Gulf Coast Sound Drum & Bugle Corps
February 11th, 2006
Winter Camp #3
Over the weekend of January 28 and 29, Gulf Coast Sound held its third Winter Camp of 2006. This camp was also the first of our monthly two-day camps intended to accelerate the pace at which we learn the 2006 show by giving us a second day to reinforce and retain what we covered on the first day. If this camp is any indication, the approach is going to be quite successful.
Patrick Sloan, Co-Program Coordinator and Drill Writer, was in town for the camp. He led brass ensemble and brass-percussion ensemble on both days and worked with us to further develop the basics of the new marching style. As he always does, Patrick generates tremendous enthusiasm because he clearly adores drum corps and because he sees the potential in GCS that we may not be able to so easily see ourselves when he isn't around. We are lucky to have a person with such energy and vision on our staff.
Winter Camp #3 also marked the return of veteran GCS drum major, Nikki Nauck. A founding GCS member, Nikki has impressive DM and brass credentials. At camp, her conducting skills and commitment to discipline raised the professionalism of the entire Corps to a new level. We are thrilled to have her back.
On Saturday the hornline spent the early part of the day working on the first three movements of the show as well as a portion of the GCS Brass Technique book. The drumline worked on the first two movements. The guard spent time preparing for this year's All Star Mardi Gras parade in Galveston, TX (an important recruiting opportunity) by working through some of the flag work for the parade charts and by picking out silks from among the GCS collection. In the afternoon, we headed outside to work on marching basics but were forced back inside by rain. Nevertheless we hunkered down in the Fellowship Hall and managed to do some excellent work on the marching style. The new style is a subtle change that seems to require some concentrated effort to achieve, but it will give us a tremendous boost in what Patrick calls "presence". After the dinner break, brass and percussion gathered to ensemble the first three movements - an incredible accomplishment given that last year we did not ensemble even one movement until late March.
On Sunday afternoon, we rehearsed outside, which is a good exercise for a small hornline that needs to project with confidence and energy. Under Patrick's direction, we did some detailed work on Hazy Shade of Winter. When the drumline and hornline got together, we continued the detailed work, acquiring a strong sense of how the brass and percussion fit together as a single movement. While the brass and percussion sections were in ensemble, the guard worked on their marching and movement basics, rifle work, and new flag moves. Judging from the posts on the new GCS Forum, everyone was excited and gratified by the progress we made at Camp 3. Patrick said that GCS is on the cusp of something special, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Kerry Ellison
GCS Reporter
