Quest for the Rhytm Master: Individual

Setup

Each team will select two contestants to represent their team in the Rhythm Master's individual tournament. Obviously, they want to send the two students they feel are the strongest counters, as observed during the team competition. Fill out the grid enclosed (in groups of 4 or 6) using "byes" when you have to. If you have time, copy the grid on your board, and have a student not selected for competition keep track of your winners for all to see. Each competition round will involve 4 participants, so each student must play 2 measures. You must still use your metronome or student time keeper, but there will be no practice time between rounds as there was during team competition. You can stay within one Rhythm Group per round, alternating between exercises 1, 2 & 3, or move on to the next Rhythm Group each competition. It depends upon the range the director wishes to cover. The director must still mix up the students in random order when they come up front, and determine if the order will go from left to right, or, right to left.

Using the same point system earlier, mark any errors on the xeroxed copy of the rhythm exercise. After each round, the two students losing the most points are eliminated, and the remaining two move on to the next round. In case of a tie, eliminate the student with the lowest score, and have the remaining 3 play a "tie breaker", selecting another exercise from that same Rhythm Group. Each student will still play only two measures so they are all judged on the same number of bars played. Continue this procedure until you are down to the final four contestants. Note: it is possible you could have two members of the same team make it to the final four. When you set up your brackets initially, try to set it up so that team members will not face each other until the later, or last round.

"Final Four" competition

You can continue the alternating measures procedure, or select a Rhythm Group, and have each contestant play all 8 bars, A - H. Continue to circle missed rhythms (2pts.) and any hesitations (1pt.) on the Xeroxed sheet. Alternate the exercise numbers played, but stay in the same Rhythm Group. The fourth competitor will have to play the same exercise number the first performed, but the two performers in between should still keep the competition fair. Determine the final placings according to the fewest points deducted. In the case of a tie, go on to the next Rhythm Group for the "tie breaker".

Team Champion and the anointing of the "Rhythm Master"

You have already determined the team points so far, now add the results of the "Final Four" using the following equation:

Total your final team points and announce your winners. It is good to have a small prize for your winning team members, as well as your four finalists and especially the overall champion. Have your "Backer" organization or even contact local business to see if they will sponsor some moderate prizes. This is also great to do prior to any honor band auditions your students might be participating in. Try to make a big deal over your selected "Rhythm Master". Local press, school announcements and newspapers, or anything else that can make the title of "Rhythm Master" more prestigious. For further visual acknowledgment, you may want to feature the "Rhythm Master" at your Spring Concert, possibly conducting a warm up chorale, or maybe even one of the programed selections. Other possibilities are to use either the Power Grids or Rhythm Groups in each chapter as evaluation tools or test materials. Possibly continue the "Rhythm Master" tournament after school on occasion, allowing students to voluntarily come and compete for pride and prizes. This will keep them well prepared and active in the art of sight reading.