NAMMB is this Saturday @ SFA.

Spring Hill

Uilfreak is a smart person, it'll between New Boston, Spring Hill.....maybe Pitt if they step it up, does anybody know what happened to them at regional?

What about other bands such as...Carthage, Center and Cleveland? Has anyone heard
how they are doing?

center and carthage are good bands, but do not compete with the NB's or SH, carthage went to area but didnt make the finals, idk about Cleveland, but they've been good in the past

well, if Pitt 75 started this thread, then I'm guessing you think Pitt will take it. Well, if they bring their A Game and fix a few marching fundamentals, then possibly. Guessing by what happened at Regionals, they don't seem to have their heart in it. marching errors are a true sign of the band not wanting it bad enough. Directors can't make them want it, the band has to do it themselves. I'm pulling for you Pitt 75, but I'm also pulling for the Cowboys winning the Superbowl this year. (doesn't look like that will happen either)

I'm going with Cleveland. I think it will come down to them or Center. Both awesome bands this year.

Center?????????!?!?!? they were terrible when we played them, unless that was the Junior high band then no way

Will NB be at NAMMB on Saturday? If they are going to be in San Antonio on Monday seems like that would be a little too much to go to NAMMB and State both. As for Pitt, mental mistakes all year long. Don't know which band is going to show up. Once you fall off the horse, you gotta get back on it! Been a rough year.

I can agree with the not wanting it enough, also NO leadership from this year's seniors WHATSOEVER!

I don't think they will be at NAMMB...but I'm not positive.

yes NB will be at NAMMB...but i dont really think they will win because they have a pit...this contest for military bands not core bands.

I don't really think you know that much about NB, because they are not a "core" or "corps" band.
They march military style.
To borrow a phrase, Do Better!

Duh...

Been to NAMMB before with a pit and did well...it's all about music and marching. Best not underestimate what they are doing. I'll find out today if they are going to NAMMB for sure...last I heard they were not.

I've seen a rehearsal or two of Pittsburg's. (pre-regionals) They look lazy on the field. Even if New Boston doesn't show up to NAMMB I don't think they have a shot. These kids don't appear to want 'it.' It doesn't matter if there is a pit or not in New Boston's band. They are military. Pit or no pit, they are marching 6 to 5... the same as any other military band.

New Boston or not, I'd stop saying Pittsburg... no chance.

What about the 2A's?

Not to mention the Friday Halftime Runthrough for all the hometown fans!

It's official...NB will NOT be at NAMMB. Too close to the state contest. Good luck to NB at state and all the bands at NAMMB.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MILITARY MARCHING BANDS

It seems we have forgotten that since we left Texas A&M. I appreciate SFA hosting this contest, but my gripe is that the BIG exhibition show that they put on is corps. They sometimes will perform a short military show, but for the most part it's corps. While I don't mind watching a corps band, I really wish that they would find a great military band to highlight what military bands are all about! I miss watching A&M....

Does anybody out there in the band world agree with me? Shouldn't this competition support the long tradition of military marching?

I'm with you on this one girl!!!!! I too appreciate SFA, BUT A&M would be the logical band to do the exhibition show. SFA has not had the best marching bands of late, no matter what style they march and we need to see quality. I wish NAMMB could go back to Kyle Field. As long as I'm on my soap box, I wish we could see more bands at NAMMB. I know, I know, folks have lots of other contests to go to, but there is nothing like a GOOD MILITARY BAND.

If they had kept NAMMB as it was originally (scoring, ranking, etc.), I believe more bands would participate. They changed it a few years ago, and a lot of directors quit participating. Plus, not having it at a military-marching school revealed NAMMB had lost its original intention: to promote military bands. I wish we could go back to Kyle Field, too. My daughter was only two when her daddy's bands marched on that field, but she still remembers that A&M band running out of the tunnel and filling that stadium with the most awesome sound. There's nothing like it....

Furthermore, I've not been around a more considerate and helpful group of young men and women as those we found at A&M. They were polite, courteous, and friendly. We had been to State competitions in Austin at UT and never received that sort of "service."

And, thank you for your post about SFA's bands. There has been a noticeable decline in its marching and playing quality in the last few years. When they do present a military show, it's pretty weak. I've seen better junior high bands ... okay, maybe not junior high, but you get my drift.... It's pretty bad when we're all sitting in the stands, hoping they don't fall apart because they are no longer playing or marching together!

Who are you to say anything about the Pittsburg band? So you watched a rehearsal or two of ours..big deal. We work hard every single day. And just because we messed up at Regionals doesn't mean we don't want it. It broke our hearts when that happened to us at Regionals, but what are you going to do..MISTAKES HAPPEN!! We are still the same band we have always been and in some ways better that we were, and we will show everyone out there what we are capable of at NAMMB. So all of you who are doubting us, bring it on!

Has anyone seen Center or Cleveland this year?

One of the reasons that NAMMB moved from Kyle Field was that when A&M joined the Big 12 conference, they had a rule that the fields had to be natural grass.

That is true, but it doesn't keep me from wishing that we could go back or stating how great it was when we were able to have contest there.

We've been missed, too. A comment by a "higher up" at A&M was made several years ago. He also wished that we could have the contest there. He missed having all these bands come to their campus, walk around, get to know A&M's students, etc. He felt that it was a great "recruiting" opportunity that was being lost.

Yeah...and something about not wanting all those bands tearing up the field...

Like that doesn't happen when the football teams get out there with their cleats on and chew it up...

There are a lot of schools in the Big 12 that have artificial or Field Turf. The Athletic Department at A&M doesn't want anyone to mess up their 'hallowed turf'. That is why they do not host any HS playoff games until after their last home game. I can remember taking my bands when there used to be over 30 bands at NAMMB, and yes the highlight of the day was watching the Aggie Band.

In my opinion you should just be grateful that you have a place to have your contest. For several years now SFA has agreed to host the contest with no students to help run it because the "terrible, evil, non military marching band" has been doing what their job is...supporting their football team.

The judges are not going to deduct points for having a pit. They are not a core band for having a pit. In fact, if they were core, they wouldn't have gotten into NAMMB in the first place.
New Boston is a pretty good military marching band. Being biased, I admit I prefer our sharp, loud-stomp style
Pittsburg is pretty good too, even with a new band director. What happened at contest was bad luck, but that doesn't make them a bad band for having a mistake. They had ran the routine before going and it was near perfection. If Pittsburg doesn't have another mishap, they will definitely have a good shot at winning.

Lazy? Don't want it?

The Pittsburg band is not lazy. I admit there are some individuals who may not be fully committed, but all bands have those. We work for 2 hours afterschool and work our hearts out during school. And if the kids didn't "want it", they all wouldn't have been so devastated at our loss during regionals. If you had seen the faces, the anger and disappointment written clearly on them, you would not have said that. No band says, "Oh, we don't want to go to state." If we were lazy, we would have all quit band during the summer, because band camp is no walk in the park.
Band is not for the weakhearted who don't want victory, who would rather stay at home rather than go to practices. They are for hard-working people who want to prove themselves, and Pittsburg have worked just as hard as New Boston, or any other band. Unless you are actually one of our students or the director, you have no place to say otherwise.


P.S. Of course a military band can have a pit. And if they weren't military, they wouldn't have gotten into NAMMB.

What? Nobody said they were not grateful to SFA for holding the contest, but it is a contest celebrating the tradition of military marching, which SFA does not do. I haven't seen where it was called a "terrible, evil, non military marching band." Don't make up lies to try and prove your point, especially if you are quoting another. Furthermore, their band is not out there supporting their football team because the team is playing an out of town. That's why the field is available for the contest. Many of the band's members are running around in the stands, in the press box, etc.

I don't know what the situation is this year, but in the past the SFA has been "supporting their football team" at away games. See, the SFA band doesn't just perform at home games, they also travel to some away conference games. I also believe in the past one of the directors has stayed behind to make sure everything goes well for NAMMB.

NAMMB is barely hanging on... and I think everyone should be grateful to SFA for hosting the contest. If I were an SFA director and read some of the comments on here about the LMB, I would be reluctant to host NAMMB. Unlike A&M, SFA hasn't kick NAMMB out yet. I've lost respect for 2 individuals because of what they posted on this thread.

Whether they are there on campus or at a football game is really beside the point. This is a military contest, celebrating military marching and music. I may have been one of the ones you've lost respect for because of my posts, birdland. So be it. I stand by them. SFA could work on and present a military drill for the exhibition show at NAMMB; instead, they choose to thumb their noses at it and perform a corps drill. To me, it shows a disrespect for this style of marching, the band students who work so hard to compete at this contest, and the directors who still choose to teach the discipline and style of military bands.

BTW - in answer to the question about Center's band - when I saw them earlier in the season, they were prepared and marched a very clean drill.

It shouldn't matter where a contest is hosted. If it was being held at a highschool that just happened to have a corps band, would anyone care? I doubt it. As far as SFA not celebrating the military tradition, we perform a military pregame show every year. It would be much easier to forget military fundamentals, music, and chalk out a cheesy two set corps pregame. This, however, doesn't happen. The LMB works on a military one every week instead. That is two shows at a time to work on. Sometimes three, since new shows have to be learned one time or another.

As for marching a corps show at NAMMB, I can't remember SFA performing at NAMMB. I know that as long as I've been in the LMB, we haven't. As Mahler said, we were busy doing our job, supporting the Lumberjacks. Tomorrow, the LMB won't be at NAMMB because they are doing just that. They will be at Sam Houston for the game. The people working will be from Nacogdoches HS and SFA's upperclassmen who are no longer in the LMB. Usually, it is hosted by Beta Omicron Beta, the military marching band fraternity. The only chapter that exists is at SFA, btw. The only exhibitions that I know of are performed at UIL. And yes, it is a corps show. Everyone in the LMB knows that the corps shows we do are better than the military show. Why? Because over 90% of the band has been marching corps for 4+ years. It is only logical that it would be better. It would just be silly to try and march a military show with a band full of corps musicians in front of the people who do that better than anyone else in the country. Don't dis the LMB on that. The work done there is just as hard as any other band you will see. I know, because I've been there and done that. You wouldn't talk down on highschool kids because of how "terrible" they look. College kids work just as hard. Have you seen any of the shows this year? I'm the first to admit that the LMB isn't what it should be, but the musicianship in the Miami Sound Machine show was undeniably good.

As for the high school bands, I've only seen a couple this year so I'm really not qualified to pass judgements. I'm anxious to see the results, though.

Yaoverityet, this isn't directed at you btw. I just replied to your message. I hope you don't take this as a personal attack I just get tired of seeing people talk down on an organization that I happen to love. Go Jacks.

trust me, the band tears it up more than the f ball team, we tore our field up at sh. there are ruts where we march in lines and do counter marches.....it looks terrible

But getting back on subject....SH will win because NB isn't attending

No offense taken, kcspeeds29. My original argument still rings true, though. Even if NAMMB were held at a high school stadium, the exhibition band should march a military drill simply because this is a military contest. It doesn't matter if it's SFA's band, TJC's, or ETBU's. At UIL, it doesn't matter - both styles march at that contest. I've never had a problem with a corps exhibition. But NAMMB is different, or at least it should be. And you would be surprised at the number of directors, students, and parents who feel this same way.

Back to A&M - there was a time when Jackie Sherrill was there that he would fly back to College Station just to present the trophy. Now how much better can it get than that for a bunch of wide-eyed high school and some junior high kids?

Again, I appreciate SFA hosting NAMMB.

Good luck to everyone going to NAMMB today my prayers are with you.

special shout out to all my pitt people out there!

I really don't like cockiness so....

No 1A's
2A's
Hemphill --first and superior rating (93 total score)
New Diana
Hughes Springs
Dekalb
Garrison

3A's
Cleveland (superior)
Spring Hill (superior)
Gilmer (superior)
Center (superior)
Carthage
Pittsburg

then the others
4A
Vidor
5A
Attascocita

I wish more 4 and 5A's would come. Knowing several directors of that level, they all say the same basic thing:"It is hard enough to get 125-250+ students to show up for UIL, we cannot ask them to commit another Saturday" Most also wish (as do I) that we could all see the Aggie Band again. I remember the first one in 86 or 87. My school didn't go, but my dad (band director) took us so we could see what it was about. We went the next year, and I march for 4 years on that hallowed ground; and for 4 years recieved low, depressing ratings that were not easily justifiable. BUT it was worth it b/c we go to see the Aggie Band, that is why we went. That's why we left one year after halftime to get to NAMMB in time to go to warm up. I think one other reason attendence is low at this competition is the date; if it were before UIL, then perhaps more would come.(just as long as it didn't conflict with Yamboree )

Congratulations to all the bands!

NAMMB will never be back at A&M - just don't see it happening.

NAMMB should never be before UIL. That just makes it an invitational. NAMMB is more special than that. It should return to its roots, IMO. Only bands who made first divisions at UIL should go. The scoring should return to ones, twos, threes, etc., divisions, with trophies awarded to those who made first divisions. Best in Class should be awarded to the top band of each class. A best overall trophy should be awarded, along with best drill design. Make winning NAMMB something special.

As far as the Aggie band - we've been corrected that SFA's band has never marched at NAMMB because they play at the away games. (Last year two 5A Houston bands performed, I think. That was impressive, considering my understanding is that they had not practiced together, or at least not much.) If all NAMMB is doing is "renting" the stadium to host the contest, then why can't it be on a Saturday when the Aggie band could come and perform? Just a thought.

I couldn't agree more!

I would love to see it at A&M too, actually. I hate that I never got to experience that. I, like you, don't see it happening though. That's unfortunate. It just isn't a big enough deal to A&M to tear the field up for.

Congratulations to all the bands, today was fun!

As a Gilmer Buckeye Band alum, I have to say they were fantastic on that field today. I think they were the best I've ever seen them and better than when I was a part of it. They placed for the first time at NAMMB and walked away with a superior rating. They deserve major credit for having stepped up their dedication these last two years after breaking a 6-year sweepstakes tradition, and it is refreshing to see these kids are excited about marching (military of course) and doing something they love.

I make the following statement as an alum of the Gilmer High School Marching Band, and former member of the Lumberjack Marching Band of 2 years.
First, I agree that NAMMB belongs at Kyle Field in College Station, and will elaborate on this thought later in my post; second, please forgive my bluntness, but I know no other way to say this than to be straightforward.

You're original argument is blatantly false because the LMB simply does not march a corps exhibition at NAMMB; I DEFY you to point out the last time the LMB marched an exhibition show at NAMMB, let alone if it was even corps. I can tell you the first time I went to NAMMB (and marched at Homer Bryce Stadium) was 5 Falls ago in 2003. The LMB did not march that year, nor the year after that. And if memory serves, there was even a time a year or two ago where NAMMB was hosted at Longview High School (do correct me if I'm wrong). Needless to say, you have obviously NEVER seen the LMB perform an exhibition show at NAMMB (at least not the last 6 competitions).
If the LMB were EVER present to do an exhibition show, I GUARANTEE you they would march our traditional military drill (which is part of our regular pre-game show). Yes, SFA marches a corps half-time show which is exhibited at UIL, but that doesn't mean SFA EVER exhibited the corps show during the NAMMB contest, and I think the insinuation and assumption that Dr. David Campo, who greatly respects the military marching tradition and prides SFA on their retention of the traditional pre-game drill, would ever "thumb his nose" to these hardworking students and this tradition they pride themselves on, is nothing short of a flat lie.

Grant it, the LMBs military marching is far behind the caliber of those bands present at NAMMB, the LMB is not afforded the same level of time and resources to devote to perfecting the style at the level of schools like Cleveland, Springhill and Gilmer are capable of doing, and, frankly, SFAs instructors do not possess near the same level of exposure to the style and traditions as the directors that teach it at the high school level. Having come from a 3A military school, I was never proud of the level of military marching the LMB employed during my 2 years there; nonetheless, those involved were still proud to display the tradition to the best of our ability.
The simple fact Mr. Allen and Dr. Campo host the NAMMB competition is PROOF of their respect and admiration of this awesome tradition. Military marching survives today, almost solely as a part of the high school band; SFA being the #1 school for music education in the COUNTRY, is probably one of the largest supporters of those high school bands, their directors, their students and their tradition. You will never see anyone else at the college level in the great state of Texas support these bands more than Fred J. Allen and Dr. David Campo; anyone who implies otherwise is ignorant of these clear and simple facts.

That being said, I would never, personally, compare the LMB to any high school band on its military marching. The fundamentals that are taught and propagated in the LMB do not fit the (almost unanimous) standards taught at the high school level, and I cannot express how frustrating it was for myself and friends of mine from Lufkin and Kingwood (arguably the best 5A military band in Texas) to 'adapt' to those standards. Texas A&M is CLEARLY the most visible, if not the sole university in the country that sports the military marching tradition, and I definitely agree that NAMMB belongs at the university of a band that truly dedicates itself to the military marching tradition. I cannot remark on the circumstances or reasons for why NAMMB is no longer held at Kyle Field, but I do believe that SFA further hosts the contests as support for the high school band. Music in Texas high school curriculum is fighting an almost-losing battle in terms of funding and support. SFA's School of Music hosting NAMMB is more of a statement of support to education in Music in Texas high schools than it is a recruitment vehicle or statement used to boast the LMB.

Again, I do not mean for this to be a personal attack. It is just a lot of harsh and false comments were made based on assumptions simply because the LMBs half-time show is corps. However, it is just not true that Dr. Campo and the LMB would ever show-off a corps drill to so many high school military bands; they would literally be booed off their own field if that happened. The LMB does not use NAMMB as a recruiting vehicle, which I think is admirable, and the SFA School of Music has NOT done an absolutely single thing against the long tradition of military marching.

I could be wrong, but I think I remember SFA marching a military drill at NAMMB before. It was a while ago, maybe 7 or 8 years ago.

I've been going to NAMMB for 23 years. I was there at Kyle Field; I've been at SFA. Contests do begin to run together after a while, which means I could have been mistaken about SFA marching at NAMMB, but I still don't think so.

One problem with having it at SFA is that it's nothing special. EVERYTHING is at SFA - solo and ensemble, Region 21 marching contest, NAMMB, band camps - maybe that's just another petty point, but it might also indicate why bands don't view it with the awesomeness that it once had.

Watemon, SFA has a great school of music, but it is not the best music school in the country. There are many schools that are just as good if not better. Where is the proof for your opinion? Furthermore, no military band would ever boo the SFA band off the field. That's ludicrous. They march at UIL where many military bands perform. They have yet to be booed.

My opinions are just that. I'm entitled, just as you are entitled to yours. That's what makes Smoaky so great.

First, I never said SFA was "the best music school" in the country, I said it was the #1 school for music education - which is a PRIME difference. SFA is historically one of the earliest universities in the country, if not the first, to be founded for the sole purpose of training future educators (founded in 1923 as Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College), and SFAs School of Music has a rich history in providing many outspoken and dedicated band directors in the state. We can all agree: Music education in Texas is a whole different animal - in a league of its own compared to any other state, and in the state of Texas, SFAs School of Music is the first choice for any musician looking to become a band director. You will not find any single other school in Texas that has supplied more music educators in the state of Texas than Stephen F. Austin State University.

Second, when I spoke of the LMB being "booed off their own field" for marching a corps drill, I obviously meant at the NAMMB contest (being as that was the topic at hand), so allow me to clarify: if the LMB had the gall to march a corps drill in front of so many military marching bands at a contest designed to honor the military marching tradition, they would be booed off of the field - at the very least be given a very unenthusiastic applause. And that is to say nothing of the number of LMB members with military lineage who would have voiced heavy opposition at the mere entertaining of the idea. As was said before by yourself, of course UIL is different, that's for every band and every style of marching; NAMMB is not for corps. Members of the LMB and its directors and instructors are aware of this fact, which is why the simple assumption the LMB would even march a corps show at NAMMB is even more ludicrous than my suggesting they would be booed off their own field by 15 high school bands and their parents.

Your opinion, which insulted a good 300+ members of the LMB, was based off a false assumption: "LMB marches a corps exhibition at NAMMB, insulting and disrespecting those bands and students." This assumption - and NOT your opinion, so much - is what I and every other member of the LMB hailing from the military bands that march at NAMMB, take issue with. Of the 10 total NAMMB contests SFA has hosted since 1996, I can assure you the LMB did not march in 4 of those, let alone whether they marched a corps drill, which is the true crux of yours and my statements (I cannot speak of the contests before 2003, for that, I refer you to cubs37's post).

And yes, you are right; we are all entitled to our opinions. Which means if I disagree with yours - especially because it is based on a false assumption, I am entitled to voice mine in opposition.

[quote name='Watemon' date='Nov 1 2008, 09:19 PM' post='1044157']
SFA being the #1 school for music education in the COUNTRY,

I would say that there are many other schools which would disagree with you. Where is your proof that SFA is the #1 school for music education in the COUNTRY? It's okay to be proud of your school, but this is stretching it a bit.

And I would tell you to look at the number of music educators at the high school and college level and see what colleges they obtained their degrees. I would also point you to band directors in the area and ask them for their assessment of SFAs School of Music for a degree in music education (which is what I and others did as high school students); your being the wife of a band director, as I would assume based on previous posts, I don't see that being very difficult. Then I would ask for what schools you assume would disagree that SFA isn't #1 in Music Education, because though you voice opposition to the opinion, you also fail to suggest schools you feel otherwise hold the title.

Regardless, I fail to see what SFAs standing in the country in music education has to do with the argument at hand in regards to NAMMB, #1 school for mus. ed or not. In short, unless you can dispute said facts, you owe the LMB a retraction.

Why don't YOU go back and read everything I've posted on the various threads. Your position (which you boasted BTW) has been discussed with a variety of directors, and those who graduated from SFA will tell you SFA. Those who graduated from other schools will give you their opinion based on their own experiences at their colleges, universities, and schools of music - North Texas, Northwestern, ETBU, SMU, Texas Tech, UT, Texas A&M Commerce - just to name a few. Some like SFA; some don't. Some agree it is an excellent choice for music education; others will state otherwise. Each has his or her own opinion. Yours is based on your own education at the school of your choice. I just don't happen to agree with it. Besides, a great band director is a great band director based on his own personal work ethics and the mentorship of other great band directors, not where he/she got the degree.

I'm through.

SFA-Best music school in the country or #1 in the country for music ed...Either way you say it, it is still a rediculous statement.