GMC REC Program

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REC
REC

GMC REC Program


The GMC Recognition Program (REC Program for short) is the first step towards some sort of a GMC diploma. The idea behind it is that as a member of GMC you can have a validated rank at the website based on a record of your playing ability, as adjudicated by the instructors. Members will have their rank displayed as a title below their Avatar. More than that though, it is an incentive to practice, improve and complete lessons, and feedback to know that you are playing as well as you hope you are!


We wanted to keep the initial idea simple and work on it over time - thanks to all who provided input into this program - if you don't see your idea in here, we may well add it at a later date!


So how does it work? Simple!


  • Pick a Lesson and Learn it
  • Video yourself playing it
  • Submit it for grading
  • See your points added to the score table and get your level badge
  • Keep doing this to build a validated record of your progress


Of course there are a few rules and regulations, so here is the long version!


Eligibility - Any GMC member is eligible to work in the REC program - there are no time limits, just submit a video any time you are ready to do so, and submit as many as you like!


Video Only - we discussed this backwards and forwards, and while we didn't want to limit people without cameras, we felt that seeing a person play tells a lot more about them than just listening. At GMC we want to do the best possible job, and since this is a validated assessment of your playing abilities, backed by GMC's reputation, we didn't want to skimp on advice and feedback, or provide different standards of feedback for Video vs Audio only entrants, so we will be allowing video submissions only. Video does not have to be great quality, just good enough for us to see and hear you play. In any case, getting a webcam or similar if you don't already have one opens up many more possibilities at GMC such as joining the MTP, or videoing yourself playing for technique feedback.


Video Submission - to submit your lesson for marking, start a thread on the the REC board. The submitted video should be a GMC lesson's main video, played in full, against the supplied backing track for that lesson, at full tempo. We will use lessons hosted on YouTube, embedded in the post - no video uploads please!


Please include the following information, or your video will not be graded:


Topic Title - "Member Name - Name of the lesson"
For instance, "Andrew Cockburn - Smoke on the Water"


Create a poll with numbers 1-10. No need for anything other than numbers.


Body text:


Name of the lesson, including link (to make it easier for the instructors to find the original to grade against) List of equipment used (to help instructors judge the sound) Any other comments you want to add (pleas for leniency and special treatment will be ignored user posted image)
That's it!


Grading - Over the grading period (which could be a couple of days) a number of instructors (a minimum of 3, usually more) will grade your submission, using the poll to grade your take, as an overall impression of how well you captured the lesson. Instructors will optionally also add comments to the thread giving feedback on problem areas.


When grading is complete, the REC administrator will summarize your score as a pass or fail then close the thread and update your record in the Wiki, arranging for your level text to be changed if appropriate.


To pass, your average grade from all instructors must be above 7.5


If you fail, you may resubmit a new recording of the same lesson as many times as you want to.


Scoring Process - scoring for each video submission will be based on the published level of the lesson, 1 - 10. There will be 2 elements that contribute to your overall score or level:


1. The total number of lessons you have successfully passed will be your "experience" score


2. A 5 lesson rolling average of your highest graded passes will be the basis of your "level" score. This means that your level will be calculated as the average of the levels of your last 5 highest lesson submissions - to move up a full level, you will need to pass at least 5 lessons at that level. Fractional level scores such as for example 4.4 will be possible under this system. We will take the 5 highest lessons, as opposed to the last 5 lessons so that you are not penalized level points as you try to improve on your experience score.


If you fail the grading, that lesson will not count towards your score in any way, if you pass, you get the full benefit of the experience and level scores.


Both experience and level will have a phrase associated with them to give a 2 part title which will be placed under the Avatar of anyone who has earned it. They are as follows:


Experience:

1 - 20 Learning
21 - 40 Experienced
41 - 60 Accomplished
61 - 80 Veteran
81 - 100 Ultimate


Level:

1 Chord Basher
2 Apprentice Player
3 Roadie
4 Rock Star
5 Tone Seeker
6 Tone Master
7 Tone Guru
8 Guitar Hero
9 Guitar Lord
10 Guitar God


Using this system, you could be an "Experienced Rock Star", or perhaps a "Veteran Tone Guru", and of course, the level to strive for, "Ultimate Guitar God"!


A little more on the rolling average - here is an example. If the last 5 lessons you had graded and passed were level 4, your level will be 4. If you then pass 5 level 5 lessons one after another, your score will change as follows after each one:


1. Last 5 lesson grades = 4,4,4,4,5 = score = (4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 5)/5 = 4.2
2. Last 5 lesson grades = 4,4,4,5,5 = score = (4 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 5)/5 = 4.4
3. Last 5 lesson grades = 4,4,5,5,5 = score = (4 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 5)/5 = 4.6
4. Last 5 lesson grades = 4,5,5,5,5 = score = (4 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5)/5 = 4.8
5. Last 5 lesson grades = 5,5,5,5,5 = score = (5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5)/5 = 5


For scores between 4 and 4.8, you will still be a "Rock Star", when you hit 5, you will be upgraded to a "Tone Seeker".


If you have less than 5 lessons, the average will be taken of the lessons you have actually been graded on.


Level 10 lessons are currently a special case as we only have 2 of them, so we will only require mastery of all available level 10 lessons to get to level 10 until there are more than 5.


Score Tracking - All scores and history will be tracked in the Wiki and will be updated by the REC administrator so that you can see your progress at a glance.


That's it!


Check out the GMC REC Scoreboard user posted image