cornetguy

With Solo festival comming up, I would like to hear from other folks that adjudicate what they do in this situation. I hate this situation, and not sure the best way to handle it. It seems that I get it a few times every solo festival I judge and it doesnt matter whether I am doing brass, strings, or the "catchall room" (a little bit of everything, to help out with scheduling)

The student comes in they are obviously prepared because they start off really well. Then the inevitable mistake happens and the student crashes and burns from there they either shut down or the mistakes keep snowballing more and more or both. And what starts off as really promising rising above the nom winds up getting a III. I know what happend you can almost see the student beat themselves up, something along the lines of; "you idiot you messed that up...." and they dewll on that rather then letting it go and playing as if nothing happens I know that is what happens, been there done that myself.

I usually ignore that and try to focus on something from the part that was good. I have thought about talking to the students about present time, and that it is ok to make mistakes but I think that is more the teacher's job then mine. That we as judges aren't there knocking points off for mistakes, I dont care if they make a couple now if they are unprepared... That we as judges want to hear them play well, do well and be successful at this and for it to be a positive experience for them.

Teacher or other adjudicators thoughts.

__________________
Per aspera ad astra