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.

I would go with corps style as far as marching and maneuvering, etc, but the music selection would have a lot of showstyle influence. However I don't think I would bother having a colorguard. MOST college guards suck rancid poo anyways. So, a big dance line would be ideal in my opinion. Scantily clad go go dancers...

I'm late on the topic, lol, but considering I have been blessed to do both styles, I am leaning towards showstyle a little more. If I am starting from scratch, I have an idea that will blow some minds at competitions.

Now, if I do teach at a well established band program, I would pick up their style, and add some of the "opposite" style with it. For example, If they are corps, I would add some high stepping counts into the show, or if they don't have a cool looking marked time (like a snap), I would have all unison mark times high stepped. I think that would blow some minds at a competition.

If I get a showstyle band, we would maybe do a corps style field entrance (the infamous soft entrance followed by a loud opener) into high stepping, and a few corps style drills and songs.

if i could start from scratch i would fuse the two because the fusion of both would give you more possibilities of wat to do and it would be creative you can do new things with the music and take it to new levels while pleasing all crowds.and color nor area would have anything to do with it cause music dosen't have color only the veiws of people ..

I would start by showing the kids all sorts of videos of drum corps, college show bands, etc. and ask them what they want to do. Then once I their input, I'll weigh their opinions and do my best to give them the high school band experience that THEY want. If I fall short in some areas, I'll look around and see if I can bring in someone who can help with whatever area the kids would like to explore. If the majority of them want to be in a top ranked competition band, I'll work to hire assistants who can give them that. If they want to have fun doing lots of shows a year, or learning dance choreography I'll take them in that direction.

I was always upset at how my high school band director never brought in the appropriate people when he was unable to arrange/teach certain things as well as others.

thats real bs that its more of a challenge for a corp style drumline or bad. I guarantee that if you tried to groove to something 90 percent of corp drummers would not be able to do it and vice versa. show style has different talents that need to be worked on from corp style. I really dont like all of you corp style guys saying that show style is easy...it really isnt. In my opinion its what the crowd likes that is better. And crowds get a lot more excited by show style. Corp style just plays and they go oh they are clean but dont get hype. Think about what you are saying. Look at this band in my hometown (Greensboro) and you will realize that you cant do it. http://www.ncat.edu/%7eband/

1. yo all music aint crunk thats why their are different styles .and if you listen to corps cadences there are <s>[b]snugglebunny[/b]</s> [color:"red"]a lot</font> of grooves .its just our grooves are played staight through and they have a web of them stuck together in one cadence.you might have never heard it or looked for it but i have . like i was told and i will tell you ,you have no idea what a person is capable of unless your a psychic.wich aparently your not because you would have know i was gonna say something .( im the mouth of the showband forum and i got the credentials to prove it you should have known)

oh yeah and dont say either one is harder than the other because the both have their ups and downs.its apples and oranges get over it .


2. the way you formulate the fusion of both styles is take your favorite attributes of both and stickem together
like i like highly clean rudimental playing as in corps but i also like the flash of show bands so you stick them toghether .
the marching part is different you add to all your field shows an element of both .you might have a hype song like "get you eagle on" by nelly (dont shoot if i got the name wrong )and you high step then go into "Malugena" (i hate spelling those weird titles)wich you would core style.
but the music is the only hard part taking these two styles of music and somehow making them work now thats hard but i still have some years to figure out how to do it but when i do my band will be the next level of both so where gonna take it on the road!!!