Marching Show Band Definitions

Division (Based on Development)

Division I (Advanced level for the type of band)

All bands who have participated in Division 1 (or the equivalent) at a recognized international or national band competition

Bands may apply for placement in Division 1 based upon their development and most recent ratings.

Bands currently in a lower division may be placed in Division 1 based upon their development and competition results presented in

their application resume.

Division II (intermediate for the type of band)

Bands who have not participated in Division I (or the equivalent) at a recognized competition

Bands may apply for placement in Division II based upon their development and most recent ratings.

Bands currently in a Division II may be placed in Division II based upon their development and competition results presented in

their application resume

Category (Based on Member Age)

Junior: Bands in which all the participating band members are less than 16 years of age during the competition

Senior: Bands that do not qualify for the Junior category and whose participating band members are all less than 23 years of age

during the competition

Open: Bands in which any of the participating band members are over the age of 22 during the competition

Class (Based on Band Size)

Type (Based on Forming Association)

a)      Community

b)      University

c)      Military

d)     School

e)      Fraternal

f)       Professional

 Composition (Based on Instrumentation)

a)      Harmony Band

b)      Woodwind & Percussion Band

c)      Pipe & Percussion Band

d)     Brass & Percussion Band (Traditional)

e)      Drums Corps

f)       Percussion Band

g)      Fanfare Band (Bugle Band)

h)      Specialty Band

i)        Novelty Band

Rules and Regulations ‑ General

Rules and regulations for the Judgement and performance rating are established by the World Association of Marching Show Bands.

The bands entry classification will be defined based upon the Marching Show Band Definitions list. Bands will be notified of their definition a minimum of 90 days in advance of the event. A band may submit a request for a change of its definition up to 60 days prior to the event. All performers must be a member of the band being judged.

There are no test pieces, obligatory formations or figures. All participating bands perform compositions of their choice. Compositions are to be suitable for the division in which the band is placed.

Rules and Regulations – 2007 KL World Marching Show Band Competition

SHOW COMPETITION

The World Marching Show Band Competition Preliminaries Finals will take place in the open air Merdeka Stadium of  Kuala Lumpur. The performance area available is 60 meters (width) by 60 meters. All bands will be offered a minimum of a one hour rehearsal time at a practice site with a minimum of 114 meters by 71 meters.

 Electrical power will not be provided. Internal combustion generators will not be allowed.

Carts to move equipment on and off the performance area will be allowed. No internal combustion engines may be used to tow or power the carts.

The total time allowed in a performance area during the Competition Preliminaries and Finals is a maximum of eighteen (18) minutes. This includes entry and set up, show performance, takedown and exit.

Entrance and set up ‑ Not Judged: While announcements are being made and the previous band is exiting, the next performing band will enter from a defined entry point without playing. A soft non performance percussion sound that does not interfere with the announcements is allowed if required by the entering band. The total time allowed begins when the first band personnel pass the defined entry point. All equipment and materials required for the performance including markers and props are to be carded in upon entrance.

No permanent floor markings will be provided or allowed unless agreed by all bands competing in a particular time slot. Set up of props and auxiliary instruments should begin immediately as the band enters the venue.

A band may choose to eliminate the entrance portion. If they choose to do so, the Judges must be notified in advance. The total allowed time and the total performance time does not change if this option is exercised.

Performance ‑ Judged: The announcer shall first ask if the band is ready. After the band replies, the announcer shall ask the band to begin their performance. Performance time begins when the first sound of the band's show is produced. Minimum performance time is ten (10) minutes. All judgement ceases after twelve (12) minutes of performance time.

Take down and exit ‑ Not Judged: While announcements are being made and the next band is entering, the previous performing band will exit through a defined exit point without playing. A soft, non performance percussion sound that does not interfere with the announcements is allowed if required by the exiting band. Exit and take down should begin immediately after the announcer thanks the band for their performance. The total time ends when the last band personnel have passed the defined exit point. All equipment and materials including markers and props are to be removed at this time.

Finals 

The following process will be used to determine which bands will qualify for admission to the 2008 Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band Competition Finals.

The number of the bands who admitted to the finals will be limited to fifteen (15) bands. The finalists will be taken from the bands that have achieved a mark of 75 or more in the Competition Preliminaries based upon the following criteria.

1.      The two bands with the highest qualifying marks

2.      The highest scoring band from each of the nations participating, each from a separate nation.

In the case of the nation(s) from which the two bands with the highest qualifying marks come, the next highest scoring band from that nation will be admitted to the Finals. If there are more nations qualifying than openings available, admission will be determined by those qualifying bands having the highest preliminary scores.

1.      If any of the nations participating do not qualify a band under these criteria, the Organizing Committee

reserves the right to fill any openings in finals by admitting the next highest scoring band with qualifying marks.

 2.      In the event of a tie between bands which individually would qualify for the finals, all bands so tied will

advance to the Competition Finals.

Performance order for Finals shall be based upon the marks achieved in the preliminaries. The performances will commence starting with the lowest qualifying score and continue to the highest qualifying score.

The Basis of Judgement

1.   The band's ability and performance will be judged within their own individual form and style. The choice of form and style is not judged.

2.   Judgement for a non‑instrumental auxiliary unit is included in each band's score.  When there is no auxiliary unit,  that portion of the score is based upon the performance of the instrumentalists.

3.   Division I and II bands shall be judged to the same standard.

4.   Prizes will be awarded based upon the scores awarded by the International Jury.

         The overall ratings required to qualify for prizes are:

                                             First Prize            85+  (Honours 90+)

                                            Second Prize        80 to 84.9

                                            Third Prize           75 to 79.9

All bands will be given a statement of final standing by definition based upon their own categorization, separate from any prizes awarded.

Judging

Judging will be conducted by a jury of a minimum of five international judges. Judges are all accredited by the World Association of Marching Show Bands. They will be selected from different regions of the world.

The jury will be structured in the following manner:

Judge One:                 Technical Merit Music Repertoire

                                   Ten Points                           Difficulty & Sustainability

                                   Artistic Impression Music Repertoire

                                   Ten Points                           Interpretation, Rhythm & Feel

Judge Two:                 Technical Merit Music Performance

                                   Ten Points                           Technique. Articulation

                                                                             Dynamics. Tempo

                                   Artistic Impression Music Performance

                                   Ten Points                           Quality of Sound, Timing

                                                                             Rhythm

Judge Three:             Technical Merit Form and Style

                                   Ten Points                           Technique Proficiency

                                                                             Development

                                    Artistic Impression Form and Style

                                   Ten Points                           Music Interpretation & Support

Judge Four:                Technical Merit Choreography

                                   Ten Points                           Structure, Sequence, Coherence

                                                                             Timing

                                   Artistic Merit Choreography

  Ten Points                           Music Interpretation & Support

 Judge Five:                Technical Merit Show

                                   Ten Points                           Integration

                                                                             Synchronization Of All Units

                                   Artistic Impression Show

  Ten Points                           General Effect

 Total Possible Score: 100 Points

Scoring Records

The guidelines to be followed by each judge:

1. Each judge will tape record their comments. The band's score will be registered in the relevant caption sheets that will be part of the event's records.

2. After each bands performance the scores will be displayed for public recognition. For bands without an auxiliary a separate caption sheet will be provided that directly applies to the type of band being judged based upon the performance of the musicians only.

The audio tape from each judge with comments will be provided to each participating band at the end of the Preliminaries and at the end of Finals. The Overall Rating Score Sheet(s) for each band without comments will be compiled and distributed to the band for their performance(s) at the conclusion of the Competition. Each band's caption score sheets will be retained for the records for one year by WAMSB.

Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the Preliminaries and the Finals. Each band will be given a list ranking them by Definition based upon their Division, Category, Class, Type and Composition when it is available after being compiled by the Supervising Judge.

A Reserve Judge method shall be employed. Judging assignments may be changed by the Supervising Judge between the Preliminaries and the Finals.

Training and Rehearsals

Each of the bands participating in the show competition will have an opportunity for training in the   stadium on the days before their competitions. Times of training will be fixed in each band's individual time table.

There will be training facilities and exercise areas  that are available within short distance for daily use

Areas and times of training are fixed in each band's time table.

PARADE BAND FREE STYLE DRILL COMPETITION

WAMSB PROCEDURES, RULES & REGULATIONS

After step off, the band may perform music at any time along the non-judged section of the parade route. In this section of the parade route the band is to maintain straight forward motion at all times. This section of the parade route is 20 meters wide and will vary in length between 150 and 250 meters. The non-judged section flows directly into the judgement section of the parade route.

The judgement section of the parade route is 20 meters wide and 150 meters long. It is divided into two areas, a parade section 120 meters long, and a drill section 30 meters long. During any of the parading sections there are no requirements as to the form and style to be utilised by the band and no marching tempo, or size of the marching stride requirements.

When the band reaches the first area of the judgement section of the parade route a starting flag is lowered. When the starting flag is lowered both judgement and total performance time begins. In the first area of judgement the band must play continuous music. The general direction of marching in this section shall be forward and towards the second judgement section. During this section the band may exhibit angular or forward drill movements and dance steps if and as they wish.  There is no minimum time requirement for a band in either of the two judgement areas.  A maximum time limit flag is raised after the band has been in any portion of the judgement sections of the parade route for a total of 5 minutes. At this time all judgement ceases regardless of the bands position on the parade route.

When the band reaches the entry point of the second judgement area they are to simultaneously cease marching and playing music. They are then to immediately restart marching and music. In this section of the judgement area a band may perform any moving drill manoeuvring that can be done while parading that consist of a variety of corners, flanking manoeuvring, counter marches, rotations, cross steps, back steps or interchanges.  Choreographed set manoeuvring that may be utilised in a marching show is not to be included nor is this section to be utilised as a stop and play area. The band is to conclude their performance in this section by marching to the exit point where they must first cease playing music and then cease marching. Immediately after halting the band is to file out in silence to their designated dismissal area.

A graphical layout of the parade route and judgement areas will be provided by early June.