To the 2024 Armidale Eisteddfod Society Committee,

I wish to express my thanks for once again organising an Eisteddfod for students this year in Armidale. The Eisteddfod is a valuable opportunity for students to practice performing and receive feedback from a visiting expert in the field. The time it takes to organise, fund, implement and continuously improve the Eisteddfod is significant, and I would like to acknowledge this.

I wish to make the following remarks on the introduction of a blanket ban on videoing this year.

Adjudicators provide some valuable general feedback on performances and general areas to address. 
However, in the small amount of time they have, they cannot possibly comment specifically on all bowings, fingerings, dynamics, articulation, intonation, tone, rhythmic accuracy, dynamic range, musicality, memory, ensemble, leadership and stage etiquette. 
These areas form the full spectrum of elements of string instrument performance, and should be reviewed together in lesson afterwards to identify specific areas for improvement.  

Placing a blanket ban on videoing, disallows one of the most important and valuable aspects of performance practice which is the Review together in lesson afterwards. 
By banning videoing, the Armidale Eisteddfod Society are significantly diminishing the educational value of Eisteddfod performances for HSC students, for AMEB/ Trinity exam students and any student wishing to take all measures available to improve their performance.

There should be of course, no compromises where Child safety, Protection and Privacy is concerned. I think we are all in universal agreement about this. 
But there must be ways that children can remain fully protected, and the Armidale Eisteddfod Society fully legally compliant, and at the same time be able to retain the full educational advantages of being able to video music performances.

PROPOSAL
Retain the ban on general video, but provide an exemption for teachers who can provide a current WWCC number to an Eisteddfod register. This would already include all teachers currently employed at a school or NECOM Educator member for whom this is already compulsory.
A position in the Auditorium could be designated, from which these WWCC-registered teachers could video, that does not interfere with audience or performer participation.
To protect the Armidale Eisteddfod Society against potential misuse of any videos taken by WWCC-registered teachers, a lawyer could help formulate a simple clause in the Rules about The Eisteddfod Society not accepting any responsibility for further sharing of videos taken by WWCC-registered teachers. 

The video measures introduced this year seem to be a natural, understandable reaction to the daunting issues of child protection, and legal compliance. 
However, I believe it is possible to navigate these issues together with a careful, nuanced conversation. I am hoping you will consider and adopt the suggestions above, that will safeguard not only for Child Protection, and protect the Armidale Eisteddfod Society, but also protect the educational opportunities of the Eisteddfod that parents invest so heavily in, and that teachers and volunteers work so hard to create.

With thanks again for your service, 
Sofia Debus