BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I am one of the drum-captains for Bluefield High School this year and I saw Richland's halftime show at the George Wythe competition and I did not appreciate their level of musicianship. More that 60% of their show was done by soundboard and it was a huge visual show. Last time I checked, band was about making music not putting up huge pictures of cd's and motherboards. In our band program, we win with our superior level of musicianship and sharpness on the field. That apparently works because Richland's only out-scored us my 8/10 of a point. That is astonishing given the shear size of their band and all their visual aids in their show. I thought Ashe County had a much better show than Richland's because they actually played their instruments and didn't just stand out their and walk around. This is my senior year and I was extremely dissappointed to see a non-musically challenging competition show beat good musical performances by not only Bluefield's band but many other bands at that competition. [/ QUOTE ] Sore Loser? All the visual effects are part of a halftime show...hence the category called general effect, which includes all of the visual effects and things like that. If the band didn't have good musicianship and marching, then they wouldn't have scored so well in those categories, which make-up much more of the over all score than the general effect category. Why would the judges even score a band for "general effect" if it wasn't part of a marching band show. Go to a BOA (Bands of America) competition and see if all they do is march around and play music. Trust me, they don't. And they are some of the best high school marching bands in the world. Also, I almost garuntee that the Richlands show had about twice as many sets as your alls show had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Do you not realize that the band program is not only about pleasing crowds, but educating young musicians. The band does do many things after football season. Oh and by the way band is tougher than football. [/ QUOTE ] You're right abour that too. Band is in no way more physically challenging than any sport. Maybe more mentally challenging, but not physical. lmao..that's your opinion that band is harder than football but i dont see the band on the track running sprints everyday and running the bleachers, and the bands. i dont see the band in the weight room working their butts off either. and last off i dont even see the band practicing at all right now, so if you think football is easier than band, come out one day to football practice or any other ACTUAL sport and i'll guarantee you will change your opinion. i saw the band practice almost everyday this year, no way it is harder than football or any other sport [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fresh_Prince 10 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 [ [/ QUOTE ] Sore Loser? All the visual effects are part of a halftime show...hence the category called general effect, which includes all of the visual effects and things like that. If the band didn't have good musicianship and marching, then they wouldn't have scored so well in those categories, which make-up much more of the over all score than the general effect category. Why would the judges even score a band for "general effect" if it wasn't part of a marching band show. Go to a BOA (Bands of America) competition and see if all they do is march around and play music. Trust me, they don't. And they are some of the best high school marching bands in the world. Also, I almost garuntee that the Richlands show had about twice as many sets as your alls show had. [/ QUOTE ] no offense to you or anything cause i dont know anything about scoring in band, but personally i thought our half time show wasnt very good. i mean it was half computer generated stuff and then when they actually played, i dint think it sounded very good, but it must sound different to some people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EH31 2,526 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 [ QUOTE ] lmao..that's your opinion that band is harder than football but i dont see the band on the track running sprints everyday and running the bleachers, and the bands. i dont see the band in the weight room working their butts off either. and last off i dont even see the band practicing at all right now, so if you think football is easier than band, come out one day to football practice or any other ACTUAL sport and i'll guarantee you will change your opinion. i saw the band practice almost everyday this year, no way it is harder than football or any other sport [/ QUOTE ]i don't know..richland's band instructor is pretty hardcore haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL_Cc_LB34 10 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Do you not realize that the band program is not only about pleasing crowds, but educating young musicians. The band does do many things after football season. Oh and by the way band is tougher than football. [/ QUOTE ] nothing against band or anything but i would definitley take back that statement cuz no way is band tougher than football but if you'd like to explain your reasoning on that i'd like to hear it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Oh. You don't see the band practicing right now? Well if you would pay attention you would know that the band has preformances throughout the year. By the way we do run and you should try marching around for 4 hours with a 30 pound drum on your back in 95 degree heat. You should do more homework before you argue about something like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 We didn't need any sets. At the George Wythe competition we outscores Richland's in every technical category. We don't need sets to be a good band, we use our musical ability to do well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 For one, I am a senior and I have been in 387 performances throughout my career. Each of those take countless hours of practice and preperation. The band practices year round and is constantly being challenged mentally and physically. In football you have one of two jobs. Hit people or run away from people that can hit you. People think that takes skill. You should try having practice 3 hours a day everyday and performing three to four times a week sometimes. I am a huge football fan and I know many football players. They all can't understand how we dedicate so much of our time to one thing. You football guys do two things run and lift weights. I mean that is basically it. My drumline does both of those things. We run on a regular basis and we have to march around for 4 hours at a time carrying a 35 pound drum on our backs. It takes a lot to not breakdown and quit. You should strap a drum on your back, memorize an entire halftime show (music nad movements) and see which is harder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Sore Loser? All the visual effects are part of a halftime show...hence the category called general effect, which includes all of the visual effects and things like that. If the band didn't have good musicianship and marching, then they wouldn't have scored so well in those categories, which make-up much more of the over all score than the general effect category. Why would the judges even score a band for "general effect" if it wasn't part of a marching band show. Go to a BOA (Bands of America) competition and see if all they do is march around and play music. Trust me, they don't. And they are some of the best high school marching bands in the world. Also, I almost garuntee that the Richlands show had about twice as many sets as your alls show had. [/ QUOTE ] no offense to you or anything cause i dont know anything about scoring in band, but personally i thought our half time show wasnt very good. i mean it was half computer generated stuff and then when they actually played, i dint think it sounded very good, but it must sound different to some people [/ QUOTE ] None taken, I personally didnt like the concept of this years show that much either. But I still think our band performed it very well, and that is why they won all of the competitions, and received a superior rating at the state competition, not because of all the other things they have. Its tough to please everyone with music, because not everyone has the same taste in music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 [ QUOTE ] We didn't need any sets. At the George Wythe competition we outscores Richland's in every technical category. We don't need sets to be a good band, we use our musical ability to do well. [/ QUOTE ] If you "outscores Richland's" in every "technical" category then you would have won? You should really file a complaint with the George Wythe band director about that. And also what you're saying is that you marched your entire show with out any sets. That would mean that your entire band marched in random patterns...no wonder you lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 I was taking the word "set" as visuals aids your band used. We call ours formations and movements. You really should study this more, then you would know that band directors at their respective schools are not the judges at competitions. Since you have no clue what you are talking about then you wouldn't understand the fact that larger bands are automatically given higher scores. I have personally spoken with two of the judges from the George Wythe comp. and they both said that if they weren't required to give big bands more points, we would have blown away every band there. Technical categories consist of music and marching. We outscored Richlands in both of those areas, but because of their point bonus, they had more points in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigD4VT 11 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] but because of their point bonus, they had more points in the end. [/ QUOTE ] Sounds like you have a few points in the end yourself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundercloud 179 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Is JB still the princpal at Bluefield? and does he have anything to with the band? Richlands did very well in all competitions with this show. The computer stuff was nowhere near 60% of show. Thing is you didn't out score them and your issues should be directed at the judges or the system. What years were you in school Blues Alum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 I saw the score sheets and I know for a fact that we outscored them in those areas. I am n ot complaining about the scoring, I am complaining about people not giving bands the respect they deserve. JB is no longer the principal here, it is Joe Turner and he doens't care a bit about the band program. About Richlands' show, I was just saying that I wish they would have played more actually intrumental music in it. They have a great band, but they didn't perform a show that reflected that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundercloud 179 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Sometimes after watching bands do traditional stuff all day a band can come along with something a little out of the nor and really get more attention I think this is what they were after and they did recieve superior rating at all competetions so it worked. Next year's show will blow you away. As far as the numbers, your school is about the same size the oppurtunity was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 What?!?!?! We had 43 total people in our band. Richlands had at least 30 more people than we did. Don't talk to me about that crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I was taking the word "set" as visuals aids your band used. We call ours formations and movements. You really should study this more, then you would know that band directors at their respective schools are not the judges at competitions. Since you have no clue what you are talking about then you wouldn't understand the fact that larger bands are automatically given higher scores. I have personally spoken with two of the judges from the George Wythe comp. and they both said that if they weren't required to give big bands more points, we would have blown away every band there. Technical categories consist of music and marching. We outscored Richlands in both of those areas, but because of their point bonus, they had more points in the end. [/ QUOTE ] I don't know what I'm talking about? I was in band for 7 years and marched four of them. I was band captain my senior year! I believe I am more than qualified to discus this topic. Larger bands are automatically given bonuses?!!? You are a joke. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! If this is true then Richalnds has miraculously beaten bands twice their size before. How did that happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] What?!?!?! We had 43 total people in our band. Richlands had at least 30 more people than we did. Don't talk to me about that crap. [/ QUOTE ] Haven't you ever heard "Size dosn't matter"? Wait, I'm sure you've heard that one before. lol j/k Couldn't resist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Is JB still the princpal at Bluefield? and does he have anything to with the band? Richlands did very well in all competitions with this show. The computer stuff was nowhere near 60% of show. Thing is you didn't out score them and your issues should be directed at the judges or the system. What years were you in school Blues Alum? [/ QUOTE ] Class of '03. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 You should talk to judges before you say you know everything about competitions. I do agree with the size doesn't matter, it is how you play. I congratulate them on beating bigger bands. I know you are going to say I am making this up, but all competitions are not run the same way. But I know for a fact that the one at GW was run with the higher scores going to the bigger bands. This is becoming kind of old. We should argue about something else. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL_Cc_LB34 10 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Oh. You don't see the band practicing right now? Well if you would pay attention you would know that the band has preformances throughout the year. By the way we do run and you should try marching around for 4 hours with a 30 pound drum on your back in 95 degree heat. You should do more homework before you argue about something like this. [/ QUOTE ] yea and idk how much pads and stuff weigh but i know the helmet is 8 so the pads must be 12 or more so we have 20-30 pounds of equipment on, we train in the offseason as you do and we practice and learn plays like you learn marches. and playing a whole football game is more physically demanding than a 20 minute show. and we have 2 a days in 95 degree heat like you do. but what i think makes football harder is knowing that the other team wants to kill you and there gonna come after you 100 miles an hour and you better be ready. anyway what im trying to say is the physical part of football is what i think makes it harder. but i think if i were you i would think band is harder and if you were me you'd think football is harder so its just a matter of opinion and i gave mine and you yours so i'll leave it at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 I would have to agree with you James. It is all about experience in one of those events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL_Cc_LB34 10 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 yea i think so too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBlueAlum 12 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 [ QUOTE ] You should talk to judges before you say you know everything about competitions. I do agree with the size doesn't matter, it is how you play. I congratulate them on beating bigger bands. I know you are going to say I am making this up, but all competitions are not run the same way. But I know for a fact that the one at GW was run with the higher scores going to the bigger bands. This is becoming kind of old. We should argue about something else. LOL [/ QUOTE ] I know this is getting old, and it is rather childish (on both of our parts), but I still refuse to believe that judges give "bonus" points to larger bands. It sounds like someone told you that to make you feel better about losing. I will believe it when I hear it from a judge or someone from the competition. Actually, I think I will go in the George Wythe website and email the band director and see what he says about it. He should know the truth. I just don't see that a band director that directs a smaller band, as does the George Wythe director, would have the judges give bigger bands "bonus" points. I'm not calling you a liar, I just think you have been misinformed. But, I'll let you know what the director says about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogeavers 10 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Aight man. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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