Cadetsnare

My wife had NO idea that drum corps existed until I met her. We met in 94, and she saw her first drum corps show in 95. She was so thrilled, she said "If I had known about drum corps, I would have marched in a rifle line!" She's been to countless shows since, and when SCV was staying at my school this summer (I hosted), she threw a HUGE party for the drum and vis staff at my house, complete with 200$+ of "adult beverages", steaks, baked artichoke dip, and corn-on-the-cob! And SHE went shopping! Nothing like seeing some of DCI's top caption heads making friends with my wife! PRICELESS! She has since supported me, from my touring, writing, teaching, etc. Never once has she questioned me, or my devotion to education, no matter the personal cost to her or myself. She's a keeper! She IS a band director's wife! And....she's HOT, to boot! I feel like I won the lottery!

Glen's a great friend of mine...he's a MONSTER teacher, and really cares about the kids. If I had to go to battle, I'd want Glen in the foxhole with me! If I could pick a guy to work with in ANY drum corps percussion situation, it would be Glen. No doubt, no second guessing. He's the real deal.

I hope this came out okay. 89 Cadets snare line pre-tour in Ramapo, NJ. Yours truly, second from the left. GREAT snare line! 89 Cadets snare line

Well, I get to see them in about 15 minutes, because......I'm hosting them for the next 3 days here in Brookings, Oregon! They had vis rehearsal this afternoon, and sectionals and ensemble tonight. Looking forward to seeing the show! The SCV staff is going to have a little fiesta at my house tomorrow night...steaks and seafood on the grill, brews, wine, and some fun hang time! Gotta have a little fun on the road!

Incorrect. Pearl is most certainly still affiliated with RMI, and still offers their products. They are prototyping a new carrier to offer for sale with their drums as a cost-saving measure. If someone has a challenge with any May product, they are more than welcome to call Randy at the factory. He is more than willing to bend over backwards to help people with any problems that might arise. He is a dear, dear friend of mine, and he is willing to help at any time. To Parkbench...Randy is currently working on a solution for the Pearl frum sagging issue. There should be a retrofittable fix available very soon. And yet another incorrect rumor on DCP. I am a Pearl artist, and just got back from tour yesterday, and am spending 3 days with SCV starting tomorrow. I'll check out the new carriers and report back.

Nick started in the Leister Sattelites from Massachusetts in 1982 (I believe) with his sister Julie...Nick aged out from Blue Knights in 95, giving him 13 years. BTW, Julie was my high school prom date in 88...she was (and is) a deadly-good snare drummer, and is now playing timpani for the Army band in Washington.

oops! Double post!

Here's one of George Zingali (the Great One) giving us the last speech of the year before finals in 89!

Here's a bunch from 89, 90 and 91! The above has me on the ground changing ANOTHER Pearl ST bottom head...

There was no tour video in 89, 90 or 91, unfortunately. I would love to find some summer video footage of those years, if possible.

Hose the book if they don't get credit! ( I kid, I kid!!!) The drum book is VERY smartly written, as well as the horn book, so no hosing needed!! :)

Actually, I don't think change for change's sake is good. But, I am for: Bb instruments. makes financial sense to both the corps and the manufacturers. YES, $ does matter in that case. Also, someone doesn't need to NEEDLESSLY re-learn fingerings in the key of G. The key of G sucks anyways, unless you're playing "All Blues" by Miles! Amplified pit...yup! Listen to the mallet sounds of the 70s and early 80s. Clanging bells ALL THE TIME! If you think it's okay for xylos and bells to play all the time...you don't hear percussion orchestration the way 99.99% of musicians do. It sounded TERRIBLE! God knows I love me some early 80s 2-7 and SCV, but the pit sounds? Eww.... You can actually hear the colors and nuances of the woods now, and we're now able to hear colors previously inaudible. And kids don't have to play with improper technique to pound the sound out of the key. Sorry...you're not gonna convince me on that one. Triggered sounds...yup. It's going to be a positive. Amplified voice? Nope. never thought it was a good idea, and still don't. I don't care if it moves away from "traditional" drum and bugle corps. I really don't. It's a performance medium, and the change is here to stay. It's more musical now, anyway. Which, tradition or not, is the deciding deal for me. If it's not musical, then to me, it SHOULD go. Like clanging bells and xylos, and G horns that are built poorly and are harder to play in tune. I am no longer responding to this thread...I have charts to write! Good luck battling it out!

Thanks for playin'.... Mike D...as always, the voice of reason. Thank you.

MikeD, Thank you for being a voice of reason here. This activity, like all activities, evolves. If there are sufficient people in the activity who feel a change is warranted, then they change it. If you don't like the change, get involved with a drum corps so that your opinion will register to someone who can actually do something about it. People who played with one valve and aged out hated the idea of 2 valves. Those who aged out with 2 valves hated the idea of 3 valves. Those who aged out playing a G horn hate the idea of a Bb horn. This concept is nothing new. It was always better when "we" did it our way. However, this activity, like all others, will continue to evolve. See my sig...if you don't like the current direction of the activity, then get off the keyboard and go volunteer or teach...then at least your opinions will fall on ears that can do something about it. Otherwise, to quote my friend Chester Cheetah, "Blah, blah...blah blah blah". See ya in June.

Actually, the 2 largest carrier makers in the world, Randall May and XL both have black carriers, and Randall May can actually custom make a carrier in a variety of colors. He just made a custom one-off set for the Marines (i believe that's the correct branch) in blue. The J rods are aluminum, because powder coating comes off, and is a mess to deal with when it starts flaking off. That's why they're usually a stock aluminum color. I can't speak for XL (I personally intensely dislike those carriers...HORRIBLY uncomfortable, IMO), but I believe those are in chrome. Mapex makes their own carrier, so I can't speak to what those are like.

I am hosting Santa Clara Vanguard at the school I work at right before the Eugene show. They'll be staying at Brookings-Harbor High School in Brookings, Oregon from June 29-July 1. This is the FIRST time a drum corps has come to the southern Oregon coast. If any of you have been here, you KNOW how gorgeous it is here! They'll experience temps in the mid to high 60s/low 70s, ocean breezes, foggy mornings, and bar-b-que hosted by the whole town on their last day! I am coming home from teaching the Colts the day before they arrive. The night before, they'll be in the central CA valley (Merced, I believe)....temps over 100, dust, heat, smog. Eww. A few hours later, the kids might need sweatshirts!! They might be taking a few hours one day to run down to the beach and dive in the Pacific...a nice break! Anyway, if anyone's in the area, come hang out and watch the Vanguard rehearse!

Scott, Thanks for posting those!! Jay Kennedy's comment is priceless! The Field sheet says "That's the way you play THAT!!" I think in 1990 when we won drums we got a 9.9 in GE perc and a 9.9 in Ensemble perc with a 9.7 on the field...but those 87 numbers are a statement!

Let me clarify, if I may. I meant 1987 SCV was gray in three different places in their book. I have the judge's tape around here somewhere. 3 spots the judge called them out. Garfield did not make any field errors in front of the field judge in 87. I have that tape, as well. I thought 87 SCV was fantastic, but they did give up some stuff while the man in the green shirt was in front of them. Oops. Happens to us all. However, the maroon team played together when the judge was in front of them...I know people get their undies in a bunch about 87, because BD was on last, and Cadets got a 30 before they went on. My thought are...if a particular performance moves you, then you credit it. None of the 3 judges knew the others had maxed them out until after they came downstairs. 3 different people, 3 different vantage points, ALL were moved to the point of handing out a 10. If each man who was judging was THAT moved to give up a perfect score, it's because they felt that particular performance was the pinnacle of what could be achieved at that time. They could have easily given BD a 10 as well, and tied in a sub-caption. But...look at BD's number...a FULL POINT below in perc perf and GE perc. They were not even close to being in the running. I believe the "perfect 30" is a statement to itself about how that show was percieved...state of the art in composition and effect. Now SCV? Great effect...however, nothing revolutionary in regard to composition. Just great, ba**s out drum corps.

You must be referring to the fact that SCV won drums in 89, and Cadets got dumped in percussion (which really chaps my a**). SCV's battery was a trainwreck most of the season in percussion and lost to ALL of the top groups for much of the season. I have THE warmup tape of SCV in the lot finals night...NOT good. If someone here has the ability to transfer a cassette to a CD, I'd be willing to send it to you as long as I get it back, including multiple copies of the CD. BD is on there, as well as Star, Bluecoats, the Freelancers, and one other. Send me a PM, and we can sort it out. In contrast, though, SCV's guard, drill and horns in 89 were fantastic, IMO. Horns were ON finals night in 89. By the way, notice that the finals night percussion guy never judged a finals after 89. The 87 SCV line WAS excellent, but simply not as clean as Garfield's line that night. Call it what you will, I have finals field tapes for both groups, and it was clear from the field who was cleaner. I take nothing away from SCV's line. They WERE good. But, there is a reason that Garfield went undefeated all season. That was SCV's first year on kevlar, and they played fantastically...just a few grays on the field in HIGH demand spots.

Yup...that would be Brian "Smiley" Stockard. married and marching in the Man Line...sadly divorced later, but now happily re-married. Good guy...great drummer! Just marched in the Pres parade with Cadets. Talk about overaged!

Mature. You're welcome to come out to help at any camp...see my sig.

Weak sauce. Glad you all have a crystal ball.

Hal Leonard is the Official Mercenary of the music biz...I sat with some of them at PASIC, and I couldn't believe their arrogant attitude toward arrangers/composers. I asked them about getting permission to arrange something for a marimba Band I write for...their answer was "You'd better be prepared to pay out the nose...we own all rights to that music, and it'll cost you". I pounded down my drink, and left. I do understand that it is a business...however, the stench was more than I could stand.

David, If anyone who knows him and sees this, please read this to him..... David..... I am beyond words, unable to truly express my feelings toward another respected Cadet who I have not met, but revere greatly....but please believe that there are SO many members of the Maroon and Gold who LOVE YOU, and pray for the best for you, and believe that you will recieve a miracle from God, and will heal, and will live to feel the love that is pouring out for you! God Bless you David, and please know that the Drum Corps community and all Cadets, past and present, are praying for a complete healing, and can't wait for the day you get a clear bill of health! We love you man, and God willing, please feel the collective prayers of power and belief and LOVE that we send out for you! For Holy Name Shall ALWAYS be..... Matt Power Cadet and Brother in Arms