Editorial ~ 2007 September

This month we consider the 2008 Australian test music; Conflict of Interest; National Grading Standards; and are we being fair to our Adjudicators?

National Gradings

In the past 12 months, 4BRDU has attended the Australian, New Zealand, New South Wales, and Victorian Championships.

The standard of bands within each grade is not always consistent from one State (or country) to the next.

Generally, the inconsistencies seem to occur at the extremities of each grade.  For example, there are several A Grade bands in Australia who would struggle to hold their own in the B Grade section in say, New South Wales.  There are similar examples in the lower grades. We would even go so far as to suggest that there are one or two D Grade bands in one State that would give one or two bands in B Grade in another State a severe flogging.

This kind of inconsistency becomes an issue when bands, thinking they are graded on an even platform, compete against each other at the National level as opposed to within their own State.

There is a duty of care and responsibility for State bodies (should it be the NBCA?) to be aware of standards across other States and New Zealand in order to maintain a level playing field for all bands.

What do you think?
Send an email  to du.comments@4barsrest.com

 Conflict of Interest

Across Australia, and to a lesser extent, New Zealand, there are management committee's which have people in positions of power who are, for example, also involved directly with individual brass bands. 

So many times, the people with the power are called upon to make decisions in relation to a range of wide range of issues such as approval of permit players to music selection, which could directly effect their own individual bands or other business. 

The banding scene rely on the people in these positions to maintain the utmost integrity when undertaking their respective roles and responsibilities.

In some cases, it may be more appropriate for the decision maker/s to remove themselves from the particular decision making process.

The conflict of interest issue doesn't stop there.  4BRDU was recently denied information pertaining to a news item, which was subsequently released 12 hours later, due to our supposed 'conflict of interest'.  We're still scratching our heads over that one!

What do you think?
Send an email  to du.comments@4barsrest.com

 Adjudicator Demands

Doug Trottman OAM is one of the gems of brass banding.  How great it was to see Doug once again, this time adjudicating at the New South Wales Championships.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a lot of time to catch up with what Doug has been doing over the last 5 years or so whilst in hibernation from the brass band fold.

Doug had the mammoth task of adjudicating in excess of 60 performances in the space of 20 hours.  Now Doug, one of the most passionate supporters of brass bands ever, threw himself into his adjudicating role to the very best of his ability - and he did a good job to boot.  But the poor man was absolutely frazelled by the end of the comp.   

Is it really fair to ask this mammoth task of one person.  It is just not humanly possible to maintain the highest level of effective concentration for this length of time.

Contest organisers really do need to give careful consideration not only to whom they appoint, but also to the length of time the 'man (or woman) in the box' needs to sit there.

What do you think?
Send an email  to du.comments@4barsrest.com

 2008 Australian Test Music

The selections for the 2008 Australian band championships were released on September 1.

A real mixed bag this year - some old, some new, with many revisits.

It is always interesting times when the music is announced as the variety of opinions and insights about the choices are shared around.

Test music first and foremost needs to do just that - test.  The role of test music should be more than this.  Other important characteristics could be the music needs to be challenging but playable; enjoyable to prepare, play & listen to; an exemplary work in terms of composition; suited to the instrument if a solo work; and perhaps one of the most difficult considerations - music that hasn't been either performed by band/s recently or has been a test at another recent past contest. It would be an added bonus, if the test music could also promote local composer talent.   

The music chosen by the Queensland Music Advisory committee (comprised of Greg Aitken (Chairman),  Maureen Cameron, Phil Davis, Howard Taylor, Peter Younghusband, and Noel Cassels - ex-officio as President of the QBA), or the off-shore selector in the case of the Brass Band test pieces, is not going to make everyone happy. 

But...can you ever make everyone happy all of the time?  The aim is to get close.

What do you think?
Send an email  to du.comments@4barsrest.com

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