united92

I talked to my son who performed a little while ago. He said the field is really compacted and it felt like it hadn't been prepped for the show.

Blue Stars are indeed wearing new uniforms. They're navy with white shoulders. The 2008-2009 uniforms were navy/white jackets with white pants. The new uniforms are very similar to the 2010-2012 (gray with white shoulders)uniforms.

Most manufacturers produce a daily contact. My son has been using these on tour for several years. When it's time to sleep on the bus, he takes them out, throws them away and has a new pair the next day.

My son is a structural engineering major and will be performing on finals night for the fourth time. This is his third year on lead and he is also the section leader. While there are many in his section who are music majors, it really comes down to talent and dedication. If you love the activity and you are willing to put forth the effort, there really isn't any reason why you can't succeed. As many here have said, you need to be prepared for the audition by practicing during the off season.

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Don't forget about the Power Votes. Pepsi products with yellow caps or the words "Power Votes" on the packaging have a code that results in additional votes. These Power Votes are in addition to regular daily vote. I've received 40 additional votes through the yellow caps that I used to support the Blue Stars.

The Angel with the tires marched Blue Stars some time ago and currently has a child in the Blue Stars. The Angel is still very passionate about drum corps.

A brass judge was announced at the Grand Rapids show.

There were about 10-12 vets from the trumpet line at camp (6 of the 8 leads were returning lead trumpets). There were a couple vets that had concerts this weekend and could not make camp. The Jupiter trumpets sound good. The trumpets are a professional concert horn and not a marching horn. The returning leads said they liked the sound and the way they played. Tubas are about 10 pounds heavier than the Kings, so tuba players will get a real work-out on the field. To my ears, the Jupiter horns have a bigger sound.

Nike makes contact lenses in an amber tint and in a green tint. They were designed for use in outdoor sports. The amber lenses are similar to blublocker sunglass lenses. My son says both are good outdoors, but the amber contacts do a better job cutting the glare from the sun. Nike's advertisement says that the green lenses were designed for sports like golf and baseball. A box of 6 lenses costs about $50 and must be purchased through an optomestrist.

Keith Brion's focus is arranging music in Sousa's original style for the New Sousa Band, which he conducts. He has done an arrangment of this piece and it is published through Southern Music Co. in San Antonio. The Valparaiso Community Band (Indiana) does an annual Sousa concert with Keith Brion as guest conductor. Jeff Doebler, director of bands at Valparaiso University, is the band's conductor. I don't remember if this is a piece we have done (I'm a member), but Jeff could tell you or help you track down the music. If you're interested in playing the piece in the traditional Sousa style (which is different than what most bands perform), he can also offer insight. You might also check out the web site for the New Sousa Band for a list of Sousa arrangements. Good luck. (PS, my son marched Pioneer for 3 years on sop)

Hey, I was there, too and I AM in the video. It's a clip taken after the 4th of July parade in 2005. Pioneer soprano, 2004, 2005, 2006