Drum Corps 2013 Season, Scores

Today DCI's Southeast Regional Championship takes place in Atlanta. As normal, with two more weeks to go in the season, the placements of how 21 of the Corps will finish is playing out more or less as expected. They are falling in line with the predictions that took place prior to the first performances of the season.

The Southwestern Championship again solidifies wha will be the final placements. A few Corps may improve their placement by a placement or two, but for the most part where Corps finish at the Championship will mirror what occurs in Indianapolis three weeks later. Atlanta and Allentown will set up the drama and hint of the drama the judges have in store for the semi-finals and finals.

Baring a surprise in Atlanta the judges set a week ago the twelve finalists. Unlike most years, in 2013 there will not be the normal battle for 12th coming out of the Eastern Championship. The Blue Stars will return to the finals, and likely be in 11th. The placements within the top 15 are set.

The only questions outstanding are,
      - will the judges concede that Blue Devils do not have a championship calibre show as do Carolina Crown and the Cadets. Will the judges allow Crown to win? Expect DCI officiating to use Allentown to hint of the finals night drama. Do not expect BD to be third or even fourth, politically that cannot happen. The DCI script is designed for Crown to overtake BD on finals night to win their first championship, leaving Cadets third and with Vanguards on their heals in 4th.
      - will the judges move the Cavaliers who have their third poor show in a row, allow this G7 Corps to finish below 7th? They should be 9th or 10th but politically a predestined G7 cannot fall that low without is undermining the claims and plans of the powerful G7 to have their special tour and events.
      - will Boston Crusaders or Blue Knights be 9th leaving the 10th to the other.

I'm not enamored by DCI scoring, haven't been for many years. It is too predicable and is therefore suspect. If DCI's scoring was the stock market, the market would more or less be flat every day for a decade. DCI leadership and the top Corps claim that scoring is strictly objective and their objectivity negates subjectivity that creates score fluctuations. Ah, but either explanation overlooks that humans are not machines that do much the same again and again and again. Inconsistency of human behavior is a factor that by its nature creates randomness. The human element does not lead to predictability and provides a significant degree of randomness that is not evidenced in DCI scores.

Sports teams and other musical groups do not perform consistently night to night. Because of the human variable a top team can be beaten by a bottom team. I cannot agree that every Corps is on every night in the same manner as the scores would suggest. One night a stronger Corps could be less focused and another who is a lower very sharp, meaning the one should drop, and the other rise, but this is not evidenced in the scoring. Also, where one judge focuses on a given night will be the same as a judge the next night viewing the same element and Corps.  One will see some mistakes or issues that another does not...again causing a higher or lower evaluation than another judge. As what they noticed varies from judge to judge, and night to night, this would add to some score fluctuations and placements. Lack of such placement fluctuations is highly suspect.

That little placement and scoring fluctuations undermines DCI's claims of impartiality and objectivity. They are arguing against in the real world human experience, where human consistency does not occur in their scoring suggests every year. To put it another way, the predictability of DCI scoring is like watching a pitcher who averages a strike out per inning getting from the umpires exactly that, a strikeout every single inning, and a batter who hits .250, always get a hit every 4 times at bat.

DCI is not unlike the state of world figure skating of the 70s through the 90s, an enjoyable entertaining activity to watch, but as the scoring is too political, to scripted, and has to be ignored.

Crossmen and DCI Show in Arlington

The following is a video clip that will give you some insights as to why Josh loves the Crossmen and has not moved to another Corps.





Following are scenes from the DCI show held in Arlington on June 26. The Blue Coats and Carolina Crown are two of the strongest corps and one, possible both, will finish in the top five.

Going For the Close-up

At Ohio State one of the traditions is for the band to spell out Ohio in the pre-game. It is a great honor to be the sousaphone chosen to dot the “i” with flare and finishing with a bow. Watch what happened this past weekend when the cameraman got a little too close.

Thanks Josh for drawing this to my attention.

LSU Band Goes Into Hall of Fame Saturday Night

Last night Josh told us last evening of the “LSU Golden Band from Tigerland” being inducted into the Louisiana music Hall of Fame. I got this google alert on the news coverage. If you watch carefully you will see Josh in the background several times (2:08-2:12, 2:31-2:32). He is in a gold T-shirt and red shorts. At the 2:31 mark he is front left on the screen whereas in the earlier section he is well in the background.



Congratulations to the band on their recognition.

Orkney Springs

Last night after driving through some heavy rains Josh and I arrived in the bone dry Orkney Springs VA where we are camping. Orkney Springs is nestled in the mountains, and is at the end of the road. A mile to the west is West Virginia.

The campground which is run by a University of Iowa grad is not the greatest, but it suffices.

We are at Orkney so that Josh can help out Oakton High School band with its drill. Oakton comes here every year for its band camp. He is a volunteer instructor for three days. On Saturday afternoon starts parents day where they run through their show and do an evening concert. As it is very early in the season the drill and the music is very dirty.

The band is showing the results of redistricting that took affect last year. The band which use to be a large 4A or small 5A is on the verge of dropping to being 3A. Currently they have about 118 members. Last year 44 seniors graduated, but they only have 24 freshmen marching this year. Next year they may well become a 3A band. It is unfortunate to see one of the best marching bands in Northern VA much short of what it was 2 to 6 years ago.

World Champion Performance.

In recent days the Phantom Regiment’s 2008 “Spartacus” show has made it onto YouTube. Though the resolution and sound are not the best you can still get a good sense of the show that earned Phantom first place. It was a dramatic show, that was well executed and with quality sound. Though the Blue Devils and Carolina Crown had a little stronger sound musically, the drama of the Phantom’s show made the difference. Phantom beat Blue Devils by the narrowest victory possible.

The show not only represents the quality of the music that separates the top five from the rest of the field but it also shows the athleticism that is found within their shows. I cannot imagine such athleticism while playing so musically and keeping in step. If you ever get a chance to take in the DCI World Championships or a DCI show near you that has some of the best bands, you will not regret doing so. I am still in awe of this show as well as the Blue Devils and Caveliers show.

Watch for the coupe at the end of the show...the Roman General gets overthrown.