Concert Adjudication
Jim Matthews
Introduction to
Adjudicating
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 Adjudicators are simply Observers
 We are Evaluators - intentions are to be: Fair,
Meaningful and Helpful.
 We are a Resource to Teachers and Students
 We must Speak the Truth in Love – according to our
experiences. That is why there are three stage and
one Sight-Reading.
Your Musical Background
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What are YOUR Negotiables/Non-Negotiables?
What is on YOUR iPod?
Build the Perfect Judge!
Are YOU that perfect judge?
Can you be unbiased about director, situation,
circumstances?
 Could you give your best friend a 2/3?
 Are you able to take down the “wall” and speak to them
so they will listen?
 Are you going to confer? Are you going to have your
mind made up BEFORE you confer? Are you going to be
persuaded?
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Adjudicators Tools
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 F.B.A. Adjudicator’s Handbook – YOU MUST READ
IT! Can you imagine a referee who didn’t know the
rule book?
 Concert Adjudication Sheet
 Concert Adjudication Rating Sheet – Outline
 Script? Pen and Pencil set? Topics Reminder Sheet?
 Laws of Making Music
Adjudicators Role
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 Be Organized: Fill out contract, send in immediately,
respond quickly to District Chair, Print Directions –
Mileage. Print and count travel back and forth to
Hotel.
 Dress Professionally, Speak with all Site/School
Personnel Professionally.
 Be as Helpful to District Chair as possible.
 Keep Things Moving – Make sure the event is
running on time.
Cautions
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 Never talk on Social Media during event! Be
professional – you are on their time.
 Try to never make a comment without making a
prescription.
 Don’t Anticipate Problems
 Try not to Sing over the entire recording.
 Be careful to LISTEN and not speak the entire time.
 Know what you are talking about. Don’t speak
about something you are not clear about.
Cautions/Suggestions
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 We are called to a higher calling because we are speaking
to the entire group. Treat this very respectfully.
 Take the time throughout the year to develop a listening
library of your own. Share with other adjudicators.
 Practice Adjudicating – put on recording and tape
yourself and listen back. Refine your art.
 Find the most glaring or immediate concept to address
and stick with it. There are three other adjudicators. You
can’t get it all.
Cautions/Suggestions
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 We are here to help everyone involved to grow –
including ourselves.
 Learn how to speak concisely.
 Have as many solid solutions as possible. Also
suggest resources for teachers and students to be
able to refer to.
 Pause, think about what you are going to say. Don’t
start talking until you really have something to say.
 Remember to challenge them to the next level of
musicianship.
Who are You Speaking To?
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 Keep in mind that you are speaking to the students, but
the director is the main one you are ultimately speaking
to. Be cautious.
 Adjudicators make long lasting career impressions. We
are speaking to real people, with real souls.
 Don’t compare the ensemble with YOUR band, compare
it to the Standard that is in your head and the score in
front of you.
 How can you speak more directly with the teacher?
 Be able to say the same thing five different ways. You
don’t if they are getting it after only once.
Listening Examples
Take out Adjudication Sheets
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 Fennell – Cleveland Winds – Holst Suite in F Mvt.
#2.
FBA – Concert Examples Track 2 - M.S. Band Chanson and
Bouree – Erickson
Track 9 – H.S. March
Track 12 – Skip around because of length
Sorry – Not Pretty – Track 3 – Morning Peer Gynt
NO Concept of Laws – Track 7
Track 6 – Desire, Good Intentions, Potential! Wrong Choice.
Exercise - Polly Oliver – Cell Phones, Split into groups.
Laws of Making Music
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 See hand-out.
 New E-Book! Principles of Musical Performance
 Use them to have plenty of suggestions to fix
conceptual problems.
 Have a list near you so you can stay on track?
 Have a pad to jot down concepts to go back to at the
end of the last piece.
 Ask the District chair to give you a copy of your
comments after you adjudicate – then listen and
evaluate your won recordings.
Real-Time Exercise
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 Break into small groups and listen and make
comments.
 Use Cell phone or iPad.
 Select one person to share with same group.
 Meet as full group and make comments on activity.
 Encourage everyone to do this more often, as district
chair for a copy of your comments.
 Share with mentor and grow!
 Expand your Vocabulary as you grow.
Sight-Reading
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Make them feel comfortable!
Do they have a process?
Encourage the very best from students to directors.
Are they able to transfer fundamentals of stage to sightreading process?
 Same basic Concepts: Tone, Balance, Listening to teacher,
Listening to other sections, Dynamics etc.
 Be organized, handing out and collecting music and
scores.
 Constantly compliment the helpers. That is their
payment.
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Final Recording
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 Employs ALL LAWS of MAKING MUSIC.
 Patience
 Expand YOUR Library.
 Share ideas and recordings with others.
 How are you taking control of YOUR OWN
GROWTH?