brigmell01

Quick funny story - I had joined the Bushwackers in 1990, coming from the Sunrisers... but anyway - we were outiffited with a line of subject "King of all mello's". it was at one of our first outdoor rehearsals... and we were all standing in front of the then 18 wheeler equipment truck, horn arc looslely formed, and we were all "noodling" prior to warm up. it should be noted that the horns were years old. I was doing some lip slur things, and...decided to punch out high B natural...on top of my lungs. when I did so, the second valve slide.... SHOT off the side of the horn...hitting the person next to me in the arc.... everyone in that arc.... nearly peed their pants .....

-------------------------------- Tonyyyyyyyyy u guyz was 'dere --------- sorry I miised you!!!!! didn't hang around the party long after we played... I had a lonnggg azz drive early the next morning to get to rehearsal! Peace! R

----------------------- Sayre - that was a really nice write up - thank you! look for more additions to our program at DCA's - it's gonna be a GAS!!! Peace

"for those who understand, no explanation is necessary. for those who do not understand, no explanation is possible" heh.

Dennis Tech'd drill mid-eighties as well, and was adamned good tech - also doubled as assitant DM. Dennis was one of a kind - he had an awesome slightly more than left of center brand of humor that was - uniquely Sunrisers. Dennis - you wil be missed. Godspeed, my friend.

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----------------------------------------------------- fuhhhgeddddaaaabbbboouuddddiiittttttt

Just making the point that we ought to to get credit because we CAN do it. Not penalized for it. I never said NO ONE else could do it. ...................... disagree. credit is awarded for achievement of quality of performance, not for displaying a skill that most of us (myself included) have been in posession of since grade school. Not saying your group Doesn't achieve quality, mind you, just saying that the points are awarded for what you achieve - not derived. if you're reading from music and not getting credit for cleanliness (among other factors that memorization can yield), that's a concession you need to be prepared for, rather than whining about it. ... "THIS I believe..... shut up and play!"

the "acid cleaning" process, which is quite common, uses as part of the process, I believe, HCL (hyrochloric acid). I'm not a doctor or anything, but it was mentioned in a previous posting that HCL would kill the Hep A, so my suggestion to you would be to invest the roughly $50 and have the horn acid dipped. Any reputable repair shop will be able to do this for you, and the price of the procedure normally includes replacement of the felts and corks anyway. Hope that helps?

I wanted to take a moment and thank Scott for posting this link. The OMT experience is one that I will always relish; it was so cool to be associated with the group. There are a few other notable names involved with the project - Roy Chambers (drill), Laurie Nielsen-Hall, Dave Linton, and Larry Marchewitcz, among many others. (sorry if that is a butchering of the spelling, Larry!). Rock on!

Bush had a small amount of narration in 1990 as well.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAAAAGGGLLLEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P :P sorry - football season and all-- just couldn't resist!

----------------------- hi. first - if you have a particular corps (or plural) in mind that you plan on auditioning for, you may want to visit that corps' website, and learn who the brass caption head is. shoot them an email, and ask if they use matching equipment (most likely that will be the case), and what size(s) and/or makes they "reccomend" (hint hint wink wink nudge nudge). Alot of lines are using Curry or the standard 6v. I've posted before that my own personal preference (and reccomendation) is the Curry T1F - it's the biggest one they make. My suggestion to you, though, would be to begin getting used to the equipment that you will be asked to play on - BEFORE you audition. Nothing worse than having to make an awkward mouthpiece transition - especially if you want to be assured of: a. landing a spot, and b. keeping it.

FRAN: you and Barbara are in my thouhts and prayers, my brother. If there is *anything* I can do for you AT ALL, all you need do is ask. You have my number. Godspeed Rick Roberts

----------------------------- most corps lines keep the mells on the open 4th/5ths. this serves several puposes, but mostly - ear training. you can't play mello successfully without solid ear training. If you put them on unison for slur excesrizes, they will not be learning the natural harmonic series of their instruments. especially since you are dealing with high school students, I would reccomend keeping it with the open 4ths and fifths, and developing their ear training. keep it simple. work on mouthpiece buzzing and singing, too!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Practicing!

..................... my favorite Pepe memory has got to be, hands down.. the 1987(?) DCA video interview with Fran Haring... especially when he broke into the chorus of Summ-A-Tiiiimmee ..... (whudda piece, yahw muddah)...... then again... there was also this... in 1980, Pepe taught the Trumbull Bengal Lancers. The corps was on its last legs (it would fold that later that summer). There was this rookie girl sop player who just couldn't remember, not for the life of her, the timing of when to bring her horn down at the ond of the production number (the song escapes me). Pepe's instruction to her was ; 'hay... you... goil.... brraah-ching-bow! DOWN!'. The whole hornline nearly fell down with aughter when he said it.....I can still hear him sayin it to this very day!

--------------------------- Dude - the megatone does not belong on mellophone unless your sole purpose is killing every cat within a 20 mile radius of your practice facility. Seriously - SInce you are a horn major - look at the Curry T1F - that's the deepest one. The I.D. of the rim is wider than the 6V (it's a trumpet rim), and the cup is much deeper. You'll shave about a third from your range intially, but the sound is deep and full, and you'll match the rest of your section quite nicely. step away from the megatone. b**bs

1983 Cadets - Z pull - EAST EAST EAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--- if they are, I'd love to have a copy!

--------------------- I stand corrected must'a been thinkin of a different year........ ----------------------

-------------------- ....psssttttt hey Frank..... I think Gene Boyle played that flugel solo...not Duane. b**bs

--------------- Jeff: thank you so much. 86 was a tough year for Sun - didn't fill out the corps untill late in the season (too late really), trying something - a little different to say the least ( if Im not mistaken, first fully thematic show in DCA!). Musically, with brass charts arranged by Jim Prime, percussion arranged by Dave China, how could you go wrong??? Visually...if only we had had three more weeks..... lol

....................... another big factor to consider here.... drum corps playing is large ensemble playing, and the key is to get a homogenuous sound across the line... with lots more players involved than in an orchestral or band setting, a big argument can be made for matching equipment, including mouthpeices . the 6v is unfortunately the standard (as previously stated, I am a Curry fan), but the Curry does mix n match well within a 6v line.. I wouldnt stray too far from using one of the v shaped cups... otherwise, you're highly likely to be the one 'sticking out'... and no one wants to be THAT guy....lol