TWHSParent

Personal anecdotes about The Woodlands marching band the last 3 years: Conversation with my wife in 2015 - She says "I don't think they are doing enough with their drill - not sure if they can make finals at GN". They squeaked in. Conversation with my wife in 2016 - We just looked at each other with eyebrows raised - we were both thinking that show could be really good. And it got there at the end. Conversation with my wife in 2017 - me: "Do they have a chance to take the eagle?" her: "They have a chance". This will be a late blooming show, designed to peak at Indianapolis. But being clean now means more effect add later. I'm excited to finally see the show other than at a football game (so they'll have mostly completed props on the field). Of course, they have an away game on the 6th at Lufkin, so they'll be getting back home around 1 am Saturday morning. I vaguely remember being that young and being able to function at a high level with just 3 or 4 hours of sleep, so I think they'll be fine. I also prefer this to 2 years ago when they had a game Saturday night and therefore skipped finals. I know I am a heretic, but I prefer marching contests to football games...

I think Conroe ISD can compete with Keller ISD (and maybe Round Rock ISD) with The Woodlands, Oak Ridge, and College Park.

I am also really looking forward to the upcoming contests. I didn't splurge on San Antonio (got reserved seats), but I did buy the MFA Club seats for Indianapolis. If anyone needs some info about the area around Conroe/The Woodlands for next week let me know and I'll pass on what I can (I've lived here for 4 years - I know it can be tough finding things in The Woodlands, since the trees hide most things around here).

I also very much enjoyed "String Theory" in 2015. They sometimes take on very edgy and potentially controversial programs, but I think that is a good thing.

I find it interesting to look at the score changes between the first contest and SA. Quick check from last year (using the lowest prelim/finals at the first and highest prelim/finals at SA - oh, and shoutout to HornRank for the data): Flower Mound: 88.05 to 93.35 - +5.3 The Woodlands: 78.25 to 92.50 - +14.25 Leander: 79.05 to 91.55 - +12.5 Claudia Taylor Johnson: 82.30 to 91.20 - +8.9 Hebron: 83.20 to 91.65 - +8.45 Marcus: 84.20 to 92.05 - +7.85 Vandegrift: 80.05 to 92.45 - +12.4 Ronald Reagan: 82.50 to 90.90 - +8.4 Some went on to GN and further increased their scores. So I think the question is - do they have enough to add so that the 3 point gap is enough to maintain their relative placement? They certainly might, and it will be interesting to see how things play out (ok, little pun there, sorry...).

It is allowed. Rules are at http://www.musicforall.org/images/PDFs/2017/Fall/Rulebook/2017_Rulebook_-_FINAL.pdf. Section 21, part 21.03 allows amplification with no restriction on the application other than the usage, placement, running, power, etc. must all comply with the other rules. Practical implementation could be a challenge and if something goes wrong, then your show could be absolutely ruined. But it is up to the program to either take the risk or not.

Yeah. You can either pay for a year, or per month. You can pay for one month, then cancel before the next payment is due, and that is perfectly fine. You aren't locked into any agreement if you go monthly. You can then watch all the contests through this time in October without paying again - but you do have to remember to cancel!

Thank you for this response - I was hoping for something like this when I wrote my original comment (you exceeded my hopes - I find your comment to be outstanding). These things have so many moving parts that focusing on one or two things really misses the mark. My intent with the overrated comment was to bring to the front that money isn't a magic bullet. If it was, I think we would be talking about some other schools (I'll pick on DFW since I lived there for 9 years, but there are other areas of course) such as Southlake Carroll and/or Plano West or a class A example - Indian Hill, OH (I grew up in the Cincinnati area, so I can pick on them too ). I think that one very significant area that money does make a difference (and this could be tied to your inner-city example) is show design. Hiring high level designers can get expensive, and without a high level design you have a definite ceiling in your program. Speaking to The Woodlands (and don't forget we do split it with College Park), being part of the Conroe ISD spreads some of that benefit to the other schools nearby. There is a bigger mix here than people may realize, but with some enclaves of extreme wealth sprinkled throughout. I think one advantage to the area is availability of donations (individual and corporate) - it does seem that when the band has a need, and they publicize it, it tends to be attended to relatively quickly. That is most certainly a benefit of wealth in the area as well as a connection with the community. I like your linked comment about Adair County and Columbia. I've been there many times and the overall description is right on. It still amazes me what they have achieved in relative anonymity, since not too many people pay attention to the class A bands. I was also pleased last year with Williamstown, KY finishing 2nd in class A. I went to the "big" county school that surrounds Williamstown, and they have had a very nice small school program for a long time. I recall when I lived in the region, K-12 was in 1 building, and I think the K-12 enrollment was something like 300. I doubt that it is much bigger now. I also very much agree with your point about small schools competing at the very top levels - they really can't for many reasons (GE being a big one of those reasons). But even with that, there are plenty of AA, AAA, and AAAA bands that can't compete with them either even with the resources that may be available to them. I don't have any knowledge regarding bands in Japan, but I'll take an opportunity to investigate as it sounds interesting. I've been fortunate enough to travel to Asia a handful of times for business (mainly China), and the cultural differences are quite dramatic, as you indicate. I tell people that I hate traveling, but I love visiting. In other words, 14 hour+ plane rides suck (yes, in economy), but meeting new people and being exposed to their culture is a great thing. I love the dynamics of big bands, but I also love watching the small bands. For those that haven't watched them, you really should take a look, especially at GN semi-finals. The 4 class A bands that perform there (usually very early in the morning of course - I got up to watch them last year) are terrific programs, and they put on really good shows (think about how San Antonio reacted to St. James School's exhibition last year - they were very enjoyable to watch). The band that gets to perform at the end of finals from class A has really earned something, and they've had an exceedingly long day! Again, thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful response.

Ah. I've read about that time - thanks. Went looking for their show, and found 2008 and 2010, but not 2009. I would like to listen to that performance. Yes. Looking forward to going back. I've not been to San Antonio yet, so this will be the first time for me to be in person. Went to Indy in 2015 - wonderful experience. I think GN Saturday may be the single best day of marching band...

And yet they didn't win a single music judge? It would be great if their show is that engaging and well-performed. Even if we don't (or even if we do) outscore them, it will be a treat to see them 5 times during that week in November.

When they showed us the inspiration, it made me want to be able to plan a trip to the UK...

Interesting that money comes up - I think it is over-rated. I say that by looking at the school my wife attended and did marching band in - Adair County, KY. Trust me, that is absolutely not a wealthy school district - it is a small, rural, low population county in southern Kentucky that has been an absolute first rate program for at least as long as I've paid attention to marching band (roughly 1982). For them it is about the program and making the best of what is available. What money can get you is flash. Substance comes from the program and buy-in from the students. 35+ years of being one of the best 3 or so small bands in the country speaks for itself, and it isn't tied to money.

I figure since they made it public at the football game tonight, I can post it. The Woodlands - In the Garden of Cosmic Speculation

Our kids missed their regularly scheduled practices during the week school was out, but UIL allowed schools to have athletic and band practices at the discretion of local school administration (this info is all at http://www.uiltexas.org/athletics/hurricane-harvey for those curious). Our administration allowed practices, so they were back with sectionals on Thursday and Friday while school was out, and did a summer-band like day on Saturday to make up the drill time. So in essence our kids didn't miss any time, but did have about a week between drill sessions, so their cadence was messed up a bit.

I can remember marching practices and outdoor contests 30 years ago when I was in marching band in the midwest - just as AvonDad describes. October/November is the antithesis of the Texas heat - shivering on the field, struggling to stay in tune, and for we small bands, shivering in big group huddles in the open-back, metal stands with the windchill somewhere in the teens or lower while the contest finishes and awards are handed out. Memories.... I'm also guessing that's why I now see some contests hand out small band awards earlier, just so they don't have to stick around to the end in that type of weather.

Absolutely a Texas band can win - Hebron beat both Avon and Broken Arrow in GN semi-finals in 2015, and that was a major and well deserved accomplishment (I saw all 3 shows in-person and completely agreed with those placements). There are multiple programs in Texas that are talented and capable enough to win this contest. Avon is as well of course - they are outstanding.

As far as the venue goes - Woodforest Stadium is fine so the contest should go off as expected. TWHS had a rehearsal there yesterday and everything was good.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. These situations bring out the worst, but also, and most importantly, the best in people. The amount of support we've received and given is astounding! Our kids have been working hard (as all bands are), and with the way they finished strong last year, all of those that are back this year expect to improve their performance, and improve on GN 2015. This year's show has the potential to be very musically and visually outstanding when all the elements come together. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where they are next month - I've only seen/heard bits and pieces so far. A (poor) hint on concept - I'm a physical science nerd, and the show concept is one that I find intriguing in that light. And when the title comes out, it references a real place that I didn't know existed and now I would like to try to visit one day.

TWHS Band is very quiet about their status, program, show information, etc., and they request parents and boosters to be careful about what we post publicly. What I can say is that Conroe ISD reopened this week (full week), and the band has been back on their regularly scheduled practices. UIL has made accommodations for the area schools affected by Harvey, and these are being used per their guidelines. I can't really speculate much on any lasting effects, but in general, The Woodlands area was not as affected by the flooding as the immediate Houston area - partially due to being at the extreme southern part of the piney woods vs. the coastal plain area where Houston is located. Not to say there wasn't flooding, because there was, but it wasn't as widespread as what was covered in the news in other areas of the metro region.