I'm currently a college student doing a class project on researching trends in selections for concert band. I'm out of state, but I'm using the texasmusicforms.com website to gather data because of how large of a repository of data it contains.
The number of concert band entries is rather large for 2017-2020. There is a drop in entries from 2020 to 2021 which is obviously understandable, but it is still a large data set. But I'm curious as to why there is such a huge drop in entries for 2022 and 2023. Has there been a significant change in how the website is being used to collect information on how many times selections are being played. I figured yellowboard would be a good place to ask.
Re: PML Results
Posted by DesertJazz on 10/30/2024, 5:46 am, in reply to "PML Results"
TexasMusicForms was created by Charms back when Michael Baker was still running the company. Back then it was really an amazing resource, and he did a lot of things above and beyond for people. When he retired and sold off the company they continued to run the site, although Vanco, the company that bought it, began running everything into the ground. As a result the current site really became a problem for everyone. Supposedly the new owners are doing a better job of being responsive, and I think the UIL secretaries are at least happier with the system again.
I don't think any real effort has been put into that little subset of data though from them.
As someone mentioned below, use Tim Huskey's data on BrynnPark. (He's the guy who has also taken on this site) Contact him if you need more help with getting the data, I know he'll help you out. Best wishes!
Re: PML Results
Posted by Hodor on 10/29/2024, 4:52 pm, in reply to "PML Results"
I don't know why it slowed down. It's not just COVID. The data is just woefully incomplete. There's no way the most played song in 2023 was only played 1o times.
For a much more complete data set, I'd look at the UIL section at BrynnPark.com
Re: PML Results
Posted by Respectfully on 10/29/2024, 1:54 pm, in reply to "PML Results"
There are several factors that led to that drop. But they all add up to Covid-19.
First and foremost is a lot of very large programs simply lost membership during and post Covid. Many kids had to quit to work in lower to middle income areas.
Second, the lack of consistent engagement led to many kids choosing to move on to other activities.
Third, consider 2022.
We lost almost all of the 2020 UIL season. A few groups got to attend before everything shut down.
2021 UIL was limited - some groups went, many kids were virtual only. Many programs were adversely affected by this.
So 2022 rolls around - kids that began 6th grade band during the 19-20 year lost 9 weeks of instruction, spent all of 7th grade virtual, and then had to come in and do a UIL-level program after having literally never performed with a band since their mass beginning band - if their school even did a Christmas beginner concert! It's no wonder the number of entries dropped.
It'll tick back up, and it has - but there were significant obstacles to success those few years.
