aggietrumpet327

haha. I would have had as much luck guessing last night's outcome a year ago than if I had guessed two days ago. I think we've seen this year (At nats as well as other contests) that just about anything can happen. Bell has been one of the most consistent bands of this decade, though. I hope they can continue that next year, too.

Ascension: Light of Gold - 3rd place The Remaining - 2nd place The Arrival - ??? It would certainly be a fitting name for the show if they were to continue their upward trend of grand national placements

There are probably more specific comments on the tapes. The comment sheets aren't gonna tell you much; that's where they're gonna put broad comments like "excellent such and such," which there would undoubtedly be, seeing as you made it to state. It was stiff competition. You should be proud that you put on your best performance and leave it at that. There were 31 excellent bands there, who were all putting on their best game faces. Obviously the judging wasn't perfect, but ranking 31 of the best bands in one of the best states for marching arts is probably a pretty daunting task. Just be glad you were among such great company and had a chance to put on your best performance ever, because not every band in this state can say that.

touch

Actually I think there was some newspaper article about some of the dallas area bands that were going to state, and they talked about how Marcus spent somewhere around $12,000 on their show. I bet that includes music arrangements, drill design, props, and other things that went into the show, too. Regardless, I say if they want to spend that much on their show, more power to 'em. I honestly don't think having large and elaborate props will affect your score largely one way or the other, especially in UIL. It just makes it a more complete "package" and adds something more to look at for the audience.

On the topic of Coppell and easy drill... I've marched with the Coppell band, doing very "traditional" shows, and I've marched with a drum corps where we literally ran around for 11 minutes straight. I can say that while each experience was TOTALLY different, each style presents its own unique challenges. While the drill Coppell puts on the field doesn't even begin to touch the levels of complexity many groups are performing, the music is a whole different animal. I can honestly say that just about every marching arrangement that I played while at Coppell was more difficult than the concert band arrangements I've played of the same pieces. You put 250 people on the field playing this music (pretty much ALL the time...no breaks built in for visuals) and it makes just about any drill hard to clean. But it's almost like apples and oranges. Bands like Coppell and Duncanville choose to do things differently....but I don't think that should take away from what they are achieving, and I certainly wouldn't call it "retarded easy." Note: I'm not saying I necessarily like these kinds of shows best. Part of the reason I march drum corps is so I could participate in a group that did things...differently than my alma mater. I will say that there are a number of high school bands that do put out very complex musical and visual packages that never cease to impress me. Ronald Reagan in the past few years I think especially has shown that you can put together a program with a good balance of insane/hard/cool musical licks along with an amazing visual package.

haha yeah i guess my source was reliable. the scores are online http://www.uil.utexas.edu/music/smbc_results2006.html edit:aaand it looks like aly_lynn beat me to it and from first glance, these scores just continue to uphold the UIL standard of consistent judging...

My sources tell me (I have no idea how reliable this actually is) that the top three were: 1. Bell 2. Duncanville 3. Coppell. If that's true, then I am really astonished. And REALLY proud of my alma mater!

Tony, I already told you if you go I'll go. I'll even root for spring when...er, if...coppell doesn't make finals. Besides, I need an excuse to go to sa so I can swing by Trinity and give my friend the two cases of dublin dr pepper she bought from me.

"Out of the Blue" is what they're calling it. I think they have some videos on their wesbite. www.bucband.org I can't tell you how weird it was when I first saw a video of them playing that music. Obviously, they're not going with the perpetual motion theme, but they're doing a good job with the music. I just can't get used to the random woodwind parts added in.

I believe if you don't participate in UIL during a non-state year, you're disqualified from advancing to area/state the next year. At least that was the rule that was instated when Westfield and Spring stopped competing in UIL in 2003. Which is probably what has kept some bands from following suit and only participating in state years - if you want to go to state, you have to do UIL (and the 8 hour rule that goes with it) every year.

By my count: There will be 15 bands in attendance that have placed in the top 10 at a BOA contest this year. Bell SFA Marcus Bowie The Woodlands Haltom Hebron Richland Coppell Ronald Reagan Churchill Brazoswood Clear Brook Klein Cypress Falls There are 5 bands that didn't make an appearance at a BOA finals, but won their area. Hanna Spring Duncanville Langham Creek Keller There are several other bands that aren't in either one of these groups, but will be definitely be challenging for a finals spot. (Off the top of my head: Rowlett, Cedar Park, and I'm sure others that I'm forgetting) There are going to be some VERY deserving bands left out of finals. What a competitive year for 5A bands in Texas!

Just looked at the UIL site (http://www.uil.utexas.edu/music/smbc_info2005.html) and it looks like they shuffled around the Area E bands a little. San Antonio: Taft 8:00 Cedar Park 8:15 The Woodlands 8:30 Carrollton: Hebron 8:45 Justin:Northwest 9:00 Harlingen South 9:15 Duncanville 9:30 Spring 9:45 BREAK El Paso:Americas 10:15 Lewisville:Marcus 10:30 Harlingen 10:45 Sugar Land:Austin 11:00 Klein 11:15 San Antonio:Reagan 11:30 Coppell 11:45 N. Richland Hills:Richland 12:00 LUNCH Brownsville:Hanna 12:45 Friendswood:Clear Brook 1:00 Houston:Langham Creek 1:15 Rowlett 1:30 Haltom City:Haltom 1:45 Donna 2:00 Sugar Land:Clements 2:15 San Antonio:Churchill 2:30 BREAK Hurst:L.D.Bell 3:00 Clute:Brazoswood 3:15 Austin:Bowie 3:30 Richardson:Berkner 3:45 PSJA North 4:00 Keller 4:15 Austin:Akins 4:30 This contest just looks incredibly stacked. Then put all these bands under the UIL scoring system, and really anything could happen. This will be really exciting/interesting.

The rules on the uil website say: That's weird that the exception is 3 or higher. It used to be that if two of the music and one of the marching judges put you high enough to be in finals you'd advance.

wow, i like it. Kind of a sleeker-looking update to their old ones. They're back in dark pants, but I think this will look a lot better than the old grey pants.

Marc Sylvester worked with George Zingali for the 27th Lancers (early 80's), Star of Indiana (mid-80's), and The Cadets. I believe he was the primary drill designer for the Cadets from about 89 through 96, and I think since then he's been their program coordinator (he also wrote the drill in 2002).

Thanks for making that clear. I figured earlier when you said it was Eureka that Nick Williams had said that, since you go to UNT. I'm trying to imagine him saying the show title, and all i can hear is a completely monotone, unenthusiastic, "eureka..."

With Crown announcing their remote auditions in Texas, that makes 9 different division 1 drum corps recruiting in Texas (cavaliers even hosting 2 different camps here). I only wish there had been so many opportunities like this when I was in high school! I thought it might be helpful to have a list of all of them in one place. Santa Clara Vanguard* Nov. 12, 2006: Austin area - Cedar Park HS The Cavaliers Nov. 17-19, 2006: Houston area - Waller HS, Waller, TX Blue Devils (brass only) Nov. 18, 2006: Fort Worth, Texas - Haltom HS Glassmen Nov. 18, 2006: San Antonio, Texas (site to be announced) Bluecoats* Nov. 18-19, 2006: Denton, Texas - Guyer HS Madison Scouts Nov. 19, 2006: DFW area - University of Texas, Arlington Crossmen* Nov. 24-26, 2006: San Antonio, Texas - Ronald Reagan HS Blue Stars Dec. 3, 2006: Dallas, Texas - Westwood Junior HS The Cavaliers (brass/percussion only) Dec. 8-10, 2006: DFW area - Keller HS, Keller, TX Carolina Crown (brass/percussion only) December 10, 2006: Austin area - Hendrickson HS, Pflugerville, TX *Crossmen (obviously) will be having all of their winter camps in Texas. Bluecoats and Santa Clara will each be having a couple of winter camps in Texas for their local brass players (both in Denton, actually). Good luck to everybody who's planning on auditioning!

Santa Clara Vanguard announces 2007, 2008, and 2009 shows The Santa Clara Vanguard is very excited to announce three unique and entirely different show concepts to take the corps through the end of the decade. The design team has been hard at work creating 3 entirely different show concepts for each of the next 3 years. In doing so, they are laying a strong foundation for Vanguard's continued success, keeping them at the forefront of the drum corps activity. In 2007, the Vanguard is pleased to present to you: In 2008 the Vanguard looks forward to bringing you "3hree" followed by "Clue" in 2009.

I cannot WAIT to see Bell's show this year. I really love the direction they've taken with their show designs the past few years.

It wasn't ever on the calendar on Coppell's website. I was really surprised to see them listed in the predictions. This is homecoming weekend for them, and the dance is on Saturday night. My best guess is that they signed up for the contest before homecoming was set on the calendar, and decided not to go once the football schedule was set.

wow, I totally overlooked Marcus when i did my predictions! I was placing the bands pretty much on pure instinct, and after I clicked submit, I couldn't believe I forgot marcus! Maybe I had a psychic moment and actually predicted the real results... Right.

Those are some pretty great instructors there. I would suggest Jeremy Spicer for the music staff. He worked with SCV during our winter camps, and is a wonderful brass instructor. I would also second bariphonium's suggestion of Tom Bennett from U of H. Or maybe they could steal David Bertman (also from U of H) and Mark McGahey (Keller HS) away from the Cavaliers. I'm not seeing that happening any time soon, though.

There are quite a few drum corps directors who have full-time jobs in addition to their responsibilities as a corps director. Jeff Fielder has only just now been made the full time director at the Cavaliers, after having a separate full-time job for the last 16 years he's been the director there. I'm not exactly sure how the Crossmen's staff works, as every corps' hierarchy is a little different, but Chambers will have a full staff in charge of the Crossmen. There'll be a tour manager who will handle much of the logistics that are involved with the corps being on the road all the time, and caption heads heading up the instructional staff. Running a drum corps is a very different job than being the head director of a marching band. I'm sure he would not have taken the job had he not felt like he could handle both.

While that does happen, I'd be willing to bet it's not too common. I know personally, even though Crossmen would be MUCH easier on the pocketbook now, I'm going to do everything possible to return to santa clara. I couldn't dream of aging out with any corps other than Vanguard. And I can probably say the same for most of the people I marched with there. I'm thinking Crossmen are going to attract a lot of Texans who've wanted to march but haven't been able to afford it, and people who've marched with smaller corps before and finally have a chance to march with a local div 1 corps. And I really really hope that the vets from the Pennsylvania area will be able to find a way to afford marching with their corps, which is now out of area.