MARCHING BAND COMPETITION

ADJUDICATION AND SCORING

MASON COMPETES IN TWO CIRCUITS• Primarily local competitions with a

culminating championship competition

• Mostly bands from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky

• Series of regional championships throughout the country

• Culminating Grand National Championships in Indianapolis

WHAT DO JUDGES DO?• Judges watch, listen, comment, and score our students’ performances.

• Most times, judges are located in the pressbox. At BOA events there are two judges on the field.

• A judge has three primary responsibilities:

1) Rank – determine the order that reflects the comparative quality of performance for each band (first place to last place)

2) Rate – give each band a score that accurately assesses the quality of performance based on the performance criteria rubric

3) Educate – provide recorded commentary that justifies the ranking and rating, as well as potential avenues for improving future performances

THE PERFORMANCE IS JUDGE IN TWO MAIN CAPTIONS:

Music Visual

7-9 JUDGES FOR EACH COMPETITION

Music (60 pts.)

• 1 Performance (20pts.)

o Individual (10 pts.)

o Ensemble (10 pts.)

• 2 General Effect (40 pts.)

Visual (40 pts.)

• 1 Performance (20 pts.)

o Individual (10 pts.)

o Ensemble (10 pts.)

• 1 General Effect (20 pts.)

PERFORMANCE captions evaluate the quality of technique, musicality, and excellence of performance.

GENERAL EFFECT captions evaluate theeffectiveness of the repertoire and effectiveness of performance.

ALL ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE ARE EVALUATED USING A RUBRIC

• Students don’t get “ticked” for mistakes they make.

• Students build up from zero, getting credit for the things they do well.

• Each caption has a rubric that describes criteria for the very best performance.

• A band’s performance is evaluated based upon comparison to the qualities described in the criteria rubric.

• A score is determined based on the frequency that a band exhibits those qualities:

o 0 – 9.9 = Never (Box 1)

o 10 – 29.9 = Seldom (Box 2)

o 30 – 49.9 = Occasionally (Box 3a)

o 50 – 69.9 = Often (Box 3b)

o 70 – 89.9 = Frequently (Box 4)

o 90 – 100 = Consistently (Box 5)

• Judges evaluate what is being performed at the same time as how it is being performed.

ALL OF US, ALL OF THE TIME!• At the BEGINNING of the season, we

expect all aspects of our performance to be in Box 4 or the top of Box 3b (in the range of upper 60’s to upper 70’s).

• By the end of the season, all aspects of our performance are expected to be in Box 5 (in the 90’s).

• Box 5 means that all qualities in the performance criteria reference are shown by all of the performers consistently throughout the performance.

• That means “ALL OF US, ALL OF THE TIME!”

Everybody, all of the time. That’s Box 5.

SCORES ARE TOTALED LIKE THIS:

MGE1 + MGE2 + MPerf (MPE + MPI) + VGE + VPerf (VPE + VPI) = Total20 + 20 + 20 ( 10 + 10 ) + 20 + 20 ( 10 + 10) = 100

MGE1 + MGE2 + MPerf (MPE + MPI) = Music Score

VGE + VPerf (VPE + VPI) = Visual Score

MGE1 + MGE2 + VGE = General Effect Score

Color Guard and Percussion are separate competitions.

OverallScore

MusicAward

Visual Award

GeneralEffect Award

CaptionAwards

TWO GROUPS HAVE A SEPARATE COMPETITION (MSBA) THAT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE TOTAL SCORE:

Percussion Color Guard

Percussion contributes to the total music score in both the Performance and GE captions. There are specific sub-captions that evaluate percussion, woodwinds, and brass.

Color Guard contributes to the total visual score in both the Performance and GE captions. The color guard contribution is evident particularly in GE, and is even a part of Music GE through coordination of the elements of the show.

ANOMALIES OR INCONSISTENCIES IN SCORING

• Judging is subjective.

• There are sub-captions to evaluate within each caption.

• Sometimes buttons get pushed – positively or negatively.

• It is possible that judges perceive performances differently.

• It is also possible that different judges see completely different performances based on location.

A JUDGE’S MINDSET• A judge’s first priority is to get the finishing order correct.

• Judges are not “out to get” our kids or to find flaws in the performance.

• Many judges are current or former teachers.

• Judges are generally very nice people.

• Judges begin every competition hoping to see the very best performances.

• Judges want to encourage excellence in the students they evaluate.

• Judges never want to see students fail and will help them succeed if they can.