Ideas for next year's field show, time to start speculating...

That's why I went with 10.

But 30 would indeed make for a much better show (after all, you'd want to diminish the chances of a "rerun"). It's just a matter of having a group willing to put in the time and energy to make it work.


Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realize that this would be a show multiple years in the making. At least, the design process would need that amount of time to figure everything out--the band itself could probably learn the show in the standard time-frame, given a little (or a lot of) extra rehearsal time.



I'd definitely like to try it at some point, though.

It would take years to write, but learning it, especially because the pieces are little fragments, might be easier.

I could foresee people forgetting what parts correspond with what drill, though. You'd have people running the wrong sections or just not knowing what to do. This show would train-wreck frequently.... unless.. I can see working with that to prevent it.. not every section needs to move on every page.. you could have the different sections even portraying, like, characters, and only the involved characters would be moving or whatever.

Man, the more I think about that, the cooler that sounds.

Similarly, "Bach to the Future." Like "If It Ain't Baroque...", but with time-travel!

(I really like this idea, but I have no idea where to take it. It's very much an idea in the rough.)

That's my biggest worry with such a show. The endless train-wrecks. I would only let the most disciplined band tackle it. Not so sure about having certain sections sit out...at least, not very often. First and foremost, each possible storyline should be an entertaining show in its own right (which I don't see happening if sections drop out). The "Choose Your Own Adventure" aspect would only serve to provide each week's audience with something new and different (similar to how collegiate marching bands work)--and to give the band a unique challenge.

A better way to put it....I see it as a kind of hybrid of corps-style and Big-10-style shows. Corps-style because of the theatrical and story-telling aspects, and Big-10-style because of their efficiency. And I think setting sections out maybe pushing it out of the realm of either. Though I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing...

I've got it.

Famous Bach melodies arranged in the style of 80's rock. And ideally, everything should be instantly recognizable--"Is that...Brandenberg Concerto No. 3? In the style of Supertramp?! Holy crap! Now they're doing Sleepers, Wake as a power ballad!! That's craaaaaazy--crazy AWESOME!!"

[Interjection: I think the hard part isn't getting Bach melodies to sound like 80's rock, it's getting a marching band to sound like 80's rock.]

Also, it'd be cool to squeeze the Back to the Future theme in there somewhere. Just to hold the pun together.

*adds to list of must-do shows*

I need to get composing...

I may have mentioned this before, but I think a show completely in triple meter would be awesome. No catchy name yet, but some cool ideas for musical selections:

Chopin's Minute Waltz
Mvt. 6 (or 7, depending on who you ask) "Waltz 2" from Shostakovich's Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra
Strauss's The Blue Danube (Not sure you could avoid this one )

Actually, those three--in that order--would probably be my first choice for a line-up. But there are so many cool waltzes out there that one could easily do a 'sequel' a few years later.

Also, to completely understand my thinking, imagine a grand ballroom scene played out on a football field during the Shostakovich piece...everyone pairs up and literally dances the waltz. Or, at least, get as close to a waltz as one can while still playing...I want the illusion of a ballroom. 'Cause that would be an amazing visual effect.

"Drum Corps, à la Mode" (Alternatively, "Marching Band, à la Mode")

Basically, incorporate music written in each of the seven modes.

This would be really cool for a high school marching band, because it provides the director with the opportunity to teach the theory behind musical modes to their students.

No visual ideas for this one, as the music is what's driving the concept.

Holy crap...I really am insane. I just found a note in one of my old notebooks that said:

Not real sure about this one, but PBS could be an interesting place to look for music. Mr. Rogers' "Won't You Be My Neighbor" would be cool to put on the field--I'll sometimes watch Mr. Rogers just to listen to Johnny Costa's jazz piano. And of course, there's the theme to NOVA. It just doesn't get any more epic than that.

Of course, if one were to look at TV in general, it could be fun to jam as many famous TV themes into 10 minutes as possible. Kinda like Cavies '07, when they crammed every song ever written by Billy Joel into one show. While I wasn't real crazy about that show, I think a TV version of that would go over well with a football crowd--it's simple and recognizable.

Theme from Mc'Guyver :-P
ha ha!
only 5 days till im back in the Ship...!! WHOO!!!

Two more ideas that I really like:

Number 1 -- A show about the internet. Not a fully-formed concept quite yet, but I'd like to start with a recreation of that old dial-up modem sound. The show would focus on the vast connections the internet has created, and I'd really like to work themes from Praan throughout the show. It's got a nice sweeping feeling to it that I think would work well on the field.

Number 2 -- Peter and the Wolf. I would be shocked if this had never been done before. It's just too good to not do. The way different instruments represent different characters would make for some great drill/visuals, and the guard could really integrate into that as well. Actually, it reminds me of "Spartacus" (Phantom Regiment '08) in that not only is everyone on the field marching and playing, but they're all acting out a story as well. Done right, it could be a fantastic program.

EDIT: After a visit to Wikipedia...it's still a good idea, except for the part where I forgot how boring the story was. It was written for children after all. But I think a few liberties could be taken though to spice up the interest.