Financial aid was made possible by the Landers Band Tax Law. Major George W. Landers, a noted army and municipal bandleader of Clarinda, Iowa, was the author of a movement for state legislation to permit minor cities to tax themselves for the support of municipal bands. This law was passed and more than one-half the states of the Union quickly adopted the measure. Major Landers is one of the few reformers who has lived to see his plan working. Now in his 90’s he is an Honorary Life Member of the National Bandmasters’ Association.
Another great aid to the high school bands was a national band contest sponsored by music manufacturers who gave the winners generous money prizes. The first venture in 1923 was a huge success and started the contest idea off with a bang. This was the beginning of a most profound movement which worked a decided change in the whole status of bands in the United States, and from which an entirely new school music program grew.
A number of school boards woke up to the cultural and educational value of the new band development among the youth. They made it a regular part of the curriculum, and school credits were given the course.
National band contests were sponsored by various industries, service clubs, and often by state fairs. Beginning in 1925 contests were held annually in various cities. The heads of the Service Bands and tops in concert bands and other noted musical organizations gladly cooperated in this great musical movement by acting as judges and band leaders. The meet held at Flint, Michigan in 1930 was highly spectacular. John Philip Sousa led forty-two large bands in a mammoth concert before an audience of 75,000.
Although school bands originated in the Midwest states, they soon sprang up like mushrooms over the entire nation. In some states as many as 600 to 700 bands entered state-wide competition. The idea grew too large for the plan, and in 1937 the country was divided into ten regions. Contests were held in each state, then these winners competed in the regional meets, and the victors joined in the national competitions.
The name “Competition Festival” replaced the title “Contests.” Instead of selecting a first, second and third winner in each group of contestants and giving them prizes, the rating plan is now used—five ratings for the best performances in each class of musicians entered. The students are not competing against any one person but are trying to equal or approach a perfect standard (or example) of performance. The ratings are listed as follows:
1. Best conceivable performance of the class which is being judged.
2. Unusually fine performance.
3. Good performance.
4. Average performance.