While it is in the best interest and practice for students to prepare and perform at the highest level possible for their auditions, students will have the ability to challenge another student seated one chair higher in the same section, if they are unhappy with their placement. This procedure is in place to reward musical growth within the band and afford flexibility with chair placements.

• Challenges can take place only after the formal audition placements have been posted.  

• Challenges must be completed in a reasonable time before a performance as decided by Mr. Foster.  

• Students can only challenge one chair at a time.  

• Students must complete a “challenge form” and submit it to Mr. Foster for approval.  

• The challenge will consist of 2 scales (with the number of octaves indicated) and 2 excerpts as decided upon by Mr. Foster.  

• Upon approval of the challenge form, both students and Mr. Foster will have a brief meeting to set up agreeable time(s) to complete the challenge.   

• Both students are expected to vigorously prepare to the best of their ability for the challenge. If Mr. Foster feels a student is intentionally "throwing" a challenge, the entire challenge will be canceled. 

• If any 1 of the parties has an excused absence from school the day of the challenge (i.e. illness, family emergency), the challenge will be rescheduled at Mr. Foster’s discretion in a manner fair to both students and the band as a whole.  

• If any 1 of the parties has an unexcused absence from the challenge (i.e. student does not show up, forgets, etc.), the automatic winner of the challenge will be the student that was present assuming challenge was completed in good faith.  

• All challenges will be completed in a “blind” manner using numbers “1 and 2” that are randomly chosen by the students to create an atmosphere of fairness for both individuals.  With his back to the students, Mr. Foster will call out the musical material to be heard by one individual and then the other in an alternating method until all materials are completed.  

• Mr. Foster will score the challenge while the students are playing.  

• At the end of the challenge, Mr. Foster announce the winner of the challenge by the scores for numbers 1 and 2.  

• The students will then disclose their numbers to Mr. Foster.  If the lower student wins the challenge, then the students must switch chairs (and music if necessary) at the next band rehearsal.  

• Students can re-challenge after a period of 1 week provided that there is ample time remaining before a performance as decided by Mr. Foster.  

• Above all, Mr. Foster has the final say as to the outcome of the challenge and its impact on the band as a whole.