Columbus North and East combine bands

[paddy]

I assume they will compete in A.

[boahistorybuff]

There were several on the old MFA forums who predicted more schools would do this after Lawrence North and Central merged to form MPLT. I am eager to see how this band will perform over the next several years. The Sound and Spirit of Columbus has a very nice ring to it.

[paddy]

Apr 15, 2021 5:29:20 GMT -6 boahistorybuff said:

There were several on the old MFA forums who predicted more schools would do this after Lawrence North and Central merged to form MPLT. I am eager to see how this band will perform over the next several years. The Sound and Spirit of Columbus has a very nice ring to it.

I do like the name.

[thewho]

I concur with some of the other posters that the need to combine public school programs is dispiriting as it continues to mark the general lack of support of public education in Indiana. At the time, the two public schools in Columbus was certainly appropriate, but as the costs of education continue to rise along with stagnant growth in Columbus among other significant factors, the need for two public school facilities have started to become questionable in recent years.

However, I'm thrilled for both programs to finally combine. Columbus North and East are two very, very, very different parts of the city, if the band spirit in those bands are any indication. Columbus North has always been a great program in ISSMA Class A, but lacked enough students for sustained success in A on top of literally maxing out their program. I was told that they struggled quite a bit with recruiting and couldn't really see any other way to grow their program with all of their current students already receiving private lessons. The addition of East members will definitely boost their numbers to be able to make a significant splash in A in the next few years.

Furthermore, combining the programs to help reduce costs will help significantly with providing students a quality education. CN and CE sharing their resources will 100% enhance music education and experience for both schools. Providing the best will be something I will always advocate for when the chance presents itself and I'm super thrilled that Columbus City Bartholomew Consolidated Schools saw the same and help support this move. A is still a super tough class, but I'll be watching them with eagerness.

[paddy]

FYI - the district is Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation. There is no “Columbus City Schools”. The district covers most of Bartholomew County except the north east corner which is Flatrock- Hawcreek which is Hauser HS.

[thewho]

Apr 18, 2021 5:16:25 GMT -6 paddy said:

FYI - the district is Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation. There is no “Columbus City Schools”. The district covers most of Bartholomew County except the north east corner which is Flatrock- Hawcreek which is Hauser HS.

You're correct on that, my bad.

[Alto.momma]

Wow! I seen them in person last night! Just wow!!!! They are absolutely amazing and huge! They are going to do amazing things this year! Love them! Definitely a great choice to combine them.

[OldSchoolTrumpet]

Not a fan of this trend, to be honest. I'll leave it at that.

[TeamIndiana]

I am interested to see how this plays out in a few seasons. I think back to the Lawrence Central / North merger and remember how huge they were that first year! The following seasons membership steadily declined down to where it is today. This season they are very small and its hard to believe two high schools are funneling into one program. 

I see The Sound and Spirit of Columbus is using Homestead's scaffolding wall prop from 2019. It will be interesting to see how they use it for their show specifically this season. 

[MadScientist]

Sept 27, 2021 10:44:57 GMT -6 TeamIndiana said:

I am interested to see how this plays out in a few seasons. I think back to the Lawrence Central / North merger and remember how huge there were that first year! The following season membership steadily declined down to what it is today. This season they are very small and its hard to believe 2 high schools funnel into 1 program. 
 

I hear that next year Avon and Carmel are combining into one supersized marching band of 500-600 members. It'll be called the Indianapolis Marching Black and Greyhounds.




EDIT: I'm only kidding here. But could you imagine if 2 or 3 powerhouse bands got together? Would it just be too many people on the field, or would it be unstoppable?

[kvgdc]

Not sure how many those bands march now days.  I remember Ben Davis in the heyday run putting near 350 bodies on the field plus acres of mylar at times.  Their drill was almost unreadable at times because of all the spaghetti lines and a lot of it was follow the leader just cause there was nowhere else for the bodies to go.

[Marching Observer]

One word high school....Allen....

[Shroom]

Sept 27, 2021 12:01:23 GMT -6 MadScientist said:

Sept 27, 2021 10:44:57 GMT -6 TeamIndiana said:

I am interested to see how this plays out in a few seasons. I think back to the Lawrence Central / North merger and remember how huge there were that first year! The following season membership steadily declined down to what it is today. This season they are very small and its hard to believe 2 high schools funnel into 1 program. 
 

I hear that next year Avon and Carmel are combining into one supersized marching band of 500-600 members. It'll be called the Indianapolis Marching Black and Greyhounds.




EDIT: I'm only kidding here. But could you imagine if 2 or 3 powerhouse bands got together? Would it just be too many people on the field, or would it be unstoppable?

I'd think if two schools like Carmel and Avon combined, they'd probably have still have two bands just because they would have the funding and numbers for it. One band would probably be the "honors" band for juniors and seniors and the other just general admission for the student body. I'd imagine that the "honors" band at a school like that could put low to medium ranked drum corps to shame

[bflat]

Sept 26, 2021 13:35:14 GMT -6 OldSchoolTrumpet said:

Not a fan of this trend, to be honest. I'll leave it at that.

Also not a fan, but I suspect the trend will continue, since how else can the smaller, less well off schools compete with the top of A? Of course, there will be a lot of schools that can't begin to pull that off for one reason or another, but the incentive is clearly there.

[wheredabones]

I wonder if class size would change when two schools merge. Would they have to take both school’s enrollment or just one of them? I don’t think it changes anything here, but I’m not aware of the rules for this kind of merge.

[paddy]

Sept 28, 2021 13:11:27 GMT -6 wheredabones said:

I wonder if class size would change when two schools merge. Would they have to take both school’s enrollment or just one of them? I don’t think it changes anything here, but I’m not aware of the rules for this kind of merge.

ISSMA doesn't share their rules very widely.  I believe they made a change where you count both school's enrollment or the combined Columbus could technically perform in B since that is the Class East is in. 

[thewho]

Sept 28, 2021 13:38:00 GMT -6 paddy said:

Sept 28, 2021 13:11:27 GMT -6 wheredabones said:

I wonder if class size would change when two schools merge. Would they have to take both school’s enrollment or just one of them? I don’t think it changes anything here, but I’m not aware of the rules for this kind of merge.

ISSMA doesn't share their rules very widely.  I believe they made a change where you count both school's enrollment or the combined Columbus could technically perform in B since that is the Class East is in. 

IIRC, ISSMA designates by the largest class. Lawrence North And Central were both A, obviously, so they choose to alternate between the two each year. Columbus North is the larger of two, so Sound and Spirit would be A.

I am not sure about combining smaller schools together like C/B or D/C- that's a question for the ISSMA rulebook and I don't have it on hand at the moment.

[70sguardchick]

The Rulebook changes page for the 2021-22 season says this:

Combined School Classification – If a school district combines students enrolled in different high schools of record into one

marching band, the band will use the combined enrollment of all represented high schools to determine ISSMA Classification.

p. 9, VII.E.3


link

[thewho]

Sept 28, 2021 14:01:16 GMT -6 70sguardchick said:

The Rulebook changes page for the 2021-22 season says this:

Combined School Classification – If a school district combines students enrolled in different high schools of record into one

marching band, the band will use the combined enrollment of all represented high schools to determine ISSMA Classification.

p. 9, VII.E.3


link

Thanks for the correction.

[drumlinedad]

The name Sound and Spirit of Columbus comes from the combined names of the two Schools programs. In 1984 Columbus East became, "The Olympian Spirit Marching Band", and had marched under that name for the past 35+ years. In 1989  Columbus North became, "the Sound of North", and had marched under that name for the past 30+ years. When the two schools decided to combine into one High School Marching Band in 2021 they became, "The Sound and Spirit of Columbus". 

[paddy]

Thanks for the background on the name. I liked it when I first heard it and I like it even more after hearing the origin story.

[drumlinedad]

Oct 14, 2021 16:41:38 GMT -6 paddy said:

Thanks for the background on the name. I liked it when I first heard it and I like it even more after hearing the origin story.

 Back in the 80's and 90's Columbus East was a newer school and would host the South ISSMA District competition when Chesterton, Anderson, and Ben Davis ruled the Indiana Marching Band scene. Columbus North was a state finalist often over the past 20+ years.  The last time was 2016 when they fished 9th. It should be noted that this was done to mostly help further the music education in the school corporation, as you can see in the video, the directors actually all teach at the elementary level, the junior high level, and the High school level. It just made sense. The Students had performed together in various events in the county prior to High School, so why not have them share the experience in High School as well .In order for this to have happened Both schools must  be in the same School Corporation as they are. In 2020 during the Indoor percussion season Columbus entered a combined group in Class A under the name BCSC which was the precursor. They were placing in the top 5 of that class at competitions before the season was terminated due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. That program has not resumed and I have no word on it. I personally marched in the 80's, and my kids in the 2010's but do not have any kids in the program any more. I just live in the area and I am and have always been a passionate Indiana HS Marching Band fan and DCI fan. I do mostly just follow Class A.  My saying every Saturday Morning in October is " NO R*** ". And then After that last day in October at Ben Davis The rest of the season is indoors here in Indiana.  I do also follow other states bands in BOA and attend Grand Nationals each year. 

[Ace Band Dad]

Columbus performed a great show today at Center Grove. Congratulations, and all the best for the remainder of the season!