State and Valley

For marching band kids, when competition time rolls around there is usually a lot of complaining, but there is also a LOT of excitement. Such as this weekend, on October 10^th, we have a long day. In the morning we will be at school bright and early for practice. Then we will get on buses and head to Kingston, for yet another competition that is held there.
 

This one just happens to be the “State Marching Band Comp.” which who doesn’t love state? Band kids that is the answer. Yes, it is another competition that we will have, but it is almost like a practice performance for Valley. What is Valley you ask? Well that simple.
 

Valley is our biggest comp. It is about a two hour bus ride and we compete against some really good bands. Such as Valley and Dowling. Both those bands have a long reputation of being the best. So it’s a battle for us; the last two years at Valley we have not placed all that well, so this year we have to prove ourselves.

This year is our year! Hopefully… So far this year we have done well at our competitions, we have placed 2^nd in a couple of them, and what isn’t better than that?! After those two everyone was really excited, and most people in the Cougar Marching Band are going to walk into this weekend thinking we have it in the bag, but do we really?
 

I hate to say it, but we don’t. We do not have it “in the bag”. If we want a good spot at Valley we have to work our tails off and most people don’t want to put in the work to get better. It is a team effort and there is some people in “this team” who don’t want to put in the work like everyone else is, and that can make or break us at Valley.

At the start of competition season, judges are a little more lenient when it comes to scores, because most bands are just learning their show, or music, or still haven’t had much time to clean the drill. But as the season wears on, the judges become more and more strict.
 

The judges at Valley are just down right mean. They know exactly what they are looking for and if they see something wrong, you get docked big time for it. Such as the judges this year are from the Cavaliers. Which is a great drum corps group. So they know exactly what to look for and what it should look like.

This year will be tough at Valley but it always pays off. Such as Mrs. Fleer is always yelling at us during the year. But after Valley when we get off the field we all circle up and she gives us the most perfect speech. It is very heart warming and many people end up in tears. Mostly the seniors since it is their last performance and last competition.