Good morning MSHS students and parents.
I wanted to write a post to explain and give you insight on the rational, reasoning, and hopefully explain to ins and outs to band competitions. As you know, our band is very competitive and enjoy band competitions. However, we have many new parents that haven’t had experiences at band competitions and even some parents who may not know the ins and outs of what these things are.
- The most important reason we attend band competitions is for student motivation and judge feedback. If you look at the pyramid of priorities in our band program, at the top of the list is learning the skills that are taught within the band class at the highest level possible. Just like any other academic class on campus. It could be playing an instrument, spinning a flag, twirling a baton, conducting, marching, and performing together as an ensemble. Knowing they will be judged and compared with other groups highly motivates our students. The weeks prior to competition are always our most productive weeks of rehearsals.
- A trophy is made of plastic and it means very little at the end of the day. The “REAL” trophy is in the performance, and in the performers eyes as they exit the field. While the band receives ratings and rankings at a competition, they are not as important as how the students actually performed in relation to what they are capable of. We are a great band, and there are plenty of other great bands. We cannot control what they do, only what we do. The best way I can describe our philosophy of competing is this; We signed up for a competition which means we are going to compete and be motivated by that. The ultimate goal of competing is to finish at the top. While it may be the ultimate goal…………………it isn’t the most important goal.
- We attend many different types of competitions. Most of the ones we attend are hosted and run by high school band programs. TVIMC, our very own competition, is a great example of a fundraiser competition. Every competition is different and honestly judged on a different kind of scale, so they are VERY difficult to compare. It can be very frustrating at times. Some years our first contest has been our bands highest score of the year. That obviously makes no sense as we are always better at the end, but this is how things work in our state. This is why we created the state championship last year for quality judging, feedback and ratings that we hope to be consistent from year to year, and eventually drive all Alabama competitions in the future.
- Most contest we go to we will be judged in the following categories: Band, Drumline, Colorguard, Majorette, and Drum Major. The BAND category will have between 3-6 judges usually band directors. They will judge everything they see from marching-playing-show design-and visual. These judges determine the band score which will also detarmine grand champions and overall band winners. The drumline, guard, majorette and drum major judges will judge their captions only. These captions will have class and overall winners as well, but not a part of the overall band score as the band judges are to cover all aspects. Every competition is different which means the awards and the award ceremonies are always different from competition to competition. Often times competitions will have a CHALLENGE CUP, which is the average score of ALL captions judged.
- While individual section awards are important, nothing is more important the the overall band score and the challenge cup score. This score represents the sum of all our students. This score represents the MSHS trojan marching band. It’s great to win a first place trophy in a caption, but it’s the “BAND” score that really matters.
- The MSHS band and our plans for rehearsal are all geared toward November 2nd, the Alabama State Marching Band Championship. Our show design, uniform design, music selections, props, drill, changes in drill and music and work, and even the pace at which we are rehearsing all lead us to Birmingham and Pelham HS on November 2nd.
- Parents, you may want to know that at some competitions they give awards for parents and boosters. Sometimes its parents who cheer on their students from the stands the most, and other times is the most helpful, friendly and organized pit dads in the parking lot. Yet ANOTHER reason you should come to these events and cheer on your students.
- We cannot control other bands nor can we really control what the judging panel says or does, but what we can control is our performance and our behavior. Our program should always display CLASS in every way. It might be the class we show as champions, or the class we show when we are not the champions. Every band on the field deserves respect and our gratitude. At the end of the day, we are all doing the same things for the same reasons. Band is Band, band kids are band kids everywhere. This activity deserves our respect and all the people who are associated with it. Cheer other groups like they are your own kids because at the end of the day folks, There is never a bad time to do a good thing.
- HOW ARE BANDS CLASSIFIED? This question has been asked a lot lately. In every competition we go to this year EXCEPT state, bands are classified by band size (usually winds and percussion). Alabama State Championships are classified by SCHOOL size. At the Russellville contest, we are alone in the OPEN class and the largest band there that day. That is based on the number of winds and percussion we have. We are the only ones in our class so I am pretty sure we have a great chance of finishing first………………..and last 🙂 But, we will be competing against ourselves and what kind of performance run can these kids put on that day. Also, there are overall awards such as small division large division champions, and overall winners AND a challenge cup which is all captions averaged together. Next weekend we go to Hewitt Trussville where we are in a class with three other bands. We are in the 3A group and definitely NOT the largest group at the contest, or even in our classification. As I said earlier, every contest is so different.
- Our season will not be determined “successful” by wins and championships; it will be determined by the improvement of the band from day 1 of band camp to our last performance. It will be remembered on the practice field pushing ourselves further and further to make our show Spheres as good as we can make it. The kids will remember the bus rides, the fun times playing in the stands, the heat, to bad days, and definitely the good days. Competitions are fun, they are highly motivating; but they aren’t everything. Performance and Family are definitely the important things.
- Parents, one final plea to come to competitions. I am always on the field walking in with the kids and I get to see their reactions as the MSHS parent crowd erupts in cheers as they enter the competition field. I watch them grin, and I swear they stand and march taller. It’s a pride thing and it still gives me chills. Those cheers set them up for success on many levels; and above all else it makes it all worth it. If you ask a band kid what matters most it isn’t the trophies; it’s the cheers. And parents YOU ARE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CHEERS! The kids can’t cheer themselves, it has to come from an outside source! Please, these kids have worked too hard to not have a crowd lifting them up before and after performance. Also, I would ask that you cheer on other groups with enthusiasm as they may not have parents there for them. Help them as well to have a great performance. I have never in all my years heard of a parent saying “I just wish I hadn’t spent so much time being there with my kids”.
- It’s competition season. Let’s all rise to the occasion. Competitions are about one thing; BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
