The Siuslaw band didn't make the next step to the state championships Thursday at the Great Western Championships at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

But they took some leaps forward.

"They played the best they have all year," Siuslaw Director of Bands Chris Rowbotham said Friday. "Unfortunately, we did not receive qualifying scores this time around.

"They came close, but because of the difficulty of the music we chose, we were held to a higher standard."

What was good, and appreciated by Rowbotham, was the immediate feedback the band received.

"The clinic ... went really well, and the clinician really encouraged the nonleaders of the band to practice their parts more," Rowbotham said.

"He said (he could) see in this group who is 100 percent in and who is just halfway, and in a band you cannot be halfway."

The Vikings' band will get another chance Wednesday at the District Band Festival at Southwestern Community College in Coos Bay.

"This three-day weekend should give students time to work out some of the parts they know they need to work on," Rowbotham said.

"I am encouraged, because we have the ability to improve upon these scores. All it will take is some dedication on the individual players this weekend."

Siuslaw's band is scheduled to perform at 9 a.m.

The district champion automatically goes to state, but other bands can qualify with high enough scores.

Fellow district school North Bend is the defending state champion.

"I have sent the students links to the three-judge comment mp3 files, so they can listen this weekend to what the judges had to say," Rowbotham said.

"So, (on to the) District Band Festival and another chance to perform!"