mellopwn1

This is an EXCELLENT point. Last year at a local contest I watched a band play a show with a fantastic repertoire (1812 Overture, Sleep, and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) and had a decently difficult visual book. IT WAS THE MOST BORING THING I HAD EVER SEEN IN MY EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING MARCHING SHOWS. The music was mechanical and out of tune, but all the notes were correct. The body movements and step outs were lifeless "hokey pokey-esque" flailing of limbs, and did not communicate the expressive, graceful, or powerful intent that the designers had in mind AT ALL when the show was being written. It is all these reasons why this band did not make finals at the festival. This is testament to the fact that you can be given the opportunities for success by your directors and designers but then you simply don't put an ounce of feeling into it. It was mechanically correct in almost every way, it was just boring as heck (yes, they made 1812 boring...). Also, I agree with Xenon that cost is a huge limiting factor. My friend took a class at Tanglewood this summer about the economics of band programs and it turns out that The Woodlands spends ~$800,000 in a year when they attend Grand Nationals (this is apparently the most in nation, $300,000 ahead of #2, Avon High School, who spends $500,000 a year). This is just excessive for anyone, especially a band that is not THE best. I don't even want to imagine what the band fees for The Woodlands must be!!! Mine are only like $300 a year.... UIL, in my opinion, should create a separate division for military bands. Why should they be made to compete against corps bands? They are two COMPLETELY different things. Each style has different ideals and paradigm. Military is marches and perfect visual, corps is...everything else. They aren't the same and, as such, they shouldn't be judged the same. The only one I know of that has ever made state finals is Kingwood back in the 90s, which goes to show that they really don't have much of an opportunity for success. They should have their own Area and State competitions that tailor to their specific needs. That's just me though.

I am pretty sure that there is. It would be kind of like autotune for an instrument. I don't know any specifics though. My only question is to why you would want to do this...?

Well then I take it back! It's just something I've been hearing. One can dream I suppose

There was a video of them up a few days ago but it got taken down before I caught wind of it I am really curious to see what it is this year. Rumor has it that they have abandoned their story style shows and are returning to their old "march so fast and play so awesome your jaw drops for 10 minutes" type of show.

We have to leave at 2 AM for BOA San Antonio after playing an away game. Ahhhhh the wonders of living in Dallas

I honestly could not agree more! Last year's trumpet feature was SICK! But this year they added the mellos AND baritones?!?!?! I envy them for getting two awesome features two years in a row. The show is looking great for such an early stage. The drill and body movement for both the band and colorguard is PERFECT for the music (the sashays towards the end were awesome!!!!), which to my surprise is executed very well. I am NO fan of rock music being used in marching shows (e.g. Carmel 2002 and Westfield 2007 <--I think) but it flows with the Beethoven seamlessly. I can honestly say that I don't really want them to "three-peat" Grand Nationals, but it seems to be a definite possibility. One thing I had issue with was the uniforms?!?! I don't like the puffy shirt (Seinfeld haha) look compared to the sleekness of last year. It looks stupid...

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?! hahahaha. We just started part 3 of 4 a couple days ago. We won't finish the drill until right before our first regional and then we change parts/add choreography/rewrite some drill until our last competition....I honestly can't even imagine how a school can learn a show that fast. Is it a ridiculously small amount of sets or do they just slop together the usual 120 sets as fast as they humanly can and clean it? The latter would be so stressful...haha

The first thing I do every year when I get a new school owned mello/concert horn is snake it out with some soap and then dump rubbing alcohol through it....its disgusting. There is an accumulation of YEARS of OTHER students food particles from after lunch and snacks on top of the normal gunk. This doesn't surprise me one bit. haha.

It's slightly better there only because it pulls in people from Indiana and Ohio, etc. and not just Texas. Eve then, it's just mainly Dan Balash, Skramp, and maybe 30 other regular posters, along with the usual "MY B@|\|d R0XXXX" people. haha. I just don't think we will ever see these band forums back to what they used to be where you met life long friends and it was more of a social occasion than just MARCHING, MARCHING, MARCHING. The BOA forums back in the days of JRIADA and Skrampsnewsplace were the place to be. I'm sure Danpod could tell loads of stories....haha.

http://www.musicforall.org/resources/results/item/21 Cedar Park made 5th last year. A VERY strong 5th, mind you, but 5t.

Most directors don't care if the kids don't make an **** of themselves...which is sadly what usually happens.

I post over on the boa forums and read these quite often too, so I guess I might start posting here in addition! Anyway, I asked the same question over there and in response a fellow poster posted a link to a youtube video (that sadly was removed at request of The Woodlands' directors. It's ridiculous really, it's not as if we don't know they are going to have a show this year, but I digress.) of their first halftime performance! The announcements before the performance said they were performing Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Stravinsky's "Petrushka" which is VERY exciting. With the departure of two band directors and two guard directors, I was worried about the state of their program and, for the most part, my worries have been put to rest. They are looking quite good for this early and the music is sounding fantastic. The Woodlands guard, which has experienced somewhat of a downward spiral in quality since 2006, seems to have improved under the new director. Spins were in sync, no rifle drops, etc. Very impressive. I have been following them for several years since we are in the region, and I have enjoyed all of their shows with the exception of 2005 (Competition) and 2008 (Rhapsody)...those honestly were complete (negative) departures from the programs usual level of execution and design. Both of those were "off" years when they didn't go to GN. As this is one of those years, I hope their show doesn't go the same route. From what i have seen, it doesn't seem to be like it will, but only time will tell. P.S., if anyone from The Woodlands wishes me to remove this post, it would be my pleasure.