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Robert_Jordan

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Posts posted by Robert_Jordan

  3. 5A State Marching Contest Schedule

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    So here's the deal. 

     

    UIL is doing their best to give kids who do not have the resources and the attention that 5A/6A and even 4A programs have an amazing experience. While I agree that maybe the 5A day wasn't the best day and they could have moved it to the 4A day next year, that wouldn't solve the problem because 4A is now advancing ~25 bands to state, and that number is going to increase as well, considering that we're having another alignment which may add an Area to 4A, along with general inflation of scores. The only difference there is that significantly fewer people care about 4A than the bigger classes. I can honestly say that I truly don't believe that this would have the same vitriolic response on this board if this only concerned 2A-4A's schedule (yellowboard is a different story on this, although they aren't too happy with the current situation either; I do understand that this is an issue of demographics that frequent each board).

     

    While this does disadvantage 5A schools and their students in not particularly great ways, we do have to understand that this was likely to happen anyway. As mentioned earlier, 6A finals ran pretty late last year as well, and that's probably going to get worse across all the classes. While we could find another stadium in theory, no other stadiums are as central, large, indoors and acoustically sound as the AlamoDome. It would also be unfair to offer 1A-3A or 4A finals in a smaller stadium and only let the larger two or three classes have access to the AlamoDome. So the only real option here is to limit the number of schools that advance to Area, and to State as well. Which, looking at this year's Area D thread, is not a popular option. Increasing State by another day won't help the problem either, as that will just cause more disruption in school schedules, another issue brought up in this thread. Weekends are also difficult because of the cost of the AlamoDome to rent - also remember that it's a college football team's home stadium. Additionally, Sunday isn't really an option as a competition day in Texas, forcing UIL to find two or three different weekends to hold State.

     

    Bottom line is, there aren't really any more options, and while it is kind of a scheduling disaster, this is simply the fairest situation for all bands involved. Someone is going to get some kind of shaft. But honestly, I don't think what time finals is held will stop the best band from winning, and I'm sure all the performers will enjoy the experience of the competition all the same, even if they're a bit tired.

    Hi PA

     

    I don't think anything has gotten totally vitriolic yet.  I think the biggest deal with this is the date.  If this weren't a week day, it wouldn't be as big of a deal.  Make this a Friday or Saturday and I think the problem is (mostly) solved.  Kids don't have to miss but one day of school.  Far fewer parents have to make work arrangements and more people could attend. 

  4. 5A State Marching Contest Schedule

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    While it creates some issues, I'm gonna play devils advocate here and agree with PA...this was obviously a move to allow for those 1A schools to get a chance to perform in front of a substantial crowd, and I honestly think it's a pretty admirable move if this is the case. Logistics wise, yeah, its causes some weird obstacles, but as PA mentioned, this will likely give these schools a chance to play for a crowd 10 times larger than what they've seen before. UIL will get some upset parents over this move...but I say kudos for understanding that the whole point of UIL is to give schools of all sizes a platform to create memorable/once in a lifetime experiences, and I think this does that. 

     

    I think it's going to be very neat for the 1A guys to get to perform for the big crowds and in the big dome.  Totally awesome and I'm happy for them!  But why not schedule this on a weekend?  This is gonna be rough on kids and their parents.  School getting missed, getting bogged down in school work and home work, and parents having to miss work.   Maybe it's a blessing in disguise being an alternate.  I know I'm going to miss a good one!

  6. UIL Texas 5A State Marching Contest predictions?

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    Hi Natertater.  After attending area D the other day and reading through the judges rubric out on the UIL page, here's why I like Vista:

     

    1:  Both Leander and Cedar Park have great shows.  Leander's is utterly killer.  Both, in my opinion, are more geared for BOA than UIL, especially Leander with their explosion of visual and general effect.

    2:  Cedar Park in general has more instances in their show where they either have ensembles playing the ultra difficult parts while the band dances around or does visual things.  Lots of free form.

    3:  Both Leander and Cedar Park have a good bit of free form.  It's all really great stuff and looks tremendous!  It's more for BOA though (visuals / general effect)

    4:  Vista Ridge is marching all over the field!  It looked to me they had the most complex marching show of the night, and they looked really tight.

    5:  All 3 bands have some killer music!  I picked out some strange time signatures for Vista.  I think I heard some 7 and 9 in there.  All 3 bands nail their music.  It seemed to me though that Vista did a little better at a "full band" playing+marching  the show than having smaller groups up playing the ultra difficult parts.

    6:  Leander wins hands down on visuals.  Cedar Park's color guard is FANTASTIC.  Vista's guard did something different with theirs spinning in those pyramids - NICE!   But, reading through the rubrics and knowing that this is UIL and not BOA, the "show" is supposed to take a back seat to the marching and playing.

     

    If this were BOA - it would be Leander, then Cedar Park, then likely Vandy followed by Vista.

     

    But, since this is UIL, all the visual effect / general effect stuff is supposed to be secondary.  Of course, it could be what puts Leander and CP over Vista. 

     

    Watching the performances the other night, I was most impressed by Vista's marching and playing.  I tried to focus most heavily on those aspects and tried to avoid focusing on the visual / general effect elements (not an easy feat with Leander's show!).   It just seems to me that Vista's show is designed to showcase the band, the marching, and the music whereas Leander and CP  seem to have more focus on the general effect and visual effect side.

     

    Lastly - I won't write of Vandy.  Their marching drill and music seem a little bit simpler than the other 3, but they can really nail it.  And they have one of the best guards around.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if they were one of the top 3.  Gonna be a great competition!  Shame it has to be so late in the night for those kids and for all the parents :(

  10. UIL 5A Area D

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    kschmize:  I stated that I felt that McCallum got the shaft.  They executed their performance very well.  Their marching was clean.  Their music was clean.  Very few issues with spacing.  Lines were always good.  Dripping Springs however had issues.  They did not execute cleanly.   At the start of their routine they merge into a big triangle shape and rotate it.  The middle of it ... not clean.  There were other places throughout their performance that were just not clean at all.  Nevermind the fact that one guy fell down and 3 or 4 other people ran over him causing several to have to move to avoid him.  Perhaps my posts got deleted because I ruffled some feathers by suggesting that perhaps the judges in the contest are getting enamored by the "show", the color, the pageantry, etc.  Maybe the judges were watching butterflies and trees instead of watching the marching...  This is UIL.  This is not BOA.


    Not bashing anyone.  I never have and never will.  Dripping Springs has a very beautiful show.  I think they'll do very well at BOA this coming weekend.  I hope they do.  My wife and I love their show.  That being said though, McCallum executed last night better than Dripping Springs.

  11. UIL 5A Area D

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    I would like to know what happened to my posts? Why are things being deleted? Was anything I said derogatory? I'm fairly certain I didn't bash anyone. I merely stated facts I observed out on the field tonight in regards to execution and "falling down". Or was it that I questioned the judges possibly being enamored moreso by shows over execution of marching and music?

  16. UIL 5A Area D

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    Looked like it was going pretty smooth this morning. 


    I wonder how many schools get to be out the entire day vs schools that have to:

     

    - Leave class and go to competition

    - Go to competition and then go back to class

    - Miss all early classes, go compete, and then go back to school

    etc.. 

     

    This could be a mess for those poor kids with homework and makeup work.  And a late night with finals as well!

  24. 2015 BOA San Antonio Predictions

    in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive

    Posted

    My top 12 would be the same as yours, and just about the same order.

     

    I also believe that Reagan is the band to beat.  They've defreated the top bands from Houston, San Antonio, and Austin already.  The Lewisville bands are all that's left.  Then again, CTJ took prelims and some captions from them at BOA Houston, and I'm sure the Woodlands will be at full force next week as well.  Though Austin has more great marching bands that any other city in Texas, I just don't see any of them competing for the top spot this year.  But, you never know!  Leander certainly shocked a lot of people last year.

     

    For the last two finals slots, in addition to Hendrickson and Vista Ridge, there are also Cedar Ridge, Coppell, Wakeland, SFA, Keller, Keller Central, Dripping Springs, Friendswood, and Plano East.  Yikes!

     

    Leander's show is fantastic.  I think it blows last year's Color Study show away.  I'd be shocked if they don't make the top 5.

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