Editorial ~ 2009: October

This month we give our opinions on incompetent adjudicators, the time for a benign dictator and in praise of Harrogate...

Incompetent adjudicators

There are incompetent brass band adjudicators. 

That said, there are also incompetent football referees, teachers, surgeons and even brass band journalists.

One recent survey suggested that in any representative body between 2% - 5 % of practitioners are incompetent in undertaking the job they are trained to do.

That makes a frightening number of refs, teachers, surgeons and journalists, let alone those who sit in official judgement at brass band contests.

It is accepted though that most representative bodies do have a means of trying to minimise or even eradicate what they would deem to be incompetence in the practitioners who belong to their organisation.

Tests on rules and regulations, sight, hearing, physical and mental health, alcohol and even drug use are now readily accepted as part of being a member of a body in who others place trust. Those who falter are provided with help, training and re –evaluation. Those who continue to fail are shown the door.  

Questioning levels of competency in such organisations is valid and appropriate.

Most representative bodies have robust competency procedures, regulated and reviewed periodically as a means of improving the general standards of their members. 

Ad hoc self-regulation is prone to misguided assessment, self-interest and laxity. Relying on practitioners themselves to admit to their own shortcomings is both naïve and potentially damaging.  

Although the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators is not a professional body, it does have a clearly defined mission statement that shows its desire to achieve professional standards.
 
However, as far as 4BR understands, ABBA currently does not have a clearly defined competency process or policy.

ABBA has done much to improve the general standard of brass band adjudication in recent years  – including the acceptance of adjudication criteria itself.

They continue to explore new initiatives in training and assessment too, although progress is hampered somewhat by a lack of a new generation of judges who wish to join the organisation itself.

ABBA is trying, and trying hard to encompass the need for change – including exploring the need for a policy that will acknowledge the level of expertise of its individual members.

Before it does though, it must acknowledge that it will also have members who currently no longer deserve to be adjudicating at all.  

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

Time for benign dictatorship

The desire for change beats heavy in the hearts and minds of many in the banding movement.

Players, conductors, administrators, supporters and adjudicators alike – the ideas and thoughts, opinions and ideas are more numerous than demi-semi quavers in the latest top section test pieces. 

Some are good, some are bad, many have merit and a lot are completely without foundation and relevance.

There is little doubt that there is need for a change – but the question remains: What exactly needs changing first?

The answer perhaps lies not in change at all, but in something completely new and different.

We have been here with this argument before.

What is urgently required is a properly funded national organisation that can be run on a professional basis, incorporates the essential elements that make up a truly successful band movement.

Bring together the contest promoters, the various registries, the music panels, the appeals process, the various banding associations and regional committees, the adjudicators and the conductors.  

Heard that all before haven’t we?

And we will hear it all again until such time that someone strong enough comes along and drags everyone else into line. A benign dictator in fact.

Then, allow them to do what they need to do – get rid of those bodies who have little relevance and power and replace them all with one professional body, funded by the very people who wish to be a part of it.

A job description should be issued immediately, because if it carries on at the present rate, there will be nothing left for them to dictate over in a few years time.  

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

In praise of Harrogate

There was a time when we thought the last place we would enjoy going to listen to two days of brass band contesting, would be the International Conference Centre in Harrogate.

Now though that is appearing to change.

The Lower Section National Finals are now slickly and professionally run. The contests start and finish at reasonable times and the bands are now beginning to enjoy the experience of playing on the Conference Centre stage.

The organisers have taken on board the need to implement small but significant changes, and for the most part they are now working well. The auditorium itself, although by no means full to the brim when the contest is taking place, now has more people than ever before taking the opportunity to listen for extended periods of time.

There is something approaching an atmosphere being created during the weekend too – from the celebrating bands on the steps of the Centre complex to the number of bands enjoying the ‘sensible’ nightlife of Harrogate town centre.

It will take a few more decades yet for the International Conference Centre to be held in such affection as Belle Vue say, but there is little doubt that it is starting to get there.

And who would have thought that? 

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

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