Skydrummer9
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Posts posted by Skydrummer9
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i could only wish for many years it would continue but the sad reality is drum corps is becoming more obscure as time goes on. i didn't realize this untill i read an artical about DCI on cnn.com. a vast majority of people no longer know what it is or that it exists. this wasn't the case years ago but it is now. so i would say not as long as you would think. i do hope i'm wrong. it would be a shame to see this whole thing go away.
What is worse is that those few who actually witness Drum Corps, most of them ask what school are you with? To the general populous, drum corps and marching band is the SAME THING! Unlike years ago where you could go to see a drum corps show and a band show and understand that they were two separate entities, now the lines have been blurred so much that unless you march, you won't be able to tell the difference. I was asked several times what school my "band" (drum corps) was with and I said "Garbarina-Mazarakos American Legion Post 1523 in NYC class of 1945".
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I have to agree with Frank. Being an old school guy myself, I am annoyed....no better flabbergasted at the overuse of the Dr. Beat. Yes, more onus needs to be put on the drum major, the percussionists who can easily play a tap and let's preserve the hearing of our marching members.
While we are on the subject....kevlar drum heads. While the original intention was probably a noble one, why do we have snare lines that sound like they are playing on table tops instead of snare drums? JMHO, nobody elses. Just me.
I of course wasn't old enough to be considered an "old school guy" but I was taught by some of the greats since I started in this activity in 2003. Many drum instructors tried to get it into my head that dutting was necessary... Never did it, never will do it, never going to teach my drummers to do it. See what wonderful individual on that big box looking podium thing flailing their arms about like an epileptic on meth? That is called the drum major... He or she is in charge of the tempo. You follow him or her with your eyes and keep THEIR tempo. Failure to do so will be noted on the caption sheet.
And in my opinion and experience, many drum instructors have their individual preference for the tuning of the kevlar heads. I believe a lot of them are over tuned to the point that it would be less costly to march around with a piece of drywall. I also believe a lot of corps who do that is because, again in my personal belief, the range of a Bb hornline is not as strong a projection against a line of G Bugles. If I were to run a competitive corps, I would return the mylar head back to the field an release the drummers to do what they need to do without sacrificing their volume, dynamics, and above all chop endurance (after just 6 months of playing on a kevlar head, I developed a cyst in my wrist that is inoperable due to the very high risk of losing mobility and use of my right hand.) I never had that issue with mylar heads. I compare kevlar heads with Bb horns. They do not have the same feel, sound, and projection as Mylar heads and G bugles... IMHO.
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There always has to be one guy. (Shakes head)
Hehehe. *facepalm*
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Yup, it's like someone denying the existence of Bigfoot while one sneaks up behind them and goes "boo". Their perspective changes completely once they turn around......
Hehehe. Hey all I can say is what happens to Corps who becomes depended on Dr. Beats and Bigfoot sneaks into a rehearsal and steals them all. "Oh No! We have no Metronomes! hmmm.... Who has $ to run to a music store and buy one?.... NO ONE?!?!?!?!?!..... ####... REHEARSAL CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF METRONOME."
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Mr Windish, I owe you a beer.
My fervent hope is that we can arrest the movement to “evolve” the unique drum corps sound into marching wind ensemble with a dance troupe. Occasionally and for my own amusement, I read the discussions in DCP and substitute “pipe band” for “drum corps”. Why not? There are similarities. Non-chromatic instruments (pipes only have nine notes, I believe). Drums and some things that play a melody. Military history.
Try it yourself. Add a “third value” to the pipes. Add a pit. Add electronics. Add brass. Have a bunch of people wearing Tammy Baker levels of mascara run around pointlessly. You can turn pipe bands into kilt-wearing marching wind ensembles! But they ain’t pipe bands.
And drum corps with electronics ain’t drum corps.
I'm with you good sir...
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"Okay! So the only thigns we have to fear are spiders, snakes, WEREWOLVES, sharks, dying alone, zombies, clowns, heights, big dogs, robots with human brains, Johnson's wife, AND fear itself!" - Franklin D. Roosevelt
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With the rapid evolution of competitive Drum Corps, harsh economic times, and varying membership levels, how much longer will Alumni Corps be around to preserve the history of not just individual corps, but of Drum and Bugle Corps in it's entirety?
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The way the rest of the activity, possibly less than 5.
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TROLL!!!! TROLL!!! YOUZ A #### TROLL!!!!!!!!
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So here are the new rules:
1. The electronic bull-horn metronome is only to be employed in the early stages of learning, and thereafter only to establish, not maintain, tempo at rehearsal.
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I perceive this to be directed to the staff in regards to starting the Dr. Beat before playing/marching and not turning it off until the end of what they are working on... If that be the case, I agree over 100,000,000,000%. Don't get me wrong, the metronome is a great TOOL to use in order to get everyone on the same page as far as tempos. But in the long run, the mets are NOT going to be getting you through the show... It is the drum major who is in charge of the bus. Granted also that the Drumline (battery) is responsible to be the engine of the corps/band, but it is the Drum Major's job to control the gas and brake peddles. You can force the tempo all you want, but if you are playing, and doing your job, your eyes should be on the DM and NO WHERE ELSE (utilizing your peripheral vision to maintain proper spacing and locations for drill of course). If you play and want to utilize the metronome to help build your endurance, use it at HOME. Once you go outside, the ONLY person using the metronome should be the DM (With a ear piece so he/she can focus on the tempo). A lot of "veteran" drum majors like to add effects to the show in forms of accelerated tempos, holds, etc., and if the corps relies on the metronome during every rehearsal and turns it from a tool into a crutch, that, to me, takes a lot of the "entertainment" value out of the production and thus turning the players, and drum majors, into potential robots.
Of course IMO, use the metronome during early season ensembles when music is still being learned. Once the feet get wet with the music, each member needs to do their homework (and if need be, use a metronome to help create the endurance needed to perform), and once you hit the drill field, leave the mets at home unless you are the DM.
(Please don't stone me too much
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I thought that at first the Idea might have popped up after watching 2012...
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Done with your commitment to your uncle?
Once a Marine, Always a Marine... I got medically discharged back in this past January with 50% service connected disability. I have been in Birmingham, AL trying to find my way and trying something new. Didn't quite turn out like I hoped but ya can't shoot down a guy for trying. Anywho... potential employment opportunities await me up North so I am going to try my luck there. At least the $770 tax free disability compensation from the VA helps pay my monthly bills plus gives me some gas money to make it to rehearsals and gigs now. I hate to say it, but due to what I got, I am officially retired from competition corps unless holding a staff and/or instructional billet; but as far as Alumni goes, if Sky has an opening, I will be behind a drum once more
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Count me in come January...
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The Late Great Ray "Konga" Richardson.
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From The Skyliner in Birmingham, AL.... Best of luck to all and let the parties of the year commence!!!
then of course MORE followed by some very bad -
The contract was made while Colonel "C" was still with the Corps. And he specified that they be 2 valves, not 3. Dreitzer and Tru are probably up there agreeing that the horns used in Drum Corps should ALWAYS be in "G". But they're probably arguing like all get out about how many valves. Colonel "C" always argued that 2 valves are enough while Hy didn't care if there were 6 valves just as long as the horn is in "G". Some one once did an interview with Hy and asked what he thought about using horns in any other key. That's when he made the statement about both what key the horns should ALWAYS be in and the number of valves.
I may just be a simple drummer but I will stand by this till I die, "G is the Key of Drum Corps". I don't think there are any marching bands in any form using G horns... I could be wrong of course but to my knowledge, B flat are the majority of horns in band. (IMO.... Another major factor between drum corps and band
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Your first corps is usually the hardest choice to go to. But if you are committed enough, you can just about go anywhere. Keep your chops up and your mind open and you will have many successes in the activity. If you do what is required of you, the staff of the corps you want to go to might be able to help you out. Best of luck!
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Good points indeed. I am first to admit that when the split happened it tore me to pieces but as time went along I found there were more important things in life. Yea it hurt for a long time and I kinda felt betrayed a little because a lot of my buddies who preached Gabarina this and Garbarina that were all of a sudden in a different uniform and so forth and to what I believed for a long time was they were kind of "Jim Jones'd" into joining a different corps by means of metaphorical poison kool-aid. I am a traditionalist and I have pride in what corps I belonged in. If it was any other corps I started in and not Sky, chances are I would be gung ho for them. I will be a Skyliner 'till the day I die regardless of form. I hope that it does come back in it's glory and stays a front runner in DCA and Drum Corps in general. I also hope that there will be no complications between the Sky and Fusion because a corps founded in spite is doomed to fail. Success is NOT measured by how many victories you have but by how you maintain your composure after suffering a crushing and debilitating defeat. On that note, as a LIFE TIME Skyliner, I wish all corps success and leave the competitions where it belongs... On the score sheets.
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Thanks for explaining the Sky-Fusion story. It wasn't my place to tell it.
There have been plenty of corps that have experienced something like what happened between sky and fusion. I am not confirming or denying the specifics, only admitting what I have seen as an active member at that time. To me personally it was an elephant in the room that could not be ignored and when it boils down to it, people are going to do what they are going to do and in the end, it is how you maintain your bearing and composure while continuing with your mission.
*Please do not have this turn into a slander-fest or a debate. If anyone wants to know anything more about it, please go about it via private message or contact the Fusion Corps/Skyliners Field Corps administration staff for any questions, comments, or concerns.*
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All these ideas sound good. One thing I think is the most important is it has to be fun. You need a great management / staff team with the heart and the personality to make it happen. Not just in practice and on the field, but after that as well. Practice should not be the only activity. That gets old fast. Take those out of town parades not only as a fund raiser, but as a fun activity to build esprit de corps and to recruit.
Amen brother
. Too many members get up in arms at times due to staff decisions. The staff is there to take care of the necessities. All the member's job is to play and enjoy the activity under the guidance of the staff. -
I knew that was coming. Fusion is close to heavily populated metro areas and they had a prior history of drum corps. To be specific, Empire had over 20 people from Erie in their corps. It wasn't any fault of theirs, everybody recruits as many as possible, but it matters just the same.
A majority of Fusion's membership was made up of the Skyliners from 2004-2006 the first couple of years on the field, but grew as the years went on. (Not said to be a cheap shot against Fusion but stating facts as from a member of the Skyliners at that time and knew a majority of the members who went to Fusion). People will have their decisions where to march for whatever reason regardless of distance. I could have driven half the time it took to Sky and marched in Brigs, Empire, or White Sabers (marched W.S. in 2007 while still marching in Sky Alumni due to Sky field corps being sidelined). If the dedication is there, the distance won't be that much of an issue.
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Funds and membership seem to be the common poison around corps now a days. And with the harsh economic times, it isn't getting any easier. Hopefully things will get better. Best of luck to those entering/returning to DCA and to those who are still active.
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Hey man,,no worries. Did not take it wrong at all.
I think some people think that we in the south have the same opportunities as those in other regions have. We don't. There are no large fundraisiers like Bingo and we do not get any funds from big corporations. Unless you count the whole Chase thing which was kind of surprising.
Thanks for the knowledge! And now I know.... AND KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE!!!
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I'm sorry Ed. I took that into consideration. But what I recall from my time in is that in DCA, a corps would sponsor a show... like Cabs with "cabs on the beach" and sky with the 2006 Dover, NJ show. But who would front a majority of the bill for something like Finals? Example with the first finals weekend in a new location before they could build up local support? *This is not to rebut anyone's statement but to gain some knowledge about shows and funding/sponsorship. Please don't take too much offense by my ignorance.*
Any News?
in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions
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That is ultimately up for the administration of each. I hope that each is doing whatever is necessary to bring their corps back to the field. Hopefully they will be able to return soon.