECIALLY if it would clarify the 2010 BD show.
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YES! Let's amp them.
However, since they're visual, you frame the field with 36 HUGE flat screen tv's..... I mean MAMMOTH! New corporate sponsors include Samsung, Sony, Panasonic. 36 video cameras will be placed around the stadium for each corps to use and each corps' cameramen would man the cameras so they can follow each individual guard member throughout the entire show and show on each screen.
By 2015, the corps will be pushed into using 3D technology, causing a huge rift between the purists and the innovators. This will continue until 2018, when DCI will finally give in and instead of traveling, corps will be housed in Indy for the summer and shows will be every day, but no corps will perform back to back days. Most important, the shows will be telecast nationwide in the newest 3D holographic technology. Finals week will be telecast in Imax theaters throughout the world and thanks to the new high tech technology, finals will be in "Complete immersion 4D", where everyone watching will be holographically projected into the seats at Lucas Oil Stadium for the video. The viewers in the theaters will experience the show like never before, as the 3D members of the corps can actually hit the viewers, putting the viewer in the middle of the action in a new and exciting way.
However, after muiltiple lawsuits due to injuries sustained by viewers (topped off with the bizarre beheading of a spectator when the Cadets, in the most innovative show of the year - A Salute to Ronco Products - The Ginsu Knife, had a massive guard snafu with their oversized Ginsu knives/sabers), plus the scientific research that showed that the new 3D/4D technology causes major memory loss (specifically, the program viewed in 3D/4D), DCI finally gives into the purists of yesteryear, reinstating real tours, G bugles and marching timpani.
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If anyone is still looking for a room in downtown Indy for finals week, I just did a Priceline bid for a 4-star hotel in downtown Indy for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and the Marriott Downtown on Maryland Street, about three blocks north of Lucas Oil Field, just accepted my bid of $58 a night.
The AAA price on Marriott's website is $139 a night, and the price on DCI's website is $159. Thank you, Priceline!!!
Thanks. Just booked my room!
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Bottom line, upon further review, I owe you an apology.Tonight will be a new issue to debate over. Good luck PR. Go Vanguard!
No apology necessary, really. It's all good.
Yup tonight, new show. My hope is that ALL of the performers have great runs tonight, for the fans as well as themselves.
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I wonder if something else could be woven into it. Perhaps something with more gravitas to give it more beef.
Or would that just be dead surf and turf?
I think that if you took the B verse and added quotes from East of Eden and Elsa's, you now have Juliet's theme, the love theme and the foreshadowing of the end. Many possibilities while still keeping the same basic structure.
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No doubt, my comment will raise a huge stink and has nothing to do with how the piece is performed, but A Time For Us is a sappy piece of schmaltz. I hated that music the first time I heard it in the movie and I still hate it. I have wondered who picked this piece in relation to the other music of the show. On second thought, I bet I could guess. The show would be so much better if this piece was replaced. It drags down the momentum of the show.
I totally agree. It's a definite momentum buster. Either replace it (although I might leave the short quote of it in after the Prokofiev as a transitional piece.) or rearrange it, using other source materials to add interest. Also, you have to have a real "clap here, dummy" moment after the hit.
Although I generally like the idea of staying as close as possible to the source music, if PR keeps it, they need to do some creative arranging to make this piece work. Right now, it's like a dead fish...... It just lies there and get stinkier the longer we go.
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Yes, you've already been cynical and rude, and no, I wouldn't like for you to continue. IMO, you've already provided an example of such behavior, and I thank you for choosing not to provide another. That was the sole reason for my response to your posts, I'm hoping you'll curb the mean-spirited comments about hard working corps members (and their productions) that aren't identified as the Phantom Regiment.
>>>>>Okay, mean-spirited comments about hard working corps members? WTF? I NEVER said anything about the members. Don't put words in my mouth, I can do that all by myself.
Comments about their productions? Be disappointed. If I like it, I'll say why, if I don't, I have the right to say why also. Thant's not an attack on the kids, it's an opinion on the programming choices of the creative staff. Don't try to confuse the two. Reread my original post and tell me I'm attacking the members. Really? I think we can agree to disagree and leave it at that. If not, I can get cynical and rude so at least I'll feel like I'll deserve your comments.<<<<<
A I stated in my response, I respect your right to your opinion, as well as your right to express it, my issue is with how you chose to do it. Thanks for the apology in regard to... "if it came across as bashing a corps," it really did, but I'll assume it was unintentional.
>>>>>Reread again - Not bashing a corps, just their programming. I will have seen the G8 live 5 times by finals and won't see them for the first time until July 17th. I'm shelling out About $2k on tickets, travel and food to see these shows. Guess what, if I don't like a program, I have PAID for the right to voice my opinion. Whatever the case, the corps gets my money!<<<<<
With that behind us, I do appreciate the movement we're experiencing in scores as the season unfolds. All of these corps are spectacular, loaded with incredible amounts of talent in areas of performance, program design, and instructional and support staff. Shifts in placement/scores only surprise us because we're not used to it happening often (if ever), not because there really is NO WAY that one top 8 corps' guard or horn line could possibly beat another corps' guard or horn line, even if the comparison is likely influenced by history as much as by what we're observing in the present.
>>>>> Agreed. The scoring juggling is a welcomed departure to the standard "slotting and ride the score escalator up together".
Beyond simply having our favorite corps that we personally champion, we also have strong mental models of how good we think all of these corps are (or should be), as well as what we perceive to be reasonable spreads between them. When that mental model is challenged, we immediately jump to "something must be wrong," or that there is some logical (or illogical) reason other than the possibility that one corps could actually be getting stronger, while another is not progressing at the same rate, and therefore competitively defeated that night. Remember, at the end of the day (season), the spread between these corps typically comes down to tenths of a point, rather than "horrible" vs. excellent.
>>>>>You commented about my comment about the tear that PR had. Look, been there. An ensemble tear can destroy a corps score, as it should. It should effect every caption. You want the truth: I really don't care too much about placements and scores. Scoring is subjective and I'd guarantee that I could pick a double panel for any given show and get substantially different results in placements, especially in subcaptions.<<<<<
I really believe that in the real world (the world outside of this niche activity), if performance and program effect assessments were done by qualified professionals that know their craft in performance art (experts in areas such as professional dance, theater, music performance professors or trained ensemble music critics, etc.), but are nonetheless foreign to the corps activity, we would routinely see momentum shifts in scores throughout the season. This is not implying that our current adjudicators are not qualified or professional, they certainly are, but it would be interesting to routinely gain the objective and subjective opinions of those foreign to the activity.
>>>>>An interesting idea. An expert coming in with unbiased opinion could be very neat. However, I still think we have to listen to the people who really pay the bills: The Ticketholder.<<<<
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Whereas I respect your opinion, as well as your loyalty and enthusiasm for your daughter's corps, I don't get why you find the need to be so cynical and rude in your reference to the other competing corps. Why can't you support your corps, and give respectful criticism of others? Here's an example:
Keep up the hard work Santa Clara! It'll take everything you've got to work through "The Devil's Staircase." Keep working it one day at a time. IMO, the musical and visual demand in your show is beyond compare, and the challenge is completely characteristic of what we've come to expect from the Vanguard. Go SCV!
Your commentary approach really challenges some people to not wish bad things for the corps you support, if only for the purpose of ruining your day by making you eat those words. Why not just support all of the corps by cheering your favorite and at least not tearing down the hard work of others.
Think about it.
First, cynical and rude? No, I can be cynical and rude. If you'd like, I can give you an example, but I won't right now.
My comments about the other corps' music were MY OPINION. SCV is one of my personal favorite corps! Do I like the music.....no. Do I think the music is memorable.....sorry. BD is probably the best drum corps year in and year out as far as talent level. I believe they are the best marchers in the activity. Do I enjoy this year's music? No. Frog in a blender.
I apologize if it came across as bashing a corps. Nope, just dislike their musical selections, personally.
Let me put my music opinion in a more PC way:
DCI 2003 - Phantom did Canon....Opener and closer. The next two years I see, hear and judge a ton of bands doing "lifts" of those two, note for note in some cases.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery>>>>>>> Methinks so.
Good luck to ALL of the corps out there. Stay safe, continue improving and have a great summer.
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Oh, I agree in regards to SCV's music. And yes, the percussion section is carrying them, but if I knew I had a Rennick coming in, I'd program that way too.
Placements aside, at the end of a show, betcha more people are humming East of Eden or Elsa's or even A Time for us then they are anyone else's music. Why? Because it's not avant garde non melodic stuff or a snippets show where you get blended bits of Bacharach smeared all over for 10+ minutes, complete with PVC pipe.
Call me old school. Don't care. Can I appreciate the difficulty of some of the products and the execution? Of course I can. I can appreciate the effort and the artistry of hockey, but I don't have to like it.
When I show my students corps shows, I'm always very selective. Why? Because it can be the most technically and physically demanding show in the world, but if it's not going to get their attention without a 3 hour discourse on all of the subtle aspects of the show, there will be no interest.
Okay, shutting up now. I hope all of the corps have a great run tomorrow as the Cali tour comes to a close for PR.
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If PR can bring their A game tomorrow, having the same panel can be a plus. However, when one gets an "Aw, crap!", it usually takes a big show to get marginally out of the hole. Keep the faith!
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Is scv's guard really better than BD and PR's?
Ummm, no.
Just got off the phone with the daughter. PR had a huge ensemble tear in the middle of the ballad. Everything went to hello in a handbasket.
PR beat themselves tonight. It happens. Learn from it and move on.
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I believe you are talking about port huron michigan. In 87 after autumn leaves our contra line was on the front sideline and the always released their spit valves before the closer and they were dropping spit on the front row of spectators they were that close.
I'm talking Michigan City, although I remember Port Huron. Definition of in your face!
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Busy, Busy Busy!!
Is your daughter with PR?
My youngest aged out last year SCV Guard caption
Yeah, she's aging out of the guard at PR. She's loving every minute of it!
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Is the show where the drum majors are directing from the stands?
No, but close. The front sideline is on top of the front row! Great stadium for viewing and listening, but a real pain to deal with front ensemble!
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Mr. Directorofband,
How you doing??
Hope all is well.
Reed
Going well, hope all is well with you. How's Southern Cali?
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Will the changes of BD improve their score?
Will SCV close the gap even more tonight to PR?
The real question should be, "Will the changes of BD improve their SHOW?"
I've never liked a show based on the score. (Well, at least not the ### score.) Heh...
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Bill Doyle judged Brass last night and had SCV 1.5 points AHEAD of PR. Ummm..... Not buying it. As many Tweets, comments, posts and emails about how weak, young, out of tune and etc. that I've read about SCV, even at last night's show and they 1.5 pointed Brass?????
Add to that PR had 2 days of cleaning and adjusting and only gained .8 from their show 3 nights prior..... Nah.
Scores aside, the daughter said last night was a really good run for them. She's pleased with the consistency of the performances and how they get stronger with no backsliding. Winner.
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Loveland Love Shack
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Yup, the kids have no control over design.
I have faith that changes have already been written and will be implemented next week. If it's still tweaks next week..........