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the next two big innovations


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I think DCI should use the creature in your avatar as an advertising spokesman, a la Blockbuster and the animals in the pet store! At the very least the Cavaliers should!! (not being sick, folks--green color + cute animal = more advertising impact than anything the activity has EVER garnered!!)

LOL---cuz nothing says hard work, determination like a fluffy green rat :D

Forget the nay-sayers! I think it is brilliant. Not all the drill has to be improvised, but parts. It is

My future development is that the corps will start figuring out ways to use more levels on the field, building human pyramids, scaffolds, stilts? Just brainstorming.....

Wouldn't that be turning color gaurd into cheerleaders?

Improvised drill

1. follow the leader. Have one person go wherever they want and have everyone follow. Set a start and end point and make sure they are the same and the time interval in between could consist of follow the leader snake drill. Maybe you could have several of these lines at once occupying pre-designated areas of the field.

2. displaced step off's. Have several lines in positions in the field with a predetermined path and number of counts. Have one member of each line count off a sep-off whenever he/she wants. You could redetermine the paths of the lines so that two different lines are meant to pass through each other. Since the stepoff's are improvised, the count at which the lines pass through will be different each night. If you determine that the lines will make a direction change at the moment they pass through you could have random direction changes

1. Isn't that called form marching? (not trying to be rude, just trying to understand concept)

2. I totally LOVE this one...if i understand it right----"row, row, row ur boat....."

Regarding the OP's original suggestions:

Unfortunately, I think what is more likely to happen, is that we'll see more and more gimmicks:

- laser lights

- woodwinds and other instruments

- poetry

- electronic sound effects

- entire segments without music but with other sounds

- pre-sequenced electronic instruments

- more sound men

- amplified horns

- marching electronic instruments

- electronic alteration and/or distortion of instruments

- powered props that can do things on their own

- speakers in the upper deck for surround sound

- use of artificial wind, or water, or fire

- video projection

We will be told that these are innovation, but in fact they would all be easy. That's why they are more likely to happen. Real innovation is hard.

BOOOOOO HISSSSSSSSS

Thought the object was to make this activity HARDER, not cheaper!

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Different meters, yes. Unrelated tempos, heck no. I'd like to see someone march a unrelated tempo to a piece. Human nature would have us revert to the original tempo, or double or half tempo. Either way, it's a very uncomfortable and unnatural thing to do.

Had a kid in band back in the 70's....played sax. He just could not move his feet in time to the music...but he played in perfect time. He just sort of strolled along at, say, 110 BPM while we were playing at 132 or something. Never seen anything like it before or since.

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Create a production that is divided into blocks. Each of these blocks has the same starting/ending or transitional set. Additionally, each block has complimentary musical transitions harmonically (could even be halted and silent).

Mix and match various blocks to create a completely different program. There is no such thing as a fixed opener, production number, closer, etc.

Night #1:

A B C D

Night #2:

C A D B

Night #3:

D C B A

... and so on.

This is an example of practical and rational experimentation that is more appropriate to the model of drum corps.

I think this is a phenomenal idea. Good work. I've thought about having a set of six tunes to fill four slots on any given night (e.g., never use the same ballad in two consecutive shows), but this idea is much better.

To me, I'd much rather see the creativity of drum corps be radical in this direction than radical in the narration direction. This would require much more ingenuity for the Cadets staff than any type of narration-driven show ever could. And I'm not making a narration-bashing comment, but I'm under the impression that a corps like the Cadets rely on it because it gives them more creativity in designing shows.

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"Inovations":

Weekend competions, locally, with championships at "State" and "Regional" levels. A "Nationals Tour" in August to a central location. :worthy:

Cosmetics: The "Color Guards" will actually "March" and wear the SAME UNIFORM as the rest of the corps. :sshh: Music will be "Recognizable" and people will actually be able to whistle a tune or two on their way out of the stadium. :worthy: No "Secret Squirrel" type hiidden meanings. :worthy: Just pure, in your face, wall of sound drum corps.

The corps will return to BUGLES (As many valves, rotors, slides, etc, as they want) to re-establish the identity of drum & bugle corps. Drumlines will get rid of the Kevlar heads and sound like DRUMLINES again, rather than percusiion on countertops. :sshh:

The DCI office will relocate from "BandoLand" to Madison or Racine WI, the true "Epicenters" of what used to be "Drum & Bugle Corps". :worthy:

The American Flag & it's escorts will reappear on the field of competition. :)

I believe I have offended almost all the DCI people right about now my pretties, so I'll just say: This has about as much chance of happening as a snowball in U-No-Where. ^0^

Elphaba :worthy:

WWW

Edited by elphaba01
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The simple fact that this thread has been discussed beyond quoting the original post and responding with a " :lolhit: " proves that this activity is indeed doomed. THIS I believe.

I think this activity is doomed because the vast majority of its supporters and guardians refuse to engage in suspending arbitrary opinions for the sake of progressive and intellectual discussion. By responding to my proposed ideas with a dismissive "lol" message you are refusing to participate in the sharing of ideas and opinions theoretical in nature that may make drum corps better. Do you want drum corps to be better? I want drum corps to be much, much better. Drum corps gets better when people share ideas about it. You want to share "lol" messages. I want to do something good for drum corps. You want to dismiss opinions blindly and without a reasonable response. This activity is not doomed because of thinking like mine in spite of anti-intellectualism like yours.

I will save drum corps from non-thinkers like you.

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I think the next "big innovation" in the world of moving music will not come from DCI. It seems that ideas are quite often tested out in BOA, CWEA, or other realms of marching music before they make it to DCI. These other mediums are generally more receptive to change and, for the most part, contain fewer constrictions.

Instead of concentrating on generating the next big artistic change in the activity, corps should focus on continuing to raise the level of performance. The average level of individual talent is higher in the top corps than the average individual talent present in the top BOA bands, so why not use it to the fullest? Let the BOA bands, winterguards, and indoor drumlines experiment with new ways to use electronics and dancing while DCI experiments with finding the maximum level of difficulty possible for a corps to execute.

I'm not saying that DCI shouldn't try new things- I'm all for seeing a different product every year- but the majority of drum corps fans go to shows and buy DVDs because of the high performance levels, not the activity's artistic integrity. I think that there is still plenty of room for corps to grow musically and visually, not just "artistically," and I believe the emphasis of DCI should be on virtuosity instead of creativity.

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