This happens in math class all the time. We are great with students knowing 95% of the material, teachers, parents, and students all celebrate it. However, take off 5% per year of content knowledge, and we have quite a deficit in math! Just think about the disservice done to students who are passed to the next math class only knowing 60% of the previous classes’ material.
A 60%, or even 90%, pass rate really isn’t acceptable in band. Now, I am not talking about assignment turn in rate, I am referencing the actual performance. The results of such a percentage in band would be dissasterous. I argue that the same is true in math.
Below is a video of an opening speech given by a band director during a concert about striving for perfection and adding personal interpretation.