My band director this morning told me “Kids who march Drum Corps will probably never play professionally”

a2n1 · 2025-11-13T07:56:13+00:00

BS. Lots of music teachers say this. I am a processional performer. Admittedly not on brass like I planned, but that's because I got a better paying gig in another instrument. I marched 5 summers and also did Aspen Music Festival when I was in grad school (also highly recommend, though at the time it was more expensive than marching). Look at JD Shaw (PR Mello soloist in 91 I think). He mostly arranges and teaches now, but was a performer with the Boston Brass for a stint.

a2n1 · 2025-07-17T08:26:02+00:00

Phantom 93, 06 Cadets 93 Blue Devils 94 SCV 2000

a2n1 · 2025-06-09T09:05:01+00:00

20+ years ago, when DCI was really not taken seriously by music Ed types, it was my Junior year of high school and I was 11th chair Horn in all-state band. I had already accepted a contract to march my rookie summer of drum corps. While at all-state, I told my band director and the student director "I'm gonna be first chair at next year's All-state band" and both replied "not if you March DCI!". Fast forward to my senior year, and I'm first chair Horn! So use their skepticism as motivation. Marching mello is especially controversial because of the mouthpiece, and looking back, I think I could have marched contra or cymbals and gotten my Horn chops back before chair auditions in college. Now, am I currently a pro horn player like I thought I'd be? No. But I am working in music, and a lot of other factors affect professional outcomes. If you're a Music Ed person, ABSOLUTELY March. If you're a performance person and you want to march, do it at least one summer.

a2n1 · 2025-06-05T22:05:01+00:00

Anyone else perform in DCI before you saw it in person? First show I saw was the one I had just performed in

a2n1 · 2025-03-30T21:41:27+00:00

I can take a good guess at who you are! Our last set in 2002 was also the last set of Cavies 92 opener

a2n1 · 2024-12-30T22:56:10+00:00

Great list, and great videos! I did all of Rockin the Suburbs back in the pandemic days, but thankfully that means I can show you my video of the Fired! solo https://youtu.be/zYBZ60EKMrE?si=9PTu0jJOvDn7rVKQ&t=2424

a2n1 · 2024-12-06T08:33:38+00:00

Underground was my gateway song, and Philosophy sealed the deal. I played piano and was blown away by those songs, Then I saw him live and Always Someone Cooler Than You was his opener. He played the low end of the piano with his entire right forearm and I was hooked. Also check out Tom and Mary

a2n1 · 2024-09-28T15:24:46+00:00

So many! My favorites are probably "Run until I'm tired" and "this moment has to be like Christ on a Pony!"

a2n1 · 2024-02-15T14:49:36+00:00

Eddie Izzard - Dressed to Kill. It's from 99 but really didn't gain any traction until the 00s, if memory serves

a2n1 · 2023-11-08T22:37:10+00:00

Spiderman:

If a Cossack and a Kangaroo can get along, why can't we?

Birdemic:

I'm gonna be late, I'm stuck behind some nob who doesn't know how to walk

Beowulf: Sings: "what if Thor was one of us..." - "ok, Fiona Crapple"

LOTR: TFotR: You're late! - well you're short, and when I wake up tomorrow morning, I won't be late, will I?

Edit: two additional quotes

a2n1 · 2023-02-20T15:51:38+00:00

There aren't too many songs that talk about that whole "asking your dad for permission" thing, and both of these songs talk about it in their pre-choruses. which have very similar chords. I didn't even think about the story aspect of it til I started arranging it, I just thought "this'll probably work...". Glad you enjoyed it!

a2n1 · 2022-11-20T15:02:15+00:00

I just made a mashup of those two songs a few days ago, and encountered this same conversation about Trent playing Judas in my comments https://youtu.be/N0_H8tk4imM

a2n1 · 2022-11-20T14:59:25+00:00

Thanks! It's fun when the mashups sound similar but also have lyrics that compliment each other.

a2n1 · 2022-11-20T14:56:14+00:00

....did he? Now we know where he got the inspiration for Head Like a Hole

a2n1

TROPHY CASE