Tapper7

Congrats to Cadet Corps. 23rd in the World. SCVA - the Star that you wear on your tunic, the tilt of your Aussie, the shine on your Dinkles ... all symbols of the most consistent Drum Corps to EVER take the Field of Honor. (Not just score/placement wise). Our tradition guides us in everything we do. Who else has a Cymbal Line that could take over a small country? Who else tries to make their toes touch their kneecaps on the fwd march? Who else is hard as slate on the outside but smooth 'n cool as Jello on the inside? Who else has Euphs and Barrys that hornsnap so fast you only see 2 frames: carry and horns-up? Who else does hornline parade-rest ripples that take <1 second? Or company fronts that bow <1inch? Who looks larger than life under the lights? Who can be heard 7 miles away on humid Nebraska morn? What exp. causes Marine Corps Officers and Enlisted men to say Boot Camp or OCS was "a joke?" Ill give u a hint, tomorrows your last day, Santa Clara.*** It is the staff that wrote your show, then rewrote it, etc ... the staff that set your itinerary based how last night's show went. The staff that pushed you to limits you never thought possible. One of them probably changed your life. Despite their excellence, in the tradition of Gale, Myron, Rick South, Dean Westman, Ralph Hardimon, Glen Crosby, Jim Casella and all the field trench-techs; Chris Williams, Bagel, Murray, Eppy, Belski, Eric Hand, et al.... The VICTORY will be yours and yours alone. Remember: everything you do tomorrow, 8s &8s, timing, ..... cheesy poofs, the double beat, basics, triples, quads, chunks, the run-thru, even a ready-front ... could be your last ever. Think about that and cherish every second from revelie to taps. So shine up, suit up, remember your training, keep your ears n eyes open ... then throw a gallon of emotion-gasoline on the field and light a match. Then, "Take it home ...." No dry eyez guyz. None. When you play Clowns for the last time, you will cry, not quite sure how it works mechanically, but my body has been able to SOB and belt out double-G's. ***Paragraph NOT a knock on any other musical organization. I wanted to point out some strong suits that SCV is traditionally known for.

1996. A Defiant Heart.

Rad. thx. Boo and Reed seem to like SCVs pgm. Then again, we were the "Reliable Rondo Pick" Finals night in 97. The rvws dont give u much of read on the score ... not that I care about the score ... so long as the audience bought it and there were multiple standing o's. ... and they stay in the top6

Now where did I put those "chill pills"???

Could you and byline clarify a bit more? I'm not on the webcast and I didnt get a chance to see SCV live this year. btw- the hornline should have more presence; @minimum, the goal is to peak @ Finals. I'd be happier to hear the whole corps kicked it up a notch, but ill take goodnews wherever it may be.

10/4. As an Alumni I do have some room to get my whine on, w/in the boundaries of good taste. thx for the update. As for "Relax" ... not till I see scores for SCV, PR, Cavs, BD and Gah-field. So is Blooooo on or INT or ?

wow did i shoot my mouth off - supersop posted the most updated action as I posted 'OT'

Can the tech-talk! OT. What's happening in Indiana?

The following 'eras' refer to DIV I only as these eras lasted a bit longer in divII/III as 'b' corps, 'cadet' corps relied on hand-me-downs to cut costs. The Pre-DCI era ( <1971) The Piston-rotor, marching xylophone era (1971 - 1980,81,82,83?? some help???) This era also saw death of 90 to 100 percent of the show being high-mark-time. yeeGOD. The two-valvie era (Early 80s to 1996, when DIV I saw their last alto horns, 2-valve Euphs, Bars., Sops and Mellos. This era also saw the development a asymmetrical drill. Now you could play a whole scale if you were above the register .... but Ab req. the false partial. Zig's "tune any-note kicker solved that. Thee 3-valve era (still in G) 1997 to ~2000)) Ab-s!!! in tune!!! The Bb + amps era (2001 - present) I agree it tiz more "musical"; has that church organ feel to it. But nothing will ever strip aluminum siding off of bleachers like a the military G bugle does. In 97 we ere practicing 7 miles apart from the Cadets ... after speaking to them after the show, we realized we could hear each other. Humid Nebraska air no doubt helped, but ... 7 miles. It was like a little radio was hitting ensemble chunks of their show inside a tiny radio inside my ear, they exp. the same effect. Re: 1993. Not the end of an era. The beginning of one. 1993 Star was 30 yrs ahead of it's time. I mean that. So many aspects of their viz, brass arr., perc. arr., and marching technique (ie dancing and toe-1st in the hornline) have been "borrowed" or "improved upon" since that famous (and my #1 fav alltime) show that it is already w/o number.

Top6 predictions: In 6th place, with a score 91.2 ... 91.2 The Santa Clara Vanguard!* In 5th place, with a score of 91.7 ... 91.7 The Phantom Regiment! In 4th place [this one is a LOCK IMO], w/ a score of 94.0 ... 94.0 Carolina Crown!* In 3rd place, with a score of 95.5 ... 95.5 - The Cavaliers! In 2nd place, with a final score of 96.1 - 9-6 point 1 - The Holy Name Cadets! (Is that what we call them now, not sure ...) That means the 2011 DCI World Champions, with a score of 96.2 - 9-6 pt. 2 - The Blue Devils! *Looks like its time for SCV to squeeze back into the Top6 ... paving the way for 5th, 3rd ..... you know how it goes! ;) ** Pt-wise there is a fairly wide space above and below 4th, so I don't see Crown moving out of 4th. This also should give them the street-cred to get a medal next year and after that, maybe even a ring. That would be a Cinderella story if I ever heard one.... "DCI 2015 Gold Medal goes to ... Carolina Crown." Ida never believed ya when I was in HS. Now it's a reality. With the right show and minimum ageout/turnover ... it could be 2014, h#@% it could be 2013. I am so proud of this DC. In 1996 it was us battling it out with Crown, Pioneer, Les Etoiles, Kiwanis Kavaliers and Academie Musicale for the coveted 12th spot ... and now look at them! Topping PR and SCV. Kudos Crown.

This belongs in the Jr. Historical forum but im seeking info about jr corps post 89. Aaanyway. I'm curious about the denizens of the 50 yd line ... putting it all on the line in a way no other musical activity does. YOU ONLY GET ONE TAKE as they used to tell me. In 96 I played the lead part in a 4 pt. small ensemble (the swing section in the Jetsons) i had the honor of getting to play a doubleG ON MY KNEES / LEANING BACK. The 2nd bar part was played by an excellent player whose name I do not recall, only that he hailed from SD - Grosemont HS. 2 alto horns rounded out the texture .... Arvin and ... I remember 20 things about him but not the name. Also - Antii Karvonen (classmate) had a sop solo in Jetsons, we also had a screamer (name??) who had done Freelancers in 93, BD 94-95 (i think) and joined late season, not wanting to miss his age out but not wanting the stress of ring-chasing. Ill start w/ what I DO know and then request what I wish I knew - If I am not sure of any facts I will mark it so. 95 VK - Bar soloist - known to me only as Bill (last name?) He could play ANY bugle with astonishing range, tone and volume. Rumor had it he had started on Mello @BD, moved to lead soprano @ SCV, took a break and then aged out @ VK. In 96 he was the ###'t to the caption head - Greg Flores, a professional bass tbn player. 95 BD - Scott Stewart - had a very famous solo - every sop knows the lick "ba da dit dit dat do da eee dit dooo do de dooowwww" [repeat phase, but last 3 notes are 8va - doubleA, doubleB, doubleC!!!] then he trills on a doubleG .... one more articulated G, then another dubC. Scott was hired by Magic Kingdom Korps to play Mello following his age-out. All we did was follow them + Trashcan Trio around when we had free days @ Disneyland. MKK has an arr. of Big Noise From Winnetka - they decided to give a VERY LONG (3 -5min) improvised cradenza to Stewart. OMG I got to hear it 3x that night and I never ever heard so much range, tone, volume and talent come out of Kanstul Mellophone in G. So who else solos in 95 BD? 89 BD opener - John Meehan doin his family proud. Thats all I have to say about 89 BD. anyone want to post other names? 89 SCV - one of my teachers, (Jeb or Jed?) was one of our bar. consultants. Last time I checked he was 1st chair tbn. w/ Houston Symphony. Don't know who the other bar. is/are or the sops. 90 VK - who are the two sop soloists in the ballad? 92 VK - my friend and teacher - Brian Belski on Contra! 90 Scouts - who makes up the sop "scream team" that year? 92 SCVA - Tim Meehan has a nice (fairly certain) octave jump from a high B to double B in 2nd production. Anyone want to fill in other soloists names for this group? The Mello solo when the crowd starts clapping along w/ the accelerando? 94 BD - a litany - my good friend Roland Garceau is up front @ the end. Carey (sp?) gettin down .... who are the rest, who is the big bar. dude that has a grip of solos? 93 Scouts - who makes up the sop "scream team" that year? 95 Scouts- again - who makes up the sop "scream team" that year? Those guys were ridonkulous 96 Scouts - who is that dude they recruited from (The Netherlands?) So they could open with Arturo's "A mis Abuelos" That guy was sssssmmmmmokinnn!! 96 BD - was Billings soloing by then? Who else? I should know this. 97 BD - all about Sean Billings, especially in closer ...."do dut dut dweh dit do ............... *******doubleC-in tune @ffff******** Also my friend from HS, shining brightly in a small ens. jazz improv ditty. Brain Kettlehut. word. 97 SCV - mainly it was all about our Horn Sgt; Eric "Dark" Hand, small ens in intro is Hand, (I am sorry Ms., your name has slipped!) and Chosen* Mello solo during triangle rotations in On the WaterFront is Matt Carrol** Hand again in Ballad, Carrol again on the three-note E-DF#.....backfield. Erchin (sp?) has 1-bar snare solo in 7/8 time "playful" 3rd production. The sop line and front end are also featured (I still have no clue what the time-changes were during that pit feature ... words cannot describe Jim Cassella's writing) Hand one more time in closer. *Chosen went on to be DM **Carrol "real instrument" is tbn, which he credited with teaching him to put enough air through to get that elegant sound he ALWAYS had (I never heard him frack) Feel free to add years, Corps and drum solos. Horn Sgts .... center snares .... Thx.

I soleley wanted to add a compliment, but as this mean-spirited post came up on my screen, I will reply and THEN post what I had initially wanted to say: @alBAC -- The reason DC fans sit down with a hot dog and munch on it whilst a TOP SIX DC plays this great composiion is that it is a DC CLASSIC. To save space, this chart has been made famous on the field of honor by: 78 Sundowners 79 Madison 04 Crown 02 Renegades Ill stop there If this is a knock on the kids' ability or discipline or espirit de corps, you are out of line /rant My heart swells everytime a new corps grows out of the mire of 16th, 13th, 11th, 20th ... and suddenly becomes a contender for not just the top three - but a ring. With VK, we were back and forth with Crown competitively, but as Units, we always had great fun after shows. The Brass Caption Head was this way cool guy I knew only as Donkey Kong. Despite 3000 miles, I considered marching there in 97 because I wanted to play lead in Donkey Kong's line. MAD RESPECT AND a tip of the Aussie to YOU Crown. the diff. between a 93 and above is EMOTION. Standing O's, SHOCKING the judges/fans, and bringing the house down. @93.whatever. you are likely close technical perfection. "GE" frequently separate the top3 and 456. Best of luck from a left-coaster. ps - brass - AIR.

Alisha I know you did. When I finally got around checking DCP, I did check my InBox. a message titled: "Re: Skare" from SomeGuardChk ... that we either YOU or Kanika. I still havent read it. If ONE PERSON reached out to me. I am glad it was you. At work ... my boss is gone so I'm functioning @ 1/10th capacity right now. F-them. We get so backwards in our lives; we put put work first then friends, then family ... its all backwards ... we need to start putting FAMILY first ... then everything else. Cuz thats who will be there when your friends leave and your job downsizes. Family. That's what we are. You know how I know? I could walk up to SomeGuardChick and say "Casey's a f---ing show-dog," and she would laugh hysterically///you're laughing now arent you sweety? I miss you. You are maybe the only one who knows our inside jokes ... THE REAL ONES. So much has changed ... we gotta talk. Ill PM soon and send you my cell#. Hugs N' Kisses. Thanks to the honorable Gilman who shed some light on the tragedy for me - pulling me out of the dark. All - I am sorry I am not so sure about marching. I wish I could say "it's about the corps this is what Rich would want ...etc." all I want to do is honor his memory. And whether that is to March 2011. Play a solo in his honor @ I&E. Direct a mixed ensemble in his name @minicorps, all three, just one of them, or nothing ... I have to do some soul searching to figure out what is in the best interest of my my departed brother. For once it's not about "The Corps" or The Activity. Alicia we'll chat soon. :) There is so much catching up yo do, thanks for PMing me on the day he died. I apologize that you didnt have up-to-date emails and ph#. Ill explain soon.

Sometimes information (even in 2011) ... It takes awhile to filter down through the various channels. The means by which we communicate. I don't "Facebook" and I tore down my blog and my myspace page. I have found that social networking gets you into trouble on a personal AND professional level. Something you wrote in 2003 that you thought was funny gets read by a loved one in 2010 who finds it not so. It just isn't worth the drama and the potential for drama. Oh but I am starting to go "off-topic" as me and my best friend did so many times. I knew he was my best friend because every time I called him he usually said,"Tapper I was just thinking about you," or "I was just talking about you today," or "I was just about to call you." When he would call me ... he would usually begin with, "Tapper, whats up, man? I miss you!" Always said with heartfelt sincerity. A scheduling mix-up led to my boss calling my cell phone ... "CHRIS - WHY AREN'T YOU AT WORK!?!" *growl* "Ummm. what? I'm off this week? I'm in Chicago? Remember I'm in this musical thing called Drum Corps? I have shows all weekend?" When I got home it was the assmgr who forgot to put the days off on the the calender - my word against his, guess who lost? I was fired immediately. With my BS from Cal Poly complete, unemployed and my apt. lease up in 2 weeks --> It was time to say goodbye to San Luis Obispo, my home for 7 years. So I drove up to Santa Clara (again). Homeless, unemployed and broke. Again. My best friend opened up his home to me ... there were two couches and the legendary Roland Garceau was already sleeping on one of them. That couch was my bed for almost two years. He gave me a job - I became the office manager of Cleanway USA Carpet Cleaning. He put a roof over my head. And he kept me from starving. Weekends became religion - whether it was rehearsal, a show, a gig or Bluegrass music and too many Miller High Lifes. Every minute of it seemed precious. Everyminute of it was. I still don't know exactly what happened to my best friend ... just that he's gone and that he left either on, just b4 of just after Thanksgiving. He called me just days before. Maybe it was the last day. The topic was would I come up and march in 2011. So we could march together. To create a million more memories to add to millions we already have. That's a lot. Not nearly enough though. We were supposed to create memories well into the billions and I did NOT think I would out-live him. Rich Skare is my best friend. He always will be. I AM CRUSHED BY THIS LOSS. But that's the way information filters. If I had logged on to ANY drum corps page in the last 2 months I would have known. But I didnt. I guess I figured someone would call me. I posted my work-email on another forum on Dec. 8. I guess I figured someone would have emailed. Finding out that your best friend has departed by logging onto a corps Web site is not the ideal way to receive this type of news. I have a lot of catching up to do in terms of grieving. Shock, despair, desperation, exhaustion (I fell asleep at my desk at work last thursday). Anger. Now I'm in denial. I just can't picture life/reality without my best friend. I could write 20,000 pages on this topic. I'll stop now. S--- I Stomp them.

When is CNY?

Nalls, you been on lately? I really want to get that mello. :) PM me ill send you my email, home address, etc ...

Thanks but I'm not interested in buying a Dynasty. If anyone has a 3v Kanstul mellophone in G pleeeasse!!! PM me! I hate to say this the individual who was supposed to sell me his has disappeared (~4 unanswered emails and 2 unanswred PM's) My mom is acttually considering asking the factory to build a custom one, but I hate to see her spend that kind of $$$ - they dont do production runs of G bugles anymore, so it would be custom and would run $1200, $1000 at best. If anyone can help please PM me or post thanx

Please note: I AM still looking for a Kanstul mellophone in G. Hopefully in good condition. If anyone has one available please PM me or post here. I put this search on hold because I'm still poor, but my Mom wanted to get me one for my 30th birthday (which was about 2 weeks ago) and obviously that didnt work out. So if you got the horn I'm looking for hit me up. The search is on again!

Special thanks to Traveler - BD Alum (and marching buddy from 2004) who has located the mello I've been looking for. And thanks to everyone on DCP for the help, advice, suggestion etc ...

Chris, Dude, thats sounds like a great idea. Thanks and it was great to see you too. Your hornline really sent a chill down my spine ... despite the long weekend and 105 degree heat, you guys really brought it OMT is the shiz-nit, and that old EW&F chart in funky-fresh. Word. To everyone else, can we not devolve into discussions about mello's in general please keep it to discussions regarding where mello's can be found, how much they cost, etc ... It seems some of you dont get the part about how I DO NOT want a piston-rotor. In fact - to be even MORE picky (hah hah, like I have a right ....) I want a 3-valvie. I only want a 2v if its a Star of Indiana era K50. And as long as your reading this - dont miss The Loudest Show On Earth - next weekend, somewhere in the bay area. Its your last chance to get down with the left coast sr. corps!!! PLUS I understand The Freelancer Alumni will also be stripping paint off the walls ... Featuring the Legendary Carl Allison on barry, and a grip of screamers. Three syllables: Ma-la-ga. Thanks again.

what up DCP People!!! Happy drumcorps season to all!! aaaannyways ... I am looking for a G Mellophone, 2 or 3 valvie. I've been playing baritone for about 20 years now and feel it's time to branch out - especially since my current sr. corps (sadly) is lacking in the small bore section. Some of the best brass players I've ever met could switch freely from barry to mello/sop or vice versa. Someday I wish to join those ranks but I need something to get started on 1st. Specifically, I'm looking for a King, Benge or Kanstul G Mello. Possibly Jupiter if they make them in G. Anything designed and manufactured by ol' Zig would be fine. Sorry I dont like DEGs - .... no Dynasty's for me. Nothing against them; just not my style. And No piston rotors - Im not THAT old (hehheh...) I'm going to be PM'ing some of you hacks out there who may know where to find one but please respond to this thread if you have any idears or places to check. Ebay, craigslist and other google searches have yielded squat. My local "Band" store just laughed when I asked if they ever ordered rare brass instruments. This would be for 2010 - I need to finish out the season on the ol' Barry, but I'm looking to buy a mello for the fall to start building my chops - and im looking to spend 250? 300? 400? something like that.

Thanks to all who have viewed and replied thus far. It has come to my attention that in addition to horns (any) we are also in need of battery (again, ANY). Snare, tenor, Bass whatever you play come on out and we will welcome you. (perc. arr. by DC hall of famer Ralph Hardimon, btw...) :) Become a founding member of the Kingsmen Sr. Corps! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I'm proud to be a part of this and I hope you will join me. It is our wish to promote the growth of the activity here in SoCal, the West Coast and of course "the activity as a whole" You know what I'm talkin' 'bout! Hey, if this nets us a few or even one new member itll be worth it, right?