Comments on: Cavaliers http://carltonbale.com My personal take on tech Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:59:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-4157 Carlton Bale Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:22:29 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-4157 John: My advise to you is the same as it would be for anyone taking on a great endeavor: plan for the long term and start taking small steps to get there. Make a list of all the things that can get you to your goal and start doing them as you are able (you can't run a marathon if you can't run a mile first.) Specific to your situation, you definitely need to focus on playing an instrument used in drum crops. Based on what you've said, you should exclusively plays sousaphone / tuba. Playing a contra bugle is not that difficult of a transition for tuba/sousaphone players -- marching with one and reading trouble clef are. Since you've player other instruments, reading treble clef shouldn't be too much of a problem but be sure to stay on up on that. Exercise is would be the next step. Start running, 2-miles at a time, and focus on lowering your time to run 2 miles. Marching corps is very cardio-intensive. Carrying a contra, especially when it's not sitting on your shoulder, is not easy, so some upper body strength training could help but definitely shouldn't be your primary focus. Finally, do what ever you can to get yourself marching with a more advanced group. Go try out for any corps in your area (Division II/III) and get a couple of years experience before moving up to a Division I corps. That is the experience that will get you there and you shouldn't wait until you're in college to start. Tryout as soon as you can, even if you can't march that season. You'll learn what it takes during the tryout weekend and you'll be able to adjust your plan from there. And most importantly, don't give up. It's OK to be discouraged from time to time, but don't give up and keep trying. I hope this helps. Good luck in all of your future endeavors. John: My advise to you is the same as it would be for anyone taking on a great endeavor: plan for the long term and start taking small steps to get there. Make a list of all the things that can get you to your goal and start doing them as you are able (you can’t run a marathon if you can’t run a mile first.) Specific to your situation, you definitely need to focus on playing an instrument used in drum crops. Based on what you’ve said, you should exclusively plays sousaphone / tuba. Playing a contra bugle is not that difficult of a transition for tuba/sousaphone players — marching with one and reading trouble clef are. Since you’ve player other instruments, reading treble clef shouldn’t be too much of a problem but be sure to stay on up on that. Exercise is would be the next step. Start running, 2-miles at a time, and focus on lowering your time to run 2 miles. Marching corps is very cardio-intensive. Carrying a contra, especially when it’s not sitting on your shoulder, is not easy, so some upper body strength training could help but definitely shouldn’t be your primary focus. Finally, do what ever you can to get yourself marching with a more advanced group. Go try out for any corps in your area (Division II/III) and get a couple of years experience before moving up to a Division I corps. That is the experience that will get you there and you shouldn’t wait until you’re in college to start. Tryout as soon as you can, even if you can’t march that season. You’ll learn what it takes during the tryout weekend and you’ll be able to adjust your plan from there. And most importantly, don’t give up. It’s OK to be discouraged from time to time, but don’t give up and keep trying.

I hope this helps. Good luck in all of your future endeavors.

]]> By: John Millado http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-4130 John Millado Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:18:05 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-4130 hey, i am currently a junior in high school. i started off playing sax, and many others such as the flute and bass clarinet. I switched from sax to sousaphone for marching band (sophomore year), and i found it to be amazing. i loved playing loud and carrying that tank around. i am interested in marching a DCI corp, but i dont think i can make it. my peers don't believe in me and they take it as a joke. my band director doesn't believe in marching contra bugles. i dont think im physically in shape to march. if i have a shot in this, i have little time to learn everything for tuba. if you can give suggestions on how i can improve my performance, it would be appreciated. thank you, John go cavaliers hey,

i am currently a junior in high school. i started off playing sax, and many others such as the flute and bass clarinet. I switched from sax to sousaphone for marching band (sophomore year), and i found it to be amazing. i loved playing loud and carrying that tank around. i am interested in marching a DCI corp, but i dont think i can make it. my peers don’t believe in me and they take it as a joke. my band director doesn’t believe in marching contra bugles. i dont think im physically in shape to march.

if i have a shot in this, i have little time to learn everything for tuba. if you can give suggestions on how i can improve my performance, it would be appreciated.

thank you,
John

go cavaliers

]]> By: Brent Gilmore http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-3173 Brent Gilmore Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:43:22 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-3173 Carlton, Wow. That was awesome. I marched Division II for the past 3 seasons (04-06) and with the current season just beginning I'm getting nostalgic already. Reading your journal brought back so many awesome and incredible memories. It makes me wish I had kept a diary during our abbreviated 2-3 week tours. It was just last summer and I've already forgotten so much! Drum corps is truly an experience that cannot be duplicated. I was really blown away by 22 baritones/euphs for 20 spots, especially with you guys coming off a championship season. I auditioned for a division I corps once and it was a very cutthroat experience. I know corps nowadays cut people for not being in good enough shape. That's probably the thing that has changed the most in the past 14 years, everything else seems to be right in tune (no pun intended) with my experiences, even in a different division. Thank you again for sharing your experiences and congratulations on being part of such a world-class organization! Carlton,
Wow. That was awesome. I marched Division II for the past 3 seasons (04-06) and with the current season just beginning I’m getting nostalgic already. Reading your journal brought back so many awesome and incredible memories. It makes me wish I had kept a diary during our abbreviated 2-3 week tours. It was just last summer and I’ve already forgotten so much! Drum corps is truly an experience that cannot be duplicated.

I was really blown away by 22 baritones/euphs for 20 spots, especially with you guys coming off a championship season. I auditioned for a division I corps once and it was a very cutthroat experience. I know corps nowadays cut people for not being in good enough shape. That’s probably the thing that has changed the most in the past 14 years, everything else seems to be right in tune (no pun intended) with my experiences, even in a different division.

Thank you again for sharing your experiences and congratulations on being part of such a world-class organization!

]]> By: Brett White http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-3029 Brett White Sat, 21 Apr 2007 06:01:58 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-3029 I came upon this site and it really amazed me how the experience doesn't change a whole lot. I marched with the cavaliers in '05 and '06 and still have a couple summers to go. I really got a kick out of the "getting their shorts" on their birthday comment. It's always a mission to try and get jeff. I came upon this site and it really amazed me how the experience doesn’t change a whole lot. I marched with the cavaliers in ’05 and ’06 and still have a couple summers to go. I really got a kick out of the “getting their shorts” on their birthday comment. It’s always a mission to try and get jeff.

]]> By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-2993 Carlton Bale Sat, 14 Apr 2007 14:39:06 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-2993 Hi Brittany. Yes, the Cavaliers (along with the Madison Scouts) are an all-male drum corps. There have been several all-female drum corps in the past but I'm unsure if any are still active. Having had the great experience of marching with the Cavaliers, I understand why everyone would want the opportunity to participate. Having said that, there are also some great benefits to guys being in an all-male group. Guys act like guys and really get to become great friends -- without the added element of trying to impress girls. The group dynamic is quite different between an all-male/all-female and a co-ed group. I think everyone should experience both. Hi Brittany. Yes, the Cavaliers (along with the Madison Scouts) are an all-male drum corps. There have been several all-female drum corps in the past but I’m unsure if any are still active.

Having had the great experience of marching with the Cavaliers, I understand why everyone would want the opportunity to participate. Having said that, there are also some great benefits to guys being in an all-male group. Guys act like guys and really get to become great friends — without the added element of trying to impress girls. The group dynamic is quite different between an all-male/all-female and a co-ed group. I think everyone should experience both.

]]> By: Brittany http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-2980 Brittany Wed, 11 Apr 2007 23:44:32 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-2980 Hey, I am a trumpet player in my high school band. This past marching season DCI finals were on TV and my director thought that it would be a good excperience for everyone to watch it. I thought all the bands were amazing, but you could really see that the Calaliers were better than everyone else. I have recently been watching past performances and basically just finding out more about you guys. This may seems like a very stupid question, but the Cavaliers are male-based, right? -Brittany Hey, I am a trumpet player in my high school band. This past marching season DCI finals were on TV and my director thought that it would be a good excperience for everyone to watch it. I thought all the bands were amazing, but you could really see that the Calaliers were better than everyone else. I have recently been watching past performances and basically just finding out more about you guys. This may seems like a very stupid question, but the Cavaliers are male-based, right?

-Brittany

]]> By: Carlton Bale http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-2843 Carlton Bale Sun, 25 Feb 2007 15:33:46 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-2843 Mike: I can't offer much advice about this other than trying to contact uniform manufacturers. I've seen advertisements in DCI magazines for companies that make uniforms for multiple corps. Be cautious about your approach to the uniform. It seems to me that your approach is to pay homage to your favorite corps and that's cool; some others may see wearing the uniform as a badge of honor only for those who have marched. Be straightforward and respectful with your approach and use is as an inspiration to one day become a member of the Cavaliers - you <em>can</em> do it. Mike: I can’t offer much advice about this other than trying to contact uniform manufacturers. I’ve seen advertisements in DCI magazines for companies that make uniforms for multiple corps.

Be cautious about your approach to the uniform. It seems to me that your approach is to pay homage to your favorite corps and that’s cool; some others may see wearing the uniform as a badge of honor only for those who have marched. Be straightforward and respectful with your approach and use is as an inspiration to one day become a member of the Cavaliers – you can do it.

]]> By: Mike http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-2831 Mike Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:33:50 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-2831 Hello. I'm currently a freshman in high school and have looked up to the Cavaliers since I started playing in the band. I have been looking to purchase a Cavaliers uniform and have found everything except the hat. I know you don't belong to the corps anymore, but was wondering just the same if you might have any idea where they get their hats from? Even if you don't, it's an honor talking to a past member of the Cavaliers. Thank you. Sincerely, Mike Hello. I’m currently a freshman in high school and have looked up to the Cavaliers since I started playing in the band. I have been looking to purchase a Cavaliers uniform and have found everything except the hat. I know you don’t belong to the corps anymore, but was wondering just the same if you might have any idea where they get their hats from? Even if you don’t, it’s an honor talking to a past member of the Cavaliers. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mike

]]> By: Dirk http://carltonbale.com/other/cavaliers/comment-page-1#comment-2616 Dirk Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:21:19 +0000 http://www.carltonbale.com/blog/cavaliers/#comment-2616 Hey man, My name is Dirk Ellerd. I marched bass drum 4 for The Cavaliers his past season (06). I stumbled upon your site somehow and I thought your page on your experience with The Cavaliers was incredible. I share a lot of simmilar experiences from my summer. Well man, hope all is treating you well. Always good to read about a fellow Cavalier. SPLOOIE. -Dirk Hey man,

My name is Dirk Ellerd. I marched bass drum 4 for The Cavaliers his past season (06). I stumbled upon your site somehow and I thought your page on your experience with The Cavaliers was incredible. I share a lot of simmilar experiences from my summer. Well man, hope all is treating you well. Always good to read about a fellow Cavalier. SPLOOIE.

-Dirk

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