LABBS EDUCATION & JUDGING COMMITTEE & BABS GUILD OF JUDGES FOUNDATION COURSE 2008

WHEN?

The course will commence on Saturday 19 July 2008 at 10 am, continue through the day and will continue on the Sunday finishing at about 4 pm. To complete the course you must attend both days.

WHERE?

The course will be held at the RAC Centre in Walsall, RAC House, Brockhurst Crescent, Walsall, WS5 4AU.

ACCOMMODATION

If you live any distance away you will need overnight accommodation on the Saturday and you will need to make your own arrangements for this. There are several hotels in the vicinity, the closest being the Park Inn Hotel - previously Encore Ramada (01922 639100), then the Travel Lodge - previously Boundary Hotel (0871 984 6323) and Express by Holiday Inn (0121 358 4044).

If considered necessary, there may also be an additional session on the Saturday evening after dinner, either in the Park Inn Hotel or back at the RAC Centre, so it would be an advantage to stay somewhere fairly close.

COST

The cost of the weekend will be £50 which will include lunch both days and tea/coffee during both days. You will need to make your own arrangements for a meal on the Saturday evening. The Park Inn hotel has a restaurant and there are other places to eat within the area.

WHO WILL THE COURSE BE RUN BY?

The course will be run jointly by both BABS and LABBS judging guilds.

WHAT IS THE COURSE ABOUT?

The course has been created to consolidate a basic standard of barbershop craft and to enable barbershoppers to learn more about the judging categories. The course will be attractive to music team personnel, quartet singers, chorus directors and anyone considering judge training. It has lots of valuable material for anyone who takes part in competition. It will also supply the tools that will enable you to pass on the knowledge to your choruses and quartet.

You will come away with:

• An overview of the contest system
• A knowledge of what each of the three scoring categories are looking for and their scoring methods.
• Knowledge of how the categories overlap with each other and how this is managed
• Some 'evaluation' and 'recommendation' skills that will help you as a performer and future coach.

BABS MEMBERS

The Foundation Course will be a compulsory part of the training for those who are considering joining the Judging Guild.

LABBS MEMBERS

Entry to the LABBS E&J Judge Training Programme is by invitation only but to be eligible, you MUST have completed the course.

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT?

Please send your enquiries to Norma Head, email: normahead@lineone.net. Norma will be dealing with the course administration.