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Besides judges' comments, which should be made available to the director, student, or student's teacher after the contest, many contests award ratings . Normally a "one" or "first" is the highest rating, indicating a superior, well-prepared performance. A two is an adequate, fairly well-prepared performance, and so on. (The lowest rating available varies between contests, but is usually between three and six.) Ratings are based on the level of each performance, and are not competitive. If every single performance is well-prepared and of high quality, every performance may get a "first" rating. If no performances are adequate, the judges may not award any "ones" at all. In large contests with multiple judging rooms, it may be difficult to accurately name the "best" performance, and in order to discourage over-competitiveness, some contests only award non-competitive ratings. (in order to encourage the students, some of these contests will award ribbons, certificates, or medals to all students or groups who got a "highest" rating.)
Other contests feature rankings (giving each performance a numerical rating, and awarding first, second, and third place to the highest-rated performances) and/or other awards , ranging from "best-in-class"-type trophies and "judges' choice" ribbons and certificates to the option of going on to higher, more prestigious contests.
Some contests are opportunities for players to perform either as a soloist or in a small group. (Many "Solo and Ensemble" contests allow a student to do either or both.) These contests are normally optional but encouraged for band members. The band director may sign the students up for the contest, organize students into ensembles and suggest possible performance pieces, but the main burden of preparing the performance falls on the students and their private teachers, not on the director. Young instrumentalists will need some direct help preparing for these types of contests. If your child does not have a regular private teacher , it is very important that some adult musician is helping prepare the contest music (a temporary teacher, an assistant director from the band program, the accompanist); otherwise a positive experience is not likely. Ensembles usually do not require an accompanist. Small ensembles (duets, trios, quartets, etc.) will not need a conductor, either. Larger ensembles (a twelve-member clarinet choir, for example) may need a conductor. Solosits usually need a piano accompanist. Your band director, or a local piano teacher, may have a list of capable accompanists. (Accompanying is a distinct skill; not every good pianist is a good accompanist, and many are not interested in learning and rehearsing accompaniment parts.) The accompanist will charge a fee based on their skill level and the amount of time they spend working on the music and rehearsing with your child. Solo and ensemble contests are often simply for judges' comments and ratings, although some are awards-oriented, and may even be considered an "audition" for a more prestigious contest, or for the opportunity to give a special public performance. Your band may participate in a specific solo/ensemble contest, with the director collecting entry fees and maybe even arranging for a bus to the contest. If you are interested in solo contests that your school does not participate in, it will be up to you and your child's teacher to find out and fulfill the contest entry requirements.
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