BeachDrums

LOL! I like this idea! What a hap, hap, happy show it would be.

It seems to me that the pit and guard especially could do a lot with some Disney soundtrack pieces and, if done right, could present a very memorable and crowd-pleasing show. Just my opinion. Hmmmm. I wonder if it would increase a corps' chances of winning the Disney Award.

I guess I am showing my lack of corps history, but has any corps performed Disney? If not, is it just not legally permitted.

Yeah, I don't know how Crown did it, but they went from something like 16th or 17th place in 2002 to 4th place in 2008. In just six years they moved up at least 12 places. That's pretty %$ impressive in my book. I believe they were/are just laser focused and determined to put a high quality drum corps on the field and did/do whatever it took to do it. I personally believe staff played/plays a big part. I think two big pieces of growth came from Matt Harloff in brass and Jennifer ("Jennifo") LeSeth in guard. I personally believe Crown's guard often has not gotten the respect they deserved but imo, they are one of the very best guards in the world. And Harloff is getting a sweet, clean, powerful brass sound from Crown's horn line. Having said that, I am not impressed with their song selection at all. Frankly, their music selections bore me, but of course, who cares what I think. They're doing just fine without my opinions. I just wish they'd perform something with a bit more of an edge to it, but I'm getting off topic. I wish Crown all the best in 2009. I hope they BASICALLY just keep doing what they've been doing. They've made fourth place. Now is no time to slow down or slack off. I like the old saying, "If it's not broke, don't fix it."

Thank you all for your suggestions. I assure you, I appreciate it. I will pay more attention that inside the mp is mushy and outside firm. I will also test my embouchure with the quiet tones without using the tongue to start, using "whoo." And, I will think of my embouchure as tasting somthing sour or drawstring bag. I am just wondering if it is possible that my problem could be from failing to keep the corners firm. That is, playing with my entire lips loose, corners and middle/center and with too large an apeture. And, up until about five days ago, I had been playing about 10 minutes of pedals as part of my warm up. Over doing it a bit maybe? Also, here's something I've often wondered about and too embarrassed to ask. We've all heard that one is supposed to rest as much as they play. Now, is that resting as much as you play between each exercise, or is it resting as much as you play between each practice session? Thanks again for your suggestions. I will give 'em a whorl and hope this frustration will end. Been "practicing" for 4 years on a 1952 Besson Brevette (England, not France) MP: 3C

Greetings, I am having trouble with playing after even just 20 minutes. After this time, I have trouble playing just about any note without having to force a lot of air. After 20 minutes or so of practicing, my tone is rather soft, impotent, and again, I have to force a lot of air to get any real volume. No, my lips don't hurt and yes, I believe I warm up long enough . . . maybe too much, I don't know. Warm-up consists of: 2 minutes of mouthpiece (nothing high or low) 2 minutes of scales from C, just below staff to G, second line (on trumpet) 5 minutes of scales from C just below staff to low pedal C 2 minutes of chromatic scales from C just below staff to C, 3rd space 5 minutes of long tones using second line G I then practice exercises from book for about 20 minutes Then, maybe 5 minutes of double tongue practice. I don't know if this may be contributing to my problem, but I don't really keep my corners firm/tight while playing except when needed with higher notes. Have you ever had a time when you, after even a short time of practicing, have had to force a lot of air to get ample sound, even in the middle range and even then, the sound is not clean or fat, but rather soft , without real clarity? If so, I'd like to hear what you have to say. Thank you

While walking outside the stadium but still in view of the show, there was a part where the guard fell to the ground. A little girl asked her mother, "Did they hurt themselves?"

I agree. If you are looking for a strong, powerful ending, Cadets often provide it. Yes. I am aware that in the last week of tour, they cut their original ending that included narration and a hug. But I was soooo grateful that the closer at Championships was Cadets-like. For me, their drill was much, much more exciting than Crown's. I am happy for Crown. They have a great horn line sound. I would rank it second or third. Their guard sure knows how to handle weapons and imo, the best guard in 2008 as far as technique goes. However, to me, their show (Crown's) was for the most part rather boring. I honestly didn't see them above The Cadets. Watch The Cadets' show and Crown's show back to back. Please enlighten me as to how I am to be so impressed with Crown's show to rank them fourth. Again, this is not meant in any kind of mean spirited way. I know people from Crown and they are some of the very nicest people I've ever met in drum corps. But this year, I guess I missed whatever it was I was supposed to see in their show because they did little for me in the way of being entertaining. For me, music selection was very uninspiring and their drill, though pretty darn clean admittedly, was nothing special or creatively new as far as I could see.

I just read a thread title that states what I have been thinking about The Cadets show: "Show Themes: are they getting in the way of good show design." In my opinion, that may be very well what is happening with this show. The Cadets had a great show at Van Buren. However, although I respect Mr. Hopkins for addressing a very thought-provoking show with a subject that all can relate to, is this theme and the message that Mr. Hopkins wants to convey getting in the way of a potentially great, highly entertaining show? Of course, that's a matter of opinion. However, it is my opinion that this may be valid here. I sincerely believe that if he closes his show with excitement, scores will go up, fans will squirm to get off there seats and cheer, and members will count the hours until they can once again blow their fans away with their consistantly high degree of performing talent. Hop, it's not too late to make some changes and give the fans an exciting ending to a very fine show. Just my thoughts.

Unlike many here, I'm not against Hop. Never met him. Cadets have been in the top three of my favorite corps throughout the years with the exception of '05. I've seen the show several times this year and just caught it in Van Buren. It is my opinion that they have a potenially great show. Glad to hear they have taken out the divorce and cancer dialog. Good decision. However, the show ends like a fizzling firecracker with no pop. If anyone has seen the show, I believe you know EXACTLY what I am writing about. Yes, I know that emotional endings can be quite effective (Santa Clara had a few of those). But in my opinion, the Cadets' ending is extremely ineffective and leaves the crowd quite unsatisfied, uncertain, with nothing to do but clap politely. It also robs the hard working members of the kind of applause they very much deserve. The Cadets have a very good show, but Please Mr. Hopkins, please try ending your show with excitement, not an ineffective, flat ending that leaves the fans and your members shortchanged. The request is of course the author's opinion only and is offered with a sincerity and good will for The Cadets and respect for Mr. Hopkins.

Yes, in my opinion, Crown has had one of the very best guards in DCI. The thing about Crown's guard is they are always moving and spinning. You don't see Crown's guard walking around with their rifles, sabres, or flags much at all. Did they (guard) get second at finals last year? Is Jenifo back?

the damage left by last week’s floods put the status of Memorial Stadium’s field in peril for the upcoming months. the entire field surface showed visible lumps in various spots on the turf. “The endzone was affected when the water rushed in,” IU director of football operations Harold Mauro said. “It moved the stones and sand around and created a large indent in the field.” The above is from Post #22 article of the Indiana Student News. They don't sound especially encouraging to me, but I know nothing about football field repair and what is involved. Regardless, I hope all corps have a great summer tour.

Crown is flashin' new unis this year, aren't they?

I see the sink hole as a visual metaphor: DCI slowly sinking in popularity. Everything on the top needs to come off and the structure beneath has to be rebuilt and made structurally sound. Gosh I'm deep. . . or full of it. Just havin' some fun here folks. Obviously, DCI is not responsible for the sink hole.

Not meaning to get off subject or hijack here, but DrumcorpsFan27, you're comments have always seemed to have logic and common sense to me. Okay DCP members; please resume with the regularly scheduled program

If there is a need for a Plan C, I would imagine DCI will need to make a statement either way ASAP. Of course, I realize they can't hurry up the engineers inspecting the field, but this being the second week of June and all . . . Having said that, and I know NOTHING about football field repair, is this something that is likely to take more than two months to fix? Even if they have to bring up everything, prepare the ground again and resurface, how long of a job might this be? I would think that IU is even more eager to get the ball rolling on this for their football team.

Yes, I'm with SilverTrombone on this one. With a curse like this, we need to get a Higher Authority involved. Seriously, I'm for ND, IF NECESSARY Oh, ah. . . one little thing I forgot to mention; I live in Michigan. Not that that makes any difference at all.

Just throwin' this out there: If there is a need to activate "Plan C," would it be in DCI's best interest to offer some kind of incentive to paying fans/customers or will there be satisfactory numbers (fans) regardless of the venue changes. I'm not being scarcastic here. In the long run, will lowering ticket prices help put bodies on the benches or some other kind of "We apologize for the inconvenience" offering?

It's the curse of the Great Bambino, drum corps style. What happened last year that might put a curse on DCI? Just havin' a little fun.

Indeed. Buses are almost empty after finals on their way to airports and going back home.

I don't know if lowering voice electronically is legal or illegal. But I absolutely loved BD last year and the judges made their decision. However, I do believe that rules should be inforced and penalties given when rules are broken. Otherwise, what is the purpose of rules? But in my opinion (yes, I know I'm not a judge and this is just my opinion), BD clearly won, voice lowering or not. Just my two cents.

Greetings All. I was just wondering if your corps has laid down luggage limits in order to accommodate the extra 15 members. Maybe it won't be a big deal at all, but I know that with 135 members, the bay compartments under the buses were already jammed packed. With five more sets of luggage on each bus (assuming your corps goes the limit), it seems to me that something will have to give. I have heard of at least one corps not permitting sleeping bags as only air mattresses will be permitted. I know it's not exactly an urgent subject, but again, I've seen the bays with 135. Just wondering if other corps have thought about this and are addressing this increase in luggage and reduction in luggage space. God be with those assigned to bus loading. Mods, if this has been done, please delete.

Blue Devils 2007 Blue Devils 2001 Blue Devils 2002 Cadets 2001 Cavaliers 2006

Both corps have had lots of magic moments in my opinion, but for me, Blue Devils entertain me far more. Their '07 show, especially the opener, mezmerized me. Absolutely fantiastic! Didn't care much at all for their '05 and '06 shows, but I just tell myself two uninspiring shows every 30 years or so ain't bad. As I've mentioned before, in my opinion, one if the major reasons the top five are the top five is because they are masters of SHOWMANSHIP!! You just don't see any member of these corps just going through the motions. They SELL their shows! I don't think all corps have figured this out and put much emphasis on this very important factor.

I am sincerely so sorry to hear about this tragic news. May God bless all who were involved in this very sad event. As someone who has driven a few buses, I am quite familiar with this topic. Accidents can happen to anyone. The following goes out to the tour directors and members. I realize that many of you don't have a lot of contact nor think much about your driver(s). I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just that you're all busy with other business and that's understood. But when drivers ask for rooms away from the volume of daytime rehearsals, may I suggest you do all you possibly can to accommodate them in providing as quiet a sleeping location for them as you can. Also, Tour Directors, please don't put drivers in the same room as other volunteer staff. Drivers have their own unique schedule. Sleeping rooms for drivers should only be for drivers. Othewise, you have people getting up at many different times, making noise while dressing or whatever and waking up drivers. Not smart. A corps out of South Carolina which is one of the best run corps I've ever been associated with unfortunately did this too often. I remember a videotographer who had no consideration at all for drivers when he got up to start his day, slamming doors, talking as if drivers weren't even in the room trying to get much needed sleep before a long haul. A real piece of work. DON'T MIX OTHERS IN WITH THE DRIVERS SLEEPING ROOM. Members, when you see a sign on a classroom door that states something like "Drivers Sleeping. Please be Considerate," may I suggest you walk by as quietly as possible. These suggestions, of course, are for EVERYONE'S safety. Some may think it funny to disregard such signs and make noise, but driver fatigue is quite real. It won't be funny at all if your driver loses the fight against fatigue because he/she was unable to get needed rest because of noise level.