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MikeZ

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Everything posted by MikeZ

  1. Isn't it "Laura'sTheme" from Twin Peaks....or at least something from Twin Peaks. I am pretty sure Mr. Naffier used it as an on field warm-up for Colts in 98??? Z Fan of Chuck Naffier's horn books.
  2. I'm pumped for next weekend! Reds/Brewers game on Friday night, and lots O drumcorps with my Pioneer family on Saturday. I hope to see lots of alumni at Pioneerland. Z Drumcorps and baseball...the perfect weekend.
  3. I love 2000 Southwind, and yes, they did finish top 12 in every caption. To say they got "hosed" implies that there was a collective desire by a group of individuals to keep the yellow team out of finals. If anything Southwinds placement makes it appear that the judging is legit. What are the odds of EVERY judge placing SW in the top 12, yet the corps not being in finals. I can imagine a few judges were raising their eyebrows that night when they saw how things shook out at semis. I loved Southwind and Bluecoats in 2000, and would have been fine with a tie, and 13 corps in finals. Z Thinks it's crazy to follow the path of Southwind and Bluecoats from semis night in 2000 to today.
  4. Although this idea sounds good on paper, letting a corps "vote" on fairly major decisions is not a way to operate a drumcorps. This is in no way me claiming to like the hats...just a comment on members making decisions. Z Never made a decision that effected the entire corps in 5 years on tour.
  5. At the Indy show Pioneer was exactly 10 points behind Crossmen. I'm trying not to be a Pioneer apologist, but do want to make sure that things said about the corps are factually correct. Z
  6. From my limited time around the corps yesterday, I was under the impression that they have 20 brass and that is what they are going to go with for the whole season. I think this is the right decision. Even back in the late 90's Pioneer was accepting folks into the hornline in late spring/early summer just to increase numbers. I'm fine with taking non-brass players in the winter (heck, I was one) but at this point in the season it may be best for them to make a go of it with the 20 brass. The kids in the hornline seem a little older, and are actually putting out sound and playing with confidence. I really think people need to realize that although the hornline is small, it's the guard that is going make it hard for Pioneer to compete with Cascades, Surf, and Mandarins. Z Proud member and teacher of some small hornlines.
  7. I just want to see good drumcorps....be it 20 horns or 80 horns. I saw Pioneer yesterday, and it appeared to me they are coming out of the gate stronger than what they have been over the past 3-4 years. It seems the corps knew they were going to be small and wrote the show accordingly. There have been several years in the past where the corps has written a show for more kids than what they had, and spent the first part of the season rewriting and closing holes. The hornline this year is small, but there is no doubt in my mind that all the brass are contributing and the hornline is putting out a good amount of sound for their size. The big issue right now appears to be guard. Regardless of numbers, the guard just isn't contributing enough. I don't have any magical answers, but I do feel that the 2011 version of Pioneer is a small step up from the 2010 version at this time of year. Just one persons opinion who has actually seen the corps this summer. Z Likes good drumcorps, regardless of size.
  8. Wasn't it Dave Lang who was the baritone soloist for the Colts back in the 80's? If so I think he may get my vote. I know most people will list sop/trumpet or mello soloist, so I wanted to make sure there was some love for the low brass folk out there. Z
  9. So if Pioneer used the "howdy" system of cleaning drill they would make finals? Once again there is no ONE correct answer for cleaning drill. Just because someone prefers one method does not mean all others are wrong. Z
  10. Wow. There is not one "correct" way to march. There is not one "correct" way to run a drumcorps. If this was the way the world worked drumcorps would be a very boring activity. Anyone who thinks that "their" system is the only one that works, probably should not be instructing students. Yes there is a specific style and method that I teach, but I fully understand that there are other ways that work as well. Of course, I have never been affiliated with a top twelve corps, so my opinion doesn't matter. Z Pioneer Bari/euph 94-98
  11. Thanks Chris for the very infomative post. Easily my vote for post of the year. Z
  12. I would think the end of retreats would stop most rivalries from gaining traction today. It seems when corps scoring close to each other had to stand quite close to each other on the field things could get a little testy. Today you may be scoring close to someone but you only see them in the lot...out of uniform. Heck, you could be standing in line at the gas station behind a guy in a corps you are going back and forth with and you wouldn't even know it. Going back a few years (and way off anyones radar), Pioneer and Nite Express had quite a few tense moments during the 1996 season. There were quite a few elbows thrown and horns dinged up when we were lined up next to each other at some II/III focus shows. I remember being pretty angry with NE at the time, but would give anything to have them back on the field today. There were a few other corps who were a little nasty at retreat...but they are all big corps who are still competing, so I will keep those stories to myself. Z
  13. I think you may have taken what I said the wrong way. I don't have any problems with Larry Case or Rick Morey being on board for 2011. I have marched Rick Moreys drill and kind of know Larry Case (but am much more familiar with his sons...especially Greg). My only concerns are that whoever is designing the show spends too much time looking back. I want the corps to have some nods to the past in their 50th anniversary show. I just don't want the WHOLE show to be a look back. I am far from a Cadets fan, but I thought it was pretty tasteful how they approached their 75th anniversary. A cool retro name change with a fresh take on music the corps is known for. And I don't know anybody that didn't like the H-N-C/G/CB/75 forms in the drill. I just hope Pioneer can touch on the past while taking a step forward into the next 50 years of the corps. I would have made the exact same comments regardless of who the designers were...it just happens that Larry Case and Rick Morey's names have already been announced so I plugged them into the post. Z
  14. I'm a little nervous that Pioneer's 50th anniversary is going to have them spending too much time looking back and not enough time looking forward. Nobody likes tradition and history more then me, but you have to find a way to embrace that history while still moving forward. Seeing the staff announcements so far have the corps reaching back in their history to bring back former designers. I am sure Larry and Rick are both great guys...I just hope they work on pushing the corps forward and not spend too much time reflecting on their past. Z
  15. I am going to stay out of the 2010/2011 Pioneer discussion, but I had to respond to this comment. You can say whatever you want about Pioneer's show and placement in 1996, but to say that "I" and the fellow "hard working members of my corps" were going through the motions is a slap in the face. 99% of what is said on DCP is opinion, and you can't argue that someones opinion is "wrong". But you said you observed us going through the motions and I was on the field that night with a baritone in my hand and I was NOT going through the motions. There may be places/times in my life that I have gone through the motions, but none of those times ever involved me marching or teaching a drumcorps. I worked and sweated with over 100 brothers and sisters EVERY day of the 1996 season and I cannot sit back and keep my mouth shut when someone says otherwise. I think it is safe to say that 1996 was the strongest corps Pioneer has ever put on the field. It upsests me that due to the 20th place finish that 1996 Pioneer routinely gets overlooked, and that there are tons of people out there that have no idea how good that corps actually was. Can Pioneer ever get back to the level they were at in 96? Yes. Will they? I don't know. Pioneer cannot be "fixed" by folks sitting behind their computers across the country. What I can do from behind my computer is encourage folks to track down a recording of Pioneer in 1996 and check out one he11 of a good drumcorps. Mike Zerhusen Pioneer bari/euph 94-98
  16. I voted Downey, Prime, Shaw. I have to admit though that I have a soft spot for Chuck Naffier, and he would have been my pick for the 90's if it was an option. Z
  17. Fly up and see if you can catch a ride home with Crossmen. Most groups have empty seats on the way home and may let you hitch a ride. I would offer to make a donation to the corps (50.00 or 100.00) and see if they would let you hitch a ride. Seems like a win for everyone involved. Of course I would try to get in touch with Crossmen before you fly up...but it has to be worth a shot right. Z
  18. Okay. I can get the site to load if I use the address for individual pages. So www.dci.org/scores will load or www.dci.org/corps will load. If I try to use just www.dci.org the page never loads. Not a big issue now...just strange. Maybe an issue on my end. Z
  19. Has anyone had any problems with the dci site loading. I haven't been able to get the page to load for over 24 hours now. Having no other problems with any other sites. I have the fan network, but if I can't get the dci page to load I can't use the fan network. Thanks in advance for any responses. Z
  20. They have to come in from the lower side 1 corner/tunnel. If they came in from the opposite tunnel they would be coming Out of the Light. Z
  21. You know BlueStars have great field coverage when despite its best effort the high cam rarely can get the whole corps in the shot. Z
  22. I really dig the first 2/3 of Blue Knights. I wish I liked the Brahms as much as the Bizet and and Elgar. Is BK stuck in 10th. I don't see them moving up and I don't know that Glassmen can catch them....Madison...maybe. Z
  23. I wish I was listening to Marc Sylvester commenting on the show right about now. Z
  24. Lets pause for an awkward moment from members of the Troopers. Thanks Dan Potter. Z
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