HashBrownJM

I do listen to your arguments, I just adamantly and vehemently disagree with your opinion, as I think other people in the non-woodwind club do.

Thanks for the love, man.

Finally, some Bloo love.

Good call, my man. I've been where you're at, but it's worth it, if you make it worth it. Ignore the excuses or the reasons, just find the one thing that really made you happy (for me it was the competitions) and ride the wave from show to show or whatever to keep you in the game. Plus, it's super helpful to have an instrument to practice (but I think you probably own your own instrument) so I can't use that as a good reason.

Second year on Coats contra line.

True.

Seconded. I'm not a woodwind hater, but I do not think they belong on the drum corps field (for various reasons).

I'm happy it didn't pass. I think it would have been too many years and it definitely brought up the questioning of how young someone needed to be to participate in a youth activity.

I also have opinions. Imagine that!

Professor Rodriguez is just amazing. He's really cool and laid back, but he also knows his stuff and doesn't hesitate to push you in order to make you keep advancing as a player. I can't speak to the 'old' or 'new'-school-ness of their teachings, but two of my directors in high school came out of there and they're great. Come to think of it, didn't Spicer from CPHS come out of there, too? What about Pape? And Estes?

That doesn't mean they're down for the count.

Let's re-energize this place! I've felt like a big loser being the only consistent name on here during the break.

Hardest thing you'll ever do? - Yes. Most worth it thing I've done in my life to date? - Definitely. Helps define who you'll be later in life? - Of course. Worth ignoring because of no cell phone? - Choose a different corps.

Already at Texas State University in San Marcos. Great music program from what I've heard, even better from what I'm experiencing.

No worries. At least the pictures are out there? And they're not shakos, they're helmets! Blasphemy.

Regarding the rule proposals: General Effect Double Panel: For I can find no fault with this rule. It just sounds smart to me. Age Requirements for 2009 implementation: Torn. This is one of the rules under big discussion on DCP. While it sounds great that kids will get one more year to march corps, people do provide the argument that the summer special kids are then going to be 23 and is it still that youth related with 23-year-olds? I see both sides. Use of Water and other water based products: Against I'm all for innovation and creativity, but within the rules that were allotted. It might sound restricting, but the whole reason I was attracted to drum corps was because of the precision and the ability and the lack of elements so prominent in marching band. Feel free to bring the torches and pitchforks if you disagree (wait, that's DCP), but it's just my deal. Additional time for shows: For More time to make a production? I'm in. Amplification for Brass: For Again, I can go either way. Interesting voicing and staging? Sure, that's a plus. But I mean, if you've got a soloist, why not just stage them up front? Use of Electronics: Conditional Electronic amplification of voice is in, and so it goes. But mallet kits, keyboards, everything else? I didn't go march in drum corps because I wanted to put on a rehash of successful BOA shows. I enjoyed the creativity and innovation percussion writers would use in order to create the sounds they needed to have for their shows while still being within the rules. Eliminate Percussion 2 judge: For Sound Board controlled by corps members only: I don't have enough knowledge to really have a say on it Prohibit use of amplified voice, breathing, effects, and etc: Against Ban all use of amplification: Against Just my two cents.

Bluecoats, clearly.

I don't think we should be afraid to call it what it is because we're afraid of what people might think. Saying you're in marching band to a lot of people brings enough assumptions anyway, so why not be proud that we're intellectual athletes?

Alright, I need to get my posts up (New Years Resolution?) and I'm not sure anyone knows what I look like (or cares), but whatevs. That's me in the lot after the San Antonio show. Annnnnnnnnnnnd that's me on the field during Finals retreat. Finally, a genuine smile!

Right, but along with exceptions, I think it just justifies my personal belief it's hard to predict with no basis except for past performance, because it seems like it's so based on the here and now. In 2006 the Colts didn't make finals, then they got 10th. Bluecoats went 7, 6, 5, 4, 7. Just my two cents.

Ok, then what about this? The Cadets: 2005: 1st 2006: 5th 2007: 2nd Momentum isn't everything. It's Bluecoats.

You're right. I was thinking highest 7th place score ever and just got it confused.

Ya'll are leaving out a classic! 1994 Cadets

Consider this: The Cavaliers might have placed third, but this in no way means they're out. They're still a visually strong corps with a lot of competitive inertia behind them. I don't think it's going to be a matter of them getting worse and 'falling' but a matter of other corps hungry for it 'figuring it out' and rising to the challenge. Bluecoats, Crown, The Academy, along with Championship-winning corps such as The Cadets, Vanguard, and even Phantom, are going to make the fight for the top spots more competitive and not the same-name stuff we've seen for the past few years. Just look to 2007 as an example: the Bluecoats came in 7th with their highest Finals score to date and decently small difference in score from 3rd to 7th place. If the trend continues, people aren't going to 'fall' from getting worse, just get nudged out because of the level of skill. Just my two cents.

I'm going to have to say it is a sport and an art form both. Look at what DCI participants are called: musician-athletes. Just because you're in high school and not going through the day-to-day lifestyle of someone in corps doesn't make you any less of a musician-athlete, I think. Sure, it's a nice, fancy, hyphenated word that most people probably wouldn't put together, but does it accurately describe what we are? I'd say yes. Is the football field a canvas with which to make something truly beautiful? You betcha. But could we make it without busting our tails, and, as my high school director would put it, "earn that athletic credit?" Toss this into the salad, too. Marching band isn't just a sport, it's a team sport. Team sport: 1.) team sport - noun a sport that involves competition between teams of players So then we have to make the argument if we're a team or not, and how referring to ourselves as such might degrade how people perceive what we do, yadda yadda yadda... But in the end, does it really matter? As long as you're happy with what you're doing at the end of the day (which, if you're on this site, I'd figure so), I'd say that's all that really matters.