MikeKyu

What planet is this? CTJ did something not absurdly over the top? Are they okay? Do we need an outervention?

Some big big big names on the panels this year. Oh my!

My wife and I both loved Aledo's show. It was our first time seeing them live this year. Great show and it will do well at state. Rock Hill really surprised me. They have a wonderful future at the pointy end of contests. Seeing Burleson Centennial bring out The Bluecoats Jagged Line stage was a treat. Them using the heck out of was cool. The percussion feature was a blast. DFW has been dominated by certain bands for a long time. If they were in attendance tonight I'm sure there wouldn't be such an odd co-inky-dink with final placements.

Not sure what you're implying or if you were at the contest but if you have followed the trajectory if these bands over the last several years (with a few exceptions) it doesn't appear unusual at all. If you were at the contest I'm sure you watched what happened on the field and the results shouldn't appear unusual. It is just a quirk of the contest.

I don't feel that way at all about the scoring tonight. That was one heck of a performance tonight from Cedar Park. Other scores were mostly inline with previous contests for every other band.

Here's the results. https://smbc.uiltexas.org/military/ Congrats to each of the competing bands! Next year I may need to extend my Nerd week to include Military finals.

As has been explained to me. The raw scores are not actual scores therefor cannot be looked at as "translated." They are mostly just a placeholder for the judges to remember the show's execution when it comes time to rank bands. For final ranking by the judges the "score" is mostly irrelevant. You can't put any weight to the "score" portion.

Just take the days off and come to one of the best shows you'll ever get to see. You only have 2 chances to see your kid perform in this show. Prelims are great. Plenty of seating as fans file in and out to see the bands they want to. Finals get announced and then anticipation goes into overdrive. For finals, people line up early. It's a real celebratory environment (and nerves for the parents whose kids are marching). That first band comes out and all of that nervous energy goes away from the crowd. Now it's 140 minutes to enjoy bands, reminisce on the season, and hope for joy for your favorite band/kid. Last band leaves the field and the crowd starts buzzing. "Who do you have in 1st? What's your favorite show? Congrats, I love your kid's band. Let's hope for the best. Etc..." Then the full retreat starts. Drumline brings out all of the bands and the entire field is filled with beautiful colors. Awards ceremony. Places are awarded. Then the bands celebrate on field. It's a wonderful sight. Absolutely do it. I don't even have a kid in high school anymore and I won't miss 5A and 6A SMBC.

Yesterday at Area H was interesting when talking about Rouse and Cedar Park. Applying BOA score sheets would have had the results swapped I believe. Rouse has a beautiful show and they March and perform it really well. They earned that 2nd place. Cedar Park dominated prelim. They debuted a new finish with more GE. In finals the show almost broke here. They recovered well. Where it almost broke was as the band started a large movement where the full band was playing and moving and changed key. I have Cedar Park winning this by a very thin margin. Rouse's General Effect is their strongest point. Cedar Park's degree of difficulty is their's. Wow, that's a hard show. I think ensemble playing is going to propel the Timberwolves in this one. But, anything can happen as a day progresses.

This is going to a very close contest. It's flying under the radar because none of the tippy top 6A bands are involved. I'll be there. This is going to be a very good preview of what to expect in the 5A State Marching Band Contest. Rouse, CP, Aledo, Hendrickson all should have great showings. I'm excited to see Summit, Colleyville Heritage and Rock Hill. It will be my first time seeing them this year. Don't count out Bowie.

Why do you say that? What doesn't look right to you? I wasn't there. I'm curious.

A little birdie told me that it was Cedar Park by a country mile in prelims. In finals they almost ripped apart towards the end of the show which greatly impacted their scores. Their show has such a high degree of difficulty vs what they have marched the last 2 competitive seasons that it's astounding. It was technically the most difficult show of the evening and I haven't seen anyone else in 5A marching such a technically difficult show. If you aren't gonna go big with props, go big with marching and playing.

Official Results found here https://www.smbc.uiltexas.org/area/results/files/area-21_5A Area H.pdf

7 Champion 6 Tivy 5 Liberty Hill 4 Glenn 3 Leander 2 Rouse 1 Cedar Park

That's it. Time to let the judges deliberate and me to get a water.

Rouse- "Papyrus: A Crumpled Paper Fantasy" Stadium is getting rocked by foot stomping as the band sets up. Oh this guard is exquisite. Pinwheels the percussion. Nice big sounds. Nice brass sounds entering the closer. Front ensemble is working hard and sound wonderful. Great show!

Leander - "A Long Strange Trip" I love seeing them in their uniforms. It's a modern classic design. The billboards are super cool, man. Painting the bus orange was a great decision. Radio is getting tuned in....better take my eyes off this screen. What an amazing ensemble sound. Still my favorite brass section in 5A. Welcome back, Leander. Take a bow sousaphone soloist! You deserve it. Amazing performance. This show is going to be tough to beat on execution tonight.

Cedar Park - "Eye See" The menacing eye is beaming bright blue and this is before the band has been directed to take the field! Twilight really makes the guard uniforms pop. 4 minutes of standing applause brings the back to back to back 5A state champions onto the field. This opening baritone solo is so sweet. Trumpets are on a mission. Everything about this band is tight tonight. Whoa! There is so much going on in this show bit none of it feels forced. Ending with the school song is such a great touch with a tribute show.

Glenn - "Moods in Blue" Super cool graphics on the props and screens. The guard is in beautiful dresses and starting on top of boxes across the field. Sweet clarinet solo to open the show. Nice big sound, well balanced for such a small band. Oh my, they are playing well as an ensemble. I like the saxophone section feature. The bright orange feather poms are a welcome addition to the blue theme. Now red shakos! Great crescendo! The trumpet trombone duet is a nice little bit of well played fun.

Liberty Hill - "All of Us 4 Hymn" Wow! I'm blown away by the amount of screen props Liberty Hill is setting the stage with. Tissues being passed around the stands. The team charges the field to get them underway. Nice fanfare. The brass hits were done with aggression and a wonderful counterpoint to the flowing flute solo. The guard is on fire 2 minutes in! Then the band rushes the front of the field for a breakdown. Super design and execution. Woodwinds change uniforms into an orange #4 jersey. Amazing grace with brass infront of the front ensemble...touching and strong. 5 minutes in I see why tissues were getting passed out. The front walk to How great though art!! Oh my....what a show!! Thank you for sharing that with us.

Next up, Boerne Champion "Bluebird" Moving long straight lines across the field! I love it! Good balance. I like having a small guard upfront for the first half of the show. I love the beginning of Creep and the soloist seems to really feel the emotion. Wonder flying heart to finish off Creep.

Tiny- "Do Not Go Gently Into That Goog Night." I Iove the show's concept.. Clean drill and we'll done. Wonderful music selections and the flute soloist has wonderful tone. Guard flags are gorgeous!

Yeah, I will try to keep up. Between clapping and yelling like an idiot I promise I'll do my best.

We are going to finals this evening.

Blue Springs, Oh my!! Their uniforms, ballad, guard, and GE is outstanding. The trumpet hits and front ensemble were outstanding. Amazing show. Wish I could catch them in finals but I'll be at Area H Area contest.