Hard Core Band Fan

I can tell you from many decades of going to marching contests that Flower Mound, Marcus, and Hebron (and many others past and present) have raised the difficulty of the marching band world to a level that it's hard for the large majority of the bands in Texas to compete with. They play at very high level of quality while marching very difficult drill and performing crazy body movements, all while playing at a higher level than most bands can do while sitting down. Their musicianship and athleticism is incredible. But if someone else comes along and is better, they be pushed down the chain as well. With new bands emerging as real players, it will happen to them some day. I can tell you this - disappointment for them is the same as it is for you. But what you do with that disappointment is what makes the difference. Use it as a motivator to better yourself and to encourage others around you. That is what will fuel you through life and give you success that lasts beyond a couple of years of marching band.

Their show has too much point potential to be that low and they are better each time I see them. I think they are past the point of a really bad run. I also wouldn't be surprised if Round Rock, Hendrickson, and Vista Ridge move up a a slot or two.

I think the top 16 bands in the prelims will be the following (in performance order): Hebron Westlake Reagan Keller Duncanville LD Bell Leander Marcus The Woodlands Round Rock North Shore Vandegrift Bowie Flower Mound Coppell The Woodlands College Park

Personally, I would have them in the bottom half strictly because the top half bands have really raised the bar in the past few years and the competition for the top half has continually risen. Many of the bands that have been making it for years are finding themselves getting passed up by newcomers that are racing to the top. Some bands just years ago weren't major players and now they are battling their way into the finals and to the top. The Grand National finals is easier to make than the State 6A finals and I would say that many of the top 2 Area finalists from most areas would have a good chance in making the Grand National finals and in some areas, the top 3 or 4 would likely be locks for it. I wish Duncanville the best, but the top half of the 6A finals is looking to be the toughest yet and making the finals at all is going to be a major feat. I am guessing we may have 1 or 2 make it that normally do not or haven't before, and the same that normally do, but do not this time.

It really just depends on their performances at San Antonio this week. I personally watched CTJ end up behind Reagan, Bowie, Round Rock, and Hendrickson in the Area D prelims. Of course, that was UIL judging and they really didn't have a great run. It will be a completely different story on Friday and Saturday in the prelims depending on numerous factors and in the finals, it's a completely different situation playing back-to-back with the other top bands. All we can do is speculate at this point and none of the previous performances really matter then. The only thing we can be sure of is that it will be exciting and the displays of talent will be mind-blowing!

Awesome! Can't wait to see them live tomorrow.

As far as director changes, Bowie and Round Rock have both had staff changes this year. I haven't heard Bowie this year, so I don't really know how that has affected them. Round Rock, however, hasn't really changed. They still have the same head director and they are doing quite well despite losing a really strong assistant. That assistant went to Vista Ridge and is doing great things there. Keep your eyes and ears on Vista Ridge.

Yes, but they are still different and the results are different. Not that one is lesser, but just different.

At this point, I would guess: Reagan Bowie Round Rock Hendrickson Westwood or Churchill Pretty much in that order.

Yes, just recently! I like competition, but this was just really hard for several bands to make the cut.

Well, I don't think it's necessarily a mind set as much as it is a difference in judging criteria. Take a look at the ruberics for UIL judging and you will see that they are significantly different than what's being used in BOA judging. Yes, quality is quality regardless of the criteria, but the weight of that criteria in each system is very different. For instance, general effect is 40% of the BOA overall score and with UIL it is 10%. As stated in the Area & State Marching Contest Judges Orientation: "Now let’s look for a moment at INTEGRATION OF MARCHING COMPONENTS. Sometimes referred to as General Effect. You will note while General Effect is a large component in many scoring systems it carries a value of only 100 points here." This is 100 points of a 1000-point scoring system, so 10% -- and this is only on the Marching Judge's sheet. This is a significant difference by itself and even the judging criteria for music and marching is weighted a little different. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but I think one fits the style of the majority of the bands today a little better. Regardless of the judging system, I still very much enjoy them both. I think once you get out of school and take your band to both types of competitions, you will have an even better understanding of their differences. I know a lot of band directors - both young and old - and these differences are the topics for many conversations and have been since the two systems have been around. The bottom line is these are two distinct judging systems. Some bands will do well in one or the other or possibly in both, depending on their particular strengths and weaknesses, but the resulting top bands in either will be very good bands. We are very fortunate to have so many good bands in Texas!

The military-style bands have their own contest at Hallsville High School on November 5th: http://www.nammb.org/NAMMB/MainContest.html

I can totally understand why they would prefer to skip the UIL State competition and focus on the last 2 BOA competitions. The BOA competitions are where they will get the most favorable scores and where they will have the most success as their style is most appreciated with BOA judging criteria. In my opinion, the BOA criteria is more appropriate for most bands today. I've been going to marching competitions for 50 years now and judging bands today with almost the same criteria just doesn't make sense to me. Yes, there have been some changes, but for the most part it's the same criteria with very little to accommodate what's being fielded today. And many of those elements that those changes address are mostly tolerated more than they are actually used as criteria for point potential. Also, the 1000-point grading system is just unmanageable as well.

Can you post your list?

Probably to get in another competition performance and get the judge's feedback.

Do you think that Westfield was going over the 8-hour limit? The rule was still fairly new then and a lot of people were being watched to see if they complied. Of course, the 8-hour rule doesn't apply to BOA events and is therefore voluntary. Some school districts impose the limit for all activities UIL or not.

I have a feeling that Kevin will be going South for the winter! Either Florida or Texas...

That would push the contest to 3 days. Might be a little tough for most people to afford a 3-day competition both in time and money.

It's good to see that they are rehearsing less than one complete day per week!

What we have here is merely an exhibition of ignorance. Armed with nothing more than opinions and accusations, this individual claims that people he doesn't know are apparently cheating in an activity he knows nothing about. He provides no facts or specific examples and makes disparaging statements about a program of dedicated staff and students that have pushed themselves to a level of excellence that is absolutely admirable and just plain amazing. Sounds to me that this is more sour grapes than anything else. Perhaps he is associated with a competing band that just hasn't attained the level of excellence that Flower Mound has this year and he is lashing out at them instead of facing the truth. If you have ever met any of the students or the directors at Flower Mound, you would know that these people are just good, hardworking individuals that are maximizing their potential and they should be praised and applauded. There really is no need for suggesting that they are doing anything more than giving it 100%. It is human nature to be envious or jealous when others have great achievement and success for a very brief period, but it is entirely something else to lash out in an accusatory fashion. Besides, no amount of time spent doing something poorly will ever make the accumulated efforts successful. I think it is much more likely that their efficiency, focus, and dedication have produced an extraordinary result this year and that it is well within the confines of what is allowed regarding the 8-hour rule.

I agree 100%. That is one of my all-time favorites.

I understand your view, but band is constantly evolving. I have been watching bands for over 50 years now and have seen a lot of changes. I remember when everyone marched military style and and played marches. They marched up and down the field, end zone to end zone, doing counter-marches over and over with very little variation band to band. Some just played better than others and marched cleaner. By today's standards, it is boring. There have been so many changes over the years and some I hated at first. But, I decided to be open-minded and see just what it may add to the performance. Not everyone will tastefully use narration or vocal work, but some absolutely do and produce shows that are some of my lifetime favorites. Give it a chance in general, but you don't have to like the ones that are just poorly implemented or just not to your liking. Like it or not, it's here to stay.

Everyone gets a rough draw at some point. You just have to perform well whenever you are scheduled. At least this is a BOA event where the judging is fairly consistent. If they perform well, they will be fine. Besides, you just need to make the finals and then you can really worry about scores.

Another thing to consider is that it's more than just the money when it becomes a long trip to get there. It is a major undertaking to undergo the overall preparation to go, getting your parents to buy in to going, and your getting your school officials to give you permission to go. Then when it's time to go, it's either a multi-day bus ride or by plane, plus the planning and moving of props and equipment cross-country. My daughter's band did it every other year while she was there and it took a real toll on all involved. And cost a lot of money. Also, it is a competition trip with very little fun stuff. You get there, practice, perform, practice, perform, if you're lucky perform again and after the retreat, go to the hotel, get your stuff and head back. It is grueling to say the least. I don't know that people who have almost never had to do this would be willing to do it every year. In truth, we wouldn't know unless is was necessary for them to do it. On another note, I read a post of an Indiana person in a forum on another site that stated that it doesn't matter how far you have to go to a contest, that a stadium is a stadium and either you were good or you weren't and it didn't matter how much you had to travel or how much you had to spend to get there. Once in the stadium, all things are equal. He continued on about how Texas bands were just inferior to Indiana bands and if they were not willing to come where the real competition was, that was our fault. He further stated that there was no advantage for Avon and Carmel to be so close to the Grand Nationals and for them to be able to go every year, and that it had no effect on their level of their performance. Their bands were just better bands than Texas bands. An interesting perspective, but more than a little naive.. and of course way more than a little arrogant. The only thing I can say to that fine gentleman's statements is that if things were reversed, where the Grand Nationals were in Texas every year and everyone else had to come here, that the overall level of competition would likely be much higher. Can you imagine if the Grand Nationals weren't any less difficult to get to than the San Antonio Super Regional for Texas bands and the competition was a national competition? I don't think anyone with anything less than a 90 or 91 would ever make the finals. I also think that medals for out-of-staters would be much less frequent. Even for those superior Indiana bands!

That video was less than impressive, but they still have a couple of weeks. Those kids work really hard and are talented, but that show is just really flat to me. But, being that they are Marian Catholic means that they will have to really perform badly to miss the finals. I just can't ever see that happening because of politics and no judge wants to be on the panel that denied them for the first time. Don't think it will happen this year.