SpudMuffin

I though they had a fun show - and geez those kids can play. Wonder why they don't get any credit - this was their 12th time at the State contest. I went to a TMEA thingy that Hanna did as a highlighted program - their wind ensemble was stunning! This is what I learned; No private lesson program No extra teaching staff (no marching techs, no drum techs, no specialists) Most kids don't own an instrument. The band fee thingy is like $100 I was talking to a few of their parents at the contest -they do a lot of fund raising -the band directors teach the TMEA all-state music - no private lessons -band fee - they pay what they can -the head director has been there a long time -they don't focus on the "were gonna win" thingy - they focus on "let's give our personal best every time" How can programs like these expect to compete against the huge, well funded bands up state? Why don't these kids get a shout out too- everyone only talks about the big programs - but these kids are accomplishing a lot with very little Flame away

Area A & G both at the bottom. Those areas also get left out with the TMEA apportionments for All State chairs.

Do you have a prediction where JBA and Hanna will finish? What do you think keeps them out of top 20? Bias?

Your delusional. There's alot more than just "it's hard" How much movement while playing? How well played/balanced/transparent was the music? Maybe those bands make hard music sound easy? Get a grip. LF played at an amazingly high level - great sounds! Gotta improve the visual package. Alexander is always challenging - but I gotta agree with previous posts - big and sloppy. Hanna - jeez these kids can PLAY! What a fun show to watch - and OMG the kraken! Kinda smaller than before? ENHS - good to see them doing well - but needs more refinement to take it on to the next level United was interesting. Dunno what else to say. Weslaco had some good full band spots - but then a lot of spots when hardly anyone was playing during the marching (foot timing was a issue to) So.. IDK I think the judges prolly had the right call here. Really strong judging panel. Everybody has a opinion - let's hear them!

It's this sort of entitled, elitist attitude that offends the other parts of the state that are trying to achieve and maintain a high standard despite the challenges they face in their communities, that may not be present in others. (Lack of funding, no private lessons, no additional techs, smaller enrollments, etc. etc.) Why do you think those areas you mentioned deserve more representation simply based upon a pre-conceived perception of greatness? Flame away.

I dunno who'd agree with you. Did you actually see these bands live?

C'mon people - let's get a discussion going - or does nobody care about Area G? Are the experienced bands going to prevail? Or will there be some new programs to contend with? Several bands are certainly different than last year! What do you think will make the difference? Do you think it's fair that only 2 bands advance? Why does the rest of the state get more? Should any of these 6A's be worried in light of the recent Area G 5A fiasco?

I'm back!!!! Woot! Ok, ok, so here's what I have to say... Edinburg - not bad - needs to clean Weslaco - easy, cheesy - learn how to clean straight lines Harlingen - ho hum Los Fresnos - too old school JBA - big, loud, sloppy PSJA - cool idea United - not what it was Bville Vets - not ready for the big league Bville Hanna - always sounds good - always. but.. different visually this year (idk, new director?) Ed North - improvement this year The rest.... nope It's going to be close between four schools for the two spots. I think experience will take it. Flame away.

These schools aren't my alma mater, but I do follow what's happening in the RGV. I don't think this is a case of a school complaining because they felt they should have won but in reality the judges were correct ---NO , the judges really did get this wrong at Area G. The best band didn't advance. (I haven't heard anyone from that school actually complain). That school does have multiple all state/all region players and dominates the audition process. Watch the videos!!! You decide. But all I can say is there's a bunch of people that watched this contest and DON'T AGREE wit the outcome.

Agreed! Always really weird results. Last year United got screwed over, this year it was Hanna's turn. If you're from the RGV, everyone knows which band is the strongest. I feel bad for those guys. But...nothing will change. Nobody cares about Area G. If this would have happened in any of the metro-plex areas, there would be a huge uproar. UIL doesn't care about South Texas.

Final's Music Scores: Hanna 1, 5, 3 = 9 PSJA 3, 1, 6 =10 Weslaco 7, 2, 1 = 10 (One judge thinks they were the best playing band, one judge thought they were the worst) Los Fresnos 2, 3, 7 = 12 Edinburg 4, 4, 5 = 13 Alexander 5, 6, 4= 15 United 6, 7, 2 =15 So the best playing band comes in at the bottom, and the two lowest ranked in music make it to State????? Final's Visual Scores: Alexander 1, 2 = 3 United 3, 1 =4 PSJA 2, 4 =6 Edinburg 5, 3 =8 Weslaco 4, 6 =10 Los Fresnos 7, 5 = 12 Hanna 6, 7 = 13 I didn't think Hanna's visual effort was weak. They moved a lot - cleanly, at fast tempos. They also played AND marched at the same time, unlike some of the others. United did move well. Alexander's feet were DIRTY when they actually marched. Did anyone notice that Weslaco's drumline barely moved away from the 50 for a good chunk of their show? MANY of the people I was sitting by were shocked at the outcome. Hanna was 1 or 2 in most people's opinion - except for the esteemed judges. Opinions?

I heard a lot of people say the same thing. One band that scored well had drill with the battery mainly stationary on the 50. A few had extended sections of the show where a majority of the band didn’t play. Hanna sounded amazing! If you look at the music scores alone, they were in 1st place. Was the visual package really bad? Can’t figure out the crazy skewed results. Who judged?

Crazy results!!!! There’s no way this is an accurate reflection of what occurred. All the people “in the know” that were sitting by me were in shock. Wait to you see the recap sheet. It’s all over the place!

Is everyone excited for today??? Alexander has had a lot of new staff the past few years. Will that affect them? How will Harlingen do without the great RR helping out? Anyone else heard Los Fresnos? Killer brass. The directors at United and Hanna are old dudes. How do they stay current? Weslaco seems to want it really bad. Is their show at that level? PSJA and San Benito might surprise today. Can the Edinburg schools make it to the top??

Here's my prelims prediction: 1. United 2. Hanna 3. Alexander 4. Weslaco 5. PSJA 6. Los Fresnos 7. San Benito 8. Harlingen 9. Edinburg 10. Rivera 11. Edinburg North 12. La Joya 13. Misson 14. LBJ 15. United South Finals prediction: 1. United 2. Hanna 3. Alexander 4.PSJA 5. Los Fresnos 6. Weslaco 7. San Benito

It's almost contest day! This thread has been very quiet. Any discussion?? Who has the best GE show? Who has the hardest show? Who has the best music selections? Which band plays the best? Which band has the best drumline? Any idea who the judges will be? Let's get some ideas going!

My predictions for 6A Area G: 1. Laredo United 2. Brownsville Homer Hanna 3. Laredo Alexander I though I'd post this because nobody else in the state really talks about Area G.

I saw Region 28. Hanna was clearly way beyond everyone else. Show design, difficulty of the music, demand on the performer - all a notch above and all executed really well. And...OMG the way they played. I was really expecting Weslaco or San Benny to be the class act after seeing Hanna struggle early in the season. I predict United, Hanna, Alexander as the three advancing. Those Laredo schools are solid.

I saw Harlingen and Hanna at a football game tonight. Hanna was ON FIRE! Harlingen had a good trumpet soloist. Area is gonna be crazy

A shootout between which bands? Let's get some predictions and discussion going!!! I think United will take it followed by Hanna. After that it could be Alexander, San Benny, PSJA, or Los Fresnos. I've seen almost everyone perform. Some might play okay, but darn, some of these shows are BORING. A few of these bands have extend sections of their shows where THEY DON'T PLAY. One school starts with almost 2 minutes without a sound from the full ensemble. Take out all the stand and play with body wiggles, or stand and play then run to the new set, or the mega-loud electronics with sub drops, and what does that leave with some of these boring shows? The bands at the top will have high demand with a well crafted show. Who has the most enjoyable music?

Any predictions on ranking all 16 bands at Area G? Who will be the 7 finalists? The 3 making State? Any up and coming bands to watch out for? (Weslaco? San Benito? Los Fresnos?)

Yep! Free speech, right?

Saw the contest. United sounded great! Marched well too! Alexander.. meh. Those woodwinds are a little....aggressive??? Hanna's electronics didn't work at all. No solo mics, no subs, no synths, no mallet mics...ya nada. They got some spots where they're playing and marching with no battery percussion...how do they hold it together? Most entertaining band of the day was Cigarroa!!!! Easily the crowd favorite. San Benny and PSJA were decent. Harlingen was typical Harlingen but smaller. Wasn't the music that Martin HS played from Hanna's show last year???!!!??? Can't wait for Area! Throw Weslaco and Los Fresnos in the mix. Should be interesting.

I don't represent the Homer Hanna program, nor have I bashed them in any way. I am not from Brownsville and am only familiar with them from YouTube and seeing them at one contest. In fact, I haven't singled out any one program. I have asked for constructive content. I genuinely want to learn why some bands finish where they did.

That's a huge generalization. All three bands had vastly different show designs, concepts, and demands. All three also definitely don't sound the same.