thesaxchica

There were a couple of bizarre prelims results. I don't know the full order because most of it I was told (I was marching in University of Houston marching band, and we didn't stay to hear results.) From what I was told, the Woodlands got 6th in prelims. Also, Clear Brook (my alumni) reportedly got 14th in prelims, and from what I heard, they thought they had a really great show. Both bands went on early in the morning, and that could have something to do with it. Can't wait to see the score sheets, should be.... interesting, is the word I would use.

Exactly. Isn't it great? Nobody even knows about us yet. They can wait and see .

I'll admit, it bothers me when a band is wonderfully clean but has no challenging drill. Or, they have challenging drill when they are not playing and easy drill (or no drill - park and blow) when they actually play. I'm always been part of a program that emphasizes marching and playing almost the -whole- show. No, we've never been terribly clean, but at least I felt challenged. I admire Marcus (No, I'm not a member of the Marcus band) for being a able to pull off stunning musicality while performing less than easy drill moves. It's harder and harder to find every day. You know, this is a thread to incite riots. =)

Westfield is performing a rather extensive pre-show. I can understand why 100 sets would cause problems. We've been lucky enough to have stayed dry since the last tropical system moved through.

What I'm wondering is, what's up? We had so much extra time during the summer this year because of the new late school start. I can understand Langham's predicament, but...

HOOOOOOAH! And that's all I can say.

Oooh, I love Trittico! We almost played it in top band my freshman year... I'll have to see y'alls rendition of it. Good luck, and hope you have some good low WWs.

Of course, I was making massive generalizations and exaggerating to make a point, and I don't mean to apply them to every individual case. And I certainly didn't mean to antagonize anyone. I know my cousin is in a class of less than 100 and is Valedictorian, and I would never stretch to say that she got that position without working hard. Nor would I say that the competition for top 10% and top rankings is any less fierce in some areas than others. As for my school....To be in the top 10%, you have to have a 4.48 or higher (We grade on a 4.5 scale). I don't think it's necessarily easier anywhere. I was simply saying, someone in the top ten percent at some school may have worked less hard than someone else who wasn't in the top ten percent, and thus gets automatic admission to a big name Texas school, whereas the person who might have deserved it more doesn't. It works both ways, too. Like you said, more people in bigger schools get admitted, so someone could have made into the top ten as number fifty nine out of sixty while another kid from a smaller school was number sixteen out of the fifteen that makes up the top ten percent. And that, unfortunately, is why we need standardized testing. I just wish it didn't suck so hard. This wasn't supposed to be an argument, it was supposed to prove a point.

Are you kidding? You're exempt from taking finals? You know what....you suck I wouldn't mind TAKS so much if they replaced all my core classes...darn.

I just feel sorry for my brother who has to take them for the next three years. Believe it or not, I care about him and all my friend's younger siblings... Who will be freshmen... And at my mercy... By the way, thanks crazyjakeup. I've been hanging around for a while, but I never really post...

Isn't this a genius revelation? In order for students to pass high school...they should have to pass their classes! Of course, then you get kids from po-dunk little high schools in Texas that get into Baylor on their easy 4.0 and Valedictorian label, when kids from Dallas and Houston and San Antonio schools with a hard-earned 3.0 are forced to go to community colleges. There really is no right answer... But i do despise the TAKS...But...I just passed all of mine with commended scores and I never have to take them again! Hahahahaha... Why not have the SAT determine if you pass? It's pretty standardized, and everyone takes it anyways. I don't know...I've talked to alot of my teachers about it.

Wow...that's one of the stranger things I have ever seen. Japanese salsa to Mario music? Okay...

Well, facebook is great for high school kids too, because I can keep in contact with all my friends who were upperclassmen in band when I was just a wee little freshman. Plus I can talk to everyone who's marching corps over the summer... Facebook

Clear Brook is also doing music that has never been done before... I guess that's what it takes to be good, huh? We're getting the music tomorrow... I'm so excited! I have an awesome solo in the first movement. It isn't on sax though...

University of Houston is having a summer band camp for individual performers that I hope to be attending... You know, to get the name around and whatnot. It's always good for the guys on top to hear how you play. Make a name for yourself. And the best part: It's free for area and all-state players! Yay! Something I can afford! By the way, name's Madeline. I suppose I'm relatively new around here. Howdy.