Lone Star Preview - Sat. October 15, 2011
INFORMATION FOR BAND DIRECTORS
EVENT GUIDELINES
Eligibility: Eligibility is open to all high school bands. All participating members must be enrolled at the same high school as a full time student, or a student at the feeder school of the participating high school. All performers who contribute to the performance must be students. Violation of the eligibility guidelines will result in disqualification.
Classification: Classification is based Texas UIL guidelines.
- Class 3A - Attendance of 345 to 899 (Grades 9-12)
- Class 4A - Attendance of 900-1909
- Class 5A - Attendance of 1910+
If you are an out-of-state band, classification will be determined by the UIL school classification guidelines (see above). You will be sent an enrollment verification form, which will need to be signed by your principal and returned no later than September 23, 2011.
Adjudicators: Judges will be selected off of the lists from Bands of America, Drum Corps International, and Winter Guard International. These organizations provide extensive numbers management training for their judges. The panel will be selected from all parts of the country in order to obtain the best possible adjudication team.
Entry Fee: The entry fee for the Lone Star Preview marching band championship will be $400, payable to TWHS Band Boosters. TWHS Band Boosters will accept check, money order, or school purchase order (see enclosed entry form). ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA FAX OR POSTMARK DATE ORDER ONLY, beginning April 1, 2011 through September 23, 2011. Fax # 936-709-1293. The Entry Form must be completed in full and signed by the unit director and principal or superintendent. Entry form and fee must be received by September 23, 2011 for entry to be valid.
Scoring System: The Bands of America scoring system/sheets will be used for this event. It is the position of Bands of America that music is the more important aspect of the performance, with marching as the presentation and visual enhancement of the program. Similarly, more emphasis has been placed on the effectiveness to the audience and to general effect judges, than on fine-line perfection of the performance judges - which may be an aspect to work on for even better effectiveness. Consequently, the weight of the numbers in the Bands of America scoring system places 60% of the value on music and 40% on visual, and at the same time, 60% of the score is within the area of general effect and 40% within the performance area. The point allotment for the competition is as follows:
20 points* Music Performance (Individual), judged on the field
20 points* Music Performance (Ensemble), judged from the stands
20 points* Visual Performance (Individual), judged from the field
20 points* Visual Performance (Ensemble), judged from the stands
20 points General Effect Visual, judged from the highest point in the stands
40 points General Effect Music, judged from the highest point in the stands Timing & Penalties Judge
*Averaged
For a copy of this system, contact Bands of America at 1-800-848-BAND or visit the BOA web page at www.musicforall.org. In the event of a tie, the high placement will be awarded to the band with the higher raw score (subtotal before penalties). If after using this criterion a tie still exists, the highest General Effect total will be used to determine placement. This will only be used to determine Class Champions and finals competition.
Event Preliminary Schedule: The event shall be limited to no more than 24 bands. ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA FAX OR POSTMARK DATE ORDER ONLY, beginning April 1, 2011 through September 23, 2011. Fax # 936-709-1293. Those entries received prior to the April 1st postmark will be considered for placement until that date. Preliminary step-off time will be determined by fax or postmark date, regardless of class. All entries that have the same fax or postmark date will be scheduled by draw, starting with the last prelim spot to the first. The defending champion will have the option to perform last in the preliminary competition. Entry deadline is September 23, 2011, or once 24 bands have entered. Preliminary competition will start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and bands will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals.
Preliminary Awards Presentation: At the conclusion of the final preliminary competitor, all unit drum majors will mass for Class awards and announcement of finalists. Overall preliminary scores will not be announced nor made public until the conclusion of the finals competition. Division ratings will be announced and Awards will be given for each classification as follows:
Division Ratings:
I 75 and above
II 60 - 74
III 45 - 59
IV 44 and below
Awards:
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd in each class
- Outstanding Music Performance in each class
- (highest average of the 2 music performance scores)
- Outstanding Visual Performance in each class
- (highest average of the 2 visual performance scores)
- Outstanding General Effect in each class
- (highest composite score of all three GE scores)
- Outstanding Auxiliary in each Class
- Outstanding Percussion in each Class
Following the announcement of the Class placement awards, the top 10 scoring bands, regardless of class, will be announced in random order. The finals competition will be void of any classes. Preliminary Class champion performers will be awarded medals at the Finale awards presentation.
In the event that there is only one band entered in a class, only the 1st place class placement trophy will be presented. No caption awards or champion medals will be presented to that band. That band may, however, opt to compete with bands in a higher class as long as they agree prior to the start of the event.
Finals Event Schedule: Immediately following the announcement of the finalist bands, a meeting for the director or representative of each finalist band will be held in a designated area. Finalist performance order will be determined by a top-5, bottom-5 draw. The top 5 scoring bands will draw for the last 5 performance times and the bottom scoring 5 bands will draw for the first 5 performance times. In the event that a "Class Champion" band does not score high enough to place in the finals competition, that band will have the option to perform in the finals event at either the beginning or conclusion of the finals competition. The finals competition will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Finals Awards Presentation: The event will feature a full-band retreat with all finalist bands and Class Champion exhibition bands. Awards will be presented to finalist bands for 1st through 10th, as well as Highest Achievements (same as prelims). At the conclusion of the Finale awards presentation, members will be dismissed to congratulate each other. The champion unit will be offered the option to have the field for a victory performance, once all performers have left the field.
Critique: A judges’ critique session will be available immediately following the Finale Awards presentation. This will be on a first-come, first served, basis and is optional for all competing bands.
Tickets: Tickets will be available at the gate. Ticket prices are as follows: Adult: Prelims only-$10, Finals only-$10, All day-$15; Students: Prelims only-$6, Finals only-$6, All day-$10. More information will be included in your directors packet which will be e-mailed to you early in October. Ticket information will also be available on our website at www.twhsband.org/lsp.
Competing unit passes will be picked up at Director Check In, when your band arrives at the site. Each band will receive six (6) Director badges and twenty-five (25) field passes, regardless of band size. These numbers are to be listed on the Entry Form and will be verified at the competition. Additional passes may be purchased as a regular gate admission ticket. These passes will be valid for both prelims and finals competition. Only uniformed students and those with passes/hand stamps will be allowed into the stadium.
Copyright: Any applicable copyright laws for the performance and/or arranging of music for each band's performance are the sole responsibility of each participating unit.
Photo/Video Service: A professional video service will NOT be provided.
Performance Specifics:
Warm up: Your prelim warm-up times will be included in your final packet which will be mailed in early October. We may provide a "pit" warm-up area near the stadium. Bands may not practice or warm-up within earshot or visual vicinity of the stadium. A physical warm-up area will be provided prior to your scheduled musical warm-up time. Use of the physical warm-up site is optional. Report time to the stadium will be 10 minutes prior to your scheduled performance time.
Performance Area Surface (of the stadium floor): The performance field will be a regulation size football field with end zones and including the area from out-of-bounds lines on the ends to fifteen (15) feet in front of the front side line (360 feet long) and from the out-of-bounds lines on the ends to the back limit of the field surface, normally the back grandstand or wall. Entrance of the band proper may not be over the front sideline. Performers presetting equipment in the front (pit) may enter from the front.
Performance Times: Once you enter the performance area, you will have a four (4) minute maximum prep time for set-up and warm-up (placement of props/equipment must take place during this time). This time will begin at the cue of the Timing & Penalties judge. Once your band appears to be ready, or at three (3) minutes and 30 seconds, the announcer will introduce your band. Once the drum majors hear their names, they are to immediately salute and set to begin the performance. The first note of music or the first step-off by a member of the band proper will start the timing of your show and must occur within 30 seconds from the conclusion of the announcement introducing your band. Each band is allowed a performance time of 7 to 11 minutes. This timing will begin at the conclusion for the 4 minute set-up/warm-up time. Following completion of your show, your band will have 2 minutes to vacate the performance area (outside/clear of the goal line), which will be the conclusion of your 15 minute block. All props and equipment must be totally removed from the Performance Area within 4 minutes following the end of the bands performance. All uniformed students will receive a hand stamp that will allow them access back into the stadium.
Props/Equipment: Each band will be able to unload large props and equipment for your show no sooner than 45 minutes prior to your step-off time. Following your bands performance, you will have 45 minutes to remove your props and equipment. Specifics will be included in the October packet.
Penalties: These are at the discretion of the Timing & Penalties Judge/Contest Director:
- Time requirements: 0.1 point per 3 seconds or fraction thereof
- Delay of Contest: 0.5 point per minute or fraction thereof
- Boundary: 0.1 point per flagrant infraction
Electronics: All electronically produced music must be "live" and played in "real time" by a student. No "prerecorded or sequenced" music, whether instrumental or vocal may be used. The use of sounds other than music, such as narration or sound effects, may be prerecorded and used without penalty. Electronic units are allowed if they are self-powered. If power is available at the site, it may be used at the unit's own risk. The Woodlands High School Band nor the Conroe Independent School District takes no responsibility for supplying any band’s electrical and electronic needs.
For More Information, Contact:
Roland Ramirez
-Event Chairmen-
lonestar@twhsband.org
www.twhsband.org/lsp/
