Thank you for your interest in the Central States Judges Association of America, Inc. Let me give you a few pieces of information about CSJA and training. We train in one caption at a time with CSJA, to concentrate on the material for each caption individually. There are of course differences in terminology and in content of the sheets between the major areas of adjudication, so the breaking down of the caption materials into separate sessions is best. We start by training in the performance areas, and then work toward general effect. This make the processes go smoother, and facilitate the development of skills required for judging much quicker. The visual caption, under the direction of Visual Caption Head Katie Buelow, and the percussion caption, under the leadership of Jimmy Haskell, both have some things they do slightly differently than the music caption, but the end goal is the same: great judges who have the bands correct ranked and rated for their caption, with outstanding feedback to the units at our shows. I am in charge of the music caption and run all training associated with judges in the music caption.
A $200 non-refundable training fee must be paid to CSJA before your first training session. This covers the cost of materials, locations and preparation for your training sessions, as well as other associated training costs. Should you be required to travel to the sessions, the cost of all meals and associated expenses is yours to cover. You will go through the "book work" portion of our training program in the sessions we have planned, including an understanding of the current adjudication systems, numbers management, nomenclature, etc. etc. You will also get a chance to work with the sheets, learn the process of adjudication and tape commentary, the process of judging a show, number management and control, etc. etc. These important details of adjudication are available through very few training programs and certainly not in the detail that you will receive in our training program. Required items for the sessions include a tape recorder (for work on commentary), a pencil (or ten!), a clipboard, and paper. Everything else required will be provided as a part of the materials we offer all prospective members in the membership process. Many select a small Sony or GE hand held tape recorder, while others prefer to use a microphone and larger recorder. I would advise doing whatever works best for you.
After your weekend of sessions, you will then be asked to trial judge with an established member of CSJA. As we are the association that adjudicates the track band season in Indiana (CITSA), we offer the opportunity for trial judging at those shows, which are held during the months of July and August. Due to the pace and scope of the day, the Indiana State Fair Band day cannot generally be a training/trial day, but most of the other track shows will be possible for trial judging. Some prospective members will be required to trial adjudicate at several of these shows, while others will require only one or two. You are required to stay through critique (if one is held), to see the entire process of adjudication of a show. Your tapes and sheets will be reviewed by your caption head and other like caption judges, who will then recommend further training or proceeding on to oral exams.
Oral exams are usually scheduled around major meetings (fall seminar, winter meeting, spring clinic). These exams are as they sound; usually three to four members of the association, as well as the caption head, will ask you some specific questions, and place you in specific scenarios where your training and experiences will be needed to come up with a solution. Discussions of these factors, in addition to some review of the tapes you have made from summer, are a part of the final examination process. Should you pass your oral examination, you will be recommended for membership to the association, and all members in good standing will be asked to cast a positive or negative vote on your candidacy for membership in CSJA. As every member of this association has gone through the process, it should be much less nerve racking for you to realize that every member has been in that position. Rarely have we had someone make the progress to the vote of the membership and fail at that level.
If you are accepted by the membership, you are sworn into the association at the next full meeting, be it the fall seminar, winter meeting, or spring clinic. The strength of our association is the common understanding and consistency of our perspective member to member, so the training sessions and trial judging are essential to assure the quality of your work and of your understanding of achievement. The association has developed many new markets, and has a great deal of work for quality judges.
In no circumstance can the training fee be waived, or the process accelerated. The criteria for approval of your candidacy and for approval as an adjudicator is clear, and all of the criteria must be completed. You are required to attend all session of the training. You may be able to take part of the training during one session, and part during another, but cannot simply "miss" any of the training. We need quality judges, and part of offering quality adjudication to our markets is the quality and commonality of the training process. I personally will not advance anyone who tries to circumvent the training process.
I hope this answers some of your questions regarding the training process. Should you be selected for membership, our association has a "Red Book" governing the association, which outlines the rules for conduct, rules for adjudication, and other rules of our association. Once a prospective member, you are required to work under those rules. The content of the Red Book will also be a part of your training and your education. Upon acceptance for members, you will be required to purchase and wear official CSJA judging apparel to all events that you adjudicate. Many members wear their apparel to all events they judge, independent or not, to advertise for the association and to state your proud membership in the CSJA. Our quartermaster has all uniform parts you will need.
Being a member of the CSJA is an exciting, rewarding, and educational endeavor. We strive to maintain our place as the best trained judging organization, with the most consistent judges, and the most "current" knowledge of trends and movements in the pageantry arts genre. It is important to develop and maintain the knowledge base of our adjudicators. It is my hope that your interest continues, and that you too will find our association worth your effort and your investment.
Dr. Albert Lilly
Education Director and Music Caption Head
Central States Judges Association of America, Inc.
OK, I'm ready. Take me to the online application page so I can start the process.
Thanks, but this isn't what I had in mind. Return me to the CSJA Home Page
Dates for CSJA Caption Training - 2008
June 21, 2008 - Location TBA - Indianapolis, IN - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Captions: Music, Visual
Last Updated: May 9, 2008.