What is the primary reason for having a band at your school?

[HebronHawk]

If a school band has to choose between practicing for a competition on a Saturday or playing at a Saturday football game, which should they do?

In other words, is the primary reason for having the school band wrapped up in the football game or in winning a band competition at UIL, Bands of America or some other place?

[trojanbacker]

I think the primary reason for having band is to support those kids who have a passion for music. In many schools, you're talking about 10% of the student population being involved in the music programs.

[dada]

no bands at football games = Golf or Tennis. To me...the band is a BIG part of football.

[nsmustang]

Not only that but as with the drill team, you are able to get more kids involved in extra curricular activities which is a good thing. Having said that I am one that wants the game uninterupted. BTW, was the band in high school
originally developed for the football team half time or was it there on its own? Anyone know that?

[RedRage00]

If a school band has to choose between practicing for a competition on a Saturday or playing at a Saturday football game, which should they do?

In other words, is the primary reason for having the school band wrapped up in the football game or in winning a band competition at UIL, Bands of America or some other place?

If they have a competition on the same day as a game, they'll be at the competition.

[CyFallsMom]

As the mom of former band kids, I have to say that while I think they need to be at every game possible, taking one off for a competition is fine and I know that our directors always talked to the coach and the principal before doing so. Every year that I was involved, there was a BOA thrown into the football season and, like someone said before, the main reason most of the kids are in the band is to learn a fine art....music. A large majority of them could do with or without football.

BUT, it is MY opinion that the band, drill team, etc. needs to be at every game possible - they are part of that support system for the team that, without it, takes away a lot of the fun and atmosphere of a high school game. In some states, they just play football - no side show. And it's way different than here. Now, I love the game as much as anyone - but I also like the atmosphere surrounding the game - I love to sing the fight song (even though ours only has like 10 words!!). Without the whole scene, it just misses something.

I would like to find out why the cheerleaders are not near as spontaneous as they used to be. The uniforms looks the same, the cheers are all the same, they are all robotic. Most of us don't even notice they are there - we in the stands start most cheers. It's annoying because back in the day, cheerleaders were in the stands getting the masses into a frenzy and they had original cheers - things THEY made up - not some cheer camp. But that was back in the day before it was more of a sport. I know some schools still have the old fashioned cheerleaders - wish we did.

[CyFallsMom]

Not only that but as with the drill team, you are able to get more kids involved in extra curricular activities which is a good thing. Having said that I am one that wants the game uninterupted. BTW, was the band in high school
originally developed for the football team half time or was it there on its own? Anyone know that?
There were marching bands before high school football I'm pretty sure.

[dada]

As the mom of former band kids, I have to say that while I think they need to be at every game possible, taking one off for a competition is fine and I know that our directors always talked to the coach and the principal before doing so. Every year that I was involved, there was a BOA thrown into the football season and, like someone said before, the main reason most of the kids are in the band is to learn a fine art....music. A large majority of them could do with or without football.

BUT, it is MY opinion that the band, drill team, etc. needs to be at every game possible - they are part of that support system for the team that, without it, takes away a lot of the fun and atmosphere of a high school game. In some states, they just play football - no side show. And it's way different than here. Now, I love the game as much as anyone - but I also like the atmosphere surrounding the game - I love to sing the fight song (even though ours only has like 10 words!!). Without the whole scene, it just misses something.

I would like to find out why the cheerleaders are not near as spontaneous as they used to be. The uniforms looks the same, the cheers are all the same, they are all robotic. Most of us don't even notice they are there - we in the stands start most cheers. It's annoying because back in the day, cheerleaders were in the stands getting the masses into a frenzy and they had original cheers - things THEY made up - not some cheer camp. But that was back in the day before it was more of a sport. I know some schools still have the old fashioned cheerleaders - wish we did.

remember, a few years ago a "Law" was passed to cut back on "provacative" dancing by cheerleaders.

[RedRage00]

Most band competitions are on Saturdays so unless you have a Saturday game you should be okay.

[Firebird]

Very simple. The marching band is there to support football and should be at every game, in their unis, and march a real show. It's not really fine arts but entertainment and that needs to be kept in mind. The long strech of the school year after football season is there for orchestra and symphonic band and is where the real music and art is. BOA is a huge racket for the organizers.

I actually think the two programs should be split. Not that you couldn't do both if you wanted to, but that if you wanted to do either/or you could.

[twcpfan1]

The band is its own thing, Particularly the good bands. They will attend every football game they possibly can, but will blow it off in a heartbeat for a marching competition.

As for the purpose of having them? Same could be asked of every other extra curricular activity including football. The answer is the same. It's the valuable life lessons kids learn while they participate in it.

[WeBelieveOCP]

The band is its own thing, Particularly the good bands. They will attend every football game they possibly can, but will blow it off in a heartbeat for a marching competition.

As for the purpose of having them? Same could be asked of every other extra curricular activity including football. The answer is the same. It's the valuable life lessons kids learn while they participate in it.

I agree completely. They don't have to be at the games but they want to be for the experience, school spirit and show off thier skills. The HS game is a much richer experience with the band there.

[DragonBand06]

Marching Competition > Football Game from a performing band member's standpoint.
I'm not saying that a marching competition is more entertaining than football, I'm just saying that performing at marching competition is MUCH more interesting than performing at a football game.

[CyFallsMom]

remember, a few years ago a "Law" was passed to cut back on "provacative" dancing by cheerleaders.

I'm not talking about dancing - they do that now. I'm talking about CHEERING - and getting the crowd worked up and being original....the original thing is what's missing. I don't think they should be dancing at all - that's for the drill team. I still remember the cheers our cheerleaders made up and they were original.

The only controversy we had back then was that we, the students, elected the first black cheerleader in the history of the school. There were grown ups who wanted to boycott games because of it. She was so cool and the best cheerleader ever - we all loved her to death. The parents and community ended up feeling the same way we did and it was all great in the end. We didn't have cheerleaders who were trying to kill one another due to competitiveness or who were elected by the principals. We put them on that field and they were "our" cheerleaders!! Maybe that's why they weren't so cookie cutter unoriginal like they are now.

[Fleeman93]

For me the purpose of band has changed over the years. Back when my best friend was in the band, the band was there for me to hope he tripped carrying his tuba during half time. After he dropped band it became a way to make fun of people. Now it is a huge part of Katy football to me and I respect each and every band member that busts his or her *** to make it a better experience for me and the football team.

[trojanbacker]

I've always sensed an us against them mentality when it comes to band vs. football. I don't get that. Both organizations can, and should, support each other. At Trinity, Coach Lineweaver and his coaches are big supporters of the band. They comes to concerts and Lineweaver even drove a bus to one of the band competitions a couple of years ago. One year, he even brought the team out early after halftime to watch the end of the band's competition show. It was great, and I know it did wonders for the kids in band. These things should work both ways.

[dada]

I'm not talking about dancing - they do that now. I'm talking about CHEERING - and getting the crowd worked up and being original....the original thing is what's missing. I don't think they should be dancing at all - that's for the drill team. I still remember the cheers our cheerleaders made up and they were original.

The only controversy we had back then was that we, the students, elected the first black cheerleader in the history of the school. There were grown ups who wanted to boycott games because of it. She was so cool and the best cheerleader ever - we all loved her to death. The parents and community ended up feeling the same way we did and it was all great in the end. We didn't have cheerleaders who were trying to kill one another due to competitiveness or who were elected by the principals. We put them on that field and they were "our" cheerleaders!! Maybe that's why they weren't so cookie cutter unoriginal like they are now.

That was the reason for me leaving Reagan High School in 90....the first Black cheerleader made the team and an all out race war started between Blacks and Hispanics..wasnt safe....I'm a lover not a fighter...so I had to get the hell outta there.:D

Maybe cheerleading has fallen to the PC police or something..."Dynamite we're outta sight" might be offensive to some people. You have to be SUPER conservative nowadays. Next, Cheerleaders will be required to wear long pants and KtCarl won't have a reason to attend High School games any more.

[Maroondog]

For me the purpose of band has changed over the years. Back when my best friend was in the band, the band was there for me to hope he tripped carrying his tuba during half time. After he dropped band it became a way to make fun of people. Now it is a huge part of Katy football to me and I respect each and every band member that busts his or her *** to make it a better experience for me and the football team.

I was going to make a comment in jest like that but decided I'd rather not get ripped today.
Actually the band is an integral part of the school experience just like any other extra curricular activity.

[Fleeman93]

I was going to make a comment in jest like that but decided I'd rather not get ripped today.
Actually the band is an integral part of the school experience just like any other extra curricular activity.


I don't care if I get ripped or not. The fact that people made fun of band kids WHILE IN SCHOOL is just a fact.

[LoneRocket]

no bands at football games = Golf or Tennis. To me...the band is a BIG part of football.

When we played Leander last year, it rained hard, when the rain stopped the band left the team and fans stayed so it could go both ways. I know some bands like the CC marching machine will entertain you from the start to finish.

[Eagle81]

Because we've always had a marching band. It's the oldest marching band in Texas. I believe they call that tradition.

[CedarHillDad]

I think that bands are a very important part of the football experience and would love to see them at every game, but if they are going to a major competition and need to practice for that competition I say practice. Those young people are in the band to enjoy themselves as well and if the team has to play without them so be it...

[slcdragonfan]

I don't care if I get ripped or not. The fact that people made fun of band kids WHILE IN SCHOOL is just a fact.

When I was in band, we used to play sandlot football against a lot of the football team members. We used to beat their a$$!. We had some pretty tough folks with hard hitting going on. A trumpet friend of mine had his knee blown out.
We always supported the team however, and cheered mightily for those occasional moments of glory.
Of course, that was at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, so it isn't saying much.

At the State game in 2006, the Southlake football team and band were very much together at the end of the game. There isn't always as big of a separation as you might think.

[TulsaHale74]

The primary reason to have Fall high school bands is I can't afford to go to games at Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, etc. and hear their fight songs. I settle for the "cover band" version.:D

[texan_75010]

When the football team does well, has a winning season and goes deep in to the playoffs, they DONT give the band director a riase.

The band director is there to win band awards, not football games. The director is evaluated on how his band performed at UIL and BOA.

Dont confuse the two. If my money is based on my measured performance at UIL and BOA, where do you think I'm going to be if I have to make a choice? Follow the money.

[CyFallsMom]

When we played Leander last year, it rained hard, when the rain stopped the band left the team and fans stayed so it could go both ways. I know some bands like the CC marching machine will entertain you from the start to finish.


They leave to protect their investment - their instruments - which, in our case anyway, cost thousands of dollars. The only ones that can really stay in it to a point are brass and even those don't need to be in the rain very long. A football can stay in the rain all day and nothing gets damaged;)

[LoneRocket]

They leave to protect their investment - their instruments - which, in our case anyway, cost thousands of dollars. The only ones that can really stay in it to a point are brass and even those don't need to be in the rain very long. A football can stay in the rain all day and nothing gets damaged;)

They could have loaded the equipment on the bus and stayed and cheered for the team instead of heading back to Converse when the rain let up.

[biggolfdad]

;)

To display the students musical talents and show support for the athletic teams.

[Grlslvftball2]

Yes, most band competitions are on Saturdays, but keep in mind that not only do they have early morning practice and practice in the afternoon before the game they stay the whole game and usually end up right back at school to leave for that competition in the wee hours of that Sat. morning(long bus rides). That Saturday is an all day event. First Prelims during the day and finals are in they evening so they usually don't even end up getting home until very, very late.

[svhorns]

Band without high school football is fine

high school football without band is... uh oh...

whos in control here

[ftballin11]

The band is a huge part of the katy football tradition, and it would not be the same without them.

[DrEdward]

The band primarily exists for the benefit of the students in that organization. Yes, they represent the school at the football games and it is at those games where they have the most exposure to the general public. The games also serve as pretty good dress rehersals for the band in their competiton routines. Great, an extra benefit. I think most of the band folks also have good time at the games; at least I hope they do, as it would not be the same experience without them there. Still, I would think that the bands view their own competitions as the more important aspect of their participation, not just the UIL marching competition, but the others as well.

[shslb15]

So they can practice their UIL performances during halftime.... oh wait I guess thats just at some, but at the real football schools its to add to what is special about high school football..

[tjw]

Band without high school football is fine

high school football without band is... uh oh...

whos in control here

Very good point! For Allen our little ole band is the 12th man for the football team!

[HebronHawk]

Very good point! For Allen our little ole band is the 12th man for the football team!

I thought the Allen football team existed to give their 800 person band some occasional entertainment and a stadium to play in.

Otherwise, they would work on their defense more. :D

[cougardude]

no bands at football games = Golf or Tennis. To me...the band is a BIG part of football.

DITTO!!:D

[Texas Bob]

In the late 60's when I was at Odessa High the team was so bad that if the band wasn't there, there would be no fans at all. We would travel to Midland (20 miles) and the cheer leaders stood in front of the band to have someone to "lead". But you know what? We always won the half time show. ...and we had a great time.

[slorch]

If a school band has to choose between practicing for a competition on a Saturday or playing at a Saturday football game, which should they do?

In other words, is the primary reason for having the school band wrapped up in the football game or in winning a band competition at UIL, Bands of America or some other place?

I would think it would be primarily about learning proficiency in both music and additionally execution in marching in the big picture of things. Band Competition is where bands are graded/ scored for their prowess in these areas. While football games provide a great atmosphere and opportunity to "show their stuff," putting on a halftime show is not the band's primary function.

To put it in football terms, would you rather play en exhibition game( football games for the bands) or a playoff game( contest for band?)

[trojanbacker]

It's not an either/or answer. Bands dont' have time to develop and perfect one show for halftime to please the football crowd and another for competition. So, halftime is what it is; a chance for the band to work on their drill for competition and hopefully please a few fans.

[shooter]

It's not an either/or answer. Bands dont' have time to develop and perfect one show for halftime to please the football crowd and another for competition. So, halftime is what it is; a chance for the band to work on their drill for competition and hopefully please a few fans.

Some One should come up with the "HALF TIME MARCHING BANDS ACCROSS AMERICA" competition. Military style marching will be encouraged and your songs have to be up beat and energetic and highly recognizable and absolutely no Kettle Drums or a pit. If the instrument has to be dragged on the field by a group of parents it’s not MARCHING. Give out a thousand Division I trophies and everyone gets a blue ribbon just like the OTHER BAA competition.

Who’s with me!!!

[atwelljroc]

In the late 60's when I was at Odessa High the team was so bad that if the band wasn't there, there would be no fans at all. We would travel to Midland (20 miles) and the cheer leaders stood in front of the band to have someone to "lead". But you know what? We always won the half time show. ...and we had a great time.

Was Odessa high even there in the 60's...sorry, just kidding TexasBob...

[shooter]

Was Odessa high even there in the 60's...sorry, just kidding TexasBob...

Was Odessa (the city) even there in the 60s

[Texas Bob]

Was Odessa (the city) even there in the 60s

1911

Three girls — Floy Johnson, Bernice Judkins and Mary Massey — received their high school diplomas as the first graduating class of Odessa High School.

(Source http://odessahigh.com)

[mojotrain]

I can't believe that Band students don't have spirit or care about their HS football teams. This is a football site and I bet most of the posters were or are connected to a band.

[mojotrain]

Was Odessa (the city) even there in the 60s

In 1946 AD Odessa High led by Hayden Fry beat a Kyle Rote led San Antonio Jefferson team 21-14 before 40,000 fans at Memorial Stadium for the State Championship. Every one knows this!

[CoplBandDad]

Military style marching will be encouraged and your songs have to be up beat and energetic and highly recognizable and absolutely no Kettle Drums or a pit. If the instrument has to be dragged on the field by a group of parents it’s not MARCHING. Give out a thousand Division I trophies and everyone gets a blue ribbon just like the OTHER BAA competition.

Who’s with me!!!

Great idea! And while we're at it why don't we go back to leather helmets without facemasks and eliminate the forward pass..........the way football was meant to be!:)

Just like football, marching band activity has evolved into a much improved product over the past 25+ years, producing incredibly talented kids. Now no longer just halftime entertainment playing pop tunes while forming choo-choo trains on the field, it has grown into a highly competive activity that teaches dedication, discipline and hard work.

I don't think people really remember just how bad high school bands used to sound trying to play the Theme from Rocky or Michael Jackson's Thriller. Today's kids can play with great symphonic sound while moving extremely fast. Sure, a lot of the bands are way too artsy for many, including me, but people in Texas should appreciate the number of very good marching bands here.

To answer the poster's question, the primary reason for high school band is to teach students to be the best musician they can be. Remember, some of these kids grow up to be future members of your favorite rock band or country band, write songs you hear on the radio and in movies, and play at weddings, funerals and other musical events. But most just take their lessons of hard work and dedication and apply towards other facets of life. And many do receive scholarships in music that help pay for college.

I've been away from this board for a while but am always amazed at how much attention these football versus band threads get (two long posts running right now). Maybe everyone's just bored and ready for some football.

[farmerfan]

For me the purpose of band has changed over the years. Back when my best friend was in the band, the band was there for me to hope he tripped carrying his tuba during half time. After he dropped band it became a way to make fun of people. Now it is a huge part of Katy football to me and I respect each and every band member that busts his or her *** to make it a better experience for me and the football team.

Thank God you were not affiliated with LD Bell. Its quite the opposite.
Band members are the celebrities while the football team gets made fun of by those bronze blowing Raiders.:eek:

[Maroondog]

Great idea! And while we're at it why don't we go back to leather helmets without facemasks and eliminate the forward pass..........the way football was meant to be!:)
Just like football, marching band activity has evolved into a much improved product over the past 25+ years, producing incredibly talented kids. Now no longer just halftime entertainment playing pop tunes while forming choo-choo trains on the field, it has grown into a highly competive activity that teaches dedication, discipline and hard work.

I don't think people really remember just how bad high school bands used to sound trying to play the Theme from Rocky or Michael Jackson's Thriller. Today's kids can play with great symphonic sound while moving extremely fast. Sure, a lot of the bands are way too artsy for many, including me, but people in Texas should appreciate the number of very good marching bands here.

To answer the poster's question, the primary reason for high school band is to teach students to be the best musician they can be. Remember, some of these kids grow up to be future members of your favorite rock band or country band, write songs you hear on the radio and in movies, and play at weddings, funerals and other musical events. But most just take their lessons of hard work and dedication and apply towards other facets of life. And many do receive scholarships in music that help pay for college.

I've been away from this board for a while but am always amazed at how much attention these football versus band threads get (two long posts running right now). Maybe everyone's just bored and ready for some football.

You may be on to something here!;)

[mojotrain]

Great idea! And while we're at it why don't we go back to leather helmets without facemasks and eliminate the forward pass..........the way football was meant to be!:)

Just like football, marching band activity has evolved into a much improved product over the past 25+ years, producing incredibly talented kids. Now no longer just halftime entertainment playing pop tunes while forming choo-choo trains on the field, it has grown into a highly competive activity that teaches dedication, discipline and hard work.

I don't think people really remember just how bad high school bands used to sound trying to play the Theme from Rocky or Michael Jackson's Thriller. Today's kids can play with great symphonic sound while moving extremely fast. Sure, a lot of the bands are way too artsy for many, including me, but people in Texas should appreciate the number of very good marching bands here.

To answer the poster's question, the primary reason for high school band is to teach students to be the best musician they can be. Remember, some of these kids grow up to be future members of your favorite rock band or country band, write songs you hear on the radio and in movies, and play at weddings, funerals and other musical events. But most just take their lessons of hard work and dedication and apply towards other facets of life. And many do receive scholarships in music that help pay for college.

I've been away from this board for a while but am always amazed at how much attention these football versus band threads get (two long posts running right now). Maybe everyone's just bored and ready for some football.

You hit it the on the head, so now what we have is the modern improved version that the only ones that sit throught it are kinfolks of the members of the band and those who can't navigate to the off ramps to smoke or joke.

Head gear has improved and football is played before a crowd made of those beyond family. I hear songs over the radio, movies and tv. I even go to HS band concerts. I pick, I select, I choose. At a football game I don't want to be a part of a captive audience for a band imitating something I can be soaked with by professionals 24 hours a day if I choose to do so.

I want to be inspired by a band not lulled. Look at it this way. I think directors of today are lazy or can't teach marching. Don't pass it off on the kids working too hard today. If challenged they will answer. They are quite capable of precision marching while playing at the same time.Thats a fact.

[Firebird]

You hit it the on the head, so now what we have is the modern improved version that the only ones that sit throught it are kinfolks of the members of the band and those who can't navigate to the off ramps to smoke or joke.

Head gear has improved and football is played before a crowd made of those beyond family. I hear songs over the radio, movies and tv. I even go to HS band concerts. I pick, I select, I choose. At a football game I don't want to be a part of a captive audience for a band imitating something I can be soaked with by professionals 24 hours a day if I choose to do so.

I want to be inspired by a band not lulled. Look at it this way. I think directors of today are lazy or can't teach marching. Don't pass it off on the kids working too hard today. If challenged they will answer. They are quite capable of precision marching while playing at the same time.Thats a fact.

Amen to this. The thing that bugs me about bands today is the cacophonous anti-music that they play. It is a bizarre barrage of random horn bleats and jangly sounds coming from the kettle drum or the xylophone. The announcer tells me that in fact I am listening to an interpretation of the most critically acclaimed pieces by an obscure twentieth century Hungarian composer, but I can't tell when one song starts and another ends. Meanwhile you have 300 kids in striped pants ever so slowly crabwalking in random directions and flag girls apparently trying to communicate 20 different messages by semaphore...

I go to just about every performance by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and I'm known to head down to Houston for a night of real culture. I love music, but the stuff the marching bands play now really belongs in a concert hall, where you have things like a string section and acoustics.

Marching band music should be big, brassy, loud, and be a tune you can tap your foot along with, or at the very least distinguish. When the only tune you can pick out is the song that the drill team makes you play, things are in bad shape. Save the fancy stuff for concert season.

[pied]

I want to be inspired by a band not lulled. Look at it this way. I think directors of today are lazy or can't teach marching. Don't pass it off on the kids working too hard today. If challenged they will answer. They are quite capable of precision marching while playing at the same time.Thats a fact.

That's not fact, it's just dopey.

[pied]

OK, here's pied the band geek's point.

This discussion reminds me of Family Affair. Mr. French is taking Jody and Buffy back to the park they used to play at when they were little. They were very excited to go on the big slide. It was the biggest slide in the world as they remembered and they could not wait to get back.

So, they get there, and realize that it is really just a small slide and probably smaller than ones back in the city. They are all disappointed and then realize a harsh life lesson, things aren't usually not what we remember them being.

Sooooo...........

I spent a LONG time being a band geek and studied a lot of history of HS marching bands. Fact is, most of them were pretty bad and had no where near the sound of even poor bands of today. I could take any of you dorks and train you to march a typical HS military routine in pretty short order.

While you may not like the style, a corps performance is infinitely more difficult and demands better, not worse marching. There is something comfortable about the old shows of people marching up and back, an I get that. People somehow recall some wall of sound and great musicianship, but don't tell anyone(it really wasn't that good or that loud). It's hard to ehar people when they are playing the opposite way.

Sure you may not have as much of a problem hearing the FTAB or the Showband of the Southwest, but they are also MUCH larger than nearly any HS band, ever. Well maybe not Allen, but who is?

[Grlslvftball2]

It's not an either/or answer. Bands dont' have time to develop and perfect one show for halftime to please the football crowd and another for competition. So, halftime is what it is; a chance for the band to work on their drill for competition and hopefully please a few fans.



Most bands after competitions and the football regular schedule is over will put together a more "fun/entertaining easier show" when playoffs start.

[Grlslvftball2]

Marching band music should be big, brassy, loud, and be a tune you can tap your foot along with, or at the very least distinguish. When the only tune you can pick out is the song that the drill team makes you play, things are in bad shape. Save the fancy stuff for concert season.



You, my friend sadly have not had the priviledge of witnessing a truly phenomenal marching band. Let me suggest some : LD Bell, Woodlands, SF Austin, Connally, New Braunfels, Richland, Bowie, Georgetown, Cyfalls and many, many more..

[Firebird]

You, my friend sadly have not had the priviledge of witnessing a truly phenomenal marching band. Let me suggest some : LD Bell, Woodlands, SF Austin, Connally, New Braunfels, Richland, Bowie, Georgetown, Cyfalls and many, many more..

I have had the "privilige" if it can be called thus of listening to several of those performances while supporting my sister at her band competition. I stand by my statement.

[trojanbacker]

Unfortunately, I am "priviledged" to have to watch the Bell band every year. It's boring and pretentious regardless of how many awards they have won. Couple that with the fact that they consider themselves above having to do such menial tasks as play stand music to support their own team or cheer, and you have one reason that Bell is divided between the kids who play football and those who choose band. True story: two years ago while their team was getting its rear kicked by Trinity, they spent the first half tuning their instruments and doing warm-ups. Yeah, that's entertaining.

[pied]

Unfortunately, I am "priviledged" to have to watch the Bell band every year. It's boring and pretentious regardless of how many awards they have won. Couple that with the fact that they consider themselves above having to do such menial tasks as play stand music to support their own team or cheer, and you have one reason that Bell is divided between the kids who play football and those who choose band. True story: two years ago while their team was getting its rear kicked by Trinity, they spent the first half tuning their instruments and doing warm-ups. Yeah, that's entertaining.

How entertaining is it watching Bell football?

[trojanbacker]

lol Touche.

[mojotrain]

OK, here's pied the band geek's point.

This discussion reminds me of Family Affair. Mr. French is taking Jody and Buffy back to the park they used to play at when they were little. They were very excited to go on the big slide. It was the biggest slide in the world as they remembered and they could not wait to get back.

So, they get there, and realize that it is really just a small slide and probably smaller than ones back in the city. They are all disappointed and then realize a harsh life lesson, things aren't usually not what we remember them being.

Sooooo...........

I spent a LONG time being a band geek and studied a lot of history of HS marching bands. Fact is, most of them were pretty bad and had no where near the sound of even poor bands of today. I could take any of you dorks and train you to march a typical HS military routine in pretty short order.

While you may not like the style, a corps performance is infinitely more difficult and demands better, not worse marching. There is something comfortable about the old shows of people marching up and back, an I get that. People somehow recall some wall of sound and great musicianship, but don't tell anyone(it really wasn't that good or that loud). It's hard to ehar people when they are playing the opposite way.

Sure you may not have as much of a problem hearing the FTAB or the Showband of the Southwest, but they are also MUCH larger than nearly any HS band, ever. Well maybe not Allen, but who is?

pied I'm sorry but your wrong, you have either never seen a great HS marching band or you memory has failed. FIREBIRD is right, yes thats what I said.

As you know I'm a long way from being pc savy. If I were I could throw about two minutes of something up that would embarrass the HS bands of today and end this debate.

Yes pied , this remember, is the age of teens multi tasking. Challenge them and they will respond.

[trojanbacker]

The shows today are more complex, the music more difficult than in "the good old days". Notice I didn't say "more entertaining". My opinion....

[twcpfan1]

For the casual fan, it would help if all halftime shows are like this. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80o-A-Cp_18&feature=related

[mojotrain]

The shows today are more complex, the music more difficult than in "the good old days". Notice I didn't say "more entertaining". My opinion....

Nope, they are not more complex, not even close to being as complex.

[twcpfan1]

Of course I never get sick of watching these guys. I just wish more HS bands adapt the same style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4ZbbQcM_RI

[EagleDude73]

I don't care if I get ripped or not. The fact that people made fun of band kids WHILE IN SCHOOL is just a fact.


Maybe at your school but not at ours. The band kids were generally in the top of the class and helped tutor the dumbies and kept the football jocks from acedemic probation. So if you made fun of an extracurricular activity student, you probably were headed to be a high school dropout anyway. :mad:

[EagleDude73]

[QUOTE=slcdragonfan;831876]Of course, that was at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, so it isn't saying much.
/QUOTE]

...and then the Pasadena High Eagles would then ...

[Grlslvftball2]

Of course I never get sick of watching these guys. I just wish more HS bands adapt the same style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4ZbbQcM_RI



yawn.....impressive? yes, but.....same ole', same ole'.....If you're from the woodlands, IMO your band is more entertaining:)

[twcpfan1]

yawn.....impressive? yes, but.....same ole', same ole'.....If you're from the woodlands, IMO your band is more entertaining:)

I'm being serious here. I am way too unrefined to appreciate both Woodlands bands. I've tried because I have a kid in one of them. Seriously, my mom asked me to accompany her to the opera once. I'm not kidding. I wanted to kill myself in the theater, it was that boring. :D

[slorch]

I can't believe that Band students don't have spirit or care about their HS football teams. This is a football site and I bet most of the posters were or are connected to a band.

or connected to a band member...;):D

[slorch]

Meanwhile you have 300 kids in striped pants ever so slowly crabwalking in random directions and flag girls apparently trying to communicate 20 different messages by semaphore...



you owe me a Dt. Dr. Pepper! LMAO!!!:D

[HebronHawk]

158 years ago
Do you know what happened last week back in 1850, 158 years ago? California became a state. The state had no electricity. The state had no money. Almost everyone spoke Spanish. There were gunfights in the streets. So basically, it was just like California is today, except the electricity, the women had real breasts and the men didn't hold hands.

Amazing what a little gold in the streets will do! Now Hollywood supplies California with their gold. We all know the men of Hollywood don't carry guns. :D

[cougardude]

My nephew just started band camp at Klein High Saturday and the band director was telling them that some of Klein's highest rated academic students have been in band. It's getting close to football time!:D

[wesaxman34]

go band

[slcdragonfan]

[QUOTE=slcdragonfan;831876]Of course, that was at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, so it isn't saying much.
/QUOTE]

...and then the Pasadena High Eagles would then ...

yep, never failed. Drove us crazy too...

[Fleeman93]

Maybe at your school but not at ours. The band kids were generally in the top of the class and helped tutor the dumbies and kept the football jocks from acedemic probation. So if you made fun of an extracurricular activity student, you probably were headed to be a high school dropout anyway. :mad:


Ok so you are saying for a fact that no one in your school ever made fun of the band? Were you in the band at your school?

[wesaxman34]

Ok so you are saying for a fact that no one in your school ever made fun of the band? Were you in the band at your school?

Even though this has already been stated, Coach Lineweaver and the football team support the band all the time at Trinity. Heck, even half of the tongans on the team are in choir.

To say that absolutely nobody in the entire school ever made fun of us would be over the top, but as whole, the student body has always been very supportive of the band and choir.

[Fleeman93]

Even though this has already been stated, Coach Lineweaver and the football team support the band all the time at Trinity. Heck, even half of the tongans on the team are in choir.

To say that absolutely nobody in the entire school ever made fun of us would be over the top, but as whole, the student body has always been very supportive of the band and choir.


Oh I agree 100% about the football team and coach supporting the band but for that guy to say no one in the school EVER made fun of band members is just silly. In my opinion for me no band means more to their team on game day as Katy's band does to them. Katy's band marching into Tully stadium or Rice during a playoff game is a amazing to me.

[Bandmom]

I'm being serious here. I am way too unrefined to appreciate both Woodlands bands. I've tried because I have a kid in one of them. Seriously, my mom asked me to accompany her to the opera once. I'm not kidding. I wanted to kill myself in the theater, it was that boring. :D

I can understand where twcpfan is coming from. It took me awhile to get used to this kind of band marching when my kid started. Not anything like what I remembered in high school. Even now when my parents (the grandparents) come to the game, I have to remind them "Now...it's not like the kinda marching you've seen before...think along the lines of a broadway musical.":D Now I've gotten used to it and have a new appreciation for them...especially because I know how hard band kids work. Go band!

[jbusch]

Answer to the original question - to keep hoards of music nerds off of the streets on friday night


:D

[trojanbacker]

....and to give us something to argue about until the games begin.

[The King]

My nephew just started band camp at Klein High Saturday and the band director was telling them that some of Klein's highest rated academic students have been in band. It's getting close to football time!:D

The Band in Klein has dummies too. their are too many kids in band not to have a few. The dummies in the band usually get hidden better.

As far as highest acedemmic rated students you will find most of your top ten % in some form of extracurricular activity including band choir, and even football.

I think a lot of people would be impressed by the scores of the offenseive linemen at their school.

[uhsfilmcrew]

IT brings the heart and sole brotha':cool:

[pied]

pied I'm sorry but your wrong, you have either never seen a great HS marching band or you memory has failed. FIREBIRD is right, yes thats what I said.

As you know I'm a long way from being pc savy. If I were I could throw about two minutes of something up that would embarrass the HS bands of today and end this debate.

Yes pied , this remember, is the age of teens multi tasking. Challenge them and they will respond.

As they said in the old days, Name that Tune.

[DragonFan0316]

As they said in the old days, Name that Tune.

Pied, you are dating yourself with the name that tune reference.:laugh

[SLCFan]

As they said in the old days, Name that Tune.

Nathan (Tune) former Celina Bobcats QB :D

[twcpfan1]

I can understand where twcpfan is coming from. It took me awhile to get used to this kind of band marching when my kid started. Not anything like what I remembered in high school. Even now when my parents (the grandparents) come to the game, I have to remind them "Now...it's not like the kinda marching you've seen before...think along the lines of a broadway musical.":D Now I've gotten used to it and have a new appreciation for them...especially because I know how hard band kids work. Go band!

Even in concert season, I find it a little difficult to comprehend the type of music being played. My daughter is an all stater so we were fortunate enough to watch the best of the best perform in San Antonio. I must admit though. The stuff they played there was pretty wierd. I asked her why they don't just play a piece from a famous musical or something. She said they normally pick music that would really showcase everybody's abilities. She was very understanding of the fact that her dad is very artistically challenged. :D

[pied]

Even in concert season, I find it a little difficult to comprehend the type of music being played. My daughter is an all stater so we were fortunate enough to watch the best of the best perform in San Antonio. I must admit though. The stuff they played there was pretty wierd. I asked her why they don't just play a piece from a famous musical or something. She said they normally pick music that would really showcase everybody's abilities. She was very understanding of the fact that her dad is very artistically challenged. :D

At nearly every concert a band will play a march.

[Bandmom]

Even in concert season, I find it a little difficult to comprehend the type of music being played. My daughter is an all stater so we were fortunate enough to watch the best of the best perform in San Antonio. I must admit though. The stuff they played there was pretty wierd. I asked her why they don't just play a piece from a famous musical or something. She said they normally pick music that would really showcase everybody's abilities. She was very understanding of the fact that her dad is very artistically challenged. :D

:laugh Yeah, I must admit I get a little side-tracked listening to concerts as well. The really long pieces usually do me in--it feels like they play for 1/2 an hour. Some of it is really pretty, others I don't know what is going on. I did not do band in HS. I did drill team and basically the only thing I knew about band was that they played the music for us so now this is a total new experience for me. I'm sure the musical geniuses know what they are listening to so I just have to trust them on the technique and sound, etc. They definitely know more about it than I do! Congrats on a all-stater! Quite impressive.

[WestlakeTech]

ok, I didn't bother to read through every page of this thread so please forgive me if I repeat something that's already been said.

As far as I'm concerned, the band is not there to support the team. They are there to play the music they love and many of the fans (and maybe even the players) feed off of the energy of that music. Also, as I'm sure has been mentioned, competitions are usually on Saturdays and very few teams have Saturday games. I'm not in band, but all of my friends are. Yes, every single one... And the impression I get when they talk about band is that games are pretty much just practices, in a sense, for competitions. So, in answer to HebronHawk's topic question, I think most would go to the game, rather than stay at home and practice.

Like I said, the purpose of a band is to let students play the music they love. The competitions are simply an added bonus for them.