bariphonium

Will you people please stop posting my warm-ups? I'm trying to keep it a trade secret here!

Very true. I'm just trying to point out how much the students are involved (the "how," I suppose), and how the directors don't control the catagory entirely, though they do have a large hand in the matter (the "what").

General Effect is scored by the effect the show gives. Thus, the students have a VERY large part in it, because: Music Effect: When you hit that chord at just the right time, where it sends shivers down your back, when the music creates an "effect" that is mostly felt (from what I've seen) by the judges. That is musical effect. It ties in with visual effect, IMHO, a lot, and vice-versa. Visual Effect: This is more the directors area, but is still performed by the students. When the music is building, and the forms are taking shape, and suddenly BAM! you've got this awesome drill to accompany the music, and the audience can't help but get up and cheer... the drill done there is the visual effect, and if it's not done just right, then there's very little effect. The students, while not the ones to design the "effect," are still the ones who carry it out, and so, if it's not done correctly by the students, then the effect isn't there. The directors do have a sizeable hand in it, though, because they do design what it is, and if they can't design a good effective moment, then the effect can't be performed by the students. Both have hands in the matter.

I don't watch TV; the internet is all I need...

How often would we update podcasts? We can't exactly do it daily, can we?

Hey, where'd you get my daily warm-up?

Happy birthday, ya hoopy coding frood.

My fantasy football league just got it's draft done, and I'm more than ready for the upcoming season. Anyone else do fantasy sports?

I bet we'll know by October 15th.

One problem with the push-ups, laps, etc., is summed up in one word: hazing. The Texas State Law that says you can't make someone do something physical, emotional, mental, or social, that might hurt them. So no push-ups, laps, yelling too much, hurting someone's feelings, etc., because they may be scarred for life, and thus could take the hazer, and probably the band program with him/her, to court.

Push us away from the sun another million miles, maybe two million, and we'd probably be near freezing 24/7. I'll take what we've got.

I'm pretty sure that it has become an official regional, and is no longer just "sanctioned". I guess there weren't too many people against more than 3 regionals in 1 state.

-When you have over 100 marching band shows on your mp3 player -When you have over 2 dozen DCI shows on your mp3 player -When you take the shows and catagorize them by band, year, and competitions -When you have actually listened to both of the above, both on your mp3 player and on a CD(s) in your car Guilty as charged.

Here's a question of my own: What do you do about kids who will absolutely not cooperate? Kids who will just walk off the field when everyone else gets ready for push-ups, kids who talk and talk and talk, and never shut up, kids who simply don't care. How do you take care of them?

Agreed, on all aspects.

Blue Devils, Madison, Phantom, SCV (though they weren't as big this year), Cavies, and Cadets. I know there are a few that could probably be put up with them, and that many would probably swap out some of the above for some other corps, but these, to me, stand out the most, year in and out. Just my opinion, nothing more.

One problem: hazing. Some kids feels tired, tells his mom about it, and the mom proceeds to call the local news station and the school's principle, ranting and raving about how the band is going to kill her son, who could probably use the extra exercise anyway. My way is very hard, and I haven't done it myself, but I've seen it work (VERY WELL) in other areas. Persuasion, mostly by example. Get all the section leaders, all the student leaders (including the good-players that aren't classified as "leaders") to be so into it, they director says to back off some. If they can psyche the band into following them, then it ends up being a snowball effect, and if you can keep everyone working, if you can keep it fun (again, exampled by the leaders when to play and when to work), and if you can keep the feeling amongst the band, then it should only improve. A big helper to this is if you start it, and it works, you can boost it by talking about how well the band has been doing, how much they've been improving, and encourage the same things to happen: work when it's time to work, and work hard, and play during the other time. Also, competitions among sections are good, and that can be put up by the director: "Hey trombones, the tubas are beating you back to your spots. You gonna let that keep up?" "Wow brass, those woodwinds sure can march. Maybe you can learn something from them." and so on. Just a few ideas.

Just one favorite? I don't know... I like Madison... then there's the Cavies... and you can't go wrong with SCV or Phantom.... Jeez, can I just say the "Big 6" in general?

Dating within your section is like dating someone who you work with: It's great if you really like them, because you see each other a whole lot, but then if and when you break up, you're still seeing each other a whole lot. This makes life a little... difficult, especially if it was a hard break-up. So, in short, not recommended.

Planets, Appalachin Springs, Symphonic Metamorphosis, for starts. However, if any are done well, I have no objections.

From what I've heard, it's literally nothing but marching band, day in and day out, save for a few days off. Guess there's a reason they're so good...

Think of it as a blog, but audio, except in this case, less blog. It's like a personal radio show, put up on the net for all to download. Also, I'm not sure how much help I can be or how I can help, but I'm ready and willing.

Ah, the famous drum major salute. Sometimes simple, sometimes complex. Sometimes long, sometimes short and sweet. I've seen some of the weirdest ones, one of which had the head drum major move her arms in a circle and then make the motion to "shoot" and arrow, while others where a simple salute, and that's it. What are some of the better ones that y'all have seen?

I thought that the drill could have been better, but man, did it sound good! And that's my two cents.