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Date Posted: 17:07:22 04/15/04 Thu
Author: Derek Meilaender
Subject: Opinions?

Whenever Valparaiso High School entered the state finals, their band was always one of the top bands. They won the state competition 16 years in a row... Then something changed... People's opinion of Valpo turned somewhat NEGATIVE. That, in turn, caused us to lose the title. Is it true that certain schools are faced with the problem of prejudice and/or possibly even jealousy? Judges are meant to judge fairly, but if their opinion of the band is relatively positive, and they happen to like the pieces that the band has selected then won't they give that band a higher rating or marking? Do opinions really influence competitions? During my senior year of high school the band was able to reclaim it's title as first in the state. One of the pieces we played was by James Barnes ("Fantasy Variations") and it probably had a pretty big impact on the judges. It's a wonderful piece. If we had played anything else, our chances (of winning) might have been diminished - due to the "extremely postitive" opinions of "Fantasy Variations" held by the judges...

If opinions do indeed rule competitions, then how can I fight that when I become a teacher and still maintain a program that is pleasing to me and my students?
Are 'state finals' really heading into disaster?

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Replies:

[> Re: Opinions? -- Amanda, 07:33:50 04/19/04 Mon [1]

My High School had a little bit of the same problem. We had made it to the state competitions for about 6 years, then we changed directors and lost quite a few members. We haven't even made it to state competitions since. Most judges won't even consider small bands for things like that. I guess that could be because the bands don't produce the right sound... or enough of it. But that is definitely because of the opinion of the judges, which is what the whole competition is really based on. I don't believe there is a way to "fight" it, people will always have their opinions.
P.S. The Judges are stupid!!! ;)


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[> Re: Opinions? -- Devin Bramel, 09:34:00 04/27/04 Tue [1]

Well, my high school band never went to any competitions, but our show choir did. Over a four year period, we won best of class once. We were from a relatively small school, so we were always in the smallest class. I noticed that whenever it was time to declare grand champion, it always went to those from the biggest or second to largest class.
So, I imagine at all levels there is some type of predjudice. Sometimes I think the judges just sit there during class C's performances, and then when class A and AA schools start the judges begin to pay attention. I don't know if this can be helped. It seems to be just part of the mentality.


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[> Re: Opinions? -- J. Padley, 07:41:49 05/05/04 Wed [1]

I don't know what to tell you. I have had several experiences with contest very similar to yours. I don't think we can do much unless we change our entire contest system to the ways they do it overseas, where judges sit in boxes so they can't see the band and everyone has a number. This way there is no discrimination. Even looks and reputation make a huge difference. Tell a judge what school you're from and he'll automatically have an opinion/rating. step in front of a judge and he'll automatically form an opinion and rate you just off of how you look, so how does a band without uniforms stand up to a band with brand new ones? The only way to get around it is to change the rules of competitions so that judges don't know who you are and can't see you.


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