mellopwn1

Wow, that is close! Really, with only one judge tipping the scale in Spring's favor, the two could completely flip flop at the Area D hearing. I really have nothing to base this off of, but I am going to predict that one school from Region 20 (Duncanville, probably) and one school from Region 9 (who knows which one) will be advancing to state. I just have a feeling.

I'm very interested in the ordinal results from Region 9, if Anyone has them. My guess is that the results were all over the place (rightfully so). Westfield and College Park were both probably right up there with TW and Spring.

I really, really think that this area needs to be realigned for this reason exactly. Not only does it cover a ridiculous area (North Houston, Austin, AND Parts of Dallas), but it is simply just too top heavy. It's probably the hardest Area in Texas to make State for TMEA Honor Band and TMEA All-State. It doesn't make sense for Region 9 or Region 20 to be together geographically or competitively. At least to me. I think it would be better if TMEA used UIL alignment. Or if they dont want to mess with the Areas, TMEA should at least revise the score sheets in some way that would allow more than two bands advance from Region or Area if they are equally outstanding (I know there is a rule for this in the event of a tie, but that almost never happens). Maybe I'm being unrealistic, though. What happened to Round Rock? P.S. do you know anything about Region 12 or 18? The hearing for both was about a week ago.

First of all, let me say that all of these videos are filmed on a parent's camcorder, which explains why they are by no means perfect (heck, even decent) recordings. Most camcorders have auto-leveling for volume, which means that it dynamically adjusts the recording to maintain a relatively consistent volume throughout (or at least something like that, I'm no audio expert). Usually this ends up with the camera picking up whatever is the loudest Or highest sound (that's why some of these recordings have moments of "flute annihilation" or overly dominant melody). Long story short, auto-leveling doesnt accurately represent the balance of an ensemble and often buries he embellishments or subtleties of the music. So just take each recording with a grain of salt; each group sounds much better on a professional recording or live. Nevertheless: I have made it quite clear that I'm a Berkner fanboy, but seriously...listen to that Hindemith. They sound STUPIDLY good on something so SO difficult. It's also incredibly refreshing that they had this transcription commissioned...a nice change of pace from the same-ole, same-ole repertoire that we hear every Honor Band cycle (*cough* *cough* Aegean Festival Overture, Varaints on a Medieval Tune, I'm looking at you). Seems like Merlin Patterson's new transcription of Pictures is quite popular this year, and Duncanville does quite well with it. The piece is so demanding and, at times, so exposed! Something tells me that this isnttheirbest recording, but even if it is, D-Ville's tradition of concert band excellence (and often DOMINATION) shows through. Undoubtedly, CTJ is a rising superstar on and off the marching field. They're what? 3, maybe 4 years old and they sound like that? Insane. They make Polvetsian Dances sound like child's play, which it most certainly is not. And outstanding soloists, too! Jared Lipman is doing a whole lot of right in this program, for sure... We might be seeing these guys at the state level of Honor Band this year. Okay, okay, okay...WOW. The Woodlands threw down on Trittico. All around, the brass just sounds magnificent (especially Mvt. 3). I have heard COUNTLESS schools attempt to play Trittico and fall flat on their collective faces...thank you T-Dub for not letting me down. You guys achieved something very special. The march is...a march. I could care less (it's the genre, not the performance--I promise!). The Till Eulenspiegel is QUITE good. There are moments of pure brilliance where other sections lose a bit of their sheen. Still, definitely the best high school Till I've heard to date (and I have heard 5 or 6 versions, although Berkner is not one of them). It would truly be a shame if this fantastic group doesn't make it past Region tomorrow...it's never guaranteed when there is College Park, Westfield, Spring, and Dekaney to contend with. Good 'ol Langham. Honestly, I'm not a fan of the selection and It doesn't showcase the talent of the group as well as it could, but the blood is most definitely still there. This is a top-notch ensemble, no doubt. I feel like with Marching Band we tend to forget about the schools in the "boondocks" that aren't always in the spotlight. That's why Honor Band is awesome for schools like Lopez. They can strut their stuff (in this case playing Scheherazade, on of my all time favorites) and be on an equal playing field with the household names of the band world like Marcus and Berkner and such. Admirable performance! I just wish it wasn't an iPhone video! IN CONCLUSION:I get pretty fired up over the whole Honor Band process, of you can't already tell. And why shouldn't I? The depth of quality and breadth f literature present in Texas concert bands is unprecedented and honestly intimidating. No matter who comes out on top, we need to remember that. P.S. excuse some minor typos or missing letters...I did this on an IPad and autocorrect is a fickle beast.

Berkner attended in December 2011, so no. But there are TONS of Texas groups going: http://www.midwestclinic.org/2012-Midwest-...Performers.html

I am calling Berkner to win 5A. I just heard their recordings and if any other school can beat them, then I would honestly be amazed. Granted, they had a HUGE, HUGE advantage by being invited to the Midwest Clinic, which means that their top group has been playing together on the same music likely since last summer (while most groups start concert band on their UIL program after Marching season ends). Still, that doesn't take away from how astounding they sound. It's crazy.

UIL? Pageantry? What?!

I checked the recaps for the 2005 La Joya Regional (which was actually held). On first reaction I wanted to say that they never brought the regional back after that because there wasn't enough interest, but 23 bands participated in prelims....that's more than enough. BOA holds regionals in the NE with sometimes only 15 or 16 bands. My only other guess is that maybe they didn't find it cost effective to hold 4 regionals in the same state. To be fair, most of the bands that competed that year DO compete annually at San Antonio, so they aren't in need of a 2nd regional.

Will Lake Travis be able to compete in UIL for 5A this coming season? Or will they have to wait a cycle? Also, moving to 4A is a good thing for Leander. If they continue to be as good as this past year, I think they have a solid shot at 4A state finals when they're usually boxed out by stiff competition in 5A.

Even if there was something wonky with the individual judges (seems there was), they were low across the board (indicated by Brazoswood who placed something like 31 and The Woodlands who placed 3rd in prelims, both with significantly lower individual scores) so it probably didn't screw the overall end result up too much, if at all.

If you listened to the BOA Break Ranks podcast, you would know that those ferris wheels were designed and built by parents who are mechanical engineers, so, really, the only cost was the materials which cannot be more than a thousand dollars or so, a drop in the bucket for a program like Marcus.

Two things: Lucas Oil, the stadium for Grand Nationals, and (I assume) the Georgia Dome and Edwards Jones Stadium (BOA Atlanta and St. Louis) have "incorrect" hashes. The painted hashes on those fields are "pro" hashes. Texas bands use NCAA hashes, while most other states use "high school" hashes. To make sure everybody has a reference, BOA usually just places a piece of tape indicating the non-painted hashes for the bands whose normal field references aren't there on every yard line. It's obnoxious and sometimes confusing, but it's what they do, and really probably the only thing they can. The excuse that I've always heard is that Cowboy stadium is prohibitively expensive. So expensive that BOA could never break even renting it out, especially for an event as small as BOA Arlington like you suggest.

I'm no entirely positive about this, but I think I remember hearing that their homecoming was the night of BOA Houston and they tried to attend Lone Star Preview, but it filled up so they got wait-listed. Despite whether that's true or not, I'm very excited to see them this weekend!!!!

Not unless you count UIL region where they got a 1....if that counts for anything.

I think that despite their absence from competitive marching band thus far in 2011, Spring will make a strong finish both here at San Antonio and in Indianapolis. Based on past performance and the fact that they will have the extra drive of returning to nationals to rehash their iconic 1993 championship show will give them the edge required to make the middle of finals on Saturday and most likely break top 12 next week.

I think all of your predictions there are pretty likely! Nothing greedy about it!

Maybe they will get off because of the situation you describe....I just didn't know you could practice ten hours a week and go to every football game and competition performing a vital function and not be "part" of the marching band.

Ha, if you think a .80 gap between 1st and 2nd is small I cant wait to see your face when the scores for San Antonio come out next week!

Okay, there are a lot of band programs that perform at a fantastically high level in relatively poor communities that spend large sums of FUNDRAISED money. Bands spend a lot of money these days to be great, but they don't suck it out of the kids pockets, but rather corporate sponsors and frequent and large scale fundraising. Even with that, expensive drill writers and arrangers and huge props don't guarantee you a win, either.

CTJ is my personal pick for fifth....their show is incredibly intense and they have a great sound! Their guard is ON FIRE as well.

It doesnt make sense to me how a kid not "enrolled in band" operates the soundboard. Even if they don't play an instrument,I think they would still be part of the auxiliary, much like a color guard member or something. Coppell wasn't punished probably because they didn't want to punish 300 kids for the mistake of an adult. This is the kids fault....it's pretty hard to not know you're failing a class and even of they somehow didn't, it's their responsibility to find out.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Bowie, but I think their Prelims run was stronger than finals. I think Tarpon might take it tonight considering I think they had a much BETTER run than in prelims, but I haven't counted Bowie out quite yet. Can't wait for results!

I watched that video (link above) posted by RWood earlier today of CP's Prelims performance THIS MORNING, and I can't see how they sound like a 7th place band at the Area Level.... Finals is the time for redemption, I suppose.

Inelligibility is inelligibility, simple as that. No pass, no play (what I believe is a law?) should trump the Coppell situation you talk of because that is just a rule of the competition and a minor one at that. I think it would be kind of a slap in the face to The Woodlands and all the other groups who unknowingly marched ineligibles and were DQ'd. That's my view, though. It would be awful for Poteet, but it would be consistent on UIL's part.

THOSE THINGS FREAK ME OUT.