A Testing Trumpet

This contest is unspeakably crazy. My thoughts as of early October... -Locks- 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. Leander H.S., TX 8. James Bowie H.S., TX 9. The Woodlands H.S., TX 10. Marcus H.S., TX -Bubble- 11. LD Bell H.S., TX 12. Cedar Park H.S., TX 13. Keller H.S., TX 14. Hendrickson H.S., TX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15. Round Rock H.S., TX 16. Vista Ridge H.S., TX 17. Cedar 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

My two cents on Round Rock's placement comes down to several factors... 1.The run in the drumline feature. This was a major General Effect moment of the battle against the Minotaur, and you could hear the crowd's excitement go from "wow" to "oooh..." as the collision occurred. 2. The pacing of the band. They seem to have focused on getting more show out quickly rather than cleaning what they already had; saving that phase for the later season. 3. RR typically does not go to mid-season BOA regionals, and perhaps they thought that the pacing they were using previously would have been just as effective as going to somewhere like the Westlake marching festival or UIL

Round Rock and Leander were neck and neck at Austin Finals, But Leander had a 0.80 point lead on Round Rock in Prelims vs the 0.05 point lead Round Rock had in Finals. I think in most outcomes, Leander would beat Round Rock, but it's still very very close. less than a point no matter how you look at it. The Woodlands had to deal with Harvey and usually is a late bloomer so I think Round Rock would have a slight edge right now. I think Reagan is comparable to CTJ from Austin and even if they are not, CTJ still had a 3 point lead over Vandegrift which would contribute to a high finish for them. Hendrickson was 9th in Prelims; beaten by James Bowie but came on top at 7th in finals. Although Winston Churchill never beat Hendrickson at BOA Austin, They did beat Bowie in Finals. With Harvey and my general ignorance about the Houston Area I cant really predict outside of these bands. What I think right now... 1. Ronald Reagan 2. Vandegrift 3. Leander 4. Round Rock 5. The Woodlands 6. Hendrickson 7. James Bowie 8. Winston Churchill ----------------------------------------------- Bubble

That. Name. Tho. That is such a cool name. Consider me hyped.

My Updated Categories... C1-Both visually and musically great, although if they lose it, it would be because of Visual and maybe GE Vandegrift -- C2-Any of these bands could take #1. Strong Visual packages from each band from what I have seen. Round Rock Claudia Taylor Johnson Leander -- C3-Would not be surprised to see either take #1; but less likely due to rule changes/past trajectories. Cedar Park James Bowie -- C4-Expected to be Solid Finalists. maybe an upset in the works? Vista Ridge Winston Churchill Hendrickson -- C5-"Bubble" Same as before. Have not seen enough to make a prediction, but Dripping springs looked pretty good...

As we know don't know the situation of the Houston bands right now; I think ranking this regional is impossible since they are such an uncertainty with the hurricane and all. The area is a strong one and I have no doubt that the bands affected will rebound from this event eventually, but when that happens remains to be seen. I pray that everyone is safe from flooding and can pick up the pieces when the flooding is over.

With the recent change in BOA's Judging, bands with more advanced visual programs will likely do better than they did last year; It stands to reason then that although the field is very similar to 2016 in this regional, Bands with a majority of musical focus wont do as well as last year here. My outlook with this in mind... 1-3 Category (No Particular Order) Leander/Claudia Taylor Johnson/Round Rock 4-6 Category (No Particular Order) Cedar Park/Vandegrift/James Bowie 7-9 Category (No Particular Order) Vista Ridge/Winston Churchill/Hendrickson Bubble Category (No Particular Order) Cedar Ridge/Westlake/Rouse/Tom Glenn/Stony Point/Dripping Springs/Westwood/Pioneer Edit: Pioneer added to bubble

Thoughts on the Conroe Regional.... Finals Spots: Leander Ronald Reagan Vandegrift The Woodlands Round Rock James Bowie Hendrickson The Woodlands College Park Winston Churchill Coppell H.S

Thoughts on the Austin Regional.... Potential Champions: Claudia Taylor Johnson Leander Round Rock Vandegrift Cedar Park James Bowie Battle for Finals Spots: Vista Ridge Hendrickson Winston Churchill Cedar Ridge Rouse Westwood Westlake

My 2016 Marching Band had... 24 Flutes 24 Clarinets 6 Bass Clarinets 16 Alto Sax 5 Tenor Sax 5 Bari Sax 24 Trumpets 20 Horns 24 Trombones 12 Euphoniums 10 Sousaphones

Way far out predictions for finalists? why not... (No particular order) Marcus,TX Homestead,IN Broken Arrow,OK Avon,IN Flower Mound,TX Round Rock,TX William Mason,OH Carmel,IN The Woodlands,TX Marian Catholic,IN Blue Springs,MO Owasso,OK ???

After U.I.L. 6A Finals, I talked to a Keller student and they told me that they are going every three years. This might change, but it's something to consider.

F Finals Results 1st - 97.45 - Carmel H.S., IN 2nd - 97.45 - Avon H.S., IN 3rd - 96.55 - William Mason H.S., OH 4th - 95.70 - Tarpon Springs H.S., FL 5th - 95.30 - Cedar Park H.S., TX 6th - 94.65 - Leander H.S., TX 7th - 91.85 - Ronald Reagan H.S., TX 8th - 91.50 - Wando H.S., SC 9th - 91.30 - Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX 10th - 91.05 - Castle H.S., IN 11th - 91.00 - Homestead H.S., IN 12th - 90.05 - Marian Catholic H.S., IL 13th - 89.45 - Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN

Round Rock 2016

Round Rock's Band Numbers... The JV Band had 99 Winds in it. The Varsity band has 170 Winds, 38 Color Guard Members, 13 in Drumline, 5 Cymbals, and 4 Drum Majors The Front Ensemble is about 35 People That's a total of...364 members

My picks for finals contenders Flower Mound HS Hebron HS Marcus HS Ronald Reagan HS Bowie HS Vandegrift HS Leander HS Duncanville HS Round Rock HS L.D. Bell HS Keller HS North Shore Sr HS Spring HS The Woodlands College Park HS The Woodlands HS Hendrickson HS Cedar Ridge HS Brazoswood HS Friendswood HS Westlake HS Vista Ridge HS Coppell HS Austin HS Cy-Fair HS

these are your 2016 UIL State marching contest bands... Participating Bands Permian HS Coronado HS Franklin HS Americas HS Keller HS Duncanville HS L.D. Bell HS Coppell HS Plano East HS Flower Mound HS Hebron HS Marcus HS Berkner HS Wylie HS Ronald Reagan HS Bowie HS Round Rock HS Hendrickson HS Cedar Ridge HS Austin HS Cy-Fair HS Brazoswood HS Friendswood HS Clements HS Clear Brook HS Langham Creek HS Cypress Falls HS North Shore Sr HS Spring HS The Woodlands College Park HS The Woodlands HS Dawson HS Harlingen HS Brownsville Hanna HS Laredo United HS Harlingen South HS Vandegrift HS Leander HS Westlake HS Vista Ridge HS --------------------------------------

Final Low-down 1 day out... 6A AREA D FINALIST PREDICTIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------State Locks----------------------------------------------------- RONALD REAGAN HS One of the best bands in the state, won BOA Conroe JAMES BOWIE HS Had a tough season last year, but it looks like they are surging. Won BOA McCallan ---------------------------------------------------------------State Bubble/Area Finals Locks-------------------------------------- ROUND ROCK HS If this were B.O.A., They would be a lock, but with it being UIL (Specifically Area D) they are on the bubble due to their recent Area history. HENDRICKSON HS This is the best Hendrickson has been for a while, being in finals of two BOA’s CEDAR RIDGE HS They haven’t quite regained momentum since losing their past director, but their show seems to be geared towards UIL this year so I think they have good shot at it. -------------------------------------------------------------------State Cutoff---------------------------------------------------------------------- WINSTON CHURCHILL HS Churchill has been having a great season, making the finals at 2 BOA’s, and they have a shot at State but with this competition for state it’s going to be really close together and a lot of good bands will be let out. WESTWOOD HS They got a rough draw, but if they pull through it, I think they have a shot at state ------------------------------------------------------------------Area Finalist Bubble-------------------------------- ANDERSON HS NEW BRAUNFELS HS PFLUGERVILLE HS -----------------------------------------------------------Finals Cutoff STONY POINT HS SMITHSON VALLEY HS JACK C. HAYS HS BELTON HS AKINS HS ROBERT E. LEE HS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In retrospect, any of the state bubble bands could make state as any of them could beat any other in the buuble. It will come down to just how well they perform their show tomorrow.

The current line-up of bands for area D is 23-29 bands as region 18 has not gone yet: 1.AKINS HS 2.ANDERSON HS 3.BELTON HS 4.CANYON HS 5.CLAUDIA TAYLOR JOHNSON HS’’’’’(Not performing in finals) 6.CEDAR RIDGE HS 7.COPPERAS COVE HS 8.DEL VALLE HS 9.ELLISON HS 10.HARKER HEIGHTS HS 11.HAYS HS 12.HENDRICKSON HS 13.JAMES BOWIE HS 14.JAMES MADISON HS 15.KILLEEN HS 16.LEHMAN HS 17.MACARTHUR HS 18.MCNEIL HS 19.MIDWAY HS 20.NEW BRAUNFELS HS 21.PFLUGERVILLE HS 22.ROUND ROCK HS 23.RONALD REAGAN HS’’’’’(might not perform in finals) 24.ROBERT E. LEE HS 25.ROOSEVELT HS 26.STONY POINT HS 27.SMITHSON VALLEY HS 28.WESTWOOD HS 29.WINSTON CHURCHILL HS

According to Reagan's band website, they have a Saturday football game the day of Area http://www.reaganband.com/calendar/ It's not likely that they will do Area D Finals if this is confirmed.

My prediction of finals... 1.RONALD REAGAN HS 2.CLAUDIA TAYLOR JOHNSON HS 3.JAMES BOWIE HS_______15-19 Band Cutoff 4.ROUND ROCK HS________20-24 Band Cutoff 5.HENDRICKSON HS_______25-29 Band Cutoff 6.CEDAR RIDGE HS________30-32 Band cutoff 7.WINSTON CHURCHILL HS 8.WESTWOOD HS 9.ANDERSON HS 10.NEW BRAUNFELS HS - 11.PFLUGERVILLE HS 12.STONY POINT HS

"5A/6A Certification. In Conferences 5A/6A the music area shall certify the two bands receiving the highest ranking in each conference to the State Marching Band Contest. Should fifteen or more bands qualify for advancement in a single conference for the area contest, one band for each five bands that qualifed for advancement to the contest shall be certified for advancement to the state contest" So that means 2 bands will automatically advance to State, up to 15 bands,and with each additional 5 bands past 15 yielding 1 extra advancing band. Area D has 32 bands in it, meaning... 2-19 bands receiving a 1= 2 advancers 20-24 bands receiving a 1 = 3 advancers 25-29 bands receiving a 1 = 4 advancers 30-32 bands receiving a 1 = 5 advancers

UIL Area D is made up of 4 regions; 26, 18, 12, and 8. That comprises these 6A Schools: REGION 26--6A MANOR HS, HENDRICKSON HS, PFLUGERVILLE HS, WESTWOOD HS, STONY POINT HS, CEDAR RIDGE HS, ROUND ROCK HS, MCNEIL HS REGION 18--6A ANDERSON HS, JAMES BOWIE HS, AKINS HS, DEL VALLE HS, LEHMAN HS, HAYS HS REGION 12--6A CANYON HS, SMITHSON VALLEYHS, NEW BRAUNFELS HS, CLUADIA TAYLOR JOHNSON HS, RONALD REAGAN HS, JAMES MADISON HS, WINSTON CHURCHILL HS, MACARTHUR HS, ROOSEVELT HS, LEE HS, SAN MARCOS HS REGION 8--6A BELTON HS, COPPERAS COVE HS, SHOEMAKER HS, ELLISON HS, KILLEEN HS, HARKER HEIGHTS HS, MIDWAY HS According to U.I.L. Rules; Area Contests get to advance 1 band to State for every 5 bands that qualify for Area from region.

Just my 2 cents. This super regional truly is "The other Grand Nationals" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flower Mound H.S., TX Potential Champions Ronald Reagan H.S., TX Leander H.S., TX Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX - Hebron H.S., TX Top 5 Upsets Vandegrift H.S., TX - Marcus H.S., TX Finalist locks The Woodlands H.S., TX Cedar Park H.S., TX Round Rock H.S., TX --------------- L.D. Bell H.S., TX "Upper" bubble Keller H.S., TX Winston Churchill H.S., TX Wakeland H.S., TX --------------- Vista Ridge H.S., TX "Middle" bubble The Woodlands College Park H.S., TX Hendrickson H.S., TX Westlake H.S., TX ----------------- Aledo H.S., TX "Lower" bubble-Alphebetical Anderson H.S., TX Cedar Ridge H.S., TX Colleyville Heritage H.S., TX Dripping Springs H.S., TX Friendswood H.S., TX Judson H.S., TX Keller Central H.S., TX Lake Travis H.S., TX Maui H.S., HI Pearland H.S., TX Pflugerville H.S., TX Richland H.S., TX Robert E. Lee H.S., TX Rouse H.S., TX Sandra Day O'Connor H.S., TX Westwood H.S., TX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HornRank has weighed in: 1. James Bowie H.S., TX 2. Harlingen H.S., TX 3. Lopez H.S., TX 4. Hidalgo H.S., TX 5. Lake Travis H.S., TX 6. Homer Hanna H.S., TX 7. Roma H.S., TX 8. Edinburg North H.S., TX 9. Harlingen South H.S., TX 10. Palmview H.S., TX