AvonDad

I came across an old post on MFA forums trying to compare SA with GN and which was better lat year. People were trying to compare with what they saw online and while streaming. I can say there was no comparison after being live at both and streaming to compare with another doesn't work. When CTJ turned around with that initial horn hit....it kicked you in the chest, it was felt and you knew it. Loud, clear, pointed and it went on from there. At Grand Nats last year....well it was quieter and people seemed to already know who was going to win and the shows seem to lack. Felt a bit like it last night as well. I have never really liked any of Broken Arrow shows in the past. Very well done, but not my type. Last night, that changed. Absolutely loved their show and thought they should take it all, at the least GE. People in front of me was commenting on the sound that Prosper had and I was thinking, wow, I got a load of that sound last year at SA with a whole lot of bands. They don't realized this is a hint of what they are missing compared to SA. At SA, seems NOBODY has a clue who will make finals, let alone scores or placements, because there are so many great programs and anyone can have a great run and anyone can oops, even just a little bit, toss the placements in a hat and try again. SA appeared to be a real competition, no holds barred, then assemble for awards, break ranks, congrat the winner and make new friends. Just my 2 cents.

I wish we were down there again this year as well. We had a blast last year but this year are competing at state contest this weekend, after skipping it for SA last year.

We had a kid who only marched their freshman year. Just wasn't into it and wanted to do other things as the force wasn't strong with that one. The following year we were still there helping and making flags as Avon used to make all their flags by hand. Someone decided to go around the room, give your name, and what your kid played. When it came to me I said "Show Choir" to a few strange looks as another one of ours was in that and we didn't currently have one in the band at that time. We have worked band contests, helped with percussion contests, concession stands, uniforms, shoes, sitting on cold windy bleachers, pushing props, provided snacks and contributed to meals, bus chaperon, loaded and unloaded semi trailers in the dark, signs in the yard, stickers on the car, bought numerous t-shirts and hoodies and even traveled to Texas. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Oh....some of us are still here. Once a band nerd, pretty much always a band nerd. And, yes, I am now hooked on Dan's Podcasts and eagerly await the NerdIns and Cherrys (that suck) on Top after the event.

I stumbled across this site a few years ago and started reading out of curiosity before GN each year to scope out who was coming. Really started digging in more early last year due to our upcoming trip and actually got more involved after a little nudge that it was OK to share, even not being from Texas. We lost the IndianaMarching site and I've been needing my band fix and have now discovered Dan's podcast. You all have a great site here.

When getting on the forums I get a flash file that wants to download. I just cancel it, but always wondered whats with the SWF file.

I haven't really followed DCI in the past, but was able to see the Central Indiana show live last night. There are some great shows happening out there. Granted, I'm a little partial to Crown, do to a certain director, but that show was a crowd grabber last night and they had added to the ending from the show I had seen on YT. In their encore, the kids with the MFA Summer Symposium (I think that was it) took the field to show off what they had been practicing and Crown joined then them on the field. Both groups ran Crown's opener together, and quite loudly. Phantom's tenors were impressive, as was the female brass soloist, for the Scouts? i think. I may need more lot time to keep things straight on who is who.

Yep, senior year. I have been "lurking" on these forums for a few years before actually interacting and have learned a lot about the Texas bands. Looking forward to following them again this year as I would love to return to SA in 2019 just to watch and enjoy. Will be checking out Richland and wishing them well at the Indy Super as I think we practiced at one of their stadiums (Birdland) while there.

My kiddo was a bit bummed last week when I found out no Texas bands were scheduled to be at GN this year. They all made a few friends last year at San Antonio and was looking forward to competing with them again, especially Flower Mound after having dinner with them. I had to explain the every other year state thing that Tx does with your UIL. I did see they are up to 2 Texas bands coming to the Indy regional this year and will be looking forward to seeing them and learning more about them this summer on here.

Avon's winter drum line used Believer in parts of their show this year. They used Radioactive - Imagine Dragons in their 2014 drum line show. Both could perform well in marching band.

They way I understand it Winds was created to give another avenue for the horn players to compete during the winter season. Avon worked up a basketball half-time show a few years ago to check out the concept and it began taking off. Once at a drum line competition, our winds group performed and there was a lady next to us who couldn't figure out why there were horns on the court. She had never seen that before. Another good one to search on YT is Aimachi 2016 Winds. We got to see them practice up close in our gym and the sound was unreal. The video doesn't do justice compared to live like comparing 2017 CTJ live versus watching them on video.

I saw a show in 2016 that was entitled something like "7 Minutes" performed by a smaller Indiana band where a girl on the field had 7 minutes to "escape" and had a large countdown clock on the field. This was actually a pretty engaging show with good music. Ran across this same show, with the same title, by another small Indiana band in 2017. First thought, was that no way was it the same, just had the same title. Nope, both were the same, similar drill and same music, but no clock on the field. The sad part is that I was missing the clock from last years band and of course, here come the comparisons. I do find it interesting when different bands perform the same musical piece and see how they interpret it on the field. Two years ago I believe it was Lawrence Township, then Carmel performed the same closure music back to back in state finals. Last year Leander played a song that Avon had in 2013 and I think it was Vandegrift that had music that was in our 2010 show. You know you are a band geek when you start recognizing music that someone else played a few years ago.

...and this thread has been a blast to read and very informative to help bring some of us "non-Texas band parents" up to speed on what to expect. Absolutely ENJOYED the competition and would love to see it live again someday. The level of competition was unheard of this year and I can now boast that I got to see it in person. Wonderful shows performed at high excellence and something to remember for a lifetime. I would have loved to see CTJ bring that show to GN and blow "Big Bertha" (that's the name of the retractable roof at LOS) open. Thanks y'all for a memorable experience.

. Avon 2010 - 97.70. Avon 2008 - 97.75

dumb phone....a happening with them. I'd put Flower Mound over Marcus and perhaps squeeze The Woodlands in between. Very electric shows. Carmel is mostly solo and a heard a lot of electronics from our location midway up the 50. BA has the sound and power and their show is mostly in front of the hash and in your face. Avon had a great run tonight but their show style is so different than other. So here goes...Carmel BA Avon mixed in top 3. Still don't get Carmel, being honest. FloMo,Woodlands, Marcus. Union, Castle, Blue Springs, Round Rock, Marion, Dobyns.

having a dog in the fight I'll forewarn possible bias. I'm looking for bands that march and play at the same time. Can they handle all the movement and keep the sound going so that if you are not watching, you couldnt tell the difference if they had parked. That was my background. Our kids are playing 170+ in the 2nd movement and over 192 at the end. With that said.... I missed Dobyns live. Union later it down. Very impressive and I would have to put them over Round Rock. Blue Springs is close and there was a lot of echoing

Flower Mound sounded great and the sound is consistent while the move. Very clean and captivating. Another show that has grown on me. Love the additions since SA.

We had the Woodlands staff right in front of us during their performance. They were as much fun to watch as the show itself! Really enjoy that show and with their reaction, the staff was pleased as well.

it almost anti-climatic here at GN after last week in SA. Rooting for #teamtexas and we are humbled to be honorary Texans tonight. Leave it all on the field tonight. This is it. This is why the long practices.

It's been not quite a week and over 2300 miles later, our San Antonio adventure has ended. I have been a reader of TXBands for a few years, but decided to actually "join" this year after getting the details that we were heading to Texas. I needed to brush up on all the bands down there as I knew it was going to a great competition, but didn't realize how good. I knew of a few bands after seeing them at LOS for GN and from "that" video site. I already had a favorite show from there, Reagan's Beyond Perimeters. I had no idea what UIL was, "8 Hr rule" or "non state year". Its been quite a learning experience. Thanks for the encouragement from a private message to share my thoughts on the forums. Our days in SA have created memories to last a lifetime. We were welcomed warmly everywhere we went. As my wife and I got to experience the Riverwalk. We had band parents from all over stop and greet us and chat for a few minutes. For me, the band nerd, I found it very interesting to pass road signs like Round Rock and Leander, places I knew from band names, then see show shirts with all the great Texas bands everywhere. Not just a couple here and there as I have seen at GN, but they were everywhere. Our kiddo had a blast. After some touring in Dallas and practice at Birdville, Flower Mound treated them very well with dinner and some fun times. Friendships were made. We recieved an odd text from our kiddo on friday morning that they beat Flower Mound!?!? followed by "...in tug of war". After practicing at the Alamo Stadium they actually got to go to Prelims and just sit and watch some of the competition on Friday. With our normal schedule, they don't get to do that and see other bands. CTJ blew them away and they knew they had to bring their "A" game, which they did they next day. The competition was fierce as there were so many great bands bringing their best and I don't think you can get much closer from 2-6 place than how it ended up.... We can ignore last years GN, but we now hold the record for the highest score for 2nd place. I'm not sure if anyone ever predicted the placements for that night. I remember seeing a post about someone getting a chicken and letting them pick the prediction and it would do just as good. I also liked the prediction... 1st - Texas band or one from Indiana. 2nd - Texas band or one from Indiana...... I did read where there was a concern about our kids since they didn't medal after the long trip. When I asked our kiddo that same question, the respsonse was... WE BROKE 95, I'm GOOD! My take aways.... - I'd would do this again in a minute. Being a band nerd, its was exciting to see all these great bands together in one place. The amount of work, time, committment each and everyone of these kids have done over the season in their programs is incredible and each one deserves their own standing ovation. - Cheering for you own band as they take they field DOES happen outside of Indiana. We began to wonder after previous competitions where other band parents were much more reserved. I guess we are just a little loud so our kiddos can hear us on the field. - I was glad about our musical "Tip of the Hat" to our fellow Texas bands. I don't recall Avon ever changing their warm up before, and especially having the kids to wave a thank you to the crowd at finals performance was an experience for us as well. - I still miss stuff when watching the performance and I have an idea what is supposed to happen. I keep missing the horn toss! There was a massive trumpet toss across the gym floor in our WGI winds routine last year that made you gasp, so yep, they practice that wherever. - We got to talk to people about the meaning behind our show and how its a testament over how the program has been built over the years. Our kiddos even signed their names on bricks outside their band room. - We left with beef jerky, fudge, peanut brittle and discovered Beaver Nuggets! - One complaint... Lucas Oil has escalators. - watching practice from the shade in 90 degree weather is more fun for the parents, than from the stands in 30 degree weather the past weekend. - discovered the Dan Podcast. - Leander, Plugerville, Round Rock, Keller, Vista Ridge, Hendrickson, The Woodlands, Flower Mound are some that I remember we talked with personally. Texas left a positive impression with us and friends were made all around. We would hope to somehow return the hospitality someday. - ....and we got to see history in the making with that OUTSTANDING performance from CTJ! Hallelujah! Thank you again for your amazing welcome and now on to Grand Nats Y'All! ***************************** Edit: They posted a brief story behind our show this year. I heard its a speech given to the kids each season and the meaning behind the bricks.

Having seen Center Grove live a couple of times, it is a well done show. Yes its quite different from years past, and it does feel like a winter show to me as it has to others in the stands around me. You can find kids in multiple bands that already pull "double duty" during their show, so I wonder if that helps scores? Players switching to different instruments, drum majors picking up instruments, players laying horns down and doing body movements.....you get the idea. Center Grove has one heck of a drum line so it makes sense to feature it, maybe testing the waters to be different. Carmel has one of the best color guards, so they are heavily featured in their show. Lawrence Township is a fun show and they appear to pull out all stops and really sell it. Castle's show is more emotional this year and with that flute soloist walking across the field as you hear echos responding, can only invoke images from last year's show. Franklin Central didn't make finals, but their show Maestro is blocked in similar style to Center Grove and is quite captivating. And to round out my babbling... I really liked the hand bells in Homestead's show and they make the Fire/Ice theme work. I guess things are a bit different up North.

Castle is a beautiful show and a tribute to their singer Sophie from last year. I think they have a good shot at state this year although I've yet to see Homestead. Avon's director gives a yearly speech to the kids while having them stand in front of a brick wall. So paraphrasing.... They are to pick a brick and stare at it. What's holding it up? The bricks around it. (Your band mates) What about the bricks that are holding up the others? Some were placed before your brick and you are building upon what was done before. (Band members of years past) It takes all the bricks working together to build the wall which is a testament of the program.

Having got to see Center Grove live, it is an interesting show and does keep your attention. It honestly reminded me of the broadway show Blast!. They have a tremendous drum program and their visuals are great with the diferent uniform colors. There are a lot of different styles on the field this season.

For you non Indiana locals and FloMarchers.... check out Lawrence Township at 8:30/7:30 for a fun show. Its my daughters favorite as its based on Rumpelstiltskin and they seem to have a lot of fun in the show. Its quite different from what I'm used to seeing from them, but very well done. For those who can remember, Lawrence Township was formed from Lawrence Central and Lawrence East bands a few years ago. The 2 schools still exist, but their band is now combined. I'm am looki ng foward to Castle at 9/8 for their "Fly to Paradise" show after they lost their singer/flute soloist in the accident on their way home from Grand Nats. This time they have a single flutist on the field and you hear the echos.

Would have been nice for a finals run in Dayton, but keeping kids safe beats traveling in bad weather. Avon performed in the middle of the 2nd pack of bands at 1pm. Carmel was the last band of the prelims 3 hours later at 4pm. Another tie occurred, and this time it was the famous GE score, and split the other captions. In finals draw, Carmel was going to be last again with Avon only an hour in front of this time. The third place band was almost 8pts away in scoring. Going to get real interesting in a couple of weeks around here.