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FloMoParent

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Posts posted by FloMoParent

    2024 BOA San Antonio Super Regional (Nov. 8 & 9)

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

      On 11/11/2024 at 12:20 AM, 1998-2018 said:

    What happened to Leander and Keller?

    I had the pleasure of speaking with LeanderMomma shortly after the SASR Finals announcement. While it's safe to say both of us were clearly disappointed, I don't think either of us were particularly surprised. I certainly wasn't. Yes, there were questions and a desire to see the Prelims Recap, but right then it was time to acknowledge, accept, and move forward with some new faces in Finals. Leander and Keller will both be back.

    So how did Keller get here?

    Too much has been made of the recent significant turnover in Keller's staff. Sure, it doesn't help to lose an extremely talented Director who has been there for 28 years. Especially one who spent several of his summers while at Keller on the Cavaliers staff too. He was very instrumental in leading the Cavalier's to a string of DCI National Campionships. (Kind of helps explain Keller's hornline, doesn't it?) The longterm Assistant Director stepped up as expected and was hired as the new Director. The unexpected part was that he would suddenly resign at the end of his first marching season. A semi-plausible explanation was offered by the school district and the resigning Director, but clearly there was more to the story and full disclosure behind such an abrupt departure was not forthcoming. Questions remain. But the season had ended with Keller's second appearance in the BOA Grand National Championship Finals. So how disruptive could have been? We had weathered the storm and marched forward into concert season with a recently retired director from within the district who accepted the short-term role of Interim Director through the remaining concert season. In June, as this marching season was about to begin the program didn't have a permanent Director. The new Assistant Director, who was previously third in line and also had significant tenure with Keller was approached about assuming the position of Director. He agreed. That meant he was taking over a marching show that was primarily put in place by his two recent predecessors along with the design team.

    Turnover at the top generally has other consequences and there has been some minor additional impact, but nothing outside of normal expectations. It's time to look elsewhere for root causes.

    Others have pointed out that the last time Keller missed Finals at the SASR was 2014, but that's only part of the story. A couple days later Keller advanced to the Texas SMBC and haven't missed Finals since then.

    ANYWHERE!

    So yesterday hurt, but in my opinion, and that of others, the seeds for this outcome were planted years ago. After the 2019 show the program moved in a new direction regarding design. I don't have an explanation why, but it was the beginning of a subtle downward spiral. (Watch videos of the 2015-2019 shows versus 2020-2024 shows.) I also can't explain why there hasn't been a proper course correction, other than yesterday being the first full-blown failure. But the declining scores and placements have been there for years now. We finally reached a point where, to use the UIL terminology, content and design problems couldn't be overcome by outstanding levels of achievement. Perhaps a stronger run, like at Area B, might have delayed this outcome temporarily. But don't forget, Keller made Finals at BOA Bedford by just one tenth of a point. This bill was due and payment was going to be demanded.

    So what's my point? It's time for change and to look past things that can be true. It's time to see and clearly understand the whole truth before taking impulsive action.

    It starts with the design team because there is a limit to what the kids performance can do to overcome design problems. The frustrating part is that while this forum is filled with parents and students who don’t completely understand the subtle nuance of how this is what keeps them out of Finals, Keller knows better. But they still got blindly sucked into the trap. This is likely going to be a rough ride, particularly for the Director, but he's not the problem either. Hang in there Mr. Bloss. You did most of what could be done and the show got better along the way. I still believe you are the correct person to lead the program forward. You inherited this design and therefore the consequences were not your responsibility. 

    But fixing the root cause is.

     

    TLDR: Three Directors in two years has not been the issue, at all. Five years of declining designs finally caught up to Keller.4ozwde4hk8mz.jpg.718c54dd4bf936ae6bc93b157600fe55.jpg

    Expand  

    (My daughter *was* a teacher in KISD until this year, I've been very involved in the on-goings, and failures of the KISD)
    Part of the problem with Keller is that the Keller ISD school board. They want to run every aspect of every school as if they are the Super, the principals, and the teachers.  You can see a related story about how the KISD BoT requires their seal of approval for any theatre performance.  Additionally, they have an excessive debt.  They want to just blame the state for it, but their debt is above and beyond the failure of the TexLege to fully fund public schools.

    {I know this is touching on a political topic, I kept it as basic as I could}

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    2021 BOA Grand Nationals (Nov. 11-13)

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    I have been able to watch a little bit so far.  I liked what CTJ brought last night.  Was my first time to see them this year. With most CTJ shows I need to see them a few times to really get into it.  I can't wait to see them twice more. Great show.

    Marcus, I was blown away. I thought their drill was amazing (again, I am a novice and don't know anything). I'm a bit OCD, straight lines and precise shapes really please my eye, and hurt when they are off.  Marcus marching was eye candy to me.

    I'm sorry that I didn't get to see Ronald Reagan.  I am sure they put on an amazing show and I will see them in semi's

    Vista Ridge - great job.  I want to comment more, but I was busy getting the house ready for people to come over so I was a bit distracted.  What I saw and heard I really liked.

    FloMo - That was the best run I've seen for them so far.  I could not hear any tone issues like were mentioned for UIL.  ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE SUSA FEATURE!!!

    Let's go #TeamTexas!  Bring Kevin back south for the winter.

    2021 BOA Grand Nationals (Nov. 11-13)

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

      On 11/11/2021 at 11:08 PM, Tubalord11 said:

    Also quick question, is the times listed for the performances on the BOA website with the time zone in Indianapolis? Just wondering bc I was gonna catch Marcus at 5:30, but it seems they’ve already gone, but just wanted to confirm. Looks like Texas time is an hour behind the times on tue schedule.

    Expand  

    Yes, the times posted are EST.  We are CST.  I'll attach a file with the times in CST. 

    (This is from the FMHS Parent page)

    BOA_GN_Prelim_Sched_CST.jpg

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    Best experience you have ever had watching a band

    in Everything Music: Marching, Concert, Auditions and more

    Posted

    There are a lot of great musical moments that were amazing.

    However, the best experience, and most memorable, for me has to be the FMHS 2014 Grand Nationals Finals performance.  I've recounted it here many times.  But having both my children (one senior one freshman) performing at the same event, amongst the best in the nation, and I was there to see them.  I can't recall anything else that has ever moved me so much.

    Texas State Legislature voting on a bill tomorrow that can remove the requirement for schools to require fine arts for graduation.

    in Everything Music: Marching, Concert, Auditions and more

    Posted

    Thank goodness this was "Left pending in committee"

     

    We REALLY need to get members of the TexLege that are friendly towards public education.  I'm not talking red/blue or left/right but members of the lege that actually support public schools, teachers, and school activities.  There are FAR too many members (both sides) that give lip service and then pass legislation that actually HURTS our schools and our kids (and in turn our communities).

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