SETXgal

Celina- Attention to detail for sure. If they lean or step out, the body & leg angles are the same. We wanted to know if the accordion player already knew how to play?

Is it 100% new judges for finals round? If it's a 7 judge panel, only 11 judges are listed.

The user who posted this one below has most of the finalists (except Lumberton finals round which is currently nowhere to be found). https://youtu.be/TBjAHBnTXk4?si=m6zUGPdXs9mGxPzf

It might have been smaller things then. Notes not getting held out long enough, not enough crescendo, or other things that judges looking at the sheet music would see but we fans wouldn't know was a problem. They were only 2 points behind North Lamar.

Dynamics are a very big score thing, so that alone could have cost them. If that was the main critique, fortunately that is fixable before state if they have enough focused & committed students listening to their directors. I don't think it could have been too bad for them to still place as high as they did. The bigger challenge may be if they lack experience playing in a dome setting? The Alamodome dome is a strange cave.... Looking forward to Farmersville & the other new names at State this year! Nine bands from last year will not be there.

I haven't watched videos yet, but were there any issues at all for them with standouts? (You know, that brass player or section that stands out at parts and is not in balance or in tune with the rest of the band...) That was an area the judges were very strict on. There were visual judges commenting on specific marchers and even mentioning if that marcher had multiple issues. With the level of competition, some were really strict on everything. I guess that's good info to have before State, but as fans in the stands or watching videos I know I am not usually analyzing marching at a specific marcher's level of performance.

I saw someone mention something about 4A using the 7 judge system instead of the 5 judge system, but I can't find where that was. Anyone know for sure?

No problem. Was just curious

Was it during the summer? Some of those conventions other directors are also leading workshops so they can't participate. Is theirs an all in one designer? I know several bands have different people for music, drill, choreo, and a coordinator.

Drawing spots for bottom half then top half is pretty common. The same was done in Area C.

If Celina's directors did a workshop on marching band, it could sell out in minutes. They have clearly cracked the code for high scores at UIL & have found their perfect team of composers, choreographers, drill designers, etc. If I were them I might be trying to get that team under an exclusivity contract, lol! They got ranked 1st in finals yesterday by all 5 judges. They have got something there, even if I don't quite understand it. At this point, it makes more sense to try to figure out their formula instead of everyone saying their recipe is too bland while they continue winning. Jmo

We only saw them once & it didn't stand out as park & bark, but it was a long day. They did do some challenging formations & transitions but I don't recall if they were playing. I will probably watch their video this week. They clearly know what the judges are looking for better than any of us in here. Sometimes formations look messy from lower down, but clean from up high where the judges are.

We thought SS would have had 1st too. Celina has clearly cracked the code though on how to design a top scoring UIL show even if it isn't as much of a crowd pleaser. Every judge ranked them 1st after finals. I've learned to go back & watch the videos taken from up high though. That often makes things a lot clearer.

Not hosing AT ALL. It is just where the new sheets & judges guidance go. I personally LOVEEEE DCI,& watching the big all out performances. Barbers Hill was one of the most memorable shows I have seen this year, but they didn't place first either. For now, bands may have to decide if they want more entertaining BOA & DCI style shows or UIL criteria high scoring state finalists shows. In theory, there is a perfect happy medium. It is going to take time to figure out where that happy medium under the new criteria is though. A lot of it was done to close the gap created by budget sizes. Personally, I think 4A Area & State should be divided into D1 & D2 schools. State Cheer competition is divided, and done on the same day & same location. Band could be too. If they did that maybe they could adjust judging back to somewhere in the middle.

While those are definitely more fun to watch, UIL is moving to dial in the focus on marching & music.