The Pride of the Tribe marching band took 10th place at the area marching contest in Lubbock on Oct. 23, missing a chance to repeat a trip to state as it did in 2008.
High winds kept the band from using its large panels to illustrate the movements of its show.
“The wind was a factor,” Director Jimmie Exline said. “Also the youth of the group and lack of experience at that level. Many of them had never been in that situation before, and it’s tough to understand what is at stake.”
Exline said that the basic fallacy in the marching band competition system is that students only get to advance every other year, so half the band doesn’t have the experience necessary. This year only 3A and 5A bands can advance to state, and next year, 1A, 2A and 4A can advance.
“I thought we had a pretty good chance,” freshman A.J. Frose said. “We’ve worked hard. After-school practice, summer band practice, morning practices…I had a good feeling we would make it.”
While region contest the week before had ratings from three judges who gave the Pride of the Tribe straight Division I’s, the region judges made audio tapes and the band only received a ranking.
“The judges were basically concerned with intonation of individuals and a lack of consistency and articulation,” Exline said. “They wished we’d had a big brass feature. The week before, the judges liked our delicate woodwinds, but these judges wanted a big brassy sound.”
Exline said the putting the band’s whole year on what five judges said about a seven-minute performance would be a mistake.
“All of those parents and fans yelling for the show and giving us a standing ovation at the end supporting our school, our community and our kids are what is important,” Exline said. “It means the world to those kids. That means we are doing what we are supposed to do which is taking care of our fans.”
Even if the band did not advance to state, the experience was an education in itself.
“You have to listen and improve,” junior Karly Pitcox said. “You can’t just go to contests and assume you know how to do it. All the work is completely worth it on the way to state, though. It’s pretty epic and exciting, but nervewracking in every way. It’s just really awesome to be there and share it with friends.”