This article originally appeared in the December 1979 issue of The Instrumentalist.
“If the judges cannot find anything wrong with a performance, then they have no choice but to give a band the top rating.” It is a philosophy that stresses the importance of attending to every detail no matter how small, and one that has resulted in plenty of Division I ratings.
The following checklists will help band directors who have experienced problems in coaching their bands to the top festival competition level, as well as those who are new to the field. If all the statements can be checked off, the chances of a band receiving a Division I rating will be greatly enhanced.
Selecting Festival Music
___ You attended at least two reading clinics in the past year.
___ You heard recordings of the selections you are considering.
___ The selections are in contrasting styles.
___ The selections will challenge students but not discourage them.
___ The music fits the strengths and weaknesses of all sections.
___ You and the band like the music.
___ You have alternate selections available in case your first choices don’t meet your expectations.
___ The music fits the allotted festival time limits.
___ You discussed possible choices of music with top band directors you know.
___ A full score is published for all selections.
___ You considered all music, even transcriptions.
___ You have not chosen music just because everyone is playing it.
___ You made an effort to hear the music you are considering played by outstanding bands in your area.
Preparing the Music
___ You have checked your conducting technique (cuing, beat, etc.)
___ The band is tuned frequently with an electronic tuner.
___ The band does breathing exercises.
___ Recordings of the festival selections are played for the entire band.
___ You have brought in a clinician several weeks before the festival to hear your work, personally conduct the band, and write criticisms of the band.
___ You have paced the presentation of festival numbers so they will not become worn out and you still have time to prepare them.
___ Sectional rehearsals have been held.
___ Each band member can play his or her part accurately and musically.
___ Parts are balanced within sections and with the rest of the band.
___ You are striving for professional quality tone throughout the band, especially in solo and small ensemble passages.
___ You have checked for rhythmic errors.
___ Dynamic marks are being observed.
___ Players are articulating properly.
___ Releases are being executed at the proper time.
___ You know what to do when the band plays out of tune even though you have tuned each instrument accurately with an electronic tuner.
___ You are aware of the unique physical characteristics of each instrument in the band, and are using this knowledge to enhance tone quality, intonation, and finger facility.
___ You are aware of players’ posture, embouchure, instrument placement, and hand position.
___ Players are using the best available instruments. The metronome is used to check tempos regularly.
___ You have checked the meanings of foreign words in the score that are not commonly used. They may affect your interpretation.
___ You have stressed knowledge over enthusiasm and excitement.
___ You have insisted on musical accuracy and musicality rather than letting things slip by.
Checklist for the Woodwind Section
___ Instruments are in perfect mechanical adjustment, and are clean and polished inside and out.
___ Players who need to use vibrato are capable of producing it, and know when to use it.
___ Desirable trill and alternate fingerings are being used.
Flute and Piccolo
___ The head joint cork is properly spaced.
Oboe and Bassoon
___ The best reeds available are being used.
___ All players have at least four good reeds and they know how to adjust reeds.
___ Bassoon bocals are clean inside.
___ The whisper key hole is open on all bassoons.
___ The bassoon bocal being used produces the best intonation, and players have bocals available in different lengths.
___ Bassoon players are aware of the seat strap as well as the neck strap.
___ Bassoon players can play in the tenor clef.
Clarinet and Saxophone
___ Instruments are equipped with top-quality stick rubber mouthpieces selected with the advice of top clarinet teachers or players in the area as to lay and interior shape.
___ The best ligatures available are being used and players know how to tighten the screws of a ligature properly.
___ The best French cane reeds available are being used, and reeds are of optimum strengths.
___ Each player has at least six good reeds available.
___ Bass clarinet players use the floor peg.
___ Saxophone players’ neck straps are adjusted properly.
Checklist for the Brass Section
___ Instruments have been cleaned and polished inside and out, slides lubricated and valves oiled.
___ Springs, water keys, bumper corks, rotary valves, rotary valve strings, etc. are in perfect mechanical adjustment.
___ Instruments with unsightly dents or distracting finishes have been eliminated if possible.
___ Valve, tuning, and playing slides are easily movable, lubricated, and dent-free.
___ The best mouthpieces are being used, selected with the advice from several top teachers or performers in the area.
___ Faulty pitch resulting from built-in acoustical problems has been corrected.
___ Mutes in good condition are available.
___ Players can double and triple tongue.
___ Range has been developed to handle more demanding selections.
___ Mouthpiece stems are without dents.
___ Mouthpiece backbores are clean.
Trumpet and Horn
___ Valve slides have been tuned with a tuner.
___ Horn players know how to play muted and
___ stopped parts.
___ Proper right hand positions are being used by horn players.
___ Horn players understand how to alter pitch with the right hand.
___ Horn players know how to transpose.
___ Horn players know which slide is the tuning slide.
Trombone, Baritone, and Tuba
___ Trombone players understand why some positions are adjusted in order to be in tune (high G should be played sharp).
___ Trombone players know methods for avoiding smears.
___ Trombone players can legato tongue.
___ Trombone players can play in tenor clef.
___ Trombone players have been encouraged to purchase a trombone with an F attachment, and they know when and how to use it.
___ Tuba and baritone players with four valve instruments know when and how to use the fourth valve.
Checklist for the Percussion Section
___ All heads are new and fresh.
___ Proper sticks are being used, and proper sticking technique has been decided and is being followed.
___ Players are standing erect and facing the conductor.
Snare Drum
___ The pitches of all batter heads are the same.
___ Pitches of all snare heads are the same, and the strands of snappy snares touch the drums evenly.
___ The pitch at each tuning screw is the same.
___ Drummers use matched sticks.
___ Stick sizes are right for concert performance.
___ Drummers are using buzz rolls for long rolled parts in selections where they should be used.
___ Drums have been checked for excessive muting.
___ Drummers are beating at the most desirable spot on the drum.
___ Drummers are playing lightly and not covering the band.
___ Drummers are getting the sticks away from the head quickly.
___ Drums are at the proper height.
Bass Drum
___ The bass drum is tuned properly and the pitch at each tuning screw is the same.
___ The bass drum is large enough for the band.
___ The drummer is striking the drum in a light manner midway between center and top.
___ A new lamb’s wool beater is being used.
Cymbals
___ Players are using proper hand positions, and they are striking the cymbals together at the correct spot and with the proper motion.
___ Cymbal players know when to double cymbal parts with the bass drum part.
___ Crash cymbal parts are played with proper motion.
___ Pads are new and clean, and straps are new and laced properly.
___ Cymbals are clean and polished, and have been checked for cracks.
___ Cymbals of optimum size and thickness are being used.
Suspended Cymbal
___ The cymbal is large enough for the band.
___ The player is beating the cymbal at the proper spots on the instrument.
___ The single stroke roll is being used for sustained sounds.
___ The cymbal is at the most desirable height.
Timpani
___ Fresh heads are being used.
___ Enough timpani are available to play the part.
___ Timpani are tuned so the same pitch is heard when striking the timpani at each head screw.
___ New, clean-looking sticks are being used.
___ The brake on each drum is properly adjusted.
___ The timpani player is able to make pitch changes quickly and accurately.
___ The player has a pitch pipe for tuning.
___ The player is using the best hand positions.
___ Rolls are played fast enough and with good technique.
___ The sticks quickly rebound from the head.
___ All dents have been removed from the timpani.
Mallet Percussion
___ Beaters are rebounding quickly.
___ All percussion players can do multiple mallet work.
___ Brass bell beaters are being used.
___ The motor on the vibes is turning at optimum speed, and the damper is working properly.
___ Parts are being played in proper octaves.
___ Bearings on moving shafts on the vibes have been oiled.
___ Belts on the vibes are in good condition, and spare belts are available.
___ The dampers on the chimes work properly and players know how to use them.
___ All chime tubes vibrate freely.
___ Hammers rebound quickly from the chimes.
___ All chime tubes are securely fastened to the instrument.
Miscellaneous Percussion
___ All the needed miscellaneous instruments are available.
___ The tambourine is tuned.
___ The tambourine is struck with the fingers and not beat on the hip.
___ The players use a thumb roll on the tambourine, or, if another roll is used, the players can perform it at a fast speed.
___ Claves are held so the hand holding the lower clave forms a resonating cavity.
___ The maracas have a crisp sound.
Checklist for the Day of the Festival
___ You have allowed plenty of time for travel and warm-up.
___ You have made an effort to keep band members calm and collected.
___ If you plan to announce the names and composers of the festival selections, you can properly pronounce foreign titles and names.
___ You have enough full scores, properly numbered, for all the judges
___ All band members look neat and are properly uniformed.
