maverick

We had 19 altos and 4 tenors. I was one of two rank leaders for the section. We ended up marching 16 altos and 3 tenors and our band marches about 180. In concert season we have 12 altos, 3 tenors, and 2 baris. Next year we predict to have a band that is 210 total, with about 24 altos and 6 tenors. We will probably march 20 altos and 4 tenors.

Look at the Selmer Super Action 80 series and Serie III, The LA Sax 7500 series and Chicago Jazz series, the Cannonball Raven series, and Keilworth Shadow series. Those are all professional quality horns. I've tried them all and I must say the Serie III and 7500 were less expensive and played just as good as a Super Action 80 and Chicago Jazz Series. The 7500 and the Chicago Jazz series also features a high G key that is actually not too bad. I figured it might screw up some of the bottom register but it played fine. The Raven series incredible and it is definitely worth the money. It comes with two different plated necks that can be switched depending on what you are playing for. I find the Shadow to be a little too bright on the higher register but has an extremely rich tone in the lower register. I hope this helps you in your decision.

Did you get cut? I had that happen before going to Madison. I missed one Cavie rehersal and they told me not to come to the next one.

A laptop with a wireless connection to my cell phone. We have thirtyminute breats about every hour and a half.

A laptop with a wireless connection to a cellphone. We have breaks all the time.

The Madison Scouts practice about 5-7 hours a week less than the Cavies.

I'm all for amps. Those in the Drum Corp know why some corps don't use them and why others do. First off, every corp can afford them, so don't think that they are too poor. Even corps like Esperanza and Revolution have them. The only thing is that they don't use them because they don't want to amp up a pit that isn't too good. Madison uses them to amp the pit so they don't have to destroy their mallets just to be heard. Also we use them to amp up soloists because there are sections when we are all playing as loud as possible and the soloist still needs to be heard.

My favorite year's were 95-97. 97 was my favorite cause it just blew me away, then 95 cause of a Drum Corps Fan's Dream and Planets along with a few other things, then in 96 i liked all the show ideas even if some of them weren't a developed as they could of been.

Oh, and another thing about the tryouts is that once you make it the senior members tend to have a ceremony of sorts. I can't tell you what happened when I joined but be prepared.

I was just kidding about him. He's a good friend of mine from when I was in Esperanza. He wrote Reflections for us that year. Key wrote three of McNeils last four shows. If any of you meet him though, be careful of his ego, and don't talk to him about any of the shows he has done that have gone to crap.

Each member of their corp had to pay just shy of $2000 for airfare costs. So they had to have used planes at some time or another if they had to pay for them. I'm pretty sure that they stop using their buses near the end of the season.

The Cavies are good but they are a dynasty that will fall very soon. In 03 the Blue Devils beat'em and in '04 The Cavies and BD were very close and Blue Devils even beat them about a week before Finals. I think that the Cadets and eventually BD will have a chance at first.

I think that SCV is doing so bad cause of Key Poulan. He isn't the easiest man to work with. He designed the 05-06 show for my High School and he is a pain in the...rear.

What did you think of the Scouts? I'm curious. We haven't had any outside opinions since the first couple of weeks. I don't think any of you know this but the Cavies have no lives outside of practicing. They have very little time to hang out cause they practice so much. They deserve first place, but they had to sacrafice the fun of being in a corp.

To clear this up, it really depends on which corp you join. Let's take the Cavies for example. They practice for about 8 hours on every competition day and they practice for 14 hours every non-competition day. Then they tend to have 1 off day every 2 weeks. Usually they sleep on the bus so they can do their traveling at night. But they are a hard core drum corp. Now let's the corp I'm currently on... The Madison Scouts!!! We practice about 8-10 hours when we don't have a competition that day and then we tend to have alot of free time. Usually on competition days we are really laid back and try to relax. When we arrived in San Antonio they gave us 3 hours to do whatever (we went down the river walk) then we had an hour of warm-up and about 3 hours of practice. We also get about 1-2 days every two weeks for just having some fun in what ever town we are in. So basically it depends on what corp you join. My guess is that the Blue Devils and Cadets will have similar schedules to the Cavies. Oh and don't join Southwind cause they travel by planes and thats WAY more exspensive then bus. There are a few other corps who do that so be careful.

Tonight and tomarrow night are some of the biggest nights in the drum corps world. I'm with the Madison Scouts and right now I'm on my laptop headed to our practice field. Here at Kalamazoo all the corps are preparing for tough night and also prepared to see what the Blue Devils are going to bring to the table. This is their first performance in the US since the first week of the season. Sal has told us that we can't let them phyic us out. Also Phantom Regiment is here so the Scouts are ready to show them once again who's boss. We already have decided that we can't beat the Cavies and so now we are coming after the Cadets. We aren't too worried about the Blue Devils cuase they'll have sme serious jet lag. Peace Out!!!

Sorry, Wishful thinking!!!

Let's see... the try out process. Well for a Div III and Div II corps its fairly easy to make it. A Div II corp like The Academy or Spartans does have a tougher try out process. Usually you play an excert from the show they are going to do. Then they tell you vocal commands and see how your marching is. I'm not sure about other corps but for the cavies they made you memorize a few sets to see how fast you caught on. Then there's an interview. You only make it to the interview if they see potential. The Cavies and Scouts both asked about dedication, band experience, and about family and school. My old drum major from last year made the Bluecoats and he only had to send in an audition tape and show up for an interview. P.S. I didn't sign up for a co-ed corp cause my parents wouldn't let me. Next year I'm shootin for The Cadets.

Sup!!! I'm a proud member of the Madison Scout's Mello Line. It's friggin awesome being in a corp. In '03 I was on Revolution and we ended up the Div III Champs, which was pretty fun. Then last year I joined Revolution again but they went Inactive, so I joined Tealsound. This year I figured I would try for a Div I. First I tried for the Cavies with a recomendation from my director, a former Cavie. I was doin good and made their line, but I couldn't make it to one of the rehersals cause my granddad died, so they said I was too far behind to catch up. From what I learned I figured they would dominate. Then my director told me madison needed a mello so off I went, and here I am. I almost got a solo too. BUMMER!!! Life on a corp is good. The only downer is that both the Cavies and Scouts have no chicks. Well Madison has one but shes off limits. The food is alright, the bus rides are long, and the days are hot. Marching all day get kind of tiring after awhile. Well that sums up my Drum Corp Experience. PEACE OUT!!!

Where's Madison? Come on!!! I mean they've won three championship and they have to fall under "other". I'm mean I'm on the Scouts so I guess I'm a little biased, but '95 and '96 say it all. This year is amazing as well. My first year with 'em and we are doing great. The girl who plays Carmen is pretty cool too. I was surprised when we beat Regiment a couple weeks ago. We've also beaten BC and the Friday and Saturday will be one of the biggest competitions yet. Please, next time, add Madison to the list cause they've deserved it. Oh, and I forgot to say Revolution and Trinity RULE!!!

The McNeil band is about 210 strong, but we will only be marching roughly 170. This will keep us in the 3A class at Capital City, a competition ranking you by size of band not school. For UIL we are a 5A band.