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The Grandville Marching Band participates
in four different types of marching band competitions: MCBA, MSMBC, and
MSBOA, and BOA. The judging & scoring is very different for each one, so
below you'll find an explanation of each. Visit the websites of these
organizations to learn more.
MCBA
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Visit the website
7 Judges ˇ Flight system ˇ Grandville competes in Flight I
MCBA stands for Michigan Competing Bands
Association. MCBA competitions is considered to be scored on a tougher
scale than the other circuits, which is why the scores given tend to be
lower. More emphasis is placed on visual presentation and show design
than on the music. You may notice that bands who regularly
compete in MCBA shows utilize more props, visuals, and extra
choreography than bands who don't normally compete in this circuit.
THE DIVISIONS
Bands are divided into Flights based on
their school enrollment. This is adjusted every year based on how many
bands commit to competing in MCBA. They split bands into Flight I, II,
III, and IV. There are usually around 16 bands in each flight.
THE
JUDGES & SCORE SYSTEM
The judging starts at 0.0 and there are 7
judges: Music Individual, Music Ensemble, Music Effect 1, Music Effect
2, Visual Individual, Visual Ensemble, and Visual Effect. The Music and
Visual Individual judges are on the field during the
performance. The remaining judges watch from the press box area.
The
Music Performance scores are averaged, the Visual Performance scores are
averaged, then those averages are added to the General Effect total, any
penalties subtracted, to arrive at a final score (maximum 100).
THE
AWARDS
There
are no percussion or color guard judges or awards. Instead, those
sections are incorporated into the comments from the Music and Visual
judges. Awards are given for Best Music, Best Marching, and Best General
Effect.
There is a state
championship held each year at the end of October or early November. The top 10 scoring
bands in each Flight are invited to participate in these finals. These
top 10 bands are determined by their Contest Average Score (CAS). A band
must compete in a minimum of two MCBA-sanctioned shows to receive a CAS. Examples of MCBA shows are Plymouth, Jenison's night
show, Hudsonville, Reeths-Puffer, Mona Shores, and the MCBA
State Finals.
MSMBC
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website)
6
Judges ˇ
Class system ˇ Grandville competes in Class AA
MSMBC stands for the Michigan Scholastic
Marching Band Contest. The show that Grandville hosts each year is an MSMBC Invitational. The scoring is weighted more toward music, and less
emphasis is placed on visual presentation.
THE DIVISIONS
Bands are divided into Classes based on
their school enrollment. The Classes are D, C, B. A, and AA, and
sometimes a Class BB is added if necessary.
THE
JUDGES & SCORE SYSTEM
The judging score starts at 50.0 and goes
up from there. There are 6 judges: Music Performance, Music Effect,
Visual Effect, Marching, Color Guard, and Percussion. All judges watch
and listen from the press box area.
THE
AWARDS
Awards are given for Excellence in
Marching, Music, Color Guard, and Percussion. It is possible for several
bands to win one or all of these awards without placing first in their
Class.
There is no state final competition for
bands who participate in MSMBC. Examples of MSMBC shows are Grandville,
Hastings, Otsego, Kenowa Hills, Jenison's morning show, and Rockford.
MSBOA |
Visit the website
3 Judges
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No size classification
ˇ
No numerical point-based scores are given
MSBOA stands for Michigan School Band and
Orchestra Association. There is one MSBOA event in each District in the
state. We are in District 10, and District 10 has three sites for
competition all on the same night.
THE BASICS
This contest is not considered a
competition, as bands perform to a standard but do not compete against
each other for scores, awards, or placement.
THE JUDGES & SCORE SYSTEM
There are three judges who watch from the
press box area. The three categories judged are Music, Marching, and
General Effect. Each judge gives a rating, and then the final rating is
determined by an average of the three ratings. Judges use the roman
numeral grading system instead of numerical point-based scores so that
bands cannot compare scores as easily. There are no numerical scores
given. Bands instead receive a rating of I, II, III, IV, or V. A score
of "I" is considered superior while a "V" rating is considered poor.
THE AWARDS
There are no awards given at
MSBOA shows; only ratings.
BOA |
Visit the website
7
Judges ˇ Class system ˇ Grandville competes in Class AA
BOA stands for Bands of America.
The scoring for BOA shows is weighted
more toward music, and less emphasis is placed on visual presentation.
They also place more emphasis on
general effect than on
fine-line perfection.
There are several
regional BOA competitions across the U.S. throughout the fall, but
usually Grandville competes in only the Grand National Championships, which are held in
Indianapolis, usually on the first Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in
November. The Grand National Championships has one of the most intricate
and confusing scoring systems, so bear with me as I try to explain it as
simply as possible.
THE BASICS
Bands are divided into Class A, AA, or AAA, according to
their school enrollment of grades 10-12.
A
maximum of 90 bands compete in the Grand Championships, and there are
three phases of the contest: Prelims (2 separate Prelims are held),
Semi-Finals, and Finals, allowing more bands the opportunity to advance
and perform more than once.
PRELIMS /
SEMI-FINALS / FINALS
There are two separate
Prelims contests. 45
bands perform in each. Thirty bands then advance to Semi-Finals (the top
11 scoring bands from each of the two prelims, regardless of Class, and
the next eight highest scoring bands from a
combination
of the scores from the two prelims regardless of Class...confusing, I
know!). The two highest scoring bands from each of the three Classes
from each Prelims, should they not already be among the bands selected
on the basis of either criteria above, will advance. Finally, the top 12
scoring bands from Semi-Finals, regardless of Class, advance to Saturday
evening's Finals competition.
THE
JUDGES & SCORE SYSTEM
There are seven judges:
Music Performance Individual, Music
Performance Ensemble, Visual Performance Individual, Visual Performance
Ensemble, Music General Effect 1, Music General Effect 2, and Visual General Effect.
Bands receive taped evaluation and score sheets from each judge. The
Music Performance scores are averaged, the Visual Performance scores are
averaged, then those averages are added to the General Effect total, any
penalties subtracted, to arrive at a final score (maximum 100). Each
band also receives a Division Rating based on score (similar to MSBOA's
roman numeral rating system).
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