Adjudication

The Bandmasters Championship utilizes the "caption" scoring system, consisting of eight (8) Adjudicators. Each Adjudicator is responsible for evaluating a specific area of the performance. These are the eight Adjudicator captions (click on links to view scoring sheets in pdf file format):

Music Performance #1 (20%): Evaluates the band's total musical performance including tone, intonation, balance, blend, note/rhythmic accuracy, articulation, phrasing, musicality, dynamics, phasing and tempo. This adjudicator considers all wind and percussion sections in analysis and commentary.

Music Performance #2 (20%): Same judging criteria as Music Performance #1.

Music General Effect (15%): Evaluates the overall effectiveness and entertainment value of the musical program, including such aspects as: impact/trailback, correlation of music to drill, staging of various music elements, variety of music, creativity, enhancement of music by auxiliary units, showmanship, and musical contrast. This adjudicator considers all wind and percussion sections in analysis and commentary.

Visual Performance #1 (10%): Evaluates the band's total visual performance including execution of marching fundamentals, development and control of forms, interval, spacing, distance, consistency/uniformity of step, posture, dress/cover, equipment carriage, and phasing.

Visual Performance #2 (10%): Same judging criteria as Visual Performance #1

Visual General Effect (15%): Evaluates the overall effectiveness and entertainment value of the visual program, including such aspects as: impact/trailback, correlation of drill to music, correlation of visual elements, continuity of flow, visual enhancement of music, visual enhancement of auxiliary units, showmanship, creativity, staging and variety.

Percussion (5%): Individual and ensemble music performance of all percussion units, including battery and sideline (pit) percussion.

Color Guard (5%): Individual and ensemble performance of all color guard/auxiliary units, including flags, rifles, sabers, twirlers, majorettes, and dancers.

Each Adjudicator works from a 100 point sheet. Each Adjudicator score is multiplied by the corresponding weight. The sum of the weighted scores represents the band's final score.

Adjudicators

Adjudicators for The Bandmasters Championship are selected by the contest staff. Each adjudicator must possess the highest level of competence and fairness, and have a solid reputation among fellow music educators.

Every effort is made to select Adjudicators from outside the immediate geographic areas of the participating bands.

To ensure the selection of qualified Adjudicators with consistent educational philosophies, the contest staff may utilize the services of a judges' association.

To facilitate continuity of judging from one year to the next, up to three (3) Adjudicators may be retained from the previous year's panel. However, no person may serve as an Adjudicator more than two (2) years consecutively.