Jeff Boyle
12-28-2001, 12:55 PM
I was part of a thread in this category re: Drum Majors and that thread brought up a big question that I think I'll put to the rest of the forum under a brand new heading!!
It has to do with judging the tenor, bass and Drum Major's contests.
I'm not to sure how other associations do this, but here in Ontario to judge these contests you don't even need to have a judging certification. WHY? How can you be on a panel of judges and you don't even know what a quarter note looks like? I know that we've used actual "panel certified" judges to judge these events, but 9 out 10 times we aren't. I feel this is a joke. If these contests are held for the benefit of the audience (which, by the way most of the bass drummers in these contests act)why not have an MC host the event and let the crowd (which sometimes has more qualified judges in it then the contest does) judge by clapping and hollering. If it sounds like I've portrayed these contests as a joke .... I DID .... THEY ARE!! I feel sorry for the actual competitors, they're playing, or performing for a judge who probably can't even do what they can. I've seen (without mentioning names) a person who I know fairly well judge all 3 contests in an afternoon. Now, this guy is a very talented swinging tenor drummer (even won his fair share of prizes) but couldn't play a strathspey beating on a bass drum to save his life. Let alone I don't think he's even held a mace let alone competed. This is what I'm trying to say I guess. Either have experienced "panel certified" judges for each of these events or scrap them all together. :mad:
Cheers :D
It has to do with judging the tenor, bass and Drum Major's contests.
I'm not to sure how other associations do this, but here in Ontario to judge these contests you don't even need to have a judging certification. WHY? How can you be on a panel of judges and you don't even know what a quarter note looks like? I know that we've used actual "panel certified" judges to judge these events, but 9 out 10 times we aren't. I feel this is a joke. If these contests are held for the benefit of the audience (which, by the way most of the bass drummers in these contests act)why not have an MC host the event and let the crowd (which sometimes has more qualified judges in it then the contest does) judge by clapping and hollering. If it sounds like I've portrayed these contests as a joke .... I DID .... THEY ARE!! I feel sorry for the actual competitors, they're playing, or performing for a judge who probably can't even do what they can. I've seen (without mentioning names) a person who I know fairly well judge all 3 contests in an afternoon. Now, this guy is a very talented swinging tenor drummer (even won his fair share of prizes) but couldn't play a strathspey beating on a bass drum to save his life. Let alone I don't think he's even held a mace let alone competed. This is what I'm trying to say I guess. Either have experienced "panel certified" judges for each of these events or scrap them all together. :mad:
Cheers :D