Drumline
 

Has anyone else seen this movie yet? I saw it last night and I thought it was great! The music was awesome! :)

It was good? I thought it looked pretty cool and will probably see it.

My girlfriend went to see it... She enjoyed it. She plays on the school's drumline so I guess she connected with it.

I agree, what a great movie (IMO).

band geeks...
 

One of my marching band buddies from high school & I are both going to be "home" for xmas & have already made plans to see it. When I first saw the trailer I emailed him and said something like "I can't believe someone finally made a movie about how badass the band is!" So I'm looking forward to :)

For real! And it's about time, too. Anyone who thinks marching band is all wimpy and stuff has never run around on a field in 95 degree heat for 6 hours straight! They've also never experienced doing 300 'shups a day!

As for me, I can't wait to see it. My band friends from high school and I are going to go see it over break.

this movie looks sick. i was in band too and a few of my friends and i are going to see it when we are all home. i still love watching all that stuff...brings me back to my first band review when i was a lil freshman in high school.

LOL! :D When we'd have our 8 hour rehersals in the summer one of my hs band director's favorite things to say was "If you want a water break, go join the football team!" or "If you want to sit down, go join the football team!".. .you get the idea. We could see them practicing from our field & they were *always* taking breaks.

i think every former "bando" is going to end up at this movie over the break...of course the drummers were the first to hear about the movie and then they told the colorguard and it spread from there...
the only thing that annoys me though is that the girls that dance on the field w/ the marching band are the COLORGUARD not the CHEERLEADERS...yes cheerleaders dance and stuff but colorguard is the flags, rifles, sabres, etc. that provide the visual for the music....it's DIFFERENT! (*not to mention the serious rivalry at most schools between the two groups*)

the movie looks great though, i'm hooking up with a bunch of my friends that graduated and we're all going to see it with our band director and advisors and stuff for a sort of reunion...aww

this got me wondering now- how many GC-ers are former bandos/colorguard-ians?? (WGI and DCI count too!!)

I'm not entirely sure if I have the correct drift here, but you're saying that Colorguard doesn't dance? If that's the correct statement, then I must correct you. The colorguard in our high school band would dance as well as do the rifle/flag stuff. I remember this clearly--it resembled kenetic gymnastics, though, and a bit of jazz dance. V. neat, all the same.

Then again, I'm drum line. If I can't beat it, I don't notice. :p

~Emma

All the color guards from the "big gun" bands around here always did some form of dancing or acrobatics. In fact, that band that was infamous for always winning states required color guard members to have a minimum of five years of dance (mainly ballet) and acro for them to even be considered for color guard. Crazy!

We let anyone in who has a pulse. Heh, pulse optional

Anyone who thinks that colorguard don't dance has obviously never seen a DCI show.

Colorguard nut and former WGI girl right here!

Our oldest daughter was a colorguard and Winterguard person. Really hard work -- and the nationally recongnized Winterguard routines are absolutely amazing!

I was the announcer for the marching band in both high school and college and just won an alumni award from the college band which has since marched in Macys, inagural parade, played at Carnagie Hall and a lot of NFL games. Some really outstanding memories. Talk about a GREAT drumline!

Guess I'll have to see the movie.

remember...
 

Some bands have auxiliary groups that separate themselves: at my alma mater, we had colorguard (they did dance), a dance troupe, and banner girls. There was a clear distinction between the groups, even though they were all part of the band.

I'm confused, at my high school, what was actually color gaurd had nothing to do with the band. Color guard was the group of JROTC people who carried the American and state flags.

I was a rifle girl for 2 years and was pretty good at it. I definitely have some great memories from our performances... like showing up for Homecoming when it was 20 degrees out and I had laryngitis! My mom was soooo mad at me for going!

As for the movie, I don't really know if I'll see it or not. If I do, I probably will wait till it's out on DVD. The last movie I saw in the theatre was Harry Potter 2, and before that I don't even remember!

SSS,

You bring up a good point. The JROTC thing you mention is probably what most people think of as a color guard. In a military sense, it is. Generally, it consists of at least two rifles, at least two flags -- one being the U.S. Flag -- and sometimes the commander carries a saber.

The flags who accompany marching bands and drum corps are also called color guards.

Then, there is an international competition called Winterguard, which is sort of like a cross between gymnastics, dance and flagwork -- these often include rifles and sabers as well.

When it's good, the later is amazing to watch, with specially produced audio tracks and really intricate choreography and split second timing.

At our kids' high school, they actually gave varsity letters to Colorguard and Winterguard participants. It can be grueling.

..
 

Wow all of you guys actually talk good about band people!!!!! That is not the thing to do at UK. I was in band in high school and in band now at UK, I love it. But the student body is pretty hard on us sometimes. Especially some of the greek students. I was told by a few house members I couldnt' prolly get in b/c I was in band. Wow, I'm so happy to see that you guys don't hate us! I'm in shock.....we need people like you at UK.

At LSU, its a *big* deal to be a member of Tiger Band. My guy was in it for 3 years (he sat out his senior year because his EE schedule was just too much along with band). Even if it wasn't cool in HS, band is a big deal activity here. Its quite an honor to be a part of it.

At Ohio University, the Marching 110 is HUGE! By the way, the name is deceiving -- when the "modern" band (playing rock music and dancing) back in 1967 there were about 110 members. Now there are more like 140/150, but they're expected to give 110% at every practice and performance.

Ask any O.U. student or graduate!

Matt Lauer from the TODAY Show, and Ohio graduate, absolutely gushed (his word) over them on the air when they performed in the Macy's Parade two years ago.

Check out the website at www.ohio.edu/marching110

Only 110? Tiger Band is 325 :D

Geaux Tigers!

Gotta agree with juniorgrrl. Being in Tiger Band is a really big honor. The student body absolutely loves the band. They are the essence of school spirit at our football games. I kinda want to see the movie because the scenes from the trailer remind me of another school here in town. Juniorgrrl...do any of those bands remind you of Southern? LOL.

Allison

Quantity does not always equal quality.

I'm definately going to see it this saturday.

The 110 is sooooo awesome :) I have a best friend now that is in the 110 drumline (look for the redheaded snare, lol). I still wish I went ahead and went to OU, I even had a Music scholarship...*sighs*


But anyway, ditto on the praising of the Marching Bands!! :) At my old high school we were only an A band, but we creamed AA bands like they were nothing!! :) :) Ahhh...the good old days....oh...and every band member remembers the Band Bus trips!! So many -wrong- things happened then...lol!! :)

and this one time. . .at band camp. . .

Well those 325 musicians won the Sudler Trophy for 2002. So I guess this time quantity does equal quality. :D

Guess that's true. That's why the word "always" was in my original quote.

There are some really boring "big" bands, some exciting small bands -- and everywhere in between.

Now, a bit of history.

Ohio caps the size of the band in order to be a little more selective. In fact, although they march 140 or so for most performances, they always still march 110 for pre-game.

It's tradition.

Interesting to note that the Sudler Trophy has been dominated by Big Ten bands. My personal opinion (those last two words are important -- I'm not claiming facts) is that while Big Ten bands are generally really good musically, and marching, their shows (Particularly music selection ) are dull.

I know my friends from Ohio State, etc. wouldn't agree. Let's hear it for "Hang on Sloopy" and Mr. Touchdown, USA! Long live Sousa!

I will admit that when Ohio State's alumni band is back and they do multiple "Script Ohios", they usually all spell it correctly.

Yawn.

Uhm...I tried out for colorguard when I was a freshman in high school, but had to drop out halfway through the week since I would have had to choose between colorguard and ice skating. My parents weren't too thrilled about me giving up 8 years of ice skating.

But, if it helps, my boyfriend is a former contrabass player for a corps here in England (Pride of Bristol). They weren't a top-rate corps or anything, but they did go to DCI a few times.

:)


.....Kelly :)

Ooo Ooo! And another thing.....


Just before I moved here to Britain, I made sure to swing by Disneyland's California Adventure park (I had an annual pass) to see the Blast! show. It was awesome! I saw it on TV on a PBS special a long while ago. The Disney Resort is currently running an abridged version of the show. It was great! The music and visual effects really do "blast" out into the audience. If any of you have the opportunity to see the show, do!

.....Kelly :)

Actually, I thought that this movie was based on Southern or Grambling.

Tiger Band is great, but those guys and girls at Southern and Grambling can MOVE.

Blast! is playing here in Denver right now. Saw it when it was here last year. It's great!

(Grambling and Southern are amazing, aren't they?)

My friend marched Blue Devils from 98-99, so he has a ring.

Their colorguard is the best in DCI IMHO.

Anyways, after seeing that movie, a lot of people were suprised to find out that the band also has to do strenuous exercises like a lot of push ups and sit ups and running. I was like "you don't know the half of it."

Wanna some see some awesome drum breaks, watch a DCI show.

Personally I think the Tiger Band has nothing on the bands at Southern and Grambling. The only reason I watch the Bayou Classic year after year is for the Battle of the Bands. :)

the Blue Devils in general are the best corps in DCI IMO. Holy freaking crap. Well, them and the Cavaliers.

The summer before my senior year of high school, I was lucky enough to go to the George Parks Drum Major Academy. Every night they had some different kind of event, and one of the nights, which happened to be my birthday, Cavvies and Blue Devils did a show. Holy crap. Before the show started, we walked past their tour buses and I went over and kissed it. Yeah, I'm that much of a dork :p But anyways, it was the best birthday present ever!!

Speaking of DMA, anybody ever go to that or the Bands of America Symposium? Or for that matter, any workshop with Dr. Tim? That man is a freaking genius.

Blue Devils ARE the best corps OVERALL. The problem is that DCI has changed to being all about GE marching and not music. That's why the Cavaliers have won.

Oh, I agree. But you gotta admit that the Cavaliers have improved a lot in the last three years or so.

BTW, I'm drawing a blank as to what the 98-99 show you mentioned was. Someone did the Ring that year...was it them or Phantom Regiment? grr...this is going to bother me now!


I'm just a Cavvie fan because of the whole all-male aspect :p JK

I've been to BOA for their guard instructor clinics - good times!
Regarding BD's 98 show, wasn't it the West Side Story/Romeo and Juliet show? The Ring was Phantom Regiment 97, I believe.
Oh, and yes, Blast is awesome! They're in Chicago right now, and I get to see them twice this week (and one time is free - company's buying). :)

My friend marched:

BD 98: One Hand One Heart, music of Romeo & Juliet and West Side Story

BD 99: Rythyms at the Edge of time (SCV should have won outright though hehehehe)

The shows that the Cavies won with GE and the music sucked:

Cavies 01: Four Corners

Cavies 01 and BD 01 I thought were too close to call. BD had the music but the overall concept I thought Cavies had. But it still should be about the music though......

Cavies 02: Frameworks

Cavies 02 got the highest DCI score of all time (including a perfect guard score even though they had a HUGE member drop in the final show).