So, with WGI wound up and DCI not quite ready to begin, it seems we have a little time to fill. With that in mind we are going to start a friendly little competition (nothing official and no prizes). This will basically be for bragging rights. Here is what's going to happen:

Someone (me in this case) will upload a solo. If you think you have something better (original composition) then post it. Solos need to posted in PDF or image format. Please no finale or sibelius files. We only need two competitors at one time, so the first person to post a solo will be the choice. Please, if there are already 2 solos posted, do not post yours YET. There will be time for that.

After we have 2 solos, the DLO community can post which one they like better and why. Solos will be voted on by the name of the composer. Also, when you vote please include a running vote total so that the next person does not have to add it up as they go. (Example: drumholio 3 votes DlWebmaestro 2 votes) When a solo reaches 10 votes (by ten different people..which means voting only once) it will be declared the winner of that round. That solo will move on and someone else can upload a solo to challenge the winner. Then the process repeats. If a solo keeps winning over and over again, we might consider "retiring" it and letting two new contenders go at it, but that will be evaluated as we move forward.

The solo would need to be of reasonable length. Something you would find in a wgi/DCI/hs show is what I had in mind, but not something the length of an individual solo. Time signature does not matter. Snare, tenor, or bass can be used, but the solo can only be for one section. So, no writing a 4 measure snare solo that transitions into a 4 measure tenor solo.

I think that is it. As usual, if there are any questions, feel free to ask or pm me. Finally, please post what you liked and/or disliked about each solo as you vote. It always helps to have some constructive criticism.

Here is the first solo up for vote. Hope everyone enjoys it. It is a tenor solo written for 6 drums. It contains split parts, which is why there are 2 lines worth of music.

Can you give a time guideline for clarification. Like minutes and seconds?

minutes?....have you ever seen a DCI or wgi show where an individual section solo lasted for a minute? Minutes would be more along the line of an individual (I&E) solo. This is more along the lines of the snare break from Blue Devils 97 or the Cadets tenor solo from 1998.

I see what you mean now.

Does it have to be a tenor solo or can it be anything we want?

this is an excerpt from a solo that i wrote in '03.

let me clarify something....measures 3,4,and 5 was the snare break, the other measures were accompanied by the tenors and basses.

That was in the original post. That should answer the question about if it can only be a tenor solo. Gotta read the whole thing people. I don't come up with rules and guidelines because I like to see myself type

Ok, so we now have two licks to vote on. Remember, the first solo lick to get ten votes will be declared the winner.

Thanks for submitting something to get the ball rolling Beardo_MSU.

alright...let the voting begin...and please give likes and dislikes of the licks.

Ok, everyone slow down....please don't post all at once.


Seriously, this is not that difficult. Someone has to have an opinion.