Area H 2018

[MadisonBandMan1]

Thoughts and stuff?

[ksacm06]

Here are my thoughts on Finialists.. will be a little out there but This is my best guess at this point in the year!

 

1 Vandegrift*

2 Leander*

3 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

4 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

5 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

6 Judson

7 Stevens

8 Lake Travis

9 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

10 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

11 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

 

Bubble Band Brennan

 

I’m going to pull out my pop corn now!

[vbassoon]

Here are my thoughts on Finialists.. will be a little out there but This is my best guess at this point in the year!

 

1 Vandegrift*

2 Leander*

3 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

4 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

5 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

6 Judson

7 Stevens

8 Lake Travis

9 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

10 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

11 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

 

Bubble Band Brennan

 

I’m going to pull out my pop corn now!

Can definitely see Del Rio at 5th, not any higher though.

[abtwitch]

Here are my thoughts on Finialists.. will be a little out there but This is my best guess at this point in the year!

 

1 Vandegrift*

2 Leander*

3 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

4 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

5 Westlake, Vista Ridge or Del Rio*

6 Judson

7 Stevens

8 Lake Travis

9 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

10 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

11 Taft, O’Connor or Brandies

 

Bubble Band Brennan

 

I’m going to pull out my pop corn now!

I'm fairly certain they won't beat Vista Ridge and probably not Westlake either, but the latter is more likely. O'Connor also had a strong season last year so I could see them placing around 6th or 7th.

[ksacm06]

I'm fairly certain they won't beat Vista Ridge and probably not Westlake either, but the latter is more likely. O'Connor also had a strong season last year so I could see them placing around 6th or 7th.

I would think that about O’Connor but all 4 staff left and the replacements are at a point in which they must prove themselves.

[abtwitch]

I would think that about O’Connor but all 4 staff left and the replacements are at a point in which they must prove themselves.

 

I see, I was not aware that the entire staff changed

[FEDude]

Just wondering, why is Del Rio being ranked so highly? I remember they've improved greatly starting my senior year, but that high? Also, very sad for O'Connor. A director change is never much fun for any party involved. Hopefully they grow to love this new director as much they loved Mr. Sandoval.

[ksacm06]

Just wondering, why is Del Rio being ranked so highly? I remember they've improved greatly starting my senior year, but that high? Also, very sad for O'Connor. A director change is never much fun for any party involved. Hopefully they grow to love this new director as much they loved Mr. Sandoval.

Don’t want to give anything away, let’s see how they do in Midland. If you like underdog title 1 school Bordertown kids that work hard, They are an inspiration. I am looking forwarded to seeing what the LISD schools have in store, and westlake!

[FEDude]

Well I'll watch out for them in the short time I'll be in town. As always, I send love to all Northside schools, especially Taft. Realistically, Brandeis will rank higher than all Northside schools just based on how well they clean up and how highly their percussion performs. I hope Taft's percussion section can recover. The class under mine only had 2 percussionists, then the percussion director changed, then half the section went to Harlan. I haven't really followed them for the last year, but the directors are good and they'll be ready for area. Earl Warren high school is another one to look out for. Their percussion and color guard are among the best in the state.

[CTJBandPops]

Well I'll watch out for them in the short time I'll be in town. As always, I send love to all Northside schools, especially Taft. Realistically, Brandeis will rank higher than all Northside schools just based on how well they clean up and how highly their percussion performs. I hope Taft's percussion section can recover. The class under mine only had 2 percussionists, then the percussion director changed, then half the section went to Harlan. I haven't really followed them for the last year, but the directors are good and they'll be ready for area. Earl Warren high school is another one to look out for. Their percussion and color guard are among the best in the state.

that is a pretty broad statement of "among the best in the state" around Warren - this is Texas

[ksacm06]

I don’t think Brandeis was very clean last year tbh. I’m sure they will be strong but I would say Taft was the most improved Northside school next to O’Connor.

[FEDude]

 

that is a pretty broad statement of "among the best in the state" around Warren - this is Texas

Their percussion did fairly well at PASIC in 2015. I remember hearing them at 4th and actually being quite surprised they got that good. I believe their color guard beat Reagan on one occasion my senior year, so that's what I'm basing that on. Their band as a whole does have quite a bit of improving to do however. If you get a chance to see Warren's (or even Brandeis's) percussion by themselves, I say take it.

[FEDude]

Hopefully what happened to Taft in 2016 won't happen again: Tying with Del Rio but being pushed to 11th due to Judge's preference. Crushed my soul. I will say, I blame that on the show exposing the woodwinds, trumpets, and drumline when those sections weren't exactly "shining" that year. Last year is seems like they corrected those design flaws or at least improved the sections and it can only get better.

[DRbandDAD]

Hopefully what happened to Taft in 2016 won't happen again: Tying with Del Rio but being pushed to 11th due to Judge's preference. Crushed my soul. I will say, I blame that on the show exposing the woodwinds, trumpets, and drumline when those sections weren't exactly "shining" that year. Last year is seems like they corrected those design flaws or at least improved the sections and it can only get better.

 

Del Rio just outperformed them that year. They will do the same this year, enough said....

[Guest]

Del Rio in 2016 was one of those bands where I found myself asking "What do I need to do to see this again" upon first viewing.

[ksacm06]

I agree with DRbanddad. The only reason taft tied was because one of the judges gave Del Rio 23 out of 24 which brought the score down a lot. Taft was very out of tune that day.

[FEDude]

I'm fully aware of the problems Taft had that year. Just saying that being that close but falling barely short does hurt. Anyway, hopefully 4 bands may advance this year as well. I predict the same 4 from 2016, but hopefully there is a shakeup. From there, Brandeis will be very strong as will Stevens. Didn't see Brandeis signed up for BOA SA which makes me sad as I love seeing Northside. Having grown up in Northside, I can only really speak for this district. I assume directing a band that big may present a serious challenge for the new O'Connor directors, but Dr. Mikulka wouldn't have hired a team that's not up to it. If OC is on the same trajectory as every state year, they will peak very nicely around area. I got a glimpse of Taft's show and though their sound at the moment isn't to die for, the show design is a definite step up and hopefully they can work with it. Warren wasn't too off from finals last time around by the way. Starting in 2014, Warrens been at a serious upward trajectory. I used to get jealous when other schools did better than mine, but not being too into "the game" anymore has allowed me to get very excited when any San Antonio schools succeed, but especially NISD.

[ksacm06]

Havnt seen Taft, Judson, Stevens, Westlake or Vista Ridge. So far I am keeping my earlier predictions except I would move O’Connor out of Finals and bump in either Warren or Brennan.

[FEDude]

It's very hard to judge O'Connor this early on. In 2014 I swore they wouldn't even come close, but in O'Connor fashion they peaked very nicely.

But if it really doesn't seem like there's finalist potential in the show I can understand that. Hopefully they can get back on their feet soon.

Very weird to think, this will be the first time since 2005 where a senior class from Northside never marched in UIL state competition. It's good for the state as a whole, and every "high-caliber" band from area H has a spot. My only concern is other areas leave out potential state finalists (area and others continue to dish out relatively uncompetitive bands. I get that drawing the boundaries based on what bands would get to state isn't right either. There's just got to be some happy medium somewhere.

[ksacm06]

Well in 2014 Area H didn’t have Leander schools and Brandies, Stevens and Del Rio were no where near what they are now. We also didn’t have Judson and Lake Travis in the mix back then. O’Connor Video is dirty and they haven’t Finished the Opener, the band is also way smaller in the show, I’m sure they are still the same size as before.

 

In a way I agree with you. Right now all the areas of Texas have Equal representation at the State Contest. One could say that Area H as well as some other areas like B and D have schools in the bottom half of Finals that would advance or be champions in Areas like G of A. I am not saying one is better than the other but shouldn’t the schools like Northside compete with schools with similar demographics like Northeast. It’s hard to feel bad for the Northside schools when Title 1 schools in the past on the Border had to compete with Suburban San Antonio schools that have completely different demographics than them. Back then Northside schools looked great advancing to state while in Area D great bands like Churchill were being left behind. Unitil the boundaries are drawn in a way that the top 60 at BOA SA end up at State them it will continue to be flawed.

[FEDude]

Northside actually has vastly different demographics within itself. O'Connor and Brandeis have larger white populations while Stevens, Jay, and especially Holmes have very heavy lower income Hispanic populations. The rest of the schools are a mix with a strong lean toward Hispanic.

The rather affluent Alamo Ranch area has been feeding in to Taft but the debt problem that went unchecked by the previous director did cause a few problems the first few years. It's sad, but it's hard to deny the influence of money in band quality.

Austin area schools simply don't have the same demographics as SA schools. I said I like Area H as it is and that's because it's pushing Northside to be better (and maybe produce a band like Marshall was with Dr. Mikulka). It's just hard to see bands like L.D. Bell and Haltom considered bubble bands in their respective areas.

By the way, I think another band, Harlan, is joining the area. I don't expect them to make finals, but hopefully this means 5 bands can advance. I think SWISD build another school as well.

[ksacm06]

Yeah, Area H Finals last time was so exciting compared to what Area G was before. Money makes a huge difference as well as location. How many talented millennials do you think would would leave the big city suburbs and teach in Del Rio or Eagle Pass? That makes a big difference as well. So many other factors that can be said but in the end if you have great teachers anything is possible!

[FEDude]

Hopefully a few. I can remember a time I wanted to become a band director, just like any kid that's way too into band. More or less lost that fire since then.

 

I believe Stevens writes their shows in house, and they're very well written at that.

I believe Mr. Sandoval (O'Connor's former director) would also write O'Connor's drill himself. I don't know how involved he was the last couple seasons in the process or how involved he currently is. They've got a long record of 1s at UIL. I always want them to keep that.

The more involved with a show's production band directors are, the better the band seems to do.

[CTJBandPops]

Hopefully a few. I can remember a time I wanted to become a band director, just like any kid that's way too into band. More or less lost that fire since then.

 

I believe Stevens writes their shows in house, and they're very well written at that.

I believe Mr. Sandoval (O'Connor's former director) would also write O'Connor's drill himself. I don't know how involved he was the last couple seasons in the process or how involved he currently is. They've got a long record of 1s at UIL. I always want them to keep that.

The more involved with a show's production band directors are, the better the band seems to do.

I agree - they ones that own their drill VS those that hand it off to someone else seams to get better results and have the ability to modify on the fly when there is an issue without waiting on someone who may be managing the drill for multiple programs at once

[FEDude]

Well with competition season starting, my predictions are:

 

1. Leander

2. Vandergrift

3.Vista Ridge

4. Westlake

----------------

5.Judson

6.Stevens

7. Taft

8. Brandeis

9. Lake Travis

10. Del Rio

 

Of course, 1st could be either of the top 2, and any of the 3 NISD schools I mentioned could be higher or lower. Judson has had some very good years lately. Warren I believe is a serious contender for finals, but after Dripping Springs, it doesn't seem like their drum line is at the level we're used to seeing.