Judge’s Guidelines
In an attempt to ensure the highest degree of fairness and credibility in the judging of the District All-State Auditions, the Alabama Bandmasters Association expects all judges to abide by the following guidelines.
All students except percussion must be auditioned by number behind a screen. The percussion auditions may be held without a screen in order to effectively evaluate technique. However, every effort should be made to avoid having a director judge his/her own student.
Communication between the judge and student should be avoided. Judges may occasionally need to give instructions, but the student should not have to speak unless absolutely necessary. Judges should not ask questions for the student to answer.
Judges should confirm the number of the student auditioning before beginning the audition. If the number is incorrect, the student should tell the runner immediately.
In order to continue the audition, students auditioning for High School All-State must successfully play at least 7 major scales and their related arpeggios. Students auditioning for Middle School All-State must successfully play at least 5 major scales and their related arpeggios.
If a student does not pass the scale portion, the judge should mark “Do Not Pass” on the Google Form and kindly inform the student that his/her audition is over.
Metronome markings for scales are suggestions and should not be considered as criteria for passing or failing the audition. Middle school students have four minutes to complete the scales.
High School Scales: A sheet with the name of each scale (in playing order – C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G, C Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, Chromatic Scale) will be on the stand for the student. Students may not use any scale sheet, or other visual cues (list of flats, etc.). Please use the scale sheet provided by ABA to ensure the student is playing the correct octave/octaves.
Middle School Scales: A sheet with the name of each scale (in playing order – G Concert, C Concert, F Concert, Bb Concert, Eb Concert, Ab Concert, Db Concert, Gb Concert, Chromatic Scale) will be on the stand for the student. Students may not use any scale sheet, or other visual cues (list of flats, etc.). Please use the scale sheet provided by ABA to ensure the student is playing the correct octave/octaves.
Tempo markings for prepared etudes are intended to be followed for interpretation & style and should be considered in your scoring.
Students may use their own copies of the prepared etudes.
There should be two copies of the sight reading material – one for the judge and one for the student. Place the sight reading material face-down on the stand before the student enters the room. When the prepared etude is completed, have the student turn over the sight reading and allow him/her one minute to study it. When the audition is finished, have the student leave the sight reading material on the stand. Runners should check this after every student.
When you are finished, return all materials to the office, and check with the district chairman before leaving.
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