piperguy

I might be a little biased, but I disagree with that.

Don't get me wrong; I realize there are plenty of opinions out there of which mine is a very small minority. I am wrong more times than I care to admit. I am just concerned that not everyone is looking at the big picture and realizes that there is more to life than drum corps (runs and hides).

I can't believe I'm actually reading that some of you advocate taking a lower college grade in order to make move-ins on time! Where are your priorities?! I am proudly a member of the "dinosaur" community, and as such, I understand how drum corps might seem to be the biggest priority in ones' young life. Unfortunately, the real world does not work this way. While drum corps was a major part of my youth and helped tremendously in developing a solid work ethic, I have found that how well one does in college has a much greater impact on future success than the growth one achieves from drum corps. For example, graduate schools for specific majors (IE. physical therapy) are getting extremely competitive. I have seen a prospective applicant get cut for as little as .05 of a grade point average. Future employers are much more likely to look at academic achievement before they even consider if you marched in a corps. They probably won't even know what a corps is. My opinion, take it or leave it.....do the best you can in school first. If the corps is worth your time and effort, they must understand that education must come first.

Actually 1978 was his last year marching with them. I believe he was the guy who stood on the podium at the start of the show with the sop solo before the Jewish medley. Great player...I had the honor of playing with him at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

What do you have against drum corps?

Although I can't explain exactly what happened with the scores, I think it's important to remember that scores are not absolute, rather they are relative to performance levels of that night both of themselves and other corps at any given show. In other words, they are highly subjective and indicate where that panel of judges thought they belonged relative to their competition at that time. I have noticed that several corps have been trading places over the course of the season. I'm not really concerned about scores as long as they keep the corps "in the ballpark" of where they have been scoring (within, say two placements). The only time scores really matter is the last two or three shows!

I always thought the "race to be last" thing was a big waste of time myself. Especially while I was standing at attention and waiting for the scores.

Wow, I'm currently stationed just north of you at Fort Monroe (for about 2 weeks, then off to Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne). Small world!

OK...Also from the Blue Stars' forum: Quote from John D. Crown is super good this year. They have a distinctive sound. Guard is excellent. I would have contrasted color I think they are taking a shot at last years BD. Shoe stick man parody. Cavies parody. I think they are going all the way this year. Green is the color of spring. And I think its what I want to be Kermit

Here's an update from the Blues Stars' forum: Cadets also had a few bad drops Hnc field show is insane. Great. Its so close and quick. So real that they have nuns running in the stands with rulers hitting you across the knuckles if you are using a blackberry I like this show. Sarah Jones. Rest in Peace. Holy name shall always be Ballad is wicked good

If you are really needing a "more show info fix" the Blue Star's forum has occasional updates from folks at the show. You just have to read around the parent chatter. By the way, that forum is "officially" a no-bashing-zone. Blue Stars forum Dallas link

Pilsner Urquell here! Oops, it's empty...be right back

Homer/Honk alert!

A lot of you probably already know this, but a good way to find things on twitter is http://search.twitter.com/

http://twitter.com/dadofgage

VERY diplomatic way of putting that!!

Strange.... 0.35 between both Boston/Blue Stars and Cadets/Crown.

I just now got in.

I seriously doubt the audience would agree with that!

There is a Blue Star Alum that is posting. His twitter name is mcjordansc. Here is the link.