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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2013. The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps’ Open House yesterday was an enormous success, and an exciting beginning for this legendary drum corps in our journey to hit the field in 2014. More than 100 performers (almost 110!) actively participated – playing brass, battery, cymbals and pit percussion with more than 20 color guard performers practicing. In addition to the Skyliners staff, we also welcomed about 25 parents and a number of Skyliner Alumni who came out to perform or show support. Rob Stein, Brass Designer, and Scott Carey led the brass instruction, supported by Mark Murphy, Ryan Lamoreux, and Ed O’Connor. After warm-ups, the horn line worked through the first 1-1/2 minutes of the show – “Feeling Good” - which included hints of melody from “Blue Skies.” This arrangement gives the listener everything you want to hear from this horn line - featured brass players, lush chords, and well-placed dynamics that build into the rush that one would expect from this song. The enthusiasm and talent level of the battery, under the direction of Percussion Caption Head Eric Boylan, and Brendan Carter, will be a driving force for 2014. The battery ensembled the Opener with the horn line in the auditorium under the direction of Drum Majors Adam Burdett and Steph Carbonell. Ashley Eden, Front Ensemble Technician, worked with the 14 - 15 pit percussionists on keyboards and technique. To give everyone a taste of the talent level and potential of this group, the Front Ensemble performed for the other members and attendees at the end of the day. The Skyliners are thrilled to welcome cymbal players to the corps as well. The color guard members in attendance, led by Michele Fadden, Color Guard Instructor, stretched, danced, and learned a flag routine to go with the corps’ opener, “Feeling Good”. At the end of the day, the color guard performed their routine for the rest of the attendees. Their movement and work definitely helped convey the sentiment and mood of this song. View our Open House video at: http://youtu.be/HMspTSw-oBg All in all, it was a great Skyliner Open House and first step towards taking the field in 2014. We thank everyone who attended today, everyone who helped set up and clean up for the Open House, or helped in so many ways to make it such a success. To those who were not able to attend due to school/family commitments, please mark the Skyliners’ next rehearsal on your schedule: Date/Time: November 30, 2013 ~ 10:00 – 6:00 P.M. Location: Wyoming Valley West High School 150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651 Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/places/wyoming-valley-west-hs-plymouth-pa-2216650/ Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.Sky2014.org, or the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/skylinersdbc. For more information, please contact Larry Carbonell at join@sky2014.org.

If the success and interest seen at the Skyliners' Open House this weekend is any indication, the 2014 DCA Season is going to be exciting for this legendary drum corps!! More than 100 performers (almost 110!) actively participated – playing brass, battery, cymbals and pit percussion with more than 20 color guard performers practicing. If you LOVE TO PERFORM AND ENTERTAIN and want to be part of a high velocity, intensity-packed brass and percussion-driven marching program, the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps is the place for you! The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps’ next rehearsal will take place: Date/Time: November 30th, 2013 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.M. Location: Wyoming Valley West High School 150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651 Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/places/wyoming-valley-west-hs-plymouth-pa-2216650/ Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.Sky2014.org or the new Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/skylinersdbc. For more information, email Larry Carbonell at info@skylinersdbc.org.

If the success and interest seen at the Skyliners' Open House this weekend is any indication, the 2014 DCA Season is going to be exciting for this legendary drum corps!! More than 100 performers (almost 110!) actively participated – playing brass, battery, cymbals and pit percussion with more than 20 color guard performers practicing. If you LOVE TO PERFORM AND ENTERTAIN and want to be part of a high velocity, intensity-packed brass and percussion-driven marching program, the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps is the place for you! The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps’ next rehearsal will take place: Date/Time: November 30th, 2013 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.M. Location: Wyoming Valley West High School 150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651 Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/places/wyoming-valley-west-hs-plymouth-pa-2216650/ Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.Sky2014.org or the new Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/skylinersdbc. For more information, email Larry Carbonell at info@skylinersdbc.org.

I was just glancing at the live blog of the Bands of America grand nationals, held earlier this evening, and noticed Michael Boo's report that Marcus (TX) High School's show "Charmed" featured a serpent, the instrument that more or less preceded the tuba, having been used from the mid-16th through early-19th centuries. This appearance tickles me because in my youth, I performed in a Medieval/Renaissance instrument band, though never on serpent (we didn't have one), but sometimes, falteringly, on its cousins, the cornett and lizard. (From time to time, I have argued that if any woodwind instrument is to be permitted in drum corps, it must be the shawm, which needs no amplification.) Every now and again, one sees a serpent (or perhaps an ophliceide or a bombardon) at TubaChristmas events, along with more common novelties like helicon tubas and double-belled euphoniums. Would such an instrument be permitted in DCI? In addition to percussion and electronic instruments (ugh), DCI's rules permit any bell-front brass instruments (in all keys) except trombones and sousaphones. From this Wikipedia article (see also the wonderful illustrations on this page) it appears that there were some serpents with front-facing bells. But does "brass" in DCI's terms refer to the so-called "brass family" of instruments, or is it understood that such instruments must be metallic? Serpents are typically made of wood encased in leather. And would it be loud enough to be heard without amplification? (Michael: was tonight's serpent miked or acoustic?) Oh, and while I'm on the subject of the BoA live blog, last year I asked whether DCI was missing a good promotional opportunity by not advertising in the souvenir program at the Ohio Music Education Association state championships, where approximately 120 bands with 12,000 students perform and thousands of parents also are in attendance. (Bands of America does advertise in the OMEA program.) Responses here were mixed, but several people said there'd be no point, because all the attendees are surely familiar with DCI. Well, well, well ... it turns out that even people who follow the supposedly more elite bands in BoA, whose championships are conducted in the same venue as DCI's, aren't as well-informed as you might guess. Members of the Cavaliers drumline performed as the bands filed out for the awards, and in the blog I read: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Guest: "Who are the Cavaliers?" Michael Boo: "The Cavaliers are a drum and bugle corps from a suburb of Chicago. Drum and bugle corps is a summer activity. They have members from around the country. Their drum line gave a clinic earlier today at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention across the street from the stadium." ... (Different) Guest: "Gonna be weird till one year later. (no competition)." Michael Boo: "Do you know about WGI Winter Guard and WGI Indoor Marching Percussion events? It will help you get through you withdrawal. And then there's drum corps in the summer!" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The BOA winner this year, so I read, was The Woodlands High School, also from Texas, with "Crossing Boundaries". From a bad youtube video of their BOA regional performance a week or two ago, they do appear to have had a pretty good show, and not too heavy on the electronics, which I always appreciate. Congratulations to them.

I have someone that creates music soundtracks. This is some epic music that will fit into any drum corps style of playing. They can create and score any type of music you want. Go to this site and listen to some of the clips that's available. You won't be disappointed. They're also on Facebook under Alnilam-Music. https://www.pond5.com/artist/alnilammusic#1

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT from the Jim Ott Brass Ensemble: http://jimottbrass.org/2013/11/01/jim-ott-brass-ensemble-plans-for-dci-2015/

I'm selling a used silver 3 valve Dynasty DEG GG contra. It's about 39 to 40 inches long and has a 17 inch bell. There is no case or mouthpiece. I have pictures available for you to see this horn. Please e-mail me and I will send them to you. $800 or your best offer. There is an additional $75 fee for shipping. If you're not completely satisfied, I will refund your money back to you within three weeks of delivery. However, you will be responsible for shipping this contra back to me. Again, please e-mail me at demott@frontiernet.net if you are seriously interested or have any questions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2013. If you LOVE TO PERFORM AND ENTERTAIN and want to be part of a high velocity, intensity-packed brass and percussion-driven marching program, the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps is the place for you! The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps’ Open House will take place: Date/Time: November 23rd, 2013 12:00 – 6:00 P.M. Location: Wyoming Valley West High School 150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651 Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/places/wyoming-valley-west-hs-plymouth-pa-2216650/ We are very excited about the extraordinary team that we have put together for the Skyliners’ return to the field of competition for the 2014 season. The Skyliners relocated to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area, and most of our instructional staff live and teach locally. The Skyliners’ 2014 Brass Arranger is Rob Stein. Percussion Arranger/Caption Head is Eric Boylan, with Ashley Eden as Front Ensemble Technician, and Brendan Carter as Bass Drum Technician. Adam Burdett is the Skyliners’ Visual Designer. Scott Carey and Mark Murphy have joined the Skyliners as Brass Technicians. Skyliners Director Larry Carbonell will be coordinating the brass caption. Skyliners’ Show Coordinator is Bob Fizette. View our Staff Bios at http://www.skylinersdbc.org/Staff-Admin.html. We invite you to be a part of something exciting that is new and old, and help bring this celebrated drum corps back into the field of competition. No stock charts, more affordable dues than other corps, and an after school/work and weekend experience you will not forget! Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.Sky2014.org or the new Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/skylinersdbc. For more information, email Larry Carbonell at info@skylinersdbc.org.

I'm not looking forward to these responses because I'm pretty sure I already know the answer but here it is anyways. I'm from Texas and I've always always wanted to march DCI and within the past couple of years I've had my heart set on marching Crossmen. I've been training and practicing but recently I found out that I have a major conflict with the callback camp (region auditions and finals week, two completely unavoidable events) so I wanted to know before I make a decision to cut the dream short or march Genesis, what is the attitude the Xmen staff have towards callbacks? Is it completely not optional or could I potentially do a video audition or attend another event or literally anything in lieu of physical attendance if I am invited to callbacks? I would jump over the moon 4 times to march with them, but I can't make a $200 camp investment for a corps I know I would not be marching due to scheduling. Thanks for your time you're all the best. And for those of you who don't really care about my situation, any guesses on the new uniform look? I'm so excited for it!