^ I am not meaning anything disrespectful to you or your choir. I wasn't directing the comment towards you in any way. The fact that your area has fewer show choirs is one of those factors I was talking about.
On the other hand, there are some schools that enter competitions in the B division that clearly have directors experienced in show choir and that feed from schools that were big shoiw choir schools. Those were the schools I was referring to.
That is exactly what I am saying about new choirs who have the money, experience, and talent from all of these other choirs to develop the program.
When I was saying a weighted superior I meant that choirs that should be getting scored like they are large developed choirs are getting scored in the lower division just to get stuff, instead of letting the groups that should be allowed to shine lose.
This whole divisions thing is pretty new when it comes to show choir, from about the past few years at most competitions, and I think that if it keeps being abused, then I see it disappearing like all-boys show choirs.
P.S. I honestly do think that how everyone views your group is far better than how many awards you have won. I can't remember which awards Sound Fx won while I was in it, but I remember the feeling sfter we performed at Manchester last year when we could honestly say we had never performed better that year. We had won the comp. before, but didn't feel like it was our best. No matter hwat that outcome was, we were all so happy b/c we had done outr best.
Show choirs ratings are one of the most fickle things in existence. It is so subjective, and you really have to take the numbers with a grain of salt.
And from what I saw last year, you guys are well on your way. I loved the drum major thing. Good luck this weekend.
No offense meant, because I love Hanover, but I think this is very easy for you to say coming from a very strong school in an area where show choir is alive and well.
Also, we got our first superior last year at Hanover and we are very proud of it. That moment of hearing the word "Superior" behind OUR NAME is a moment that keeps us going almost every practice. But according to your comments, we're cowards with a $10 plastic trophy and a weighted superior? I'm not sure if you have any idea how hurtful those words are.
The only show choirs in my area are Poquoson and Kecoughtan. Within a 50 mile radius, I don't have Thomas Dale, Hanover, Manchester, Cosby, James River, and so on. I'm learning as best as I can, through trial and error, to improve every year and put my show choir on the map.
I'm not bitter. I'm a hard worker and willing to pay my dues. But what do you tell students who work their backsides off? It's the same this year as last year...just as soon as Cosby moved up, here comes Springfield. We were watching Springfield on the TV with that same feeling we had last year when we first saw Cosby. It's so hard to keep them motivated and point out that they are making improvements when it's considered okay for large show choirs to use our category like we're guinea pigs.
Do you really think all people remember is what a choir's sportsmanship is like? I don't.
These thoughts are just my opinions. I'm certainly not trying to hurt anybody if you disagree. Even though there are things I consider to be great obstacles, you've got to know we are going to work our tails off this week for Hanover. I don't agree with the prerequisites for the classes, but I can't change that. All I can change is me and my show choir. And we will keep working our tails off until we get it right.
I wish Hanover and Lee-Davis an amazingly successful weekend. I wish all the show choirs the best of luck and a day that brings you the most successful show of your whole season.
Personally I think that no matter how young a show choir is, it is jst cowardly to compete them in the smaller division. Sure you get a $10 plastic trophy, and may get a weighted superior, but you are only going against people that are in the same boat that you are.
The only excuse I see in having a B-division choir is if there are a lot of factors that would prohibit competing at a large level like finances or if the students are all beginners, or a director who is very incompitent.
Experience and feeling that you did your best are far better than a fake rating and a trophy. A group should feel the best when they are proud of their work, regardless of how they place. Because next year, no one's gonna say, "Oh, this school won vocals, choreo and GC!," they're gonna say "This school was great and were great sports."
QUOTE(Joedaddy in Knightscene @ Mar 9 2008, 12:27 PM) [snapback]426608[/snapback]
like whom? you can't really put an untested show choir
against the big dogs and destroy them. would you rather
have everyone together and just let the "bigger and better"
show choirs have total control and the smaller groups have
no chance at all to win? it's all a matter of having good sound,
an extemely high work ethic, and wanting to be the best.
for example, when i was a freshman in high school, my show choir
got a good at a competition. it was devastating.
You CAN put an untested in with be big dogs and let them get destroyed. It's a learning process. Just like I'm getting destroyed now. I'm not getting destroyed because I and my students lack work ethic. I'm getting destroyed because show choir is a dead art in District VIII, and I have had to figure out everything on my own. We work our tails off, and someday it is going to pay off. Eventually we will figure out exactly what we need to win. I would rather be in a category with James River, who has exactly the same number of kids in their choir as I have in mine, and get beat by them. I can look at that and say...Wow...I can go THAT far with what I have.
I have already competed at competitions with no classes and been stomped there, too. My point is that adding the classes doesn't even the playing field if you let the big choirs compete against the small choir for the express purpose of winning.
I don't think my show choir should be the testing ground for large groups. I'm sorry you got a good your first year and felt devastated. But to me, that doesn't mean you should get to come stomp my small choir so you can have better self esteem. What about ours?
I hope this does not sound rude or disrespectful. I do not mean to be either of those things. I just feel strongly about this.
QUOTE(Joedaddy in Knightscene @ Mar 9 2008, 04:18 PM) [snapback]426604[/snapback]
haha. you can seriously say that james river has good vocals.
they're good, but not as good vocally as say hanover, dale, cosby or
lee-davis. but like i said, it's my opinion. but i do love me some cosby
as well. so yeah.
but idk. lol. i suppose i'm just slightly perterbed by the fact that
james river basically does the same show every year and they
think they're amazing. lol. oh well.
They do have a pretty standard format, but it's good to still see it happening, I havent seen them recently, but your right in that aspect of, I don't need to see them to know what they look like. And I love the Ripley family, are they still running James River?
QUOTE(MHSdirector @ Mar 9 2008, 01:28 PM) [snapback]426548[/snapback]
I have a real problem competing against large show choirs just because they're new. To me, it sends the message you can go out and destroy the small show choirs for a year to get your confidence up...then you can go into the large group. I feel very strongly that the divisions should be by total number of members in the show choir. I would also not find it acceptable to rotate so that you only have a small number of members on stage at a particular time...like having a "bench" just so you can compete in a smaller division.
like whom? you can't really put an untested show choir
against the big dogs and destroy them. would you rather
have everyone together and just let the "bigger and better"
show choirs have total control and the smaller groups have
no chance at all to win? it's all a matter of having good sound,
an extemely high work ethic, and wanting to be the best.
for example, when i was a freshman in high school, my show choir
got a good at a competition. it was devastating. my sophomore year
we got all excellents and got a little better. my junior year we got excellent
at every competition aside from winning at Martinsburg. then my senior year
placed 2nd at two comps and won L-D @ Hanover. we got better each
year and wanted to win.
anyways. i don't even know if i made an sense at all, but i was bored and
felt like saying something.
QUOTE(RyGuy86 @ Mar 9 2008, 10:26 AM) [snapback]426516[/snapback]
James River and Hanover have the vocals Blakey... And in VA you know that is generally top priority, unless your Martinsburg for some reason... Dale does also, but it's a very different sound. It all depends on what those judges knitch is. And yay for Cosby, Hanover and Cosby are the youngest 2 schools and look where they are...
As for Hanover, your right. The group and show isnt exactly as great as the past 2 years, but this is probably going to be their weakest year, just be prepared for whats to come. =-.)
haha. you can seriously say that james river has good vocals.
they're good, but not as good vocally as say hanover, dale, cosby or
lee-davis. but like i said, it's my opinion. but i do love me some cosby
as well. so yeah.
but idk. lol. i suppose i'm just slightly perterbed by the fact that
james river basically does the same show every year and they
think they're amazing. lol. oh well.
Maybe it's me, but I'm not loving anyone this year more than I did last year. Maybe it's a building year for some groups...Some of my favorite show choirs are not as strong this year. I won't name names...I don't think it's necessary.
I have a real problem competing against large show choirs just because they're new. To me, it sends the message you can go out and destroy the small show choirs for a year to get your confidence up...then you can go into the large group. I feel very strongly that the divisions should be by total number of members in the show choir. I would also not find it acceptable to rotate so that you only have a small number of members on stage at a particular time...like having a "bench" just so you can compete in a smaller division.
I really liked Martinsburg's show. I watched it from the room...they sounded okay from there. No one sounds amazing the way the sound is done at Manchester. I had never seen them before.
Lee-Davis is still a favorite of mine this year. It's a fun show...it's very "me". I missed them this week, and can't wait to see them next week.
James River and Hanover have the vocals Blakey... And in VA you know that is generally top priority, unless your Martinsburg for some reason... Dale does also, but it's a very different sound. It all depends on what those judges knitch is. And yay for Cosby, Hanover and Cosby are the youngest 2 schools and look where they are...
QUOTE(enoch316 @ Mar 9 2008, 01:59 AM) [snapback]426450[/snapback]
Mixed Results
Grand Champion: Martinsburg High School "Good Times"
1st Place: James River High School "Current Edition"
2nd Place: Hanover High School "Sound FX"
3rd Place: Cosby High School "Spotlight"
Best Vocals: James River
Best Choreography: Martinsburg
Best Show Design: Martinsburg
Best Band: Hanover
People's Choice Award: Cosby
Congrats to everyone who performed!
ALSO...Thomas Dale was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING tonight and I honestly thought they could have swept the entire competition so if you are in Knight Scene...YOU GUYS WERE AWESOME!
how in the world did james river get 1st RU. wtf.
either there were a lot of groups with bad nights.
james river does the same show every year.
three "cute" songs, either this is the moment or
ordinary miracles or something like that and then
a tap. they weren't that amazing last week.
i have respect for hanover, but i didn't think they were
as good as they were the past two years. but mr. b
always has them ready.
and i haven't seen martinsburg in two years so i can't
really say anything. but.....yeah.
Cosby is amazing. i'm glad they placed. they deserve
everything they get.
and not to be talking about dale like i still go there,
but they have vastly improved from last year.
they have really good vocals, clean choreo and
a great band. not to mention stanny. i'm just
baffled that they didn't get anything. oh well.
that's manchester. as forrest gump always says,
it's like a box of chocolates. you never know what
you're gonna get.
...but the Hanover curse still reigns. Sound FX wins the first comp, then Highlights wins the second. This has happened for the past three years...
...anyway, good luck to all the choirs competing at Hanover this Thursday through Sat. We have over 50 choirs coming...it's gonna be a long weekend. We've been preparing the auditorium for the festival since last week...
Grand Champion: Martinsburg High School "Good Times"
1st Place: James River High School "Current Edition"
2nd Place: Hanover High School "Sound FX"
3rd Place: Cosby High School "Spotlight"
Best Vocals: James River
Best Choreography: Martinsburg
Best Show Design: Martinsburg
Best Band: Hanover
People's Choice Award: Cosby
Congrats to everyone who performed!
ALSO...Thomas Dale was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING tonight and I honestly thought they could have swept the entire competition so if you are in Knight Scene...YOU GUYS WERE AWESOME!
Manchester Central Virginia Show Choir Invitational 2008
