Contest or no

This will the be the first time in many years that I have not taken a group to District Concert Band Contest. Instrumentation issues forced the decision this year, but I’m starting to think maybe it’s a decision I should have made years ago. Not going to contest has allowed us to add an additional concert performance in the Spring. As a result, we’re working on more literature than we typically would this time of year. I like it. I’m having more fun with rehearsals this time of year than I have in quite some time. I think my students are enjoying it as well. We’re not going to end up going to Spring Break with two pieces that both my students and I are starting to tire of. Maybe my approach to contests in the past was the problem, but I’m starting to think skipping out on the concert band contest altogether might be the better approach.