During his tenure at the University of Southern California, Ralph Rush was a mentor of many of the nation’s music educators. He has given us a cogent comment concerning adjudication when in 1955 he pointed out:
1. Nothing an adjudicator writes on his comment sheet can alter the performance he has heard.
2. The essential values of the festival are realized before the festival. The preparedness of the group for its festival performance is its greatest value.
3. All participants have a right to expect a constructive evaluation of the performance. High standards have been established, and comments should be helpful rather than sarcastic or destructive or, on the other end of the scale, vague or purely complimentary.
But what directions has adjudication taken within recent years? Adjudication via taped performance with running commentary to be heard at the same time is in this writer’s experience one of the most exciting and effective means now available. Perhaps video-taped performances reviewed immediately afterwards with oral adjudication as the performers watch and hear themselves is an avenue which awaits us, and undoubtedly has and is being used. If not, it should be.
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