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Everything about the Competition Season!
On this page:
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As parents and spectators, we observe, we encourage,
and we root for the home high school band. But, do we know what
to look for during a competition performance? Below are links
that can increase our knowledge of the competition sport of marching
band. (All marching band
students should strive to be familiar with this information as well)
| NC Band Association Manual (2007
pdf) -
You will find answers to:
 | Do you know how the classification
of the band is determined? |
| Who is eligible to perform? |
| Rules and Regulations: How much time do we
have? What are the boundaries of the performance area?
What are the point penalties that can be incurred? How
are the event areas staged? What kind of restrictions
are there? |
| What elements of the show are judged?
Where are the judges located? What are the award categories?
Here are some typical answers to these key questions
here, but it can vary per competition host!
Rated: Music Effect, Visual Effect, Music Performance
Individual *, Music Performance Ensemble, Visual Performance;
(*this judge is located on the field, other judges are located in the press
box)
Optional Awards: Percussion, Drum Major, Auxiliary,
Band of the Day, Grand Champion;
Officials: Head Judge, Judges, Timing Official, Gate
Official, Announcer |
| What is the weighted percentage of each
element that is judged? What do you think is the most
important?
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click to enlarge pdf
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| Sample of a Judge's
Adjudication Sheet - Depending on the competition site,
either the NC Band Association scoring method or
Olympic-style scoring sheet may be used. Following is a
sample of what a judge's score sheet may look like. The
weighted percentages would change at each different event based
on the competition host's preferences. You can see the
various qualities considered in each area. Can you -- as
the audience in the stands -- be observant, be unbiased,
and quickly come to a scoring conclusion? The judges have
years of qualified experience!
(sample
PDF) |
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click to
enlarge PDF
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| How does the announcer know how to introduce
our band? Here is a sample of
an Announcer Spiel Sheet that Mr. Rowe submits along with
the competition entry form and fee. (sample
PDF) |
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click to
enlarge PDF
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The day has arrived ... minds are buzzing with
thoughts of going to the marching band competition. It can be an
all day affair, depending on the distance to the site. Students
and parents alike need to prepare to have an exciting time.
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Itinerary - Do you
know when, where, and what to do on competition
day? Review your Itinerary. This includes the minute by
minute day plan Mr. Rowe has devised to get the band to and through
the competition. All students need to know their report
time to school. Preparation includes whether to eat in
advance of arrival or on the bus, having a fine-tuning practice on
the field, doing inspections, and loading buses. This is
discussed at band practice, distributed via email, and posted on the
website within a week of the competition date as the details unfold.
Parents helping as Chaperones and with Pit and Props also arrive
early to have time to organize and load the equipment. |
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Agenda - If the host site produces a
schedule, the website will post the complete list of bands competing
in their sections with their performing times. Parents not
assisting directly with the band may want to arrive early to the
competition site before our band is scheduled to watch the other
great band shows, get a good seat, and buy a show program filled
with site information. The smaller bands usually perform
earlier in the day, and the larger band in the evenings.
Concessions are readily available. |
| Weather - As
an outdoor sport, we are subject to the weather at our competitions.
You can easily check the forecast from either the
Marching Band Schedule or the
Competition Info Overview web pages for each competition.
You will see the real time weather conditions displayed, so you will
want to check the forecast as close to the time of the competition
as possible. Better yet is to click one of the interactive
links to view the upcoming weekend weather or the hour by hour
posting at the competition location. |
| What should you bring to the competition?
Try to car pool to the competitions with other band parents for lots
of fun!. Of course, what is needed will also depend on the
unpredictable fall weather.
Here is a list for spectators to consider:
| Seat Cushions |
| Camera and Batteries |
| Money for Food/Snacks/Drinks/Show
Program |
| Binoculars |
| Printout
from
the WEBSITE for each competition event:
ITINERARY, DIRECTIONS /
MAPS,
AGENDA,
and a printable blank
SCORE SHEET
to keep track of the
results.
NOTE: A link to print all of this information in one PDF document
is available from either the
MB Schedule page or
Competition Info page per event)
IN COLDER WEATHER: |
| Blanket |
| Hooded Jacket/Hat |
| Gloves |
| Heavy Shoes/Socks |
| Turtle Neck Sweater or
Sweatshirt |
| Hand Warmer Heat Packs |
| Tissues |
| If you have
additional ideas, send an message to
"Communication
Email" - click to reveal this spam-protected email address. |
The students must remember to bring:
| Black socks, |
| Black gloves, |
| Clean-marching shoes,
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| Clean instrument, |
| Valve oil / reeds |
| Money for food, or pack a bag
lunch/dinner as required.
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| "Live From the Road Arrival Time" - If
parents do not go to a competition, they should check the website
homepage for the link to get the accurate "Live From the Road
Arrival Time" of the students back from the competition to the High
School to know when to pick up their students. Realize that
upon arrival at the HS, students/parents are to assist with
unloading equipment from the buses, and the band room must be in
order before students are dismissed to go home. You also will
get the first glimpse of the award status of that night's
performance. We always hope we do well! |
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