Judging for the Music and Marching Arts
Are you interested in getting into judging? Not sure if you've got what it takes? The following pdf article presents several things to consider before jumping in. It includes insight into training requirements and associations to contact for help.
First Place Designs has provided music and visual judges to competitive associations throughout the Northeast as well as National pageantry organizations. We offer training sessions and materials for judging associations, and competitive circuits, and continue to develop curriculum and support material to assist both mentors and trainees in the ‘carding’ system. 1st Place will also recommend other online resources for Judge Info, Employment Opportunities, and links to relevant points of interest to those who assess the performing arts.
Here are two sites to get started:
Massachusetts Judges Association
http://www.massjudge.org
Bands of America (Adjudication Handbook)
http://www.musicforall.org/Resources/Adjudication
First Place Designs can also provide adjudicators for winds, percussion, guard, movement, and drill events. Our judges can accommodate both Ensemble and Individual performances, and work for many local and national associations. All of our adjudicators offer post-performance clinics with students, critiques with Directors and teaching staffs, and insightful commentary that will identify specific strategies that allow performers and teachers to raise their achievement level to new heights.
We also offer consultation services that evaluate the effectiveness and objectivity of any standards-based assessment systems currently being used by your audition, festival, circuit, or competitive association. Are you providing your adjudicators and participating performers the best evaluative tools to ‘get it right’? Let us critique your current assessment system and make recommendations to improve both judge preparedness, and the objectivity of your ranking and rating system.
