Successful Launch for MENC's New Adjudication Seminars

MENC helped debut a new three-day adjudication seminar March 27-29. Participants traveled to Orlando, Florida, to learn effective feedback technique, practice judging, observe live student performances and witness performance critique. They also shared perceptions of student performances under the guidance of adjudication professionals.

A second seminar will be April 24-26, also at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

The March and April seminars are a combined effort by MENC, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and Walt Disney World Performing Arts Programs to help improve the quality and consistency of music adjudication. These adjudication resources are being presented under the banner of NCAAMP: The National Center for the Assessment and Adjudication of Musical Performance.

"I think one of the outstanding features was having the opportunity to work with great adjudicators at the top of the field," said Frank Turso of East Patchogue, NY, of the March seminar. Added Jim Oliver of Lee’s Summit, MO: "The access that we had with each other and the judging world was just a marvelous experience."

After reviewing attendee and clinician feedback from spring NCAAMP events, MENC will improve and offer more seminars in additional locations in the near future. Visit NCAAMP for additional information.

-- Roz Fehr, April 9, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org)