mchromik

In 13' we knew going in that because of the Marine Corps D&B Corps performing, there would be no mini exhibition in finals. It was unfortunate that it happened to be the year that Ghost won. Getting to do the exhibition is a great incentive.

I will second you on your after points here. Nail on the head. Minicorps is addictive. The simplicity, the intimacy, the exposure, the individuality. I hope we can get more folks involved and hopefully get some more units going. It's affordable, it's fun, and it can be anything you want. Park and bark some Maynard, or Copland with 50 sets of drill. Seems others agree as we now have SoundSport and WGI Winds, both very 'inspired' by Minicorps. More groups, more performance opportunities. It sure seems that the Mini world could get a little bigger. Thanks for the review and the appreciative words. It was a blast to perform on the stage in Rochester once again.

Yes. One cannot overstate how important and influential Bill's contributions and advice was to the way corps are run. No more broken down buses being push started. No more kids being fed with a couple of burners and a freezer out of a Ryder truck. We may have lost more then a few corps along the way due to not being able to keep up or adapt to such standards. But the corps experience of 2014 is a bit safer and more comfortable. And that allows the kids to concentrate on learning, performing, and having fun. Where Star really exists is on the staffs and admins of today's corps. As I look through the DCI yearbook I can point to at least one Star Alum teaching or involved in most of the corps north of 15th place. Some top groups contain nearly a dozen former members and/or instructors from SOI. Two new Open class units came on the field this year under the directorship of Star Alums. And a few of us old farts are still on the field and stage at DCA. I like to think of it as the big tree may have passed away, but in it's former shadow a hundred new ones now grow. It's an amazing legacy given the relative number of folks involved in the 9 drum corps years. A tribute to the teachers and direction we received from folks such as George Zingali, Donnie Van Doren, Jim Mason, and dozens more. And of course Bill Cook, who deeply inspired and influenced us all. Drum Corps needs another Star-like entity. A well funded, extrememly well run corps that is more of less a clean sheet of paper. Unrestrained by history or tradition. But it doesn't need the Star of Indiana. It is best left in it's mythical 'what if' status.

Mellophones and Sopranos.

I did not ask about your involvement, but rather hypothesised the a possible basis to the negativity in your pronouncements. Looking at your involvement leaves me futher baffled as to your attitude. But hey I will play. Currently I am an active DCA performer entering my 9th season as such. I had 5 seasons in the 80s as a performer. I've attended or performed in every DCI Finals since 84' save for 5 random years. Was shocked myself when I counted the program yearbooks! Last year I attended 4 shows including Finals. I have over 15 years of corps volunteer and support work under my belt, including helping run 3 shows. I've been a Fan Network subscriber since it's inception. I buy the DCI A/V products every season. In that time I've met, worked with, spent time with and friended a good number of DCI Directors, judges, and staff members, including staff or admin for half of the current top12. I have my experiences, beliefs, ideas, and opinions. On occasion I share them, trying hard to be constructive and positive. There is already plenty of pundents and critics in here to go around.

Best of luck to you. But as to being the only active corps in IN...... http://www.starunited.org/

Something tells me you haven't been to a show or finals lately. Sure it isn't the crush of humanity when there were hundreds of active corps, but lots more folks then say 10 years ago. The shows I went to Bowling Green, Akron, and a few others where nicely attended. Finals seemed a bit larger. But hey don't let observations and figures get in the way of your ranting.

There is most definitely a connection. Many of us Star Alums more or less consider Crown our 'home team'. Since about 2003 there has been an incredible amount of Star Alums and former Star instructors on staff with Crown. Of course at it's heart it is the brass staff and the long time consulting of our beloved mentor, Donnie Van Doren. Donnie and the Star alums have found homes with many corps over the years and helped give them success. Crossmen, Cadets (in many ways a return to the mother ship) Blue Stars, and now Madison & Troopers. But Crown in particular followed a path in programming and philosophy that was well in place with Star in the 90s and Brass Theater years. The cream uniforms, the dynamic body movements, the wall of sound, and many other evolutions of things near and dear to the Star Alums quickly made Crown our home team. Watching them take that tiny bit of DNA and evolve into a new and wonderful ways. And it time watching their alums spread their DNA to future units will be fulfilling. Circle of (drum corps) Life. It has gone both ways. In 2010 the Star Alumni corps that played at SemiFinals proudly conained not only former members of Star of Indiana in it's many forms, but also some new new gen Stars in the form of members of the Blue Stars, Crown, and Star United Minicorps. It was a Blast to share that experience with them.

So many good ones to pick from, but my old school classic pick would of course be The Cadets. My pick from my era of marching would be the mid 80 and 90s Cavies. Of the contemporary uniforms I hands down love The Academy.

I have to agree with Donny that the venue is not conducive to the 'Minicorps Atmosphere'. It was a totally different vibe. We knew going in the it was going to be hard to communicate with the audience from the field in such a large venue. Our upping the ante and doing a drill was in a way an attempt to adapt to the venue. And our experience was similar in that the visual portion actually hurt us more then helped. But some folks never learn. If you disliked the fact that we moved last year, be prepared to hate us this year. ;) I think there is a place for staging, drill, enhancements, what have you. Even on the stage in Rochester a little movement seemed appropriate. Maybe that should be the dividing line between 'Minicorps' and 'Mixed or Brass Ensemble'. A bunch of guys standing and playing with a drum kit, mixed ensemble. A group with any kind of staging or movement and pit type percussion, Minicorps. Maybe throw an effect judge in to rate the 'enhancements' for the Minis. I can see where folks say; 'if you want to move, go to class A'. It is a huge leap to move up to the rung. 35+ members, battery percussion, guard, more time, more $. And then there is the challenge of communicating with that big distant audience. No matter how good, 18 or 20 brass on such a huge stage, and so far away has a tough time of it. But on a stage, or gym floor. Perfect. Again this seems like the perfect development environment to develop or redevelop some groups to eventually hit the grass. That alone could be a reason to get behind and promote the concept. I hope Donnie is correct and the return to the indoor stage will entice groups to come out again. Plus being in Rochester might put us in a little closer reach for many of those groups. It did not think about the distance from the Northeast to Annapolis. It is a haul for us either way. Indoors, in NY sounds good. I look forward to next Friday and our four corps showdown. SU and Ghost in the epic battle of 'simple gifts'. Not to be missed.

Ray, I understand what you are trying to say. Star United's stranglehold at the top could 'suck the oxygen' out of the competitive environment for some. But I hope it is not a major factor. There are no easy answers there. I think the performance level of all units have risen a good deal in recent years. We have to up the ante every season and have been lucky enough to stay on top. I would hope that the rising performance levels would inspire more then deter. But I have been known to be wrong. I like to think that there is more to Minicorps the winning. For most it is more or less a one shot deal. I am not going to BS anybody and say I don't want to win, but it really is not what drives my group forward. And I sure hope that is true for everyone else. It is all about the crowd and beating your own goals and expectations. If anything the one prize most worth winning has been the exhibition slot in finals. The chance to play for that crowd is a huge incentive. Sadly that is something we recently learned is also not to be this year. The Commandant's Own performance is bumping the Minicorps Champs performance. Takes a bit of the wind from the sails. I am sure music rights are an issue for some. Not much can be done about that though. It is the world we live in. I had always hoped that more Minicorps competition and performance opportunities would ultimately develop to make all the rights and practice worth while. It is a chicken and egg conundrum.

I was saddened today to learn that there is a total of four competing units for next Friday's Minicorps competition at DCA I&E. It was not all that long ago that we were talking about limits to the numbers of competing units. A couple of years there my group went on at nearly 11:00pm. It was a long night of entertainment. Here on DCP there was talk of who would compete. There was lively debate the 35 and over rule, and how Minicorps filled that gap. MCA was getting off the ground. The crowd was big and rowdy, and fun. And the quality of the groups was getting better and better. Where did it all go wrong? What happened to all that passion and energy? There undoubtably be those who will say; "DCA doesn't make a dime from I&E and Minicorps". True, but at the rate it was growing there was some potential for monetizing some aspect of it. It was a the very least a great kickoff to the weekend, full of reunions, consumption of beverages, and talk. But it was, or is still is rather, a great place to start. An incubator for a group wanting to get involved in DCA but small enough and affordable enough to get started. It could also be a place for those who could not make the 35 member limit to compete in a venue that better fitted their size. Maybe I am nieve, but all of this still seems to be true. Being based so far away from the DCA fanbase I don't hear the scuttle butt and buzz to know exactly what people feel about the Mini competition. Is it the venue in Annapolis? Is it the economy? Has the level of competition exceeded what groups think they can accomplish? Or is the lack of competition? Or entertainment? Is there something that DCA could do to make this thing viable again? Do they care? A couple of years ago a group of individuals from here in the Midwest came to the Mini competition and loved the vibe, the crowd, the groups, the concept. They happened to work for DCI and are now organizing a simlar concept in the SoundSport and Drumline Battle initiatives. It is only in the fledgling days, but they are exctited by the interest from a large number of alumni groups, former competing groups, and even current Minicorps. It is early days to be sure, but they are planning on providing performance opportunities for Minicorps and Mini like groups next year, and a potential season ending competition at their championships. And it is All-Age. Is DCI the future home for Minicorps? Even for us old folks? My group and I have very much enjoyed perfoming in the Mini competition over the years. We have worked hard to push the concept and find it's boundries and potential. A good deal of folks questioned what what 18 or 20 brass can do beyond stand and play. We have endevoured to find out. Most of all we have enjoyed DCA. The connection with the history of the activity. The chance to perform in front of folks with decades of experience and knowledge. We put a good deal of money and time into our DCA trip because it was fun. The highlight of year. But I fear for future of Minicorps at DCA. I sure wish we could figure out how to get back to the heady days of 15 or so competing groups and the buzz and excitement. I still believe in the potential of the Minicorps concept. Even a limited sized unit in a properly sized venue can be entertaining, exciting, even thought provoking. And it is a great place to start a corps. What can we do to save this thing?

As someone who goes to several shows a year, every show I attended this year was well stocked with fans. Finals in particular seemed noticeably well attended. Saw a good deal of people even in the lower sections outside of the goal line. Far from ideal seating. Race at the top might have had something to do with. Twelve really good shows might have as well. The 'progressive' evolution has had little to do with the audience numbers. The audience has always been largely the family, friends, and alums of the competing units as well as the band crowd. The loss of units equals less potential butts in the seats. The days of 30000 plus at finals also happened to be in an era of nearly three times as many competing units as there are today. Simple math. The economics of running and touring a corps has changed radically since the heyday of hundreds of corps. The 'die-off' began in earnest in the 80s long before drum corps was 'progressive'. With the recent economic downturn, the spike in fuel prices, and with a myriad of casinos popping up and sucking the potential bingo market dry, it is a hard time to run a drum corps or drum corps show. With all that in mind, the numbers at the fewer shows there are seemed pretty good. I've heard many positive reports from sponsors. Best in years. So it's a perspective thing. Glass half empty or half full. From where I am sitting it was one of the best top-12s I've seen. And I've seen nearly all of them live since 84'. And it comes at the most challenging time economically and socially the activity has ever faced. Truly the Best of times, and the Worst of times.

The closest thing to a true comparison came in 1994. Star of Indiana performed it's Evening of Brass Theater on both G bugles and Concert horns. Same kids, same technique and approach, same evening. The G horns were indeed the 'loudest', but where also exceedingly bright and a bit harsh in comparison. It was quite the topic of conversation at the time, but it was clear that most folks involved liked the sound of the Bb horns over the G horns. Now to be fair this was indoor venues. Primarily tarp covered basketball court sized venues. And the Bb horns were nothing like today's refined big bored marching brass, but it is the only time I know of where top level world class performers played both types of horns back to back. As I recall the G horns were used very sparingly if at all the next year and then sold off. I've watched with interest both the G and Bb lines in DCA finals. It is pretty easy to pick out the bright G lines, but it isn't that dramatically different. The top lines are on Bb, but it isn't giving them any real advantage. They would likely still be the top lines even if everyone was on G.

I am not an official spokesperson for my corps, but Star United is putting the finishing touches on the show this coming weekend and will be ready to rumble.

You have to remember that this summer a whole bunch of new kids went to a show and got their minds blown. They saw something they never thought possible or could imagine. And some of them will go on to live the dream and have the experience of a lifetime. They come from a world on 1000 channel TV, short you tube clips, and electronics everywhere including their music. Where you see a problem, they find delight. At the same time their are old timers saying; "That's it! Dancing, gaudy uniforms, I don't know the music.......". That's what I heard when I marched in the 80s, that's what I hear now. One gen leaves, another comes in. Same as it ever was. Some can only connect with some aspects of the activity and their appreciation never grows beyond that. That's okay. Others, like myself, are hopelessly hooked on the basic formula of brass, percussion, and guard as well as the joy of the performers. That's okay to. Drum Corps esthetics change. Audiences change as well. Everyone decides where he or she doesn't enjoy something anymore. That doesn't mean that it is wrong, just to different for them. To another newer fan, this is a golden age full of new and wonderful things.

For a variety of reasons you will find the the percentage of local talent in the World Class corps is low. Many have pointed out several reasons, but I would also add that many world class corps do their off-season practice outside of their geographic base. Some find better facilities, some better weather, and some find it easier to locate themselves near transportation hubs. Many world class corps have audition camps in Texas to tap into the substantial pool of talent down there. Some find the availability of facilities and resources in Indiana great for their winter programs and or spring training. It is not that they do not support and appreciate their 'homes' it is just them trying to be the best they can be. The corps first responsibility is to it's membership. If you truly want to support hometown corps with hometown members then you need to look as supporting the Open Class and local DCA All Age units. Most of these units are made up of more local types due to the nature of their practice schedules and limited touring. Some may look strangely at including All Age units in the mix, but the average DCA unit nowadays has a substantial number of DCI age marchers. They find the limited rehearsals and weekend only tours allows them to go to summer school or have a summer job. Further both Open Class and All Age units generally need more financial support then the relatively better off World Class.

They have a great show and a smoking drumline no doubt. But are they in the mix with the top 3? Hmmmmm. No, not at this point. Close though. It will be interesting to see how much they improve in the final push. It isn't the design that wins. Design and execution are intertwined and related like space-time. One is essentially meaningless without the other. Good design or repertoire is meaningless until executed. Execution is meaningless without something to execute. Perfect execution of 9 count tones is impressive. The same level of execution on double-tongued 16 notes is more impressive. But there is more to design then number of notes are the latest greatest trend. Good design allows the performers to use their ability to execute (perform) to achieve an ultimate effect. That could be getting people to throw babies or it could mean more points, or both. It is about achievement. Achievement comes through good performance ie execution. But the amount of of potential achievement is highly related to the quality of the design.

As a founding member of the Star of Indiana I feel compelled to comment a bit here. The Star of Indiana was a grand experiment of a very successful and wonderful man, Bill Cook. The corps was built for community, but more importantly for the drum corps community. Mr.Cook had some different ideas on corps management and finance. He and some remarkably experienced and skilled managers, Jim Mason, Bob Lendman, Moe LaTour and many others built and ran the corps as lab and demonstration model of how they felt 'it should be done'. Many see the 80s as the golden years and it many respects it was, but by the mid-80s we were losing corps left and right. In the years I marched, 84-88 the activity lost dozens of large units, including many former top groups, 27, Bridgemen ect, while many of the then current top units were struggling financially and/or were terribly mismanaged. Star was well financed, but not extravagantly so. It was designed to eventually be self funded by way of a bus company. It had quality equipment and transportation, but took good care of it. The concept of the corps allowed it to bring in some very well known instructors from day 1. But success was anything but easy. The early years where a tumultuous period of staff changes, conflicts, direction changes, ect as they experimented and figured out better and more efficient ways to do things. In time the corps locked down certain key instructional staff and perfected the care, feeding, and traveling. Success both on and off the field followed. Along the way the corps and it's staff shared what it learned with anyone who would listen, and helped others in any way it could. A meal here, some equipment there, a bus or place to stay, even some funds to get through a tight spot. The rising tide raises all boats theory was very much in place there. Of course ultimately the limits of the activity pushed the corps to move on to other arenas where they have achieved great success. Could the organization have returned to the field? The bus company was eventually successful and in the last decade was sold to another company. Blast continues to tour. The corps hall and property are still in around and now used by the Madison Scouts and Blast for their training. But then there is the question of desire. In some ways the experiment failed. Financially corps are still largely financed the same way they where in 84', bingo ect. The touring model is still financially a huge burden. The activity is still very much a super competitive and artistically restraining niche. But the surviving organizations on average travel much better with improved care and feeding. Despite it short competitive drum corps life, the Star organization produced and incredible amount of current day designers and instructors. They and some of those key managers have and continue to bring some of those ideas and concepts to such corps as Crown, Madison, Blue Stars, and now Troopers. The Star of Indiana was built to win and to last. But the definition of winning is much more then just points on the sheet. It provided a wonderful and life changing experience for it's members. It helped the activity in many key ways, including Mr.Cook's personal financing of the PBS broadcast. It helped dozens of corps with issues and problems to stay on the field and get down the road. It demonstrated a model of management that put emphasis in the care, feeding, and traveling well. It moved on to bring some the activity to new venues and audiences, providing an outlet for former corps members to perform professionally. But most importantly, it provided a creative and learning environment that spawned a whole generation future instructors and designers. Personally I call that more then longevity. I call that legacy.

Very impressive. Nice to see such efforts in my area. Hope to see you at a SoundSport event in the future. Best of luck.

The Sports Illustrated article was from 87'. I have the issue around hear somewhere. Coach Knight spoke to the corps on several occasions. I am trying to picture the apparatus that would be needed to do this measuring for a brass player. Some sort of flexible mask around the mouthpiece and face with the sensors to measure intake, and a leadpipe with a bunged in O2 sensor and/or flow meter for output. Of course they couldn't put their horn down so it probably should not be a Euph or a Trumpet player (m'arms!). I would think a Mello would work. Trumpets are full of hot air anyway, and the methane production from a Tuba might interfere with results.

That is an obscure one. I sort of remember hearing it maybe once. Probably 93'. We haven't dug that one out for Star United or for the Alumni corps. Star United retired O'Sacred Head a couple of years ago. Josh had our old drum corps minds twisted up with a piece in Ab Major a year or two ago. Nowadays we have done chorals more or less in the key of the majority of the show music we are playing to get us hearing it in the warmup. As Heather pointed out, rumors of the old Star Hall's demise are greatly exaggerated. Rechristened as the William A Cook Performing Arts Center, WACPAC, aka Star Hall, TL Brown Elementary, and Star United South Campus, it continues to be a home for the pageantry arts. Now the part time winter home and spring training grounds for the Madison Scouts and Star Untied Mini Corps, it has also been a rehearsal facility for various Blast casts. Star United just recently held the 15th 'Last Rehearsal Ever at the Corps Hall' and looks forward to the next. If those walls could talk.

After all the complaining about the 21 limit over the years, I am a bit surprised not see a single comment on the the new expansion to 25? Sure is going to help. That is a BIG space for such small groups to connect with. A few extra players is going to help.

Second this notion. I've used Blue Juice on a variety of small bore horns since getting back into playing about a decade ago. On my close tolerance Yama 204 mello, I often go for weeks without oiling. I had a big bottle for years and used it so infrequently it turned clear with age. Back in the 80s in corps and in 'real' life I used the Al Cass Fast. It was good but I seem to remember applying it far more often. Sounds like good advice to give the valves a flush before changing brands. I hear synthetics and real oil do not play nice. Crossing the streams is BAD.

Labor Day weekend is not just an issue for the 'kids'. Even in my own group we have University professors who have to take days off going into that weekend after only being in class for three weeks or so. It isn't always easy, and drum corps cannot usually be used as an academic opportunity or excuse to their superiors.