NOT GOING TO BE A TEST AT THE

END, BUT THERE WILL BE TIME FOR QUESTIONS, SO TO

AVOID THE AWKWARD SILENCE – THINK OF SOME

GOOD ONES…

ADVERSARY: one that opposes or attacks

ALLY: one that is associated with others for a common cause

or purpose

“I DON’T NEED SOMEONE TELLING ME WHAT’S RIGHT, I

NEED SOMEONE TELLING ME WHAT’S

WRONG”

Bill Miller

CRITICAL CONFIDANT

•Make it someone local•Make it someone you trust to tell you the truth!•Make it someone who is better than you

“SOMETIMES YOU GET TO LOVIN’ THEM

SO MUCH, YOU FORGET TO TELL THEM TO PLAY IN

TUNE”

Tom Bishop

MPA’S ARE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSICAL GROWTH FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND DIRECTORS.

WE (FBA) BELIEVE THAT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE MPA IS TO PROVIDE:

CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK

WE (FBA) BELIEVE THAT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE MPA IS TO PROVIDE:CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK to participants in an effort to help them improve…

• MUSICAL SKILLS, • KNOWLEDGE,

• PERFORMANCE ABILITIES, • UNDERSTANDING.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN DIRECTORS AND

JUDGES ARE ADVERSARIES?

ADVERSARY SCENARIO:

1. THE PROCESS IS RATINGS FOCUSED2. JUDGE SPEAKS ONLY TO WHAT IS WRONG AND NOT HOW TO FIX IT3. DIRECTOR EXPECTS ALL THREE JUDGES TO CONCUR

4. DIRECTOR EXPECTS EQUAL TIME FOR GOOD AND BAD

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN WE ARE ALLIES

ALLIED SCENARIO:

1. THE PROCESS IS PRESCRIPTIVE IN NATURE2. JUDGE SPEAKS WHAT IS WRONG AND HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS TO HOW TO FIX SOME OF IT3. DIRECTOR ENTERS THE PROCESS KNOWING THE JUDGES REALLY WANT THEM TO DO WELL

ADJUDICATORS TO DO LIST:

1. PRESCRIBE

2. NOTE TECHNICAL ERRORS, BUT DWELL ON BIG PICTURE ITEMS

3. DON’T GIVE ‘GIFTS’

DIRECTORS TO DO LIST:

1. HIRE GOOD JUDGES

2. FIX TECHNICAL ERRORS, SO JUDGE CAN DWELL ON BIG PICTURE ITEMS

3. TEACH THE SHEET AND NOT THE SHEET MUSIC

DIRECTORS HELPFUL HINTS:

1. LOOK AT SHEETS BY YOURSELF2. HAVE TWO SPEECHES PREPARED3. LISTEN TO RECORDED COMMENTS (BUT NOT TOO SOON)4. HAVE SOMEONE TO WHOM YOU CAN VENT