mbui

I've been listening to it for months and I still cannot get enough of Lux Aurumque. I listen to it at least five times a day. On my way to classes, on my way home, driving around town, while I go to sleep....... That piece can make me weep like no other.

My reaction when I saw the kitchen staff at the Cedar Park McDonald's was priceless............

QUOTE (MartinHorn @ Apr 23 2006, 06:48 PM) Why did Carmel fly all the way down here for the regional? So they could experience the marching band culture here in Texas. I was told that after Richard Saucedo, Carmel Head Director, judged the 2001 BOA San Antonio Regional, he wanted to take his own band down to Texas because he was so impressed by the quality of bands that he saw. I thought it was pretty cool to see Carmel down here. Not only did it add stiff competition to the event but it gave us Texans an opportunity to see how marching band is done in other parts of the country.

QUOTE (GuitarJoe @ Apr 23 2006, 12:37 AM) Yes!!! That is my favorite picture of the L.D. Bell Cymbal Chicks. Talk about as kids like to call it these days....owning. Also, here's a picture of Dan Potter, Bands of America Texas Regional PA Announcer, interviewing the girls right after their Semifinals performance at the 2003 BOA Grand National Championships. You know you're famous in the marching activity when your own section is being interviewed.

QUOTE (lsu4ever1515 @ Apr 22 2006, 01:08 PM) wat u think of the woodlands high school drumline? even though we have alot of people leaving in the battery we have jim cassela writhing our book. The Woodlands has a pretty good line. I especially loved the percussion writing from the 2004 show, it was outstanding. Aso, do you know who will be designing drill for The Woodlands this year with the departure of Alan Mueggenborg?

This discussion has gotten way out of hand. It's cool to disagree with another but personal attacks are frowned upon on here. If you want to do it, do it somewhere else. If the bashing continues, the staff and I will be forced to close this topic. Keep it clean guys. Thanks. Your Moderator, Michael

QUOTE (PrideOfPearland @ Apr 21 2006, 11:13 AM) *mumbles* we are Mr Frecking is going to the new Manvel High School And Mr Braselton is going to UH Man, the times are changing. You know Manvel is growing when they are getting their own high school.

QUOTE (Fortisimo @ Apr 20 2006, 10:51 PM) I don't dislike him personally (I don't know him), but I do dislike his music, and I hate the fact that he charges such premium prices for shows that are, to use a word from a different thread, lackluster. And besides, why would I care about what he did for some high school in the early 90's? This is the mid 00's; I'm sure you're aware that there is more than a decade between then and now. You don't have to care. I just stated that because Spring & Westfield are two of the most storied band programs in the state of Texas and the nation.

QUOTE (Fortisimo @ Apr 20 2006, 10:31 PM)Beyond that still it is only one show, so even if it were his own music, and amazing, it would still be more likely a fluke than anything. Good lord... So much hate. You can have your opinion but all I know is that Key Poulan (a Texan himself) has done nothing but good things for music education in the state of Texas for the past twenty+ years, especially for Spring & Westfield HS in the early 1990's.

Travis, Dan & Alex.... Read the Staff forum. I came up with a system that we could possibly use for the DCI Predictions game.

QUOTE (Danpod @ Apr 19 2006, 11:00 PM) As stated on the latest Podcast, Michael Bui and I be at the Houston MARQ*E Theater for the DCI Classic Countdown. I plan on bringing a few gift cards for people who mention The Danpodcast or Txbands.com in general so stop by, meet us, and get a nice little gift card. If I like you enough, I might buy you a hot dog at the theater =) Yes! Stop by and say hello. We're nice people.

QUOTE (Gltokensp06 @ Apr 18 2006, 09:24 PM) Ummm...Im sorry but that is not hott...Someone pls correct me if i'm wrong. Nothing personal Ah, one must check out the Bell cymbal chicks from the 2000, 2001 & 2002 years when they didn't wear berets.

Thank goodness for graduating (back in 2003) before the TAKS was implemented. Sorry kids.

QUOTE (HashBrownJM @ Apr 18 2006, 08:34 PM)Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'm not exactly sure where my compatriot got his information, but let me tell ya, I was awfully excited to be the first 4A from Texas to hit up GN. And if not, second isn't a bad place, either. John B. Connally will in fact be the first 4A Texas band to attend the BOA Grand National Championships. Richland was a 5A school when they went to Grand Nationals in 2001. They were a 4A school only during the 2002-2003 & 2003-2004 school years.

L.D Bell, hands down. I've been a fan of these girls for years...and they can flat out play!!! It's always a treat to see them in action.

I updated the first post. BOA just released the tentative roster for the 2006 season. Check it out!

Haha.... Indiana and Texas have a competitive yet friendly rivalry, especially the past couple of years. 2002 & 2003 come into mind. In 2002.... Carmel HS of Indiana flew all the way to Texas to compete at the BOA San Antonio Regional. They took the Outstanding Visual Performance & General Effect captions and won the competition. In 2003.... Texas took places 1, 2 & 3 and all captions at Grand Nationals Semifinals. 1. Westfield (Outstanding Music Performance) 2. Ronald Reagan (Outstanding General Effect) 3. L.D. Bell (Outstanding Visual Performance) The healthy rivalry is there.

Indiana has a fantastic website. http://www.indianamarching.com

I remember seeing Connally on the official list that BOA had at the TMEA Convention back in February. Can't remember which one it was but Connally was on one of the Regional lists for sure.

QUOTE (mnkyman @ Apr 15 2006, 05:39 PM)im guessing u didnt read my post at all..besides the first line... I read your entire post. I just included some additionals thoughts on why I think attending Grand Nationals on a consistent basis is GOOD for a program. QUOTE (mnkyman @ Apr 15 2006, 05:39 PM)im excited to at the # of tx bands going this year..i just dislike the fact that such a wider # of bands go way to often I can't think of a single con about attending Grand Nationals often. Calling it a 'glorified Regional' is your opinion but I don't feel that way at all. Band directors take their bands to GN because of the experience. I read this on a director's newsletter a while back regarding Grand Nationals and I could not agree more, "Attending Grand Nationals would benefit because other programs that have attended in the past felt that it was a sort of cultural watershed for their students, breaking through to the next level of commitment from the kids and helping them to understand responsibility and the importance of doing their part for the betterment of an organization." QUOTE (mnkyman @ Apr 15 2006, 05:39 PM)and you speak of a gain , visual, but u never talk about a loss.. The point of my post had nothing to do with winning or losing Grand Nationals. It was about improving your band as a whole. QUOTE (mnkyman @ Apr 15 2006, 05:39 PM)say that just about every band has imporved visualy, but every band has also declined in music.. go back and listen to a show from the 90's and then listen to one from now days..(dont watch the show)...then go watch a show from the 90's and watch a show from now days(not listeneing to the music) you will be suprised to see that musicality was at a higher level back then, but visual was at a much lower level , when compared to the shows of today. While I agree that the marching arts has changed the past 5-10 years, I still feel that bands are still being musical. This past year, two bands produced some of the most musically challenging music books that I have heard in years---Ronald Reagan & L.D. Bell. When you have the University of Houston's Tom Bennett saying (in regards to Reagan '05), "This is the hardest music I have ever heard."....you know it's not going to be easy. People in the activity for some reason like to discredit the use of original compositions and modern music. Bands are still musical. And bands are still being techinical. There's just more "color" being added to the music these days. I find myself enjoying the modern and innovative shows. I never really cared for the pre-1998 stuff. I'm all about hearing and seeing new things in the activity. Same applies for drum corps. I'm really proud that a Texas band has taken the 'Outstanding Music Performance' Award at Grand Nationals four of the past five years (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005). Music is our bread and butter. And I attribute the success to the fine educators that teach in our state.

I disagree. Attending Grand Nationals is still prestigious. Not only are you there with your fellow Texas bands but you're there gutting it out with bands from all across the nation. I'm sure the atmosphere, the adrenaline rush and the excitement is nothing like a regular BOA Regional. Furthermore.... In the mid-late 1990's, people used to call Grand Nationals a 'glorified Midwestern Regional' because the competition comprised mostly of midwestern bands with a Texas/Southern band or two every couple of years. Times have changed. I am glad to see more and more bands from our state in attendance at BOA Grand Nationals. Not only does it stack us against bands from other parts of the country, but it has helped Texas bands improve a certain area that we have always lacked in, Visual. Check this out. 2002 Stephen F. Austin HS, TX Visual Performance: 9th Place Ronald Reagan HS, TX & Winston Churchill HS, TX Visual Performance: 10th Place The Woodlands HS, TX Visual Performance: 12th Stephen F. Austin HS, TX Visual General Effect: 5th Place Winston Churchill HS, TX: Visual General Effect: 8th Place The Woodlands HS, TX Visual General Effect: 10th Place Ronald Reagan HS, TX Visual General Effect: 12th Place 2003 L.D. Bell HS, TX Visual Performace: 3rd Place Ronald Reagan HS, TX Visual Performance: 5th Place Westfield HS, TX: Visual Performance: 8th Place Ronald Reagan HS, TX Visual General Effect: 1st Place Westfield HS, TX Visual General Effect: 2nd Place L.D. Bell HS, TX Visual General Effect: 4th Place 2004 Stephen F. Austin HS, TX Outstanding Visual Performace Award - Semifinals Visual Performace - 2nd Place (Finals) Visual General Effect - 1st Place 2005 Ronald Reagan HS, TX Visual Performance - 4th Place Visual General Effect - 5th Place L.D. Bell HS, TX Visual Performance - 5th Place Visual General Effect - 1st Place By looking at that, you can tell Texas bands have improved tremendously when it comes to the visual aspect of shows. The more you attend, the more feedback you get and the more experience you gain. It's interesting to note that a Texas band has taken the Visual Performance-Ensemble & Visual General Effect subcaptions every year since 2003. ---- I'm certainly excited about 2006 Grand Nationals. Not only because of the record amount of Texas bands going but.... Kennesaw Mtn. (GA) will be there, Broken Arrow (OK) will be there, and even California bands will be represented. A couple of friends and I will be in Indianapolis cheering ALL bands and waving our Texas flag proudly during a Texas band performance. 2006 is shaping up to be an incredible one. To put it this way----Grand Nationals is better than ever.

QUOTE (Silme @ Apr 14 2006, 11:49 PM) Hey mbui. I'm his girlfriend. Welcome!

Favorites: Stephen F. Austin & L.D. Bell Both incredible drumline and front ensemble sections. On the rise: Ronald Reagan As of late (especially 2005), the drumline has improved tremendously. The front ensemble on the other hand....one of the best in the nation. Who I expect to bounce back: Winston Churchill. After an off-year in 2005, they have several big names in the percussion business coming in to help out with their 2006 show. I expect the Churchill percussion section to be back better than ever.

Oh, by the way..... I have been told that the list of participants will likely be posted sometime next week on the Bands of America website. So be on the look out for that.

And, the San Antonio bands----Ronald Reagan & Winston Churchill.