UIL Sight-Reading Evaluation Instruction Period Pilot Procedures
In lieu of C&CR Sections 1111(b) and (c) the following procedures shall be followed by all bands and orchestras in the regions selected to participate in the pilot. The vocal division is not participating in year one of the pilot, thus, there are no updates to the vocal division procedures for 2021.
Effective Date: 2021 Sight-Reading Evaluations
2021 Participant Regions: Region 6 (West), Region 13 (Southeast), Region 15 (South), Region 25 (North), Region 26 (Central)
Prior to the Instruction Period: At the conclusion of completing the written evaluation for a performing ensemble and prior to the start of the next ensemble’s instruction period the three judges shall leave the sight-reading room and not return until the next ensemble’s instruction period concludes. Either one of the judges or a person appointed by the contest chair shall monitor the time to ensure that the judges punctually return to the sight-reading room to adjudicate the next ensemble’s performance.
Compliance Official: A compliance official, as selected by the region executive secretary and compensated at the same rate as a judge, shall remain in the sight-reading room during the instruction period to monitor time, ensure compliance with procedures, and read the official TMAA script to the ensemble. The compliance official may be a current or prior music teacher, or any other person determined by the executive secretary to be competent to perform the responsibilities.
Score Study Period:
- Prior to the instruction period the director will be given three minutes to study the sight-reading music full score.
- During the score study period music will be distributed to the students, but the students may not view or study the music until the instruction period begins.
Instruction Period:
- Only one director may instruct and direct the ensemble.
- There shall be one instruction period as follows for all organizations:
- Conference 5A and 6A Varsity: 10 minutes
Conference 3C, 3B, 4A Varsity and 6A Non-Varsity: 8 minutes
All other conferences: 7 minutes
Sub Non-Varsity: may extend the explanation period for their conference by one minute. - Instrument Use: The director may not play an instrument – string, wind, keyboard, or other. The students may play the sight-reading evaluation music individually, in small groups, or with the full ensemble, at the discretion of the director.
- All students and directors may sing the music and/or count, clap, and tap rhythms during the instruction period.
- Neither the director nor the students may mark on the music unless instructed to do so by a judge.
After the Instruction Period and Prior to the Performance:
- The students will be instructed to turn the music face down at the end of the instruction period
- The judges will enter the sight-reading room.
- Immediately following the instruction period, while the music is face down and prior to the performance, the ensemble may play a sustained note – unison or chord. No further warm-up or musical instruction of any kind is permitted by the director.
Performance:
- When the judges are ready, the ensemble shall turn the music face up and perform the piece.
- In the event the director chooses to stop the performance, it should be for the sole purpose of designating a starting point. No further instructions may be given.
- An ensemble whose director makes an obvious contribution to the performance either by singing with or speaking to the students while they are performing shall be disqualified. An obvious deliberate attempt by a director to be disqualified may result in the assignment of a rating by the adjudication panel. A judge’s decision of what is obvious and deliberate is final.
- The ensemble’s performance shall be evaluated by the adjudicators in accordance with the Texas Music Adjudicators Association sight-reading adjudication rubric and the performance shall be the sole criteria for assigning a rating.