CrunchyTenor

Can you guys take this to Marching Band Planet? This thread made me throw up in my mouth a little. Especially the comparison to VK part. Garry in Vegas

You're talking about a pretty small geographic region. There was a little movement among SoCal corps, too, but it was pretty rare for a kid from Florida to march in Seattle. (The whole 2-7 tenor line in 1972 was all ex-VK, though. They were an exception.) OK, if you say so. Have you seen an audiologist lately? :-) This was a quantum leap in many people's opinions. The plethora of threads, including this one, is proof of that. I've seen lots of amazing shows performed on G bugles and without amplification or electronics. If Yamaha wanted to be a major player in drum corps, why couldn't they build a better G bugle? Because lobbying for rule changes is cheaper. That's because you ARE a drummer. But think about it from a brass player's perspective. It was a challenge. But, yeah, little Johnny from the block didn't know the difference. It was what it was. I still thought it was cool. So, it's a IMO moment. :-) I didn't say play it until it's useless. But let's talk again about Star's one set of 2V G bugles. I'm sure there were some replacements along the way. But I'll bet the transition to Bb killed more than one corps' budget, and the corps along with it. At least those without a sweetheart deal. I'd bet a lot of money that Our Lady of Perpetual Motion D&BC paid more that BD or Cadets did. (In my best Topol voice) "Tradition!" Seriously, I see it as another way to stomp out those pesky drum corps traditions and assimilating something unique into something generic. Call it bandification. Never one to shy away from that, are we Mike? :smile:/>/> Garry in Vegas

I understand what you're saying, and the potential for problems. But I would separate Model UN or other non-music activities from another music-related activity (especially a marching music activity coming into marching band season). But I guess that comes down to opinion. A kid representing Zambia for a week of Model UN doesn't compare to a baritone player from Bluecoats in preparation and ability to produce for the band program. Garry in Vegas

Major Hooters brings me to attention every time! Back on topic, yes, that is one smokin' soprano line, as well as the rest of the brass. Gimme another BD show like this. Please, Wayne? Maybe have Dave take a year off from freaky designs and concepts? Just go out and flatten some grandstands? Please? Garry in Vegas

A couple of other things to consider... 1) More corps BITD meant the good and great players were spread out over more corps, especially before corps-hopping and ring-chasing became popular. Now they're concentrated in fewer (and fewer) corps. 2) Corps used to have a limit of 128 members. Most upper-tier corps had 60-64 brass. Now, with a 150 member limit, brass lines of 80 or more are common. (Still, IMO, 80 Bb players still can't match 60 G players for volume.) 3) Corps are now together for 6+ weeks after move-in. BITD, there was no "move-in". You lived in town, or close to it. Rehearsals were not all day, every day until the last three weeks or so of the season. 4) What was the only thing Yamaha didn't make for drum corps before 2000? G bugles. They made marching percussion (though when I asked them about it in 1978 they weren't interested), Bb/F brass, and amplification equipment and electronic instruments and emulators. Can you see how this happened, and where it has gone since? 5) Like an earlier poster, I wonder what would happen if a top-tier brassline switched to a matched set of G brass AND DIDN'T TELL ANYONE? Would the audience, and more importantly the judges, know and fairly adjudicate? Say they're scoring relatively well in brass and music ensemble, then revealed the change, would they still be competitive? Or would there suddenly be a bias? Wish I had the funds and opportunity to test the theory. 6) I'm a drummer, but I still thought it was cool that our brass players used bugles with a piston and rotor, and that we were the first corps to use G/F p/r bugles. We were also the first to use 2V sopranos by special permission from DCI to field test them for American Heritage (King). (BTW, an interesting side note: The bells were stamped "Benge".) 7) I challenge any modern corps to use the same set of brass (in any key) and percussion for 5 consecutive years. That's another lesson learned BITD. Respect for your equipment, and maintaining it. 8) The voicing of a trumpet is soprano in the brass choir. The tuba is the contrabass voice. Why not maintain the voice designation instead of trumpet and tuba? Shouldn't it still make sense to a bunch of music majors? Just more fuel for the discussion. Garry in Vegas

Darn. I was hoping it was Jonathan Goldsmith. Garry in Vegas

Maybe this would help jumpstart some discussion on the OC forum. Wanna cross post? Garry in Vegas

Here's the official announcement. I'd say they're in pretty good hands. (Thanks, Shane, for all you did.) http://www.regiment.org/story.cfm?ID=1324 Garry in Vegas

Awese, c'mon you guys. It was pretty funny, and if the BD staff doesn't get a laugh out if it I'd be surprised. Garry in Vegas

Too easy. Must resist urge for smart-### response. Garry in Vegas

I agree with the concept of separating the financial side (BoD) from the performance side (director, captions and staff) as far as their focus and responsibilities to the organization. Garry in Vegas

This is the case in programs where the band director demands full camp attendance. But it's been my experience that the drum corps kids coming off tour are in better shape, are used to rehearsing effectively, and learn on the fly better than the NDC kids who spent much of the summer glued to their gaming system. JMO And the majority of DCI corps that have folded fell victim to management issues, including but not limited to adapting to the touring model, loss of sponsorship, etc. Garry in Vegas

I think it should be called "Paws For Effect". Garry in Vegas

Part of it may be that DCA membership has been growing in recent years, and are still close to their all-time highest participation. Much this is due to expansion into markets outside the NE. It has to be noted, though, that many of the all-age corps outside the NE rely on a relationship with DCI to provide competition in their area. On the flip side, DCI have not been sustaining their membership quite as well. Compare DCA competing corps attendance with DCI competing corps attendance in, say, 1980. DCI has shrunk considerably while DCA has expanded, as noted above. Recent years have shown more cooperation between the two organizations than in the past, which can only be good for both. Does there need to be a merger? Not in my opinion, but cooperation on joint concerns isn't a bad idea. Garry in Vegas

Hi, Tim, Glad to hear of another start-up in the works. Having started two corps before (one out of existence, one still competing in all-age), I think the idea of performing in exhibition in 2014 is the smart path. In addition to your contacts at Scouts, and the other Open Class directors Dave recommended, please allow me to make one more suggestion: The Academy. It was a full five-year development program of brass and percussion ensembles, as well as a color guard program, before the three were unified for competition. Best of luck! Garry in Vegas

And chairs. You forgot the chairs. Little old chain-smoking ladies need a place to sit. Garry in Vegas

A virtual high-five to the author. He/She truly gets it. Any chance of staying on in a staff position to share the love? Garry in Vegas

Nothing here, nothing on the DCA site. What gives? Garry in Vegas

Heard in the background? Just passing by? Actually, it was more than one emergency vehicle, and they were just sitting in the driveway of the station across, and in view, from the stadium. If for some reason they were just testing their lights and siren, wouldn't it seem unusual for them to test them all simultaneously? And my hat is not tin foil. It's fabricated from military-grade aluminum. Garry in Vegas

I don't know if you mentioned this last summer, Matt. The reason the Moonlight Classic moved to Sacramento State is because Stagg Stadium at UOP is being torn down. They cancelled football several years ago, and decided the upkeep (as bad as it got the last few years) wasn't worth it. Garry in Vegas PS The show here in Vegas a few years ago was at UNLV's Sam Boyd Stadium. Nice venue for drum corps if it wasn't so @$%*€ hot!

That would make for a pretty short finals night, Fran. Garry in Vegas

With all the complaints about drum judges running all over the field this year, I doubt they're snare-centric. Garry in Vegas

I went in a completely different direction. Even though I started teaching more, I also got a horse on a whim (he was a yearling, and free) and ended up riding competitively. Did that for a couple of years. And I can tell you that waiting for the final jump-off at a National horse show has the same adrenaline rush as being on the starting line at DCI finals. It's just over quicker, and I didn't have to carry a set of tenors! Oddly enough, it was the horse show tour that got me back into drum corps. I had been riding all over the Southern California circuit, then went on a three-week tour of Oklahoma City, Memphis and Nashville. When everyone else went home to SoCal, I stuck around in TN to meet up with VK to help volunteer and drive. I was offered a staff position the next year and got to be on the staff that took them from 33rd to finalist. Oh, and I "retired" from the horse show circuit that last tour. I rode once more after DCI finals, at Santa Barbara, for the California Professional Horseman's Association's Championships. We won the Novice Jumper Class, and the horse was sold to the Japanese Olympic equestrian team. Garry in Vegas

Wednesday July 16, 2003 Enid OK Festival of Drum Corps STADIUM: D. Bruce Selby Stadium DCI Position Corps Score 1 Cavaliers 89.950 2 Blue Devils 89.650 3 Madison Scouts 81.750 4 Southwind 70.200 5 Kiwanis Kavaliers 69.800 6 Capital Regiment 68.650

By "never" i assume you mean not in the recent past. I remember going to a show hosted by the Columbians in Pasco back in 1972, and there were 18 corps competing in three divisions. Three came from California, one from Edmonton, Alta., and the other 14 were from WA and OR. Here's a link to the corps and scores. Check out Black Watch. They won Class A a few years later. And you can see the precursors to today's Columbians and Oregon Crusaders. (OC was a C Class corps then!) Too bad Imperials didn't come out. 1972 Pasco Show Garry in Vegas