texkathi
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Posts posted by texkathi
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Dripping's group includes University HS, Il, Francis Hoell North HS, MO; Grain Valley HS, MO; Lake Park HS,Il; Bellvue East HS, NE; Fort Zumwalt North HS, MO; Rockwood Summet HS, MO; Kickapoo HS, MO; Bellveue West HS, NE; Olathe North HS, KS; and O'Fallon Township HS, IL. What might any of you know about these programs?
Still not quite clear on the way bands advance. Is it the top band from each set, or top 5 from all the even and top five from all the odd, then the next 4 overall. Given that there are 3 #2 and 4 # 1, I'm guessing it is the latter. With so many bands over 2 days, it must be difficult to maintain the same standard.
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This is new for the Super Regionals and GN this year, but each band competes within panels which switch off between blocks. The top five from each panel advance, along with the next four highest scoring bands regardless of panel.
OK, thanks, that makes sense. Are there semifinals, or do they go from all the bands down to 10? (and is the 10th a "wildcard?")
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What do you mean they are a little hidden? What time are they competing?
Dripping Springs should have no problem getting in. Because of the way Super Regionals are working now, the main people Weiss will be competing against are Broken Arrow, Blue Springs, Owasso, Jenks, Bentonville, Clovis, Lafayette, Morton, and Blue Springs South. Top 5 automatically make it in, then the next best 4 over the 2 days. The best I can see them getting in this group is 4th, but more realistically 6th-7th. I think they have a good chance of snagging one of the "at-large" spots.
Might you explain this a little more? Are they grouped, and then each group competes within itself, sort of like "classes"?
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Dripping Springs was just starting to warm up when the announcement came that they were cancelling. The directors checked w/ a couple of other contests, to see if the band could march an exhibition there, but nearly all the other contests had gotten a late start, so didn't have any room. So, the first time the DS band Freshman will march at BOA show will be at St. Louis at the SuperRegional- THAT might be a bit intimidating, but I think the kids are up to it. They were really great Saturday. Had gotten up at early, at band hall by 5:30, then had a rehearsal at Belton, then on to Waco. Back on the buses and back home. What a rotten day.
We had some of the kids over to our home that night to watch the Orlando finals. Some really fine bands there- I'd love to see Tarpon Springs without all the electronics. Their kids play really, really well, don't think they need all that. It was very entertaining, but maybe a little too "3-ring circus" at times. -
This seems a little myopic for the realty of the situation because there is a distinct divide. Bigger poorer schools struggle with finances compared to bigger rich school just like smaller school (that tend to be from more poor rural areas in Texas) struggle compared to bigger schools. If you look at the very top bands in the state, the majority come from some most affluent parts of Texas. To name a few: FloMo, Hebron, Marcus, Vandy, TWHS, Round Rock, Reagan, and CTJ. That is not to say that bands from less affluent districts can’t be top performers (e.g North Shore and Duncanville), but they are more the exception than the rule.
Other than that, if you look at the demographics, a lot of the smaller schools are in areas with nontrivial economical limitations in far reaches of Texas. It’s not that the families ‘don’t want to pay’ fees, the reality is that fees are hard to pay. When you have a family of four with a household income of 40k, something like $2000 per child seems rather steep especially considering the expectation that they will be in multiple activities since it’s a small school. Even $500 can be a lot if you come out to 4A area E where schools have a lot household incomes less than to $30k.
Adding a caption that would be more designed focus will cater to bands that can afford to pay more in design fees. It's not just about props and costumes. If you can afford a Wes Cartwright show and you are judged on a caption that awards visual design rather than execution, you are paying for points. Small rural schools generally cannot afford designer shows and often do not have the connections to procure a designer-esque show due to their proximity.
Marching band or any other activity will never be fair just because money talks, but that IS NOT an excuse to make a state sponsored circuit more unfair.
Amen! It becomes about who has the most money, and not about music education.
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You keep saying small schools don't have money as if there is a distinct divide between the rich, big schools and the poor, small schools. Plenty of big schools come from just as poor areas or are poorly funded in their fine arts programs by their districts. When it comes to it, most of the money towards a show is going to come from student band fees. The real question I guess is whether people are willing to pay to participate in the band. If not, then maybe the program has other issues beyond money.
This "pay to play" hurts schools in poorer areas/districts. I understand some of the AISD band programs charge over $1000. When you're struggling to feed, house and clothe your kids, hard to pay a fee like that. I think it could be what hurts bands like Travis. I feel about props like I feel about going to concerts these days- if the singers just played and sang, ticket prices would be far less, but now they've got to pay for AV folks, staging, backup dancers, etc. I know I'm "old school", but I don't like all the distractions that can be on a field when they've got props all over the place moving around, the band is doing something, and the guard is doing 2-3 different things. It makes me feel like ADD on steroids. Give me good music, and great drill and good auxiliary units that enhance, rather than distract, and I'm happy.
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I found Cap City to be quite odd. Dripping Springs definitely should have been in the largest class because I'm pretty sure they don't have under 160 people.
Dripping has 158, so yes, they were in the correct class at Cap City. Plus in the finals, they beat the larger bands, so guess it didn't really matter.
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I believe that Duffy designed the show last year, too, but having him on staff makes quick changes much easier.
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A couple of things:
1. I like "shopping local." That means I buy as much as possible of what I buy at local stores, not online, because I like my tax dollars supporting our Texas schools. I don't have a lot, and I don't buy a lot, but I like that my money goes to support local folks in their jobs. I don't use the "do it yourself" scanners, because I like having people employeed, not machines that increase profits for companies while doing nothing for local families. (And that goes for Marching contests, too.)
2. I am a parent, but I'm also a former band director, from many, many moons ago- back in the days that UIL only allowed 2 nonUIL events per semester. So, while marching bands have changed tremendously, I still am more about music education than competition, and I appreciate programs where all kids get to participate, as long as they pass off their music & marching, and are passing their classes.3. I like the local festivals because they support local programs. We can argue that maybe Westlake doesn't need the $$ some other programs might (LBJ comes to mind,) but still, these local festivals benefit our local programs. They may be "rivals", but I think we're all stronger when all schools have strong programs. Not all families can afford the big money it costs to run a program these days, given all the costs for costumes for color guard, props, show writing, music arranging, etc. It is tens of thousands of dollars, and good band programs shouldn't just be for the schools that can afford them, they should be for all students. Music is often what can keep students in school.
All that said, Westlake was well-run, as it usually is. The competition at the top was strong- Dripping Springs and Round Rock turned in stellar performances. Round Rock's band is about twice the size of DS (158), and I swear that they've got more brass players than DS has band members, but still, RR won by 1.25 points. Dripping improved their score from prelims to finals, RR's came down a tiny bit.
Final results:
1 Round Rock 90.12 Dripping Springs 88.85
3 Belton 82.575 (maybe time to update their tag-"Marching 100" since they now march over 200:)
4 Connally 81.5
5 Seguin 81.1
6 Clark (SA school) 74.8
7 Stony Point 73.1
8 Akins 72.4
9 Cedar Creek 65.1
10 Laredo Martin 64.35
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Since Westlake only has 10 bands this year, I wonder if they'll still take 10 to finals? Seems like if the number of bands is less than twice the number of finalists, in my special universe, only 1/2 would advance to finals. We'll just basically be seeing the same 10 shows again- why not just call the first time "finals" and let us go home early?
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I'm glad that Dripping does the local band festivals, which are major fund raisers for our local bands. I like supporting area music programs.
BOA is enriching some fat cats elsewhere, and it honestly seems sometimes they're in it more for the money than for the kids (i.e. taking 80 band over 2 days, meaning bands are marching all hours, then finals absurdly late, making for dangerous driving for parents who travel to watch.) I'm not a BOA fan, but I support our band. -
In reply to UTM- Dripping swept Capitol City Marching Festival last week- won everything in their class, also overall outstanding GE and musical performance. In Finals, beat the larger class bands to win 1st place overall and 1st place for Color Guard, too. Doing Westlake this weekend- if we don't have to swim there, then Waco BOA the 13th.
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Does anyone know why Georgetown didn't show at US Bands this past Saturday?
BOA St Louis 2018
in Past Contests, Events, and Festivals Archive
Posted
So pleased for Dripping Springs and Weiss- both of the Texas bands, both from Central Texas- got into finals. Fingers are crossed for DS tonight! They did an incredible job last night- I didn't hear Clovis, but they must have been incredible to beat DS in musical performace! I look forward to watching all the bands tonight.