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DCI 2025 Finals Buzz: Historic First Female Drum Major & Slow-Tempo Marching Techniques
253 Plays22 days ago
– First-ever female Penn State drum major, Brass Band tribute at Ozzy Osbourne’s celebration, and DCA/DCI crossover in Williamsport.
On this week’s episode of On A Water Break, we’re gearing up for DCI Championships in Indianapolis, August 8–9, 2025! Stephen McCarrick (@stephenmccarrick) is joined by Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs), Chris Green (@virtualassistantdirector), and Lori Winschel (@lori.winschel) for five packed segments filled with history-making news, live-from-the-field insights, tech tips, and candid “water break” rants.
🎺 32 Count Life Story & Interview:
Special guest Chris Green (National Sales Manager, @fruhaufuniforms & @virtualassistantdirector) kicks off the show with his 32 Count Life Story, then shares behind-the-scenes tales from the road and what makes DCI week so electric.
📰 In the news:
- Penn State Blue Band names Ellie Sheehan as its first-ever female drum major.
- Bostin Brass Band honors Ozzy Osbourne with a “War Pigs” tribute.
- Williamsport’s DCA/DCI crossover brings Bushwackers, Phantom Regiment & more together.
- Music For All appoints Dr. James Weaver as CEO & President.
- Cynthia Bernard becomes the first international steering-committee member for WGI.
🛠️ 60-Second Tech Block:
Lori Winschel (@lori.winschel) dives into slow-tempo training, showing why “if you can’t do it slow, you can’t do it fast”—and how subdividing every count can sharpen technique.
🧠 Water We Doing?!
- Chris Green (@virtualassistantdirector): Why judging bias needs a reset—evaluate each performance on its own merits.
- Lori Winschel (@lori.winschel): The case for teaching business & guard management in music-education programs.
- Neal Bright (@nealdrums1): How college band programs must prep new directors for rural & small-town teaching realities.
💬 Gush & Go:
- Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs): Pumped for a three-week break before judging season begins.
- Stephen McCarrick (@stephenmccarrick): Celebrating a childhood friend’s wedding & an Eagles drumline reunion.
- Chris Green (@virtualassistantdirector): Thrilled to reconnect Drum Corps alumni at SoundSport & surprise an audience in full @fruhaufuniforms regalia.
- Lori Winschel (@lori.winschel): Check out StartingLineDesignCo on Etsy for custom guard accessories and follow my work at @virtualassistantdirector.
💬 Want to be featured? Submit your video or apply to join us:
📋 https://forms.gle/OnAWBJoinUs
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEIZAjFybvq_AzpFUXvNJDQ
🎙️ Sponsored by:
🌍 Peak Group Travel | @peak.group.travel
👕 Guard Closet | @guardcloset
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Transcript
Introduction to 'On A Water Break' Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everyone and welcome back to On A Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. This week we are all about the end of the summer and we are getting on to marching band.
00:00:11
Speaker
But first we'll find out what made Nicole say, ah Y'all are somebody's kids and we're all older than you. Can you leave? And why Neil said, It's not my favorite show they've done, but man they're good.
00:00:26
Speaker
All this and more on this week's episode of On A Water Break. um Adolph the Met and go. Welcome to On a Water Break. The where we talk everything marching arts.
00:00:43
Speaker
Everyone, bring it in. It's time for a water break. All right. Hello, everyone.
Engagement and Listener Interaction
00:00:50
Speaker
It is Steven this week, and we have a great episode lined up. It is going to be all about band camp and the end of the DCI i season.
00:00:57
Speaker
But before we see who's on the sidelines this week, go subscribe on your favorite listening app, write us a review, share it with a friend. If you've got a question or a good topic to talk about, you can email us at onawaterbreakpodcast at gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
00:01:13
Speaker
ah We've got a form that you can fill out now, too. If you want to be a guest, check it out at the link in our bio. But now, with no further ado, who we got on the
Humorous Anecdotes and Guest Introductions
00:01:22
Speaker
sidelines this week? We have Nicole coming to us live from looks like a gym at the Academy rehearsal site.
00:01:30
Speaker
Yeah, it's and it's a wrestling room. um I can actually show you what the rest that looks like. um Yeah, and funny story is I got woken up today by two high school wrestlers that came in and just started wrestling.
00:01:46
Speaker
sparring in front of all of us trying to be like hey ah y'all are somebody's kids and we're all older than you can you leave it something like that happened to us at bush this last weekend um we were staying at the same housing site overnight, like for a whole day or whatever, two days.
00:02:08
Speaker
So ah we were sleeping in their weight room and they told us like, yeah, you're fine. School's not in session. youre You can just leave everything in there. And then we went back in after rehearsal and there were like three different college students just like lifting weights next to my air mattress and just like pumping it.
00:02:26
Speaker
I was like, oh, guess we're a school's in session, but yeah. But we're in Pennsylvania right now, so we're about to go to ah the Erie show.
00:02:38
Speaker
Nice. Very nice. I wish I was out on tour. I have a wedding on Friday, so I won't be able to be there. But a lot of the folks on the call today will. um So let's hear who else is on the sidelines this week. We've got Neil Bright as well. ah Neil was on the Savannah Bananas episode we did recently. ah Awesome, fun guy with fun stories. Neil, thanks for joining us.
00:02:58
Speaker
Absolutely. Glad to be here. Yeah, dude, we're glad that you're here. Thanks for coming back. um And we've got a couple other guests on the sidelines with us this week. We've got the director of sales and marketing for Fruhauf and owner and CEO of virtual assistant director, ah Chris Green.
00:03:18
Speaker
love applause. More and more. I'm excited. I'm excited to be here. i am the national sales manager for Fruhauf. Fruhauf. My apologies. Fruit Hoff.
00:03:29
Speaker
um Well, we're very happy that you're here as well. And we'll get to hear a little bit about what you'll be up to this week. And as well as with Lori Winshell from Starting Line Design. Lori, thanks for joining us.
00:03:40
Speaker
ah Hey, hey, hey. I'm so excited. I'm so excited. I can actually hear you. Yay. We had some technical difficulties there for a moment. ah But Lori, thanks for joining us on the call today.
Guest Backgrounds and DCI Excitement
00:03:53
Speaker
um I believe that we don't have a 32 count ah life story from either you or Chris yet. So why don't we get eight off the Met and then Chris, you ready to give us your 32 count life story?
00:04:05
Speaker
Sure. All right. Nice. You'll get eight. And then a there you go. Hit us with everything that you got. ah I've been performing arts now for my entire life and I love it.
00:04:18
Speaker
So I am with Spruhoff Uniforms, Virtual Assistant Director, or Guard Closet, and anything else I can get my hands on to help my customers get what they need. I'm excited today to be on this call with two other Spruhoff representatives. So I'm excited about DCI week. It's going to be amazing.
00:04:35
Speaker
Nice.
00:04:38
Speaker
Yeah, thanks for taking the time to hop on here. And in a minute here, we're going to find out ah kind of what you're going to be up to this week with DCI. I understand ah it's going to be a busy week. But before we do that, let's hear a little bit about Lori and ah what kind of brings you and your whole story getting us to our call today.
00:04:56
Speaker
ah You ready to give it a shot, Lori? Yeah. Do I wait eight and then go? Yeah, you'll take eight off the Met and then you're in. All right, I'm ready. Oh, okay. I live in St. Louis, Missouri, and I am a mom. i have three kids.
00:05:10
Speaker
They're six, seven, eight, married to my husband, who was a band director. I got a degree in music education. i do all things of visual music, and used to play the flute, do color guard, marched lots of different places, marched Glassman, taught Spirit, taught Blue Stars, marched NEI World Guard back in the day. Now I judge,
00:05:31
Speaker
So uniforms, costumes, play in the Fruhoff world, play in guard closet world. Oh my gosh, my time's almost up. This is crazy. It's a lot of fun. Yay. You squeezed a lot into 32 pounds.
00:05:43
Speaker
I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm interrupting Cal. ahu um what What show did you do, Lori, at NEI? I did 06, 07, 08. I marched Entrapment, Global Truth, and Quietus.
00:05:56
Speaker
Oh, wow. Okay. I'm a huge NEI fan and you're my, you marched during a of the shows that I loved. I used march at Patriots. Yay. Yay. Great.
00:06:08
Speaker
Awesome. I'm going to have to go back and check out some of these videos. I was, uh, Oh boy, what was I doing then? Probably like playing Mario on my game boy. yeah and like that a yellow snapper i have a lot that I can go back. A lot of great shows.
00:06:26
Speaker
Um, Awesome.
Plans and Perspectives for DCI Finals Week
00:06:28
Speaker
ah So Chris, Lori, Nicole, Woody, and a whole bunch of other folks from On a Water Break are going to be all over DCI Finals this week. um This episode is going to be coming out on semifinals day, ah Friday of DCI Finals week, but we're recording it a little early.
00:06:44
Speaker
ah Hopefully everyone's having good shows and great times, but let's go around the horn here and ah figure out Where are you guys going to be? What are you guys going to be up to? ah do you want to go first, Chris? Sure. i will be at the Fruhoff Suite upstairs, plus we have a booth downstairs, and I'm also going to be at SoundSport, as we're a founding partner of Drumline Battle in SoundSport.
00:07:06
Speaker
And I'm actually going to do a surprise of appearance in Phoenix, Drummer Eagle Corps' SoundSport show. i will be in something extremely recognizable, but I can't say what it is, but I would love some selfie opportunities with that.
00:07:21
Speaker
Nice. Well, I think we're going to probably have some good videos and posts going up on our Instagram page. Whenever you're in costume there, I look forward to hearing it. um But cool. So Soundsport DCI Drumline Battle. I want to actually talk more about Drumline Battle at some point. I hope we get a little bit of time later today. But I feel like Drumline Battle could be so much bigger than it is.
00:07:42
Speaker
um That's like a big general audience thing would love it. um But awesome. Sound support stuff is cool. Lori, what are you going to be up to? I'm coming in straight for finals day. Being a mom keeps me kind of stationary. So I'm excited to finally i' be back. I haven't been to a DCI finals in probably five or six years, actually. So got to see one show live this summer. And I'm so excited to see everybody else and just be able to take in all the sound and watch some cute twirls. These kids do crazy stuff these days. I'm like looking at the things that I used to do. And I'm like, God, if I was was their age to be able to to to challenge myself with the things they're doing now, it's just, I can't even wrap my brain around some of the tricks that these kids do.
00:08:26
Speaker
Yeah, it's super impressive. yeah Right. Yeah. Yeah, that's just in ah in Color Guard world, but i think it's true in Drumline world as well. I got to see Phantom at the ah show I was at in Williamsport two days ago, and Phantom was so good. Yeah.
00:08:41
Speaker
and They sound great, too. um I love that Phantom is kind of getting a second little renaissance here. It's been a couple years since they've really been doing as good as they are now. But ah cool. And Nicole, I have a hunch. I think I know what you're going to be up to most of this week. But what are you doing?
00:08:58
Speaker
I you mean, I could go to the beach, but, um, yeah, I'm finishing up tour. Uh, we are doing that, having some good stuff. Um, this is, but you know, like the last, my last summer teaching.
00:09:12
Speaker
So, um, definitely get all that good. No, that's a good thing. Um, but So, but on the last day, because I live so close to the oil can, I'm going to go home and then come back for finals and join Chris and Lori and on the fun stuff that's happening on finals day. So and that'll be new for me because usually we're running around during W12.
00:09:39
Speaker
Yeah, no, that'll be cool. That was how I felt a little bit doing DCI all age because you are doing stuff finals day, but you're done by like 12. Yeah. And then it's over and then you get to just do DCI finals as a spectator, which is pretty cool. Makes the DCI all age experience really nice, honestly.
00:09:56
Speaker
um And then Neil, I'm curious. i don't think you're going to DCI finals, but are you doing anything fun with the Savannah bananas? Well, I'm not going to Denver. I'm back. We're pre-planning right now. The kids come back on Wednesday, so I'm hot and heavy. I did just get back from Baltimore, which was awesome.
00:10:13
Speaker
I miss Philly. Sorry. I am having a band-ad mellow section party at my house watch finals with my daughter and her new mellow section. but Nice. Oh, that's awesome.
00:10:25
Speaker
know That's going to be fun. I remember that. I looked at taking them up there to go see it. And I got on the ball way too late. And there's only seats on like the 20s and the And I'm like, never mind. I can't do that. For real, what you're doing and like having that little party, that's kind of cool and kind of much better.
00:10:46
Speaker
It's real cool. When I figured that out, I texted her yesterday and said, do you just want to have a little mellow watch party over here? Because y'all been talking about getting together. and she goes, oh. Yes. i couldn't Nice.
Innovations in Marching Arts Apparel
00:10:59
Speaker
That's awesome. I remember having so much fun at those types of things when I was in high school too.
00:11:03
Speaker
That's when you form a little band kid. Yeah. And by the way, our band works, Mark Elrod is our rep down here in Georgia. Nice. Big Free Hop episode.
00:11:16
Speaker
yeah So there you go. Awesome. Well, let's take this chance to preview some amazing episodes and bonus content that we've got going on. ah Last week's episode with the 1934 Foundation announcing the Legacy Drum Corps, I believe.
00:11:30
Speaker
um Also learned a lot about crab walking and being up on your toes from pretty amazing historical stories there. um So great episode. Definitely want to go check that out and hear about the new core that's coming around.
00:11:44
Speaker
And then Neil's episode about his journey with the Savannah bananas is also no bias here. Really good episode. Um, should go check that one out. Uh, and Neil, have you, you heard any, uh, heard anything from people that heard your episode or or anything about a Savannah banana world or anything like that?
00:12:04
Speaker
and you i have Some people will say, i saw you do podcast. I'm like, yeah, it was cool. you know and life Talk about you doing the drum line there. so It was really neat to do that. and yes I mean met all time low this weekend. How crazy is that? whoa that's cause They did a performance game on Friday. so like so It was pretty cool.
00:12:24
Speaker
That's awesome. That's why the entertainment band is the best. its People overlook it. We watch. Oh, gosh. um We were at Allentown. um Jeremy was with me and so was Ricardo. And we were at a we were at a bar. We're going to eat. And we saw Savannah Bananas playing the fireman.
00:12:41
Speaker
I think. Yeah. Firefighters. Yeah. Yeah. That was so cool. I've never oh yeah seen it on TV. To put it together, one of the Crossman brass staff was there on Saturday.
00:12:51
Speaker
She didn't go to Allentown because her in-laws got tickets to the game. I guess she follows me on social media and she sent me at a DM and goes, I'm here.
00:13:02
Speaker
Meet up and say, hey, and I did. And that's when she told me she was on Crossman staff and she wasn't there. that was That's pretty cool. That's wild the way it's all starting to overlap. yeah I'm pretty sure I also must have caught something Savannah Bananas related at a a staff hang at a bar because I saw someone wearing stilts pitching a softball game.
00:13:21
Speaker
And I just was like, that's got to. Neil's got to be somewhere around that. I don't know where he is. That's cool. Nice. All right. Well, Nicole's got to get the guard warmed up here. But we'll be back in a couple minutes after she runs some tosses.
00:13:48
Speaker
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00:14:03
Speaker
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00:14:17
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Speaker
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00:14:41
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:15:10
Speaker
All right, now why don't we see what's happening in the news this week.
00:15:29
Speaker
All right, I'll take the first story this week because I'm a Penn State alumni and former member of the Penn State Blue Band. So I'm the perfect person to share this story with our our audience. But Penn State Blue Band is making history for the program, ah even 125 years in.
00:15:45
Speaker
So for the first time ever, we've announced a female drum major ah for the 2025-2026 season. so the lead drum major
00:15:55
Speaker
And she is the first woman to ever hold the position at Penn State. So former piccolo player. She was a quote, respected leader in the band's piccolo section. Feels honored to serve as the drum major. And ah yeah, first time it's ever happened. So congratulations to her. And it's nice for the program to take a step forward in that way.
00:16:19
Speaker
All right. Next story here, Neil, I think you've got a story for us. Yeah, there was a brass band, the Boston, that's B-O-S-T-I-N, brass band out of Birmingham that played at Ozzy Osbourne's funeral, or I don't know if it was a funeral, but, you know, a celebration.
00:16:40
Speaker
And that's pretty cool. The... we did a well i wasn't there but in philly some of the guys wrote out a war pigs intro or kind of an interlude in the middle of rage and they went into that the tribute ozzy so that that was pretty good and that's went hard on social so i think that's really neat that the brass bands got incorporated that yeah it's cool to see a lot of like live music stuff really a lot of people paying respect to ozzy as he passed away um so rest in peace to ozzy osborne uh All right. I've got another story for us here. um
00:17:14
Speaker
Cause I was there at the DCI show in Williamsport this week was on Saturday. So it'll be a almost a week ago when this episode comes out. um But super interesting show. Cause Williamsport's always historically been a big DCA town.
00:17:27
Speaker
um They've done DCA finals there a couple times, always been a big DCA competition. um But I think this is the first time that DCI is involved now because of the crossover with all each. So yeah,
00:17:38
Speaker
They had a lot of different groups there, uh, Bushwhackers, cabs, uh, hurricanes for DCA, but then also had a DCI competition and open class with, uh, music city.
00:17:52
Speaker
Well, music city is not open. My bad. Um, a lot of world class lines, a lot of DCA open class lines. Phantom regiment was there troopers, blue stars. Um, so it's cool to see all that, uh, kind of get out into central Pennsylvania. Um,
00:18:06
Speaker
and my Bushwhackers came back ah back in second place this week. So nice. As somebody marked GTA, I think that's pretty cool because it seems that the crowds are more, you know, it's bigger now. It is. It's overlapped and you get more, um,
00:18:23
Speaker
crowd fan experience because they're there also for the DCI group. So that's really good for those all age groups. And it's cool for like Bush this, this week. um They've been working their way out to Indy and I think they might be the only world-class group that's doing it.
00:18:38
Speaker
um But they're actually fully mini touring. So they'll have been rehearsing for like eight or nine days straight by the time they perform the finals, which like, Tour for the touring groups is only like six weeks.
00:18:51
Speaker
So that's like a very legitimate amount of of tour. And they do a lot of stops on DCI shows now. So it's like the other DCI groups are kind of coming out to the DCA show on Saturday, but then Bush is going to be out at a DCI show tonight in Pittsburgh.
00:19:06
Speaker
um And that's never been a DCA show. It's only always only been DCI. so I'll jump in real quick if you've got a second because was the director of several DCA groups of the years. And we were calling for this 20 years ago.
00:19:18
Speaker
Oh, yeah. like No, no, no, no, no. no I think now with open class being the way they are, the international class, it makes so much more sense. People have a quality drum corps experience and get in on the big stage. and we labor day But after last year and then blowing away budget by, I think, 10,000 attendees more than they anticipated.
00:19:37
Speaker
I think they're showing that this is a great partnership and a great way to give a drum corps experience. And someone who can't do a full tour. yeah So now you have OpenClass, you've got DCI All-Age, both providing an alternative to full-time summer. But I love that Bushwhackers is doing a full tour, a little mini tour going in I kind of wish more would do it.
00:19:55
Speaker
Yeah, know I think... I hope they can figure it out. I'm sure it's tough because then you got to get your vacation from work. The members that are like a college age and younger. Yeah. You're probably hopefully on summer vacation, but for everyone else, it'd be a little bit difficult. You got to take some PTO, but it's such a good experience. And DCA is way better for ending in Lucas oil stadium.
00:20:17
Speaker
Makes it. up Oh yeah. Oh yeah. We did it in a Rochester, New York when I was doing it, but that that was a good stadium, but it's not like Lucas oil. Yeah. Now. And the, and the amount of people is just way different too. yeah All right.
00:20:29
Speaker
I could go on about it forever. I love DCA and the new setup, but um Nicole, I think you've got the next story for us. I totally do. So ah Music for All has ah went ahead and named their new CEO and president.
00:20:43
Speaker
But ah seven months ago, there was a committee that was put together, board of directors, and they also had the guidance of the Lachlan partners. So they were being very serious about who they made the new CEO and president. um And honestly, the questions that came um at this guy, and it's Dr. James Weaver.
00:21:01
Speaker
who was named the new, uh, CEO and president. So, um, if you ever want to check out the questions and answers and things like that, that they, uh, actually did or asked him, it's all on the music for all, um, website. So, uh,
00:21:18
Speaker
Big plans that are going in for, I guess, 2026. um One thing I did want to read kind of verbatim, though, that there was a range of backgrounds for all the candidates, and they were incredible.
00:21:30
Speaker
um And sorry, I thought I was muted for a moment, and i wasn't. um But they were all incredible. ah and They also said they all showed a common theme, which was a deep respect for what what music for all represents. So at the end, the board thought that Dr. Weaver was um the best candidate.
00:21:51
Speaker
um And as he begins his new assignment, Weaver sat down with Doug... Pirelli, I want to say the chairman of the board for music for all, um, and share his thoughts for everything that happen. And it's all in this, uh, very extensive, um, article that's on the music for all website.
00:22:06
Speaker
Nice. Yeah. I'll have to check it out. I'm interested to kind of see where his head's at. Um, but hopefully if he did get under all those questions, you know, this seems like the right guy for the job. Um, absolutely So Chris, you got the next story for us about the troopers?
00:22:19
Speaker
I do. And we we've made the trooper uniform a few years ago with Fruhoff. And then this year we stepped in and did their drum major uniforms, which has their first female drum major. We mentioned that earlier with ah ah Penn State. troopers are also experiencing the same kind of first, which is really cool.
00:22:36
Speaker
Long overdue. I'm glad to see it happening. But they brought back someone from a couple years ago, their cello player from their erasives season. and And pulling it in in Allentown, really vamped up the ending doing a lot of tributes to Troopers of the Past. You're probably starting to see a lot more ghost images and things.
00:22:55
Speaker
And I think someone else just mentioned something a minute ago that I hadn't realized. ah So I saw it on. About a former director. It was their director. think he just passed away a couple of years ago, I think.
00:23:07
Speaker
um But he always had the Stetson on. And so the what I'm believing is going to happen is that they're going to ah feature the Stetson somewhere at the end of the show.
00:23:20
Speaker
So there's going to be all kinds of tears at the end of the Trooper Show. Definitely for sure. They're in that tight little block. that This has been an exciting year for the competitive nature of it. But I mean, they could be anywhere eighth to 10th. It just depends on how those there those days go out. So everyone's pulling out those last minute tricks and things to really push in the emotional punch, which is why I think what Lori's about to say is going to happen.
00:23:47
Speaker
I'm just saying. want Well, let's see what Lori's about to say. You got our next story? Yeah. I mean, as we go into, you know, this road into finals week, you know, Boston Crusaders are, they have their eyes set on the top of the top, don't they?
00:24:05
Speaker
So it'll be interesting to see how everything plays out this week. You know, they, I mean, boom, you can't miss it. And it doesn't matter where you sit. Yeah. Does not matter where you sit in in in Lucas Oil Stadium. you know There is like a whole show going on and within like five yards. You could just be focused on that little section and get an entire production. you know and I think that's what's really cool with all the groups. but Boston specifically, I got the privilege of seeing them a couple weeks ago. and It's just like going to have to sit in like 12 different seats in order to experience this whole production because there's just so much going on and I can't wait to see what they end up doing this week. And if they have any tricks, they're going to pull out squeak in a championship. We will see. Won't we?
00:24:45
Speaker
i hope they do. I really want to see it happen. I'm also big, uh, biased towards the, ah the drum trophy. Uh, the last couple of years they've gotten close, but usually by Allentown,
00:24:57
Speaker
It's just been so many notes, such a hard book that they've had a hard time being as clean as the other groups, but they're holding on. At least they have been in the last couple of shows.
00:25:07
Speaker
I thought that some their issues was in the, that they really use their battery more than their front. And I think they maybe have kind of closed that gap a little bit because they're, I mean, they're good. Good Lord.
00:25:19
Speaker
It's not my favorite show they've done, but man, and they're good. Holy cow. They're good. And you're right. off front It's all over place. From a color graph perspective. What a great way to end their 85th anniversary would be for their first title. Yeah.
00:25:35
Speaker
I mean, it won't be FW and stuff way back in the 60s and things, but the modern Boston Crusaders that hit finals in 1999 have just been rocking the entire way. They've had their ships and everything else, but they've never fallen out of the top 12.
00:25:47
Speaker
And if there's ever year for them to potentially win, it's this. But it won't be won easily, so it's going exciting. It's... it's it's Yeah, but they're doing more.
00:25:58
Speaker
It seems like they're doing more old school, like drill and actual movement segments and all the avant-garde flowy stuff that happens, you know what I mean? That's just field coverage and everything and forms moving. They are actually going, you know, kind of back to that, especially at the end. It's very cadets-ish where they get in boxes and move things. It's pretty neat. So you so you said avant-garde. Was that a hand at Santa Clara Vanguard show? Yeah.
00:26:25
Speaker
trying to cross captions here. I'm getting confused. It's so exciting. that's That's my term for the out-of-the-box traditional. That's my term. yeah Well, and one other thing too, you know, from from a color guard perspective, you know, I have mad respect for twirlers.
00:26:42
Speaker
um I got the privilege of working with the twirler a couple of years ago when I was coaching. And and it's it is so well done. It's so hard to feature twirlers on a field when you've got color guard and and horns and drums and all the things happening and for them to be able to be recognized and notice and, and fit in the whole production, you know i mean? Like it, it was a challenge I'm sure, but it's been really, really cool to watch.
00:27:04
Speaker
Well, it'll be cool to see this week. By the time people are listening to this, we'll have already seen who won prelims and we'll be itching to see how semifinals goes. If you're listening to this, the, ah the day it comes out. So,
00:27:19
Speaker
Nicole, we've got one last story. What's our story here? This story is about one of our own. um So Cynthia Bernard, who is one of our panelists on the on a water break, um has become the first International Steering Committee member.
00:27:33
Speaker
um We talked a little bit about this, but now it's official. Yes. So if you see Cynthia, tell her congratulations, but it goes back. There's an article that's on WGI or sorry. Yeah. WGI's website.
00:27:46
Speaker
Um, that just talks about it and talks about how Cynthia is the first, uh, um, steering committee member. Um, and I think this opens a lot of doors for her and also just for other guards in, um, and outside of the U S just to, you know, let everyone know how things are working.
00:28:05
Speaker
So, um, Yeah, that's big news. Huge news. So congratulations, Cynthia. Yeah, absolutely. Congrats to Cynthia. um Sweet. So it's time for the Peak Group Travel Trip, ah travel tip of the week brought to you by our sponsors at Peak Group Travel, helping you navigate your next adventure, whether it's across the country or just to your next competition.
00:28:25
Speaker
Hi everyone, it's time for your travel tip of the week with me. I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. If you're doing a special performance on your next tour, make sure you contact the venue to be sure of everything that's included.
00:28:39
Speaker
Things like electricity, chairs, stands, lighting, and maybe even large percussion instruments might not be included. So make sure you check before you leave in case you need to bring anything on your own.
00:28:51
Speaker
Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour.
00:29:02
Speaker
This is Beth with Peak Group Travel and your Travel Tip of the Week.
00:29:19
Speaker
Ready to elevate your travel game? Welcome to Peak Group Travel, the ultimate adventure creators. Whether you're planning an unforgettable class trip, a once in a lifetime parade experience for your marching band, or a choir tour full of memorable performance venues, Peak Group Travel handles it all so you can focus on making memories.
00:29:36
Speaker
From breathtaking international destinations to amazing adventures right here at home, Peak Group Travel customizes every journey to your vision. We're not just planners, we're your partners for the trip you want for your students.
00:29:49
Speaker
Our online registration portal makes managing your pre-trip experience smooth and convenient. We even collect your payments if you'd like. Picture it. Effortless planning, unmatched experiences, and smiles that last long after the journey ends.
00:30:03
Speaker
That's the peak group travel difference. And if you choose to partner with Peak on your next tour, and you mentioned that you heard about us on the On a Water Break podcast, you'll earn a $100 trip credit. Discover why groups everywhere trust Peak Group Travel.
00:30:15
Speaker
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be sure to visit peakgrouptravel.com today. You pick the date, and we'll make it great.
00:30:35
Speaker
All right, everyone, we are back.
00:30:46
Speaker
60 Second Tech Block. All right, everyone, it's time for the 60 Second Tech Block. This is the segment where one of our hosts or guest clinicians is put on the spot to deliver a nonstop 60 second tech session on a topic that needs some serious attention after our last run through.
00:31:02
Speaker
So our special tech this week has come prepared with three topics that they think they could talk about for a full 60 seconds straight. No hesitation, no pauses, just pure technical gold. And this week, let's see, I think we are going to throw it over to Lori. And Lori, you said your best topics. You've got three of them for us. We've got slow tempo training.
00:31:23
Speaker
ah why the lower body and the dance bubble. ah But I'll, I'll ask some of our panelists here. Neil, what do you think that we should talk about here today? Let's go with the slow. Let's go with that.
00:31:35
Speaker
Number one. slow rate te training yeah
00:31:40
Speaker
Well, you'll get a 60 second timer here. I think Chris, do you have that ready to go or Neil's got it ready to go here for us? This is legit. Here we go. Are you ready? You really need the work. I'm ready.
00:31:54
Speaker
Here we go. Ready? go All right. Slow tempo training. As we are coming into, but a lot of people are in band camp season right now. And some groups are, have been training throughout the summer. Some groups are just digging into training. Now what I'm noticing and what I tend to see a lot is we don't dig into slow tempo training. A lot of teams start right off with just like a, a medium pace to sometimes even fast pace, but it could be in color guard It could be drop spins with a marchers. It could be just regular, like eight to five style marching. It doesn't really matter, but taking the time to slow the tempo down really works on control.
00:32:25
Speaker
And that's going to be necessary for any type of of movement we're doing. If you can't do it slow, you're probably not going to be able to do it fast. So breaking it down, slowing the tempo down, can you challenge your performers to take the tempo slower?
00:32:40
Speaker
So ah even subdividing so much as like a five and six and seven and eight and allows you to really see where the mistakes are happening in technique.
00:32:50
Speaker
So let's say you're doing drop spins in a block and you're watching your students, you're seeing where that half, ah halfway point is so oh nice yay can probably talk three hours i can probably talk three hours on that or on topic I think it probably would deserve it.
00:33:17
Speaker
No, it's funny how a lot of the stuff is the same, no matter what part of the band you're in. Like if you're doing stuff with the color guard or you're in your drum line and you're teaching them how to mark and move, mark time and move and play. ah Like you were so right that you, when you put it that slow, you will see every mistake and it'll be glaringly obvious. Yeah.
00:33:37
Speaker
It allows you to dig in better as a coach. And when you mentioned, um you know, it applies to the entire band. I was thinking the entire time were talking about things I used to do as a high school band director and as a drum corps director of ah just things that would make sense. But that small subdivision, that really slow It really helps them to move those things out and to really prepare. so we're talking about a long, slow breath. Well, we've done that.
00:34:01
Speaker
And sometimes you've got to prepare slow and immediately into fast when it comes to tempo changes. There's just endless amounts of things that can happen. And sometimes I think we push so far so fast that we lose our students as opposed to slowing it down.
00:34:15
Speaker
And people don't want to do it because it's uncomfortable.
00:34:19
Speaker
It's got to get more kids to sing. yeah trying to get middle school kids to sing the first time they're like, woo and you know, after about three or four days and they're figuring out that like, okay, we can do this.
00:34:31
Speaker
got You got to get this exposed. ah right. Well, that was awesome. Band camp's coming up. I'm to have to do that with my college students at Rowan. I will put their calves through immense amounts of pain as I force them to march at like 60 BPM. Yes.
00:34:47
Speaker
Yes. it But that was a solid 60 second tech block. Hopefully someone out there got the tech advice so that they didn't even know they needed. But now it's time to switch things up.
00:34:57
Speaker
Time for everyone's favorite. What are we doing? What are we doing?
00:35:09
Speaker
What are we doing? All right. Well, this is the part of the show where we let loose a little bit or perhaps a lot. ah This is your chance to rant about something in the marching arts that just doesn't make sense.
00:35:20
Speaker
Could be a tradition that needs to go. Maybe it's a habit that the performers can't seem to break or something that makes you think, why are we doing this? Or why haven't we started doing this yet? Whatever it is, this is your moment to call it out. So who's got something that they ah think they need to get off their chest?
00:35:35
Speaker
You get us going, Chris. right, so I've made a big post lately. I found found as a a judge for 25 plus years that I'm always making sure to check my bias. I did Mark's Crown 92, 93, 94, 96. I've been involved with the foundation of several DCA groups. I've worked on semi-staff.
00:35:54
Speaker
And I know half the people on these lines, that whether they're designers wherever or wherever else. so when I'm judging, I don't care if it's a high school marching man, if it's Wintergard, WGI wins, drunk whatever it is.
00:36:06
Speaker
I'm trying to evaluate what they are performing for me, what they have designed for those kids. What I hate is when those biases come out of, Oh, I've seen this before at this show or this show, everything doesn't have to be brand new, baby. It just needs to be performed. Well, it's a good point.
00:36:24
Speaker
and so hot point that's a heart thing well So we're bring it back next year. I think we're going to do tilt 2.0. Um, that would be my favorite. Maybe. That was our closer this year.
00:36:37
Speaker
Cause I'm like, look, I want to do this. We got the sound system. It sounds cool. And somebody i in the box goes, Oh, I've never seen tilt in the hospital school field. i'm like, well, now you have. not yeah Yeah. No, I think that's a good idea, especially if you do it well, like just give me a good show. I'm not going to get too caught up over it unless you still like steal something very, very clearly. And it's like, it's just not even fun now, but for the most part,
00:37:04
Speaker
Do it again. Someone else could redo something like Angels and Demons. And as long as it's not the exact same show, I feel like it would be awesome and we'd all love it. But you also think of how many times we've had ah good versus evil show, how many different ways it's been done, how many ways we've mixed uniforms and things to create cool effects.
00:37:21
Speaker
Boston last year, is that ending effect? The colors lining up was, it was chill bump inducing. It was cool. It's not necessarily new. I'm actually helping to design a show that is that.
00:37:32
Speaker
Right now. Well, you also have to think that those are the top designers and people putting things together, a drum corps. So when high school directors and kids are watching it, it's like, that's cool. We should do that. And they're, you know, you're just taking ideas from there is that's the top level. Why wouldn't you?
00:37:52
Speaker
Right. you know As long as you write it appropriately for the group that you have. Yes. Yeah. The thing about that too, is like the way that I saw everything, but not the way that we've seen it at all.
00:38:05
Speaker
And they're like, sure. so that's what we're doing. Well, it's stuff that's so simple. Like, you know, you see rainbows all the time done well unveiling of the different colors of rainbows and like, like Colts this year. I love the rainbow and their flags. Like it's just so subtle, but so newly done. It's just a different take on something that's been done thousands and thousands of times. Yeah.
00:38:26
Speaker
Yeah. Just got to keep it fresh. And speaking of keeping things fresh, what's another, uh, what are we doing for this week? I have one. have a great one. And this is a, what, why are, why are we not doing this? and having gotten a degree in music education, why are we not teaching?
00:38:41
Speaker
And there might be schools out there that are doing this, but why are we not teaching business classes to our band directors? And why are we not teaching them, um, something to do with, with color guard as well? Like, i just don't understand. You are a CEO.
00:38:56
Speaker
Like you are running an entire ship and they're not set up appropriately. And I know I was not. um We're not talking that's talk but boosters and 501c3s and we have to take in taxes when we're doing our our booth at the football game and pass out sodas, whatever. There's so many things.
00:39:18
Speaker
I mean, the lucky people, the ones who know they're not the smartest in the room will reach out to resources. Like, let me talk to this color guard person who's going to help me to develop my program. Let me talk to this percussion person who's going to understand ah take them beyond what I can do as a trumpet player band director.
00:39:31
Speaker
yeah, we can all do things, but I think the ego sometimes takes us away from realizing that we can learn from other people. And education-wise, we can do better.
00:39:43
Speaker
Yeah. and It'll take like some work to learn how to do these things and to set the pieces up. But yeah, I think that that would be super helpful, actually, if there was a little bit more just practical business help in your band degree.
00:39:56
Speaker
ah Neil, you got one? Well, as a middle school band right there and somebody who talks to folks all time on social media. I don't know that the university system does a great job either of preparing you for your small little rural job you're going to come into, you know, probably as your first.
00:40:16
Speaker
Cause I see people all the time that are going, I'm already burnt out. I'm only on year four. And it's like, you go into college wanting to do something big and that's fine. I did too. and Then, I mean, I got really fortunate, but you still, you come out and you're not conducting a grade five or six band with the boosters already rolling in the semi truck and you get to this spot where you got 50 kids and you're like what am i supposed to do now?
00:40:40
Speaker
I think college needs to do a better job of putting that together and letting your expectations not be lower, but saying this is very possible.
00:40:51
Speaker
that most of the country is more rural than it is a big place for you to teach with these big programs when you come fresh out of college. Absolutely. Great job, everyone.
00:41:03
Speaker
Set your equipment down. Gush and go. All right. Well, since we got that off our chest, it's time to get into the gush and goes for the week. Uh, this is your chance to shout out something awesome that's happening, ah in your life. Now, marching arts related or not, uh,
00:41:19
Speaker
something you could be excited about with your students or or really whatever's personal to you. So no negativity here, just pure unfiltered hype. Who's got something they want to gush about? I'll go.
00:41:29
Speaker
i've so Oh, you go Nicole. Nicole came through just before it. She won. It's like that bouncy off. We're powered by my hotspot today. um So a I'm really excited to honestly finish this.
00:41:45
Speaker
you know, the rest of the road of this week. Um, I'm really excited to gush about, Hey, what are we doing on, uh, on finals day? Cause I'm so neat. I don't even know, but I'm excited to start it and do whatever we're doing.
00:42:00
Speaker
And then I have three weeks of nothing. And I'm excited about that because, I've been going all summer long and then, you know, I'm going to be judging all marching band season, but you know, I like to be going, going, going.
00:42:16
Speaker
Um, so yeah, gushing about, about all that. Nice. Yeah. I'm jealous. I wish I was out there this week. Um, I'll take a quick opportunity to gush, I guess. Um, but I'll be at a wedding this weekend on Friday for, uh,
00:42:29
Speaker
Probably my closest friend from high school band did blue band with them. And then now we do Eagles drumline together. So good reason to miss, um, DCI finals, but man, so gonna be you know she guys are going any Eagles football players? in No way.
00:42:49
Speaker
In my dreams. I'm contractually forbidden from fraternizing with them. And I think this would count as fraternizing. wow Some of our people in Philly went to training camp. We got to beat some football players and the mascot. other so trump won player band win He's a big Eagles fan.
00:43:06
Speaker
we'll ah We'll see a couple of them sometimes at Eagles Autism Foundation events. But yeah, no, I think ah us and the cheerleaders, we've got some specific rules. um ah But let's get the gushing ghost moving around the table. Neil, don't you ah let us know what you're gushing and going on about this week?
00:43:23
Speaker
I mean, I mentioned it earlier, but I'm excited to be a band dad and have a mellow section party at my We to show them shows, but if they don't come voluntarily when we have it at band room, so they'll come and get to see it and watch finals ask me questions. We're all talking, clap and cheer and be merry. That'd be awesome.
00:43:43
Speaker
yeah It's going to be so fun. Well, enjoy that, man. um Chris, what do you want to gush and go on about? im make I'm excited this week. i always take advantage of introducing someone to the drum corps world for the first time, which I have have happening this week in the FruHop box. Also, helping people that I've marched with and people further back reconnect with today's world.
00:44:05
Speaker
Uh, so ah one of my best friends, I was actually in his his wedding is joining me for the week after getting off the, get off my lawn side. Like, well, let me give these guys a shot and hanging out with the crown a lot of the summer and realizing it's the same thing that we did, you know, years ago.
00:44:22
Speaker
and sound so I'm very excited about crown this week because fate was added to the end of their show. And I think Carmina Barana has been rocking it and I'm hoping they get the current they deserve. And I'm taking no comments from there.
00:44:37
Speaker
Well, as the crown alum, I'm hopeful for them as well, man. um I wish that I could have seen them at one of the shows this week, but it's just not happening this summer. Too busy teaching. Gotta stop teaching. um All right. Lori, what do you want to go on?
00:44:51
Speaker
I'm over here sitting jelly because I don't get to have an alumni thing of anything because my glass been falling a long time ago. But, you know, I'm to backtrack a little bit. You know, I recently have gotten back into the world of all things marching arts assistantship. So most recently partnered with Chris with virtual assistant director, um pairing up all of the things that I do now. I i i love working for myself and being able to help ah people in our industry ah take care of all their things, whether it be, you know,
00:45:22
Speaker
uniforms, costumes, all of the accessories, tarps, you name it. And it's, it's just fun to be a part of that. But ah what brought me here, what's really crazy um is, is I founded a brand called starting line design co and it's still,
00:45:37
Speaker
Still is slightly in the works, but um I have launched a handful of products and um I found a need for like taking what's trending right now, like in regular everyday fashion and merging it with our industry. You know, we see a lot of the traditional, you know, if, if um band were any easier, it would be called cheerleading or something like that, right? Those types of t-shirts and just finding something more unique that's trendy and poppy right now and being able to bring that to, you the world of our industry. And so it brought back in full, full throttle. Like now I'm doing costumes. I got to hang out. I'm doing on guard closet with Jeremy and his crew and, and I'm i'm just everywhere now.
00:46:20
Speaker
yeah I'm engulfed and it's great. And I love every little bit of it. So nice. Well, that sounds really cool. Where can we find your stuff? um Right now my shop is on Etsy. So starting line design co it's all one word.
00:46:32
Speaker
And that's pretty awesome. But otherwise you'd find me on virtual assistant director, hit the little dropdown and you can find all of my things there. Awesome. Well, everyone should go check it out. It's called gush go, not gushing stay. Let's go.
00:46:47
Speaker
and
00:46:51
Speaker
Well, thank you everyone for a great rehearsal this week. Thank you for everyone who is spending time with us today. um Appreciate you for listening. and ah Nicole, Neil, thanks for being on the call again. And ah Chris, where could ah our listeners find anything for you or for Fruhoff?
00:47:06
Speaker
I'll be running all over the place ah like a chicken with its head cut off. can't I'll be at the Fruhoff suite most of the week. I will be at the Hall of Fame dinner because we're welcoming Velvet Knight's founder, Jack Bevins, into the Hall of Fame.
00:47:22
Speaker
um I'll be around SoundSport and Drumline Battle. um I'll be around All Age. I'm going to be everywhere. So if you see a redhead running crazy, just say, hey, selfie. I'll promise I'll stop.
00:47:34
Speaker
Awesome. Well, I wish I could be out there to see you man. If anyone sees you, they should definitely stop you. um So thank you all for being on the call. If you got a question or a good topic to talk about, you can email us at onawaterbreakpodcast.gmail.com or find us on social media and DM us if you want to be on the show.
00:47:51
Speaker
We've got a form now that you can fill out if you want to be a guest and we love having people on the podcast. So go ahead, check that out at the link on our bio on social media, or you could just take out your phone and make a video and send it to us. Maybe you'll see yourself on the podcast soon.
00:48:04
Speaker
ah One more thing. Don't forget, we have a YouTube channel now, so you could go and subscribe. See us all there. And before we close out of your podcast listening app, subscribe, write us a review, share it with a friend. it helps a lot, and we really appreciate it.
00:48:16
Speaker
um So follow us on social media at On A Water Break, and we'll see you at the next rehearsal on A Water Break. Go practice.
00:48:26
Speaker
The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Reams. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
00:48:38
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning