LeanderMomma

No one is looking down on anyone based on their tenure here. I was just attempting (poorly perhaps) to help “newcomers” understand that it isn’t just band parents posting here. There are oh so many band kids reading this forum as well. More than y’all may realize. I know because I actually talk to them about it. Often! And I strongly feel that we need to always be aware of exactly what we are saying and how it might be misconstrued by them. Also, CTJ is a program that is often undeservedly criticized here and I admit that I get quite defensive when I see that happen. I know the program well, have many friends there, and I know those parents love their band program as much as anyone. They deserve nothing but our respect, same as any other program does, and I just hate it when I see arrows aimed right at a program that I have such high regard for, same as I would feel if the darts were aimed directly at Leander. I apologize again if my initial comments seemed harsh. I was truly just really taken aback by a brand new poster using such antagonistic language in regards to the CTJ band program. My aim here, more than anything else, is that we make sure that we honor every band program out there putting in the effort. I know we all have the same ultimate goal and that is to build up these students and honor the hard work they do, regardless of the school they are affiliated with. At the end of the day, there’s nothing quite like marching band in Texas, and our children are insanely fortunate to be a part of the most incredible music culture in the country.

It just REALLY rubbed me the wrong way for your second post ever in the forum to be one that denigrates the CTJ program specifically. Saying you were “disgusted” with their piano props didn’t sit well with me. I apologize if you felt that I was too harsh but I know that literally thousands of band kids read this forum and I think we all need to keep that in mind when we are posting our thoughts and feelings here.

I wasn’t questioning whether or not there are certain disparities between some of the programs. I was stating that I find it sad when a lot of newcomers to the forum show up during UIL season seemingly just to make disparaging remarks about other programs. And there are a LOT of newcomers in the forum of late. Call me old fashioned or whatever, but I feel like someone’s first few posts in a forum about high school marching band probably shouldn’t be derogatory or inflammatory.

Ok its been a few days since this incredible competition ended and I just wanted to say how happy I am to have had the opportunity to attend a good part of this Super Regional last Saturday. It was truly an amazing contest and I just had a few takeaways for you all. If you are a Texas HS band obsessed fan like myself and you think that the San Antonio Super Regional is the only place to watch incredible bands, you’re wrong. Yes Texas is extremely blessed to have outstanding high school marching bands all in one state, but we should never discount the talent there is in the rest of the country. I was blown away on Saturday by all of the talented groups I saw! Broken Arrow is even more incredible live than they are on a livestream or video recording. I have never seen them in person before and I’m so glad I finally got the chance to do so. This year’s show is just fantastic. Think CTJ mixed with Ronald Reagan mixed with Flower Mound. It’s absolutely brilliant and I can’t wait to see it again in Indianapolis next month. They could very well take the eagle, but even if they don’t, this show is one you won’t easily forget. I now understand why some prominent Texas bands choose to go outside the state to compete. It was incredible getting to see Coppell, Prosper, Southlake Carroll and James Martin compete in a non Texas setting. These four bands REALLY performed brilliantly in the Dome and they showed up ready to excel. In fact, Coppell scored a bronze medal in finals with their gorgeous carousel show, and Prosper and Carroll finished right behind them in 4th and 5th place respectively. James Martin was just a fraction of a point behind the 14th finalist band, and I honestly felt that they should have been in finals. It was a great showing for Texas and it was great getting to see these bands competing against so many other talented groups from outside the state. I also felt like I appreciated them more by NOT seeing them up against the other Texas bands in San Antonio. I definitely gained a new perspective on them. I am so grateful to have seen so many amazing bands outside of Texas and I look forward to seeing them again in the coming years. Some of my personal nonTexas favorites from Saturday besides Broken Arrow were: 1). Mustang HS, Oklahoma; that shark show was the most fun and crowd pleasing marching show I have frankly ever witnessed! 2). Bentonville HS, Arkansas, my newly adopted high school band now that we live in NW Arkansas. And wow, their show this year is as good as a great many I’ve seen in Texas. They need to go to the San Antonio Super! 3). Camdenton HS, Missouri; this small 2A band is just astonishingly good. I was so disappointed that they missed out on finals by a narrow margin. 4). Lincoln HS, SD; this show about a chess game and queens & kings was absolutely brilliant and arguably nearly as much of a crowd pleaser as Mustang was. Just wow. I can’t wait to see some of these great bands again in a few weeks at Grand Nationals in Indianapolis and to again have the opportunity to experience some phenomenal marching bands who happen to be from states other than Texas. Oh, and GO TEAM TEXAS! 😍❤️😉

I’m feeling kinda disgusted myself right now knowing that band parents are talking about kids like this.

I hate the tendency this time of year some people have of bashing programs that are successful. 😔 It really seems as if folks come out of the woodwork during UIL season just to berate the top bands. We’re better than this, Texas. Other states look up to us when it comes to the overall talent and success of our bands. Let’s appreciate that success and stop dragging each other down. Band kids DO read this forum and it’s horribly unfair to them to have to read this kind of rubbish. Keep working hard, kiddos. Don’t let anything stand in your way of simply giving it your all and doing your very best each and every day!

Wow! That’s fantastic!

We left after Mustang and headed back to our hotel. I’m already in my pajamas.

I would have Vandy over them and CTJ & Reagan would be right close to even with them. Edit: I haven’t seen CTJ or Reagan in a few weeks so I don’t truly know what to think about where anyone will place but my gut is telling me Broken Arrow is going to medal at Indy.

I agree with those putting Broken Arrow in contention for the GN Eagle. After seeing them live today I’m firmly in the BA camp!!!!!

🤣🤣🤣

It was absolutely beautiful!

It’s always fun to surprise folks. 😉

I have Marcus high in my predictions list.

I think Round Rock will be able to handle both DB and Wando. 🤗

I’m about to make an account called View From My Office, a place none of my former preschoolers ever wanted to see. 🤣

Sounds like all “views” need to be axed other than the OG @ViewFromTheBox

Bless you. 😕

Just for convenience sake, I updated the first post in this GN thread to include the schedule for this event. That way everyone can conveniently find it by going back to the beginning of this GN thread anytime they need it. I will update it as needed.

When are we supposed to SLEEP?! 😂🤣😬

I hope so. It’s definitely time for Cedar Park to take a medal at BOA SA. ?

It was very peculiar all around but the judges ultimately got the best bands to state so I guess that’s what matters.

What about @abtwitch’s spreadsheet? Does that help at all? ?

It looks that way! ? 26 1s in 4A Area C gives them 5 advancers.

Yes I absolutely would love to have seen a fourth spot open. 19! So close!!