Validating Yourself through Music Festivals?

This part of being a music teacher has always bothered me.  A good friend of mine was upset at the scores her groups received at music festival.  She is a great teacher and musician but teaches band at a small school.  It is hard for her to have enough students with one on each part.

Festivals are hard enough just trying to get the students all on the bus at the right time! Then some big wig directors from large schools, with huge numbers, comes in and tells you how important balance and tone are.  Of course we know that but we are trying to get our students playing the correct notes and in tune before we get to that stage.

All of this weighs down on teachers and of course we take it to heart, we put all of ourselves into this! As important as it is to be evaluated and assessed by qualified musicians, it feels like the music version of high stakes testing.  We have to get a '1' rating to be a successful group, right?! I would be happy if my students all got along and enjoyed playing challenging music.

Courtesy of ToneDeafComics.com