Report by Robert Mathieson APMB Convener, on behalf of the APMB
The RSPBA adjudication panel at the start of the 2024 season consisted of 66 panel members in total who are responsible for delivering thousands of critique sheets over the competition season. By far, the largest adjudication commitment is the World Pipe Band Championship where we allocate 56 Piping, Drumming, Ensemble and Drum Major adjudicators.
Current Training:
In the Conveners report to the RSPBA, AGM 2024, the APMB announced that they were embarking on a membership expansion program with an optimistic view to future growth in pipe band competitions.
That expansion program for the adjudication panel is well under way with the current training courses which commenced in March 2024 including Piping and Drumming and Ensemble disciplines. These courses are delivered by the members of the Adjudicators Panel Management Board (APMB). The training program is managed by the APMB Training Coordinator and the Adjudicator Development Group.
The courses have been adapted to an online format. This adaptation involved lots of work, time and commitment from the APMB team members and co-opted panel members. To date the candidates who took part in the first online training format have submitted very positive reviews. The hard work and commitment from the training team deserves recognition and wholehearted thanks.
Thanks also go to the Directors who managed the contest arenas and accommodated the additional bodies around the contest circle. Special thanks go to our Vice Convener, Peter Snaddon for coordinating the planning and allocation of live training slots, official paperwork, additional tent requirements, etc which proved to be a massive logistical exercise.
The online element consisted of weekend workshops, with training modules covering various topics, with 28 trainees in attendance. This study preparation was followed up with individual live experience adjudication over the 5 RSPBA major championships as well as RSPBA branch competitions. The objective is for each candidate to experience the live timeframe of the contest arena and practice writing multiple critiques live, in real time.
The candidates indicate in advance the contests they are available to attend, and work with the APMB nominated coordinator, who maps out a logistical plan to try and accommodate all the candidates.
The general expectation is that each candidate should complete up to 12 live experience modules. That is 12 individual contest grades which must include major championships within that mix. They are allowed a timeframe of up to 2 years to complete this task. This allows for current leaders / bandsmen that are still competing to plot out their live experience trial adjudication without interfering with their current competitive playing commitments.
Many of our candidates have voluntarily gone on to do more than 12 trials, recognising the training value, and wishing to gain maximum experience before being allocated official adjudication duties. In theory a candidate could complete the live experience quota over 2 or 3 contests by doing 3, 4 or 5 grades on each day.
An appointed mentor works with the candidate to offer advice and feedback after each contest. This feedback focusses on quality of critique, content, vocabulary, terminology, and presentation as well as adjudication contest rules and paperwork administration.
A new method for group training for ensemble was also delivered in the live environment on the Friday of the World Pipe Band Championships. This allowed all trainee candidates to assess the Grade 1 performances of 14 MSR’s and 14 Medleys. Feedback from this additional module received a very positive appraisal from those taking part as it allowed for constructive engagement between the candidates between performances and after the contest concluded.
Of the 28 trainee candidates this year, 21 have successfully completed the course study and live experience modules. This consists of 11 NEW adjudicators and 10 newly qualified ensemble adjudicators, ready to officially adjudicate in the 2025 season. The remaining 7 candidates have opted to utilise the 2025 season to complete the training course.
A full list of accredited RSPBA Adjudicators is submitted annually for ratification by the main board of the RSPBA. The 21 successful candidates plus two returning members, will be added to the list for the 2025 season. Once appointed to the panel, an initial 2-year probationary period is observed which offers the newly appointed adjudicators access to further mentoring or advice during their settling in period.
However, they are fully activated panel members, and this probationary period does not prevent them from being allocated for official adjudication duties. Subject to RSPBA ratification, this will take our adjudicator panel to its highest membership level ever to 77 panel members. Potentially an additional 7 candidates the following year after training completion. This succession planning should accommodate any forthcoming member retirals.
The APMB would like to congratulate the following candidates who embarked on our training course just over 6 months ago and have successfully completed the 2024 APMB, training programme, early September 2024.
The APMB and adjudicator training course team offer them a warm welcome to the RSPBA Adjudicator’s Panel.
NEW Piping Adjudicators. (10)
Chris Armstrong,
Don Bradford,
Grant Walker,
Ian Bowden,
Peter Aumonier,
Shaunna Hilder,
David Hilder,
Ross Harvey,
Matt Wilson,
David Wilton.
NEW Drumming Adjudicator. (1)
Jake Joergensen
NEW Ensemble Adjudicators. (10)
Paul Brown,
Alan Craig,
Mark Wilson,
Lee Innes,
Brian Martin,
Maurice Rhodes,
Jim Semple,
Ross Walker.
Mark Faloon
Colin Moffet
