Bands of America hosts an incredible number of events across the country each fall. They have a premier cast of judges to evaluate your band in multiple areas of composition and execution. Groups receive recorded evaluation and scoresheets from each judge. It is Bands of America’s position that the music is the more important aspect of the performance, with marching as the presentation and visual enhancement. If your band is competing and performing at Bands of America, you may wonder how the judges arrive at their score.
Consequently, the point allotment is as follows:
| POINTS | ALLOTMENT |
| 20 | Music Performance Individual (on the field) |
| 20 | Music Performance Ensemble (from a vantage point in the press box) |
| 20 | Visual Performance Individual (on the field) |
| 20 | Visual Performance Ensemble (from a vantage point in the press box) |
| 40 | Music General Effect (2 judges with 20 points each, added for 40 points) |
| 20 | Visual General Effect |
Music has 20% of the score
- Music Individual is out of 20 points
- Music Ensemble is out of 20 points
Visual has 20% of the score
- Vis Individual is out of 20 points
- Vis Ensemble is out of 20 points
Effect is 60% of the score
- Music Effect 1 is out of 20 points
- Music Effect 2 is out of 20 points
- Visual Effect is out of 20 points
*The following is taken from the Bands of America 2023 Adjudication Handbook
MUSIC PERFORMANCE (INDIVIDUAL)
This judge is located on the field and is free to move about the field. The job of the judge is to evaluate the Performance accuracy, tone quality and intonation and the realized musical demand placed on the performers.
MUSIC PERFORMANCE (ENSEMBLE)
This judge is located in the stands or in the press box, whichever location affords the best vantage point. The location is fixed during the entire competition. The purpose of evaluation on this sheet is to determine the best, second best, etc., musical performance based on accuracy and uniformity of performance as perceived from the vantage point of the audience. The judgment of technical accuracy, intonation accuracy, and tone quality is to be made with the consideration of content—that is, demand and exposure of the performers. The Overall Sound Quality/Accuracy subcaption evaluates how closely the ensemble has achieved proper tone production.
VISUAL PERFORMANCE (INDIVIDUAL) This judge is located on the field and is free to move about the field. The Visual Performance sheet is intended to reward the achievement of the individual performers on the one hand and to indicate the problems of the individual performers on the other hand. The Visual Performance sheet has two subcaptions: Challenges and Skills, and Accuracy and Definition.
VISUAL PERFORMANCE (ENSEMBLE) This judge is located in the stands or in the press box, whichever location affords the best vantage point. The location is fixed during the entire competition. The purpose of evaluation on this sheet is to determine the most technically proficient marching group from the vantage point of the audience. Visual Artistry is a discussion and analysis of the breadth and depth of the student’s portrayal of a program, not the effect. This is not a question of quantity of material and presentation, but a question of care, refinement and details used by the design team on the arrangement of the program. Excellence and Technique deals with the quality of body carriage/control, equipment, usage/technical accuracy, and the ability of the ensemble to project those elements of the chosen style.
The two Music Performance judges have their scores averaged for a total of 20 points.
The two Visual Performance judges have their scores averaged for a total of 20 points.
GENERAL EFFECT VISUAL This judge is located in the press box. General Effect Visual is the utilization of all elements to bring about maximum effectiveness of the visual representation of the musical performance.
GENERAL EFFECT MUSIC There are two judges in this caption, and both are located in the press box. Their scores are not averaged. General Effect Music is the utilization of all elements to bring about maximum effectiveness of the musical performance. Understand that we evaluate what is being performed at the same time we are evaluating how it is being performed. Key elements taken into consideration are creativity and imagination, coordination and staging, use of time and pacing of the show, the flow of musical ideas, musical intent, professionalism, emotion, and artistry.
Bands of America has always operated with the philosophy that this is an educational (more than a competitive) experience.
They strive to give the band recorded commentary that the performers can learn from as well as enjoy.
SPECTATOR TIPS
- Clap and cheer for every band. Every student is working hard and worthy of appreciation.
- Remember that your comments are overheard by other audience members and are a representation of our band. Be kind, always.
- Be patient with event staff. They are often just following directives from their supervisors.
- Arrive in plenty of time to get parked and get to the stands.
- Don’t move from your seat while another band is performing.
- Start cheering for our band the second that the previous band finishes exiting the field. Your energy will transfer to our students and helps ease their nerves! Who wouldn’t want to perform to a crowd of cheering fans?