Quick Guide To Marching Band Competitions
The marching show put together by the marching band and performance ensemble each fall is performed at competitions organized by the Northwest Marching Band Circuit. Competitions occur on Saturdays between late September and early November. Competitions are generally held each year at Hillsboro Stadium, in Vancouver, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, and at Reser Stadium in Corvallis. Westview will enter several of these – specifically which ones to be determined each year by the band director, based on schedules of other school events, and the results of a draw held among all bands in the Northwest Circuit.
So what exactly happens at one of these competitions? What should students expect on competition day? What should parents expect when they come to watch and cheer for the Westview students?
Primer On Marching Competitions
Band performances at competitions are organized by classes. The classes generally represent the size of the group, and are also reflective of the level of skill and experience of the ensemble:
- “A” class is for smaller ensembles
- “AA” class for intermediate-sized groups
- “Open” class for the largest ensembles and the most experienced programs
In most cases, Westview competes in Open class.
Most competitions have two rounds: “preliminaries” and “finals.” All bands take part in the preliminary round, with the A class groups performing first and the Open Class competition last. At the conclusion of preliminaries, total scores tabulated by a team of judges are announced, with each group ranked within its class.
Approximately 12-16 bands with the highest overall preliminary scores then move on to the final round, performing in order from lowest score first to highest score last. The bands perform the same show performed during the preliminary round. The competition concludes with an award ceremony known as a “retreat,” when the judges decisions about highest scores are announced and trophies are awarded, generally to the top three bands.
Schedule. Generally, preliminary competitions begin in the late morning, with the Open class performances occurring in mid- to late-afternoon. A dinner break occurs after the Preliminary awards. The Finals competition is in the evening, usually beginning around 5:00 or 6:00, and running until 9:00 or 10:00.
The specific schedule for Westview students is determined by the distance of the competition from school, and the specific performance time assigned to Westview in Preliminaries. Students typically meet at school in the early morning on Saturday for stretching, warm-up, and a run-through rehearsal of the show. Percussion equipment, props, flags for the Performance Ensemble, large instruments, and other equipment are then loaded into a rented truck for transport to the show site. The students board school busses in mid-morning and travel to the competition site. Students usually bring a sack lunch to eat before departing, or on the bus. Upon arrival, the truck is unloaded, and the band dons uniforms and gathers for warm-up and further rehearsal. At their appointed time, the Wildcat Marching Band and Performance Ensemble takes the field for Preliminary competition.
After their performance in Preliminaries, the band stows instruments and removes uniforms, then gathers for a dinner prepared and served by parent volunteers. Then the process is repeated for the evening performance, with the exact schedule and performance time dependent upon their placement in the Preliminary round.
After the Finals Performance, instruments are stowed, and gear is loaded back into the truck. The band returns to the stadium to watch the final performances of the day and the awards ceremony. Then, it’s back on the busses for the trip home. Once back at school, the truck must be unloaded and equipment put away before the competition day ends.
Judging. Each ensemble has only thirteen minutes of field time, timed from the moment the first member steps onto the field to the time when all equipment and performers leave the field. Judges deduct penalties from the group’s score if the time limit is exceeded.
Judges provided by the NW Marching Band Circuit observe and score the performance, both at field level and from a “press box” view high above the field. The judges rotate assignments between the Preliminary and Final rounds, to bring a fresh perspective to the judging for the Finals. The judging criteria are complex and highly technical, and not necessarily comprehendable to the casual spectator. Groups receive scores for overall music, musical technique, overall visual effect, percussion, and auxiliary performance. Awards are given out for the top groups in each of these categories, as well as for the total overall scores.
Guidelines and Etiquette For Spectators. Parents are encouraged to attend the competitions and cheer on their sons and daughters. The competitions represent the climax of many weeks of hard work and rehearsal, and the students appreciate hearing the sounds of vocal supporters in the stands. It is fun to watch the other bands perform as well. Many families make it into an entire afternoon/evening event. At competitions in the local area, there will usually be ample time during breaks to get food, or to run home to check on the dog, pick up the mail, etc.
Tickets are available at the gate. The cost is usually around $10 for adults and $5 for students/seniors. Children under age five are usually free. Programs are usually available for a small additional fee. Remember, these admission fees are usually important sources of fund raising for the band/school that is sponsoring the competition. So please pay them graciously, as we would want others to do when they attend competitions at Westview.
Etiquette for competition:
- Don't enter or exit the stadium when a band/color guard is performing.
- Don't talk when a band/color guard is performing.
- Cheer loudly for Westview before, during, and after our performance. Cheering during the performance tends to follow the crescendos and action on the field (solos, rifle tosses, etc.).
- Clap for other bands when they perform. Their students work just as hard as ours do.
- It is okay to clap and cheer after solos.
- Look for other Westview parents in the stands and try to sit as a group if possible. Wear your Westview red if you have it. The kids can hear and see you better this way.
- Be friendly to other parents in the stands. In the past, some bands have had reputations for being “snotty,” and part of this reputation derives from the attitude of parents in the grandstand. We are a friendly bunch at Westview, and this is a great time to talk to other parents from Westview, and to representatives of other schools about the kids, music, and life in general.
Meals. During most competitions, there is a break for dinner between Preliminary and Final rounds. In years past, the students have gone to nearby fast food restaurants for dinner, or been bussed to restaurants. In addition to the time and expense, this approach made it difficult to re-assemble the group to prepare for Finals.
As an alternative, we have begun preparing and serving a meal at the competition site. We strive to provide a nutritious, balanced menu, and on cold, rainy competition days, a warm meal. The meal expense for your student is included in the annual band fee. Parents who would like to join the group for the meal, may do so for a cost of $5.
While students may certainly also purchase food from the concession stand at the competition, STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE STADIUM, EVEN JUST TO WALK OVER TO THE NEAREST FAST FOOD JOINT.
Competitions are a lot of fun! Please be there to support the students!
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