Danpod

Drum corps is back! Let's go over the protocols, the limited tour, the financial/emotional cost, and just exactly how different things will be this Summer.

Like I've said before, as a director, I would put up fake contests on my public calendar just to throw people off! A lot of local events are really pushing for high attendance so that the programs who host them can get back on track financially.

Good thing I only like Canadian Football. GO EDMONTON!!! I get it. There is a concern amongst programs/admins of burnout during a year when 6A State is an "added" contest. It's tough to manage mentally and financially.

The Senior Band Class Of 2021 deserves its own commencement speech. I am happy to oblige! Please listen below. Congratulations, Seniors!!!

WHERE ARE THE BLOODY BOA LISTS!?!?! Calm down, Voice Inside My Head. Let me explain why the lists aren't out yet and why we need not throw bricks.

UIL has decided to go ALL conferences for State Marching Contest in 2021. Let’s look at the background behind the announcement, the marching schedule, why marching band will own your soul in the Fall of 2021, and the important decisions on the plate for many top programs.

Help me put a cherry on the 2020 UIL State Marching Championships! Also, there's a MAJOR teaser at the end of the program :)

20 Bands. One Contest. This is your guide to the UIL 6A State Marching Band Championships. If you're ready, let's dance.

Let's go over the results and shout out the 20 programs who qualified for the State Contest on Area Saturday!

Area Saturday is upon us!! Let's go over all the rules, regulations, legally binding contracts, and everything you need to know for the 6A Area Contests this weekend!!! 0:00 - Intro 3:54 - Region Contest And Challenges 7:30 - Area Judging 9:31 - UIL COVID-19 Rules 18:04 - How To Qualify For State 21:28 - Tiebreakers 23:13 - TxBands Live Blog 26:26 - Area-By-Area Breakdown 38:49 - What To Expect While Watching 44:10 - Final Words

As far as I know, UIL will hand out a Finalist Trophy at Area and State to those programs who would have qualified if a Finals contest was being held. These distinctions will be officially recognized.

The amount of State Qualifiers from an Area depends on how many programs qualify for Area and not how many actually attend the contest. Plano, Plano East, Plano West and Allen got 1s at Region. Although they are choosing not to advance, their qualification still counts. Assuming the 17 who intend to do Area all get 1s, you add those to the four listed above who qualified, that makes 21 Area qualifiers. This translates to 4 bands advancing from Area C to State.

Yes. If Area D had 30 bands qualify for Area, they would take six bands to State.

The BOA 2021 Schedule has been released! Let's go over why there are TWO Houston regionals, scheduling plans, and why the end of 2021 could be filled with endless marching band!

The Houston Regional reaches max enrollment quicker than any other contest in the Regional lineup. Think of it as two separate contests with about 40 programs each!

Area A Results: https://www.smbc.uiltexas.org/area/results/files/area-20_4A Area A 2020.pdf For Conference 4A, top three at Area advance to State. If 20 or more bands qualify for Area, one band for every five bands that qualifies will be certified to State.

https://marching.musicforall.org/schedule/ Music For All has released its 2021 BOA Regional Schedule: September 18th - McAllen September 25th - North Houston (Woodforest Bank Stadium) September 25th - Austin October 2nd - West Houston (Legacy Stadium) October 2nd - Midland October 9th - Dallas/Fort Worth October 30th - Waco November 5th/6th - San Antonio Super Regional November 11th-13th - Grand Nationals Get ready

This all could change dramatically if All-Conference State Contest is approved next year. At the UIL Music Committee Meeting in October, tentative scheduling (absolutely not approved yet) was discussed and would put 6A State and Nationals on the same week for 2021. Combine that with programs who may feel extra pressure from their District because they opted out of UIL this year and certain programs may have to choose between one event or the other. We don’t have a decision on 2021 State for awhile. Superintendents from the even-numbered conferences need to be surveyed before anything moves forward. This will be interesting to watch over the next several months.

Eligibility issues. Area G cancellation. Region Contest guidelines. Enjoy this little “pre-show” before UIL Region Contests kick off!

Changes to 1A State Qualification? Changes to 6A State Qualification? ALL CONFERENCES AT STATE NEXT YEAR??? Let’s go over these UIL rule proposals under discussion.

As UIL Region deadlines approach, we are starting to see just how much the Coronavirus Pandemic has affected the Marching arts. Let’s take a look at a few Regions with varying participation levels and how we need to prepare ourselves for flexible show-day guidelines.

WGI announced an all-virtual platform and cancelled in-person events for the 2021 Season. Let’s go over the reasoning behind going online and why WGI has the most comprehensive virtual season lined up in the marching arts.

All Area talk today! Let’s chat about the Area A contest cancellation, the return of Area Saturday, and how conferences will work together to pull off Area contests!!!

It is here!!! The 2020 marching season has officially arrived and we need to talk about what to expect, answer questions, and why supporting your local marching band is as important as ever!!!

Looks like they cancelled the events. From their website: ”The Director’s Choice plans to host several marching band contests this fall has been met with excitement from bands across the southwest United States. The design sessions have been spirited and productive with many insightful ideas being considered. The assistance and input from so many educators has been welcome and very helpful. However, at this time we have made the difficult decision to postpone until the fall of 2021 due to the continued concerns regarding the augmented spread of COVID-19 in the communities we serve.”