ALBERTA BAND ASSOCIATION
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Festival Regulations and Operations

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Festival Regulations and Operations

The 2020 Festival of Bands has been cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for supporting our Festival and we hope to see you next year!!
Registration is closed!
​The Early Bird Deadline is December 20, 2019
To register, please complete the online form.  
​
Refund Policy: No refunds will be issued for bands withdrawing from the Festival.

General Regulations

  • Participation in the Festival by Alberta bands requires the band director or ensemble to be a member of the Alberta Band Association. In the case of out-of-province ensembles, the band director or ensemble must be a current member of their respective provincial organization. No exceptions will be granted.
  • Exceptions and clarifications to class level should be addressed to:
    • Joyce Howdle, Festival Coordinator 
      Alberta Band Association 
      joyce@albertabandassociation.com
  • Each band program may enter more than one band, provided that the membership of each is different.
  • Directors are not permitted to approach the adjudication table for the duration of the Festival.
  • Bands are required to participate in all three facets of the festival, which include:
    • the on-stage performance (60%)
    • the performance clinic (20%)
    • the sight-reading or fundamentals clinic (20%)
  • Directors must accompany their band(s) to all three sessions. All bands must participate in all Festival adjudications. Failure to do so will result in “Comments only.”
  • A Senior Community Band will be defined as a band with an aggregate playing experience of 3 years or more.
  • The quality and contrasts of the music chosen will be taken into consideration in determining the final marks.
  • The band director (or rep.) must register with a designated member of the technical crew upon arrival.
  • A warm-up room will be made available one half-hour prior to performance time.
  • The Festival will provide timpani (4), bass drum, orchestra bells, xylophone, vibraphone, chimes, gong, acoustic piano, bass amp, chairs, stands and podium.
  • Each band is to provide its own snare drum, cymbals, beaters, mallets and sticks, and auxiliary percussion.
  • Bands interfering with a performance by practicing, noise-making, etc., are subject to disqualification.
  • Festival coordinators are not responsible for accommodation. An accommodation list is available from Tourism Red Deer or the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce.

Director's Package

The Director's Package includes information regarding:
  • Directions to Red Deer College
  • Suggestions for organizing your time at the Festival
  • Photographs
  • Clinics
  • Forms to be returned for set-up and performance order
  • Residence at RDC
  • Parking Maps
Please download your 2020 Director's Package by clicking here. It will be available soon!

The Level 1 Chorale Full Score can be downloaded by clicking here.

The Level 1 Chorale Parts can be downloaded by clicking here.

Festival Literature

All bands will prepare THREE selections at their playing level, (i.e. 1 – 6), in one of five categories:
  • ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (school Grade 1 – 6)
  • JUNIOR SCHOOL (school Grade 7 – 9)
  • SENIOR SCHOOL (school Grade 10 – 12)
  • JUNIOR COMMUNITY (less than 3 years playing experience)
  • SENIOR COMMUNITY (3 years playing experience or higher)
A band may enter only one class and each band will perform three selections.  One selection MUST BE selected from the ABA Syllabus  and the other two should be of a contrasting style.  A march is recommended and can be selected from the ABA List of Recommended Marches.  Pop selections are not permitted.    Failure to meet these requirements will result in “Comments Only."

Performance Regulations

  • Each band is encouraged to play an unadjudicated warm-up.
  • Total stage time for a Week 1 band must not exceed 30 minutes.
  • Total stage time for a Week 2 (Wed. Fri. Sat.) band must not exceed 40 minutes.
  • Each participating band must provide the adjudicators with THREE original conductors’ scores for each own choice selection being performed. These must be supplied prior to the performance.
    • Please ensure that all measures are numbered.
  • Each band must perform at least one selection from the Syllabus
  • Conductors’ scores for all syllabus selections will be supplied by the Alberta Band Association.
    PLEASE NOTE: It is against copyright laws to photocopy music.
  • The Sight-Reading/Fundamentals portion of the Festival will not be open to public viewing, but open to the band’s entourage at the discretion of the band director.
  • All bands are encouraged to attend the performances of other participants.

Clinics

In addition to a clinic with an adjudicator on the repertoire performed by each band at the Festival, all bands will receive either a Fundamentals or a Sight-Reading Clinic.  All Grade One level bands will participate in a fundamentals clinic.  All other band levels will participate in a sight-reading clinic. 

Fundamentals Clinic for Grade 1 Bands

The Alberta Band Association recognizes that playing, listening, reading, creating and valuing are important considerations in the school music curriculum.
The components of the clinic will be as follows:
  1. Perform the prescribed festival chorale, conducted by the teacher. The performance of the chorale will be adjudicated using the same evaluation criteria as the main stage performance. The Level 1 Chorale can be downloaded by clicking here.
  2. ​Play three major scales chosen from concert Bb, Eb, Ab and F major, up and down in quarter notes without repeating the top note, M.M. quarter note=120. One scale will be tongued, one scale slurred two – tongued two, one scale slurred. Conductors will be able to select which articulation to apply to which scale and be able to choose which of the three scales will be performed. Percussionists are to perform these scales on mallet instruments (the Fundamentals Clinician will determine which articulation patterns will be assigned to each scale).
  3. Echo on instruments a five-note melody. The melody will be a maximum of 2 bars, based on the first five notes of the concert Bb major scale, starting and ending on the tonic in either 3/4 or 4/4 time. The approximate tempo will be M.M. quarter note=84. This melody will be administered by the adjudicator.
  4. Clap a rhythmic pattern, a maximum of 2 measures in length, while counting the beat and subdivision out loud (e.g.: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &). The pattern will be written in either 4/4 or 3/4, will include combinations of half, quarter and paired eighth notes and quarter rests. Rhythmic patterns will be administered by the adjudicator.

Sight-Reading Clinic for All Other Band Levels
The sight-reading portion of the Festival will be adjudicated by a separate clinician. Each band will perform one selection from a list of possible choices provided, one level below the class entered.

After the director chooses a selection, Grade 2 and 3 bands will be given five minutes to prepare, while Grade 4 to 6 bands will be given eight minutes to prepare before performing the selection. Preparation can include any techniques the director wishes except the actual playing of the instruments.

The Sight-Reading Clinician will take into account such criteria as rhythmic accuracy, note accuracy, tempi, balance, preparation for the reading, the overall effect of the performance and the general musicianship of the group in this sight-reading environment.

The director may give visual cues for rehearsal markings and repeats during the performance, but is not allowed to verbally prompt rehearsal markings, measure numbers, or repeats.

It's important to remember that:
  • If things start to go really awry, it's okay to stop and restart and if things are not holding together, the conductor may call out a rehearsal mark to get everyone back on track. They should not call out verbal prompts unless absolutely necessary.
  • Assign parts to the percussionists before time starts for preparation.
  • Tune the timpani before the time starts for preparation.

Festival Ratings

All bands will be given a rating on a sliding scale between Superior and Poor.

Superior (I)
A commendable performance for the event and the class of participants being adjudicated.
Excellent (II)
A commendable performance showing a high standard of musical accomplishments but lacking in one or more of the characteristics of a superior rating.
Good (III)
An average performance but lacking in several major characteristics of a superior rating.
Fair (IV)
A below average performance showing much room for specific improvement in almost all respects.
Poor (V)
A performance showing a lack of sufficient preparation, or other deficiencies, as indicated by the adjudicator’s comments.

Review the Onstage Performance Rubric
​Review the Clinic Session Rubric
Review the Fundamentals Clinic Rubric - coming soon!
Review the Sight Reading Clinic Rubric - coming soon!


The final rating will be based on the following:
  • Onstage performance: 60%
  • Clinic session: 20%
  • Sight-reading/fundamentals clinic: 20%

Festival Awards

Adjudicator's Choice Awards will be presented a the discretion of the adjudication panel. 
An Adjudicator's Choice Sight Reading Award will also be presented at the discretion of the adjudication panel.
All bands that receive an overall rating of "Superior" will also receive a Superior Band Award.

Photography

More Information on Photography will be available soon.

Services

 Lending Library
​library@albertabandassociation.com
ABA Membership
Canadian Band Association 

Programs

Music Conference Alberta
Junior Honour Bands
Alberta Jazz Ensemble
Alberta Virtual Band
Alberta Wind Symphony
​Festival of Bands
​Virtual Music Class Exchange
Adult Concert Band Workshop
National Youth Band
MusiCamp Alberta

Support

Contact
About Us
ABA Home

5708 72  ST NW
Edmonton AB T6B 3J4

Email: info@albertabandassociation.com
Phone: (780) 800-0482
Managing Director, Kimberley Denis x101
director@albertabandassociation.com

Festival Coordinator, Joyce Howdle x102
joyce@albertabandassociation.com
Toll Free: (877) 687-4239
Fax: (780) 488-6403
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Description of the Organization
    • Purpose, Priorities and Principles
    • Get Involved
  • Membership
    • Member Types
    • Applications and Renewals
    • Members Only Area
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 Studies and Re-Launch Documents
    • Advocacy Tools
    • Provincial Syllabus
    • Lending Library
    • Teaching Resources
    • Run For Music
    • MusiCom
  • Programs
    • ABA Awards >
      • Lifetime Member Biographies
    • Provincial Honour Bands >
      • Alberta Virtual Band
      • Alberta Wind Symphony >
        • Nomination Process
        • Selection Procedures
        • Recommended Timeline
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Guest Conductor
        • Past Repertoire
      • Alberta Jazz Ensemble >
        • Audition Process
        • Guest Director
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Junior Honour Bands >
        • Nomination Process
        • Selection Procedures
        • Timeline
        • Advertising
        • Guest Conductors
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Accommodations
    • Music Conference Alberta
    • Virtual Music Class Exchange
    • Adult Concert Band Workshop
    • Festival of Bands >
      • Repertoire Lists
      • Registration
      • Fees
      • Festival Regulations and Operations
      • Schedule
      • Adjudicators
      • Festival Awards
      • Accommodations
      • Preparing for a Festival
  • Connections
    • Affiliates
    • Job Board
    • Professional Development
    • Supporters