ABOUT US
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, MJA is a 501C3 non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1975. Since the organization inception, MJA has played a significant role in educating judges to become WGI, DCI, and BOA, adjudicators along with many more Associations both Domestic and International.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of MJA shall be to promote the ongoing education and development of qualified adjudicators for the Marching Arts as well as the development and betterment of competing marching and musical units, their instructors and their members.
GOALS
As a service association, MJA will communicate with organizations that govern the drum corps, band, winter guard, indoor percussion, and winds activities in order to educate MJA judges in the proper philosophies and techniques used in those various activities.
MJA makes a continual commitment to education through clinics and the discussion of appropriate information to all of its members.
MJA also encourages its membership to assume leadership roles in the training and education of all pageantry arts activities.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Professional Training and Development
All judges are part of ongoing education clinics, internal evaluations, and workshops to ensure consistency, fairness, and modern adjudication methods.
Constructive and Educational Feedback
Judging that goes beyond scores we empower performers and staff with clear, actionable insights that promote growth.
Expert Judging Panels
Comprehensive caption coverage: Music, Visual, General Effect, Guard, Percussion with specialists trained in WGI, DCI, BOA, US Bands, and other adjudication systems.
Regional Focus, National and International Reach
While rooted in the US Northeast, our membership supports our affiliated circuits, as well as other domestic and international associations, and participates in educational events sharing our knowledge and expertise.
Organized, Reliable Partnerships
Our team works hand-in-hand with circuit leaders to deliver a seamless, professional experience, every time.
WHY CIRCUITS CHOOSE MJA
Proven reliability and trusted reputation
Deep passion for the marching arts
Nationally prominent judges
Clear, consistent scoring philosophies
Judges who care about education and growth
WHAT CAN MJA OFFER YOU?
New Judge Education
Continuing Education for experienced judges
Philosophy education for all sheets used by Circuit Affiliates
Philosophy education for instructors
Platform for Circuit Affiliates to address the judging community
Check and balance throughout the season with our Affiliated Circuits
Scholarship opportunities for all units that are a part of MJA affiliated circuits
INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN AFFILIATE CIRCUIT OF MJA?
WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING:
Current roster of all member Judges with MJA
New judge training for anyone in your association that is interested in learning how to judge
Continuing education for any experienced judges
Focused education on all WGI sheets, Winter Guard, Percussion and Winds
Focused education on any unique sheets your circuit uses
Attend Pre-and Post-season sessions with all judges to talk about your circuits vision, goals for the season, and post wrap -up of the competitive season
A platform to inform judges of any logistics such as tablets, headphones, competition suite etc.
Opportunity to promote your circuit to all MJA judges to enhance judge participation
Gain exposure to national judges hired by WGI, DCI, BOA
Scholarship opportunities for all units that compete in your circuit
Access to the judging community when in need of a judge due to sickness or cancellation
Initial Affiliation fee $1,000.00
Thereafter, $500.00 annually
INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT WGI PHILOSOPHY AND SHEETS, BUT NOT INTERESTED IN BECOMING A JUDGE, WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING:
Dedicated caption sessions hosted by WGI judges
Dig into the philosophy behind the judging system
Learn the unique characteristics of each sheet
Learn what judges are looking for in each caption
Learn the Points of Comparison on the back of each sheet
Understand what it means to be in a Neighborhood
Understand what is needed to move from one box to the next
Learn what's the impact of a glaring error like a drop during a critical moment in a program
Learn what the Design Analysis caption is all about which is the most complex sheet used by WGI
Learn about General Effect and why the loudest crown response doesn't necessarily relate to the highest score
Learn about the value to training and how it impacts all captions, especially Individual Analysis
Learn the difference between General Effect Visual and Overall Effect
Learn about Music Analysis and Music Effect
Learn about a judge's priority of Ranking, Spreads, Rating
Learn about performance numbers over content numbers and what that may mean to your program
Access to all prior education sessions
Associate Membership $ 50.00 annually
Interested in learning how to judge?
We offer the following:
All of what is noted in page 4 plus
One on one mentoring with Education Coordinator and/or experienced judge
Caption specific - focused education
Learn the level of effort required to become a judge
Focused study on the WGI sheets for your caption
Field trial opportunities
Detailed review of all voice recordings
Techniques on scanning the floor
Learn to talk about what you're seeing using words that relate to the philosophy
Learn techniques of noting Where (on the floor you are looking) What (skills, Vocabulary, Choreography) Where, (front stage, center stage, left or right state) when judging
Deep dive into numbers, neighborhoods, and how to assess a number based on the criteria
Learn about first viewing and how to assess that first number
Continual feedback from your mentor throughout your process on progress and next steps
Member Fee $125.00 first year
Thereafter $100.00 annually
EXPERIENCED JUDGE AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WGI
PHILOSOPHY OR SHEET CHANGES ALONG WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION?
WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING:
Deep dive into each WGI sheet for Winter Guard, Percussion and Winds
Education sessions lead by highly experienced judges in each caption
Deep dive into different approaches and philosophies behind each sheet
Deep dive into any changes made by WGI on the sheets
Deep dive into all emphasis changes made by WGI and how to implement
Conversation about contest dynamics and what that means in relation to numbers
Check list for pre and post contest prep
Access to all sheets for all captions for all Affiliated Circuits and WGI
Access to WGI judge's manual for the current year
Access to all prior education sessions
Attend any session hosted by MJA
Member annual fee $100.00
