Saturday, September 29, 2018

The Pitman Preview of Champions is the first event in the Northern California Band Association's fall line up of band reviews and showcases high school marching bands from throughout Northern California, including many San Joaquin Valley high schools. 

The marching bands are separated into divisions based on the number of students in the group and the groups compete against similarly sized in a military style marching competition where they are judged on the following.

Music: the difficulty of the piece, the accuracy, musical technique and expression as the piece is played by the band. 

Showmanship: band & guard uniform coordination, how the whole group looks as they perform, the precision and carriage of the musicians, musicality of how the band interprets the music. 

Marching: how the whole group looks look as they move along as well how the individual musicians look, the difficulty of the color guard routine.

Auxiliaries: the color guard is judged in how well they perform with and interpret the march.

Drum Major: the drum majors are judged on the creativity and execution of the baton routines they usually perform just before the band begins the march. They are also judged on their salute as they pass the judges and their overall presentation as they lead the band.

Percussion: the drum line can compete separately and the groups are judged on how well they play, the marching routine of the musicians and how well the two work together.

Sweepstakes: these awards are given to the band, regardless of division, with the highest numerical score in the marching, showmanship and parade areas.