MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE 2100 Freeway Boulevard Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55430-1735 LETTER OF INSTRUCTION FOR MUSIC ADJUDICATORS The Subsection Contest-Festival is designed to stimulate interest in music, butit is necessary that it also have as one of its purposes the elimination of contestants from the State-Section Contest, However, it would be well fo remember that neither the section or state-section contests a strictly competitive event. Ratings will be made solely on the basis of performance and not on the basis of how many or how few there are of a given ability within a category. We trust that you have a well established set of standards before you begin judging the fist contestant. In adjudicating the contest, we ask that you adhere to the following suggestions: 4. Each adjudicator is employed to aid in a program of music education, The results of his/her judging can either be a help or a hindrance. Care should be exercised in the wording of your statements in order that they may be detailed, constructive and helpful. There is no place in Minnesota contests for unkind, sarcastic, caustic or other objectionable remarks. Be considerate in the type of comments given orally or written. Adverse criticism should be given when needed, but presented in a constructive and helpful manner. 2. Adjudicators must keep in mind that they are judging high school students and not college, tuniversity or professional groups. Judging should be strict, but fair. 3. Give close attention to the performance even ifit "bores you to tears.” Psychologically, pupils «will accept an adverse decision if they feel the judge has given them fair and unbiased attention, [No person is to converse with a judge while he/she is carrying out his/her duties as adjudicator, and judges are instructed to inform any person approaching them that they have been requested to advise such person of this regulation, 4, When less than Superior or Excellent ratings are given, the judge must explain on the comment sheet what the student or group needs to do to improve their performance. There should be a definite correlation between the rating and the criticisms and suggestions made. AVOID GENERALIZED STATEMENTS-BE SPECIFIC. 5. Be on time forall sessions. Help the contest manager keep the program on schedule. Time between selections for large groups should be minimal 6. Ifthe schedule permits, itis suggested that the judge ask the performer or director to appear bbefore him/her for private verbal comments to supplement the written criticism. (Do forall entries or none.) 7. Large groups at section contests (also at many of the subsection contests) are judged by three adjudicators. Judges are not to sit tagether or to discuss the group, but will give independent ralings and comments. The final ating will be determined by the contest manager. 8. Minnesota large group entries are divided into three categories. All large group entries are required to perform one selection from the Required List. This selection determines the category which the group performs. If time permits, they may perform others of their own choosing Grou I selections performed.10, " 12, 13, A score for each solo, ensemble and large group entry must be provided for each adjudicator. ‘Any entry not providing the adjudicator with a score shall compete for comments only, without benefit ofa rating. (Exception: tf score is not published, a signed statement from the publisher (or music dealer must be attached to the rating sheet. The entry may then perform for rating ‘without providing the adjudicator with a score.) All participants in Minnesota State High School League sponsored contestfestivals are expected to perform from legally acquired copies of the music. Use of unauthorized photo copies for the judge, performer or accompanist will resut in disqualification. Exception: "Emergency copying to replace purchased copies which for any reason are not available for an imminent performance is permissible provided replacement copies shall be ‘substituted in due course." #1 of the Guidelines on Fair Use of Copyright Material.) ‘The contest manager is responsible for enforcement of contest rules. Judges, directors and room managers should report rule violations to the contest manager. Adjudicators are not permitted to discuss with students thelr plans for attending college or tniversity before, during or after the time they are adjudicating said students in any music contest-festival Solo & Ensemble entries, which call for an accompanist, must receive a soore. The highest ‘score that can be given in the balance category is a two (2). The score received should be based on the quality of the performance, not on whether or not there was accompaniment, ‘The contest manager will provide you with a copy of the Adjudication Rating Sheet in advance of the contest.