Aims and Objectives

We have established an excellence-oriented performance contest for high school bands with these aims and objectives: 

1. The Tournament of Bands is a competition that will foster the development of marching bands in the state of New Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The Tournament of Bands shall serve to enrich the culture of marching bands while offering educational feedback from quality adjudicators that helps strengthen and build better band programs in the area. 

2. The competition will, through an impartial system of evaluation, seek to recognize and reward excellence.

3. Through competition, we seek to recognize and reward those bands and student musicians who have demonstrated the highest level of musicianship, ability, achievement, and poise. At the same time, our purpose is to sponsor a competition that will act as an incentive to all band members to strive for self-improvement and excellence.

4. The New Mexico State University Pride Marching Band, sponsor of the New Mexico Tournament of Bands, believes competition exists in almost every aspect of human endeavor, and is a vital part of the fabric of the American way of life. We also believe that carefully designed and supervised competition at the high school level serves as one of the best-known methods of preparing the students for the challenges they will encounter every day of their lives.

How To Enter

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY - Complete the Band Entry Form included in this book and send to NMSU Bands office faxed/postmarked/emailed no later than September 30 of the year of the event.   The first 32 bands will be accepted into the NMSU Tournament of Bands marching competition.

DRAWING FOR PLACEMENT - IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE DRAWING FOR PERFORMANCE PLACEMENT you must enter on or before June 30.  See page 2 for more information about the drawing procedure. 

Please make sure that the signature of your principal is on the entry form, which verifies your entry and all information contained on the form.

The entry fee for all participating bands is $500.00.  This is a nonrefundable entry fee.  Please have the check made payable to NM State Bands.  Checks should be mailed within a week of your faxed entry to complete the entry process.

All events will be in Aggie Memorial Stadium.  Unlimited parking is available and special accommodations may be made for changing of uniforms as required.  This means your only transportation needs will be to and from motels/hotels, eating establishments and rehearsal fields.

Classification

The New Mexico Tournament of Bands will be divided into four classes that are determined by school enrollment.

            Class C - 700 or below

            Class B - 701 - 1500                                     

            Class A - 1501 - 2200

            Class AA - 2201 or above  

A band may elect to move into a higher classification but you may not move from a higher class to a lower class.  All bands will compete in preliminary competition during the day.  The ten highest scoring bands, regardless of class, will return for the finals competition in the evening.  Performance order for Finals will be determined by draw.  In the event that the previous year's champion qualifies for Finals, that director will have the option to perform last in Finals.

Performance Order

Band Entry Forms may be sent by fax, mail, email, or delivered in person to the band office.  All COMPLETED entries received on or before June 30, will be placed in a drawing for performance order by classification.  The lower the number the later your band will perform.  For example, Number 1 in the draw will go last in that band's classification.  The drawing will be held at 9:00 am July 1, (unless otherwise noted) in the band office at NMSU.  The results of the drawing will be sent by email that day.

All entries received after 5:00 am on June 30 will be assigned an order of performance based on the postmark or fax date on your COMPLETED Entry Form.  The earlier the entry, the later your appearance will be in the competition.  

Field Announcer and Program Information Form

The Information Form included with the Entry Form should be faxed or sent by email by September 30. A digital version of this form can be filled out at https://marcomm.formstack.com/forms/tob22_performance_information.  From this form we will prepare the program and the announcer script.

Fax: 575-646-2472

Email to: rplc505@nmsu.edu

General Rules and Regulations

1. From the holding area at the starting gate, all units will walk to a staging area in the stadium. From there, they may enter the field for competition to “rim taps.” Bands may exit the competition area with percussion cadence until the last band member has left the lined field.  See Tournament of Bands -Routing Map

2. The competition area from "0" to "0" is 100 yards in length and a regulation size football field width with NCAA hash marks. With the field in Aggie Memorial being artificial turf, pending feasibility of chalking of the New Mexico high school hashes is to be determined. Sideline markers will be placed on the near sideline.

3. Field entrance and exit may be made from any point on the field.  The band proper and band front units will be permitted to stage on the field.  The band may conclude its performance at any point on or off the field and exit over any boundary line.

4. Units waiting to go on will be positioned in the holding area by the Tournament Staff and will remain in that position until the preceding band has completed its show and taken the applause. This holding area will include the north ramp of Aggie Memorial Stadium.  Please place band members and staff to the west side of the ramp to allow space for the pit equipment from the prior band to exit on the east side of the ramp. 

Bands may not move from the holding area until released by the Tournament staff.

5. The Master of Ceremonies (announcer) will give each competing unit identical introductions. No other announcer may be used.  As each band takes the field, the emcee will announce field music, and any other points of interest.  When the group appears to be in their final starting position, the emcee will ask  “Is your band ready?”  The drum major should render salute, indicating the band is ready to perform.  Do not commence the show until the announcer announces "YOU MAY TAKE THE FIELD FOR COMPETITION".

6. Bands will perform a minimum of six minutes and a maximum of eleven minutes. Timing will begin on the first NOTE of music or percussion sound following the introduction of the band by the emcee.  Timing will stop at the logical conclusion of your show (time requirement is 0.l point penalty for each 3 seconds or fraction thereof, either under time or over time; for delay of contest, 0.5 points per minute or fraction thereof).

7. Due to many band directors not being familiar with, or not adhering to, standard flag etiquette, flag violations will be noted as seen but will not count for scoring.

8. Equipment that is dropped on the field will not be assessed as a penalty. Equipment may be picked up by performers without penalty.

9. It is understood that the band's competition show has been adequately developed by the director to allow the judges reasonable evaluation of both your musical and marching skills. This is a MARCHING BAND Contest in the Great American Tradition.

10. Student guides will be assigned to each band and will be available 15 minutes before the designated warm up time at the warm-up field. The guides will be available until the band concludes their performance and has transitioned through the entire tournament flow.

11. Each band will be assigned a warm-up time thirty minutes prior to performance time.  The two warm-up fields are located on the north side of the Pan American Center. This warm-up time is the reporting time for each band to indicate they are present and ready to perform.  From the warm-up area the student guides will escort the bands to the stadium.  Bands will have 15 minutes to set up, perform, and exit.  This includes all equipment set up, starting line warm-up, exit cadence, and equipment removal.  Pit percussion will be allowed a warm-up prior to the performance on the west side of the Pan American Center. This is not a requirement, but an available option if needed. (Warm-up area is subject to change each year due to Pan American events. If there are changes, it will be communicated directly to the band directors from event staff.) 

Adjudication

Part of the mission of Tournament of Bands is to offer the highest degree of educational feedback and adjudication. The Tournament of Bands will utilize a system of scoring that offers clear and concise language provided in rubric form.  This language should clearly define the rationale for scores and provide educators with appropriate feedback that will enrich the students’ musical experiences.  The adjudication forms utilized by the Tournament of Bands are provided in this packet of information for your perusal and to share with your students.  Scoring will be tallied by adding the scores of each sheet: Percussion, Color Guard/Auxiliary, Visual Performance-Individual, Visual Performance- Ensemble, Visual General Effect, Music Execution – Ensemble, music General Effect, and Drum Major (not included in total score)..  The overall score will then be formulated to fit a

100 scale (ex. 1000 = 100.0, 855 = 85.5)

All scoring will be done using Competition Suite. Recordings, scores, feedback, and videos will be provided to the competing Band Directors via Competition Suite. Learn more here. 

The credibility of any contest is in direct proportion to the credibility of its judges.  With this fact in mind, our policy in selection of judges is as follows: The New Mexico Tournament of Bands chooses judges that are willing to share in the satisfaction of “making a difference” in the development of bands and the students in those bands.  TOB looks for judges who make the commitment to the marching activity and music education.  Most of all, the New Mexico Tournament of Bands looks for judges who have a commitment to excellence in music and can constructively convey the commitment to the bands they adjudicate.  The decision of the judges is FINAL.  The only possible error considered will be in tabulation. 

MEET THE TOURNAMENT JUDGES

Preliminary Awards

An awards ceremony will take place following the preliminary competition.  Prelim scores, from high to low, will be used to determine first, second, and third place in each class.  The "Gregg Randall Award of Excellence" will be given to the highest scoring band from New Mexico regardless of classification.  The ten bands selected for Finals competition will be announced at the end of the ceremony. Caption awards will be given to the band with the highest score in the following areas:

• Music- Top Overall Score in Music
• Percussion- Top Percussion Score
• Auxiliary- Top Auxiliary Score
• Drum Major- Highest Scoring Drum Major(s)- separate scoring sheet used, not included in overall score.

First, Second, and Third place awards will be given for each classification as well. 

Final Awards

The ten bands selected to perform in the Finals Competition will draw for performance order following the Preliminaries Award Ceremony.  The five bands with the lowest scores in Prelims will draw for positions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in Finals.  The five bands with the highest scores in Prelims will draw for positions 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 in Finals.  In the event that the previous year's champion qualifies for Finals, that director will have the option to perform last in Finals.  The champions of Class C and B MAY ELECT to perform 1st in Finals in exhibition if they do not place in the top ten. If they place in the top ten, the next highest scoring band will be selected.

A retreat will take place after Finals competition.  The retreat will be for the purpose of awarding the highest scoring band the Grand Champion trophy and all other finalists the award for placement from second to tenth place.  Only Finals scores will be used to determine the rank order of the ten finalist bands. Caption awards will be given to the band with the highest score in the following areas:

• Music- Top Overall score in Music
• Percussion- Top Percussion Score
• Auxiliary- Top Auxiliary Score
• Drum Major- Highest Scoring Drum Major(s)- separate scoring sheet used, not included in overall score.

The Retreat

After their final performance, each band will exit the field to the south and will be led by official guides to their seats on the east side of the stadium (opposite the press box).  After the final performance by the PRIDE of NEW MEXICO, all groups will be led back to the field for the final awards ceremony.

Videotaping

One staff member from the performing group will be allowed on top of the press box to videotape their performance. 

Field Rehearsal

Practice areas may be arranged for participating groups.  These areas are separate from the warm-up areas and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.  Aggie Stadium will NOT be used for rehearsal.

Picnic Area

Under no circumstance should any band set up a camp or picnic area on the intramural fields located off Locust St., directly across from the NMSU Baseball Field. Any bands who do use this area are responsible for the costs for reserving the area, and/or any damage done. The Music Department CANNOT reserve this area for you; it is your responsibility to get in contact with the university to reserve it and make all necessary payments.

Acceptable Picnic Areas: Sisbarro Park is located directly East of Aggie Memorial Stadium and can be use on a first-come first-serve basis. The NMSU Duck Pond located in the middle of campus, West of the Pan American Center, may also be used. These are community areas and parks. Please be courteous of others in the area. 

Inclement Weather Policy

There is no rain date for the New Mexico Tournament of Bands.  Because of this, the contest management has established the following guidelines that will be implemented in the event of foul weather conditions:

1. In the event of rain prior to beginning the Field Competition, the contest management will consult with the National Weather Service (radar) for the most up-to-date information on conditions. The contest management may delay the starting time, or cancel the contest due to forecast weather conditions.

2. If rain occurs following the start of the Field Competition, a meeting will be called of the band directors, and from this group consultation, the Tournament Director (who has the final word) will determine the continuance of the event. It is our general feeling that as long as the bands are willing to perform, it is our obligation to keep the event running.

3. It is the Director’s responsibility to keep in touch with the Tournament Director for the latest information.

Shelter-in-Place Instructions

If inclement weather, including a lightening strike within 8 miles of the stadium, occurs, the following plan will be put into action:

1. The band performing will stop immediately, grab what they can and head towards their individual buses to shelter-in-place, leaving all other equipment behind.
2. The bands in the staging areas will grab what they can and head to their individual buses to shelter-in-place, leaving all other equipment behind.
3. Bands in the stands will be asked to leave and go to their school’s individual buses to shelter-in-place.
4. ALL audience members will be asked to leave the stadium and shelter-in-place in their own vehicles.

All Las Cruces area high school members will head directly for the practice gym located on the southside of the Pan American Center – taking with them what equipment they can if they are performing or getting ready to perform.

ALL PRIDE OF NEW MEXICO staff and students will go to the Pan American practice gym to shelter-in-place.

If a lightning strike occurs within the 8-mile radius of the stadium, the announcer will inform all attendees that we are entering shelter-in-place. We are required to wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike within the radius. If a strike occurs during the 30-minute waiting period, it re-starts the 30 minutes.

Reminder

NO PHONE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.  ENTRIES WILL BE OFFICIAL WHEN YOU RECEIVE CONFIRMATION BY EMAIL OF RECEIPT FROM THE BAND OFFICE.

All Entries must be submitted no later than September 30. 

Housing

While many of our bands can consider the Tournament as a one-day trip, others will be required to remain overnight or perhaps two nights in Las Cruces.  Motel and restaurant information for the Las Cruces area are available upon request.   If you would like this information, please call the band office at 575-646-2304.

Stadium Tickets and Passes

All stadium seating will be on a general admission basis: that is, first come - first served.  Ticket prices are $20.00 per ticket for all-day admission to Prelims AND Finals competition.  Children six to twelve will be admitted for $10.00, and under six are free.  We will provide one free chaperone wristband for every ten students.  Bus drivers may also receive a wristband.  Additional wristbands may be purchased for chaperones or pit parents at the regular ticket price. Your complementary wristbands will be included in your director’s packet, which will be provided at check-in when you arrive at the warm-up field west of the stadium.

 Only the band directors and their staff have access to the field. Credentials will be verified by event staff. 

To the Directors

The adjudicators will receive a copy of the Tournament prospectus and the Tournament Director will carefully cover all rules and regulations prior to the first Tournament performance.

The rules have purposely been kept loose and few.  We want you to do the thing you do best.  The judges are selected from the widest possible cross section of experienced music educators.  Your style is strictly, "Your Thing".  However, you will be awarded a score only on the various captions that are on the score sheets in this book.  The Tournament recognizes that you all have talented and successful bands and have won many awards, and the New Mexico Tournament of Bands is merely a measure of your group on a single occasion, against the stiffest available competition. 

We hope this is a memorable and educational experience for your students.  There can only be one winner, and the decision is up to a capable and dedicated panel of judges.

The New Mexico Tournament of Bands exists for you and your band.  Our goal is to provide you with a Tournament of the highest caliber.  To that end, our goals involve input by directors concerning the Tournament.  We will send a packet a few days after the competition that will include a Post-Event Survey.  We ask that you return this form so that we can continue to improve the New Mexico Tournament of Bands.

Director's handbook was updated on October 11, 2022.