DoubleHighEZ

Also, explain how BD ever won any shows in the 70's and 80's. They certainly didn't win them based on emoting.

You're asking the wrong person when it comes to improving you're marching! You can usually find me hiding in the pit where the only movement I do is walking out from behind a gong or bass drum to play a solo!

Well, simply put, his butt stuck out too much when he marched! There are no issues with his physical stamina, coordination, or experience. He has marched in BDB and Renegades the past two seasons. I think the bottom line was that his movement isn't at the same level as his playing, but he is very intent and focused on making the line this year. He has been working with a former BD trumpet on his marching, and an even OLDER former BD sop, on his playing! As far as his playing goes, he has a very nice sound, a solid F(with Gs on occasion). He was actually the main soloist with BDB last year and had a G in one of his solos, as well as some fairly technical stuff. He's a good kid and we're hoping for the best!

Very true, and don't forget about the marching side of it as well. I have a student who tried out for BD last season who was told that his playing was good enough but his marching wasn't.

I was actually at Jack's house the day that they arrived there. I think that I may have been the first one to ever play a production model. And later we found out that they had installed the valves incorrectly on some of them! And Chris, if there still is one at the corps hall, I want it for MY collection!

Yes, '80 Spirit was a great line. It's hard to believe that they took 5th in GE Brass, even though they were second in horns.

After the now infamous '04 Crunchy Frog performance, an elderly gentlemen says (in a somewhat cranky tone)"there's fifteen minutes of my life I'll never get back!" During the Cadets quarterfinals performance in '07 some guy yells out "tell it to Oprah!"

Good enough! Thanks for answering my question.

Just curious, what didn't you like about that show? Anything in particular?

I should have clarified my remarks. I was only talking about the finals recap numbers.

True, 27's hornline placed 6th, but so did our drumline. The difference was the spread in brass. Hi John, How are you?

BTW - Here's what the scores looked like before penalties at finals in 1980: 1) BD 90.70(.1) 2) 27th 90.25(no penalties) 2) B-men 90.25(.2) 4) Spirit 90.20(.4) Wow!

1981 We won G.E. and brass, took 2nd in marching(only .05 from SCV)........9th in drums! All of that said, Santa Clara was fantastic that year, one of my favorite years for them.

Thanks Cozy! I miss jazzplayerradio.com too! Now I listen to Pandora.com!

Thanks for the kind words! I must say what a thrill it was to finally meet one my childhood idols for the first time! Bonnie came over to my house to work on the "Space Shuttle" solo. I had never met her before and here I was about to show her how to play a solo that I had written for her! It was kinda surreal. I was 14 years old the very first time that I had heard her play and was just simply amazed at the beautiful sound that she got out of that chrome-plated p/r mellophone!

Thanks Charlie! I'm doing fine. I do miss "marching" with the Renegades though.

Be careful what you wish for! I was honored to write a couple of solos for Bonnie this year! The one in "Space Shuttle" may be arguably the most technically difficult one that she has had to play to date! And you may hear a wee bit 'o "Chase the Clouds Away" at the end of "Dust in the Wind". Stay tuned folks!

Thanks for that Mr. Dempsey! My personal opinion is that the judges got the top three right. Although, as Mr. Ponzo so graciously pointed out to me, 2 of the 4 judges had the Golden Eagles in 2nd.

Let's see....the last time I didn't "march" with the Renegades was '03. I'm not "marching" with them in '08, so....hmmmm. ^0^

Thanks for the kind words Eric. BTW, I'm impressed with Roland every year! :P

Oops, thought the readings were from this year.

Thanks for clearing that up Cozy! Although, the "G above the staff" sounds like someone made that one up! Why wouldn't it start at the lowest natural note on the instrument? BTW, I was taught this way based on the Claude Gordon method. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it either!

O.K. Cozy, a question for you then. What do you call the G just above the staff then? As well as the second line G and the G an octave below that? Just curious. :)

I don't know how many horns CorpsVets had this year, but I'm not surprised that they were the loudest(after hearing them in the parking lot last year!). Also, you have to take the size of the hornlines into consideration, as well. Bucs had 62 brass, I believe. Renegades had 52. And Bush obviously was putting out some volume, because they didn't seem to have as many horns as we did. Well done! B)