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The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by Jake on 4/1/2026, 11:35 am

I recently spoke with a fellow retiree who had gone to his grandsons' C/SR Contest. He was taken aback when he witnessed the "Sight-Reading". Since I have been out of the business for quite some time now, I would be interested in the thoughts of those who are presently active in todays' Texas band world. I would especially like the thoughts of those who have experienced the old procedure and the newest rendition. Thanks.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by Curious on 4/14/2026, 7:55 am, in reply to "The new sight-reading procedure"

I don't have a problem with either system. I combine both procedures. At the beginning of the explanation period, I talk through the piece as if the old rules were still in place. I point out tricky passages, who has the melody, tempo alterations, etc. After we have talked through the piece, we play it and identify trouble spots. With the time remaining we will touch up those trouble spots.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by STBD on 4/5/2026, 4:32 am, in reply to "The new sight-reading procedure"

This is my 27th year teaching. I like both systems. I feel the old system judged individual sightreading, while the new system judges ensemble reading.

In the old system, the weaker readers were on their own. They could not listen to and copy their stronger-reading peers. Under the new system, those students do not have to necessarily read as well independently and can lean on stronger students. I do not really have a huge problem with either system.

I will say that the new system does not penalize the group as heavily by the poor reading skills of one or two students. One of our non-varsity bands years ago got a 2 in sightreading because of a single trombone player that missed every A natural. This would have been quickly corrected under the new system. Also, and this is the reason I have most been a fan of the new system, we don’t have to waste time teaching and practicing the sightreading process. We just read the same way we naturally read new music in class.

With all that said, I am glad I taught for so long under the original rules because I really learned how to teach effective reading skills to my kids.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by And... on 4/6/2026, 12:10 pm, in reply to "Re: The new sight-reading procedure"

...and I like the fact that the judges are no longer in the room during the explanation period. Under the old system, judges were putting comments on my sheets that pertained to the explanation period 99% of the time...and they weren't supposed to be judging that...just the performance. I also had judges get up and walk through my ensemble and leer over the kids' shoulder.

Anyway....don't have to worry about that now.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by Old Dude on 4/3/2026, 7:35 am, in reply to "The new sight-reading procedure"

I agree with "old head". I retired 8 years ago, but started teaching part time at a small class A. I think the current system is more like we read in our band halls. I for one like it much better than the previous two systems I was under during my thirty plus years.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by Old head on 4/2/2026, 3:45 pm, in reply to "The new sight-reading procedure"

The new procedure is much less of a dog and pony show, much closer to what I would do in a real life situation. I prefer it. The old way was silly performative nonsense.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by i on 4/2/2026, 2:36 pm, in reply to "The new sight-reading procedure"

I have done both, and I like the new version.

It was really frustrating to watch bands fall apart because little Timmy cratered on his single attempt to play the 8 bar snare drum interlude in the middle of his first ever sightreading evaluation.

I'm sure there is heated debate amongst pedants regarding the 'true' meaning of the word sightreading, but I'm of the opinion that the new procedure is better for kids.

Bands that are well prepared will continue to succeed and bands who are not will continue to struggle.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by Hmm on 4/2/2026, 2:01 pm, in reply to "The new sight-reading procedure"

New way is good, still incorporating old techniques. Compositions are easier as well. This year's level 4 changed from Eb to Bb and back to Eb, and several people have thought this is completely out of line and unattainable. In old compositions, you definitely expected at least one key change, one tempo change, and fermatas with rit and sudden caesuras, and you'd even see these in the level 2's. #whataburgerseniorcoffeeclub

You would be more surprised by the updated judging procedures.

Re: The new sight-reading procedure

Posted by Contrarian on 4/8/2026, 3:51 pm, in reply to "Re: The new sight-reading procedure"

I don't think it's unattainable at all. However, and this is a critical "however," it does compromise the integrity of the process if they're not going to follow their own rules.

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