CTJBandPops

I can tell you that your statement in bold above is incorrect, and I say that from experience. I marched in High School band 35 years ago, and never went on to study music, my kids won't either. but my band experience has shaped my adult life in many ways and I credit it for my success as an adult. That is why I wanted my kids to be in band , and sometimes the life experience comes from going up against the best and giving it everything you have and not quite getting the prize. this is from a Wakeland Band parent that was posted in 2014. This is what band gives our kids. One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money for your kids to be in band?" Well I have a confession to make, I don't pay for my kids' band experience. Personally, it doesn't matter which activity they choose. So, if I am not paying for band, what am I paying for? - I pay for those moments when my kids become so tired they want to quit - but don't. - I pay for those days when my kids come home from school and are "too tired" to go to rehearsal - but go anyway. - I pay for my kids to learn to be disciplined. - I pay for my kids to learn to take care of their body. - I pay for my kids to learn to work with others and be good team mates. - I pay for my kids to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't get that score they'd hoped for, - but still have to work hard every day. - I pay for my kids to learn to make and accomplish goals. - I pay for my kids to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight. - I pay for the opportunity my kids have and will have to make life-long friendships. - I pay so that my kids can be in a rehearsal instead of in front of a screen. - I pay for my kids to learn how to be part of something, much bigger than themselves I could go on, but, in short, I don't pay for band. I pay for the opportunities that band provides my kids with to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far, I think it is a great investment!

not sure why everyone gets so bent when someone makes a comment about strategy, I took a similar beating earlier this year when I made a comment about a program spending a great deal of money to go to Grand Nats but not attending any other BOA Events that year or even in the past few years. Every program uses a different approach and that is there right. but you would think that you would want to get another opportunity to compete in your back yard against some of the same programs you will see again at BOA-SA as well as in Indy and get comments from the adjudicators on the performance opinions so you can make adjustments before SA and G Nats. It has been mentioned that CTJ will be attending this year, this will be there first time here since 2012. Why? Because, while TMC is not a BOA Event it is mostly scored like one. 2 of the Music judges from BOA Austin will also be at TMC and it is a chance to see what they think of your progress over the past 2 weeks . and many of the same judges that are at TMC will also be at BOA-SA and more importantly at Grand Nats. so you want those comments now so you can adjust to their comments in hopes of elevating those scores at the later events scored by the same judges. I tried to make that same point with the beating I took earlier this year. if you are going all in to spend $400K to make a trip to Indy, you would think you would want to get your band in front of those judges as often as possible to get those opinions - especially if they will be judging you again later in the season. just my thoughts.

I agree that the Houston- North Scores appear bloated, and that is a huge gap between 1st and second but I expected the gap. Before they split this into 2 separate sites, BOA Conroe generally had TWHS, CTJ, Reagan, and Vandergrift and it was generally a coin toss to predict who would walk away a winner. this is not intended to be a knock on any of the great programs that competed this weekend at Conroe, but I fully expected TWHS to sweep this event. As I look at the Katy lineup, I fully expect that Reagan will also walk away as a clear winner by a few points and well into the mid 80's. - this is assuming that there is no major drop off with the new director at Reagan. (Asst. for the past decade there) we will get another good look at CTJ and Reagan on the 9th back at Kelly Reeves for the TMC as they line up against Vandegrift after Vandy bested CTJ on Saturday by .25 with scores of 84. can't wait for this to come together at the dome.

O.K. - so I will spark up the conversation to tomorrows event. my prediction to BOA Austin - both for AAAA Prelims and for the Finals 1. CTJ 2. Vandegrift 3. Vista Ridge Music - CTJ Visual - Vandegrift G.E. - CTJ good chance all 3 medals top scores above 80 convince me I am wrong

it will be interesting to see what the impact will be. some programs that did not have a competitive season last year in some cases will have a freshman and sophomore class that are new to the rigorous marching season especially with this being a UIL State year for all. Many programs appear to be smaller this year. I know our district tracked the number of students lost to music/fine arts across all grade levels compared to 2019 and the number is significant and will have an impact for years to come on the high school programs as their feeders rebuild. I know that 4 of the 7 Texas bands going to Indy this year competed in UIL state in December, time will tell what the true impact will be.

not sure - I assume it will be similar to UIL State last year, that was to purchase tickets online only and get the electronic tickets on your phone to avoid contact due to Covid concerns

wonder if they will delay so long that there will be no finals? same risk in Austin next week with temps in the 90's that turf is going to be above 100 degrees by the afternoon

if you buy the VIP package you get one ticket for the entire event in the press box. otherwise you have to by tickets for Prelim Fri $31.00, Prelim Sat $31.00 then Finals Sat either $36 for GA or $46 Reserved. - this is before the Ticketmaster mark up - not sure if you order them all that they just give you a single ticket but rather 3 different tickets

I signed up for Box5 Media so I can see the early block in Austin before we drop off our son at CTJ around 10am and then head to Austin, I am thinking if I time it right, I can be sitting in the parking lot at Bucee's so I can log in and stream the Leander show at 11am and then head to Austin. heck, if I can get my wife to drive, I will just stream the event all the way up I-35. Right now the weather is going to be sunny and in the low 90's - (no raining on this parade) grab water and sun screen (and some Bush's chicken tenders.)

so - I will try to be the responsible grown-up here, please hang with me for just a second as I am kinda new to this. I have seen multiple comments about band kids in that program reading this - but we now have at least a dozen of this comments that are in short, debating their program and they are in the middle of that debate. can we PLEASE get back on the topic of BOA Austin and leave this alone - hands have been slapped, let's stop making this worst - TXBands moderators - do you have the ability to remove the last dozen or so comments that are dealing with this topic. can we PLEASE get back to talking about BOA Austin and stop dogging on each other. thank you all for your time and have a great day - see you in Austin

well put - I am just glad that it is not me in the doghouse this time

Just a reminder, the second round of #teamtexas shirts, hoodies and merchandise will close in 2 weeks. once it closes at the end of the month, there will be no more product available. All products ordered during this time will be shipped to your home in mid-Oct - https://stores.inksoft.com/teamtexas/shop/home...

I will state up front that I am biased (as those that have been here awhile know) I love this show and while it is looking good now, it has a very high ceiling and I am looking forward to what it will nook like in the Alamo Dome and at Lucas Oil in a few months. I agree that "Forest through the Trees" was an amazing show. it set record scores in Austin. Midland and San Antonio, I am very excited that this could be a year to take that kind of show to Indy. We seen far too many years that Texas Bands have phenomenal shows in San Antonio that never get to Indy. The Woodlands HS won San Antonio in 2013 and went on to win Grand Nats, Vandegrift came in second in San Antonio in 2019 and went on to win Grand Nats - yet we still hear "if Reagan went they would have won" - Think of all the shows that won San Antonio since 2013 and never took those shows onto Lucas Oil Stadium - CTJ 2014, FloMo 2015, Flomo 2016, CTJ 2017, FloMo 2018 (5 year run of Jaguars) - 2019 Reagan - too many to list pre-2013 This year, we will have 7 Texas 6A Bands that will represent the Lone Star State in Indy - in that group we have Texas UIL State Champions from the largest (5A/6A) classes since 2004 - and the BOA SA winners for every year since 2012. I am hopeful that this will be the year of Texas dominance in Indy. I have no doubt that we will see some amazing shows from all of our Texas bands, as we always do and that our #teamtexas group will work hard to represent our state well in Indy and I am comfortable that we will have a number of the #teamtexas bands in the top half of the finals at BOA SA that will then head of to Indy and hope to see Indy medals going to our Texas Bands and I hope that Kevin gets a return trip to Texas for some chips and Queso. Go #teamtexas

that would surprise me to see them in 3rd or 4th - I love the Rock Band and CR, but I think that the top 4 are a lock - in no order CTJ, Vandy, Vista Ridge and Leander

correct - CTJ is wearing their "Chameleon" uniforms - shown above - they used these from 2014-2016, they used the dance informs that had interchangeable tops, scarves, and plumes for 2017 - 2019, they went back to this uniform last year for their throwback show covering 10 years for their run at UIL state and will use again this year for the opposites attract show. I am assuming if you saw the black and white shirts - it was the practice shirts that separate the band into 2 different competing groups. it is all part of the story -

I would assume they all get advanced to finals. cutting finals down will decrease the overall attendance for finals, and at the end of the day, this is a means of raising funds and to do so they will need butts in seats for finals.

my understanding is that they are pushing for online sales due to the Covid-19 concerns. that may change later based on infection levels and tickets sold - I would suggest online purchase - even if they open up ticket counter sales the tickets will be slim pickings

they have had a full show at BOA Austin since 2017 - I expect this year to be no different

I would agree - from what I have seen, CTJ will likely have a full show on the field in Austin as is their norm, Vandegrift will come loaded - I think that Vista Ridge will be in the hunt for a medal - Excited to see what CP and CR have and always excited to see what Round Rock will bring - should be an amazing event

love the growth we are seeing at this event - up to 27 bands coming out of Covid and a Nevada and a Colorado band - might have to make a road trip for this one

for those that are no longer affiliated with a marching program and are going to Grand Nationals - tickets will go on sale tomorrow Sept 1st at 12 Noon Eastern Time good luck and hope to see you all there https://marching.musicforall.org/grandnationals/

that product will begin shipping on Monday the 6th

went to the CTJ Family and Friends Stadium night this evening. Amazing concept and design - bulk of the show is on the field and time to polish. I anticipate that it will be polished and morphed in the coming weeks prior to BOA Austin and will morph even more as they head through the season on their way to Indy. Great to see people back in the stadium, watching practice and then a full run to end the night. As always, they put on a heck of a show and I am very excited for my son's senior year -

the #teamtexas webstore has reopened and will remain open this month https://stores.inksoft.com/teamtexas/shop/home

I am rooting for all the #teamtexas schools this year - hoping for a strong showing at Grand Nationals. I would love to see all 3 of the San Antonio SR Medals to go to members of #teamtexas. TWHS took gold in 2013 at BOA-SA and took gold in Indy - Vandy took silver in 2019 and then won gold in Indy. as for CTJ - I love the show that they are putting together - amazing concept and while I know the concept of the show I am looking forward to their Friends and Family show this week and have no doubts that I will be amazed. the concept and music should have them in the medal hunts all season for both UIL and BOA. just a few more weeks and we get to see the real shows at Kelly Reeves.