SpudMuffin

What about current 6A state marching participants moving down to 5A?? How will that play into the mix? From Area G - Homer Hanna's enrollment is around 1890. Edinburg also is below the current cutoff number. How will bands that currently make the 6A contest stack up at the 5A level? It could be interesting.

I'm excited about this State line up! Some crazy good show concepts and band programs! I'd be interested in the knowledgeable people on here to go through each performance block and talk about/summarize each band - even the lesser known programs. Let's give every part of the state some attention. Each program must have something worth talking about in this forum. Let's hear from you all! What does West Texas know about the Houston areas? What does DFW know about the RGV? Let's give some insight! I'd love to learn.

How do ya'll think the Area G bands will do at State? Will JBA's early slot hurt them? Will all of Area G finish at the bottom as usual? Which group will rank the highest? Anybody gonna go watch?

JBA, Hanna and Edinburg - great! I guess these weren't the expected results. LOL Figured Hanna would do it - experience matters. Anyone surprised by Harlingen and PSJA missing finals? What happend to the supposed lock in with United? JBA - big sound - big band - you guys perform with confidence. Pretty good sound - but visually?? Lot's of work to do on the end - a line is supposed to be a line. Hanna - poised, energetic, great solos - unbelievable band sound. Sooooooo much better than last week. Edinburg - it's been a long time since they've achieved like this - way to go!! Weslaco - oh so close Anyone see or have a recap sheet? Did the new Area judge format make a difference?

So like if you think about each band's performances, and then think bout the new Area judge sheets - do all of the shows ya'll like match up with what is being judged? Don't be fooled by what ur seeing. I think there's gonna be some crazy results. Ya, some of these bands sound good and are clean, but is there the level of demand there? I think there's a reason some bands make it all the time. Let's see how that experience stacks up. I was watching some recent performances on YouTube - some groups just don't got that level of refinement. Whatever - it's gonna be crazy good to watch.

1. JBA 2. United 3. Hanna 4. LF 5. Edinburg North 6. Weslaco 7. Harlingen Or....it could be completely different. Area contest has historically always been a big gamble. There's been some really weird judging in the past. I picked the first three because those programs have the most experience making it to the state contest, and they're all performing great shows. I guess the question is which program will peak at the right time.

My predictions for Area G: 1. Alexander 2. Hanna 3. United 4. Los Fresnos 5. PSJA 6. Edinburg 7. Weslaco 8. Harlingen 9. Edinburg North 10. Bville Vets Or...it could be completely different.

Ummmmm........respectfully........you're way off on this. Like, really.

Hannah finished 17th in 2006 (Ahead of Hebron and Cedar Park!) All that info is on the UIL Music website. Dunno why everyone is hyping Harlingen, not what they were. JBA isn't all that amazing (but their good) - they just are real real big and hype. They peak early and never really seem to continue to get better. LF sounds crazy good. I agree there's a lot of talent down in Area G - we all just need to keep trying.

Okay, okay so check it out... I have a friend who talked to a director that used to work there. Here's the inside story. No staff changes. The HBD has been there forever and real successful. he decided to let the assistants take over alot of the teaching cause maybe there might be a retirement and they gotta be ready. As everyone can see it tanked. Story is the HBD has taken control again and is trying to fix what was messed up. IDK if he can, but i bet you'll see a big difference by region contest and beyond. The HBD has gobs of experience I watched the video - Hannah has their signature sound - just wait and see. As far as the other schools I think JBA and LF will be killer. I saw Edinburg - wasn't like they were last year. Weslaco is always meh in my opinion. Everyone else will just be very very mid.

Let's talk about everyone's shows! What's the theme? Music? Is it interesting? JBA - Beyond the Break Edinburg - Circus Hanna - La Dama de Rojo Weslaco - Continuum Harlingen - Valhalla Vets - Sonidos de la Plaza What are the others?????

Hey guys! Area G will be more of the same, except for who makes state. Should be 3 bands advancing this year hopefully. I think the third spot could see an underdog advancing. Alexander will be strong as usual. Hanna is always good. They haven't been on/off like someone said. They've only missed state one time since 2006. (COVID year doesn't count LOL) Los Fresnos sounded great last year - expect more of that to come. United, Edinburg, Edinburg North, Weslaco - they're kind of lumped together. Depends on who gets it the cleanest and sounds good. Everyone else - who knows. Probably very average at best. Harlingen ain't what they used to be. No matter what happens and who advances - they'll all get screwed at State. What do ya'll think?

I though they had a fun show - and geez those kids can play. Wonder why they don't get any credit - this was their 12th time at the State contest. I went to a TMEA thingy that Hanna did as a highlighted program - their wind ensemble was stunning! This is what I learned; No private lesson program No extra teaching staff (no marching techs, no drum techs, no specialists) Most kids don't own an instrument. The band fee thingy is like $100 I was talking to a few of their parents at the contest -they do a lot of fund raising -the band directors teach the TMEA all-state music - no private lessons -band fee - they pay what they can -the head director has been there a long time -they don't focus on the "were gonna win" thingy - they focus on "let's give our personal best every time" How can programs like these expect to compete against the huge, well funded bands up state? Why don't these kids get a shout out too- everyone only talks about the big programs - but these kids are accomplishing a lot with very little Flame away

Area A & G both at the bottom. Those areas also get left out with the TMEA apportionments for All State chairs.

Do you have a prediction where JBA and Hanna will finish? What do you think keeps them out of top 20? Bias?

Your delusional. There's alot more than just "it's hard" How much movement while playing? How well played/balanced/transparent was the music? Maybe those bands make hard music sound easy? Get a grip. LF played at an amazingly high level - great sounds! Gotta improve the visual package. Alexander is always challenging - but I gotta agree with previous posts - big and sloppy. Hanna - jeez these kids can PLAY! What a fun show to watch - and OMG the kraken! Kinda smaller than before? ENHS - good to see them doing well - but needs more refinement to take it on to the next level United was interesting. Dunno what else to say. Weslaco had some good full band spots - but then a lot of spots when hardly anyone was playing during the marching (foot timing was a issue to) So.. IDK I think the judges prolly had the right call here. Really strong judging panel. Everybody has a opinion - let's hear them!

It's this sort of entitled, elitist attitude that offends the other parts of the state that are trying to achieve and maintain a high standard despite the challenges they face in their communities, that may not be present in others. (Lack of funding, no private lessons, no additional techs, smaller enrollments, etc. etc.) Why do you think those areas you mentioned deserve more representation simply based upon a pre-conceived perception of greatness? Flame away.

I dunno who'd agree with you. Did you actually see these bands live?

C'mon people - let's get a discussion going - or does nobody care about Area G? Are the experienced bands going to prevail? Or will there be some new programs to contend with? Several bands are certainly different than last year! What do you think will make the difference? Do you think it's fair that only 2 bands advance? Why does the rest of the state get more? Should any of these 6A's be worried in light of the recent Area G 5A fiasco?

I'm back!!!! Woot! Ok, ok, so here's what I have to say... Edinburg - not bad - needs to clean Weslaco - easy, cheesy - learn how to clean straight lines Harlingen - ho hum Los Fresnos - too old school JBA - big, loud, sloppy PSJA - cool idea United - not what it was Bville Vets - not ready for the big league Bville Hanna - always sounds good - always. but.. different visually this year (idk, new director?) Ed North - improvement this year The rest.... nope It's going to be close between four schools for the two spots. I think experience will take it. Flame away.

These schools aren't my alma mater, but I do follow what's happening in the RGV. I don't think this is a case of a school complaining because they felt they should have won but in reality the judges were correct ---NO , the judges really did get this wrong at Area G. The best band didn't advance. (I haven't heard anyone from that school actually complain). That school does have multiple all state/all region players and dominates the audition process. Watch the videos!!! You decide. But all I can say is there's a bunch of people that watched this contest and DON'T AGREE wit the outcome.

Agreed! Always really weird results. Last year United got screwed over, this year it was Hanna's turn. If you're from the RGV, everyone knows which band is the strongest. I feel bad for those guys. But...nothing will change. Nobody cares about Area G. If this would have happened in any of the metro-plex areas, there would be a huge uproar. UIL doesn't care about South Texas.

Final's Music Scores: Hanna 1, 5, 3 = 9 PSJA 3, 1, 6 =10 Weslaco 7, 2, 1 = 10 (One judge thinks they were the best playing band, one judge thought they were the worst) Los Fresnos 2, 3, 7 = 12 Edinburg 4, 4, 5 = 13 Alexander 5, 6, 4= 15 United 6, 7, 2 =15 So the best playing band comes in at the bottom, and the two lowest ranked in music make it to State????? Final's Visual Scores: Alexander 1, 2 = 3 United 3, 1 =4 PSJA 2, 4 =6 Edinburg 5, 3 =8 Weslaco 4, 6 =10 Los Fresnos 7, 5 = 12 Hanna 6, 7 = 13 I didn't think Hanna's visual effort was weak. They moved a lot - cleanly, at fast tempos. They also played AND marched at the same time, unlike some of the others. United did move well. Alexander's feet were DIRTY when they actually marched. Did anyone notice that Weslaco's drumline barely moved away from the 50 for a good chunk of their show? MANY of the people I was sitting by were shocked at the outcome. Hanna was 1 or 2 in most people's opinion - except for the esteemed judges. Opinions?

I heard a lot of people say the same thing. One band that scored well had drill with the battery mainly stationary on the 50. A few had extended sections of the show where a majority of the band didn’t play. Hanna sounded amazing! If you look at the music scores alone, they were in 1st place. Was the visual package really bad? Can’t figure out the crazy skewed results. Who judged?

Crazy results!!!! There’s no way this is an accurate reflection of what occurred. All the people “in the know” that were sitting by me were in shock. Wait to you see the recap sheet. It’s all over the place!