Any tips for adjudicating?

[cjp_piano]

I'm going to be judging a piano festival soon, and I haven't done very much of it before.  Any helpful tips would be appreciated: vocabulary to use or NOT to use, etiquette, how to be constructive, not destructive, etc.   

Thanks!

[keyofc]

I have never done anything like that
but I'd think you would want to be as truthfully supportive as possible
and be able to help the ones who don't do as well by explaining what is was the others did right.

[amanfang]

Be careful not to judge the first few too hard, or the last ones too hard. 

Take a minute at the beginning to just watch and listen (without writing right away) to get an overall impression. 

Will there be specific categories that you're grading on, or is it basically an empty sheet of paper and you write whatever comes to you?  Most will have categories like technique, musicianship, posture and stage performance, memory, etc.  and then you can write comments more specific to it.  In general, make sure you give some positives in addition to negatives.  There's always SOMETHING good about the performance.  Even if you're only complimenting the piece (like - this is such a nice piece!).  Or something I write is "You have great energy when you play this" or something along those lines.  If applicable, "nice tone" works sometimes. 
For negatives, try to state them in the softest possible way - "I would like to hear cleaner scale passages.  Try slow practice or dotting the rhythms."  Or something like "How much dynamic shaping can you use on the second line?  It needs a little more rise and fall." 

End with congratulating them on performing, or thank you for playing today, or something like that.

If you are picking a winner - remember that musicianship is more important than technique.  If a slightly easier piece is played with more expression, it should win over a harder piece played mechanically.

[pianistimo]

accurate expectation levels of different ages?  some 13 year olds play better than adults, though, so maybe this is a moot point when they can handle so much information.  all i remember is that we used to have adjudication SHEETs in MTNA, i think, that teachers used to check with numbered system as to grading.  it wasn't A B C - but just numbers 1-5 or something.  it wasn't so detailed with younger children.

now, adults - cream them.  if they play badly they're not going to cry.  well, most of them don't.  and, don't do as simon - on american idol - did recently by criticizing someone's looks or what they are wearing or how fat they are to the side adjudicators (and snickering somewhat audibly).  i'd say that usually piano teachers don't do this kind of thing anyways.  that's why they are piano teachers.  they usually look down - one eye covered by their hand - so they won't give away their looks/feelings. 

resist the urge to laugh or frown.  practice straight face.

attend a few beauty pagents.  look at the judges.  scowl a bit sometimes.  make quick motions (that always makes the pianist very nervous).  you want to see them at their peak attention.  if you really don't like one pianist --plug one ear while they are playing.  they'll never know the dif.  say you have very acute hearing when you do this and you prefer to listen with your good ear. 

ps i'm joking about the most of this.  actually, i think the nicest judges are the ones that really judge each person on an individual basis.  that means they've taken the time to talk find out a little about each person (even from what they say on stage) and take into account their mind-level.  judging them by their best might be hard for a one time listen - but keen teachers look for signs of what is 'normal' to this person's knowledge base (perhaps knowing who their teacher was/is, too).  then, perhaps easier on the stupider ones and harder on the professionals (but, fairly).  what i mean - is to write down crit that is helpful and indeed helps them to jump to the next level by the comments.  also, to end with something positive.  and - nevermind about quick movements - i think it is quite calming to see a judge making SLOW gestures.  it calms the pianist down.  also, speaking slowly, with low pitched voice, and calmly.

[brahms4me]

A few things to watch for and comment on:

Articulation
Dynamics/Shading/Contrast
Musical Expression/Interpretation/Musicality
Phrasing
Balance of Hands/Voicing
Memory
Stage Presence/Bench
Padaling
Embellishments
Teacher (compliment if appropriate)
Endings


Some Descriptive Words (some are obviously for the younger ones):

Awesome     Adorable         
Beautiful      Bold
Charming     Capable           Contrast      Careful
Drama          Developed       Delightful
Excellent      Enchanting       Extremely
Full               Fun                   Fine            Fabulous
Fantastic      Fluid
Good            Good For You   Graceful       Great
Happy          Harmonious
Impressive   Incredible         Interesting
Jazzy              Joyous             
Kudos             Kool!                Keep It Up
Lovely             Langourous     
Magical           Magnificent       Marvelous    Mature
Nice                Neat
Opportune     Observe            Oodles         OK
Precise           Powerful
Quite Nice      Quaint               Quality         Quintessential
Rich                Right On            Radical
Shape            Solid                  Strong          Super
Terrific            Ta Dah!
Unbelievable  Upbeat   
Valid               Valuable            Very (anything)
Wonderful      WOW!                Whoopee        Well Done
X-tra Awesom
Yeah!!             Yahoo
Zippy               Zest

[brahms4me]

(some more)

DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES:

thoughtful   controlled   precise   suitable   proper   clean   natural   secure   prominent   elegant   artistic   light   supple   delicate   airy   animated   brisk   playful   rippling   smooth   
lyric   fluid   flowing   silky   angelic   singing   warm   graceful   refreshing   rich   lush   sumptuous   passionate   impressionistic    cheerful   spirited   robust   emphatic   vigourous    intense


QUALITATIVE ADJECTIVES:

appropriate   accurate   effective   sound   solid   satisfying   pleasing   pleasant   musical   good   nice   fine   charming   lovely   neat   enjoyable   delightful   enchanting   splendid   beautiful   impressive   striking   great   super   excellent   exquisite   flawless   first rate         
top notch   remarkable   perfect   wonderful   superb   amazing   exceptional   outstanding   terrific   dazzling   superior   fabulous   marvelous   tremendous   amazing   fantastic   brilliant   incredible   stunning   smashing   spectacular   dynamite   phenomenal   magnificent   stupendous


NOUNS:

Observation of time signature/key signature   attention to detail   technique   dexterity   energy   expression   expressiveness   sensitivity   sensibility   emotion   feeling   shading   voicing   phrasing   dynamics   balance   interpretation   mood   understanding   fluency   confidence   poise   hand position   weight   tone   beginning   ending   notes   accidentals   sharps   flats   chords   rests   tempo   pace   speed   rhythm   counting   beat   timing   syncopation   articulation   ornaments   legato   staccato   bounce   portato   pedaling   contrast   style   flavor   pizazz   flair   polish   performance

[cjp_piano]

Thanks Brahms4me!  Great help.  I think it would be a good idea to have that list next to me, do you do that? 

[brahms4me]

Thanks Brahms4me!  Great help.  I think it would be a good idea to have that list next to me, do you do that? 

Oh yeah . . . . couldn't live without it. 

[pianistimo]

that's a great list of adjectives and nouns!  i never thought about it much, but i guess you don't want to be saying 'great job' to 100 students.  something different for each one.

check them off as you go cjp!  then when students compare - they'll be like - oh.  this guy really has a vocabulary. 

[cjp_piano]

that's a great list of adjectives and nouns!  i never thought about it much, but i guess you don't want to be saying 'great job' to 100 students.  something different for each one.

check them off as you go cjp!  then when students compare - they'll be like - oh.  this guy really has a vocabulary. 

Yeah, ha ha.  But seriously, it is good to have a list of words and phrases because I know that when I have time to think about how to say something, it's fine, but to do it on-the-spot is another issue.  Some people are better at it then others, but for me this will be helpful, thanks.

[keyofc]

pianisto,
You really had me going - until I saw the word, Beauty pagents
I was thinking ,"I thought this person's posts were usually good!! What happened to him/her? hehe

Brahms:
I do love your list - because the more specific you can be - the more honest, professional and helpful we can be.

[pianistimo]

beauty pagents and piano festival (not based on beauty) are similar because people are
'competing' for a title or for a high score.  the thing is - the judges are not really judging just one thing (beauty or piano technique) - but are judging many things that go beyond it.  same with piano - you have the daily routine that turns a student into a high quality artist - or someone who practices a few days ahead and fudges on things.

here's a new word:  bouncebackability  (one to use when somebody loses their spot and regains their composure and finishes the piece).  it's a new word in the OED.

[cora]

For a music festival, you should state things loudly enough for everybody to hear. Always say what needs improvement, otherwise  the experience can be so tiresome for teachers and students alike. We don't need to pay an adjudicator to skirt around issues or only say nice comments. Students can take what you dish out! Their teachers are always saying what needs improvement.

Be as dramatic as possible, and try to discuss interesting things about the composers. People love a good story.

Sometimes, audiences have to sit through several classes of a festival before the adjudicator states his comments. This is very tiresome. Judge each class immediately.

Don't amble about too much when you speak. Decide where you will stand and then stand there.

[pianowelsh]

Whatch for all the things you would normally in a lesson. Just pay particular attention to how they are coming across in a performance situation..as this may be very different form how they perform at home or in lesson..so helpfull for the teachers. Also try and have two columns one of praise points/encouragements.  and one for improvement points then each student gets something to work from and also not a sore heart!  Always be honest. dont say i loved that if you didnt .. be positive though ... I was pleased to see how well you controlled.... and You did that crescendo so clearly! etc you may not of liked the interpretation and you could suggest they thing more about that but praise what they are doing...its hard to stand up in front of everyone and play so encouragement is needed in bucketfulls.

[jepoy]

beauty pagents and piano festival (not based on beauty) are similar because people are
'competing' for a title or for a high score.  the thing is - the judges are not really judging just one thing (beauty or piano technique) - but are judging many things that go beyond it.  same with piano - you have the daily routine that turns a student into a high quality artist - or someone who practices a few days ahead and fudges on things.

hmmm... i've never judged a piano competition but i've judged a handful of beauty pageants when i was invited to judge a pageant for the first time, i thought it was gonna be a piece of cake--just pick the prettiest and reasonably smart girl. it was actually harder than i thought. i was trying to rate them according to a set criteria (often vague and overlapping) and at the same time trying to be fair (some of these girls actually live for stuff like these and some parents are just as determined). i can just imagine how much tougher judging piano competitions would be!
hmmm... i guess one tip i can share that would be generally applicable to any competition is that when judging for the first time, there's tendency to score the first contestant somewhat conservatively low or in the middle as you anticipate someone better down the line. or sometimes if there are too many contestants and you're weary, you'd probably be less receptive to the final set of contestants. if you're allowed to revise the scores, do go over the list again and adjust the ratings accordingly.