dca / DCI and electronics

[Fran Haring]

...just no self respecting alumni corps would be caught dead using them.

I know of at least two alumni corps...Bridgemen and Reilly Raiders.... that have used amps/electronics in recent years. I think both of them more than meet the definition of "self-respecting alumni corps." At least for me, anyway.

Fran

[Martybucs]

I know of at least two alumni corps...Bridgemen and Reilly Raiders.... that have used amps/electronics in recent years. I think both of them more than meet the definition of "self-respecting alumni corps." At least for me, anyway.

Fran

Yeah, but you have to say that kind of stuff.

[paradiddle]

I get it.... I get it that amplifying the pit makes the volume louder. I used to strain to hear all those instruments and very little sound. I used to think what a waste. I would argue that only percussion instruments belong in the pit anyway. I don't like the idea of amps because of the added expense. Keeping costs down in drum corps should always be a priority.

On the side subject of present and future DCA membership.

I think current DCI members suffer from burnout and only want to be a techs afterwards. That doesn't mean you won't get people who want one more go around or maybe only did college band and want a drum corps experience. I see the future for some corps as maybe feeder corps for DCI or for the DCI member on an off (no money) year.

As previously mentioned, the all-age corps would have a majority of young members, high school and college with a smattering of "age-outs".

I did like Boston's show a lot, what ever they were doing, very entertaining. It did more for me than the Phanthom Regiment show.

[KeithHall]

I can't wait for the day DCA accepts amplification. It will be so cool to hear the "A" class corps amped! I think it's just a matter of time before DCA falls in line with DCI and plays by their (DCI's) rules. This would be a great idea for those corps that presently do not have enough members to compete in DCA. Put mics on the horns and they become a powerful drum corps. Now we can have all ALL-AGE Corps competing at DCA.

DCA gave way to Bb horns and they look and sound just like DCI corps soooooo...why not follow the road of DCI and add electronics and amps?

Hahaha Just kidding with y'all!

[Jeff Ream]

if it was just pit, i'd live with it. but, it would never stop at just the pit

[G_Bass]

Not that anyone listens to me, but here it goes.

Lets just assume for a second that Drum and Bugle Corps is a musical genre. Well, so is "Crooner music", "Classical", and "alternative rock".

Now, if a "speed metal" band decided to put Beethoven's 5th to their instruments and style, wouldn't that inherently change the genre of the piece of music?

Another perspective. A "punk band" is playing and only has a guitar, bass, and drums. Well, out of the blue, they decided to add a couple of horns (sax and trombone, let's say). Are they still a "punk band"? They can still play music of the "punk band" genre, but with the instrumentation now including the horns, it would most likely be seen as a "ska band".

My opinionated point is marching bands have used amps and synthesizers for a long, long while (My high school had narration in 2003, before DCI allowed amplification). DCI now uses amps, narration, and synthesizers. IMO, it is not drum corps anymore. It is marching band with what has been added over the years. The definition of Drum and Bugle Corps has been modified time and time again ever since a valve was added to straight bugles. "Can only have 1v G/D bugles" "Can have P/R G/D bugle (I have one of those, they exist)" "Can have a P/R G/F bugle with half step rotor" "Can have a 2 piston bugle with same characteristics as a P/R G/F bugle" "Can have a 3v, fully chromatic G bugle".

Its an endless definition. We all take the definition we marched with. I know of people that still claim true DBCs are ones with only one valve. I claim 3v G bugles with battery and pit, no electronics what-so-ever (ok, maybe a Dr. Beat).

ANYWAYS... Add or take away something from a musical genre, its a whole new world. But, as we've learned over centuries of music making, the rules are meant to be bent and broken (Mozart did it all the frickin time). We wouldn't have awesome sop solos if Jazz weren't a breaking of the rules from one form to another. So, drum corps can be DCI to someone, whereas to another person, DCA is. To a youth who is in juvenile hall and has the option to stay there or do a parade with a horn in his hand, that's drum corps.

This debate will continue. Its only when someone ACTS upon it to make a difference. I'm still waiting for that top 12 DCI corps to use G Bugles in the near future to "break the mold", but will most likely not happen. Bbs are a "dime a dozen", and Gs you have to special order.

IMO, the G is so much more worth it.

[camel lips]

Not that anyone listens to me, but here it goes.

Lets just assume for a second that Drum and Bugle Corps is a musical genre. Well, so is "Crooner music", "Classical", and "alternative rock".

Now, if a "speed metal" band decided to put Beethoven's 5th to their instruments and style, wouldn't that inherently change the genre of the piece of music?

Another perspective. A "punk band" is playing and only has a guitar, bass, and drums. Well, out of the blue, they decided to add a couple of horns (sax and trombone, let's say). Are they still a "punk band"? They can still play music of the "punk band" genre, but with the instrumentation now including the horns, it would most likely be seen as a "ska band".

My opinionated point is marching bands have used amps and synthesizers for a long, long while (My high school had narration in 2003, before DCI allowed amplification). DCI now uses amps, narration, and synthesizers. IMO, it is not drum corps anymore. It is marching band with what has been added over the years. The definition of Drum and Bugle Corps has been modified time and time again ever since a valve was added to straight bugles. "Can only have 1v G/D bugles" "Can have P/R G/D bugle (I have one of those, they exist)" "Can have a P/R G/F bugle with half step rotor" "Can have a 2 piston bugle with same characteristics as a P/R G/F bugle" "Can have a 3v, fully chromatic G bugle".

Its an endless definition. We all take the definition we marched with. I know of people that still claim true DBCs are ones with only one valve. I claim 3v G bugles with battery and pit, no electronics what-so-ever (ok, maybe a Dr. Beat).

ANYWAYS... Add or take away something from a musical genre, its a whole new world. But, as we've learned over centuries of music making, the rules are meant to be bent and broken (Mozart did it all the frickin time). We wouldn't have awesome sop solos if Jazz weren't a breaking of the rules from one form to another. So, drum corps can be DCI to someone, whereas to another person, DCA is. To a youth who is in juvenile hall and has the option to stay there or do a parade with a horn in his hand, that's drum corps.

This debate will continue. Its only when someone ACTS upon it to make a difference. I'm still waiting for that top 12 DCI corps to use G Bugles in the near future to "break the mold", but will most likely not happen. Bbs are a "dime a dozen", and Gs you have to special order.

IMO, the G is so much more worth it.

Sad to say but G bugles are dead in DCI and almost dead in DCA.Only two corps in the top ten in DCA still use G bugles.I know one of the two corps left on G bugles would like to make the switch to multi key when funds allow.Not sure what the intentions are of the other corps.

I have marched in both a G line and Bb line.I must say I like both.Both have their advantages and disadvantages.I will probably have a cleared perspective at the end of this season.

Edited July 15, 2009 by camel lips

[Gary Matczak]

And I have seen shows delayed while a corps works out an electronic problem. A couple weeks back, DCI gave one corps about 5 minutes while they traced their problem.

Wrong.

yep, me too,............Cadets and the crowd in Erie were silent for several minutes while the sound guy tried to re-boot,............cheif judge gives the signal,............DM does not acknowledge and several minutes went by,............isn't there a penalty somewhere for that?

[taters]

Frst off Iaam kind of new to this whole DCA thing, but not entirely. My first real drum corps show was when I lived in Syracuse and marched with the Lakeside Rangers 25 years ago. It was a DCA show..Brigs, Caballeros, Bucs, oh and the thirteenth man his name was Kegger. :-)

This is my first year as a marching member ..and although I have been watching the shows here and there for a while, IMHO DCA is becoming DCI. Whether that makes you happy or sad is moot. However, look at the drill , music, instruments, of the top corps. I see electronics are inevitable based on the current trends. We will eventually use electronics to thrill the audience the way we used to use that silly little thing called a melody. The only real inhibiting factor being money. I love playing "G" bugles...You can pry my G Kanstul mello from my cold , dead, gloved hands...still there will come a day where it won't make sense any more to still be on G's

Now that being said I think DCA should pre-empt DCI and go right to Pyrotechnics , cuz I mean for Christ sake nothing goes together like Jello shots and Roman Candles!

Edited July 15, 2009 by taters

[Piper]

Electronics means more equipment to haul, more money, more setup and take down time, finding someone who actually knows how to operate the stuff, and praying that it doesn't rain all at the same time. No thanks.