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Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by BDSO on 2/22/2023, 5:53 pm

Seriously UIL, why can't we get the level 3 sightreading right. This seems to be the level that has "errata" or parts written outside of the criteria or full of obvious traps more than any other. This keeps happening! In my opinion, this years level 3 sightreading should just end at the end of the 4/4 time section. It doesn't matter if the 4/4 time section is 40 measures or 16, end it there. The criteria were listed months ago; plenty of time to catch this "errata" and have it fixed. If we band director are required to follow procedures, protocols, rules, and criteria then UIL should be expected to as well. We do something wrong we get reprimanded. UIL does something wrong it's, "Our bad, directors. But you guys can adjust." I'm guessing that if there is a time change, there is probably something else that is outside of the criteria. After all, it is the level 3 sightreading.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Hey, does anyone remember... on 2/24/2023, 11:18 am, in reply to "Level 3 SR gets it again!"

"Command Z" and "Give Me Liberty March" used for SR?

Command Z was so bad that the piece was changed to something else after UIL C/SR started that year. One music company actually gave the piece away at no charge after that year--they must have known no one would waste money on it.

Give Me Liberty March is legend for those who had the misfortune of having to read it that particular year. A grade one piece with Trumpet 1 and 2 parts that had continuously staggered entrances throughout and Trombone/Baritone parts completely different.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Suggestion... on 2/25/2023, 3:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

How about starting a Rogue's Gallery of infamous SR pieces?

We can then rate them and post the "winners'.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Lobot on 2/28/2023, 8:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

The Royal Coachman

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Joe on 2/25/2023, 7:30 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

Give me death march……

Ugh…….

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by BDSO on 2/24/2023, 8:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

"Command Z" was before pieces were specifically written for C&SR. "Give Me Liberty March" was the ONLY time the judges came up to me and pointed out all of the traps. We got a 1-2-2 and it was the highest rating in the contest.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Your right... on 2/25/2023, 7:26 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

So was "Celebration for Winds" in 1996. Constant, persistent, and brutal staggered/overlapping entrances throughout for CC middle school bands.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Me on 2/24/2023, 11:31 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

Let's not ignore Song and Variant, off the Level 3 list.

Contained sixteenth note rhythms in the upper woodwind parts, and the "song" melody was a duet between flute and bass clarinet, not doubled elsewhere.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by And... on 2/25/2023, 7:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

...let's not forget the most unholy of unholy Level 3 pieces yet written, and only a few years ago...

Paradigm

PTSD still prevents me from discussing it further.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Dies Irae on 2/23/2023, 11:13 am, in reply to "Level 3 SR gets it again!"

Email from UIL this morning:
The Level 3 Band SR work, Windrift Manor, will conclude on the fermata in measure 27 thereby eliminating the 3/4 section. This is not an opt

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by HCBD on 2/23/2023, 9:03 am, in reply to "Level 3 SR gets it again!"

Totally agree.

Compromises the UIL should institute:
1) Level 3 has the OPTION to read down to Level 2
2) Give the Level 3 bands an extra minute to reinforce the out of spec guideline during the explanation process.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Peaches on 2/22/2023, 8:41 pm, in reply to "Level 3 SR gets it again!"

No disrespect, but if students have difficulty playing in three four and four four, we need to examine our teaching. My students were a part of the grade 3 fiasco from five years ago, so I’ve had first hand knowledge of the “tricks”. I had to grow up and put my big boy pants on and realize the kids read how I teach them. If they perform well, it’s because they have been trained correctly. If they don’t, it’s my responsibility too. It’s frustrating at times but I’m the one that took the job. Peace.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Except... on 2/23/2023, 8:35 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

....that's not the point (although I agree with you). The point is that UIL consistently OKs pieces for Level 3 that are outside of the parameters of said level. This is not the first time in the last 15 years where the L3 SR piece didn't follow the parameters for the level; in one case the L3 piece was originally going to be the L4 piece (where it would have been in compliance), but for some reason it was moved down to L3. It's almost to the point where people might be asking themselves "If UIL isn't following their own rules, why am I following those same rules?"

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by MS BD on 2/23/2023, 7:47 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

I'm sorry, but you don't get it. "Jorge" is correct: Moving from one time signature to another is not the issue, but rather that UIL keeps letting this happen (and not just on the level 3, though it seems level 3 gets the worst of it). If criteria are stated then the criteria needs to be followed. If it isn't - no matter the reason - then it should be up to UIL to fix the problem, not for us to adjust. There are bands that go next Wednesday who prepared for SR following the stated criteria, which is drastically different than years past. This is not detrimental to directors, but rather the students. I'm doing a piece which goes from 3/4 to 4/4. But working on music for a couple of months that has a time change is totally different from sightreading one when the pressure is on. No, UIL needs to fixed this ASAP instead of just saying, "My bad".

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Jorge on 2/22/2023, 10:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

This not the point. Students being able to read and distinguish these time signatures is irrelevant. The point is that UIL gave us a criteria that was going to be followed, and they did not follow it. They only sent a notice 1 week before bands will begin to play. If your band breaks any rule in that room, you may be disqualified. If UIL breaks a rule, there are no consequences. This is not about “well if you teach your kids better then you wouldn’t be complaining,” this is about setting criteria and parameters and sticking to them.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Kramer on 2/23/2023, 11:13 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

This has happened in Level 4 and this was my EXACT complaint to UIL. If WE break the rules, we get punished. If YOU break the rules, too bad, deal with it.

My argument, with Brad Kent on the phone, was that if you set a criteria and then test outside of that criteria, it negates the integrity of the event. Although he did agree with my argument, and told me that I was right, nothing was done and this is still in ongoing issue, in multiple levels.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Percguy on 2/23/2023, 12:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

You know what really gets me? It's not like it would be difficult to screen the six pieces and make sure that they follow the criteria. One person could do it in less than a day. How can there be so little oversight in a major, annual UIL contest?

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by How about... on 2/23/2023, 9:02 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

Letting directors choose any SR classification above their own if they feel it would be best for their groups. With the stage performance directors can choose to pick anything on the PML list for their classification or higher (but not lower, unless one of the UIL CCR rules allow it). That way if a level 4 is more playable, a director can choose for the group to play that instead of their "assigned" level 3.

There was a span of years back when UIL chose printed music rather than commissioned "formulated" SR material when I would have gladly chosen a piece for CCC middle school than my assigned CC level. This was confirmed by many CCC directors complaining at the May region meeting that their SR music was too easy, whereas the CC SR was much less playable.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by DesertJazz on 2/23/2023, 6:14 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

This is absolutely on point here. My 3A HS will read this piece in April, and I'll be very surprised if it gives us any issue. The problem is that I know there are groups going next week who simply have been planning and teaching based on that criteria that was posted. At least for our 1C MS we've actually gone through and used the new guidelines to revise our sight-reading folders to be more efficient on things so we can move elsewhere on other items. For any group that may have been doing that this could be a real hit to them next week.

Even if it's not, it's absurd that UIL would tell everyone ONE week before the first contest. They should have just left the old guidelines up if they had no intention of switching the music for this year!

I highly recommend concerned directors email UIL today if you haven't already! This is the 3rd or 4th such time I've felt that complaint needed lodged on a sight-reading piece in the last dozen years. I'm personally quite tired of the lack of effort that we're seeing here.

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Nail on 2/23/2023, 12:25 am, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

on the head!!!

Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!

Posted by Wow! on 2/22/2023, 9:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Level 3 SR gets it again!"

Shaming, while using “big boy pants” in 2023. Hope this IP address isn’t being tracked

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