alto92

I've said it from the beginning, SCV has the best musical package of all the corps this year and probably the most lackluster visual package of the top 6. Which is shocking to say about a program designed by Michael Gaines himself. Vizsh judges seem to disagree. It’s unconventional for today, and lacks “flair”. It’s working very well for them, though. posted from the DrumScorps app

' Not forgotten back in Boston either. BD got much respect from BAC for that gesture back then too. Curious to know the story on this... posted from the DrumScorps app

This show is so much better live. I don't know how one cannot access it when you experience the energy in their movement, in their faces...

This might be my favorite show of the year. SO good, BK.

On a positive note, REALLY looking forward to BK right now. Loved their show in Santa Barbara.

I think the show has a lot of potential, but there are several pacing issues as is that would keep them out of medal contention if not addressed. Pretty strong writing through the ballad, but the end needs some attention, which certainly isn't a surprise in June. I have all the confidence in the world that the show will evolve for the better as the season goes on. With the apparent talent level in the corps, writing is going to be the determining factor with regards to how far this show goes. It's really cool to see the brand of angry, late 90's SCV that I fell in love with somewhat reinvented. Can't wait to see them live this weekend.

Pick the corps that picks you. Where are you called to? Try spending time in the lot next show. Go to a rehearsal. If you listen and watch, you'll know.

I don't remember much, but I know that tenor solo in Mars was dirty mc dirt.

I'm really hoping they start from where it froze.

Actually, SCV beat them. Vanguard was only .1 behind them in San Diego. It's really not that hard to imagine that they're cleaning up faster than PR at this point. The trend since Stockton suggests that's the case...

Having been an accredited teacher in LA Unified, I see this as being VERY difficult and highly unlikely to push through. Even if Ben is ready in time, who knows if/when the hiring freeze will end. As it is now, there are plans for more pink slips to eliminate more elementary school music positions. Like this year, teachers would be bumped by seniority, not by competency or position. Unless you're already working from the inside to make this happen, I think you might run into a brick wall called "LA school site admin" whose favorite word when it comes to extra work starts with "N" and ends with "O". That said....good luck!

Is it just me?

+1 for '89 SCV. My old HS kids kept bugging me to do a Phantom of the Opera show for like 3 years after that. I totally agree with almost every other recommendation, especially Cadets '00, and what Pinwiz said about showing the best show first.

Fixed.

14 sick, 9 holes last night...From someone who knows what its like to be sick on tour, get better, SCV!

Jayzer: probably not in 2003 - we had one of the most physically taxing drills that year and technique suffered during long stretches of a show, but the Devs and Cadets had better foot tech than the Cavs. Tez: First off, I'm not the one talking about horn angles or posture. I'm speaking purely to the lower body. At this point, it appears we're splitting off into 2 camps, but agree on 1 thing: Some prefer a uniform LOOK person to person (BD does this well), some prefer a uniform EFFORT person to person (the Cavaliers do this well). The thing we agree on (or least notion I agree with) is that the judges give both styles their equal due, as long as the technique is performed consistently. I've moved off of my original position, that the Cavaliers march like poo, who would want to look like that, due to ouooga's post. One fact that can't be argued is that the Cavaliers' style that they used does NOT have uniformity in the same WAY that BD's Cadets, or even SCV does. So there's a preference to be had. I still think that the Cavs technique LOOKS sloppy. The judges seem to reward the uniformity in their approach to the technique. Within the activity as a whole, there has been a move away from making this issue important. That's not to say that it doesn't get judged, but that the way a technique looks person to person is not a primary area of judgment. The technique as performed consistently by the members of the corps in relationship to the performer's ability to play is where the numbers lie. The Vis Perf judge also needs to look at the colorguard, and seeing as how 25-30% of people on the field are in the guard, that takes a major chunk of time away from looking at the feet we're talking about.

One thing this show has on Garfield '87 is subtlety. Take time to look for the not so obvious relationships within the show and a 'lack of meat in the book' becomes irrelevant.

Haha. Way to go Rifuarian - quote the fail, follow up with a win. Excellent job!

This is gonna sting.

That's an interesting take. I think in the end, though, the Cavies seem to have inconsistencies person to person because they apply this principle to a leg lift that's too high to allow uniformity without regard to the height of the marcher. For some reason though, and maybe it's the technique, they clean up from up top really well. Lower the height of the foot on the pass through and I think you'll get the best of both worlds. SCV seems to have adopted a modified version of the technique and is cleaner than they have been in years. Having Sly on staff and and easier visual book helps, though.

I'm with you, shaners. Even in their championship years, the other top corps looked much better, on the individual member level. I'm actually kind of surprised anyone wants to argue differently. To me, that fact illustrates the notion that judges have moved away from judging individual technique with as much weight as they used to. That, and the elimination of uniform inspection and 'marching and maneuvering' as a caption. Judging emphasis has shifted to coordination of elements, clarity of form, and transitions (of form). The Cavaliers do all of those things well, which is why they've won. I'm not saying it's not at all important and the Cavaliers don't look as good as a lower tier or younger group - I'm comparing them to top corps, which is splitting hairs anyway.

The Cavies do a lot of things well, but looking good while marching aint one of em. It's really not a knock on them - it's pretty evident that, visually, what goes on field level doesn't really matter much anymore. They look great from up top though, don't they? /I'm just sayin

We (contras) wore our wal-mart bought cat in the hat boxers that day. No button on the fly made for interesting jazz running. Considine (sp?) called us out for that. Good times. GO 'SC!

Ditto. So frustrating, especially since we housed/rehearsed there for 2 days. There's no Warrenton show for SCV this year is there? I'll remember THAT Myron talk (pre-show) almost word for word. Has he traveled with them at all this year?

Or just flip your monitor upside down.