May/June 2011 Ala Breve

ala breve

official publication of the Alabama Music Educators Association

Inside ...

ABA, AOA, AVA All-State Photos

The “Glee” Effect

Recruiting Tips from Phi Beta Mu Advocacy: Use it or Lose it

Campus Connections

Much, Much More!

the

President Steve McLendon

Dothan High School

1236 S. Oates St. Dothan, AL 36301

dhstigerband@aol.com

(334) 794-0146 School

President, ABA Chuck PleasantEadyGrove High School 100 Spartan Drive Pleasant Grove, AL 35127 (205) 379-5250 School (205) 807-4311 Cell chuckeady@aol.com

(256)pstegall@mscs.k12.al.us35661

Past President Pat MuscleStegallShoals High School 1900 Avalon Avenue Muscle Shoals, AL

389-2682 School

President-Elect

Sara Womack Greystone Elementary School 300 Village Street Birmingham, AL 35242-6447 (205) 439-3200

sarawomack@att.net

President, AOA Marcy Wilson P.O. Box 11121 Chattanooga, TN 37401 (423) 637-6500 Cell mwilson@kenyonwilson.com

Executive Director Editor, Ala Breve Garry Taylor 1600 Manor Dr. NE Cullman, AL 35055 (256) 636-2754

amea@bellsouth.net

Treasurer Karen NorthsideHickokIntermediate School 601 North 5th Street Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 745-9731 hickokkaren@bellsouth.net

Recording Secretary Carla Gallahan 212 Smith Hall, Troy University Troy, AL 36082 (334) 670-3502 School cgallahan@troy.edu

President, CMENC Taylor Sparks atsparks@samford.edu

President, AVA Jane Powell Florence Middle School 648 N. Cherry Street Florence, AL 35633 (256) 768-2460 Office (256) 768-3105 Fax jane@alavocal.org

President, Elem/Gen Sharon McCann August Liberty Park Elementary School 17051 Liberty Parkway Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 402-5400 School (205) 987-5867 Home (205) 936-3620 Cell sharonaug.@gmail.com

Garry Taylor, Editor & Advertising Manager 1600 Manor Dr. NE Cullman, AL 35055 (256) 636-2754 amea@bellsouth.net

President, Higher Education Timothy Phillips Troy University 227 Smith Hall Troy, AL 36082 (334) 670-3190 tphillips16791@troy.edu

Collegiate MENC Advisor Moya SamfordNordlundUniversity School of the Arts/ Division of Music 800 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, AL 35229 (205) 726-2651 minordlu@samford.edu

ADVERTISING & COPY DEADLINES

Fall (Back to School) issue: July 15

Winter (Conference) issue: September 15

Spring (All-State) issue: January 15

Summer (Digital Only) issue: April 15

Unless otherwise indicated, permission is granted to MENC members to reprint articles for educational purposes. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of AMEA or the Editor. All announcements & submissions are subject to editorial judgement/revision.The Alabama Music Educators Association is a state unit of MENC: The National Association for Music Education, a voluntary, nonprofit organization representing all phases of music education in schools, colleges, universities, and teacher-education institutions. Active MENC/AMEA membership is open to all persons engaged in music teaching or other music education work.

Spring is, indeed, one of my favorite times of year. Mother Nature is affording mild temperatures and colorful blooms outside, while inside my students are teasing me by behaving as if they’ve actually heard some of what I’ve been saying all year. I can see and hear their improvement since the fall, and perhaps more importantly, I sense that they can too.

It was very rewarding to see so many of Alabama’s student musicians involved at each division’s All-State event. I know that for most of us, “All-State” translates into: “Will I ever have any

personal time again?” As colleagues, let’s remind each other that our work does matter. Our sacrifices do count for something, and our children are better for it.

Thank you for taking the time to peruse this digital version of Ala Breve. You’ll want to note that AMEA Session Proposal forms and AMEA Performance applications are in this issue. The deadline of June 1st is fast approaching. Our professional conference is successful each year because you choose to participate. I encourage you to submit your ideas for sessions. Chances are that, in the past year, you heard a performance from an Alabama school ensemble that was exceptional. Take a moment to contact their director and encourage them to apply for a performance slot.

are better

I hope the end of this school year leaves you with fond memories and unbridled optimism for your future plans. Enjoy the summer!

Steve McLendon

AMEA

President

...let’s remind each other that our work does matter. Our sacrifices do count for something, and our children

for it.

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AMEA 2010 - 2011 Division Events

Alabama Bandmasters Association

AMEA In-Service Conference/All-State Jazz Band

January 20-22, 2011 - Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

All-State Solo Festival

April 13, 2011 - Mobile

District I

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District II

All-State Band Auditions State MPA

District Honor Band

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District III

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District IV

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band State High School MPA

State Middle School MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District V

All-State Band Auditions District Honor Band State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District VI

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band

Solo & Ensemble Festival State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District VII

All-State Band Auditions State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District VIII

All-State Band Auditions State MPA

District Honor Band

Solo & Ensemble Festival

All-State Band Festival

April 14-16, 2011 - Mobile

Summer In-Service Conference

June 22-23, Hampton Inn and Suites, Orange Beach

January 29...........................................Brewer High School

February 18-19...............................Bob Jones High School

February 24-25..............................................Huntsville HS

March 24-25......................................................Decatur HS

April 2..............................................Hartselle High School

April 30...........................................Liberty Middle School

January 15..................................Jacksonville High School

February 23-25.........................Gadsden City High School

March 25-26..........................Albertville Fine Arts Center-

April 30........................................................................TBA

January 29...............................Muscle Shoals High School

February 18-19.................................Florence High School

March 9-11.......................................Florence High School

May 7......................... Muscle Shoals Middle School

January 15...........................................Hoover High School

January 28-29...............................Homewood High School

February 22-24.............................Homewood High School

March 8-10..................................................................TBA

December 14.........................Clay-Chalkville High School

May 7.........................................Thompson Middle School

January 29........................................Prattville High School

February 18-19.......................University of West Alabama

February 23-24...................Moody, University of Alabama

March 8............................................Prattville High School

April 26.........................................Hillcrest Middle School

January 29..........................................Opelika High School

February 25-26...................................Auburn High School

March 5................................... Auburn Junior High School

March 8-10.........................................Opelika High School

April 2......................................................St. James School

January 15.......................................Davidson High School

March 23-25......................................Daphne High School

April 30......................................Alma Bryant High School

May 7...........................................Robertsdale High School

January 29....................................................................TBA

February 22-24...............................Enterprise High School

February 25-26............................................................TBA

May 7.............................................Andalusia High School

May 14............................................Rehobeth High School

Alabama Orchestra Association

AMEA Conference

January 20-22, 2011

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

All-State Orchestra Festival

University of Alabama

February 10-13, 2011

Alabama Vocal Association

Fall Workshop - September 10-11, 2009 - Dawson Baptist Church, Homewood

All-State Show Choir Auditions - October 7-9, 2010 - Hueytown First United Methodist Church

AMEA/Show Choir - January 20-22, 2010 - Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

FAME - January 21, 2011 - Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

All-State - March 24-26, 2011 - Samford University, Birmingham

OCS/OA at All-State - March 23-26, 2011 - Samford University

ASSC at All-State - March 24, 2011 - Samford University

All-State Auditions - November 11 - Florence High School/Florence Middle School

November 12-13 - Mayfair Church of Christ, Huntsville

November 15 - Spring Hill Baptist Church, Mobile

November 16 - Montgomery, TBA

November 17 - Hueytown United Methodist Church

November 18 - Gadsden City High School

November 19 - Hueytown United Methodist Church

Elementary/General Division

March 5-AOSA Workshop with BethAnn Hepburn at Minor Community School – 9:00-3:00.

May 6-7-ACDA Young Voices at Auburn University.

June 6-17-Orff Schulwerk Level II Certification at Samford University.

June 20-24-AL AOSA Music Camp at Trinity United Methodist Church.

October 7-AMEA Elementary Music Festival with Dena Byers at the Wright Center, Samford University.

October 8-AMEA/AOSA Joint Workshop with Dena Byers at Samford University.

November 9-12-AOSA 2011 Professional Development Conference in Pittsburg, PA.

Alabama Orchestra Association Marcy Wilson, President

As the end of the school year approaches, I am reminded that it is time to renew membership for MENC. In order to sponsor a student for the 2012 AllState Festival, you must be a MENC member in good standing. Session proposals and performance applications are due June 1 st for the 2012 AMEA conference. AOA sponsored several great sessions last year, and I know we will continue that great tradition this year.

Audition excerpts will be posted August 1 st , and we will also be unveiling our new on-line registration the same day. Registering for auditions on-line will allow teachers and parents to receive audition times faster. The option to register by mail will still be available. Information about auditions is located on our website at www.alabamaorchestraassociation.org . Please visit the website often to receive updates and reminders about

deadlines. We are also on Facebook! Please become a fan of AOA and automatically receive updates and reminders about deadlines.

The general membership would like to welcome our new executive board for the 2011-2013 term, President Clay McKinney, Secretary, Felicia Sarubin, Treasurer, Daniel Jamieson, and Executive Director Julie Hornstein.

It has been my distinct honor to serve as President of AOA for the past two years and to serve on the governing board for the past four years. It has truly been a humbling experience, and I know that AOA will continue to promote the best in music education. Thank you to all AOA members and the AOA executive board for all your support and encouragement during my term as president.

AMEA Presidents - Past to Present

1946Yale H. Ellis

1948Walter A. Mason

1950Vernon Skoog

1952John J. Hoover

1954Lamar Triplett

1956Carleton K. Butler

1958Mort Glosser

1960Wilbur Hinton

1962Lacey Powell, Jr.

1964G. Truman Welch

1966Jerry Countryman

1968Floyd C. McClure

1970Jerry Bobo

1972Frances P. Moss

1974George Hammett

1975Frances P. Moss

1976S. J. Allen

1978W. Frank McArthur, Jr.

1980Paul Hall

1982Lacey Powell, Jr.

1984Johnny Jacobs

1986Merilyn Jones

1988Ronald D. Hooten

1990Ken Williams

1992Dianne Johnson

1994James K. Simpson

1996Johnnie Vinson

1998Michael Meeks

2000John McAphee, Jr.

2002Tony Pike

2004Becky Rodgers

2006John Baker

2008Pat Stegall

2010Steve McLendon

...welcome our new executive board for the 2011-2013 term, President Clay McKinney, Secretary Felicia Sarubin, Treasurer Daniel Jamieson, and Executive Director Julie Hornstein.

AOA All-State 2011

Alabama Vocal Association Jane

Powell, President

As I write this article I am still very much reflecting on the recent All-State Choir Festival. What an incredible experience for all of the AVA membership and students. The students were so privileged to work with these gifted clinicians. We are all encouraged to be better teachers for having had this opportunity to learn from them and experience the passion that they each bring to this art. Thank you seems like two very small words to fully express the gratitude we feel in Alabama for these fine musicians and the time they spent with us.

It has been an honor this school year to have worked closely with teachers who are veterans in the field of music education as well as the new teachers just beginning their careers in this wonderful profession. I commend the teachers who have shared their passion for music unselfishly for many years and the bright young stars who will also share their individual unique styles for years to come. These teachers are offering many students the opportunity to excel in various forms of choral music. Each teacher brings to the classroom their own unique style and emphasis. One thing that I know is that these educators, through music, are profoundly impacting their students, their schools and their communities. It is this knowledge that leaves me very troubled by the bills that are before our legislators at this time. We simply must stand up for ourselves and our programs and make every effort to protect ourselves and the students we teach. If you have not taken time to contact a senator or house member please do not hesitate any longer to let your voice be heard.

AVA is moving forward with an advocacy campaign that will be unveiled very soon. We are committed to providing each choral director with the necessary information that can be shared with

administrators, parents, community leaders, and legislators. Even though we are in the early stages of the campaign we do have a slogan……Don’t Silence Their Voices! We are committed to LEADING the fight to save our choral programs that are such a vital part of the daily education process!!

Call For Sessions: For those of you interested in bringing your choral group to perform at the 2012 AMEA conference or presenting a session it is important that you be aware of the deadlines. The deadline for submitting session proposals and performance applications for the 2012 AMEA conference is June 1! I encourage as many as will to apply.

Also, the deadline for submitting award nominations is July 15. These awards include, Outstanding Administrator, Outstanding Music Educator, and the Distinguished Service Award.

You can find the necessary forms and instructions in this issue of the ala breve. Don’t forget to renew your MENC membership so that you can participate in all AVA activities for the upcoming year. Your membership will expire on June 30 and forms have already gone out electronically so it would be a good idea to take care of this now!

The AMEA Board would like to encourage as many music educators as possible to attend MENC Week in Washington, DC the week of June 24 – 28. You can find all the necessary information on the MENC website. All AVA members could benefit greatly from such a trip and one of the highlights of the trip is a visit to Capitol Hill and an opportunity to let our Alabama voices be heard.

Two profile areas that need your attention:

1) Update your MENC profile by logging in to the MENC website and clicking “member services.” It’s especially important to update email and mailing

addresses and make sure the correct area/s of interest are checked.

2)Update your AVA profile by logging in to alavocal.org. and clicking “up-date” on the homepage. If you have forgotten your user name and password you can obtain a reminder from the webmaster by email, cathy@alavocal.org. Many AVA members have never entered information into this database and we need you to do this. To do so, click “sign-up” on the homepage and follow the instructions.

June 5 – 8 are the dates for the Summer Board Meeting of the AVA Governing Board. The board will be evaluating the first year of the State Choral Performance Assessment at this meeting. We will also be putting the final touches on the new adjudication forms that will be used during the 2011-12 school year. There are samples of the forms on the website. Please take the time to study these forms. If you have comments or suggestions concerning the assessment, the new forms, or any other AVA concerns, please contact your district chair so that he/she can bring those before the board. If there is anything that you would like to put on the board meeting agenda please send an electronic request to jane@alavocal.org no later than June 1.

I wish for you fun filled days with your students as we close out the remainder of this school year. I hope your concerts are memorable for all of the right reasons! I thank you for your participation in all AVA events this year and look forward to seeing you and working with you and your students again during the 2011-12 school year.

Jane Powell, AVA President

AVA All-State 2011

2012 In-Service Conference

January 19 -21

Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center

Name____________________________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________ City __________________ State ___________ Zip _____________

Phone (_____) ______________________________________Email __________________________________________

Proposed Session Title ______________________________________________________________________________

Session Description _________________________________________________________________________________

Division (please check all that apply):

_____ Alabama Vocal Association_____ Alabama Bandmasters Association_____ Higher Education

_____ Collegiate (CMENC)_____ Alabama Orchestra Association_____ Elementary/General

Conditions:

• Session proposals must be submitted by the individual who will be presenting the session as the primary clinician.

• All Alabama clinicians who are music educators must be members of MENC/AMEA and must register for the conference in order to present a session.

• AMEA does not pay honoraria or expenses to its members.

• Individual requests for particular times cannot be granted. Submission of a proposal assumes acceptance of the scheduled times.

• If the session is accepted, the primary clinician will be responsible for informing all other participants of all the specifics relating to the session.

Please attach a black and white photograph and clinician biography (100 words or less)

Submit to:

Executive

A A PPLICATION PPLICATION

2012 In-Service Conference

January 19-21

Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center

Name of Ensemble __________________________________________________________________________________

Current # of Members ________________________________________Age Level of Ensemble ___________________

School ____________________________________________________ Director _______________________________

Address ___________________________________________________ City ______________________Zip _________

Phone: School (_____) _______________________________________ Cell (_____)____________________________

Email ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Applying for:_____ Stage Performance _____ Lobby Performance (chamber groups, etc. - no percussion ensembles or jazz bands.

Division (please check all that apply):

_____ Alabama Vocal Association_____ Alabama Bandmasters Association_____ Higher Education

_____ Collegiate (CMENC)_____ Alabama Orchestra Association_____ Elementary/General

Conditions:

• Submission must include completed performance application, high quality recording of the ensemble (no more than two years old), programs from recent concerts, biography of the conductor and performing group, picture of the performing group and two letters of recommendation. (A current photograph of the group and conductor will be requested should the ensemble be selected to perform.)

• Recordings must include two varied selections of high-quality literature.

• Consideration will be given to level of musical quality, variety, as well as overall conference schedule and planning.

• Directors of performing groups must be members of MENC/AMEA and must register for the conference.

• Directors must agree to adhere to performance stage time limits, as set forth in the conference schedule.

• Directors will be notified of selection by July 30, 2011.

I have read the above conditions, and if selected, agree to abide by them.

Director’s Signature_________________________________________________________________________

Please attach a black and white photograph of the performing group, biography of the group and conductor (100 words or less each), recent concert programs, and two letters of recommendation.

Submit to:Garry Taylor, Executive Director

Alabama Music Educators Association

600 Manor Drive NE

Cullman, AL 35055

DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2011

g gl l e e e e

MENC: The National Association for Music Education Explores “The Glee Effect” on Nation’s School Music Ensembles

RESTON, VA (February 4, 2011) —

MENC: The National Association for Music Education announced a nationwide poll of music educators on “The Glee Effect” to explore how the program may influence student involvement in school music programs. The poll was launched in response to numerous inquiries from the press and to a multitude of online conversations about the television program and others like it. As the poll was launched, MENC President Scott C. Shuler discussed what the existence of Glee may mean to music programs.

“MENC applauds Glee and its creators for showing millions of people each week how music benefits kids,” said Shuler. “Through the show’s portrayal of a high school show choir, Glee demonstrates how music education lifts and inspires students, in many cases providing the main reason they are excited about school. Music also provides these students with skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school and in life – learning to sing or play an instrument helps young people develop creativity, critical thinking, literacy, and teamwork skills.

“No wonder schools that have strong music programs report higher graduation rates and fewer dropouts than those that don’t,” continued Shuler, Arts Consultant for the Connecticut State Department of Education Bureau of Accountability and Improvement.

“Learning music is even associated with higher education and income levels later in life. For today’s students to succeed tomorrow, they need a comprehensive education that includes music taught by exemplary music educators. We would be delighted if the success of Glee results in citizens around the country contacting their local school boards in support of their school music programs.”

When asked about some of the aspects of Glee that have been considered controversial in some quarters, Shuler commented, “The show deserves credit for featuring a wide variety of music performed with exceptional skill and expressiveness. As in real school ensembles, Glee’s students draw on the camaraderie and support of their teacher and fellow musicians to overcome personal challenges, find a place within their school where they fit in, and achieve excellence. The behavior of fictional characters, like that of real students, sometimes falls short of the ideal, but viewers understand that Glee is a television show, not reality. In real life, music students work incredibly hard to make sure they each perform their part in school ensembles to the best of their ability. That kind of sustained, detail-oriented practice is difficult to portray on a fast-paced television show. Real school musicians are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. And of course, in the real world, the choir would be a course that meets during the school day, not an after-school club, and the director would be a highly-trained, certified music educator, not a mysteriously gifted Spanish teacher!

“Fortunately for students, music

teachers continue to provide inspiring ensembles like this all across our country, in spite of budget cuts that sometimes undermine the quality of music programs. We’re grateful to the teachers and supportive parents who strive to overcome difficult situations to make sure kids get to experience the benefits of learning music.”

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, among the world's largest arts education organizations, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. Through membership of more than 75,000 active, retired, and pre-service music teachers, and with 60,000 honor students and supporters, MENC serves millions of students nationwide through activities at all teaching levels, from preschool to graduate school. MENC's mission is to advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and highquality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education. MENC is located in Reston, VA.

As my tenure as President comes to a close, I would like to say a special thank you for the outstanding service of our outgoing governing board. The hard work and excellent dedication of Beth Davis, Dr. Sara Womack, Lea Hoppe, Dan Norris, and Heather Atkins, along with our division chairs, have helped make the last two years very successful for our division. It has been a privilege and an honor serving on the AMEA Governing Board as President of the AMEA Elementary/General Division and I look forward to continuing as Vice President.

Please remember to renew your AMEA membership early. The membership calendar year runs from July 1-June 30. Keep in mind also that MENC Week in Washington will be held June 24-28, and information can be found on MENC’s website. As you explore the website, check on your MENC profile to be sure it is up to date. Log in to the MENC website and click “member services.” It’s especially important to update email and mailing addresses and make sure the correct area/s of interest are checked. The 2012 AMEA Conference session and performance proposal deadlines are June 1, and award nominations for deserving music educators are July 1.

I am pleased to recognize the 2011-13 slate of officers elected by the membership at the Elementary/General Business meeting. Joining President Beth Davis are President-Elect Karla

Elementary/General Division

Sharon August, President

Upcoming Dates

• May 6-7-ACDA Young Voices at Auburn University.

• June 6-17-Orff Schulwerk Level II Certification at Samford University.

Hodges, Secretary Heather Atkins, Treasurer Lea Hoppe, and Hospitality Katie Hoppe-McQueen.

This is my last article for the Ala Breve as President of the Elementary/General Division, and I want to express my appreciation to you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you.

Thank you to all Elementary/General Division members and to the Elementary/General executive board for all your support and encouragement during my term as president.

Please do not hesitate to e-mail me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns – sharonaug@gmail.com

• June 20-24-AL AOSA Music Camp at Trinity United Methodist Church.

•June 24-28-MENC Week in Washington

• August 1-AOSA Chapter Share -9:0012:00-Location TBA

• October 7-AMEA Elementary Music Festival with Dena Byers at the Wright Center, Samford University.

•October 8-AMEA/AOSA Joint Workshop with Dena Byers at Samford University.

•November 9-12-AOSA 2011 Professional Development Conference in Pittsburg, PA.

I am pleased to recognize the 2011-13 slate of officers elected by the membership at the Elementary/General Business meeting. Joining President Beth Davis are President-Elect

Karla Hodges, Secretary Heather Atkins, Treasurer Lea Hoppe, and Hospitality

Katie Hoppe-McQueen

Take the Wheel! Navigate through Your Member Benefits with this Road Map

Welcome! Here are just a few of the benefits you receive as a member of MENC: The National Association for Music Education:

Orientation: MENC’s Web Site

(www.menc.org)

Find your way with the help of the resources on MENC’s Web site. Discover frequently updated information on membership, events, programs, and publications, plus links to state music educators associations, MENC affiliated organizations, and many others. A wealth of information is accessible, including new articles weekly, online journals, and special resources such as the “Make Your Case” advocacy database. You’ll also find career and copyright centers, a section devoted to the National Music Education Standards, and an MENC staff list with e-mail links.

Express Lane: The members’ only section of the Web site gives you access to the Career Center and online journals, and the ability to post on the member forums and comment on articles.

PLUS: Access your membership record to update personal information, view membership status, renew membership, and more.

For Your Cruising Pleasure: Online Journals

The following online journals are available at www.menc.org to all members free of charge.

Music Educators Journal (MEJ)

General Music Today (GMT)

Journal of Music Teacher Education (JMTE)

UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education

In addition, the Journal of Research in Music Education (JRME) is now available online to subscribers.

STOP: You will also receive four issues of Music Educators Journal and six issues of Teaching Music via postal mail.

Fasten Your Seatbelt and visit My Music Class—MENC’s online teaching resource exclusively for our members. My Music Class is an idea center and lesson plan library filled with standards-aligned teaching ideas and resources for you to put to use in your classroom or rehearsal room. Visit My Music Class at www.menc.org to search for resources by teaching level, teaching area, national standard, and user rating. Some lessons even include audio and visual support. All resources are available free to MENC members. My Music Class is also a place where you can share your own expertise with your fellow members. Add your lesson plan or rehearsal techniques via the user-friendly submission process.

Point of Interest: MENC E-Newsletters

Free e-newsletters for MENC Collegiate members, Tri-M Music Honor Society members, and various special research interest groups are available.

Save Along The Way: Member Discounts

All members receive a 25% discount on all MENC specialty items including CDs, DVDs and videos as well as monthly specials offering discounts of 50% or more. Members also qualify for a 25% member discount on all MENC books, available through Rowman and Littlefield Education. Visit www.rowmaneducation.com and use code “MENC25”.

Need Roadside Assistance? Ask the Music Education Mentors

Expert mentors in music education offer online professional development ideas to MENC members by contributing to MENC’s online networks during the school year. MENC members who post questions at the band, orchestra, chorus, general music, and jazz forums are able to get expert advice.

Weekly Traffic Report: MENC Member News Updates

All members can elect to receive important and time-sensitive music education news and action items by e-mail. Subscribe by e-mailing mbrserv@menc2.org.

Fuel Up Your Job Search: MENC Online Job Center

The Online Job Center provides current listings of open positions for all specialties and levels in music education. All MENC members seeking jobs can also list personal information and qualifications at no charge. This service is offered year round.

Safe and Sound: Group Insurance Plan

Through an agreement with Forrest T. Jones & Company, Inc., MENC offers a variety of group insurance coverages for you and your family, for low monthly costs and full protection. Free term life is available to new members during the first year of membership. For more information, call Forrest T. Jones & Co., Inc., at 1-800-265-9366.

Keep Your Vehicle Running Strong: MENC Health Benefits Program

The MENC Health Benefits Program™ has been designed to provide our members with comprehensive health insurance benefits at a price they can afford. The program is administered by leading providers of national association benefits programs, Forrest T. Jones and Company. For specific features of this program call 1-888-715-6584, or visit http://www.assurantaffinity.com/ menc/index1.php?cmpid=153.

Earn on Your Journey: Bank of America WorldPoints® Card

A credit card rewards program with no annual fee, issued by Bank of America. Each dollar spent earns one point toward rewards for the cardholder such as tickets on major U.S. airlines, car rentals, hotel stays and more. Every purchase earns a contribution to MENC at no additional cost. Learn more by calling 1-800-833-6262.

Performance Insurance from ASCAP and BMI

Through an agreement with ASCAP and BMI, MENC-, or State MEA-, sponsored groups led by active MENC members are granted performance rights of music managed by these organizations. (This covers only performances sponsored by MENC or state affiliates of MENC.) However, if members wish to record their students’ performance of any work, permission must be obtained through Harry Fox Agency. For more information, visit the www.harryfox.com.

Don’t Forget the Lights as

you showcase music through video in your classroom.

As an MENC member, you are designated a SchoolTube moderator and can post videos highlighting your music program in a safe, non-commercial online environment—SchoolTube. com. Use SchoolTube for best practices, music appreciation, community outreach, and other components that will engage your students, parents, and community supporters.

YIELD! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS, CALL MEMBER SERVICES AT 800-828-0229 OR VISIT www.menc.org.

Information is current as of January 2010 and is subject to change.

Tips That Click

Recruiting and Retention (Part

“You can’t teach an empty chair” is a piece of advice I have heard many times in my career. Several attribute the quote to Lassiter High School director Alfred Watkins, and if you know Alfred, you are well aware that he has never suffered for a lack of chairs AND eager students to fill them! The focus of the next two installments of Tips That Click will be recruiting and retention. Several experienced directors have volunteered information that should help us all in our efforts to build successful programs.

Terry Ownby is the Director at Muscle Shoals Middle School, (as well as serving ABA as Recording Secretary) and has long had one of the largest and most viable programs in the state. His recruiting approach is a team effort of all the directors in the program and LOTS of parental involvement. “I think that we have to constantly “sell” our band programs in the community where we teach. I am always looking for ways to get our band program out of the band room and into the community. We perform at home middle school ballgames, and a couple of basketball games in the Fall along with 2 concerts. When we recruit our fifth graders, we bring them 3 classes at a time to the band room, and use the King Music Assessment test and perform all the examples live with our directors. Once that is complete, we follow up with a parent meeting with all fifth grade parents and a full fifth grade class meeting with the counselor and Principal. We try to go over within a week of those meetings and have the Symphonic Band and Middle School Jazz Bands perform for the entire elementary school student body. The concert is fun, fast paced, and engages the students. About a week after this concert, the forms are turned in to preregister for the next school year. We normally get

One)

“You can’t teach an empty chair”

about 30-35% of the grade enrollment in band the next year.” As for keeping them involved in future years, Terry elaborates: We stay involved with the kids throughout the school year and work to keep them engaged in what’s going on. When we get enrollment figured for the next year I spend time one on one with kids who aren’t signed up. Also spend time talking with parents about benefits of band and keep them involved in the activity. We normally lose 15-20 kids a year to normal attrition but gain 10-15 new 7th and 8th grade beginners each year.”

Larry Cornelius served the Auburn City Schools as a junior high director for over 10 years, teaching primarily at Auburn Junior High School. The success of this program is legendary and goes back to a foundation laid many years ago. Larry described some of the keys that have long made the recruiting for this program so effective. “There are two things in particular that immediately come to mind. When it was almost time for the students to sign up for electives for the next year, we would always do a recruiting concert for the upcoming class that would

potentially be in beginner band. We would schedule an assembly for the entire grade level, and I would have the top band play a variety of music, including typical band music as well as some popular music, movie themes, or fight songs. Sometimes I would use the jazz band. I would always talk to the kids in between pieces and emphasize how it was possible to do any other activity at the school (sports, cheerleading, academic teams, etc.) and still be in the band and would make a point of having the band kids raise their hands if they were involved in these activities in addition to being in the band. When the prospective beginners would see this, it would help them to see how it was “cool” to be in the band since we had all kinds of students in the program. I would tell them how to sign up for band, and then ideally the counselors would then pass out the registration forms for classes for the students to take home at the end of the assembly. It was fresh on their minds when they went home that night, and they would excitedly tell their parents to sign

them up! We would typically end of with 50% of the class population in the beginner band.” As to the subject of retention, he adds: “The biggest incentive I had to help with recruitment as well as retention was an annual spring trip to either Orlando or Williamsburg. So much was linked to this trip. Students had to pass off music to be able to perform with us in any concert, including the trip. Their behavior and grades (in band as well as in other classes) also had to be good for them to be able to participate. Our school system did not permit us to give grades for attendance at after school practices and concerts, so our policy was that students must come to practice to be able to perform, and if they missed a performance, they were not permitted to travel with us on the spring trip. As a result, achievement and attendance were rarely a problem. Students would do anything it took to be able to go on the spring trip. It was such an established tradition that time and time again students would tell me it was the highlight of their junior high years. I know that many times

students would join the band just to be able to go on the spring trip, but most of the time once they were “hooked” they realized that they loved band for other reasons and continued it throughout high school. It didn’t matter to me why they joined band as long as they joined because over the years I found that many great band students that stayed in band long term originally may have started band for just for the spring trip.”

Stay tuned for part two of some outstanding recruiting and retention insights in the August issue!

Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity is committed to improving instruction and advancement of bands in this state. Please email pemin@mac.com with any comments on this column or suggestions for future columns.

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From Higher Ed...

Timothy Phillips, President, Higher Education Division

Greetings fellow collegiate educators of Alabama,

As I write this HED update, I can almost see the finish line of this academic year. I hope your year has been rewarding and that you will soon get some vacation time to recharge your batteries over the summer months.

In the coming months, I would like to encourage applied music professors from our state to consider submitting an article for publication in Ala Breve. The “Call for Submissions” at the end of this update is really directed toward any of you who would be interested in publishing in a peer reviewed format. Simply put, this just means that your article will be selected by a review committee prior to publication. It is an excellent opportunity for you to share your vast knowledge of your particular area of expertise with our readers.

In the closing meeting of the AMEA Board of Directors at this year’s conference, we discussed some ideas for unifying the HED schedule within next year’s conference. We are still in the “idea” stages of this slight restructuring; but, the hope is that we can organize our events so that our members can easily attend everything from the HED business meeting, to the presentations, to the recitals, to the mixer. Also, there was a mention of incorporating student and faculty chamber groups into next year’s AMEA Conference. As this idea evolves, I will share details with you.

If you or any of your colleagues are interested in presenting sessions or performances at the 2012 AMEA

Conference, please know that the deadline for submission is June 1, 2011. You will find application forms in this issue of Ala Breve. I encourage all collegiate music educators to consider presenting at AMEA. This is an excellent opportunity to share your research, experience, etc. and to interact with other great educators in our state. Also, if you are interested in nominating a fellow music educator for an award through AMEA, please submit application forms (also included in this issue) by July 15, 2011.

Also, I would like to remind you that AMEA’s membership year runs from July 1 through June 30. Please consider renewing your membership early as we embark on this new year.

As always, if you have any suggestions as to how we can improve the HED area of AMEA, please don’t hesitate to contact me. The AMEA Board will meet this summer to discuss next year’s activities and I am happy to bring any issues to the table for you. I appreciate your continued support.

-Timothy Phillips

Submission Guidelines of Update: Applications of Research in Music

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Ala Breve is seeking submissions of research articles for the Summer 2011 “Special Research” Edition to be published during the summer, 2011. Submissions may consist of quantitative, qualitative, descriptive, historical, philosophical, or any other kind of accepted research conducted by university faculty and/or active practitioners. The deadline for the submission is May 1, 2011. Submission Guidelines (adapted from the

Education) 1. Manuscripts must be research-based. 2. Manuscripts may present a single research study or a review of the literature. 3. Articles should be unique and not published elsewhere. In accordance with the Code of Ethics, submitting a manuscript indicates that it has not been published previously and is not currently submitted for publication elsewhere, either in its entirety or in part. 4. Authors should comply with APA ethical standards (www.apa.org/ethics/ code2002.html) and institutional and federal regulations in the treatment of human subjects. 5. Quantitative manuscripts must conform to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed., 2001). Nonquantitative and historical studies may conform to APA style or to The Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed., 2003). Authors may not mix styles within a manuscript. 8. Authors should submit four copies of typed, doublespaced manuscripts, which normally should not exceed 20 pages, along with an abstract of approximately 150 words. Authors should also submit 4 to 6 keywords relating to their article’s content. Type size should be no smaller than 12 points (double-spacing should include 28 points total for a line of text and the following line). Figures and drawings should be camera-ready. 9. To preserve the author’s anonymity in the review process, the manuscript should not reveal the author’s identity or institutional affiliation. The author’s name, address (including e-mail, if available), and institutional affiliation should appear only on a separate cover sheet. Manuscripts not conforming to this stipulation will be returned. 10. Manuscripts should be addressed to: Dr. Carl Hancock, University of Alabama School of Music, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

The The Scarlet & Grey Scarlet & Grey

Advocacy: Use it or

William W. Gourley

It seems the band or orchestra educator’s job is never done. Keeping up with budget, festival and association deadlines, preparing programs, booster meetings, repairs, moving chairs and stands, testing, grading and keeping the office and rehearsal rooms presentable fill the days. Where does one find time to promote the value of music?

In spite of the many successes a program enjoys, we cannot escape the importance of advocacy as an integral pillar of a successful music program. The music industry has realized its importance for over two decades. The Gemeinhardt Report of the late 1970’s emphasized the importance of keeping the community aware of the benefits of music participation. Instrument manufacturers have watched as music programs have come under attack throughout the country during the past 25 years and have sought to bring the advocacy message to the music education community.

The pressures on music programs across the country are varied. Increased core curriculum testing by states, a demand for higher academic achievement, our continual perceived diminished academic standing worldwide, a demand for more instructional time for core subjects, block scheduling, budget shortages; all affect music programs across the country as they do in Michigan.

Schools have had to make some difficult decisions that negatively impact music programs. In November I received a phone call from a middle school director in one of Michigan’s historically strong band programs. The district made the decision to have middle school band cut back to every other day to accommodate more instructional time in the core areas. The faculty and administration valued the music program but felt it was the only choice they could make to create more time for core classes hoping to improve their standardized test scores.

Students with coursework/experience in music performance scored 52 points higher on the verbal portion of the SAT and 39 points higher on the math portion than students with no coursework or experience in the arts.

-Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, 1998.

Studying music strengthens students’ academic performance. Studies have indicated that sequential, skill-building instruction in art and music integrated with the rest of the curriculum can greatly improve children’s performance in reading and math.

Remember what you learned in physics class about Newton’s first law of motion, inertia. Objects at rest tend to stay at rest, objects in motion stay in motion at the same speed and same direction, unless they are acted upon by another force.

We need to look to industry to help us in the continued success for music programs. Coca-Cola, McDonalds, General Motors, Disney, all enjoy the largest market share in their respective markets. They have inertia. Still, they market their products as if every day was the first day on the market for their product..

When researchers analyzed the NELS-88 database of the U.S. Department of Education, which tracked 25,000 students over a ten year period, they discovered that students who were involved in music scored higher on standardized tests and reading tests than students not taking music courses. This finding was consistent for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

They constantly advocate (market) their product to varied audiences. Disney markets to children to introduce them to the product and to parents to remind them how much fun they had as children so they will take their children. They also market to older adults to remind them of the joys they had as children going to Disneyland, how, as parents, they enjoyed taking their children, and how great it would be to go on their own, without parents or children. GM doesn’t assume you know the benefits of their product over Ford or Chrysler. Coca-Cola and McDonalds continually market an image and the value of their products over the competitions’.

Educated in the art of music making and teaching, we as music educators are unaware or reluctant to get involved in the business aspects of music education. We rely too heavily on music selling itself based upon its inherent artistic value. We understand it, so should the general public. Kids are happy, the band or orchestra sounds good, and the students do well at festivals year after year. We have a strong program, the community and administration support music so we feel we can let inertia continue its course. Marketing music is the modus operandi of the P. T. Barnums and Harold Hills of the world where the promotion is bigger than the product. We, as artists, are above that. We are about the art. So, we continue to produce fine programs feeling all is well. Inertia.

These companies all did well for the longest time until that acted upon by another force thing. GM’s inertia changer was the Japanese imports. Coke’s other force was Pepsi (remember that New Coke fiasco?). Mickey Ds’ is fighting off Wendy’s, Burger King, et al. The smart companies realize the importance of, not only product, but keeping their message out front. They were able to minimize damage because they marketed their product through good times to stay ahead rather than waiting until that Another Force thing came along to create rough times

Successful businesses understand the importance of developing and maintaining their message to the consumer. They know that attitudes are changed slowly, through

-Martin Gradner, Alan Fox, Faith Knowles and Donna Jeffrey, “Learning Improved by Arts Training,” Nature, May 23, 1996

-Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, 1997

constant information, reinforcing the benefits of the product and realizing the audience is constantly evolving. They continually add force to their inertia so when they encounter that another force it will have less impact than had they not added power to the message. Advocacy may not eliminate the impact but it can definitely minimize the damage (change in direction) it could have on our music programs.

In a 1995 study in Hamilton, Ohio, string students who participated in pullout lessons averaged higher scores than the non-pullout students in all areas of the Ohio Proficiency Test. Sixty-eight (68) percent of the string students achieved satisfactory ratings on all sections of the test compared to fifty-eight (58) percent of the non-pullout students.

-Michael D. Wallick, “A Comparison Study of the Ohio Proficiency Test Results Between Fourth-Grade String Pullout Students and Those of Matched Ability,” Journal of Research in Music Education, 1998

Those of us that have been involved in music education for more than ten years have seen at least one music program negatively impacted by other forces. Block scheduling gradually undermines the finesse of ensembles or curtails enrollment. The pressure to improve MEAP scores results in less instructional time for beginning and intermediate band/orchestra classes. Team teaching creates oddly configured instrumental music classes that challenge effective instruction. Music programs carry a greater share of the budget burden when state funding is reduced so the core classes can maintain their financial stability. The popularity of soccer, hockey, equestrian

clubs, etc. creates demands on students’ time and parents’ resources. Another force.

The average scores achieved by music students on the 1999 SAT increased for every year of musical study. This same trend was found in SAT scores of previous years.

College students majoring in music achieve higher than students of all majors on college reading exams.

-Carl Hartman, “Arts May Improve Students’ Grades,” The Associated Press, October. 1999.

There is a very high correlation between positive self-perception, high cognitive competence scores, healthy self-esteem,

-Steven M. Demorest and Steven J. Morrison, “Does Music Make You Smarter?,” Music Educators Journal, September, 2000.

Advocacy: Use it or Lose it (Con’t)

total interest, school involvement, and the study of music.

-O. F. Lillemyr, “Achievement Motivation as a Factor in Self-Perception,” Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities.

Nations whose students consistently outperform the United States in tests assessing science achievement are the countries where music is a primary focus of the curriculum.

nurture and grow a program. But, none of these addresses the academic benefits of music participation and the integral part it plays in student achievement, attitude, self-worth, enhanced creativity and problem solving skills gained through the study of music. They don’t reflect what is happening to the brain. So when another force (block scheduling, expanded core instruction, budget constraints, high school, academic load or the junior year) comes along, it becomes easy to dismiss band or orchestra as an expendable frill.

subject teachers regarding the enhanced academic, creative and societal skills achieved through music making.

Fortunately, for music educators there has been an advocacy inertia created by industry and the education community. This information is at our fingertips waiting for us to take action. The excerpts in this article are from the CD-ROM, “Essential Music Advocacy,” available from David Madera at Focus On Excellence 800-332-2637. This is a collection of indexed articles and lists ready to be printed and distributed: to parents, administrators, school newsletters, newspapers, music booster newsletters and e-mail, at parent teacher conferences, open houses, concerts, wherever school information is exchanged. You don’t need to spend valuable time searching the Internet, it is all there for you to add energy to your inertia.

Music manufacturers have packets that include posters, pamphlets, videos and scripted power point presentations designed for presentation to businesses, school boards, administration and parent groups. These can be presented by a parent, student or yourself. NAMM (National Association of Music Manufacturers), has created a complete advocacy campaign entitled, The Einstein Kit, that can be easily instituted by any support organization. Contact Sharon McLaughlin 800-767-6266 ext. 129 or www.namm.com. Another useful advocacy site is musicachievementcouncil.org

Great concerts, of great music, variety, lots of kids, festival ratings, great teaching and, yes, trips, parties and awards all contribute to a successful program. These build tradition and an inertia that can

Ongoing advocacy is an essential element in any successful program. It brings students to the program, can help keep them in the program, create a demand for a vital and supported program, encourage parents to select music for their children and to keep them there year after year, establish a positive attitude among fellow educators regarding the impact on student learning music has and more. But, these attitudes do not change with a flood of action after that another force hits. The course is too altered by then and it takes years to create your own force to redirect the impact.

I am not suggesting music education will vanish from our schools without an active advocacy program. I am concerned with the diminished effectiveness such programs will have on students both cognitively and affectively. Will music programs be able to offer rewarding performances of quality literature, involving a significant portion of the student body? Or, will they have to settle for adequate performances of acceptable literature, by a small fraction of the student body? Will overall student creativity and problem solving skills be enhanced by music study or limited in the pursuit of higher MEAP scores?

As music educators and artists we understand the benefits gained through music performance. And, an engineer understands the benefits of the car he or she designs. But, the marketing guys sell that car, not engineers. Music educators need to step off the podium and onto Wall Street. Before students can realize the magic (art) and benefits of music making, we need to get them in the seats by educating them, their parents, the administrators, school board and core

We are the only ones who can create the advocacy inertia. We cannot expect people to make an informed decision regarding music participation if we do not inform them. We must be that another force that changes the inertia of perception that music is a wonderful and rewarding frill into the inertia of recognition that music is a vital cross-curricular academic discipline that enhances all learning. And, it is wonderful, enriching and fulfilling.

William W. Gourley is the Vice President/General and Educational Consultant for the Marshall Music Company of Lansing, Michigan where his responsibilities include the oversight of sales and marketing, editing and writing Marshall’s educational newsletter, mentoring music teachers throughout the state, lecturing at universities, presenting workshops and coordinating educational programs and seminars for music educators. His articles have been published nationally and most notably in the Keynotes Magazine. Mr. Gourley is the conductor of the Dexter Community Band and the Ann Arbor Civic Band. During his twenty-five years as a music educator he taught in the Dundee and Chelsea school systems, served on the conducting staff of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and founded and conducted the Southeastern Michigan Honors Band, a high school student ensemble that toured throughout Europe. Mr. Gourley serves as a faculty member of the Conn-Selmer Institute and is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, and lecturer for student and adult ensembles in the state and nationally. Mr. Gourley received a Bachelors and Masters of Music Education from Michigan State University. He has served as a district and state Executive Board member and Committee Chairman for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) and is a threetime recipient of the MSBOA District XII Outstanding Band Director Award. Mr. Gourley is a past chairman of the Michigan Chapter of the American School Band Directors’ Association and was awarded the Stanbury Award as Michigan’s Outstanding Young Band Director of the Year. Bands and orchestras under his direction have performed at prestigious festivals, music conferences, and concert venues throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and have gained a national and international reputation of excellence for their musical proficiency and artistry.

-James R. Ponter, “Comparing School Music Programs and Science Test Scores Worldwide,” NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) Bulletin, February, 1999

Alabama Bandmasters Association - Chuck Eady, President

Greetings!

Another milestone for ABA was this year’s All-State Festival! The new site and venues were awesome. There were many hands working to make this event such a success. Thank you Tony Pike (site coordinator), and the Mobile band directors (Chester Bean, Tim Beattie, Sid Dedeaux, Will Duncan, Mark Foster, Cody Knerr) for providing and moving percussion equipment for each band.

The All-State Solo Festival was once again a mountain top musical experience. Each year I am amazed at the level of talent and musicianship these students exhibit.

Congratulations to Julia Adams of Mountain Brook High School. She was awarded the Alabama Bandmasters/Photography by Suzanne Scholarship and the Phi Beta Mu Lamar Triplett Scholarship.

We were fortunate to have such an outstanding panel of All-State clinicians: Myra Rhoden for the Middle School Band, Sue Samuels for the Blue Band, Elva Kaye Lance with the White Band, and Col. John Bourgeois conducting the Red Band.

As with any new adventure, we are aware of a few areas where we can improve. In order to help the Board of Directors in planning for next year, we will be asking those who attended this event to complete an online survey and provide us with comments and suggestions. Watch your email for this information.

If you were not in attendance, our new ABA Executive Officers are: John

Cooper - President, Rusty Courson –Vice-President/President elect, Terry Ownby – Recording Secretary, and Randall Key – Alabama Jazz Educators Representative. Harry McAfee has completed the transition to Executive Secretary and is doing an outstanding job.

We are grateful to our outgoing District Chairmen: Joel Mason – District I, John Bradley – District III, Virginia Price –District V, and Trey Whitman – District VII, and our IAJE Representative Sid Dedeaux. They have all served ABA well.

I hope you are planning on attending our summer conference June 22-23, 2011 at the Hampton Inn and Suites, Orange Beach. Please notice this is a different location from years past. Preregistration for the conference will be $50.00, after May 20 the registration fee will be $70.00. The Board and Music Selection Committee will be meeting on June 21, our meeting and clinics will be June 22 & 23 with our

annual MPA Adjudicator Clinic on the afternoon of June 22. This is a great ‘family oriented’ conference and I encourage you to attend. There is a link on the ABA web site you can use to reserve your rooms, http://www. alabamamea.org/bandmasters/index.htm. Our group code is ABM.

The 2012 AMEA Conference will again be held in Montgomery January 19-21 at the Renaissance Hotel. For more information, go to the AMEA web site (http://www.alabamamea.org/index.ht m).

All-State 2012 will be back in Mobile April 12-14 at the Mobile Renaissance Riverside, The Mobile Convention Center, and the Mobile Civic Center. Make plans to attend!

These are exciting times for the ABA. It has been an honor to serve as your President. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for us. I hope you have a successful end of the year and a restful summer.

ABA President Chuck Eady (L) and ABA President-Elect John Cooper (R) with All-State Red Band Conductor Colonel John Bourgeois

All-State Band 2011

Piccolo - Franchestia Flennory, Keith HS; Flute - Helen Caldwell, Oak Mtn. HS; Oboe - Zack Apol - Oak

All-StateRedBandFirstChairPlayers

Mtn. HS; Bassoon - Hunter Pelham, Bob Jones HS; Bb Clarinet - Spencer Baek, Sparkman HS; Eb

Clarinet - Kyle Taylor, Faith Academy; Alto Clarinet - Chrystian Herndon, Arab HS; Bass Clarinet -

Jennifer Hengel, Sparkman HS; Contra Clarinet - Gracie Dill, Sparkman HS; Alto Sax - Sam Liaw,

Sparkman HS; Tenor Sax - Griffin McDaniels, Grissom HS; Bari Sax - Michael Harris, Sparkman HS;

French Horn - John Michael Adair, Oak Mtn. HS; Trumpet - Daniel Haddock, Decatur HS; Trombone -

Ben Carrasquillo, Bob Jones HS; Baritone - Marcus Montgomery, Pelham HS; Tuba -David Allen, Bob

Jones HS; String Bass - Aaron Shapiro, Mtn. Brook HS; Percussion - Tripp Gwaltney, Oak

HS

Mtn.

ABA President Chuck Eady presents the ABA “Photography by Suzanne” Scholarship to Julia Adams of Mountain Brook High School

Phi Beta Mu President Byron Dawes presents the Phi Beta Mu Scholarship to Julia Adams of Mountain Brook High School

ABAAll-State Middle School Clinician Myra Rhoden

ABAAll-State Blue Band Clinician Sue Samuels

ABAAll-State White Band Clinician Elva Kaye Lance

Phi Beta Mu Parliamentarian Phil Min and President Bryon Dawes welcome William T. Robinson into the Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame

ABA Solo Festival Finalists Helen Caldwell, Oak Mtn. HS; Ben Carrasguillo, Bob Jones HS; David Allen, Bob Jones HS; Bryan Mortimer, Bob Jones HS; Abby Shelton, Sparkman HS; G. Hunter, Bob Jones HS; Tripp Gwaltney, Oak Mtn. HS

RESTON, VA (April 22, 2011) — MENC:

The National Association for Music Education announced the conductors for the 2012 MENC All-National Honor Ensembles, which will perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on Sunday, June 24, 2012.

Outstanding high school student musicians from throughout the country will be featured in Band, Mixed Choir, Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble. The conductors are:

•Daniel Bukvich, M.M., Lionel Hampton School of Music, University of Idaho -All-National Honor Band

•David Becker, Director of Orchestral Studies and Conductor of the Symphony and Opera Orchestras, Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Wisconsin -- All-National Honor Orchestra

•Sandra Snow, Michigan State University College of Music, Conductor of the Michigan State University Women’s Chamber Ensemble -- All-National Honor Mixed Choir

•Terrell Stafford, Professor of Jazz,

Foley Band “Lights Up” Texas

The Foley High School Band participated in the Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, Texas. The parade is a 3.5 mile long night parade which is the culmination of the Fiesta Celebration in San Antonio. “All bands and floats in the parade have lights and glowing objects plastered all over everything, stated Carl Major.” This year, there were 47 bands from Texas and surrounding states. The 210 member Foley High School Band won 1st Place Band in the Out of State division. The drum majors for Foley High School are Sydney Reim, Virginia Latimore, and Emily Brock. The director of bands is Carl Major and assistant director is Jimmy O’Cain.

Honor Ensembles to Perform at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in June 2012

Director of Jazz Studies, and Chair of Instrumental Studies, Temple University- All-National Honor Jazz Ensemble

“MENC is pleased to offer this unique performance opportunity to a very select group of our nation's finest high school musicians,” said John Kuhner, MENC Eastern Division president and chair of the National Honor Ensembles Task Force. “The students selected will rehearse with our inspiring conductors over four days, leading up to their performance at one of our country's most iconic performance venues, the Kennedy Center. The 2012 MENC All-National Honor Ensembles will surely be a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience for some terrific high school musicians next year!”

The application process for the 2012 MENC All-National Honor Ensembles opens May 31, 2011. For more information on this MENC program, visit www.mencevents.org.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, among the world's largest arts education organizations, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. Through membership of more than 75,000 active, retired, and preservice music teachers, and with 60,000 honor students and supporters, MENC serves millions of students nationwide through activities at all teaching levels, from preschool to graduate school. MENC's mission is to advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education. MENC is located in Reston, VA.

Campus Connections

News and Happenings from Alabama’s Colleges and Universities

University of South Alabama...

The Arts in Education program at USA has been awarded $185,000 to continue the program begun in 2004. This brings the total in grants for the program, developed by Dr. Jeannette Fresne, to more than $1.4 million. The Arts in Education program provides professional development to increase learning in the classroom by using dance, music, theatre and visual arts to teach English-language arts, math, science and social studies. Approximately 18 instructors teach and mentor in the program, allowing exceptionally qualified people to present their area of expertise. For more information on the Arts in Education program, e-mail artsined@usouthal.edu.

programs; faculty biographies; vocal and instrumental ensembles; concert dates; recent programs of student and faculty performances. Please contact us at http://www.southalabama.edu/music/ or by phone at 251-4606136.

University of South Alabama ensembles were wellrepresented in performances for statewide audiences this past semester. The University Chorale (Laura Moore, cond.) performed for the AMEA In-Service Conference in January 2011, the Wind Ensemble (Greg Gruner and Ward Miller, cond.) performed on April 15 for the All-State opening concert, and the USA Percussion Ensemble (Mike Sammons, cond.) performed at the AL Day of Percussion. The USA Concert Choir (Laura Moore, cond.) performed Beethoven Symphony 9 with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and have been invited to perform Carmina Burana with the MSO in April 2012.

The USA Music Department is proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. John J. Papastefan Endowed Scholarship in Percussion. Dr. Papastefan was the director of percussion studies at USA until his retirement in 2008.

Nick Brownlee, a rising senior in the voice studio of Dr. Thomas Rowell, won the Gulf Coast Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in New Orleans, and competed in the National Semi-finals on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in March. Alumnus Andre Chiang, also a student of Dr. Rowell, won the Arkansas District auditions

We invite you to visit the University of South Alabama Music Department website, where you can find a wealth of information – audition and scholarship information; degree

AMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award

AMEA honors its members who have shown a special dedication to music education in Alabama. Various individuals have been honored with AMEA’s “Outstanding Music Educator” award because members have taken the time and interest to nominate them. This award provides our organization the opportunity to honor those who have set high standards for our profession, and who give all of us inspiration and direction. It is likely that every member knows of colleagues or former teachers who have influenced him or her greatly, and who should be honored with our recognition.

Forms must be received by July 15. The presentation of the awards is scheduled for the AMEA In-Service Conference in January 2012. Please complete this form and mail to the address below before July 15, 2011. Garry Taylor, AMEA

Executive Director

1600 Manor Drive NE Cullman, Alabama 35055

Qualifications:

1. Educator must have served a minimum of ten (10) cumulative years as a music educator in any school system(s) and/or collegiate institution(s) in Alabama.

2. Nomination must be made by an AMEA member or by a school administrator. AMEA Board members are ineligible for nomination during their terms of office.

This nomination should be accompanied by the following:

1. A list of specific actions which have initiated or enhanced music education at the local level and/or at state, regional or national levels.

2. Four (4) letters of recommendation: one from a fellow music teacher and three others from any appropriate source. (May include one from a former student, if available.)

AMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award

Name of Nominee____________________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________________

Present Position_____________________________________________________________________________

School System______________________________________________________________________________

Number of cumulative years served as a music educator_______________

Nominated by_______________________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________________

Present Position_____________________________________________________________________________

DEADLINE: JULY 15, 2011

REWARD YOUR RECORDER STUDENTS!

• Colorful, adhesive backed cloth stars easily stick to the safety neck strap

• Kingsley Kolor ® Recorders –available in 7 colors as well as traditional black

• Safety Neck Straps (U.S. Patent No. 6,384,307) available in 14 different colors

• Get recorders and neck straps in your school colors!

•Seven coordinated Reward Certificates

•Student Method Book is gently paced to ensure student success

•Imaginative, colorful illustrations enhance student enjoyment

•Music theory pages reinforce concepts and serve as an assessment tool

FREE Play-Along CD with every initial order for Be A Recorder Star ® Method Books

(classroom set of 30 method books required)

AMEA Outstanding Administrator Award

AMEA honors outsanding administrators who have shown a special interest and dedication to music education in Alabama. Various individuals have been honored with AMEA’s “Outstanding Administrator” award because members have taken the time and interest to nominate them. This award provides our organization the opportunity to honor those administrators who have shown outstanding support of music education and who give all of us inspiration and direction. It is likely that every member knows of an administrator who is deserving of our recognition.

Forms must be received by July 15. The presentation of the awards is scheduled for the AMEA In-Service Conference in January 2012. Please complete this form and mail to the address below before July 15, 2011.

Garry Taylor, AMEA Executive Director

1600 Manor Drive NE Cullman, Alabama 35055

Qualifications:

1. Administrator must have served a minimum of ten (10) cumulative years in any school system(s) and /or collegiate institution(s) in Alabama.

2. Nomination must be made by a current member of AMEA.

This nomination should be accompanied by the following:

1. A list of specific actions which have initiated, and/or enhanced music programs in the system which the nominee administers.

2. Four (4) letters of recommendation from school personnel, community leaders and/or parents.

AMEA Outstanding Administrator Award

Name of Nominee____________________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________________

Present Position_____________________________________________________________________________

School System______________________________________________________________________________

Number of cumulative years served as an adminstrator_______________

Nominated by_______________________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________________

Present Position_____________________________________________________________________________

DEADLINE: JULY 15, 2011

Barbara M. Odom Distinguished Service Award

Awarded to a person “who has clearly given very special service to AMEA or to the goals and purposes of AMEA.” The recipient is “clearly recognizable statewide, and the service for which the award is given, represents a long range commitment that, in every way, can be considered extraordinary and distinguished.” The person has given tirelessly and selflessly to the cause of music education in Alabama and this person’s service would be greatly missed. Forms must be received by July 15. The presentation of the award is scheduled for the AMEA Conference in January 2011. Please complete this form and mail to the address below by July 15, 2011.

Garry Taylor, AMEA Executive Director

1600 Manor Drive NE Cullman, Alabama 35055

Qualifications:

1. Nominee must have served the cause of music education in Alabama.

2. Nomination must be made by a current member of AMEA.

This nomination should be accompanied by the following:

1. A list of specific actions which have initiated, supported and/or enhanced music education in Alabama.

2. Four (4) letters of recommendation from school personnel, community leaders and/or parents.

Barbara M. Odom Distinguished Service Award

Name of Nominee___________________________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________________________

Present Position_____________________________________________________________________________

Nominated by_______________________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________________

Present Position_____________________________________________________________________________

DEADLINE: JULY 15, 2011

Alabama Music Educators Association Hall of Fame

Name of Nominee_________________________________________________________________________

Teaching Field____________________________________________________________________________

Name of School(s)_________________________________________________________________________

Current StatusActive_____Retired_____Deceased_____

Number of years spent in teaching, administrating or supporting music education in the state of Alabama ___________Dates____________________________________________________________

Nominee's Address_________________________________________________________________________ City_______________________________________State_______________Zip________________________ Telephone__________________________Email_________________________________________________

In your letter of recommendation please address the following qualifications:

1. Member of AMEA/MENC and/or supporter of music education and/or professional musician.

2. Excellence in teaching or administration

3. Contributions and improvements made in music education.

4. Betterment of our profession through exemplary service or acts.

5. Professional offices, publications, awards, performances.

6. Professional ideals and academic integrity.

7. Age 55 or older.

Please provide three letters of recommendation from any of the following: students, administrators, fellow teachers, community, state or national leaders.

Nominator______________________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________State_______________Zip________________________ Telephone_________________________Email_________________________________________________

Send this form, along with your letters of recommendation by July 15, 2011, to:

Garry

Taylor,

Executive Director

Alabama Music Educators Association

1600 Manor Drive NE Cullman, Alabama 35055