^We do get to see the critique sheets, but that's about it. But yeah, I get what you're saying about how the smallest change can make a huge difference.
And no offense Andy, but you're not exactly in "show choir" (singing and dancing part)..so you don't know HOW MUCH time we try to clean and fix things. So we are working. =)
So, i dont exactly know who that last comment was towards. But im pretty sure that anybody around show choir realizes how much the people in the groups work. I dont think its necessary to imply that you are the only ones who work hard and try to clean, and who spend a lot of time on it. As anybody can tell you, that describes almost every show choir that I have ever seen.
I also think tapes are great! Judges can focus more on the show if they aren't looking down writing or what not. Its also nice to so much feed back, whether negative or positive. We let our kids listen to the tapes, however, I listen to all of them first, so if any are too harsh. Its also nice for the kids to hear the positive things about their show. Its fun when you hear a judge react positively, or laugh about something funny. Overall I love tapes! Video critiques are also VERY nice!
Tapes are SO helpful. We don't let the groups listen to them very often, simply because you never know what the tape will be like (and we've had some rough ones!), but we always listen to tapes after competitions. It's much easier for judges to make tapes than to do written comments, and it's so helpful to get their thoughts AS they watch the show.
I found all but one of our tapes from Waconia INCREDIBLY helpful- the judges made TONS of comments and shared their thoughts on all aspects of our show.
QUOTE(sunglasses_chic08 @ Feb 21 2007, 10:29 PM) 386585
I'm curious about something. Our director receives tapes and a packet of the scores from the judges for prelims and/or finals. I'm sure your director receives the same things. Does your director let you listen to the judges' comments or read some of the scores and extra comments they write in the scoring packet? The people who can help every group the most are judges because they do a great job of pointing out specific things that need work. Even a change that seems relatively small can make a HUGE difference in a show. If your director does not tell you the comments of the judges, I suggest that you get them on that. The suggestions are EXTREMELY helpful and always useful, whether or not you decide to use them.
The thing is, as much as us teens are OBSESSED with show choir, we have our own opinions of what makes a good show. Many of us haven't been around show choir for more than 4 years, while most judges have been in the business for much longer. We can tell you our opinions, but people don't seem to give as much credit to a high schooler's comments as they do to fellow directors, choreographers, and judges.
If all else fails, I say that your whole show choir sits down, watches your performance, and points out the things that need work. Though it can be a bit chaotic, our group does this after every show, competition or not, because we know how every move is supposed to look and how every note is supposed to sound, and if something is off, its easy to see. Try that.
These are just my thoughts, and this isn't just a message for your show choir, but for all show choirs. Take all the help you can get, because in the long run, it only makes the show better.
^We do get to see the critique sheets, but that's about it. But yeah, I get what you're saying about how the smallest change can make a huge difference.
And no offense Andy, but you're not exactly in "show choir" (singing and dancing part)..so you don't know HOW MUCH time we try to clean and fix things. So we are working. =)
QUOTE(sunglasses_chic08 @ Feb 21 2007, 08:29 PM) 386585
I'm curious about something. Our director receives tapes and a packet of the scores from the judges for prelims and/or finals. I'm sure your director receives the same things. Does your director let you listen to the judges' comments or read some of the scores and extra comments they write in the scoring packet? The people who can help every group the most are judges because they do a great job of pointing out specific things that need work. Even a change that seems relatively small can make a HUGE difference in a show. If your director does not tell you the comments of the judges, I suggest that you get them on that. The suggestions are EXTREMELY helpful and always useful, whether or not you decide to use them.
The thing is, as much as us teens are OBSESSED with show choir, we have our own opinions of what makes a good show. Many of us haven't been around show choir for more than 4 years, while most judges have been in the business for much longer. We can tell you our opinions, but people don't seem to give as much credit to a high schooler's comments as they do to fellow directors, choreographers, and judges.
If all else fails, I say that your whole show choir sits down, watches your performance, and points out the things that need work. Though it can be a bit chaotic, our group does this after every show, competition or not, because we know how every move is supposed to look and how every note is supposed to sound, and if something is off, its easy to see. Try that.
These are just my thoughts, and this isn't just a message for your show choir, but for all show choirs. Take all the help you can get, because in the long run, it only makes the show better.
QUOTE(schmizzausx08x @ Feb 21 2007, 06:01 PM) 386491
comments for NSP Northern Lights?
I'm curious about something. Our director receives tapes and a packet of the scores from the judges for prelims and/or finals. I'm sure your director receives the same things. Does your director let you listen to the judges' comments or read some of the scores and extra comments they write in the scoring packet? The people who can help every group the most are judges because they do a great job of pointing out specific things that need work. Even a change that seems relatively small can make a HUGE difference in a show. If your director does not tell you the comments of the judges, I suggest that you get them on that. The suggestions are EXTREMELY helpful and always useful, whether or not you decide to use them.
The thing is, as much as us teens are OBSESSED with show choir, we have our own opinions of what makes a good show. Many of us haven't been around show choir for more than 4 years, while most judges have been in the business for much longer. We can tell you our opinions, but people don't seem to give as much credit to a high schooler's comments as they do to fellow directors, choreographers, and judges.
If all else fails, I say that your whole show choir sits down, watches your performance, and points out the things that need work. Though it can be a bit chaotic, our group does this after every show, competition or not, because we know how every move is supposed to look and how every note is supposed to sound, and if something is off, its easy to see. Try that.
These are just my thoughts, and this isn't just a message for your show choir, but for all show choirs. Take all the help you can get, because in the long run, it only makes the show better.
QUOTE(schmizzausx08x @ Jan 21 2007, 12:53 PM) 375875
i want to see WV and Bemidji, how are they?
Bemidji is phenominal, even though our competiton has already occured, and they did get Grand Champion followed by WV, they are still an AMAZING group.
I wanted to thank all the groups that came to Star Power. Everyone was so entertaining. it was really fun for me to sit back and watch all of the amazing talent. You have all given our community of Waconia a wonderful gift that will not soon be forgotten. We were proud to host you and felt great pride in all of the groups that came to Star Power. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of support that is shown to all of the groups from The Pop Singers in their very first competition ever to Waubonsie Valley who traveled all the way from Illinois to Mitchell in the West and Bemidji in the Frigid North Country and Iowa City in the South and our good friends Sauk Prairie from Wisconsin. It does not matter where we come from, we support each other in our love of performing. How fortunate we all are to belong to such great organizations. You are all my Heroes.
Also wanted to let you know that you can find all the results, The DVD order form and a link to Varsity Photos now on our website: www.waconiachoirs.org
Thanks again everyone for a great day. We hope to see you all again next year and best of luck to all of you the rest of the year.
Aaron Olson
Director of Vocal Music
Waconia High School
This comp was great because I got to come and just WATCH for once. It's so different when you get to see every group and make your own judgments of groups. Me and Wes were frantically ranking groups all day, trying to get it as close to correct as we could, and we actually weren't too far off. But really, EVERY group I saw was....just.....INCREDIBLE.
Waubonsie: I was singing along during "I've Been in the Storm", considering that a) It's so freaking GORGEOUS, and we got to sing it for our Fall Concert this year. I loved it then, but you guys made it 10 times better.
Bemidji: I was just sitting there, my mouth slightly open, staring in amazement at how insanely CLEAN your choreography is. How is that humanly possible? It's just....wow....it's beyond words. I love your show, and everytime I see it it's even better than the last. Congratulations!
GTC: I've seen your show about 4 times now, and you've made some leaps and bounds each time. You sing beautifully, keeping up the rep that Iowa has for singing really well. Your choreography is also really clean, and I love the costuming.
Sauk: I must admit, every year I'm skeptical before watching your show; I'm always praying that you guys will pull it off. Thank goodness I had nothing to worry about: of COURSE you pulled it off, and you did it well. My only concern is that people are having trouble understanding the storyline. Once I watched it the 2nd time during Finals, I began to see the story, but the first time left me wondering. Is there any way that you could work in some more narration to explain a bit? Just a suggestion. LOVED the singing...really powerful voices. Crazy costuming, but that's what makes you guys so unique--no one else has the guts to try a show like this. ;)
Jefferson: I just gotta say, I LOVE CANDYMAN! Lol. It's my favorite song! I've been watching you guys since I was a little freshman, and I've seen the group grow and improve each year. My only suggestions are that you sing a little louder, and make sure that EVERYONE does the choreography with as much energy as they can. A few people towards the back were doing the moves with a little less energy than people towards the front.
Friend de Coup: I had never heard of you guys until Saturday, and I must admit that I was impressed and VERY proud when I heard you guys were ranked 3rd going into finals. I love it when the underdogs do well. Cool show!
Encore: You know I love you more than I could possibly tell you. You guys looked SO great up there. We sat by the judges for your finals performance, and everything looked SO clean and full of energy. I could clearly hear your vocals, and I liked how you added some girls singing up an octave in "Shop Around" so people could hear better. You've come so far, and grown up so much SO quickly. I'm so proud to know all of you!!
Waconia: LOVE the show, as always. It's cool that we both do "Who Loves You"! Thank you so much for hosting such a great comp!
Refresh my memory and tell me what place you took last year. It seems to me that Sauk prairie has always done well in Waconia.
that's because we've only been attending for 3 years! haha. anyways, it might be for other reasons, but like i said no quoting me on saying we wont be back next year. afterall, im a senior and when that time comes around, i have a life ahead of me!
Waconia Star Power 2007
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we got to sing it for our Fall Concert this year. I loved it then, but you guys made it 10 times better.
Cool show!
. I almost didn't spell Waubonsie right. lol