TWHSParent

2 BOA contests only: Conroe and San Antonio (plus UIL, of course). No out of state travel in 2018 for marching band.

How to say this delicately... based on last year's result, Prosper is not a GN finalist lock. If they can find 4 or 5 points with this year's show, then they will be fighting for top 12. We'll have to see what they learned from GN 2017 and how they apply that to their show in 2018. I certainly enjoyed watching them at Indy, but a guaranteed finalist band, even without other TX bands present? I wouldn't say that right now, but we'll have a good data point after the DFW regional, and certainly after San Antonio. In other words, this does not definitively move the needle for potential non-TX finalist bands at GN (yet). It will, however, knock someone out of semi-finals, as I think they are at least a semi-finalist.

It is always interesting to find out how other programs operate. Our band fees essentially double during Indy years, and there are many fundraisers and other opportunities to cover the costs. The band even runs a concession stand at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion here in The Woodlands where parents can work and have their earnings go directly to the band fees. Cost is always an issue, and as we all know the fees never decrease. Our fees this year are about $200 more than 2 years ago, which is a very significant increase for the non-Indy year. Of course we get desensitized - "Wow, this is so much less than last year!", so it almost looks like a bargain...

We don't - the football game is Friday night at home before San Antonio this year. The only Saturday football games are October 6th and 13th. There will be a new principal at TWHS and a new Conroe ISD superintendent this year. Who knows how that may play out... Also, one of our percussion instructors is taking a role at the new high school in Conroe ISD (Grand Oaks). His replacement should be announced soon.

My understanding is that Conroe ISD allows 1 out of state trip every 2 years, hence TWHS going to Indy every other year.

McCullough Jr High covers for TWHS at football games when we go to Indy, so I heard this as a possibility (hence my not confirmed statement). I'll keep tabs on that going forward to see how it works itself out.

This is not confirmed, but if it plays out like it did in 2015, TWHS will not be performing in finals at this contest (assuming we qualify). There is an away football game that evening at Klein Cain and for some reason that takes priority. Utter hogwash in my view.

Michael. Kiddo is in the pit for The Woodlands.

For The Woodlands, I can confirm BOA Houston and BOA San Antonio. They are still working out the final date for Lone Star Preview, which has recently been the weekend following BOA Houston.

Conroe ISD made that change this school year ('17-'18) - they started on August 16th. Next year ('18-'19) they start on August 15th. Having that shortened summer band schedule certainly had an effect this past season (and losing the week to a hurricane didn't help any), but I think the programs will adjust and continue to put out strong shows even with the limitations in place.

To your question regarding making finals at SA vs GN - I would say no. I think finals at GN is more difficult as there are 2 fewer spots and the competition level matches and usually exceeds SA at the top (generally, but there can be exceptions of course, such as 2017). I think MFA was clear that the extension to 80 bands was significantly directed to San Antonio. As I recall, they addressed that directly in their announcement by making a statement about the demand, especially at San Antonio. 2018 will also be different with the overall reduction of Super Regionals by 1, which also very likely played a major factor. Will bands that would have gone to Atlanta now go to Indy or St. Louis instead? Or maybe SA? What will Tarpon Springs do? They could come to SA and potentially win, and almost certainly make finals. I think they won't since it is a GN year for them, so only 1 big trip most likely, but it would be interesting if they did.

Rules? We don't need no stinkin' rules!

Looks like it will start with 9th and 10th grades only, so yes.

Conroe ISD is opening a new high school next year called Grand Oaks. I don't know how things will be redistributed, but it is more for Oak Ridge which has the same amount of students as The Woodlands, but in a smaller building (also 10-12 only just like The Woodlands). College Park has around 2900 students (9-12). These 3 high schools are very close together. I would guess that Oak Ridge will drop to about the same number of students as College Park with the new school.

Maybe if you take the top 70 or 80 members from the top BOA or UIL groups to match what appears to be the size of the groups in Japan, then I think there could be some that would do quite well. These are great videos - Thank you for finding and sharing them!

Best Vampire - Clear Brook

Going to be a tremendous night. Finals will be so fun! So very glad I was able to make the trip this year. So proud of our kids and the work they put in overcoming the massive adversities this year threw at us and the Houston area. Away we go!

Our new ending is much better and more effective. It has a much stronger visual and musical effect.

Just starting the last leg of this season's adventure sitting in the airport. So many ups and downs. Withdrawal will be a problem!

Leandermomma - we go on at 10am eastern, 9 am central.

Just got back from our send-off. If you tune in Friday morning and remember our show from Saturday you might notice a few alterations. I would go as far as adding the word significant in front of alterations. My personal take is that it is an improvement. I would also like to say thank you to the members of the other local bands that attended and showed their support. I sat directly beside some students from College Park, and they were great and highly complimentary of our show.

Makes sense for a Thursday performance. Our trucks are leaving tonight after the send-off.

As Takigan inferred, you'll be posting on a marching band forum (or the equivalent at the time) 30 years later. My senior season of marching band was 1988, so I'm almost there. Things have changed, but it is still marching band at the core. Life is going to present you with opportunities and challenges, and you'll start focusing more on those. Some years you won't pay much attention to marching band season, and some years you'll do nothing but watch the shows and countdown to the next contest. Ups and downs...

(The other way to like a post).

Sigh. I just hit my quota of likes for the day as well....