Band Is Great

I am being intentionally vague. It's the broader conversation that needs to be aired. But I'm sure there are those on this blog who know what I'm referring to. Transgressions: school districts glossing over problems with staff rather than taking action against staff. Transgressions: band directors glossing over problems with students rather than taking action against students. The "win at any cost" attitude justifies glossing over transgressions.

Please don't be offended, but has band become "win at any cost"? People used to say things like "well, that's the best college football team that money can buy". Has that same attitude permeated into HS band so deep that we are willing to overlook any transgression "for the win"?

Hello there. I'm new to this forum and had to create an account so I could chime in. Let's not get (1) "The ability to put together winner shows year by year is far from boring" confused with (2) performing a winning show created by someone else. This year, no doubt, Vista Ridge was the hottest band on the circuit. They brought it - hands down. They were, BY FAR, the most improved band in the state - culminating with the 6A state win. But lets remember where show themes come from. They are either (1) original - completely original or somewhat original or (2) a rehashed version of someone else's originality. VR's show was very tightly copied from Hendrickson's 2015 "Lost" - from the spinning compass right down to Amazing Grace. Not to mention the version of "Lost" the Boston Crusader's did in 2018 - again, right down to Amazing Grace. Great ideas never die away, they just get recycled - or in some cases sold to other bands to redo on their own. VR marched their socks off - don't get me wrong, it was spectacular. I am not hating on VR. I loved their show each time I saw it. But to put those bands in the same category as bands who create winning shows year after year is a stretch. Let's not forget VR's 2017 sled dog race show. Just an overall bad idea. Having the creativity to come up with a great fresh show idea every year is a rare talent - most bands don't have that luxury. If you want to see a recent example of bands buying/stealing/reusing someone's else's originality, take a look at Hendrickson's 2017 show "Just Another Brick". This show was highly original and creative. Go to You Tube and search "2018 high school band just another brick" and see how many high schools took Hendrickson's originality and recycled it just 1 year later. On the alter of originality, I must confess that someone told me about the "brick" story - so it wasn't originality on my part. I just thought it was a perfect story for my post. Thanks for letting me chime in.