QuadraticBeats

Oh my god! They killed band! Those ****! Asides from my comment, I find that odd. If we like football so much in Texas, you'd figure they wouldn't mind sticking around at the game for 10 minutes longer.

That's a good point... I didn't realize that, since our school is new and those in charge of our school's fate decided that it would be a good thing to add a class each year, so only next year we will get seniors, and they will still be the smallest class (only 2-3 probably on the drumline (we count the battery and front ensemble together as the drumline in our school), perhaps 15-20 in the whole band). Though I certainly don't mind not having to have been a freshman with a bunch of possibly bored seniors, it's a double-edged sword... BOA is probably only going to be considerable next year, if we're lucky enough to become 5A next year. If we become 5A in my senior year, the only thing we'll be competing at will be that... unless there is a miraculous change back to the old state competition rules with everyone competing each year. The percussion seniors to-be aren't even the best players in the line, either.

Point taken on the second one... and the first, now that I remember the existence of TMEA.

I'm in debate, and just observing things that seem to go on in the activity. And I also suddenly have another random question! Overall, L.I.S.D.'s bands have sucked this year. Our school opens, and ironically (with the exception of Cedar Park last year), Leander and Cedar Park are doing worse. On the title picture up there, is that Cedar Park's cymbal line in the picture?

Only in marching band. Marching band is an exception to this originally simple thread... I should've stated that earlier. I also just don't think much of local competitions, as there are often much better musicians and ensembles elsewhere. Another curious thing... do we have a bunch of people taking debate here?

My point for it is that it is rather aggravating that some bands can get away with playing really very basic music and receive honors yet those who are playing harder music receive NO credit for their attempt. If every school was playing music that was relatively close in difficulty, or bands received even a small amount of credit for difficulty, the fairness would be acceptable, but the complete lack of credit for decently played, challenging music is something I find to be unreasonable. I'm not so against UIL as a whole as I am against this. There is only one other thing, also... old(er) judges, who generally know close to nothing about the current state of marching percussion, offering useless comments like "snares and tenors aren't level visually (not stick heights, the actual physical heights)" and "basses too loud" around the table. It's kind've funny.

I think I might just hate that aspect of it. I haven't really ever tried for much of the UIL activities... except being part of a band playing harder music then usual and not receiving credit for it. It was rather frustrating. Another reason I hate UIL, though, is their strange decision to alternate the divisions for state marching band competitions... I've only been in the activity for about a year and a half, so I don't know what reason they had for it.

I thought about my reasons, and came to the conclusion that I actually hate UIL because it doesn't really give you much credit at ALL for trying something difficult. Of course though, that shouldn't be an excuse for being bad either...

Hmm. I'm just referring to a general basis. It just seems like some UIL events are relatively meaningless because they try to take out the competitive edge in it; I prefer the more competitive style of say, Drum Corps.

I personally hate UIL because it has such low quality standards. But then again, it just seems to judge based off of how crappy or good all the bands are, so... Actually... I just hate the non-competitive UIL events...

Feel free to place your 2nd or 3rd favorite as well. My favorites are: 1. Dynasty 2. Pearl 3. Yamaha

Hail the Firthy man. Our battery uses these following implements- Ralph Hardimon Snare Sticks (The usual) Bolero SD2s... MTT Tenor Mallets (Not the sta-pac ones, the wooden ones that are similar to innovative) Vic Firth MB-H's... or just standard hard felt mallets.

In the beginning of our marching season, our drumline had an aversion that was amazing to me; they thought our new instructor wanting us to rehearse outside in class combined with marching after school was enough reason to quit. The ignorance.

In the seemingly miraculous event that the Blue Devils can play their insane music as clean as the Cadets, then that will possibly be the highlight of my life. However, I'm more interested in the Cavaliers line than I am in the Bluecoats. Their transformation is just going down farther along its path, whereas the Cavvies are going to begin their change.

Hi Greg. Yeah... basses are special. Nothing is as cool as a ridiculously good bass line.

Well, as far as the crazy part goes, I think he is on a periodic basis. Not hideously bad, but enough to be aggravating. Tolerable, since at least he cares if someone plays or marches badly. As far as our band goes, there is only one more thing I think should be said- came from your local area. It still really sucks to see people think you to be better than you place and then have crappy performances, though. I forgot what else I was going to say. Er... clicked the unintended forum.

Who's better... tenors , or snares . Fear the mystical drumming powers of Sean Vega and his students. And Bill Bachman too.

Yeah... that's Santa Clara Vanguard playing their version of the basic double beat exercise. So don't call it a cadence unless it is stated to be a cadence, just to save yourself from being verbally attacked by ruthless drummers. At least you'll have an excuse if it turns out to be one. And when a tenor drummer taps something off for the drumline, it is a very happy day for all of us polyrhythmic, multiple sound minded drummers.

Heheh... uh... I played Marimba 1 for that show in my first year of high school band... they year I didn't try out... *shudder*. It's good music, but really, really, easy... unless your school got the score rewritten. Our football team sucked our first year. This year they were better, and I think we lost rather badly until we played marble falls on their homecoming. They beat us 21-20. After that, we've scored at least 20 points in each game as far as I know, and we have beaten at least three schools. So yeah... it's better than last year.

I am the tenor drum captain at VRHS, and was wondering about the origins of the reputation of our Band Director, Mr. Christian. It seems that a number of people have heard of him, and I have no idea why. As a side note, I find it fortunate, yet frustrating that so many people (or at least the people who use this website) placed us much higher than we usually actually placed in their predictions. I also wonder about the origins of this. -Seeking clarification.