droclot

This argument drives me crazy! :) Neither system is "better" than the other one. For everyone who is absolutely sure that one is better it is probably just because you most recently marched/taught that system. It completly depends on the drill writers approach. Both systems can work perfectly fine. I actually teach both systems with my groups. It just depends on the drill. How do The Cavaliers do reshapes? As someone mentioned earlier, they chart out the move at a micro level so the reshape happens with straight line paths. How do The Blue Devils do reshapes? They spend the time the Cavaliers do on dots teaching their kids how to understand form and how it moves thru space so when they get into a reshape the kids can do it as easily as a straight line path. Both approaches clearly work and one is not better than the other. It just gives the drill a different feel. Some of the best drill ever was the reshape heavy stuff from Cadets in the early 90's. That would not have felt the same with more charts and all dot to dot. And without a doubt, we have been witnessing some historic drill from the Cavaliers over the past years and we all know how they do their thing. And as a note, reading (guiding) a form is a science. You don't just try and stay with the people around you. You have to understand the dynamics of form and motion. It is a skill that is developed throughout a season and a marching a career. It is not the easy way out. The groups that do it well put lots of time into teaching their students that science. Many groups just use it as a crutch and yell "Get in the form!" But these are the kind of groups that would be unsuccessful with marching dot to dot as well. It isn't about what you do, it is about how well you do it. Andy

:) I didn't but my girlfriend did and many of my friends did. I do know 100%. You did say it was true and you are wrong. Aknowledge that and don't put John and Wayne in a bad light. Thanks.

That is fine to not like it. But you are incorrect about the arranging situation bud. Repeating what you have heard does not make it true. As a member in '04, I can tell you that the show music was arranged by Wayne. Did you march in the corps? You must have with all your great inside information.

I think there are two different issues here. 1. Esoteric means: 1 a : designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone <a body of esoteric legal doctrine -- B. N. Cardozo> b : requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group <esoteric terminology> <esoteric strategies>; broadly : difficult to understand <esoteric subjects> 2 a : limited to a small circle <engaging in esoteric pursuits> b : PRIVATE, CONFIDENTIAL <an esoteric purpose> 3 : of special, rare, or unusual interest <esoteric building materials> So by saying a show is esoteric one could be saying that it is difficult to undersand and intended for a small group with prior info. OR it could mean that it is special or rare. This is one side of the issue. A show that someone may call esoteric could be one they see as being difficult to understand but at the same time someone else could call it esoteric because they see it as being special. I honestly wish people wouldn't use this word in Drum Corps any more. :) 2. I think one of the most limiting things in our activity right now is preconceived ideas about shows. People hear a title and then have an idea of what THEY think the show should be, which is fine. But then they see the show and it isn't what they expected, they get mad and call it esoteric. No... it just isn't what you expected. I feel that there would be a MUCH higher level of enjoyment of appreciation if people went into shows with more of an open mind or at least had an open mind during and after shows. Too many of us decide from moment one (or in some cases before the fact) that we don't like something. Was Star '93 esoteric? Was Glassmen '01 esoteric? Absolutely. And I love them for being special. Just like I appreciate Cadet's '95 and Scouts '97 for being what they were.

Here is the storyline that I have been told for '02 Glassmen. Odyssey - Think throughout that it is about a hero's journey. Intro = The hero leaves the city. Movement 1 = Hero fights evil. Scherzo = Think of this part being about the hero and some sirens. The siren is calling the hero. Javelin = The hero returns home. End = The corps hits the shield logo... the idea being that the kids on the field are all heroes in their own right.

I disagree... most corps cannot play loud.

??? The crowd seemed to enjoy the trick ending on finals night. That was the one night that the ending was exciting! B)

Emmons, Brubaker, Zingali, T. Ryan, Scott Chandler, Gaines, Karl Lowe, Sylvester...

I just call it "big kid marching band."

I marched 5 years in two different top 5 corps and I am not a music major. It depends greatly on the corps when you are talking about the percentage of music majors. I bet in the hornline nowadays it is at least 50% in most corps. I was one of the few who only played their instrument for drum corps.

It is going to be an interesting finish. Very exciting.

Good to hear, I am looking into the upgrade right now. There are some improvements on their list that seem like they will be really helpful. So you'd say it is worth the $?

To say that a Cavies dynasty started in '92 wouldn't be totally true seeing that from '92-'99 BD won 4 compared to Cavies 2. They definitely have a dynasty from 2000-2004 and potentially this year.

scores are up... go crown!

My thoughts... 1. Cadets 98.6 2. BD 97.7 3. Cavies 97.5 4. PR 96.1 5. Scouts 94.8 6. Coats 94.1