Sequined dresses, flashing horns, amazing music, guard members that looked like dinosaurs - what could be better? Last Saturday I had the opportunity to travel down to Illinois State University for the "43rd Annual State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band Competition" (what a mouthful). This is one of the bigger contests that competing high school marching bands go to from late August to the beginning of November. This event in particular hosts over forty bands in Hancock Stadium, ranging from Class 1A to Class 6A. These categories may correspond to either the number of total students enrolled at the high school or the number of bodies on the marching field.
Once the band assembles on the field, it has about 10 minutes to perform the show the kids have been working on since summer began. There are 10 judges in total who grade the band in the following categories:
1. Musical Performance (individual and ensemble) - This judge walks about the field listening to how certain sections and how the band as a whole play blend together. Judges will listen for things like intonation, tone, rhythm, musicality, etc.
2. Visual Performance (individual and ensemble) - Judges will see if everyone is in step and will also view the show from the press box to see how clean the drill is.
3. Musical General Effect - Judges look to see if the music is played with dynamics and with emotion so that the crowd enjoys the show.
4. Visual General Effect - The drill should coordinate with the music to evoke excitement.
The scores of all judges are averaged to form a final score out of 100 points. Smaller classes (1A) will usually receive lower scores based on the fact that the bands simply don't have enough bodies to create as much sound or emotion based on drill as the bigger bands (6A) have. When I was in high school we deemed anything above a 60 as decent but above a 70 a job well done. The bands that really wow the crowds and their peers usually receive scores above 80 (i.e. Marion Catholic, Lincoln Way East). As to my knowledge there has never been a band to score a perfect 100. A show as mindblowing as that would be humanly impossible.
A winning show usually, but not always uses sounds besides instruments and props. For example, one band built a mini stage on which a choir of 15 stood and sang for 2/3 of the show. Bands have used giant posters, tarps, towers - basically anything to catch the attention of the crowd and to make the show memorable. The champion of the Illinois State competition featured a color guard member who ran onto a field in a giant, inflatable hampster ball - quite the crowd pleaser. However, I find that the bands who perform a solid show with no props are the most enjoyable to watch. There's nothing better than a traditional marching band. No props or singers to distract from the woodwinds that can't play certain licks in the piece.
Sequined dresses, flashing horns, amazing music, guard members that looked like dinosaurs - what could be better? Last Saturday I had the opportunity to travel down to Illinois State University for the "43rd Annual State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band Competition" (what a mouthful). This is one of the bigger contests that competing high school marching bands go to from late August to the beginning of November. This event in particular hosts over forty bands in Hancock Stadium, ranging from Class 1A to Class 6A. These categories may correspond to either the number of total students enrolled at the high school or the number of bodies on the marching field.
Once the band assembles on the field, it has about 10 minutes to perform the show the kids have been working on since summer began. There are 10 judges in total who grade the band in the following categories:
The scores of all judges are averaged to form a final score out of 100 points. Smaller classes (1A) will usually receive lower scores based on the fact that the bands simply don't have enough bodies to create as much sound or emotion based on drill as the bigger bands (6A) have. When I was in high school we deemed anything above a 60 as decent but above a 70 a job well done. The bands that really wow the crowds and their peers usually receive scores above 80 (i.e. Marion Catholic, Lincoln Way East). As to my knowledge there has never been a band to score a perfect 100. A show as mindblowing as that would be humanly impossible.
A winning show usually, but not always uses sounds besides instruments and props. For example, one band built a mini stage on which a choir of 15 stood and sang for 2/3 of the show. Bands have used giant posters, tarps, towers - basically anything to catch the attention of the crowd and to make the show memorable. The champion of the Illinois State competition featured a color guard member who ran onto a field in a giant, inflatable hampster ball - quite the crowd pleaser. However, I find that the bands who perform a solid show with no props are the most enjoyable to watch. There's nothing better than a traditional marching band. No props or singers to distract from the woodwinds that can't play certain licks in the piece.
No comments:
Post a Comment