jacobs-latter

In order: #1 MARCUS. Ultimate quality of performance and design. I laugh out loud reading the easy drill comments. You guys are forgiving multiple groups that are standing still AND not playing the majority of the show. Watch your video tapes when they come out, and you'll see why jumping on the easy drill bandwagon for Marcus is so misguided, even by one or two of the people that post regularly on this site. Just because they are clean, or just because their show concept can be appreciated by all age levels doesn't mean its easy. Also, when you play harder than crap music the whole show, doesn't that make the drill ten times as difficult? There are no smoke or mirrors for these guys. I didn't graduate from this school, but if I could go back, I would go here, due to the challenge of the music AND drill. Their props are just for entertainment and do not substitute for outstanding playing and marching. Please go to GN. #2THE WOODLANDS. Very complex show design, great guard, very strong playing skills. This show also had lots of substance throughout. They seem to clean up late which keeps people giving them less credit after seeing them early. Again, substance prevails for this group. Their props are also just for entertainment and do not substitute for outstanding playing and marching. #3 RICHLAND. This year the next best playing band (to Marcus) in the state. Creative show, emotional punch. The best section feature of the year was the Turbine trombone section. Freaking awesome! Their props are also just for entertainment and do not substitute for outstanding playing and marching. #4 CHURCHILL. How could a show possibly mean more to a group of kids or to an audience? This was the most personal performance of the year. It was great for them to decide to do this show. The guard is always amazing and the hornline & drums play well. Their props are also just for entertainment and do not substitute for outstanding playing and marching. #5 LDBELL. The guard was very effective throughout the program. I liked the ending better before GN- it was creepier and didn't last too long. The most theatrical show this year. Favorite honorable mentions: Cedar Park. Great playing, cool design. You guys made us give you a standing ovation! Haltom. Crazy good clarinet playing; tie for hardest amplified solo of the year. Cool show. Westfield. Incredible euph solo; tie for hardest amplified solo of the year. Great concept. Bowie. You guys play with a lot of energy. Hebron. Wave was a great show concept, and your drum major salutes were awesome. Thanks for reading.

It is interesting that any person would consider themselves able to assess bands in six different captions during a single performance. While taking photos. You might have slightly more credibility if you posted the same number of photos for each band, typed in the musical selections for all of the bands, or if you just offered your opinion in one caption. This just comes across as biased. Congtrs Marcus and Bell and everyone else who performed. A big section in the upper deck side 2 totally thought the contest came out as it should have. Good luck to the nats bands next week.

whats up with the .8 penalty for Marcus at finals? Lucky for them it didn't affect the overall placements.

Budget handed out by Marcus at TBA clinic shows $10,000 for props and flags last year.

Somebody call up the Marcus people and tell them to crank the synthesizers, bass drums and cymbals to give the impression of volume. You confuse loud with noisy. Not the same thing at all. Interesting that there are opinions in this thread that think this will make a show more challenging or a group more impressive. Difficulty/execution of music- team Marcus. Difficulty/execution of marching- team Bell. Arlington BOA will be cool because its Diversity Day. If everybody sounded like Marcus or looked like Bell it would be boring. Lots of stuff to look at and listen to. Thanks to all the groups who will give us something to talk about.

These groups don't master their music, they master their instruments. That's how they get hard music to sound easy (high stuff doesn't sound high, low stuff doesn't sound low, many people playing sounds like few due to uniformity). The idea that these groups win because their shows are easy just seems way out there. Any band COULD play any other band's music, or march any other band's drill, but how would it sound or look?

Interesting hypothesis. Band wins 5A state championship because they had easy music and easy drill and hardly had anyone playing. This would be different contest than what I saw or heard and what anyone I know saw or heard. Similar story as people had for LDB's 2004 state championship show, which was also incredible. Same story as from Cavalier haters year after year. You championship bands/corps need to coordinate some effort to play out of tune, out of time, and run around wildly for no reason. Only then will you gain respect on these forums.