kasommer

Best in Show is takes into account crowd response. JOBE received Best in Show for the class. The Calgary Stampede won best in show for their class and overall Best in Show for SoundSport. The gold, silver, and bronze ratings are from the judges panel. Star United received a gold rating. We definitively need to get Festive polished for DCA. Thank you for your compliments.

Is there a link to the original announcement?

I've looked but can't find much in the way of specs. What's it weight, length, bell size etc?.

I'm glad you appreciated our performance Friday. Thank you. It meant a lot to all of us. I'm sure we were louder this time due to playing on Bb/F instruments instead of G. :) (i edited since the original word order came across as more than gentle teasing)

Thank you for your kind comments. Amber said so much for all of us. Even for an age-out in '85 who defiantly stood up cheering against the boos in '91 at Dekalb when Star did not come in 2nd. It was tough every year Star marched. From day one. This past Saturday, after all the emotion and work of the past two years, we had a banquet to celebrate this final Star of Indiana performances. We were in the Crown Plaza hall where two nights before we had (lovingly) blown the roof off for the HoF awards. A special treat was the replay of our performance from the fancast on a large screen system. Praise Ye sounded and my knees buckled and tears broke loose. From being in the horn line I know it's loud. I know it shakes bones. I've heard it from the front before. But you see, we brought in more than just a large hornline. We carried inside us our memories. We carried our friends alive and dead who were not there but who were part of Star. We carried the past to let it loose. Like I said, I've heard that opening chorus of Praise Ye many times. But never like that. Never in a way that so powerfully announced triumph and redemption, vindication and validation. And joy. A sound to shake the soul. Knees buckled? check. Tears gushed? check still working through the emotions of last week's practice and performance? check. Ready to see what's over the next hill? Let's do it.

I was typing while other replies went out. So my post missed some of the explanations. I understand our viewpoint better now. thanks.

I don't understand why you say ugh to using the breath for timing. breathing is one of the most integrated actions our body can make. By using breathing for timing, it helps set up the attack, the airs flows without being capped (glottaly stopped) and clean ensemble attacks and releases. The instructional staff can hear if the hornline is syncing up and work to make the music cleaner. I understand what breathe-dah brings to the game. I just don't fully understand exactly what you're saying works for you. And I'm not saying B-D is the only way. Different strokes; different folks. What I primarily like about B-D is when I'm beat, I can remember DVD in 2004 telling us that when we're tired we always go back to the basics and execute that. His method has fundamental levels that can always be relied on, individually and in a group. What I appreciate about DVD's method is that it demonstrably works, is teachable, is transferable (i.e. people can be taught to teach it), and is evolving. 17 or so hours before I leave for Rochester...

LOL! I had completely forgotten I'd made that back for the 2004 Star alumni get together. I'll have to update it for 2010. absolutely. In 1985 Star, John Simpson, who also advocated much of what Donnie has further refined, insisted on a Dah attack. His basic explanation was a proper "dah" just drops the tongue down. A "Tah" pushes the toungue forward and makes for a noisy attack. The "T" explodes out. Without air make "D" & "T" articulations. ideally the toungue is a valve that adds nothing nor subtracts from the air stream. it merely denotes the beginning of a note. as other people have stated there is more to it that jst that but, that is the start. The "Breathe" part is important too. :) Moving feet with air, not letting sound diminsih but grow a little bit. others have epxlained better than I can. It's a fundamental practice for individual and ensemble that can make for a great sound.

my jersey number. See you at mini-corps i&e

The secret to all this can be found here...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wfN02VZ6yM

Cathy thank you for a lovingly written review. It helps me imagine the performances that I can get of hint of when all the corps are warming up. And thank you for your enthusiasm for our performance. The first piece is named "Fly" and is an original composition by Josh Talbot. Incredibly layered and fun to play. Yes, that was Rutter's Pie Jesu. When we told some people we were playing PJ, they thought of Andrew Lloyd Webber's version and were surprised. PJ is a tougher piece to play than it sounds. But you know that by having sung it. Keep on freeking sister! . I'll say. Thank you DCA! It was great to be able to play our show in a stadium. And, honestly, quite emotional to be on turf once again with the name Star being announced. Thank you for allowing us to entertain you.

Well we did watch Team America on the way to Rochester. That's kind of like overthrowing a government, except with puppets right? (oops! did I give away our secret?) reviews would be nice. The most we get is to hear some groups warming up and wishing each other luck as we pass outside the convention center. Kim

I've proposed a show to be entitled "Dark Side of the Mouse". It would interleave Disney music with themes from "Empire Strikes Back" followed by the definitive DC versions of "Money" and "Stairway to Heaven". I figure this leaves little to chance. Course I'm not artistic staff. But I am part of the majority of non-pro/non-ringer players. Vegas bookies give it 10,000:1 odds. (edited for misspellings)

And still here helping the US Navy stay afloat. Hey Sara! Hope life is good. For anyone's info (and trivia buffs). 5 of us were in '85 Star. Two of us in SU went to Star in '85 for our age-out years. We truly enjoyed being able to come back to Rochester and play for the crowd(s). And for someone who aged out in '85 and saw all the Star years it was especially sweet to be able to put foot to turf again in the stadium Sunday. For all we knew following the Bucs with ony 18 horns was potentially dicey. It sounds like all the mini-corps brought great performances and I'll have to wait for the DVD to catch them. Thanks again. Kim

worn by...... (shudder)

[delurk] Cindy, What Mephistopheles said. "Star United" will get a few hits. Esp for this year. I just found the Renegades mini corps performance on their web site. It was hot!! As was their field show - I could watch that over and over, esp. the zombies at the start. B) The mini-corps DVD this year is a must buy - I just wish it would include Minnie Brass wailing in the loading dock. [lurk]

Hi Mike, ummm that should be F on the mello lines. Sleep deprivation works wonders. I got a roundabout email that there were some errors in the Auld Lang Syne transcriptions. I believe it. The fixed parts I got back added a measure for the Contra, Trp 2, F Horn & Mello 1&2 parts. which makes the "score" 43 vs 42 measures. So someone will win with that happening. The Kilties parts have 42 measures. So some help on what needs changed all around would be a help. The Powers That Bb should email me at kim.sommer@navy.mil so we can put this beast to bed. I'll try to get the set I've built updated before we hit the road. Who is appropriate to send it too?