b_money Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 I think I must have missing genes or something.. because I can't get my head around why anyone would want to practice and toil (a rewarding part of the process) without taking it to the limit (i.e. DCA finals); without the ultimate goal in mind. What is it one strives for if not to compete? Parades?I mean I get it with Alumni corps.. but why field a competitive corps if not to compete on the highest level you can? The key to sustainable success is to start small and build up to the ultimate prize. Renegades didn't just burst onto the scene in 2001/02 and materialize just in time for DCA Prelims. The corps started in 1997 (roots actually go back about a year before that) and did parades and standstills for a few years while building up the infrastructure and recruiting. I think Sam is on the right track to start small, but think the short and medium-term goals for the new organization should include travel outside the region - at least to Northern CA for the West Coast Showdown to crown the western all-age champ - and unless DCA is definitely NOT in the organization's plans, at least set a trip to Finals as a point for future consideration. Yes travel is expensive, but 1) it helps sell your product, 2) it's a great experience for the members, and 3) it is a huge boost for recruiting. Best of luck, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I have a long list of personal mistakes and missteps you are more than welcome to learn from! Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84BDsop Posted August 23, 2007 Author Share Posted August 23, 2007 The key to sustainable success is to start small and build up to the ultimate prize. Renegades didn't just burst onto the scene in 2001/02 and materialize just in time for DCA Prelims. The corps started in 1997 (roots actually go back about a year before that) and did parades and standstills for a few years while building up the infrastructure and recruiting.I think Sam is on the right track to start small, but think the short and medium-term goals for the new organization should include travel outside the region - at least to Northern CA for the West Coast Showdown to crown the western all-age champ - and unless DCA is definitely NOT in the organization's plans, at least set a trip to Finals as a point for future consideration. Yes travel is expensive, but 1) it helps sell your product, 2) it's a great experience for the members, and 3) it is a huge boost for recruiting. Best of luck, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I have a long list of personal mistakes and missteps you are more than welcome to learn from! Brandon Oh believe me...I'll be talking with you! I;ve already gotten some good suggestions from others, but i REALLY need to get through band camp before I can devote any time to it. Mikk...I got your emails....will try to send a response to you later tonight...I need to do some drill for teh band right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Martinez Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Musician-wise...I do not believe in the high school trap of putting your absolute strongest player on upper lead and go down the line as the skill level decreases...that only ensures a top-heavy line where you have a couple of 2nds and 3rds trying to properly balance 7 or so screaming upper leads....the top three strongest players would instead get slotted into the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd parts so EVERY part has support.Sounds logical....but sometimes it isn’t done. (Wow! I let a LOT of stuff out there.....but you asked!) I may succeed in this.....I may fall flat on my face....but I’m going to do it MY way. Music wise the approach you mentioned about a balanced 1st 2nd and 3rd line is a solid one. I went through the entire 07 season not so much at the performances but at almost every rehearsal where we would have 5 lead baritones 2 to 3 2nds and one 3rd and occassionally one other if we were lucky and with the consistent players who showed up to rehearsals the assigning of 1st 2nd and 3rd positions should have been settled the first weeks and by show time hopefully, it would have brought the skill levels up.....water over the dam now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brassomaniac Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 (edited) Music wise the approach you mentioned about a balanced 1st 2nd and 3rd line is a solid one. I went through the entire 07 season not so much at the performances but at almost every rehearsal where we would have 5 lead baritones 2 to 3 2nds and one 3rd and occassionally one other if we were lucky and with the consistent players who showed up to rehearsals the assigning of 1st 2nd and 3rd positions should have been settled the first weeks and by show time hopefully, it would have brought the skill levels up.....water over the dam now. We've taken that approach with the mini-corps - spreading our best 3 trumpets and bari's among the parts. - Makes for a much more balanced section. And, after all, ALL of the parts are important - otherwise the composer wouldn't have bothered with them. Trouble you run into, as I'm sure you know, is selling this to players. We've had a couple of complaints from good players about where they were being placed. Those still with us, however, GET IT. And hopefully, it will result in a better ensemble to listen to next week. Edited August 23, 2007 by brassomaniac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Martinez Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 (edited) We've taken that approach with the mini-corps - spreading our best 3 trumpets and bari's among the parts. - Makes for a much more balanced section. And, after all, ALL of the parts are important - otherwise the composer wouldn't have bothered with them.Trouble you run into, as I'm sure you know, is selling this to players. We've had a couple of complaints from good players about where they were being placed. Those still with us, however, GET IT. And hopefully, it will result in a better ensemble to listen to next week. Tough sell with the good players sometimes...takes special communication skills to handle that one, and if you can, all the sweeter. Edited August 23, 2007 by Ben Martinez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84BDsop Posted August 23, 2007 Author Share Posted August 23, 2007 Tough sell with the good players sometimes...takes special communication skills to handle that one, and if you can, all the sweeter. More beer to those who make the switch..... Another option would be to take those strong guys and rotate them around the parts....so they don;t play 3rd for the ENTIRE show...move 'em around... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One of the Sops Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 More beer to those who make the switch.....Another option would be to take those strong guys and rotate them around the parts....so they don;t play 3rd for the ENTIRE show...move 'em around... That sounds like a great idea, and one which should "sell" well to the players. The other thing I'm thinking, too, is that a player with the range of a lead would need to play high at least once in a while to keep his range up. I'm looking forward to Sept. 22nd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brassomaniac Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 (edited) That sounds like a great idea, and one which should "sell" well to the players. The other thing I'm thinking, too, is that a player with the range of a lead would need to play high at least once in a while to keep his range up. I'm looking forward to Sept. 22nd. I would assume that the drum corps show isn't all the players are doing. Playing on other ensembles (or at least working on other material) and doing technical studies and excercises all week will take care of maintaining what they have. Shouldn't matter so much what part they play for 4 tunes or so. The additional benefit is that some players will discover portions of the range of the instrument that they haven't explored much before. That can only broaden their skills. Of course, you DO sometimes run into a "specialist" (we have one of them too). And, it only makes sense to use that player where his skills will benefit the ensemble most. Spreading the lead around is also something we do; to an extent. Also, a player might cover a fourth part on one tune, but have a solo on another. That helps spread some of the work (and glory) around. And helps to keep things balanced. Rather than use one guy to build the show around, we'll use 8 players as soloists on Friday (nine, if you count all the glory our 1st Tuba player gets) : spreading around the work and giving as many players as possible a chance to shine. But those players don't always play the section lead parts. In a big band, for example, the lead trumpet usually gets the melody and the second gets the solos. And, most of the ones I've played on trade a few of the parts around, so that the third and fourth get to take the lead or solo once in a while. And, of course, you'll often run into commercial compositions that GIVE the solo to the third or fourth. it's not a bad model to use if: A) you have a bunch of talented players, and, 2) you want balance in the section Edited August 24, 2007 by brassomaniac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84BDsop Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 Thanks for teh further insight, Tom....it's appreciated! once upon a time (back in the early 90s), I arranged -- just for fun & experience -- a corps version of the "The Saints' Hallelujah" by the Canadian Brass....the idea was that EVERYONE in the line got a solo of some sort....one or 2 bars. I need to see if I can find that score.....probably lost it about the same tie I lost the Billy Joel chart I did ("Leningrad") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CozyChopsCom Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Flippant -- There's a lot of stacked and elongated talent in the San Fernando Valley. 'Tis a swell idea to grow and bare a corps there. Seriously, I was delighted in Pasadena, Sam, when you told me. Notice that I did keep it off-record until you wanted to announce it. This bodes well for DCA in California. Schedule those DCA shows in the near future. Keep me posted. Now, back to my own band camp this week and next. I shall be in Rachacha, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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