Scoring and Level of Difficulty>

[Zko2000]

It's been a while, but now that my daughter is in HS marching band, I've seen a lot of shows recently. I was a band director in a previous life, so I'm not just an obsessed band parent (I am an obsessed band parent but probably a little more knowledgeable than some.) Anyway, I've noticed that the bands with the best music scores typically stand and play quite a bit. I found myself thinking, "Wow, they sound great!" Then I think, "Well, of course they sound great, they're not moving." The percussion or soloists play while the band marches to a new spot. Band reaches new spots, and every plays. It sounds great. I've also seen this happen with sections. Brass plays, woodwinds march and vice versa. I haven't gone so far as to time it. It's just general sense. These same bands, however, are not typically penalized in their marching scores.

 

Here is my question: How much does level of difficulty of a drill affect scoring at Area or State levels? Are the stand and play bands (this seems to be the majority) going to be penalized? Are the bands with the more difficult shows (almost always march and play) going to be rewarded in their marching scores. I know that certain maneuvers are more challenging and that playing while executing them adds more difficulty, but is this rewarded? Are bands that "push the envelope" going to stand out among the others?

 

Appreciate your thoughts.

[drummerjoe]

  Zko2000 said:

It's been a while, but now that my daughter is in HS marching band, I've seen a lot of shows recently. I was a band director in a previous life, so I'm not just an obsessed band parent (I am an obsessed band parent but probably a little more knowledgeable than some.) Anyway, I've noticed that the bands with the best music scores typically stand and play quite a bit. I found myself thinking, "Wow, they sound great!" Then I think, "Well, of course they sound great, they're not moving." The percussion or soloists play while the band marches to a new spot. Band reaches new spots, and every plays. It sounds great. I've also seen this happen with sections. Brass plays, woodwinds march and vice versa. I haven't gone so far as to time it. It's just general sense. These same bands, however, are not typically penalized in their marching scores.

 

Here is my question: How much does level of difficulty of a drill affect scoring at Area or State levels? Are the stand and play bands (this seems to be the majority) going to be penalized? Are the bands with the more difficult shows (almost always march and play) going to be rewarded in their marching scores. I know that certain maneuvers are more challenging and that playing while executing them adds more difficulty, but is this rewarded? Are bands that "push the envelope" going to stand out among the others?

 

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

Usually not at all. In UIL, the judges only see if you are doing what you are doing well. That just means if you perform your show well, then you will do well. Difficulty of the show will often impress a judge though, so if a band with a more difficult show performs it equally as well as a band with a less difficult show, then the former would place better. This isn't the case at other contests, though. Many contests do incorporate difficulty into the scoring method.

Edited November 6, 2011 by drummerjoe

[longhornsax]

I knew we were missing a debate subject this season! Almost forgot about this one.

[whitewing09]

I've always wondered this.

 

Is Bell really clean enough to be 2nd for 5A? It always seems to me that Coppell is cleaner. I was wondering if bands are awarded points for difficulty. That's what it seems like in 5A, because State Finals always seems to be a mix of really clean bands with easier shows and not as clean bands with more complex and difficult shows.

[borchnork]

  Zko2000 said:

It's been a while, but now that my daughter is in HS marching band, I've seen a lot of shows recently. I was a band director in a previous life, so I'm not just an obsessed band parent (I am an obsessed band parent but probably a little more knowledgeable than some.) Anyway, I've noticed that the bands with the best music scores typically stand and play quite a bit. I found myself thinking, "Wow, they sound great!" Then I think, "Well, of course they sound great, they're not moving." The percussion or soloists play while the band marches to a new spot. Band reaches new spots, and every plays. It sounds great. I've also seen this happen with sections. Brass plays, woodwinds march and vice versa. I haven't gone so far as to time it. It's just general sense. These same bands, however, are not typically penalized in their marching scores.

 

Here is my question: How much does level of difficulty of a drill affect scoring at Area or State levels? Are the stand and play bands (this seems to be the majority) going to be penalized? Are the bands with the more difficult shows (almost always march and play) going to be rewarded in their marching scores. I know that certain maneuvers are more challenging and that playing while executing them adds more difficulty, but is this rewarded? Are bands that "push the envelope" going to stand out among the others?

 

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

I definitely think that difficulty influences a judges score. I have seen SEVERAL really good and clean shows not place so high against bands that are just a tad dirtier, and not as musically strong but with a CRAZY difficult show.

 

Do I think it's fair? Well it depends. The level of difficulty should definitely be a factor in my opinion. But if a band cannot perform a difficult show, then I think they should receive scores reflecting that lack of stability. However, if a band performs a more difficult show at the same caliber as a band with a less difficult show, then give credit where credit is due.

[Donezo]

  whitewing09 said:

I've always wondered this.

 

Is Bell really clean enough to be 2nd for 5A? It always seems to me that Coppell is cleaner. I was wondering if bands are awarded points for difficulty. That's what it seems like in 5A, because State Finals always seems to be a mix of really clean bands with easier shows and not as clean bands with more complex and difficult shows.

 

Coppell gets nailed by some music judges for their very in your face ensemble sound (see last year's state prelims) and they can often be a bit dirty visually (relative to a band like Marcus or Bell.) That said, I think they should have come in third last time around.

[Jo Ann]

I have seen LOTS of shows this season, and I can honestly say that the shows where the band is just standing still and playing are the real snoozers. I find myself looking at the clock wanting the show to be over since it is boring me to death. Those shows with a lot of movememt and playing at the same time, I feel should be scored with a difficulty level factor, yet they do need to do it cleanly and precisely. The shows with lots of fast movement are definitely more enjoyable, as far as I am concerned.

  Zko2000 said:

It's been a while, but now that my daughter is in HS marching band, I've seen a lot of shows recently. I was a band director in a previous life, so I'm not just an obsessed band parent (I am an obsessed band parent but probably a little more knowledgeable than some.) Anyway, I've noticed that the bands with the best music scores typically stand and play quite a bit. I found myself thinking, "Wow, they sound great!" Then I think, "Well, of course they sound great, they're not moving." The percussion or soloists play while the band marches to a new spot. Band reaches new spots, and every plays. It sounds great. I've also seen this happen with sections. Brass plays, woodwinds march and vice versa. I haven't gone so far as to time it. It's just general sense. These same bands, however, are not typically penalized in their marching scores.

 

Here is my question: How much does level of difficulty of a drill affect scoring at Area or State levels? Are the stand and play bands (this seems to be the majority) going to be penalized? Are the bands with the more difficult shows (almost always march and play) going to be rewarded in their marching scores. I know that certain maneuvers are more challenging and that playing while executing them adds more difficulty, but is this rewarded? Are bands that "push the envelope" going to stand out among the others?

 

Appreciate your thoughts.

[whitewing09]

  Donezo said:

Coppell gets nailed by some music judges for their very in your face ensemble sound (see last year's state prelims) and they can often be a bit dirty visually (relative to a band like Marcus or Bell.) That said, I think they should have come in third last time around.

 

 

See I wish that I saw these things. For some reason it's just ingrained into my head= Coppell impeccably clean. Don't know why.

I guess it's really hard for me to see the flaws at the top level. Maybe Bell's show looks so difficult to me that I expect it to be dirtier than it actually is.

[Donezo]

Coppell has had their detractors on the execution front back to their 4A days, but they've always done well in the UIL circuit largely because they play the crap out of very difficult music. The clearest examples of stellar execution of somewhat simpler material for me is Duncanville in the early 00's and Dripping Springs now. Maybe even Marcus to a lesser extent.

Edited November 7, 2011 by Donezo