Band

No Band Like a D’ville Band

Few high school bands have a legacy of excellence that matches that of the Duncanville High School band. That rich history is one reason the Texas Bandmasters Association presented the Duncanville High School band program with the 2019 Exemplary Band Award. This prestigious honor recognized the program’s 40 years of excellence and is presented to one high school each yearbased on input from music educators throughout the state.

The Duncanville High School band has been described as the ‘gold standard’ for concert and marching bands in the state of Texas. 

A Winning Tradition

The Duncanville High School band’s winning tradition extends across four decades. The Duncanville High School Wind Ensemble was selected as the Texas Music Educators Association Region 20 Honor Band every year since 1980 and was named 5A Honor Band in 1998, 2004 and 2008. Most recently, the Wind Ensemble was chosen second runner up in the 2019 6A Honor Band Competition. 

Exhibiting the same commitment to success, Duncanville’s marching band has advanced to the UIL State Marching Competition 10 times bringing home the championship trophy in 1986, 1990 and 2002. 

Beginning with the first home game on Sept. 6, 2019, the Duncanville band is now welcomed to the field with a thirty second promotional video. Watch below.

Ain’t No Band Like a D’ville Band 

This slogan has been used by members of the Duncanville High School band and its supporters for as long as anyone can recall.  In celebration of the program’s prestigious Exemplary Band award, the Duncanville Independent School District presents to you ‘Ain’t No Band Like a D’ville Band,’ a three-part docuseries honoring the success of the Duncanville High School  band program.

 

Ain’t No Band

Part One - 40 Years of Excellence

Ask any high school band director how many programs across the country have consistently won the
highest awards for both concert and marching programs. Now ask how many band programs have
achieved this feat across four decades. The answer is very few. Using first-hand accounts from band
directors, students and leaders in the music education industry, “Ain’t No Band - Part I” shares the
stories of those state championships, honor band recognitions and the hard work it took to get there.

Ain’t No Band

Part Two - Dr. Tom Shine, Texas Band Legend

The Duncanville High School band program continues to be a success today because of the indisputable impact left by former Director of Bands, Dr. Tom Shine. Dr. Shine arrived in Duncanville in 1980 and began building what he intended to be ‘the finest band program in the state of Texas.’ It became much more than that. Under his direction, concert bands were selected at the state Honor Band, were invited to the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago and marching bands won three state championships. Because of the Duncanville band program’s success, Dr. Shine’s teaching style became a lesson included in many music education majors’ college curriculum across the country. In “Ain’t No Band - Part II” former students, band directors and Dr. Shine himself take us on a journey that culminated in the success of the Duncanville High School band and the making of a Texas band legend.

Ain’t No Band

Part Three - An Instrument To Student Success

Lessons learned in band prepare students to succeed in life. Students spend hours marching in the hot Texas sun, practicing their music and competing in contests on weekends long after others have gone home. Band knows no off season. Once marching season ends, concert season begins. The perseverance and determination required to be a successful band student is something that prepares these hard-working musicians to become successful people – whatever their career choice. In “Ain’t No Band - Part III,” four former Duncanville High School band students who started their success stories in the band hall share how they are now are making a difference in their chosen professions.