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Show Band

Posted by Anon on 9/13/2024, 12:40 pm

After meeting with the FA and Principal, district wants us to adopt HBCU style band. I am no longer the right fit for this job. I'm heart broken after pouring so much into the school and my kids. I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now.
There is a football game tonight, so I'm bottling up my feelings and go on. Kids won't know about the changes until after UIL.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Big Shot Bob on 9/17/2024, 4:26 pm, in reply to "Show Band"

Definitely bring in clinicians who are successful in teaching the show style. Different universities offer camps however mostly in the summer.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Wow... on 9/17/2024, 12:33 pm, in reply to "Show Band"

That's going to be tougher than they think just to "make it happen", even if they get someone willing to do it.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Question on 9/16/2024, 2:46 pm, in reply to "Show Band"

Do they want that program or are they looking for the energy in the stands while maintaining a corp style show on the field? Or is there a way to do Corp through UIL then learn some entertaining field shows for the remainder of the football season? It is possible to teach a variety of performance styles over the course of the football season.

If they want the entire program built around an HBCU style marching band then good luck. But if they aren't really sure what they are asking then maybe it's an opportunity to partner with your admin and talk about music being music and good sounds being sounds and still being able to incorporate aspects of an HBCU style marching band into your music education provided. There is no HBCU style concert band or jazz band, small ensembles, or Mariachi band. Go see Prairie View perform in a concert setting or Texas Southern and you won't hear spread tuba sounds or screaming mellos that excite a football crowd. You hear characteristic sounds with balance and intonation. Seems to me they are asking for a 10 week style that if done correctly, can be very entertaining to the fans and kids but if done incorrectly can significantly impact those other aspects of the program. Admin and fans sometimes forget that while the Marching side is the most visible it is the least valuable musically and the shortest season of what we do musically in the classroom.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Kramer on 9/16/2024, 1:56 pm, in reply to "Show Band"

If you're not the right fit, good luck in your next move. It might be worthwhile to reach out to Gary Miller at Royal HS in Brookshire. They are a show style band that has a GREAT balance between their football crowd and their UIL shows. He and his staff have done TREMENDOUS work there. Go look at the Region 27 results for the past about 10 years.

Good luck.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Inner-City BD II on 9/16/2024, 1:25 pm, in reply to "Show Band"

It's quite possible to teach within the UIL rubric and still have an HBCU style band program, and still have success at UIL contest. Several bands in the greater DFW area have been successful in this over the past ten-fifteen years or more.

You may simply not be comfortable teaching that style, and that's valid. But you may find that it's not that different from what you already know how to do - just add about 30% of college attitude to what you're already doing.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Outer city BD on 9/18/2024, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: Show Band"

Can you give some examples of DFW bands who have had UIL success with show band style? My admin is pushing this as well, and I'm looking for ways to incorporate with damaging UIL scores. The only examples I know consistently score 2 or 3 at UIL marching.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Inner-City BD II on 9/19/2024, 1:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Show Band"

I'll give you one better.

Call Rametria Smith in Dallas ISD. Her program at Sunset was really, really excellent for a number of years, and made first divisions on stage and on the field fairly frequently. She's the director of instrumental music for the district.

Also try Carlton Cooper, now at Desoto, who built up Wilmer-Hutchins into a pretty solid program and marched HBCU style. I believe Desoto may be headed that way as well at this time. They didn't always earn a 1 overall but they pretty consistently got close.

The reasons that show bands tend to score a 2 or 3 at UIL isn't because of the style, it's largely because middle school teaching (overall, not just band) in inner cities is .. inconsistent .. at best. Often there are much greater priorities than making sure the school has a successful band program. Because of that, there's often a lack of fundamental skills due to instructional gaps and therefore kids don't make a quality characteristic sound, which impacts literally everything else.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Big Sot Bob on 9/19/2024, 5:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Show Band"

Excellent post! Very true in every regard. I would like to add my good friend Bruce Adams at Sam Houston HS in San Antonio. He is an amazing teacher and his band program has been very successful performing Show Style at UIL.

Re: Show Band

Posted by CC on 9/18/2024, 9:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Show Band"

I have seen Sunset HS in Dallas ISD have occasional success as well as Cedar Hill HS. In my opinion, the years they have done well is by backing off the sound to an acceptable level and having a judging panel that is understanding of what they are trying to do.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Big Shot Bob on 9/16/2024, 10:03 am, in reply to "Show Band"

My suggestion it to embrace it. Have fun with it. Yes the marching style is different but imo it is entertainment at best! Maybe at first bridge the two together, it is possible because I have done it. At UIL the most applause in the stands from spectators but mostly from the other band students watching and waiting for results was amazing. Again look on the bright side and have fun with it.

Re: Show Band

Posted by Same on 9/15/2024, 5:50 pm, in reply to "Show Band"

I've seen the writing on the wall in my district for years. Likely leaving at the end of the year.

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