Top Ten Ways to Keep Your
Solo and Ensemble Festival Judges Happy
by Patricia Emerson
10. Coffee and donuts
Well, let's face it. After driving an hour and a half on a cold Saturday morning, it sure is nice to be greeted with caffeine and sugar to start the long day. Sometimes I need it just to get through the 7:30 am meeting. In some locations I've been allowed to take a thermal coffee pot to my room. Also, home-baked goodies from music parents is a nice touch. And you may want to have juice and decaf on hand for the less "hard-core" in the group.
9. Bathrooms within a 4-mile radius
I don't mind hiking a bit to the washrooms, but please make sure your room monitors and other helpers can give precise directions. I don't want to get to the next county before realizing I could have walked right around the corner and down the stairs. Remember, I've had all that coffee ...
8. Lunch that doesn't look like it came out of a vending machine at the gas station
After patiently listening to and carefully analyzing the fourteenth rendition of the "Handel F Major Sonata," it's a bit disheartening to scurry to the faculty lounge, only to find processed-cheese sandwiches on white bread and small bags of crushed potato chips. I admit, I have very little imagination when it comes to the art of "packing a lunch," but I do think I could come up with something a bit more palatable. This is another great opportunity for your parent organizations to shine.
7. Accompanists that do not have twenty-three solos, eight different events, and six different rooms
Have mercy on these talented, dedicated musicians and teachers! True, good accompanists are sometimes difficult to find. But it's not fair to them, their students, and the other festival participants when an accompanist cannot reasonably negotiate their schedule for the day. Start looking for those accompanists early. Or, in some cases, go without accompaniment. Heresy, you say? Well, I'm always a bit suspect of the viola duet or violin trio that has piano accompaniment ... is that what's holding the ensemble together?
6. Room monitors with a clue
There just isn't enough time to train your room monitor and adjudicate at the same time! Make sure monitors know what their duties are and how important they are in making the day run smoothly and efficiently. It really slows down the entire process when a room monitor, especially one who has "never done this before," doesn't have a clue about ushering participants in and out, or keeping things quiet in the hallway. I'm always happy to answer questions about how I would like things handled, but I do not have time to do their job and mine. Room monitors need to be a "take charge" kind of person - if you use students, please keep that in mind. Parents of middle school children seem to do an exceptionally fine job!
5. Pianos that have been tuned sometime since the Carter Administration
It doesn't happen very often, but once in a great while I've encountered a piano that probably should have been mercifully shot and put out of its misery. What message does this send to our aspiring young musicians when they can't find a pitch if it were in their pocket because the piano has not been tuned and/or is in a state of disrepair!?! Piano accompaniments are supposed to enhance the performance, not hinder them. And an angry accompanist - trust me, it's not pretty.
4. Schedules that make sense
I applaud those districts that have moved toward a ten minute time slot for all solo events especially Class A. Some argue that ten 'Minutes is too long for B and C events - don't worry, something will happen to foul up the schedule. And, if all is running on schedule, it gives your adjudicators that extra minute or two to talk to the students. (We love to talk!)
3. Students, parents & teachers who are properly prepared
There's probably nothing more frustrating or embarrassing than the solo or ensemble that just isn't prepared - cello soloist who hands you their music and informs you that they "just got the music last week," or the violin duet that "giggles" through the entire piece. Make sure your students know that their performance should be an example of their best effort. If you have students who are participating in festival for the first time, no matter what the grade level, please consider using some type of COMMENTS ONLY FORM. This option offers space for comments in all the same criteria as the regular adjudication forms, but without the added pressure of a final rating. it's also a perfect way to adjudicate mainstream students in a very non-threatening format. The key to proper festival preparation is organization. It's a hectic time of year, so think of ways to streamline and simplify as many facets of the process as possible.
2. Students, parents, teachers (and adjudicators) who understand the rating categories
OK, here it comes: an adjudicator’s primary purpose at a music festival is to offer students constructive criticism and comments aimed at one or more of the following:
Improving their musical performance
Improving their understanding of music literature and musical concepts
Motivating them in their continuing study of music
Understanding the relationship of their music experiences to other life experiences
Setting standards of excellence in music performance
Nowhere in this list does it say that all students must receive either a I or a II, or that most of them will receive a I, or that almost all of the Class A entries will receive a *I, or that no one will ever receive a III or a IV.
The overall ratings should be interpreted as follows:
*I–Superior
“Truly Outstanding. Among the very best.”
I–Excellent
“An excellent performance with only a few minor shortcomings.”
II-Good
“Demonstrating accomplishment and potential, but lacking in one or more essential qualities. There is definite room for improvement.”
III–Fair
“Several basic weaknesses and/or numerous errors.”
IV–Poor
“Lacking in fundamental aspects of performance, understanding, or preparation.”
If we take the time to read these descriptions, explain them carefully to our students, and share them in some way with parents, there will be fewer disappointments when results are posted at the festival. A “II” is not a bad rating..”demonstrating accomplishment and potential, but room for improvement.” Try not to think of these music festivals as “contests,” which implies “winners” and “losers.” Participants in a music festival should all feel good about their accomplishments, and consider themselves to be “winners. “
One final word regarding the adjudicators–it’s important that the sponsoring organization and the judges receive feedback on how we’re doing. If there are problems, we need to correct them. If you see and hear things that you really like, please share those comments as well. We all need warm fuzzies from time to time–even festival judges.
And finally, the number one way to keep Solo and Ensemble Festival judges happy:
1. Lots and lots of sharp pencils!
It's amazing how the little things become so important after the fourteenth rendition of the Handel F Major Sonata!
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