Ok this is just for fun, but if you were a band director starting an entirely new program at your school, would you want to start a show style band or a corps style band? Also what would you have to look at in order to make your decision? Would race and ethnicity be a factor?

For me, Before i make the decision, Id have to see where other bands stand. If i felt i could direct a kick-a$$ corps style band in an area where they dont do as well, and i felt up to the challenge then Id do it, and vice versa. I feel bad about saying this but race and ethnicity might play a part. Not to the point id change everything, but i would consider it. And also not to the point id refuse acceptance into my band. But to give a straight answer, it all depends on location and enrollment of members (# wise) but id say Corps style b/c thats what im used to, besides, id probably try to mix the two and experiment.

I think it's kinda hard to answer that, considering I'm not a director. But, if it had to say, . . . probably corps. It's more to take on, but it pays off more (most of the time) Personally, I enjoy all the contests and stuff (I know some director don't. It's just stress to them) But I couldn't leave show style out completely. To me, it's empty with out some show style. It's what gets you more into the music. Especially people who aren't in band and don't really understand corps style. But that's just what I think I would do.

I would start out with a mixture of both and over the course of ten eyars or so evolve the band into a serious hard corps style band

Yep, depends on the area. I'm more of a corps style person, I don't know the first thing about show style marching or tuning (or should I say lack of tuning, Kidding!!! Just a joke!) So it would be corps. But, being from Louisiana, there is going to be a show style factor in it, like there is at my high school. We are corps on the field, but at parades, it's all about the dancing. And, I'm not bragging, but we are pretty good dancers for a bunch of caucasion people. On the field we slip in some dancing sometimes, like two years ago, there was a drum rest in a song, (don't remember the name) for about a couple of measures, and what the band played had a can can feel to it, so the snares picked up their drums and can canned. It was cute. I'm sure show stylers wouldn't have done that... We have a new band director, he came last year, and he used to teach at Archbishop Rummel as a drum instructor, so he got used to their style, which is NO dancing. Brother Martin, in New Orleans, are like a corp, no surprise considering Marty Hurley of the Phantom phame (Ha play on sounds there, te he) is their band director. But they never get to dance on parades. It's New Orleans for pete's sake! THe people are drunk and want to dance!

I WOULD LEAVE EVERY POSSIBILTY OPEN.I SAY ITS WHAT THE KIDS LOVE TO DO AND PLAY AND WHAT THE CROWD WOULD BE PLEASED BY.I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS TO DO BOTH. THATS HOW MY BAND CARRER WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

Whoa bubba, lay of the caps.
The mods will hassle you about that. In the computer world, caps=yelling, so don't do it.

I would definatly do a corps style band...prorbably because it is my personal preference and I feel it has more options for learning. In corps style you have to be more precise and articluate in everything you do.

I don't know if I would let ethnicity be a factor. Just because a school is mostly African American doesn't mean that they can't march corps style....but you have to admit they are pretty good at getting their groove on in show-style.

What a hell of a topic Miraclemanays because my band right now is hated by our school because we are a corps-style marching band (relaxed, not hardcore). Our school is Black and Mexican, and everyone wants to hear hip-hop and r&b music. They don't really care if we dance, it's mainly the stands tunes. So in short I would have a band that would mix corps style and showband. If it didn't work. For example, the highstepping intefering with the more precise roll stepping, the showstyle will come to a definite halt !

If I was directing a college band, I would be more inclined to do show style. You're basically there to entertain a college crowd. Corps-style is lost on football crowds. Especially if their school has to see the same 2 or 3 shows. If it was high school, then I would do the latter, because there are more competitive circuits on that level...entertaining the high school crowd isn't a high priority except in the stands.