wtxbd02

I'm getting the opportunity to see Avon in San Antonio AND they're building a show around Maslanka 4??? Color me very excited.

The two topics have been beautifully merged into one. Discuss!

This was my first time watching so maybe I'll join in more next year. Loved it!

13th place in Independent Open to 5th in Independent World this year? That's pretty dang awesome! Congrats CGT Dallas! That was easily my favorite show design wise this weekend. Incredibly entertaining and enthralling.

I thought Black Gold gave a beautiful and emotional finals performance, flag portion towards the end was awesome!

Congrats to Klein Oak, Scholastic A Champions!

I thought Dawson was fantastic, great job!

Glad it's not just me. World Class feed went down the tube.

Klein Oak sitting in 1st out of over 120 guards in A class. Congrats!

I thought Klein Oak KILLED it!

Scholastic Open is bonkers, about 2 or so points between 1st and 12th, with about 1 point separating 3rd from 12th (Hendrickson). They could still see a big jump. Then again this is my first time actively following championships so I'm not sure how the dynamics work out. Carmel blew me away, the stuff they do with those swings is absolutely mesmerizing! I enjoyed the crap outta Onyx, I'm not really sure what I was watching but I enjoyed it. Aimachi was awesome as always, really beautiful show. Thought it started out a tad shaky but they finished strong. I love love loved CGT Dallas, I know there are probably better performed shows but that was by far and away the most I enjoyed a show today. Super high octane and enthralling! I'm no guard expert like you but yeah, that seemed super strong.

8 hours a week of smart teaching is certainly more effective than unlimited just rehearsing without a strategic game plan. I'm certainly not accusing someone like Avon of not rehearsing effectively (look at who teaches them), but I'm finding out first hand how you have to plan every single thing you do so strategically to fit into those 8 hours even just in concert season, I can only imagine it's worse in marching season. You certainly over the years learn how to become an incredibly efficient director and teacher because of it.

I really enjoyed the show this past fall, loved the whole visual aesthetic and they had some really great powerful music moments. Excited to see what they do next year.

I'm a West Texas boy so I'll speak for them. We are looking definitely 4 a shot at 5 or 6 advancing on a REALLY good year depending on how many bands get ones. Changed up again so it's different than 2015. El Paso is back in along with Wichita Falls and such. There are over 30 bands in the area now. Canyon swept the central zone last time so they're a definite contender. Plainview is worth a look since they advanced in 2015. El Paso has a lot of heavy hitters, Bel Air, Hanks, and Del Valle are definite contenders. Eastlake has advanced before back in 2013 and Horizon is also another rising star for El Paso. Lubbock Cooper grew a TON in 2016 and is one I could see exploding onto the West Texas scene in the next year or two. I attended Area in 2015 and Abilene Cooper, Lubbock High, and Randall all really impressed me. Lubbock Monterey, Lubbock Coronado, and Amarillo High all moved down from 6A and could easily make things make things interesting and Caprock from Amarillo has seen a ton of improvement lately as well. It's going to be a very competitive contest next (school) year for sure.

I suspect we'll see some roll out around May or so (when the Leander schools all do their preview stuff) and then in the case of some probably not until their first show this coming fall.

(it's a reference)

I for one welcome our new Avon overlords.

You there live or watching online? Interested in if the quality from FloMarching is higher for their WGI coverage than it was for their BOA coverage. I'm a bit cautious to drop money on it after the BOA coverage this fall.

In terms of general leading/conducting a band material I'd "highly" suggest this: https://www.amazon.com/Band-Directors-Companion-Harry-Haines/dp/1480302333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487130850&sr=8-1&keywords=band+directors+companion

Star of Indiana 1993 is just for you.

I can attest to that......I found txbands after I watched The Remaining the first time and had to find out more about this amazing LD Bell band I had never heard of. That was almost a decade ago my freshman year of high school. There are shows I am a fan of and become obsessed with in a certain season, and then they fade after that year is over. That show doesn't. My enjoyment of it hasn't gone down a single bit since I first watched it WAY back in August of 08. As I get older and learn more I can critique certain performance aspects and other things but few shows make me feel the emotions that one does. The sheer effect of that music program is just ridiculous. It's 12 minutes of anguish, pain, sorrow, dread, fear, terror, and every emotion that should drive me away from something but it doesn't. That's powerful stuff. And then that little tinge of hope, freedom, release from all those horrible things, or however you interpret it at the end is just perfection. In all idioms it's something I just marvel at every time I watch it. It's one of the VERY few that's stood the test of time for me. And I never even saw it live. That is a masterwork in the marching arts.

I have yet to see Marcus 2007...unfortunately with the current climate on copyright I suppose I never will.

Long time no see.

I'm still digesting 2016. D:

In terms of effect I think LD Bell 2006 is the one that has stayed with me now for almost a decade since I first saw it. No high school show gives me the emotions that one does, even if they are absolute dread, despair, and anything disturbing which is why I love it, I adore dark shows that are good. I love going back to the old posts about that one on here from when it was being performed. The level of commitment of the members sounds pretty incredible. In terms of proficiency...Flower Mound this year absolutely blew me away. Everything visually and musically was just crystal clear and perfect. Could probably throw a few Marcus shows in there as well most certainly 2012. Hebron 2015 musically for sure. In terms of both I think Marcus 2010 takes the cake for me. That show had design, performance, and just absolutely stunning effect for me at the time and today. The theme coulda been boring but what they did with it, especially visually was just remarkable. Best ever use of alternates as the shadows in the ballad combined with the guard rainbow is one of my favorite HS guard moments ever. 2012 not far behind. And of course they performed the snot out of it.