William Mason/Springboro High School Bands (Dayton, Kettering: credit, how much, home)
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Apologies if this topic is addressed in another thread, I couldn't find it. We'll be moving from CT to Cincy area summer 2012. Our younger son will be a sophomore. This is a huge adjustment for him, as he will have lived in our present home for 12 years! He's a great musician (electric guitar/bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, composition) and very involved in band/percussion. I've been perusing the band websites of both Mason and Springboro high schools. We are coming out to visit and tour the areas this fall. So far, Mason looks like they have really awesome programs, but we're keeping an open mind. Any thoughts on program comparison out there? Also, my son is a little different - he's very talented, and an honors student, but he loves his long frizzy hair (A La Peter Frampton/Slash). Although our area is a bit consevative (we're not) the kids here have known him for so long, most of them just accept it. I'm hoping that it may even be a bit better out there because of the huge amount of people and closer to an urban area, but I'm a little concerned as to how he may be received! Any thoughts? Thanks!
Well if your looking for the best band in Ohio, Mason is currently the best hands down, centerville was but in recent years has started to slip a hair. In the meantime Mason's band has grown leaps and bounds and is absolutely astounding, especially their marching band. If you were to pick a school based on band programs alone Mason wins hands down.
The Mason area no doubt leans more conservative, but it would be a great place to root your family. Although I can't really say people will accept him for his long hair and free spirit it sounds like, it is high school after all, I will undoubtfully bet he can make friends, especially if he were to join the band program.
Thanks for your reply - Mason bands did look impressive, so I'm glad my hunch was right. You're absolutely right about the high school climate, no one's experience is perfect - there are no guarantees, but he is a likeable kid, so I'm sure he'll at least make a couple friends - us moms just worry so much...Really appreciate your imput!
Well if your looking for the best band in Ohio, Mason is currently the best hands down, centerville was but in recent years has started to slip a hair. In the meantime Mason's band has grown leaps and bounds and is absolutely astounding, especially their marching band. If you were to pick a school based on band programs alone Mason wins hands down.
The Mason area no doubt leans more conservative, but it would be a great place to root your family. Although I can't really say people will accept him for his long hair and free spirit it sounds like, it is high school after all, I will undoubtfully bet he can make friends, especially if he were to join the band program.
Ouch, you're a tough judge.
All the Centerville Jazz Band did in 2010 was finish as a semi-finalist in the BOA Grand Nationals; in the top 10 (including the top Ohio finisher) in the BOA Indianapolis Regional; second overall (and top Ohio finisher) in the BOA Kettering Regional; and the CJB took overall grand champion in the Kings competition.
I'd say they are all good, but with Mason and Centerville (a south Dayton suburb) both being slightly better.
I'd also look at bands that do well in OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) competitions as well. It usually is the opposite of BOA, less showy and more traditional. Judging for OMEA is based on music technique, marching technique, and general effect. Not sure about the BOA judging rules. While BOA draws from a much larger national pool, I personally don't like it because of the less focus on traditional technique and more of a focus on show and props. I'm partial to this because that is what I grew up doing (see disclaimer below).
Of course, since OMEA is just statewide in Ohio, it doesn't draw the Ronald Reagan's or Broken Arrow's or Carmel's of the world. But they also judge to a style that those bands do well at and on the other side of the coin the judges of OMEA judge bands differently. Ohio still has some bands that could compete very well against the top BOA performers, but they choose not to do BOA (for logistics and costs usually).
OMEA is dominated by Lakota West, Lakota East (both very large high schools east of Mason in West Chester and Liberty Townships), Grove City (Cbus), Dublin Coffamn (Cbus), and to some extent Beavercreek (east Dayton suburb) and Kettering (another Dayton suburb). There are some other good bands in OMEA I may also be leaving out.
BOA in Ohio is usually at the largest bands dominated by Centerville or Mason. Smaller programs that I know have done well in BOA include Bellbrook and Northmont (both Dayton suburbs). I don't know as much about BOA cause I never participated in their competitions (but did see Centerville and Avon at Midstates, which is like a tri-state BOA style competition and judging). I have been to BOA shows, and while fun to watch, I find I prefer OMEA style (and certain Southern marching bands like Houston outside Nashville), to BOA. Midstates is ok, and is what Centerville and Mason do when leading up to BOA regionals and semi-finals/finals.
Ok, that was probably too much information, but band tends to be a big deal out here for some folks (probably because football is too). As a disclaimer, I went through the Beavercreek band program all four years of high school (which wasn't all too long ago). While I wouldn't recommend commuting from Beavercreek to Cincy, I would say your choices are pretty good. I'd also add the Lakota high schools to the list on top of Mason and Springboro (the last one being quite a commute to parts of Cincy, especially downtown). Centerville may be too far also.
All the Centerville Jazz Band did in 2010 was finish as a semi-finalist in the BOA Grand Nationals; in the top 10 (including the top Ohio finisher) in the BOA Indianapolis Regional; second overall (and top Ohio finisher) in the BOA Kettering Regional; and the CJB took overall grand champion in the Kings competition.
Wow, imagine of they didn't slip a hair.
Believe me, I'm in no way discrediting centerville (I almost got to go there for school which would have been awesome!) but in the recent years they have slightly slipped from their peaks in greatness ( like The Countdown). But regardless of where they place I typically always love their shows and there is no doubt they are still great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrightflyer
I'd say they are all good, but with Mason and Centerville (a south Dayton suburb) both being slightly better.
I'd also look at bands that do well in OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) competitions as well. It usually is the opposite of BOA, less showy and more traditional. Judging for OMEA is based on music technique, marching technique, and general effect. Not sure about the BOA judging rules. While BOA draws from a much larger national pool, I personally don't like it because of the less focus on traditional technique and more of a focus on show and props. I'm partial to this because that is what I grew up doing (see disclaimer below).
Of course, since OMEA is just statewide in Ohio, it doesn't draw the Ronald Reagan's or Broken Arrow's or Carmel's of the world. But they also judge to a style that those bands do well at and on the other side of the coin the judges of OMEA judge bands differently. Ohio still has some bands that could compete very well against the top BOA performers, but they choose not to do BOA (for logistics and costs usually).
OMEA is dominated by Lakota West, Lakota East (both very large high schools east of Mason in West Chester and Liberty Townships), Grove City (Cbus), Dublin Coffamn (Cbus), and to some extent Beavercreek (east Dayton suburb) and Kettering (another Dayton suburb). There are some other good bands in OMEA I may also be leaving out.
BOA in Ohio is usually at the largest bands dominated by Centerville or Mason. Smaller programs that I know have done well in BOA include Bellbrook and Northmont (both Dayton suburbs). I don't know as much about BOA cause I never participated in their competitions (but did see Centerville and Avon at Midstates, which is like a tri-state BOA style competition and judging). I have been to BOA shows, and while fun to watch, I find I prefer OMEA style (and certain Southern marching bands like Houston outside Nashville), to BOA. Midstates is ok, and is what Centerville and Mason do when leading up to BOA regionals and semi-finals/finals.
Ok, that was probably too much information, but band tends to be a big deal out here for some folks (probably because football is too). As a disclaimer, I went through the Beavercreek band program all four years of high school (which wasn't all too long ago). While I wouldn't recommend commuting from Beavercreek to Cincy, I would say your choices are pretty good. I'd also add the Lakota high schools to the list on top of Mason and Springboro (the last one being quite a commute to parts of Cincy, especially downtown). Centerville may be too far also.
Not trying to be a downer but if you talk to anyone who is obsessed with band, especially those who follow BOA very closely most of them will laugh at OMEA, not that OMEA doesn't host some great bands because they do, it deals more with how they score, even compared to other states close by like Kentucky or Michigan. But in the spirit of band, it isn't always about winning, sometimes it is indeed nice to just be entertained and I do dearly love centerville and mason they are undoubtfully forces to be reckoned with in the band world.
P.S. I'm betting Mason will break finals and BOA grand nationals within the next couple years
Thanks everyone for all the info - our marching band here is pretty small potatoes, it's comprised of the same kids who play in the concert bands, and we don't compete. Our biggest deal is marching in the NYC St. Pat's parade, so this is still new territory for us. I am familiar with the "MEA" organization as we have the "CMEA", same thing as "OMEA", only of course for Connecticut. My son has been involved with the CMEA in the jazz band. Since our marching band doesn't compete, I hadn't even heard of BOA until now. Looking forward to learning more, and thanks again!
centerville band is just amazing. i think they are precisely as good as they were when my friends graduated from there more than 10 years ago. i haven't heard mason. similar i'm sure.
i think you'll find a clearer division between marching and concert band compared with a smaller town school. you might want to figure out where his passion is.
closer in, i believe finneytown and roger bacon have very well-regarded music programs.
Band kids are something else. My two youngest daughters attended Mason HS during the early 90s. The second youngest was enamored by music, playing oboe in the concert band, trombone in the marching band, and saxophone in the jazz band. She was a member of several area honor bands and orchestras. She went on to attend Bowling Green State University as a Music Education Major and upon graduation taught in several parochial high schools as music program and band director. She currently lives in Lawton Oklahoma where her husband is stationed in the Army at Fort Sill.
The youngest daughter did not want to be left out, but decided percussion was her preference. Of course Mom backed and bought her a full drum set. She also participated in several area organizations like the Middletown and Blue Ash Youth Symphony orchestras. In the marching band she played the quads simply because it was then not considered a girl's instrument. I was hoping she would join an all female rock band and make us a lot of money, she was that good. But it was not to be, prior to graduation from Mason she went on her own and auditioned for the Army Reserve military band, was accepted, and enlisted. She brought the recruiter to the house, said I will leave right after graduation from Mason for Fort Leonard Wood for basic training, and will be ready for college in September.
Needless to say, she met my son-in-law in the Army Reserve Band, and he is a band geek, also being a music major and employed as a band director at a High School in southern KY. They both continue to be in the Army Reserves and members of the military band. Their two kids are also very music oriented.
I have gone into this long dissertation concerning my own family, for one specific purpose. Participating in a band is a good thing. My kids were influenced positively by the band program at Mason in the early 90s. At their current stages in life they comment on how much of an influence the Mason music program has had in their lives. Their time at Mason was a far cry from what the size of the school is now. But its influence I can only hope has grown through the years.
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William Mason/Springboro High School Bands
