A Testing Trumpet

I think the general consensus is that RR has consistently been a great band, but they haven't really improved in the ways the bands around them have. It's been a VERY high level of consistent success, and that's something to be very proud of, but they haven't really grown in the last few years while others around them have. I think if they want to truly stay competitive in places like the SA's and GN's they need to change their approach, and the new staff they have might be just the thing they needed. Hope the best for that program .

1. Leander 2. Vandegrift 3. CTJ 4. Cedar Park 5. Cedar Ridge 6. Round Rock 7. Bowie 8. Hendrickson 9. Westwood 10. Churchill ---- 11. Vista Ridge 12. New Braunfels +/- about 3 places for each are possible the way I see it. Kinda just from what's been said and what I saw last year/ gut feeling.

I agree. These shootings need to stop. They are awful and disgusting and threaten students with beautiful futures. This is a very sensitive topic, and I'm not going to say how we should approach the issue because I don't want this forum to be a platform that separates people, but I think everyone should evaluate the intentions of people advocating for whatever side they support and make a decision based on what they think is best for the students AND themselves. The important thing is to have a mind of your own so you can explain why you support the opinion that you do. If we could all do that, I think people would be more willing to hear the opposing argument and understand why they think the way that they do and can respect the opposing position, and honestly, this applies to pretty much every controversial opinion in life. If you truly care about the topic, research the facts, sift through all the hot propaganda, and make an opinion that is truly yours and be able to both back it up and be open to criticism, because criticism from other like-refined perspectives is what always gives way to the best possible result.

Interesting Fact: The last time L.D. Bell made finals at San Antonio was 2014, meaning that in the 2018 season, nobody in the band will remember making finals. Perhaps they will get to experience it this 2018 season!

Round Rock sold it's 2013 and 2016 shows to the Catalina Foothills High School Band in Arizona. It's a weird feeling watching somebody else perform the same show you performed, but I don't think It's a bad thing in the least. Additionally, Catalina Foothills was invited to the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade recently, so you can watch them there.

EIGHTY-SEVEN BANDS. Is this still a "Super Regional" ?

This is too stacked. 11 bands that seriously could make GN Finals are here at Austin. As somebody who is a little bit out of the band world now, I have no Idea how this could even go. (oh, and only 10 get in) Cedar Park H.S., TX* Cedar Ridge H.S., TX Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX* James Bowie H.S., TX* Leander H.S., TX* Robert E. Hendrickson H.S., TX* Round Rock H.S., TX Vandegrift H.S., TX* Vista Ridge H.S., TX Westwood H.S., TX* Winston Churchill H.S., TX*

Correction Noted! Thanks for clarifying so I wouldn't have spread false information!

-Round Rock High School 2018- "dRĔáM" -They will dissolve their Varsity/JV format and integrate both bands into one next year. CORRECTION: The JV band will still exist, but will also assist their Varsity band at all competitions. -They will have new Uniforms next year as well. (This was made public via their booster's facebook)

Just some food for thought... The Highest and lowest scores that have been recorded for 12th place at GN Semifinals since 2000 were 85.40 in 2012 and 90.50 in 2007. Using that knowledge any band that has scored above a 90.50 this season has statistically a 100% chance of being in finals. (Of course that is purely anecdotal evidence but then again so is a predictions list!) Those Bands would be (Included only if they are going to nationals): Carmel(IN) Avon(IN) Flower Mound(TX) Marcus(TX) The Woodlands(TX) That leaves another 7 bands to make finals. Bands that have scored within the 85.40+ margin this season and going to nationals are... Castle(IN) Union(OK) Homestead(IN) Marian Catholic(IL) Broken Arrow(OK) Blue Springs(MO) O'Fallon Township(IL) Owasso(OK) Round Rock(TX) Winston Churchill(TX) That's 10 bands. bands in top 40 but have not scored in this margin to watch out for would be... Center Grove(IN) Franklin(TN) Dobyns-Bennett(TN) William Mason(OH) Thats 21 bands that have a projected shot at finals in 2017. Only 12 get in(Unless a tie). Predictions... Just Finalists; no order other than top 6 and bottom 6. Carmel(IN) Avon(IN) Flower Mound(TX) Marcus(TX) The Woodlands(TX) Broken Arrow(OK) Round Rock(TX) Castle(IN) Union(OK) Blue Springs(MO) Homestead(IN) Marian Catholic(IL) Leaving out... Winston Churchill(TX) O'Fallon Township(IL) Owasso(OK) Center Grove(IN) Franklin(TN) Dobyns-Bennett(TN) William Mason(OH) Any of these band have the potential to make finals and I cant wait to see how it plays out!

As for Round Rock... Round Rock's send off performance is at 7:30pm at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex tonight, then flys to Indy on Wednesday, and Performs at 9:30pm in Thusday prelims(Not RR's Choice)

All I will say about Round Rock's new uniform is that it is new while at the same time keeping to its roots of the current Uniform. Think of it as an evolution of the current uniform.

Predictions 1.Claudia Taylor Johnson 2.Hebron 3.Vandegrift 4.Carmel 5.Flower Mound 6.Avon 7.Tarpon Springs 8.Marcus 9.Broken Arrow 10.Cedar Park 11.Ronald Reagan 12.Blue Springs 13.The Woodlands 14.Wando 15.Leander 16James Bowie 17.Cedar Ridge 18.Hendrickson 19.Castle 20.Keller 21.O'Fallon Township 22.Union 23.L.D. Bell 24.Haltom 25.Homestead 26.Vista Ridge 27.Pearland 28.Round Rock 29.Marian Catholic 30.Ayala

I feel the same about Round Rock. All the running around/free body movement in the show isn't really helping them with their visual scores/ doesn't really make a whole lot of sense in terms of general effect. I think they should make the body movements move together so that it is more judgable from a marching/sameness standpoint or at the very least make it so that what they are projecting to the box makes sense at all times. I thought the band did a great job with projecting a theme to the box but it did not make sense thematically.

In terms of Grand Nats RR... Round Rock 2013 Prelims (87.80) Round Rock 2013 Finals (87.70) Round Rock 2015 Prelims (92.10) Round Rock 2015 Finals (87.50) Round Rock 2017 Prelims (87.45) Round Rock actually scored pretty regularly at San Antonio this year.

BOA SAN ANTONIO PRELIMS top 30 1.Hebron (95.975) 2.Vandegrift (95.675) 3.Claudia Taylor Johnson (95.675) 4.Flower Mound (95.050) 5.Avon (94.700) 6.Marcus (93.025) 7.Cedar Park (92.900) 8.Ronald Reagan (92.375) 9.The Woodlands (92.175) 10.Leander (91.325) 11.James Bowie (90.675) 12.Cedar Ridge (90.550) 13.Hendrickson (90.450) 14.Keller (90.400) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.L.D. Bell (90.250) 16.Vista Ridge (88.550) 17.Pearland (87.850) 18.Round Rock (87.450) 19.Westwood (87.125) 20.Cy-Fair (87.000) 21.Winston Churchill (86.225) 22.Wylie (86.10) 23.Seven Lakes (85.900) 24.Timber Creek (85.825) 25.Coppell (85.525) 26.Oak Ridge (85.375) 27.Clear Brook (85.050) 28.Friendswood (84.950) 29.Wakeland (84.850) 30.Plano East Senior (84.800)

Even more... 15.L.D. Bell (90.250) 16.Vista Ridge (88.550) 17.Pearland (87.850) 18.Round Rock (87.450) 19.Westwood (87.125) 20.Cy-Fair (87.000) 21.Winston Churchill (86.225) 22.Wylie (86.10) 23.Seven Lakes (85.900) 24.Timber Creek (85.825) 25.Coppell (85.525) 26.Oak Ridge (85.375) 27.Clear Brook (85.050) 28.Friendswood (84.950) 29.Wakeland (84.850) 30.Plano East Senior (84.800)

-Prelims next 6 out- 15.L.D. Bell (90.250) 16.Vista Ridge (88.550) 17.Pearland (87.850) 18.Round Rock (87.450) 19.Westwood (87.125) 20.Cy-Fair (87.000)

15:LD Bell 16:Vista Ridge 17:Pearland 18:Round Rock

After Friday Prelims... (Bold means already performed) 1.Flower Mound 2.Avon 3.The Woodlands 4.Claudia Taylor Johnson 5.Hebron 6.Leander 7.Vandegrift 8.Ronald Reagan 9.Marcus 10.Hendrickson 11.Round Rock 12.James Bowie 13.LD Bell 14.Keller --------------------------------------------------------- 15.Cedar Park 16.Vista Ridge 17.Cedar Ridge 18.Winston Churchill 19.Cy-Fair

I see only two real category's in this year's San Antonio. One for the top spot and one for the finals spots. Finals spots coming soon... -In Hunt for Championship title- 1.Claudia Taylor Johnson: This will be their last show for the year, which means we can expect them to peak at this time while their most nearest competition are all designed to peak at Grand Nationals. The way their season has progressed thus far indicates that this will be the best CTJ we have yet seen due to the high base scores at both Austin and Midland combined with how they normally clean historically from early season regionals to San Antonio. That said I would not be surprised to see this same group in say 7th place due to how close this will all be. I just think that they have the best potential to win the whole thing, keeping in mind how close this will all be. 2-4.Avon/Flower Mound/The Woodlands: Take your Pick. Avon Has not been outside of the top 3 at Grand Nationals since 2006, and Flower Mound has won San Antonio for 2 years in a row. You may be surprised to see The Woodlands in this category, but remember that the Band has Historically been a late season bloomer and the early season results were VERY impressive considering Hurricane Harvey and just the Raw score they received at Conroe. And don't forget they beat Flower Mound in GE last year when they were in a similar scenario to this year. 5-6.Vandegrift/Ronald Reagan: These two are neck and neck in all the competitions they have gone to. Both have the potential to knock any of the bands above out and win the whole thing, Especially because they are peaking at this completion. 7.Hebron : You may be surprised to see these guys so low; yet let me remind you that any of all of these top 8 have a very reasonable chance to win the whole thing. its just so tight in this competition and they will have to fight if they want to win it. (Just like they did to be the Southlake Regional Champion!) 8.Marcus: This is a different Marcus than what we are used to and so far it has been working for them. They also have a Shot to win the whole thing as they have adopted a more BOA-Friendly type of show.

Updated Predictions for 10/29/2017... 1. Flower Mound H.S., TX 2. Avon H.S., IN 3. Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX 4. Hebron H.S., TX 5. Vandegrift H.S., TX 6. Marcus H.S., TX 7. The Woodlands H.S., TX 8. Ronald Reagan H.S., TX --------------------------------------------------- -Bubble- 9. Round Rock H.S., TX 10. Leander H.S., TX 11. LD Bell H.S., TX 12. James Bowie H.S., TX 13. Hendrickson H.S., TX 14. Keller H.S., TX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Cutoff 15. Cedar Park H.S., TX 16. Winston Churchill H.S., TX 17. Vista Ridge H.S., TX 18. Cedar Ridge H.S., TX ---------------------------------------------------- 19. Cy-Fair H.S., TX 20. Timber Creek H.S., TX 21. Clear Brook H.S., TX 22. Wakeland H.S., TX 23. North Shore H.S., TX 24. New Braunfels H.S., TX 25. Pearland H.S., TX

I know BOA San Antonio is always REALLY stacked, but this year is no doubt more competitive than ever before.

Updated San Antonio Predictions 2 weeks out: 1. Hebron H.S., TX 2. Avon H.S., IN 3. Flower Mound H.S., TX 4. Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX 5. Vandegrift H.S., TX 6. Ronald Reagan H.S., TX 7. The Woodlands H.S., TX 8. Marcus H.S., TX -Bubble- 9. Leander H.S., TX 10. LD Bell H.S., TX 11. James Bowie H.S., TX 12. Cedar Park H.S., TX 13. Round Rock H.S., TX 14. Hendrickson H.S., TX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15. Keller H.S., TX 16. Cedar Ridge H.S., TX 17. Vista Ridge H.S., TX 18. Winston Churchill H.S., TX 19. Cy-Fair H.S., TX 20. Timber Creek H.S., TX 21. Clear Brook H.S., TX 22. North Shore H.S., TX 23. New Braunfels H.S., TX 24. Pearland H.S., TX 25. Wakeland H.S., TX

Initial Predictions: 1.Carmel (1st-5th) 2.Avon (1st-5th) 3.Flower Mound(1st-5th) 4.Broken Arrow (1st-6th) - 5.The Woodlands(1st-12th) 6.Marcus(5th-9th) - 7.Round Rock(5th-18th) 8.Blue Springs(6th-17th) 9.Castle(6th-14th) 10.Union(7th-15th) -(BUBBLE)- 11.Marian Catholic(7th-12th) 12.Homestead(7th-15th) 13.William Mason(5th-20th) 14.Owasso(12th-20th) 15.Winston Churchill(11th-23rd) 16.Lawrence Township(12th-25th) 17.Franklin(12th-26th)