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Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Judgy McJudgerson on 11/22/2020, 1:06 pm

I've just finished judging all-region. After all the hand-wringing about the recording process, I think I really like this format.

We gave our kids the option of recording at home or coming up to the band hall one night last week. It was about 50/50 who did what. Easy process, no bus ride to deal with, no schedule conflicts to deal with, the kids were more relaxed.

I appreciated being able to skip through recordings where the kid was obviously sight-reading. Why in the world did their director verify that one?

I also appreciate that I can go back and listen again before finalizing. My top 2 were within a point. I listened several times before sending in the scores.

Lots of people were worried about recording quality affecting the results. Only one student had an issue enough to make it hard to judge. Their recording was clipping all over the place, like they put the mic right in the bell. Again, why did their band director verify that? They had the chance to listen to their student's recording. It was pretty clear that this student would not have made the band anyway, but I could see how that recording of a better player could have made a difference.

After listening to over 100 recordings, I suggest you try to record on your stage if possible. Too much reverb (especially on a quick piece) can hide the articulation. A little reverb is nice. That said, my #1 had a very dry recording and a not-great mic, sounded like a phone recording in a bedroom or maybe a closet. Not a great recording, but they nailed the music!

Overall, from the recording to the judging, I like this process!

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Hound Dog on 11/23/2020, 9:45 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

I have heard of an instance where a private lesson teacher who, while judging, recognized her own playing. Aparently, a recording she had made found it's way into the tryout process.

For something like this to work, it requires a stronger character from the students and all directors to check recordings before submitting.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Thinker on 11/23/2020, 10:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

That takes some effort on the kid's part. MusicFirst disabled the ability to upload a file, so the kid basically had to play the teacher's recording from one device into the mic of a different device. You're correct, the student's director should have caught that.

This could also be solved if directors were required to be part of the recording process. We did not even give kids their login information, we required them to come to the band hall and record. Mostly because we wanted them to record on our good equipment instead of their crappy Chromebooks, but it prevented shenanigans.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Me on 11/24/2020, 8:03 am, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

We did the same. I really don't want to go back to the old way. This is one of the Covid things we should keep.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by WTBD on 11/23/2020, 12:38 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

I do not like that you can see a TIME STAMP of submission on recordings. In some cases, it may give away who did it. Also as a director, I have already listened to all my students submissions so as I judge them (Some of the same kids) I find it more challenging to keep it out of mind that I KNOW who the recording is playing.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by older than dirt on 11/24/2020, 9:36 am, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

for many years, directors that I have known have recognized their own students. It is not unusual. The challenge is maintaining integrity to judge the performance as if you haven't heard the same mistakes a thousand times, or give it an advantage since it is your student. Therein is the character that we must maintain.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by OP on 11/23/2020, 3:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

That's a REALLY easy fix that you should send to Coachman.

A lot of the time I recognize my kids' playing in the room regardless (live or on recording), but anything that makes it more anonymous is a good thing.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by BDSO on 11/23/2020, 5:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

Last year I went five for five on picking all of my trumpets in the audition. None of them made my cut but because I had heard them over and over it was easy to pick each out.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Me2 on 11/24/2020, 8:24 am, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

We have 5 judges on each panel, knowing that one could/will be familiar with the student trying out. It is possible to exchange judging panels between regions. This would ensure no familiar ears will be judging students. It would require a set number of panels from every region be created so it can be done state-wide.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Corvid on 11/23/2020, 11:57 am, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

I have to say, I really prefer the online judging format as well. I had my concerns about how it would actually pan out for everyone, but it seems like my region has handled our auditions flawlessly so far. No need to wait for the inevitable late start to the audition process. I just woke up on the weekend our audition window went open, grabbed a cup of tea, and started listening. I'm hoping we keep the format in the years to come.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Me on 11/22/2020, 9:07 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

This online process needs to stay for all rounds up to state for all the reasons mentioned. Love it!!!

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Phase 1 on 11/22/2020, 6:39 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

I agree and think any region who has two phases to their auditions should use virtual as Phase 1. It really weeds out all the crap.

I was HAMMERING kids who messed up their scales. Like you had all that time to practice them and you could record as many times as you wanted and you still messed up? NO SOUP FOR YOU

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by MS on 11/22/2020, 6:29 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

I think it depends on what it sets up for the next generation.
Sometimes there’s screening rounds for orchestral, military or college. Sometimes it’s the straight up in person live depending on the demand.

I would imagine all state in SA would still be live in person until they decided to do that ahead of time too.

I think there’s benefits to both. Coming from myself who suffered from performance anxiety in college, I would’ve loved this opportunity in MS and HS. Yet we are in a performing profession that is also competitive in real life

Things to consider moving forward

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by BDSO on 11/22/2020, 5:26 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

I haven't judged our region band auditions yet (MS in our region isn't until next month) but from what I understand it seems very laid back and you can go at your own pace. More importantly, you can have kids "play again" as you did. This may be the way TMEA does it for all levels before state from now on. Yes, there are some issues with the recording process, but not many. Just think of the positives:
- No getting buses
- No hoping a kid shows up
- No hoping a kid gets picked up on time
- No "I forgot my music/instrument/sticks/mallets/etc.
- No too cold or hot judging rooms
- No waiting for flute or clarinet results to come in before going home or getting kids home (if you are taking them home)
- No calculation errors
- No trying to reset the room that the monitors didn't set up right
- No trying to fit five judges behind an obviously too small "screen"
- No DQs because a kid talked, played, or because their phone went off
- No kids running around a cafeteria causing havoc

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Biggest positive on 11/22/2020, 8:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

No 5 exhausted judges giving up 7-8 hours of their time during the tail end of marching band season to split hairs and find 20 decent players worthy of advancing out of the 200 that turned up to audition.

On a Monday night.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by Scores on 11/22/2020, 4:48 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

I think the regions need to keep the online scoring system. It was efficient, didn’t allow for ties, and did the math for you. Takes away the process of manually entering scores and verifying them. Saves a lot of time.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by DesertJazz on 11/22/2020, 5:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Thoughts on All-Region"

The online scoring system is here to stay from my conversations with Frank Coachman. He’s actually been talking about moving to this system for a few years now. This year just pushed the schedule up on it. I agree it seems to eliminate a large amount of human error.

Re: Thoughts on All-Region

Posted by BD on 11/22/2020, 3:28 pm, in reply to "Thoughts on All-Region"

TPSMEA uses this process for Concert Band and Jazz Band. That was my first experience judging barefoot and in my pajamas! Loved it.

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