Welcome to banding. It’s wonderful here. These guides will take you from “why is that trumpet the wrong shape?” to shouting informed opinions at an adjudicator’s box in no time.

The guides

The quick versions

Short on time? What actually happens at a band contest is the two-minute read, and how to watch like a pro will have you set up before the first downbeat.

Then put it all into practice: watch a stream live, or dive into the championship results and replays. More guides are on the way.