ChristopherRoden

Jordan is coming back….. 😮
After 2 years of absence from this contest 

Awesome! If its ok with yall, I'm gonna keep providing lists. I love stuff like this. I have an entire randomized list of all Texas High Schools and then I have wheel spin and whichever number it lands on, that's the school I choose.

Bridgeland is safe. Other than them, I don’t know that anyone is a “lock” with area judges and such a rapidly rising tide in West Houston. We’ll see!

I can’t really say I’m sold on Cinco’s show this year? It all depends on how they handle it. 

Seeing some of these show reveals, coupled with the shows I know of that haven’t been revealed, this area will probably be a bigger shock than usual. 
-cinco seems to have gone 180° on design, who knows if that’ll be good for them or not
-bridgeland just isn’t clicking yet for me.. I’ll say that it took a while for last year’s to jive too though. I just hope they’re not biting off more than they can chew 
-cy fair seems to have found their niche and stuck with it. I like their creative ideas that haven’t really been seen before in that capacity in hs bands in their echelon.
-Jordan has a much more approachable show this year that’s really going to set them up for success. If they can get their visual program up to 2022 standards when they beat 7L in vis, I could see them turning heads… 

It looks like Prosper has removed this from their calendar, but I’m not convinced that they won’t be going. We’ll see!
Side note: It’s crazy cool to see groups like Friendswood, Argyle, and Bridgeland try their hand at Grand Nats. In the last 10 seasons, we’ve seen a slew of 12 first-time TX nats finalists:
Round Rock (‘13), Cedar Ridge (‘13), Flower Mound (‘14), Hebron (‘15), Keller (‘15), Cedar Park (‘16), Prosper (‘18), Vandegrift (‘19), Vista Ridge (‘21), Southlake Carroll (‘22), Hendrickson (‘22), Pearland (‘23)
The culture here in TX is crazy good, especially considering that many of these groups are relatively fresh on the scene. Looking ahead, I anticipate this list to grow by a name or two this season. I wonder who will follow after that!

Wow if I was Prosper on a grand nats year… I’d opt out of UIL for a year if that’s still a possibility…

I was frankly hoping for more regions for marching band, as it stands Area J has FOUR state slots at BEST, with LISD in the area, Im sorry but that is such a stupid move to put them in the brand new area with only 3 regions being comprised of it, so you essentially are forcing the other 18 bands to compete for a SINGLE spot, if its even open with 2+ Dv.2s, while LISD floats to state every year cause the only school that has the potential to compete for top 3 would probably be Prosper given a couple years at best.

I hope more changes come, because TMEA/UIL essentially just gave LISD a monopoly and are forcing 5+ state qualifiers that would place comfortably in the top 25 to compete for a single spot, which is not including like 2 dark horses that could really throw a curveball

I certainly would, especially if it meant I could rehearse more than 8 hours or start drill before Aug 1.

Wow if I was Prosper on a grand nats year… I’d opt out of UIL for a year if that’s still a possibility…

5A Alignment looks a bit like a hot mess...
Waxahachie is now in area J instead of Area B. Area B looks a lot smaller, we'll have to see how the numbers pan out. Waxahachie also likely won't stay at their current size for much longer so that will be interesting to see. Only area's B and C were altered it looks like, unless the regions were redrawn which I doubt. 

Me neither, I’ve never been more interested in an area than Area I

Cypress mini-mountain high school!

I think Bridgeland has been poised to do well at Grand Nats for a few years now. For the last three years, their achievement honestly could be considered the Prosper or SLC of Houston.

Last year, it was around the end of March

It will be held on October 5 at Clear Creek ISD’s Challenger/Columbia Stadium in Webster, TX.  The 10,000 seat stadium has convenient access to I-45 off NASA Road 1.  

Any idea on which three schools moved down to 5A? haven’t heard of this yet. Hoping to see Jordan advance to state!!!

This is so awesome!!!! 

Confirmed: Bentonville(Arkansas) source; calendar @LeanderMomma ☺️

I believe it is typically the beginning of February. 

With 6a containing a minimum of 220 and maximum of 250 schools, Forney (204th), Fulshear (100th), and Foster (175th) are guaranteed to be 6a. Areas C and E will likely need some realignment!

Thanks for making my point. Couldn't have done it better myself.

Sorry for the longer post and response.... 

If what I've heard from former students about Cartwright & instructional practices that were occurring - good riddance. 

On another note - It's always interesting how there are a ton of other EXTREMELY successful "old school" band directors who did not and still do not resort to or utilize some of the methods that we all know are not just wrong for kids, but if we're really honest with ourselves, not just borderline, downright abusive.

There's a very big difference between holding students accountable / having high expectations and communicating that appropriately to CHILDREN at the high school age, and verbally accosting / screaming / threatening / etc. CHILDREN for the sake of 'the art'. Accountability is good, high expectations are good, when POSITIVELY reinforced by staff and students alike. 

Also, I really dislike how in the band community we have turned "old school" into a massive diss - we would literally have NONE of the funding, facilities, voices at the decision making table, etc. if it weren't for all of the amazing and positive "old school" band directors across Texas and the country. 

While we're at it, lets get REAL for second. Marching Band - It's not that deep. It's CHILDREN running around a football field wearing crazy costumes, throwing things in air, etc. to be a part of something bigger than themselves and a part of a band and guard family where everyone is accepted and appreciated. Sometimes we can forget that when we all get heated in recaps, have bad reps or rehearsals, whatever; at the end of the day, its just marching band. #LetsAllBeGoodPeople 

As much as I’d love for my school (Burleson Centennial) to go to grand nats, that’ll never happen lol. It would still be cool to have more AAA (5A) reps though

Eight-hour rule this, eight-hour rule that.... ultimately, TX groups have won in Indy several times despite the eight-hour rule. I really do not think it is that big of a hinderance to the success of TX programs. In complete honesty, the history of band in Texas seems to care more about the music. It is so true that an Indiana band never sounds like a Texas band, but Texas bands don't march or experiment visually nearly as much as Indiana bands. Visually, I think the Houston area is really starting to (finally) push the state forward. Take a look at TWHS creativity in visual and Bridgeland and Cy-Fair's achievement in the caption. Within the next couple of years, I'm thinking we'll see the strength of vis increase in Texas drastically.