Dallas Hobbs

I’m incredulous! That really happened?!

Last year I predicted your top 7 would all have chances at making to state and I guess I was right since all 7 did manage to place within the top 5 in prelims and/or finals😂

Go DeSoto Eagles go! 🦅 😍

What?!?!

Does anyone know how the number of bands chosen to advance to semifinals is determined? Every year I see a different number like 34, 38, or 37 bands in semifinals but I never know how they came up with that quantity.

Interesting. I think part of what makes Area judging so wild is that the three music judges at Area are each doing the work of the four state music judges. An area music judge must evaluate ensemble, woodwind, brass, and percussion performance all at once then compare that evaluation to 20-30+ other bands! I see why they broke it down at state😅

I was just thinking about that while reading the comments! A fail safe implemented into the show would’ve made things easier for them. It’s region so I don’t think the show needs to be performed completely in order for them to get a 1 anyways.

Hmmm would it be better if the Area contests adopted the 7-judge system like at state? What do you all think?

Why did they make Area an annual contest now?

Go DeSoto Eagles go! 🦅 😍 Fingers crossed! 🤞🏾 So far 21 Area B bands have gotten 1’s? Nice. 9+ more to go!

Did Bell advance to Area? On the TMEA website it doesn’t indicate so.

I think the intent with general effect is to evaluate the quality of the show design. Emphasis going on the theme/concept the program chooses, and how the audience responds to the performance.

What do the X’s and 5’s mean?

Yeah I believe it’s if 3 judges certify you for state, then you automatically qualify for state regardless of your placement.

You’re doing great! This is very informative! I didn’t realize military class bands have different rules. Do all military class bands regardless of their conference get to perform at the state Military class contest if they get a one at region? Or is it different for different conferences?

Oh so it’s different for military style bands. They go to state if they make a 1 at region, but are still able to compete at area if they do choose? I guess I’d wonder what’s the point of an Area contest if bands can go straight to state?

What do you mean by this part?

Oop! I didn’t know that. Thank you! For 1A bands, don’t they automatically qualify for state if they make a 1 at region?

Yes. The number of bands an area can certify for state goes by the 1-to-5 rule. When 15 or more bands qualify for Area, that area will send 1 band for every 5 that qualifies for the respective area contest. If 14 or less qualify for that area contest, they’ll only send the top two.

Ooh I see. They’re limited to a certain number of qualifiers so they’re forced to break the tie. My suggestion of permitting more bands to be qualified for state is probably a question for UIL/TMEA officials. Not sure if they would’ve liked it though lol

Yes, all Area contests and conf. 1A-4A state contests have 5 judges (3 music, 2 visual) while 5A and 6A state contests have 7 judges (music ensemble, woodwinds, brass, percussion, ensemble visual, individual visual, and content & design). I guess the next question is would it be so bad to send both bands to state if they tie for the last spot? In BOA if two or more bands tie for the last available finals spot, or for 1st place in finals, both bands are rewarded.

Thanks for the info! So BOA is about your score, while UIL is about your ranking.

I guess that was the confusing part. What’s wrong with a judge giving tied rankings?

Thank you for the response. You explained why two different judges are unlikely to give the same score to a band very well which was informative, however I wanted to know why one particular judge oftentimes doesn’t give tied scores in their own rankings. Like why does judge 1 score Band X an 853 and Band Y an 852? Can they really tell a 1 point difference or are they prohibited from giving two different bands the same score? I’ve never seen one judge give two bands the same score/ranking.

About the judges scores at Area: Can a judge give two bands the same score, and consequently the same ranking? Or do they have to break that tie? for example can judge A give Band x and Band y a score of 934 points or is the judge prohibited from giving a tied score? I ask this because sometimes I’ll see scores like Band x gets a 853 and Band y gets a 852, and I’m like “can the judges really detect a 1 point difference between the bands or are they just prohibited from making tied scores?”