UIL 4A State Marching Contest 2024 (Nov. 13)

[GarbagePatchKid]

29 minutes ago, SETXgal said:

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

I follow their band on Facebook and I feel confident the directors did a workshop either at tmea or tba. I don’t feel like going back through the page but I’m positive it was them. 
 

interestingly enough, their show designer also designs for North Lamar, and I think maybe Kaufman, wakeland, Ranchview, and Melissa. Maybe a few more big schools? I cannot remember. It definitely starts with a solid show design but is also about the band leadership, instruction, and execution. 

[thejitfromband]

4 minutes ago, GarbagePatchKid said:

I follow their band on Facebook and I feel confident the directors did a workshop either at tmea or tba. I don’t feel like going back through the page but I’m positive it was them. 
 

interestingly enough, their show designer also designs for North Lamar, and I think maybe Kaufman, Ranchview, and Melissa. Maybe a few more big schools? I cannot remember. It definitely starts with a solid show design but is also about the band leadership, instruction, and execution. 

Definitely the directors is what makes the biggest difference. The designer is also a big part. Farmersville used VanDoren this year which composes for cedar park, rouse, argyle and schools like that. And what a shocker Farmersville is having their best year yet. They just need next year to have better leadership by teachers and students if they want to make a streak of going to state.

[Apache]

2 hours ago, thejitfromband said:

Which other band had something like that then? I wasn't sitting in the stands for every single band...

North Lamar.

[Apache]

I was there for Celina. That wasn’t a boring show. I think you guys are just drinking haterade. 

[SETXgal]

13 minutes ago, GarbagePatchKid said:

I follow their band on Facebook and I feel confident the directors did a workshop either at tmea or tba. I don’t feel like going back through the page but I’m positive it was them. 
 

interestingly enough, their show designer also designs for North Lamar, and I think maybe Kaufman, Ranchview, and Melissa. Maybe a few more big schools? I cannot remember. It definitely starts with a solid show design but is also about the band leadership, instruction, and execution. 

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.

[GarbagePatchKid]

Just now, SETXgal said:

Was it during the summer? Some of those convebtions 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.

I honestly don’t know! I’m friends with one of the NL directors and he told me they share a designer. 

[SETXgal]

4 minutes ago, GarbagePatchKid said:

I honestly don’t know! I’m friends with one of the NL directors and he told me they share a designer. 

No problem. Was just curious

[cheeto2401]

16 hours ago, Liam Allen said:

How about we stop assuming that judges did things because a band was loud?  Until I hear a judge tape that says that(which by the way will never happen with a competent judge), I don’t buy that argument.  What I think is that the results, however offensive, are in fact the results and now we go to state where there will be more results that I probably won’t agree with.

For transparency, the usual CS grad disclaimer.  Also, and you can go to the area b page and see for yourself, I did not have them in first.  However, I do think that panther creek left the door open, especially in visual.  I was noticing a lot of small things that I did not expect to find in the favorite to win state.  CS took advantage of that.

As to the volume and size argument, Celina is about as far from both of those things as you can get and they’ve swept state the last two years.  Panther creek is not large, and they are likely going to win state this year.  Judges reward achievement regardless of size or volume.

well the thing is i looked at the scores for area b, and panther creek got a 4 in a music score, panther creek got a 1 in both visual scores.

[TexasStrangers]

4 hours ago, cheeto2401 said:

all i know was that area b finals order was top half goes last, and you can clearly see that in the prelims score sheet, robinson, aubrey, gatesville, panther creek, and china spring all went after the judges break in between finals, and they were all top 5 in prelims

It's pretty common thing in UIL events. If 10 schools go to finals then the schools that were 6th-10th draw to see who plays first in the first half of Finals and the schools that are 1-5 in Prelims draw to see who plays first in the 2nd half of Finals.  This is the reason why you want to have a good run in Prelims to not only get into Finals but get into the 2nd half. However, just because you get in the 2nd half or 1st half of finals does not guarantee anything. I have seen schools have an average prelims, perform in the first half and knock it out of the park and moved up to medal at the end. 

[sk1ee]

I think it is important to mention that 4a for several years has rewarded bands to play basic things very cleanly. We all saw it happen with argyle, and celina winning with the very same blueprint. Multiple bands have been punished for trying to go out and experiment against the normal cookie cutter type of show, for instance, China Spring, and over the years bands have realized that 4a will forever be this way. That is why bands, like China Spring, who have an amazing sound, while having flaws, has seemingly done worse compared to everyone else, need I remind you that in the past five years have transitioned from a Fully military style (2020 placing 10th in finals) and every year since implementing more and more of the corp “cookie cutter” style, they have achieved a better placement in finals. I think the whole “park and bark” comment made about sulphur springs and china spring, while yes they have started implementing that more and more, is very oblivious to how the 4a grading has shifted them. Bands like Celina have taken advantage of this system and won. Not trying to disregard anyone for their wins, no matter the year, all students work very hard on their shows and the results are the results. But using Celina as an example as the band who does not “park and bark” is outrageous. While Celina had been very clean, to say they have not contributed greatly to the 4a grading standards, is absurd. Congrats to all for their achievements, and I look forward to seeing all of the bands at state. 

 

P.S - it is worth noting I am a China Spring Alumni, and a part of the Military -> Corp style change. I can say that this year, while we aren’t going for our usual style, I am really enjoying the show and how cleanly you have done. However, do not get complacent. Carry the torch us alumni have passed onto you and give everyone a show no one can argue isn’t the best. It won’t be easy, but show them your Champion.

[Liam Allen]

3 hours ago, cheeto2401 said:

well the thing is i looked at the scores for area b, and panther creek got a 4 in a music score, panther creek got a 1 in both visual scores.

This was posted before the sheets were released.  I thought that PC’s viz was on a lower level than their music.  Tbh, I still think that PC should have won on the demand of their show alone.

[cheeto2401]

11 minutes ago, Liam Allen said:

This was posted before the sheets were released.  I thought that PC’s viz was on a lower level than their music.  Tbh, I still think that PC should have won on the demand of their show alone.

i agree on that last statement, but this does change the game for state finals, because sulphur springs also placed higher than celina in prelims in area c

[Liam Allen]

I think we all need to realize that the UIL sheets are designed around pure and simple cleanliness.  Whoever has the cleanest run wins.  I don’t necessarily agree with judging that way, but it is what it is.  Design, volume, emotional impact, etc have nothing to do with it(except for in the new general effect category at State).

[Liam Allen]

1 minute ago, cheeto2401 said:

i agree on that last statement, but this does change the game for state finals, because sulphur springs also placed higher than celina in prelims in area c

I don’t think that it actually changes anything.  What these flipping scores mean is that all four bands can win on any given run.  The top 4 are undoubtedly CS, PC, SS, and Celina.  The order is going to come down to performance.

[Bandnerd178]

4 hours ago, GarbagePatchKid said:

I follow their band on Facebook and I feel confident the directors did a workshop either at tmea or tba. I don’t feel like going back through the page but I’m positive it was them. 
 

interestingly enough, their show designer also designs for North Lamar, and I think maybe Kaufman, wakeland, Ranchview, and Melissa. Maybe a few more big schools? I cannot remember. It definitely starts with a solid show design but is also about the band leadership, instruction, and execution. 

They did a Tba clinic in July

[Bandnerd178]

On another note everyone is saying panther creek is going to win but tbh… It literally just depends on who gets the best draw. If celina performs first in the top 5 section at state they won’t win. But if they perform last or close to last I think they will definitely win. Vise verse with PC and SS. Also I feel like people are really looking over that Celina SWEPT a for sure top 5 very likely top 3 band at state…

[cheeto2401]

20 minutes ago, Liam Allen said:

I don’t think that it actually changes anything.  What these flipping scores mean is that all four bands can win on any given run.  The top 4 are undoubtedly CS, PC, SS, and Celina.  The order is going to come down to performance.

i didnt think about it this way, but now that i know this, this means state is going to be incredibly competitive this year

[Kmt1]

15 minutes ago, Bandnerd178 said:

On another note everyone is saying panther creek is going to win but tbh… It literally just depends on who gets the best draw. If celina performs first in the top 5 section at state they won’t win. But if they perform last or close to last I think they will definitely win. Vise verse with PC and SS. Also I feel like people are really looking over that Celina SWEPT a for sure top 5 very likely top 3 band at state…

https://www.uiltexas.org/files/music/4A_Finals_Perf._Draw.pdf
 

 

Celina will be going first in the Top Half of finals.  Silphur Springs or North Lamar will go last.    This has already been decided (if they are in top half after prelims) 

[thejitfromband]

Drawing order will definitely play a big part in band placements this year. Those top 10 bands will be amazing and extremely competitive with one another. We'll see how everything plays out.

[criscubes]

Just now, thejitfromband said:

Drawing order will definitely play a big part in band placements this year. Those top 10 bands will be amazing and extremely competitive with one another. We'll see how everything plays out.

so what do we think the top 10 bands will be?

[bandnerd310]

13 minutes ago, Kmt1 said:

https://www.uiltexas.org/files/music/4A_Finals_Perf._Draw.pdf
 

 

Celina will be going first in the Top Half of finals.  Silphur Springs or North Lamar will go last.    This has already been decided (if they are in top half after prelims) 

I wonder if North Lamar will go last at finals. I think that have a good chance at finals but with the 1st performance of the day do yall really think they can pull off top 5 from that early of a performance? I just wish them the best especially after the same situation happened 2 years ago where they were the first performance of the day.

[thejitfromband]

11 minutes ago, criscubes said:

so what do we think the top 10 bands will be?

Not sure yet but definitely the top 5 from area c. Panther Creek, China Spring, and Gatesville from area b. Davenport and Calallen and some other bands. I have yet to watch all the shows so I have no idea right now. I just know area c will do some damage at state.

[rouseglazer1]

5 hours ago, Apache said:

haterade. 

this is iconic im using this

[Bandnerd178]

54 minutes ago, Kmt1 said:

https://www.uiltexas.org/files/music/4A_Finals_Perf._Draw.pdf
 

 

Celina will be going first in the Top Half of finals.  Silphur Springs or North Lamar will go last.    This has already been decided (if they are in top half after prelims) 

That’s a huge plus for all the other bands… Is it like last year where the top 5 bands perform last? so would Celina perform 5th or would they perform 1st out of the 10.

[bandnerd310]

25 minutes ago, Bandnerd178 said:

That’s a huge plus for all the other bands… Is it like last year where the top 5 bands perform last? so would Celina perform 5th or would they perform 1st out of the 10.

if Celina were to get top 5 in prelims they would perform 6th in finals, if the got 6th-10th in prelims they would go first in finals if I’m correct.