Let me begin by saying that I came to this thread first from watching old L Patterns on youtube tonight, which took me down memory lane from some
x amount of years. And while searching for old friends I ended up here. And although I've googled my name so many times in the last ten years, somehow this page always evaded me.
I competed on the L Pattern circuit from 1989 to 1994, and I can say that I was
easily the most dominant drum major of the military baton
in the L Pattern of my time (though I also competed in mace, conducting, and show). In the spring of 1990 I was in 8th grade and competed a few times, and won only one or two trophies. From my freshman year to my senior year, the only time I did not win a trophy was the very first competition of my freshman year. I competed every week of the season, and during my time as a competitor I won exactly 100 trophies, and exactly 50 of them are
first place awards.
I won the California State Championship in the Military Masters division in 1991, 1992, and 1994 (in 1993 I won second place to Jason Hum).
This thread is some four years old, and my name has been mentioned twice. Once as part of a list of "legendary drum majors" and once as part of a glib memoir of an individual: I'll call him the Critic. I thought I'd address this forum, and put in a few thoughts (though I realize no one really cares!).
First, thanks for the honorable mention to the individual who named and recognized my talent.
Secondly, in response to the Critic who had a negative view of me, allow me to make a few comments. Below is the quote by my Critic concerning my behavior in 1991:
Undertaker wrote:Ok almost everyone that people have posted can be called legendary but I have a problem with Daniel Munoz. There is no problem with thinking your the best but when you win beat Drum Majors like Abel Acosta at state and when you go to receive you trophie and jump up and down like u just won the super bowl that is just disrespectful. I lost a respect for Daniel at that point. To me Abel Acosta is a legend. Hell when i go to Drum Major comps almost every drum major is using his moves. Were is the originallity. As far as Im concerned there is none.
In 1991 I was a freshman in high school, and Abel Acosta was a senior. Although I had a really good year in the circuit, I had no idea that I would win the State Championship. The reason I won in 1991 was not because I was the best that year, but because Abel had dropped. Still, I was not prepared to win, and so when I heard my name, I did exactly as the description above says that I did: I jumped up and down excitedly and accepted my award with a huge mirthful grin on my face. This was not to "stick it" to my opponents, but out of sheer dumbfoundedness - I was shocked! Abel was not only someone I respected, he was someone I looked up to at the time. When basketball players were shooting hoops in the name of Magic Johnson, I was spinning the baton to the names of
Abel Acosta,
Nathan Wielandt (the reason I love OMD),
Jason Kelleher, and
Jason Hum (who received second place in 1991 and first place in 1993).
Concerning "originality," I must admit that I learned from the best. But I can also say with confidence that I pioneered and innovated more new moves and spins than anyone during my time, though certainly there were others who brought much to the "sport."
As a 14 year-old freshman with severe ADHD, I competed in the drum major circuit, ironically, because my grades were terrible, and spinning a baton was one thing I could focus on and excel at; and therefore my parents allowed me to continue. I barely graduated high school in 1994 with much less than a 2.00 GPA. So I've been slammed, flamed, debased, whatever because I got excited after having won the most prestigious award in solo military baton spinning. In every other sport it's ok to jump up and down and cheer when you win; but when you wear the uniform -
the high school band uniform - you are expected to keep yourself composed:
celebration is wrong.
But what makes a great drum major? Let's read what my Critic has to say:
Undertaker wrote: winning state does not make u a legend its the way you present yourself and the way you treat others.
Ok, so really the question is: what makes a
legendary drum major? And my Critic answers the question above. However, allow me to point out that on the scoring card there are no points for leadership, friendliness, likability, affability, geniality and so forth. So what is it that we're talking about on the L Pattern?
Let me confess that I was never the drum major of any school, although I was the assistant drum major for the Santa Ana Winds for a brief time. The point is that being a drum major for an organization is the place for having leadership and so forth. The reason why I was never appointed drum major in Jr High or High School was because I was deemed too immature for the position - this is a fact. However,
the L Pattern is a sport. Anyone can compete so long as they pay the fee.
To conclude: was I -
three-time California State Grand Champion of the Military Masters division - a legend?
If by "legendary drum major" we mean "great leader" then admittedly I lose horribly. Though I always treated my fellow competitors with dignity and respect, and I was friendly with almost all of them.
If by "legendary drum major" we mean three-time California State Grand Champion of the Military Masters division, and perhaps the most decorated baton spinner in the history of Peacock's L Pattern competition, then I win the sweepstakes!
Verily, I wouldn't trade those high school grunge years of mine for anything, no matter how many times I was physically beaten up by many, including my Critic quoted above, who was also a close personal friend of mine even years after I had won my first championship at age 14 in 1991.
Daniel L Muñoz
1991 California State Grand Champion, Military Masters
1992 California State Grand Champion, Military Masters
1994 California State Grand Champion, Military Masters
2003 BA Music Theory, Philosophy
2005 MA Musicology
PhD Musicology (in progress)
http://www.myspace.com/danyosound
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/p ... =770390454
This post brought to you by Boredom (not spite)