[Major Event] UIL State Contest

[Danpod]

Good to see everyone playing so nicely now. I was about to open up the infamous Sacrificing Pit.

[TRUMPet]

  Quote

the bands who made state should be happy that they even made it cuz there are some bands who could only DREAM of making it to state.

 

I hate to be that guy, but i think that the bands that dont make it, isnt a lack of skill but a lack of support from the school board or a lack of confidence in the band by the directors. I was talkings to some friends from area non-finalist bands and when they heard how we reherse and treat our performances they were just kinda like "wow, i didnt realize it was that intense" *EDIT* apparently some directors are just afraid to push their bands like some of the top bands

Edited November 6, 2008 by TRUMPet

[treblemaker]

  TXBandNerd07 said:

right. and its not that you guys were ungrateful just you felt let down. as was bell. i mean im pretty sure that the kids were kicking and screaming and cursing cuz they lost. once the buzz calms down everyone will realize that their placing doesnt seem as band. 2nd best in the state is good. as is 4th. i mean think of all the other bands who didnt make finals, let alone even make state. the bands who made state should be happy that they even made it cuz there are some bands who could only DREAM of making it to state. congrats to all.

 

Exactly. Plenty of times have bands put out their best performance and have come up short. Some times your best is not THE best. That's how it goes in this sport. If everyone was perfect then how could you pick who was the best? It's all about how you feel coming off the field and if you felt good then that's all that matters really.

[Xenon]

  TRUMPet said:

I hate to be that guy, but i think that the bands that dont make it, isnt a lack of skill but a lack of support from the school board or a lack of confidence in the band by the directors. I was talkings to some friends from area non-finalist bands and when they heard how we reherse and treat our performances they were just kinda like "wow, i didnt realize it was that intense" *EDIT* apparently some directors are just afraid to push their bands like some of the top bands

 

Yes, that can be one reason for bands not placing higher than they do, but it is only one straw on the entire bail of hay.

 

You can have the best directors and the best community support and still not go anywhere if the members don't want it or just can't do it. There is only so much that pushing and support can do.

[Steeldrum]

Miscellaneous random thoughts and observations from the contest:

 

- Way to go district 6-5A!! Three bands in top 10 (Marcus, Coppell and Hebron). That's 50% of the district making finals! A tough football and band district (add Southlake, Flower Mound and Lewisville).

 

- Cedar Park was a fan favorite based on crowd reaction. I loved your sound. The volume that band projects is outstanding...I was looking for microphones on their horns! I think your marching may have held you back just a bit though, saw some drill problems including an out-of-step tuba right up front...

 

- Noticed the Bell director directing from the top of the lower deck....was that just emotion or was the band following him? Is that legal?

 

- Several birds flying around the stands.....left over props from Marcus 2006?

 

- Anybody else see the dropped bass clarinet? I think it was Marcus but can't remember.

 

- Top drumline award should go to Cedar Park (IMO). Love the 8 snares.

 

- I hate all plum shaking movements......lets ban them.

 

- Only saw one tuba take a dive this year...forgot which band (probably a good thing)

 

- Best prop award goes to Richland's Believe Banner. The way it "flew" over the field was very cool.

 

- Duncanville is one of the most consistent programs and joy to watch. They play and march beautifully every year, always playing an upbeat classical style.

 

- Toughest placement goes to Berkner....been there before. It hurts missing finals by 1 spot. They are a great program and will be back.

 

- Marcus parents are the best! Standing O for every band entering and exiting plus that cool chant...."alright!"

 

- Coppell had the greatest dynamic contrasts, from very soft spots to big loud full sound. And very clean musically considering how spread out they were on the field.

 

- Does Bell have a policy to not exhibit celebration? They clapped for the other bands but not themselves...pretty classy but let them celebrate.

 

- Funniest retreat salute goes to the Churchhill guard captain..I thought she was having a fit until I realized she was trying to get out of her straight jacket!

 

- Stayed in the same hotel as Bell, a very well behaved and good looking bunch of kids.

 

- Love the Hebron show, full of energy. The scream and Pyscho shrieks hurt my ears though.

 

- Hate the echo in the dome, can't they figure out a way to dampen the echo with some strategically placed velvet curtains or something?

 

- However, I do love that you can hear even the softest sounds from the bands..

 

- How about that UNT impact on Bohemian Rhapsody??!! That woke the crowd up, people started throwing babies and covering their ears.

 

- Speaking of babies, did you see the one with the NASCAR headphones on???

 

- And the UNT indoor drumline, WOW!! Any chance they don't win PASIC??

[TXBandNerd07]

  treblemaker said:

Exactly. Plenty of times have bands put out their best performance and have come up short. Some times your best is not THE best. That's how it goes in this sport. If everyone was perfect then how could you pick who was the best? It's all about how you feel coming off the field and if you felt good then that's all that matters really.

 

 

Yea. that happened with bell at nats '06. the remaining. everyone was in TEARS when we walked off that field at finals because we knew that was the best it would ever get and everyone put their heart and soul onto that field. we thought we had it in the bag.. but we ended up 2nd that year. so yea we were a little disappointed but like i said, those things happen. just the way it works.

[treblemaker]

  Steeldrum said:

- Speaking of babies, did you see the one with the NASCAR headphones on???

 

YES!! She was freaking ADORABLE!!

[TXBandNerd07]

- Does Bell have a policy to not exhibit celebration? They clapped for the other bands but not themselves...pretty classy but let them celebrate.

 

- Stayed in the same hotel as Bell, a very well behaved and good looking bunch of kids.

 

 

 

Bell's told not to clap for themselves. Directors instructions. it prevents certain individuals from over congratulating themselves (such as yelling and etc because we know that you cant just tell 300 something kids to just clap and expect them to do just that lol). some people think of it as being full of themselves but its not that at all. bell claps for other bands out of respect but they're told to stand still during retreat (BOA) and UIL announcements until its all over.

 

and believe me, you do NOT want to be the bell kid who misbehaves. The director will make your life.. um difficult. thats a nicer way to put it. its drilled into them from day one to behave and represent the school and the district.

[ftwdrummer]

  Steeldrum said:

- And the UNT indoor drumline, WOW!! Any chance they don't win PASIC??

 

I dunno...TCU's looking pretty good, and they won it two years ago...then again, I might be biased: I take private lessons from Dr. West, and Dave Hall (the guy who wrote their PASIC show) is an ABD at Paschal...

 

w00t. Just when you think everything has settled down, I go and start stirring the pot on a totally different gig.

[Xenon]

  Steeldrum said:

- Noticed the Bell director directing from the top of the lower deck....was that just emotion or was the band following him? Is that legal?

 

That's pure emotion. It just pours out of him like an open faucet. You should hear him breathing (shhhhhing) to the show too. And yes, directors conducting is legal.

[TXBandNerd07]

  Xenon said:

That's pure emotion. It just pours out of him like an open faucet. You should hear him breathing (shhhhhing) to the show too. And yes, directors conducting is legal.

 

 

lol thats just him... that guy is very emotional. but you know he loves his job. even though he got on my nerves with his lame stories about his dog or when he was younger, he still puts alot of energy and time and heart into the band. every single year. which is more than you can say for some directors when you see they are starting to get tired of what they do.

 

but yea, the directing was from the emotions.. lol Earnhart knows BOA rules and UIL rules. he wouldnt do something to put the band in the situation to get disqualified or even point deductions.

[borchnork]

  Steeldrum said:

Miscellaneous random thoughts and observations from the contest:

 

- Way to go district 6-5A!! Three bands in top 10 (Marcus, Coppell and Hebron). That's 50% of the district making finals! A tough football and band district (add Southlake, Flower Mound and Lewisville).

 

 

- Several birds flying around the stands.....left over props from Marcus 2006?

 

- Love the Hebron show, full of energy. The scream and Pyscho shrieks hurt my ears though.

 

- Hate the echo in the dome, can't they figure out a way to dampen the echo with some strategically placed velvet curtains or something?

 

- How about that UNT impact on Bohemian Rhapsody??!! That woke the crowd up, people started throwing babies and covering their ears.

Response (in order they were presented):

 

1. I noticed that too when my friend told me Prelims results. I found it highly ironic.

 

2. Haha, cute. But I noticed the birds too... I thought I was going crazy and was the only person that heard them.

 

3. Hebron's show was great! The eye thing creeeeppppped me out though! I felt like I was always being watched. lol.

 

4. The echo in the dome was such a killer when Centennial went to state last year. We weren't expecting that at all, so when we were performing at exhibition, I made sure to watch like crazy!!

 

5. Bohemian Rhapsody actually wasn't even part of that show originally. We just hadn't learned the original 3rd movement in time, so we replaced it with BR which we had done at a few football games earlier this year. Glad you liked it.

[CJTheTenor]

Just outta curiosity, why is the finals in the dome instead of outside?

[Steeldrum]

  borchnork said:

ANDDDD... Just curious.... What'd everybody think of the Green Brigade???

 

As I commented above the volume hit on Rhapsody was great! I also saw you guys at your Sounds of the Stadium indoor event at the coliseum.......seriously that was ear damaging loud! I really did see young kids and old men covering their ears and cry.

 

I enjoyed your show very much and always look forward to the college exhibition bands. I gotta say you guys are the best band I've seen in exhibition over the past few years. I have a video that I might be able to post to youtube sometime this week.

[borchnork]

  Steeldrum said:

I have a video that I might be able to post to youtube sometime this week.

 

If you do that, you'd be my favorite person EVER!

 

I haven't seen our show yet... =[

 

 

And does anybody have a link to Cedar Park's show from this past year?

[pokerface]

  CJTheTenor said:

Just outta curiosity, why is the finals in the dome instead of outside?

 

 

The better question is. What happened to 5A state in 2002?

[treblemaker]

  pokerface said:

The better question is. What happened to 5A state in 2002?

 

 

BAHAHAHA. I actually got my hands on a copy of that year and watched Danpod fall on his butt on repeat about 15 times. Oh and the woodlands tuba taco.

[CPFrntEns]

  borchnork said:

ANDDDD... Just curious.... What'd everybody think of the Green Brigade???

 

You guys were awesome! i think the entire stadium was singing under their breath to "Bohemian Rhapsody." And the indoor drumline was incredible! I agree with whoever said, "Any chance the don't win PASIC?" By the way, did the UIL head judge get pissed at you guys for going over your alloted time? That's what some of our band parents were saying.

[borchnork]

Yah, I heard that too... lol.

 

Oh well, it's not like we could change time...

 

 

And what's this about 5A state 2002?

[Steeldrum]

  CPFrntEns said:

By the way, did the UIL head judge get pissed at you guys for going over your alloted time? That's what some of our band parents were saying.

 

Yes, he or some official tried to get the drumline to stop due to time constraints. But there was no way they're were going to stop.....what are they gonna do, penalize them points?? It was funny how the crowd kept thinking the drumline was through after each movement and jumped up to cheer, then they'd start another movement and everybody would sit back down.

[CPSnare91]

yeah, the indoor drumline show was sweet. Any idea who y'all or they are competing with? I know TCU ( who is putting on a show at Leander hs tomorrow) but any other good lines going?

 

Must be hard to compete against a rennek (sp) line. Phantom was pretty much perfect this year

[borchnork]

  Steeldrum said:

Yes, he or some official tried to get the drumline to stop due to time constraints. But there was no way they're were going to stop.....what are they gonna do, penalize them points?? It was funny how the crowd kept thinking the drumline was through after each movement and jumped up to cheer, then they'd start another movement and everybody would sit back down.

 

 

OH! I totally saw that guy! I was sitting right next to him, and when the drum line finished, he like, went CRAZY trying to get us out of the stadium.

 

I was upset a little, cus I really wanted to hear the results.

[pokerface]

  borchnork said:

Yah, I heard that too... lol.

 

Oh well, it's not like we could change time...

 

 

And what's this about 5A state 2002?

 

 

2002 was the last year it was outdoors. There was no finals that year, only prelims. Prelims was barely able to keep going due to the rain and mudpit that was being marched in.

[treblemaker]

  borchnork said:

Yah, I heard that too... lol.

 

Oh well, it's not like we could change time...

 

 

And what's this about 5A state 2002?

 

 

Rain + Grass = AWESOME FALLS!!!

[borchnork]

  treblemaker said:

Rain + Grass = AWESOME FALLS!!!

 

 

haha, are we making this an Olympic sport now?

 

I heard that I think it was Reagan had a massive fall during prelims at state? this true?