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Concert Band Ratings, a Few Thoughts

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:19 pm
by JLGORMAN
The Texas Yellow Board has a fascinating discussion going concerning a study done by a member concerning Concert Band Ratings for Bands in 27 of the UIL's 28 Regions(El Paso in Region 22 has not done their concert competition yet. Swine Flu pushed them back to next week). Some interesting patterns have developed.

Among The

Of 1576 Bands, Both High School and Middle School 53.8% were awarded 1st Division(1) Ratings. Compare that to only 37.8 % of Marching Bands receiving the Same Rating. Either we are great in Concert, or the judging is more difficult on the Football Field.

Highest Rated Region Bands is Region 5
55 Bands, 47 (1) 7(2) 1(3)
Now of course this is the Region containing LD Bell, Haltom, Richland, Birdville, Fossill Ridge and other notables (I guess winning on the field carries over)

2nd is Region 24
119 Bands 90(1) 27(2) 2(3)
This Regions contains Powers such as Allen, Berkner, Poteet, Carrollton and Lewisville schools.

3rd is Region 9
106 Bands 70 (1) 27(2) 8(3) 1(4)
This Region is home to the Woodlands, Stephen F. Austin, Rose Bowl Bound Conroe, Pearland and Friendswood. All marching Powers

Conversely the Worst Region is Region 10(North East Texas
75 Bands 26 (1) 24(2) 20(3) 5(4)

Next Lowest is Region 20
129 Bands 57(1) 37(2) 26(3) 9(4)
Even Powerhouse Duncanville cannot hold up this region which is heavily made up of Dallas Independent School District Bands

Third From the Bottom is Region 4
94 Bands 35(1) 43(2) 16(3). This is East Central Texas along the Border with Oklahoma. There are no 5A Schools in this Region.

Several things come up for discussion. Is the judging harder for Bands without a reputation?

Does being in a more Rural Area mean you will not get the same type of judging?

Does money make the final difference?

Somethings that statistics can make us aware of, even when the answers may not be what we want to hear.

Re: Concert Band Ratings, a Few Thoughts

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:39 pm
by teacherken
[quote="JLGORMAN"]Several things come up for discussion. Is the judging harder for Bands without a reputation?

Does being in a more Rural Area mean you will not get the same type of judging?

Does money make the final difference?

Somethings that statistics can make us aware of, even when the answers may not be what we want to hear.[/quote]

My first question, not being overly familiar with UIL judging, is the make-up of the judging panel. Is it similar to SCSBOA, where "local" band directors are the judges, or is there a state-wide panel, so regions can be fairly compared?

The "name" programs seem to be in the arena of marching, but the statistics seem to belay that as an indicator of success in the concert hall.

As for the money question, any program where you have multiple teachers involved in a single program will surely outshine those with a single teacher. If I had credentialed teachers for every section of my band, I could surely accomplish far more than by my little ol' lonesome.

Ken

Re: Concert Band Ratings, a Few Thoughts

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:25 pm
by JLGORMAN
Judges for all UIL Competitions must not be from the same Region, nor can they be from a region that advances to the same area in the marching competition. TMAA has a way of sending judges a long way from home.

In this respect it is like sending folks from San Diego to judge in the San Jose Area.

Re: Concert Band Ratings, a Few Thoughts

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:45 pm
by teacherken
So the question that comes to mind then, if the "lower" quality programs are all rural, or in a specific part of the state (north, south, etc.) could there be a bias, or different expectations from these non-local judges? i.e., would the director of a program with 8 credentialed music teachers be expecting too much from a program with 1? Or is there a fair amount of parity in each region?

Ken

Re: Concert Band Ratings, a Few Thoughts

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:14 am
by JLGORMAN
I think that judges from a major, populated area with multiple staffs have expectations that schools in rural, less affluent may not be able to meet. Consistently AAAAA Bands have a higher % of 1st Divisions that class A Bands(schools under 199 students). I think that there may well be a unsopoken bias against folks in the country who do not have major staff.