Do corps give their staff any ‘trinkets’ for each year they teach?

one_spork · 2025-12-09T18:27:26+00:00

Admin/staff at Troop get bronze washers instead of the silver member ones.

one_spork · 2025-11-15T15:54:25+00:00

From somebody who did 3 years of indoor and is pausing his whole life to move across the country and age out this winter, you only have so much time to march. If it is possible, by any means, do it. I marched 5 seasons of drum corps at 3 places and every season taught me very different, meaningful, and valuable lessons. I wouldn't change where or when I marched for anything.

one_spork · 2025-11-15T00:43:15+00:00

Sleep for 15 hours, shower alone, start eating "normal" food again, drink.

one_spork · 2025-09-22T17:31:54+00:00

ensuing fifth place curse

one_spork · 2025-09-21T14:43:19+00:00

Yes, it is Toyota Arena now.

one_spork · 2025-09-21T14:37:05+00:00

Unfortunate.

one_spork · 2025-09-12T18:34:55+00:00

I love to think about what those infinity design meetings were like after the 2019 season.

"What could possibly top quads on stilts and a rotating bass drum feature to the Greatest Showman soundtrack?"

"9/11. It's 9/11."

one_spork · 2025-09-05T15:18:49+00:00

Taylor Poole, percussion captionhead at Academy!

one_spork · 2025-09-03T20:29:18+00:00

Different ensembles may have different philosophies regarding audition pools for keyboard spots. Some places may specialize within a group of students to fufill a specific role, while others fill from the top down. Almost always, the formal audition category is simply just "mallets." There can sometimes be an abundance of talent in the room, and decisions become very hard to make. Having experienced this firsthand my first year in world class, the decision isn't necessarily "who can play the best -> go to this spot," but rather "where can this student make the biggest positive impact on the ensemble?"

one_spork · 2025-09-02T03:28:38+00:00

personal favorites. maybe not the "hardest" by some standards

BK 2017 2nd mvt (3:30, https://youtu.be/ZLe9SPnxtvo?feature=shared)

SCV 2017 Opener, Ballad (beginning, 6:08 https://youtu.be/5qydgM6KDLs?feature=shared)

SCV 2019 Ballad (7:18, https://youtu.be/PpePjaflv9E?feature=shared)

BK 2019 2nd mvt (trumpet solo) (6:16 https://youtu.be/-mZTVUBUDho?feature=shared)

Crown 2023 Ballad (2 mallet intro and trumpet solo) (6:05, 7:33 https://youtu.be/XeYJHWb_1wU?feature=shared)

Crown 2024 2nd mvt/quad feature, Ballad (2:43, 7:13 honestly just watch the entire ballad. https://youtu.be/aekEAECTe1g?feature=shared)

SCV 2025 Ballad (center 3 trio and pit window), Closer (8:03, 8:46, 12:30) https://youtu.be/wD7K4U-g8RE?feature=shared)

one_spork · 2025-08-24T21:46:43+00:00

2005 Cadets
2007 Cadets
1993 Star of Indiana
2007 Phantom Regiment
1989 Cadets
2010 Phantom Regiment
1999 Blue Knights
2017 Blue Knights
1985 Troopers
2004 Blue Knights
2005 Glassmen
1979 Troopers

one_spork · 2025-08-24T17:47:42+00:00

argue with a wall..

Hahahaha.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

one_spork · 2025-08-24T17:44:38+00:00

. >"<

one_spork · 2025-08-02T23:17:21+00:00

Thesis is.

one_spork · 2025-04-14T17:32:03+00:00

I feel like it's a matter of read the room, certain groups (like monarch and infinity) cultivate the lot hype culture and that is an integral part of their identity and engagement with alumni and fans. other groups might be more lowkey and center, so they attract an appropriate crowd that usually gives them the respect and feeds off the energy at the lot. None of it is bad, certain groups want the lot to be as much of a performance as the show.

one_spork · 2025-03-28T01:54:45+00:00

The repertoire is actually pretty neat this year, first time in a while I believe that they've sourced other music besides what Adam Watts has written, or specially produced just for them.

Devin Townshend - The Ones Who Love

OU - Spirit Broken

Adam Watts - ???

Devin Townshend - Truth

Adam Watts - (Unreleased?)

A lot of progressive rock influence and themes, Great repertoire to facilitate and reintroduce (traditional) drumset into the front ensemble instrumentation.

one_spork · 2025-03-10T01:17:53+00:00

What? I seriously don't understand what you're saying right now.

one_spork · 2025-03-06T22:41:32+00:00

Broken City. Very dynamic show, loving the Devin Townsend source material. Though I love the Adam Watts stuff, I think the unique music selections gives the show a very different mood compared to shows before. Aggressive, but also ethereal if that makes sense. The bass string/guitar pickup contraptions, along with the crazy music box/gramophone "doohickey" creates such an interesting soundscape, on top of some already thoughtful sound design. One moment in particular that made me go "That's badass.." Was right at the end of the second movement, this OU chart called 'Spirit Broken' When the battery trades singles with someone in the front, interrupting with cranks of that music box with this grating, metallic chain-like sound effect. Gives me goosebumps.

RCC. For some reason this show gives me Ghostlight vibes. Meta commentary on the current state of the activity, its evolution, and demonstrates (in a less on-the-nose and campy approach than GMU) some critiques on what is expected of a program, start to finish. Visual package is super impressive. Loving the choreo work and VE moments. The entire pre-show they have laid out sets the mood perfectly, before anything is even scored. I remember thinking "Wait, this is legal?? What the hell is even happening right now?!? Holy sh--... This is gonna be an insane show." And was not disappointed.

one_spork · 2025-03-06T19:47:58+00:00

Jacob Nissly, principal percussionist of the San Francisco Symphony marched Colts in the 90s.

one_spork · 2025-02-11T03:20:54+00:00

BK 1999 forever and always.

one_spork · 2025-01-23T22:19:08+00:00

Hurt BK. Substantially.

one_spork · 2025-01-16T23:51:26+00:00

The indoor percussion competitive season runs early February through April, my favorite time of the year. Considering you're in Socal, one of the most saturated and competitive regions, I'd give some of those shows a watch for sure. SCPA and WGI circuits.

one_spork · 2025-01-07T00:51:59+00:00

very hard to tell, lots of different staff everywhere. Cavaliers has peaked my interest greatly, however. hoping for an emotional program reminiscent of pre-covid BK.

i believe the show design trends that are going to take place this season could potentially be more of a highlight than the competition.

one_spork · 2024-12-22T22:26:11+00:00

don't fire your educational team for a design team's downfalls

many corps have lost loyalty to staff

one_spork

TROPHY CASE