Scoring Overview & Concepts
Marching Maestro provides a complete adjudication system for scoring competitive marching band events. Before diving into the scoring tools, it helps to understand the key concepts behind how scoring works.
How Scoring is Organized
Scoring in Marching Maestro follows a hierarchical structure:
- Scoring System - A reusable template that defines how scores are calculated. You can create custom systems or use one of the built-in standard systems. Scoring systems are saved at the organization level, so you can reuse the same system across multiple events.
- Scoring Round - A round of competition within an event (for example, Prelims or Finals). Each scoring round uses a scoring system and has its own set of performing groups assigned to it.
- Caption Group - A top-level scoring category within a scoring system (for example, Music Performance or General Effect). Caption group scores contribute to the total score.
- Caption - A specific judging area within a caption group (for example, Music Performance Individual or Music Performance Ensemble). Each caption is assigned to a single judge.
- Sub-caption - A subdivision within a caption that the judge actually scores (for example, Tone Quality & Intonation). Sub-captions have a maximum value and precision setting that control the score range and increment.
- Individual Caption - A standalone caption that does not belong to a caption group and does not count towards the total score. Individual captions appear at the end of published recaps.
Key Terminology
- Recap - The compiled scoring results showing all scores from all judges, organized by performing group. The recap includes sub-caption scores, caption totals, caption group totals, and overall totals.
- Ordinal - The rank position of a performing group within a specific caption, caption group, or overall. For example, if a group has the highest Music Performance score, their ordinal for that caption group is 1.
- Performance Rating - An optional qualitative label (such as Superior, Excellent, or Good) that can be assigned to score ranges. Performance ratings can be defined at the total score level, caption group level, or caption level.
- Criteria Reference Scale - A rubric-based scoring approach where judges evaluate how frequently performers demonstrate specific qualities, rather than comparing groups to each other.
Scoring Workflow
A typical scoring setup follows these steps:
- Create a scoring system or choose a standard one.
- Set up scoring rounds and assign performing groups to each round.
- Add judges to your event and assign them to captions.
- On event day, monitor judge activity as they enter scores through the Marching Maestro mobile app.
- View the recap as scores come in, make any manual adjustments, and release scores to registrants.
- Review commentary recordings from judges and release them to performing groups.
- Set up awards and view winners based on the scores.
Note: Judges enter scores and record commentary through the Marching Maestro mobile app. The dashboard is where you manage the scoring setup, monitor progress, and view results.