October/November 2011 Ala Breve

Dr. Won Cho, Voice

Dr. Martin Cochran, Euphonium

Dr. Gene Fambrough, Percussion

Dr. Denise Gainey, Clarinet

Dr. Jeremy Grall, Guitar, Music Theory

Jodi Haskins, Violin/Viola

Craig Hultgren, Cello*

Dr. Kristine Hurst Wajszczuk, Opera, Voice

Dr. Howard Irving, Department Chair, Musicology

Dr. Yakov Kasman, Piano

Dr. Brian Kittredge, Director of Choral Activities

Jeffrey Koonce, Trombone

Tariq Masri, Bassoon*

Dr. Paul Mosteller, Associate Chair, Voice

David Pandolfi, Horn*

Dr. Henry Panion, Music Technology

Dr. Scott Phillips, Music Technology

Dr. William Price, Music Theory, Composition

Dr. Jeff Reynolds, Music Appreciation

Dr. Steven Roberts, Jazz Ensembles, Trumpet

Scott Robertson, Tuba

Dr. Sue Samuels, Director of Bands

Jim Sullivan, Oboe*

Kevin Turner, Gospel Choir

Lisa Wienhold, Flute*

Daniel Western, saxophone

Dr. James Zingara, Trumpet

*Member, Alabama Symphony Orchestra

President Steve McLendon Dothan High School 1236 S. Oates St. Dothan, AL 36301

dhstigerband@aol.com

(334) 794-0146 School

President, ABA John AustinCooper High School 1625 Danville Road SW Decatur, AL 35601 (256)john.cooper@dcs.edu 355-3829 School

(256)pstegall@mscs.k12.al.us35661 389-2682 School

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

President-Elect

Sara Womack Greystone Elementary School 300 Village Street Birmingham, AL 35242-6447 (205) 439-3200 sara@music.org

President, AOA Clay McKinney Booker T. Washington Magnet School 632 S. Union Street, Montgomery AL 36104 Clay.McKinney@mps.k12.al

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 Dakota Bromley 639 County Road 40 West Prattville, AL 36067 (334) 303-0275

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 Beth Davis Somerville Road Elementary 910 Somerville Road SE Decatur, AL 256-559-020735601

brdavis@crismson.ua.edu

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

dbromley@forum.montevallo.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

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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.

The Music Educators National Conference (MENC) is now the National Association for Music Education. My guess is they’re hoping that NAfME will evolve into the organizational acronym. (Just what education needs, right?….one more acronym.) The following quote was included with the new name announcement on the website: “For today’s students to succeed tomorrow, they need a comprehensive education that includes music taught by exemplary music educators.” This quote will be the maxim that accompanies the new name and logo. I wish I had composed it, however. Even though it is very concise, it presents several wonderful ideas. First, the affirmative statement of success is assumed. I like that idea! Let’s assume that most of our students want to succeed and even will succeed. Under NCLB legislation, we’ve allowed ourselves to subscribe to the idea of educational mediocrity. The goal seems to have become, “Try not to fail” when the goal should be, “Let’s see how far we can go!” Government assumes that teachers are going to do such a poor job that they have to pass legislation to prevent these

failures. But back to the maxim… The term “comprehensive education” is mentioned. Remember this catch phrase when you are advocating for music education. Finally, the slogan included one of my favorite words: exemplary. “Exemplary” means something is so admirable that it should be copied and emulated. The quote ends with “…exemplary music educators.” The strength of our organization lies with these exemplary music educators who just happen to be you and me.

It is my privilege to serve under the leadership of national president, Scott Shuler and Executive Director Michael Butera. Maybe you are unaware that Mr. Butera’s full time job is working for NAfME. He has an enthusiastic staff that he leads every day into the lobbies and offices of our government representatives in Washington. Every day our organization is actively advocating for music education. Now I have to confess, that in the past I have disregarded emails regarding urgent music education legislation that was pending before the House or Senate. I have learned, however, that there is power in a phone call or an email to politicians. Please respond when NAfME or AMEA encourages you to call or email a Senator or Representative. Their staff tracks this communication and it does influence how they form their opinions and vote!

At the state level, Garry Taylor does the same work in Alabama that Michael Butera does in D.C. Although we compensate Garry as a part-time employee, he actually works as Alabama’s Executive Director full-time. Whether it is contacting politicians in Montgomery and Washington, organizing the AMEA website, planning the annual conference, or editing the Ala Breve, Garry spends an enormous amount of time working on our behalf. Thank you, Garry, for the extraordinary job you do for us.

Make your plans now to be in Montgomery at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center, January 19-21, 2012. Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser will be the keynote speaker. We are extremely fortunate to host our Southern Division President, Benny Ferguson, who will also speak. If you are a new teacher, please understand that this conference is professional development and is an InService conference. The superintendent of the state board of education endorses this event and encourages principals to have their music educators attend. He makes this official in an open letter to administrators which appears in the Ala Breve and on the website. Rejuvenate and recharge your batteries this January!

On September 1, MENC officially assumed a new name: “National Association for Music Education, or NAfME. According to Executive Director Michael Butera, “National Association for Music Education” says exactly what we are and what we want: an organization for music education for everyone in our nation, an association that supports music teachers and the profession of music education, a group that isn’t inward-looking and static but outward-reaching and forwardthinking.

Steve McLendon AMEA President

LookForward To Practice!

You spend so much time practicing, you should enjoy it . That’s why Yamaha created the new SV-150 Silent Practice Plus violin. This comfortable, lightweight and stylish instrument includes a controller with a unique MP3/ AAC/WAV/MIDI player; itcan speed or slow any song’s tempo by up to 25% without changing pitch, so you can practiceat your own pace. ■ The controller also offers a chromatic tuner, metronome and 24 high quality Yamaha digital effects – from concert hall reverb to distortion –to make everyday practice sound extraordinary. ■ Visit www.4wrd.it/spvaab today to learn more and find an SV-150 dealer near you. Practice will never be dull again.

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Directors are always searching for literature to perform at assessment festival that will provide multiple rewards for their programs. We all want quality music that will help students grow in musical proficiency, as well as inspire them and give them a sense of aesthetic fulfillment. I recently contacted several experienced Alabama directors to get their insights on the music they felt had these traits. Hintall three chose music by the composer that is known as “the band director’s favorite reed”: Alfred Reed.

Jim Duren has been one of the most outstanding band directors in the state for over 30 years. Presently teaching at Oak Mountain High School, he also directed outstanding programs at Mountain Brook Junior High and High School and Pelham High School. His pick for a work that has inspired helped him develop the program at each of these schools is Russian Christmas Music (Sam Fox, 1969) by Alfred Reed. Jim says: “ This piece is chock full of opportunities to transfer daily fundamental skills into real music. Students have the chance to demonstrate achievement of long sustained tones and matching unisons and octaves. The woodwinds will develop outstanding technique through all the scale passages and flourishes throughout the piece. Russian Christmas Music requires patience by the students and careful study by the director, but it is a composition that has always benefitted my program each time we have performed it”.

Russian Christmas Music was also the pick of Betty Bates, a recent retiree who led the storied program at Scottsboro High School in northeast Alabama for many years. Her teaching situation at Scottsboro was at a high school of modest enrollment, but she feels that they also benefitted from

Tips That Click

preparing the Reed masterwork. “I think the great strength of Russian Christmas Music is that it provides significant and worthwhile parts for every section of the band! This piece truly develops musical independence while being very studentfriendly. My kids always loved the challenge of preparing each segment ,and the musical growth of the band was obvious and rewarding to everyone!”. Both Duren and Bates pointed out that while Russian Christmas Music is scored for full instrumentation, it is liberally cross-cued to allow smaller ensembles to successfully perform the work. This why you hear it (and other Reed compositions) frequently performed by smaller military post bands and university wind ensembles as well as the larger symphonic bands.

Jon Bubbett has served as the band director at Thompson High School for over two decades and has built the program there into one that is among the best in the state. His pick for piece that is quality literature, yet fun for the students is Reed’s El Camino Real (Hal Leonard, 1985). He says: “ The melodies and rhythms are quite challenging, especially at the extreme ends of the tempo spectrum, but the students never tire of working on this music. Every individual part must be fastidiously prepared to insure a successful performance, so accountability and teamwork is at a premium.” This “latin fantasy” is structured around two contrasting dances: the jota and fandango, and familiar set of harmonic progressions. As in Russian Christmas Music, the music is liberally cross-cued.

Alfred Reed also has some outstanding compositions written for younger and advancing bands that are on the Alabama Selected Music list. Slavonic Folk Suite

(Alfred, 1953), Imperatrix (Hal Leonard, 1972), and Sumus Futuro (Barnhouse, 1999) are examples of works that were created for young ensembles, but contain all the distinctive elements that are part of the music Reed has written for more mature ensembles.

In the words of Alabama Bandmaster Hall Of Fame member Ken Williams: “playing Alfred Reed won’t always make your band sound good, but playing Alfred Reed WILL build you a good band!” Most experienced band directors will agree that truer words have never been spoken.

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

Alfred Reed

Alabama Bandmasters Association John Cooper, President

Three Things Every First Year Director Needs to Do – Now!

There are at least three things that every new band director needs to do as he or she begins their first job. Now that the dust has cleared on the first few weeks of school, you are beginning to fall into your regular schedule. These three suggestions might help improve your year.

First, read the Alabama Bandmasters Association Handbook. It can be found online at http://www.alabamamea.org/ bandmasters/index.htm. The handbook will give you information on how we can work together to improve all our bands. If you’ve read it, but not recently, read it again. Every time I go through it I notice or remember something new.

Second, find a mentor — or two, or three! The Alabama Bandmasters Association tries to assign mentors to younger directors, but sometimes it works better for the new director to find a mentor with whom they are comfortable.

You may need more than one mentor. As a young teacher I had more than one director who allowed me to question them and learn from them. Many times I didn’t need to ask them questions, I just watched them work. I took note of how they did things. I’m certain that over the course of my first five years I learned as much or more from these directors as I did in college.

Develop a group of mentors for different situations. Any new teacher needs a mentor to help guide them through the maze of paperwork and procedures that are unique to each school. This mentor might not be a band director or even a musician, but it

should be someone to whom you can go with questions. If you have a small rural band, you will also want to identify a mentor with a small rural band. If you have a wide range of grade levels in your band, find someone with experience working in that situation. Think about where you want to be in five or ten years, then find a mentor that has already blazed that trail with success.

Finally, buy (and use) a calendar! It is the nature of a director’s work that we must be planning for many things simultaneously. We have to plan our lesson plans for the next day, the trip to the football game next week, and the band trip next semester all at the same time! Among all of this we have band, school, and personal deadlines. I learned many years ago that the responsibilities of our jobs can keep you awake at nights, but using a

calendar to keep track of everything helps me sleep!

I am excited about the Alabama Music Educators Conference in January! There are a number of outstanding bands from many different levels that are already planning and preparing for their performances. Our clinics will be outstanding as well. Sessions are planned to provide practical solutions to make teaching and learning more efficient. There are sessions planned on specific topics like breathing techniques, lab bands, using technology, and dealing with parents. In addition to all of these we are anticipating the largest number of vendors we have ever hosted at the AMEA In-Service Conference. The worst thing may be that it will be difficult to take full advantage of all of these opportunities!

From Alabama Jazz Chair Randall Key...

All-State Jazz Band requirements are listed on the AMEA website at http://www.alabamamea.org. Click on the Alabama Bandmasters Association link located at the top of the page, then click on 2012 All-State Jazz Band requirements. The postmark deadline for All-State audition material is November 10, 2011. A special thank you is extended to Sid Dedeaux for the implementation of additional all state jazz groups. Last year’s jazz ensembles were a huge success and we certainly encourage high school and jr. high students to submit an audition recording.

Involvement or commitment? Have you given much thought to the difference? Most of us are involved in many things on a daily basis, but of those things in which we are involved, to how many are we actually committed? To what are we giving most of our time and energy, mere involvement or total commitment? Commitment to teaching choral music involves a deep and abiding care for the students that come our way. Hopefully we are seriously committed to changing and enhancing their lives through music and not just involved in teaching a lesson every day.

September 9th & 10th brought teachers

and college students to the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa for the annual Fall Workshop. Attendance at this workshop demonstrates a commitment from so many teachers to improving themselves as well as their students. The university music students were gracious hosts for this event, meeting the needs of AVA on so many levels. What a commitment each of them made in contributing to the success of every aspect of the workshop. Dr. Marvin Latimer organized the student task force beautifully as they greeted the board upon their arrival and helped to unload and set-up, Their involvement continued as they were available at all times to answer questions as well as provide physical and technical support. What a great service for these students and future teachers! I can’t think of a better way to introduce a group of

college students to the passion shared by music teachers than to interact with them on this level. I hope that these students could see in us a commitment to their futures in this great profession. It was also a pleasure to have college students from Montevallo and UAB sitting with seasoned teachers and enjoying the vivacious spirit of Dr. Steve Zegree. He is such a fine example to all of us of a dedicated educator and innovative composer and thinker as well. We are grateful that he was able to share himself and his music with us, even for such a short period of time.

I would like to applaud those teachers who are working so hard to prepare students for All-State Show Choir and All-State Choir auditions as well as Outstanding Choral Student, Outstanding Accompanist, Music

Alabama Vocal Association Jane Powell, President

Education Scholarship Award, and the Honor Choir Screening. Some are also preparing for Fall Solo & Ensemble Assessment as well as pulling out the music for the winter concerts. This level of involvement with your students requires a commitment to excellence that is exemplary and often goes beyond the regular school day. As you are reading this, the Show Choir auditions have passed and the AVA Executive Board is preparing to travel the state ready to listen to hundreds of students audition for the All-State Choirs. We eagerly anticipate meeting your students and celebrating their individual commitments to excellence.

Please be making your commitment to attend the AMEA In-service Conference, January 19 – 21, 2012. We are once again in Montgomery at the Renaissance Hotel & Spa @ the Convention Center. This will be a weekend packed with entertainment and educational opportunities. AVA has great session offerings for each director with Paul Gulsvig, Rollo Dillworth, and Greg Gilpin. Rosephanye Powell will be conducting the Honor Choir and Paul Gulsvig and Santana Shelton will be working with the All-State Show Choir students! You will not want to miss a minute of this fabulous weekend so plan to come early and stay late!!

The AVA Governing Board is dedicated to mentoring new teachers. If you are registering for the conference and have only been teaching 1 – 3 years we invite you to a luncheon with the AVA Board on Thursday, January 19 @ 11:30. If you will contact Pat Blackwell via email (pat@alavocal.org) she will reserve a spot for you. We would like to have your reservation by January 10. Our goal is to keep you well informed, provide a forum for you to ask questions, and offer you the opportunity to become better acquainted with the governing board.

The AVA Governing Board continues its commitment to advocacy with the introduction of the Don’t Silence Our Voices campaign. The executive board will be traveling with a banner and brochures throughout the year to proclaim to the state that we have a commitment to Keep Alabama Singing! If you would like to have copies of the brochure to share with principals, PTO boards, superintendents, local, state & national legislators, they will be available at all AVA events.

I challenge each of us to examine ourselves to determine our level of commitment and involvement in our

Thomas R. Smith Award for Excellence

Nomination Form

(Submit by December 31st, 2011)

Nominee

professional organization. Are we demonstrating a level of care for our students, our colleagues, and our profession that represents a dedicated sense of loyalty to all three? Lou Holtz has been credited with the following...”If you don’t make a total commitment to whatever you’re doing, then you start looking to bail out the first time the boat starts leaking. It’s tough enough getting that boat to shore with everybody rowing, let alone when a guy stands up and starts putting his life jacket on…

Are you casually involved or totally committed?

Criteria for Nomination

1. Nominee has been active in choral music for a minimum of 25 years, distinguishing her/himself in the field of choral music in Alabama and consistently demonstrating the highest musical standards.

2. Nominee has provided leadership in the choral arts and earned the respect of colleagues and/or students.

3. Nominee is a member in good standing of AL ACDA.

4. Nominee must be nominated by a member in good standing of AL ACDA via a letter of recommendation citing the merits of the nominee. Letter should also include a summary of the nominee’s career and background, as well as their contributions to Alabama ACDA.

Nominated by _____________________________________________________

to

This form and letter of recommendation may be submitted via mail, email, or fax to:

Thomas R. Smith Award for Excellence Nomination

Attn: Dr. Diane D. Orlofsky

Smith Hall 210, Long School of Music, TROY University Troy, AL 36082

FAX: 334-670-3858, attn: Diane D. Orlofsky dorlof@troy.edu

As auditions for All-State are taking place and wrapping up, a word is on my mindexpectations. I am thinking of this because our expectations are such a crucial factor in what our students achieve. We must continue to raise our expectations and recognize that our students far exceed the expectations of a bygone era. In preparing one of the trombone audition excerpts, I made the decision that trombone students this age could not be expected to read alto clef and that this particular excerpt should be transcribed to bass clef. I am a cellist and usually, when I am thinking of transcribing between C clef and F clef, I am thinking tenor clef and bass clef. In my haste, that’s exactly what I did and it was completely wrong. Who caught the mistake first? It was a student practicing the part for an audition. He knew from his own practice and knowledge that it was wrong. He asked his teacher to confirm and then emailed me to tell me of the mistake and sent me a link where I could find the correct excerpt in alto clef. When I asked, he responded that he was comfortable with both tenor and alto clef, educated me to the fact alto clef is quite common in the trombone parts of Romantic music and that, “alto clef is the standard if one plays alto trombone, which I do.” I am grateful for the reminder of the talent we have in our state.

Our next reminder will be at the All-State Festival concert on February 12 at 1 p.m. in the concert hall of the Moody Music building on the Campus of the University of Alabama. The Festival Orchestra will be performing An American in Paris Suite by George Gershwin/arr. John Whitney, Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia by Khachaturian, the winning composition of the All-State composition contest, and Finale to Symphony No. 5 by Dimitri Shostakovich. The Sinfonietta orchestra will perform Brook Green Suite by Holst and Concerto Grosso No. 1 by Bloch. Among a slew of great pieces the Consort orchestra will be performing an original modern work titled Amadare (Raindrops). This is an unprecedented line-up of music so I hope you will plan to attend.

Alabama Orchestra Association

Clay McKinney, President

Yes, All-State is just around the corner and things are coming along right on schedule. There are so many people to thank for this, too many really to name in this short piece because really truly I would have to name everyone. We all chip in to make this great and so the thank you goes to all the teachers, parents and students who come together to make AOA and the All-State Orchestra Festival so worthwhile. There are so many things that must be done and organized leading up to getting a student to All-State and giving a great performance at the final concert. It takes many people to keep us going and our AOA membership, the people in our state who are teaching our students to be the next generation of musicians, make up the majority, the core, the driving force of this effort. We have two general meetings of the AOA membership coming up. The first is in January during the AMEA conference. The AMEA conference is January 19-21 and is always great so please make plans to attend. The next general meeting takes place during the All-State festival on Saturday, February 11th from 2:00 - 5:00 pm in the Moody Music Building. Please plan to come and join in the discussion. It is a great time to meet everybody, learn what is going on, and let your voice be heard. We need all of us to stay involved and be active to continue to make this music festival one of the best there is.

We have had great success with our online registration this year. Thank you to everyone for being patient with us in this transition. We have had few snags in the process thanks to our brilliant Webmaster Kenyon Wilson. Kenyon is one of the pillars of our organization these days. If you see him at All-State, bow deeply. We do want to hear your feedback though. Let us know about your experience with it, what you think of the online registration process and how we can make it better. Probably, as you read this our amazing, wonderful, couldn’t-do-it-without-you district chairs are finalizing and packing up audition DVDs to mail. The results of the auditions will be posted by the end of the day November 14th. Students will need to

register for the AllState festival by December 1st. Registration for the festival will also take place online. Like the audition registration, you will have the option of paying online using Paypal or mailing a check after you have registered online. As always you will have the option of submitting both registration and payment by mail. December 1st is the deadline for all registration info and registration payments to be submitted. After December 1st we will begin contacting alternates to fill un-accepted positions. This is to ensure that we mail out music to students in a timely manner so that they may begin practicing as soon as possible. So, please make sure students register by December 1st so that they may attend All-State and receive their music as soon as possible.

The festival is February 9-12 at the University of Alabama School of Music in Tuscaloosa, and all events are in the Moody Music Building. Student check-in starts on the afternoon of February 9th. Check-in will work the same as last year. All Festival Orchestra string students must check in between 12:00 and 1:30. Wind, brass, and percussion students will checkin from 2:30 - 3:00. The exact schedule will be sent with music to registered students, and seating auditions will take place early afternoon on Thursday. I encourage all participants to arrive early in order to have plenty of preparation time before the seating auditions. As mentioned earlier, a free public performance will begin at 1 PM on Sunday, February 12th, and families and friends are encouraged to attend. All participating students are expected to attend the entire concert.

For interested exhibiters here are four potential exhibit locations in the Moody Music Building during the Festival. Exhibitors may set up any time after 4:00 on Thursday, February 9 and remain until the concert is over on Sunday afternoon, February 12. This time window is the

available time, but exhibitors are not required to be present at all times and may choose to use any periods within this time frame. There will be no reduction in fee for reduced usage. The AOA President, Clay McKinney, must receive all requests for exhibitor space via email at clay.mckinney@mps.k12.al.us before January 31, 2012. Two prime locations are available in the lobby. Fees are $500 for each spot and use of space includes up to three 6’ tables. A $100 deposit is required to reserve a lobby spot. Two other locations in the building, closer to rehearsal rooms but with less space, will be made available at $100 each to the first two requestors. Use of these spaces includes one 6’ table each. For more information, please visit our website and click on the 2012 festival link.

Be sure and make plans to attend and register for the AMEA conference in

January at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Convention Center January 1921. The AMEA Conference is a great time to inspire your teaching and reconnect with fellow educators from around the state. Last year was our first year there and was a great success, so this year looks to be even better. On Friday January 20th the Etowah Youth Symphony will be performing in the main concert hall. It is always a great pleasure to see one of our fabulous youth orchestras on the stage so I hope to see you there.

Like I said earlier, there are lots of people to thank for all of their help thus far this year as we have many people who work to keep things running smoothly. This especially includes our AOA Board: Felicia Sarubin - Secretary, Daniel JamiesonTreasurer, Julie Hornstein - Executive Director and Marcy Wilson - Past-

President. Of course we have to thank our ever-faithful district chairs, Daniel Hornstein & Daniel Jamieson, Roland Lister, Sarah Nordlund & Julia Sakharova, Dr. Anne Witt, Sarah Schrader and Felicia Sarubin. And of course there are always those folks that don’t have an official title but somehow end up on everyone’s speed dial, Mike Gagliardo, and Layla Humphries. And lastly we want to thank everyone at the Alabama Symphony. What a great group of people. Your knowledge, resources and willingness to share are invaluable to us, and we are most appreciative.

Good luck with auditions and other school performances in the meantime and I will look forward to seeing you, better yet, listening to you.

February 9-12, 2012 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Final date for live auditions for all levelsOctober 16, 2011 Consult the info guide for your district on the web for specific dates!

All State financial aid deadlineOctober 15, 2011

Videotape District mailing deadlineOctober 17, 2011

All State results postedNovember 16, 2011

All State Orchestra acceptance deadlineDecember 1, 2011

Begin to contact alternatesDecember 2, 2011

Begin mailing musicEarly December

Audition fee is $20 for first audition, $10 extra for each subsequent audition

Please make all checks payable to AOA

Registration fee for the All-State festival is $65

Notice: We will begin contacting alternates immediately so be sure to abide by the deadline of December 1st to accept your position in your All State Orchestra.

Reminders:

December 1st is the deadline for all Registration info and registration payments to be submitted. We will begin contacting alternates and mailing out music immediately after the deadline. Please make sure students register by December 1st so that they may receive their music as soon as possible.

All festival events will take place in the UA Moody Music Building.

If you decline the invitation to come to All State AFTER mailing your acceptance letter, you will not be allowed an audition the following year (with the exception of medical emergencies ).

Check-in for Festival Orchestra will be from 12:00 - 2:00 pm on February 9, with string seating auditions upon arrival.

Check in will be from 2:30 - 4:30 pm for string orchestras with string seating auditions upon arrival. Festival Orchestra will have their first rehearsal Thursday from 4:30 - 6:00 pm.

Pictures and warm-ups for all orchestras will take place from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. The Festival Concert will begin at 1:00 pm on Sunday, February 12 in Moody Concert Hall.

Participation Requirements:

Hotel Information:

The hotel for the festival is the Capstone Hotel on the campus of the University of Alabama. There is a block of rooms reserved for our event. We urge you to book rooms early as there are a limited number of rooms in the block. The cutoff date for the block is January 12. After this date, rooms will not be held at the festival price. Reservation phone number for the block is 1-800-477-2262. The block is under the name “All State Festival Orchestra”.

Students participating in the Alabama All State Orchestra Festival must attend all rehearsals and required activities of the festival. Failure to comply with this rule will result in dismissal from the festival without refund of any fees. If a student is unable to attend all activities of the festival, it is his/her responsibility to immediately notify his/her District Chair so that an alternate may be given that place.

AOA All-State 2012

Quick Info Guide

AOA All-State 2012 Clinicians

Steven Byess – Festival Orchestra

The extraordinarily varied career of Steven Byess takes him not only to the stages of symphony orchestras and opera companies, but also to the stages and genres of Broadway, jazz and television. He is a dynamic conductor and has been hailed by critics as “masterful and brilliant,” “creating the epitome of instrumental elegance” and “a talented interpreter, able to capture the sweep of a piece without neglecting detail.” He is the Music Director of the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestras, Guest Conductor for the Ohio Light Opera, and he was formerly the Cover Conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and on the conducting staff at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel. He is the Music Director Emeritus of the Cobb Symphony Orchestra (Georgia), and the former opera conductor for the Cleveland Institute of Music (Ohio) and California State University - Los Angeles. Mr. Byess received his Bachelor of Music Degree in classical performance and jazz studies from Georgia State University, and his Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied conducting with Louis Lane and Carl Topilow, bassoon with George Goslee and David McGill, violin with Carol Ruzicka, and piano with Olga Radosavljevich. Steven Byess is a passionate advocate for the arts, much sought after for his speeches on the arts, music, music education and general education. An important community leader, he has created and organized frequent and annual collaborations with numerous choruses, chamber music ensembles, and festivals of the arts. He also wrote, codirected and is featured in a PBS presentation entitled Count On It!, which is designed for children grades K-3, and shows the correlation of music to mathematics. Mr. Byess was chosen by Walt Disney World Entertainment to conduct the 2000 NFL E*TRADE Superbowl Halftime show. The production had over 400 performers, including the Walt Disney World

Millennium Orchestra, and international artists Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, and Edward James Olmos, and was broadcast to over 900 million viewers worldwide. Byess is also currently featured in a commercial video taping for the Starz and Encore movie channels, airing internationally. Steven is an ardent wine aficionado, a passionate Shakespeare enthusiast, an avid motorcycle rider, and loves skiing.

Fawzi Haimor – Sinfonietta String Orchestra

Hailed by the Birmingham News as “a highly capable conductor with a clean, precise beat, dramatic yet easy-to-follow gestures, and overflowing with enthusiasm,” the 28 year old Fawzi Haimor begins his second season as Assistant Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO). In addition to his duties at the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Haimor maintains an international guest conducting schedule and has recently performed with the Orquestra Nacional do Porto, the Amman Symphony, and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Being very passionate about the education of young musicians, Mr. Haimor is also engaged to conduct at the GMEA’s All College Orchestra Festival in Savannah, Georgia and at the Alabama Orchestra Association’s All-State Festival Sinfonietta String Orchestra in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as well as continuing his work with the ASYO. Mr. Haimor was raised in the Middle East and California. He began playing the violin at the age of 6 and had his first conducting opportunity at the age of 16, premiering his own work for string orchestra which began his path towards a conducting career. In 2005, Mr. Haimor began his studies at the University of California-Davis where he conducted numerous performances of symphony and opera and was also the

founder and first music director of the Davis Summer Symphony, an organization geared towards the education and outreach of classical music to residents of the Davis community. Mr. Haimor earned bachelor’s degrees in both music and neurobiology, physiology, and behavior, and a master’s degree in conducting from the University of California-Davis before completing his second master’s degree in instrumental conducting from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

Dr James Bates – Consort String Orchestra

As a conductor and teacher, Jim is able to draw on considerable experience as an educator, performer and historian. For 18 years he was a conductor for the Louisville (KY) Youth Orchestras and was music director of that organization from 19962001. In 1999, he joined the conducting staff of Interlochen Center for the Arts and continues to co-direct the Junior Orchestra program and Junior String Institute there in the summer. Since coming to Otterbein in 2004, Jim has served as the assistant conductor and principal bassist of the Westerville Symphony. In Fall 2006, he began as an assistant conductor for the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras. He has served as a clinician or guest conductor in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, California, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Colorado. He has served as president of Kentucky ASTA and as string coordinator for the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. In addition to string education he is very involved with the Classical Mandolin Society of America and also period instrument performance. Jim is also an active performer on the double bass and various early music instruments such as the viola da gamba, recorder and the medieval vielle. . He has degrees from the University of Louisville (B.M.E.), a Masters in double bass performance from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Kentucky. His wife, Jena Huebner, is a bassist in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and they have two sons, Ethan five years old, and Gideon who is two.

Fawzi Haimor

James Bates

Steven Byess

Assessing Music Teacher Preparation: What do the Best Music Educators Look Like?

The Professional Literature Project of MENC’s Society for Music Teacher Education covers over 50 years of research, with 73 dissertations alone, in our profession. My initial question is what else is left to investigate? My very question, however, is whether we can be satisfied with what is already known. The problem with Music Teacher Education is that it is and will always be diverse, an expression of the kind of society we live in today; and dynamic, a reflection of the kinds of learners we want for ourselves and our students. Therefore, we, as a profession, must engage ourselves in creative innovations instead reactionary reforms.

If indeed a 21st century music educator must possess certain qualities and competencies unbeknownst to the most successful of our19th century forebears, what might these be? The National Council for Accreditation of teacher Education (NCATE) evaluates four areas of competencies for teacher preparation programs: process, content, pedagogy, and field based experience. It is no doubt that technological advances have necessitated new instructional strategies. But has the content of music and the processes in learning music really changed? Research since the 1980s has clarified the distinction between musical novices and expert learners and why musical experiences are required for concept formation (Bamberger, etc.). The question still remains if today’s students learn differently. Is if there a biological or physiological basis for the shorter attention spans and difficulty in persevering towards long term goals? I believe students behave in those ways their teachers expect them to behave.

All teacher education programs in Alabama are required to create numerous versions of checklists and rubrics to assess all aspects of every program and from different angles (teacher candidates, cooperating teachers, university supervisors, and focus groups consisting primarily of school administrators). Data shows that we are pretty good at producing “experienced nonexpert” teachers (Snow & Apfelstadt,

Collegiate Faculty Advisor

2002) and the same small pool of talented and excited students. The experienced non-expert tends to follow prescribed procedures and respond to challenges with predictable actions each and every time (p.201). After all, that’s the intention of all NCLB standards-driven assessment models. Instead, I believe we must instill an “expert-like mind-set” to teacher candidates and encourage them to experiment and improvise, even risking failure to further knowledge and understanding. To this end, I suggest we as a profession, look at adopting an “inquiry” paradigm to assessment (Serafini, 2001).

Common traits identified in literature on effective teachers include positive attitudes or optimism, authenticity or personal touch, patience and perseverance, creativity, and sense of humor (Colker, 2008, Ghiora, 2010, Phillips, 2004). Not surprisingly there are many overlaps between teacher and leader qualifications. However, what I often find among teacher candidates is the lack of vision, goalorientation, or the willingness to take risks and admit mistakes. They may also lack have high expectations and flexibility (Ostrow, 2008). It appears that the rigid nature of requisite teacher competencies (at least that ones that count towards certification) is on a tangent to the qualifications of a teacher-leader, especially in the notion of risk taking.

Back when I was first certified as a music teacher thirty years ago, I made my share of mistakes and learned from them. I have tried to facilitate my students to vicariously learn through my mistakes but this rarely worked. Without a contextual framework, anecdotes are mere stories. The light bulb does not go off until a teacher candidate step into the same pitfalls. Unfortunately, the consequences of a first year teacher making mistakes are dire – they either quit or are fired, and the institution from which they are trained can be put on probation. This makes me re-think and re-evaluate own current practices in training music educators. I still think reflection is important and effective, but it must be coupled with a video recording of the

Moya Nordlund

actual practice. To become aware of the discrepancies between our perceptions of how a lesson went and watching it unfold in real time is an eye-opening experience. Painful as it might be, it is the single most effective way of giving feed back to teacher candidates.

What does the exercise of frequent videotaping do? It shows us in the most honest way what our weaknesses are. Some of the most frequently cited failures of inexperienced music teachers are error detection, pacing, classroom management, and giving clear and succinct instructions. However, after years of observing all kinds of music classrooms, I have come to the conclusion that the cause for all the above failures is not a lack of pedagogy, but a lack of music competence and music preparation. Pedagogy is the product of understanding the learner and the processes of learning; it can be derived inductively by most reflective practitioners. Just like learning any new concept, one must construct it from many varied experiences.

So after a decade of pushing for best practices in the music classroom and emphasizing the latest strategies in teaching, I have made an about turn to push for better musicality in all my music teacher candidates. In addition, we must train these pre-service teachers to think. I must admit that while I was aware of Bloom’s taxonomy as a young teacher, I did not see its relationship to music learning. Yet, today I couch all discussions in and decisions about music in the Bloom’s hierarchy of learning. I have observed that the many successes of our music education graduates are due in large part to the rigorous admission requirements placed upon entering teacher candidates, which automatically eliminated our weakest candidates. Students succeed as exemplary music teachers because they are good musicians who are good thinkers, the two requisite elements for becoming expert teachers, not just experience non-experts.

Collegiate NAfME Dakota Bromley, President

Greetings fellow future music educators! I hope that everything is going well for all of you in a semester that has felt like a whirlwind for me so far. This is the conference preview issue of the Ala Breve, but I have something very exciting to add to all the conference chatter.

The annual Alabama CMENC Summit is on the books for Saturday, October 29 from 9AM until 3 PM at the University of Montevallo. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and more details regarding featured speakers and registration procedures will be sent to chapter advisors very soon. I hope to see more future music educators than ever before at the Summit, and I am very excited about this great event.

With regard to the AMEA In-Service Conference in January, I can honestly say that this is the best slate of CMENC sessions I have seen in the few years I have been attending the conference. All areas of music education are very well represented, and there are certainly sessions that we could all benefit from attending, regardless of our concentration.

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get involved in your musical community outside of your degree program. Most of the cities and towns that house our great universities have civic musical groups such as community bands and community choirs. I want to encourage all of you to get out there in the community and be in these groups. I have the unique privilege of conducting a community

group on a regular basis, and I can honestly tell you that it has been one of the most musically-enriching experiences of my life. You can meet great people that you may never come across otherwise, you get exposed to even more literature (and that is always a good thing), and you can use it as an amazing opportunity to develop another musical skill such as playing a secondary instrument or even rehearsing the group.

When times get tough, and you start doubting your choice to pursue a career in music education, go sit in a community group. It will be a great reminder to you that we are not just teaching a skill that goes away after high school or college, but we are cultivating a passion that will stick with many for the rest of their lives. I hope to see all of you on October 29!

Elementary/General Division

Beth Davis, President

Why do elementay music teachers show up day after day and do what they do?

Without a doubt, there are many and varied answers to such a question; however, high salary, easy workload, optimum conditions, and being members of a highly respected profession certainly will not to be the popular answers. On the other hand, there is making joyous music with students, hearing preschoolers match pitch and, seeing the sparkle in a fourth grader’s eyes when he or she gets a brand new recorder. Additionally, there is watching an English language learner participate and smile, hearing the question “Is today music day?” as you walk down the hall, receiving smiles, high fives, and hugs at the end of class are just a few of the many answers that race through my mind. Why do elementary music teachers show up day after day and do what they do? We do it for the students. We teach for students who, despite their disability, raise their hand in the middle of class just to clap and read the Heart Chart rhythm perfectly. Students, who struggle to understand and are hesitant in other classes, participate in a myriad of

ways in music class. Students, who resist in other places, participate and are not behavior problems in music class. These students comprise many colors, shapes, sizes, languages, and abilities. In this age of testing pressure and economic stress, we elementary music teachers must remember the reason we do this job everyday is for our students.

The elementary/general division is here to support elementary music teachers in their quest to keep students the focus of their daily work. We have a website full of information available to you. Check out the AMEA website. I trust many of you joined your colleagues for the fall workshop on October 8. And, I look forward to meeting all of you in Montgomery January 19 – 21, 2012, for the annual in-service conference. Please take advantage of this support.

I paraphrase the lyrics to a popular country song and say, “To the world you may be just another teacher, but to at least one student, you quite possibly could be the world.” Keep up the good work. Keep your students at the center of what you do everyday. Make music and enjoy.

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

AMEA 2012 Keynote Speaker Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser

Tim Lautzenheiser is a well-known name in the music education world as a teacher, clinician, author, composer, conductor, consultant, and, above all, a trusted friend to anyone interested in working with young people in developing a desire for excellence. His career involves ten years of successful college band directing at Northern Michigan University, the University of Missouri, and New Mexico State University. During this time Tim developed highly acclaimed groups in all areas of the instrumental and vocal field.

Following three years in the music industry, he created Attitude Concepts, Inc., an organization designed to manage the many requests for workshops, seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of positive attitude and effective leadership training. He presently holds the Earl Dunn Distinguished Lecturer position at Ball State University. Tim also is the Executive Director of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc.

His books, produced by G.I.A. Publications, The Art of Successful Teaching, The Joy of Inspired Teaching, and Everyday Wisdom are bestsellers in the educational world. He is also co-author of Hal Leonard's popular band method, Essential Elements.

Tim is a graduate of Ball State University and the University of Alabama. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from VanderCook College of Music. Additional awards include the distinguished Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, Mr. Holland's Opus Award and the Music Industry Award from the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors.

2012 Conference Hotels

Future Alabama Music Educators

Open to High School Juniors and Seniors

Thursday, January 19, 2012 9:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

Application and $20 registration fee are due postmarked no later than January 7, 2012

Student_____________________________________________________________ Grade ____________________

Nominating Teacher _____________________________________________ MENC # _________________________

School Name ____________________________________________________________________________________

School Address __________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher Phone ________________________________ Teacher Email ______________________________________

Publicity Waiver

I give AMEA permission to take photos of FAME attendees and use the photos for publicity purposes. By this authorization, I understand and agree that no participant shall receive remuneration and that all rights, title and interest to the photos and use of them belongs to AMEA.

This student participates in (circle all that apply): Band Chorus Orchestra

Signature of Student

Signature of Parent if Student is under 18

Enclose $20 Registration Fee Make checks payable to AMEA

The FAME program includes many important topics for students considering a career as a music educator. A highlight of the 2012 program will be a session by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser

Lunch will be provided by AMEA

Mail this application, along with the $20 registration fee, to:

Pat Stegall, AMEA Past President

Muscle Shoals High School

1900 Avalon Avenue

Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661

Postmark Deadline: January 7, 2012

Higher Education Division Timothy

Phillips, President

for you to share your vast knowledge of your particular area of expertise with our readers.

Greetings fellow collegiate educators of Alabama,

I hope you had a nice summer and that your school year is off to a good start. Very soon, we’ll be gathering together at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Montgomery for the 2012 Alabama Music Educators Conference. I look forward to seeing you there.

This year we have structured the HED events at the conference primarily around Friday. Some HED events will take place on Thursday, but we’re considering Friday to be the “unofficial” HED day. On this day, we’ll have the most HED presentations, the recital, the business meeting, and the mixer. I hope this will make it possible for many of you to attend these events. I know schedules are particularly packed, especially near the beginning of a semester.

At this year’s AMEA conference, we will have an opportunity to feature many small chamber ensembles in the many lobbies of the Convention Center in between events. If you have an interest in having your group perform, either student or faculty, please let me know. Our only request is that ensembles be on the soft end of the dynamic spectrum, due to noise bleed throughout the building. Lori Ardovino will be sending out a request for performers for this, as well as for the HED recital, soon.

Applied music professors: please consider submitting an article for 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

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 meets periodically to discuss all facets of our organization and I am happy to bring any issues to the table for you. I appreciate your continued support.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Ala Breve is seeking submissions of research articles for the Summer 2012 “Special Research” Edition to be published during the summer, 2012. 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, 2012. Submission Guidelines (adapted from the Submission Guidelines of Update: Applications of Research in Music 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, double-spaced 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.

Opera theatre | September 1-4

Band Day | September 17

HONOR CHOIR | October 1

BANDs OF AMERICA (BOA) REGIONAL | October 8

“Contest of champions” | October 15

New Music Ensemble | October 18

“Tuba-ween” | October 28

Holiday extravaganza Concert | December 4

Scholarship auditions 2012

February 24-25

March 2-3

To view entire season listings, visit our website at music.jsu.edu

Campus Connections

News and Happenings from Alabama’s Colleges and Universities

Colleges and universities are encouraged to submit newsworthy material and announcements for publication in Ala Breve

Auburn University

The Music Department at Auburn University is thriving. We are the recent recipient of a grant funded by the Provost’s Office and the College of Liberal Arts for the purchase of an extensive inventory of new brass, percussion, strings, and woodwind instruments. Additionally, with funding from the College of Liberal Arts, we purchased 15 new upright and 4 grand pianos for practice rooms and studios. In September we celebrated the opening of the brand new AU Band Pavilion by the AU Marching Band Field and launched the campaign to raise funds for a new facility to house the entire band program. More information about this project can be found on the AU Bands website: http://band.auburn.edu/.

We welcomed Dr. Josh Pifer, piano, in the first issue of Ala breve this fall. I am also delighted to welcome two additional new faculty members this academic year at Auburn. Ms. Lisa Caravan, Instructor of String Music Education joins the Music and Curriculum and Teaching Departments to lead the development of a string program at Auburn. She is completing a doctorate at the Eastman School of Music and will teach cello and bass, work with Tiger Strings, AU Orchestra, and other related classes in both Departments. In conjunction with music education faculty in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, we are experiencing growth in the Tiger Strings program and look forward to continued development in that area.

Mr. Michael Pendowski joins us as Instructor of Saxophone and Jazz. He will lead the Jazz Ensembles, teach applied saxophone, and work to build the saxophone and jazz areas. He is also completing the doctorate at the Eastman School of Music. Michael’s extensive experience in jazz, education, and arranging brings an exciting new dimension to the music program at Auburn. We are excited about the growth of opportunities for jazz musicians.

In the Auburn Department of Music, we are proud to offer an intimate and nurturing atmosphere that provides opportunities for individual attention and regular performance for students. Our department is growing and the quality of students continues to improve. Encourage your students who are interested in Music or

Music Education degrees to schedule an audition through our website at: www.auburn.edu/music. Audition dates are: Feb. 9, 11, and 25, 2012. Contact the Department of Music at 334-844-4165 if you have questions about our degree programs or offerings.

War Eagle!

The John M. Long School of Music –Troy University

We are once again grateful to AMEA for providing this opportunity to share information with our music colleagues and music students across the state. The John M. Long School of Music has 37 faculty members who are world-class teachers, scholars, conductors, composers, and performers. These folks are active music professionals whose knowledge and skills are recognized daily by our students in the classroom and regularly by our music profession. Selected recent/upcoming faculty activities follow:

Dr. Adam Blackstock, Assistant Professor of Music/Percussion/Assistant Director of Bands, will present a master class and recital at Ithaca College and a recital at Indiana University in November. He will also present a solo performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis as well as perform in a chamber ensemble and a 50-member marimba orchestra.

Dr. Larry Blocher, Professor of Music/Director, will present a clinic at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago (December).

Dr. Carla Gallahan, Associate Professor of Music/Education, will present at the College Music Society National Conference (Virginia) in October.

Dr. Margaret Jackson, Assistant Professor of Music/Ethnomusicology, will present at the American Folklore Society National Conference (Indiana University), the Alexander von Humbolt German Scholars Networking Conference (New York), and a Lecture Recital for the American Musicological National Conference (San Francisco) in October. She will also present later this semester at the Society for Ethnomusicology National Conference.

Dr. Michael Hix, Assistant Professor of Music/Voice, completed a summer research study at the Akademie der Kuenste in Berlin, Germany. He will present a Lecture Recital for the College Music Society National Conference (Virginia) and at the American Musicological National Conference (San Francisco) in October.

Dr. Diane Orlofsky, Professor of Music/Director of Choirs, presented an invited session and led a music reading session at the Alabama ACDA Summer Celebration. She also co-produced a CD with her university jazz vocal ensemble frequency (release set for fall, 2011).

Dr. Tim Phillips, Assistant Professor of Music/Clarinet, performed at the International ClarinetFest at California State University (August). At this festival, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Jackson premiered Five Poems of Emily Dickinson composed by School of Music colleague Dr. Traci Mendel. Additionally, Dr. Phillips chaired a committee of 25 clarinet professors and orchestral performers from around North America in reviewing the festival.

Robert W. Smith, Professor of Music/Music Industry, served as clinician and coordinator for the Bands of America Summer Symposium at Ball State University. Additionally, he composed original music for the 2011 touring production BLAST, the Tony Awardwinning musical theatre production and has been commissioned by the United States Air Force Band to write a new work (premier in 2012).

Dr. Hui-Ting Yang, Lecturer of Music/Piano, performed a Lecture Recital at the College Music Society International Conference in Seoul, South Korea (July). She will present a Lecture Recital with Dr. Hix at the College Music Society National Conference (Virginia) in October.

Dr. Mark Walker, Associate Professor of Music/Director of Bands, had his book, The Art of Interpretation, accepted for publication by GIA in Chicago.

Festival events, scholarship information, audition times, and additional concert dates are listed on our website. We invite you to “visit” us at music.troy.edu or in person soon.

AMEA 2012 Clinicians

Mr. Randall Coleman

is currently the Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Alabama where he serves as the conductor of the Alabama Symphonic Band, the Associate Conductor of the Alabama Wind Ensemble and the Associate Director of the “Million Dollar Band.” He also teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting and wind band literature classes. Mr. Coleman is also the Coordinator of the Crimson Music Camps held each summer at the University of Alabama. Prior to his appointment to the faculty at the University of Alabama, Mr. Coleman enjoyed a successful 25 year career as a high school band director and supervisor in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, and the Masters of Music Education degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Coleman holds membership in the Music Educators’ National Conference, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, the Alabama Music Educators Association and the Alabama Bandmasters Association.

Erin Colwitz, a native of Wisconsin,received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota. She later completed the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in choral music. Dr. Colwitz studied conducting with William Dehning, David Wilson, Magen Solomon, and Claire McCoy. In Minnesota, Dr. Colwitz was a full-time vocal and general music teacher at Centennial Middle School. As a professional singer, Dr. Colwitz was contracted to sing with the Dale Warland Singers in 1999. She can be heard on three of their albums, one of which was nominated for a Grammy: Dominick Argento’s Walden Pond (2003) on Gothic Records. Dr. Colwitz is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She conducts the Chamber Choir and Concert Choir, teaches Dr. Colwitz is frequently a guest conductor, contest adjudicator and choral clinician throughout Alabama. She also serves of the Alabama ACDA board.Dr. Colwitz lives in Jones Valley with her husband, Dr. William Dehning, an accomplished conductor, Emeritus Professor, and published author, and their very silly golden retriever, Sam.

Sandra Dackow

earned the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and the Ph.D. from the Eastman School of Music of The University of Rochester. An Aspen Conducting fellow in 2001, she was also awarded the Silver Medal in the 2001 Vakhtang Jordania/New Millennium International Conducting Competition in Kharkov, Ukraine. She is currently serving as Music Director of the Hershey Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania and is a former Music Director of the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra in New Jersey. A Native of East Paterson (Elmwood Park), New Jersey, Dr. Dackow has conducted bands and orchestras in the schools of Glen Rock and East Brunswick, New Jersey, and served as Supervisor of Music for the Ridgewood NJ public schools. An annual ASCAP award winning arranger, Dr. Dackow has generated over seventy published works for orchestras and is an author of the Orchestra Expressions curriculum. She is active as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician across the nation and Dr. Dackow currently serves as President-elect of the Conductors Guild, an international organization.

Dr. Grant Dalton is an Assistant Professor of Music at Samford University where he is responsible for all areas of percussion education. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Lipscomb University in instrumental music education, and he has a master’s and doctorate in percussion performance from The Ohio State University. Dr. Dalton regularly performs with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra as a utility percussionist. He is the first call percussionist with the Birmingham Broadway Series, and he plays with Opera Birmingham and the Alabama Ballet. He is also the president of the Alabama chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.

Dr. Rollo Dilworth is Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at Temple University’s Boyer School of Music in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in choral music education, he serves as conductor for the University Chorale. Prior to his appointment at Temple, Dilworth served as Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at North Park University in Chicago, IL for 13 years. Dr. Dilworth holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Northwestern University. Dilworth has written and/or arranged over 150 choral works that are currently in print. He frequently serves as a guest conductor and/or clinician for honors, festival and all-state choirs throughout the United States and abroad. Dilworth is an active member of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and Chorus America. He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and currently serves on the Pennsylvania ACDA State board as Director of Student and Youth Activities.

AMEA 2012 Clinicians

Michelle Murphy DeBruyn is Assistant Professor of Voice at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, currently teaching studio voice and vocal pedagogy. Michelle received both her MM and DMA from the Eastman School of Music. An active recitalist, she has recently appeared in several states as well as abroad in several locations in Taiwan. Michelle has twice won the State level National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Artist Award and continued to the national semi-finals in 2006. She is also the recipient of the NATS Emerging Leaders Award in 2010.

Robert Murray

is the Associate Professor of Trumpet at Columbus State University. He has been a soloist and clinician at conferences in the United States and Europe. Dr. Murray will host the 2012 International Trumpet Guild Conference at the Schwob School of Music in Columbus, Georgia. Among his performing credits are the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony; he has served as principal trumpet with the Owensboro Symphony, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria in Mexico City and was a member of the Dallas Brass. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas.

Associate Professor of Flute at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, Dr. Andrée Martin has performed at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, the Seattle Flute Fair and the National Flute Association Convention. She has performed throughout the U.S., Japan, Canada, Mexico and Europe and has been published in Flute Talk and the Flutist Quarterly. Her students have won the MTNA Georgia State Woodwind Senior and Young Artist divisions, the Atlanta Flute Club Competition, the Mid South College Masterclass and High School Competitions, the Florida Flute Fair Masterclass Competition, and the Artist International Competition (NY).

Tiffany English

is the music specialist at Sugar Hill Elementary School in Gwinnett County, GA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. Tiffany has completed Master Level Orff Schulwerk training and Level I Kodaly training. Tiffany has been selected as Teacher of the Year in 1997, 2001, and was named the 2007 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year. Tiffany conducted the Atlanta Area Honor Orff Ensemble at the Birmingham, AL and Charlotte, NC National AOSA Conferences. Tiffany is the current Region IV representative for the National Board of Trustees, AOSA.

Gene Fambrough is Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He directs the Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band, Drumline, Electro-Acoustic Percussion group, the Blazer pep band, and serves as assistant conductor of Wind symphony and Symphony Band. He holds music degrees from the University of Georgia (Music Education), East Carolina University (Performance), and the University of Alabama (DMA, Performance). Prior to his appointment at UAB, he spent three years in public school education at Oak Grove High School in Bessemer, Alabama. His professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society, Music Educators National Conference, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Pi Kappa Lambda. He is sponsored by Pearl/Adams Instruments, Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Evans drumheads, and Black Swamp Percussion.

Dr. Gregg Gausline is Associate Director of Bands at The University of Georgia where he is the conductor of the UGA Wind Symphony, teaches courses in advanced conducting, and is chair of the conducting area. Prior positions include Director of Instrumental Studies at Indiana/Purdue University-Fort Wayne and Director of Bands at The University of TennesseeMartin. He has guest conducted in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ireland, Singapore, and throughout the eastern United States. Dr. Gausline is published in the journals for the National Band Association and World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, School Band and Orchestra Magazine, Keynotes Magazine, and several publications offered by GIA publications, Inc. Commissioning projects include works by Michael Torke, Joel Puckett, James Syler, Daniel Bukvich, and Rob Smith. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Miami in Coral Gables and taught in the public schools of Florida.

AMEA 2012 Clinicians

Originally from the “Show-Me” state of Missouri, Greg Gilpin resides in Indianapolis, IN. He is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education, K-12. Greg is a wellknown, ASCAP award-winning choral composer and arranger with hundreds of publications to his credit. He is also in demand as a conductor for choral festivals, all-district and all-state choirs and is a member of MENC and ACDA. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, Inc., Greg oversees creation of the educational music products for this distinguished publisher. At home in Indianapolis, Greg is busy as a studio musician and producer in the recording industry. These projects include commercial jingles, CD projects, Broadway and Disney. He has worked musically with Ray Boltz, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Sandi Patty, David Clydesdale as well as principal pops conductor, Jack Everly and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

All-State Show Choir Clinician - Paul Gulsvig taught vocal music for 33 years, and retired in 2006 from Onalaska High School in Onalaska, WI, where he taught for 28 of those 33 years. Paul has begun a new career with a new company, More Than Music. Paul’s new career includes serving as retreat presenter, show doctor, motivational speaker, as well as conducting leadership and in-service workshops for school districts. He has assisted a wide variety of schools, including elementary, middle and high schools, college and graduate programs. He also serves as a show choir adjudicator and clinician. His expertise has taken him to Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, Illinois, Connecticut, Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, South Dakota, Indiana, and Michigan, as well as his home state of Wisconsin. He is most proud of his three children who have college degrees in music. Two are choral conductors while the third is publishing a new show choir magazine called “Bus Talk Magazine.” In his spare time you will find Paul on the golf course, working out at the fitness center, or spending time with his grand twins, Hailey and Riley.

All-State Show Choir Choreographer - Santana Shelton is the newest addition to the Auburn University Tiger Eye Instructional Staff and she serves as the Instructor to the TE Danceline. Ms. Shelton's love for music and dance began at an early age, so she began in both music and dance lessons around the age of three. She was apart of the Tallassee High School's Concert and Marching Band where she served as the Head Majorette. Ms. Shelton is a graduate of Alabama State University with a degree in Theater Arts and a minor in Psychology. While at ASU she was a member of the Mighty Marching Hornets Band the Stingettes Danceline, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, the ASU Concert and Gospel Choirs, the Dramatic Guild, Elite Models, Eclectic Dance Co., and the Dean's List. She's served as choreographer, clinician, and adjudicator for several high school and college dancelines, cheer squads, majorette lines, and show choirs. She currently works as choreographer to Tallassee High School show choirs and All State Show Choir Auditions.

Craig Hurley is the music specialist at Ford Elementary School in Cobb County, Georgia where he teaches general music to kindergartners through fifth graders. In 2009, Craig was fortunate enough to serve as a writer for the Georgia Performance Standards for Elementary General Music. He has presented sessions for the 2011 GMEA In-Service Conference and the Coastal Empire Orff Chapter. He has supervised several student teachers from Shorter College and received his level 1 Orff training at the University of Georgia. Prior to teaching at Ford Elementary, Mr. Hurley taught at South Hall Middle School in Hall County and Kingston Elementary School in Bartow County where he was named teacher of the year in 2002. Mr. Hurley is also the conductor of the Spivey Hall Young Artists, the training He has participated in the Creating Artistry workshop with Henry Leck and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Shorter College with an emphasis in voice, where he studied with Dr. Martha Shaw. He also holds a Master’s of Early Childhood Education from Berry College. Craig lives with his wife, also a music teacher, and 3 children in Cartersville, Georgia.

Erik Janners, Director of Music at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is internationally recognized as a conductor, scholar and performer. Dr. Janners holds degrees in percussion performance form Alma College and the University of Utah. He also earned the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting at the University of Alabama. Prior to his arrival at Marquette, Dr. Janners served as Director of Bands at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada, and at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois. In his present position at Marquette, Dr. Janners conducts the wind ensemble, pep bands, and jazz ensemble. In addition, as Director of Music he oversees all aspects of the music program. Aside from his work at Marquette, Dr. Janners serves as the conductor of the Milwaukee-based Knightwind Ensemble, and has had numerous articles published in the Instrumentalist magazine, as well as in Canadian Winds, the national periodical of the Canadian Band Association. He is in high demand as a conductor and clinician within the US and Canada.

AMEA 2012 Clinicians

Marvin E. Latimer Jr. is currently Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of the University Chorus at the University of Alabama. He received a BME and MME from Wichita State University and a PhD in Music Education with honors from the University of Kansas. Dr. Latimer taught secondary choral music in Wichita, Kansas and served as Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of the Women’s Ensemble at Wichita State University prior to his appointment at Alabama. In addition to his work in education, he has been active as Church Choir Director, Community Choir Director, Performer, Music Theater Director and Producer, Technical Director, and Scenic Designer. Dr. Latimer has published research in Choral Journal, Contributions to Music Education, International Journal for Research in Choral Singing, Journal of Research in Music Education, and Journal of Historical Research in Music Education. His professional distinctions consist of numerous state, national, and international choral convention presentations and performances. He currently serves as the ACDA President Elect and is the Organizational History Subcommittee Chair of the ACDA Research and Publications Committee. Dr. Latimer is the founding editor of a Choral Journal column focused on the ACDA International Archives for Choral Music.

Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Ian Loeppky is an Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Alabama since the fall of 2003. His studies began at the University of Manitoba, continued at the University of Minnesota, and finished at the CollegeConservatory of Music in Cincinnati. He has also studied with Helmuth Rilling, Dale Warland, Frieder Bernius, Martin Isepp, Charles Bruffy, and Bobby McFerrin. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Music Educators National Convention, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, the Alabama Vocal Association, the International Federation for Choral Music, Phi Mu Alpha, and Pi Kappa Lambda. He has worked as a singer, scholar, conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and arranger in Canada, the United States, and Portugal. He directs all four choral ensembles at UNA and teaches undergraduate and graduate choral conducting, choral techniques, and graduate choral literature. In addition, he directs the choir at Trinity Episcopal Church, is founder and artistic director of Florence Camerata, and is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the region and internationally. He conducted the premiere performance of Haydn’s The Creation in Varna, Bulgaria. He is a frequent contributor to the Choral Journal and the Alabama Reprise.

Diane Orlofsky is an experienced choral conductor and music educator who is best known in the state of Alabama for her work with pre-service music educators. As a music education methods specialist at TROY University, she has published many articles on teacher education, and her book, REDEFINING TEACHER EDUCATION: The Theories of Jerome Bruner and the Practice of Training Teachers, was published by Peter Lang Publishing in May, 2002. Orlofsky is an active clinician, conductor, and researcher and has held numerous national and regional positions of leadership within MENC and ACDA. She was named an American Fellow in 1997 by the American Association of University Women. She is also the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards while at TROY, including the Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching, The Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Scholar award, Outstanding Music Alumni award for Wright State University, and the A.A.T.E. Outstanding Teacher Education award.

Terry Ownby is in his twentieth year of teaching instrumental music in the Muscle Shoals School system. He holds both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of North Alabama. The Muscle Shoals Middle School Symphonic Band was a featured performer at the Alabama Music Educators Associations 2001 convention. He was a guest conductor with the Muscle Shoals High School Symphonic band at the Alabama Music Educators Associations 2003 convention. Mr. Ownby is also active as an adjudicator, clinician, arranger, as a marching band drill designer throughout the Southeast, and served as the camp coordinator for the W.C. Jazz Music Camp from 1999-2007. Mr. Ownby currently serves as the Recording Secretary for the Alabama Bandmasters Association and is the past Chairman of ABA District III. He is a five time member of Who’s Who Among Americas Teachers, listed in Who’s Who in America for 2005, and was nominated for the 2004 Disney Hand Teacher Awards for creativity in teaching. He is the recipient of the National Band Associations “Citation of Excellence” for his contribution to bands and band music. Terry and his wife, Laura, have two children; Emily Lee and Elizabeth Lauren.

Sean Powell is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. He received the Doctor of Education in Music Education from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign and has taught in the public schools of Tennessee. His research specialty is music teacher education. Articles by Dr. Powell have been published in the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, the Journal of Music Teacher Education, and the Journal of Band Research. He has presented research and clinics in several states, and is an active guest conductor and clinician.

AMEA 2012 Clinicians

Chester B. Phillips

is the associate director of bands and director of athletic bands at Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. His primary responsibilities include conducting the Wind Orchestra, establishing and directing the Marching Band and directing the Basketball Pep Band. Before receiving the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting at the University of Georgia, he taught public school in Georgia for nine years. He regularly serves as a clinician and guest conductor for bands across North America and is a visual designer and adjudicator for marching bands throughout the Southeast and Midwest. He serves as an adjudicator for Festivals of Music, Music for All, Bands of America, and Drum Corps International.

Alabama Honor Choir Clinician - Dr. Rosephanye Dunn Powell serves as Professor of Voice at Auburn University. She holds degrees from The Florida State University (D.M. in vocal performance, University Fellow), Westminster Choir College (M.M. in vocal performance and pedagogy, with distinction), and Alabama State University (B.M.E., summa cum laude). Prior to her tenure at AU, Dr. Powell served on the faculties of Philander Smith College and Georgia Southern University. Dr. Powell has been hailed as one of America's premier women composers of choral music. She has an impressive catalogue of works published by some of the nation's leading publishers. Additionally, Dr. Powell is commissioned yearly to compose for university choruses, professional, community and church choirs, as well as secondary school choruses. Dr. Powell was a recipient of the “Living Legend Award” presented by California State University African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival in Los Angeles. She was listed in the first edition of the international publication Who Is Who in Choral Music . And, she has been included in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and Outstanding Young Women in America in recent years. Dr. Powell is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the College Music Society (CMS), the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Music Educators National Conference (NAfME).

Jim Tinter

is a composer, clinician, publisher and retired public school music educator from Medina, Ohio. He has presented dozens of workshops for MENC, AOSA, The American Recorder Society and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. His five publications have received rave reviews from American Recorder, and the Jazz Education Journal as well as from teachers and students in the U.S., Canada and Taiwan. Jim’s dynamic and interactive presentations incorporate moving, singing, and playing instruments, in addition to an inspiring and entertaining multi-media presentation with audio and video clips of his students in action.

Rebecca Warren is in her 32st year of teaching. She is the associate Band Director at Mandan Middle School. During her career Mrs. Warren has served as the Director of Bands at 3 high schools in Alabama with her final position being at Ft. Payne High School. She served two terms on the Board of the ABA and served as Vice-President and President-elect of that organization. She also served as President of the Alabama Music Educators Association. While serving as President she founded the FAME-Future Alabama Music Educators program. In addition to her teaching duties Mrs. Warren serves as a clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and in-service leader. She has served on the summer faculties of Troy University, Auburn University, and Wallace College. She has presented clinics in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, and at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic.

Dr. Matthew Wood is Assistant Professor of Low Brass at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He received both a BM and MM from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a DMA from the University of Texas-Austin. Before moving to Auburn, Dr. Wood was an active performer, educator, and clinician in both the Austin and San Antonio areas. He performed with San Antonio-based BrassFX and the Austin City Brass as well as with the Austinbones trombone quartet. During his time in Austin, Dr. Wood served on the faculty of the Austin Chamber Music Center and the Texas Brass Camp. His principal teachers are Nathaniel Brickens, Professor of Trombone, University of Texas-Austin and Timothy Myers, Principal Trombone, St. Louis Symphony.

Husband and wife team, Joseph and Andrea Coleman, have been teaching music for the past 20 years. He is the music specialist at St. Anthony Catholic School in Madison, MS and she is the Artistic Director and Founder for Cantabile Youth Chorale. Andrea is the current president of the Mississippi Music Educators Association and Joey is the president of the Mississippi Orff Chapter.

AMEA 2012 Clinicians

Dr. Benny Ferguson serves as the President of SDNAfME (formerly SDMENC). He is a Past President of the Georgia Music Educators Association and the Georgia chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He recently retired as Director of Bands at Young Harris College. Prior to his tenure at Young Harris College, Dr. Ferguson served as Director of Visual and Performing Arts for the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools for 10 years. He was a member of the administrative team that founded the Savannah Arts Academy in 1998, a dedicated visual and performing arts public high school. He holds the B.A. in Music Education from Newberry College, the M.M. in Trumpet Performance from the University of South Carolina, and the Ph.D. in Music Education from North Texas State University.

Currently the Director of Bands at Tuscaloosa County High School in Northport, Alabama, Jed Smart has been teaching in the state public school system for the past decade during which his bands have received the highest ratings in the concert and marching mediums. He holds degrees from the University of Alabama (BSEd), Troy University (MSEd), and Boston University (DMA). Smart is a two time recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence and is affiliated with several professional and civic organizations. Recently, Smart was named by Tuscaloosa Magazine as one of the Six Most Intriguing People in the Tuscaloosa Community. Jed makes his home in Aliceville, Alabama with his wife, Abby, and daughter, Waverly Mae.

August 27, 2011

The AMEA Governing Board met at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama on August 27, 2011. The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by AMEA President Steve McLendon. Present at the meeting: Steve McLendon, Garry Taylor, Karen Hickok, Carla Gallahan, Sara Womack, Tim Phillips, Jane Powell, Dakota Bromley, Moya Norlund, John Cooper, Beth Davis, Pat Stegall, and Julie Hornstein.

The minutes of the June 16, 2011 meeting of the AMEA Governing Board were read by Recording Secretary, Carla Gallahan. The minutes were approved as read.

The financial report was presented by Garry Taylor and discussed. The report was approved as presented.

Steve McLendon and Garry Taylor reported that they attended Music Education Week in Washington, D.C. and participated in sessions and discussions on music advocacy and the influence of MENC on our state and the profession. They met with our Senators and feel we are well represented at the national level. Both Senators expressed their support for the arts.

Officer, Representatives, and Division Reports may be viewed online by visiting our website, www.alabamamea.org

Old Business

Online registration for AMEA Conference – the Board discussed ideas to improve the registration process at the 2012 Conference. There will be a credit card reader and a designated table for college student registration. Assistance is needed with college student registration.

Recording contract proposals were distributed and reviewed. ProCat will be recording the events of the 2012 AMEA Conference. AMEA Award nominations were distributed, reviewed, and voted upon. Award winners will be announced at the 2012 AMEA Conference.

FAME (Future Alabama Music Educators) – the Board asked District Chairman to encourage participation. Junior and senior level high school students interested in majoring in music are encouraged to participate.

New Business

The MENC Southern Division meeting will be held in Atlanta, GA on September 11-12, 2011. The AMEA Division Presidents were encouraged to attend the leadership session.

President McLendon was contacted by the National Association of State Boards of Education regarding the position of Alabama Superintendent of Education requesting recommendations of qualified individuals for the position. President McLendon asked the Board to contact him with recommendations.

President McLendon is contacting the universities regarding CMENC in an effort to increase participation.

AMEA Officer elections will be held this year. The Nominating Committee Chair is Chuck Eady and committee members will be selected in the near future. The Board made a motion to approve the expense for online voting with the upcoming AMEA elections (Cooper, Womack). The motion passed.

A discussion occurred on eliminating individual division and district checking accounts. Each Division needs 501C3 status.

President McLendon expressed interest in Garry Taylor, Executive Director of AMEA, attending one other SDMENC state’s music education conference per year to gain information and ideas in order to be more progressive in our approach to the AMEA Conference. After discussion, a motion was made (Stegall, Womack) for Mr. Taylor to attend an additional state music education conference. The motion passed.

2012 AMEA Conference Planning occurred.

The next meeting of the AMEA Governing Board will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 6:00 p.m., at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel.

President McLendon adjourned the meeting at 2:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Carla Gallahan, AMEA Recording Secretary

AMEA Governing Board Meeting Minutes

Montgomery Renaissance Hotel, Montgomery, Alabama

Billy “Doc” G. Walls, Auburn University

Professor of Music/Director of Bands Emeritus and Music Education Instructor

attained perfection September 13, 2011. Born January 28, 1934, Bill was preceded in death by his father Elsie, mother Iva, and brother Joe “Tommy.” Survivors include wife Kim Curley Walls, sons Bill and Ed, daughter-in-law Kristen, grandsons Brandon and Austin and thousands of prior students from Auburn University, University of Texas at San Antonio, Florida State University U.S. Navy School of music, and the Auburn, AL community. A native of Naples, TX, Bill was a long-time resident of Lake Martin and a member of Red Ridge United Methodist Church in Dadeville, AL, where he enjoyed his four cats, bird watching, yoga, teaching music to elementary education students, visiting classes at Loachapoka elementary school and a life-long passion for the trombone. He held music education and music degrees from Baylor University, Manhattan School of Music, and Florida State University, served in the 4th Army Band at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX and performed as a professional trombonist. Dr. Walls was affiliated with Auburn University departments of music and curriculum and teaching for 50 years.

Richard Franklin Tucker, accomplished musician and scholar, celebrated pianist and nationally recognized voice teacher, beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle, transitioned Sept. 1 at Huntsville Hospital after a brief illness. He was born July 14, 1940, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The eldest son of four children born to Viola Queen Jones Tucker and John Alfred Tucker, his parents later adopted six additional children. Richard's childhood years were spent in Jamaica, Queens and Babylon, Long Island. He confessed his belief in Jesus Christ at an early age and joined Brooks Memorial United Methodist Church. He graduated from Newtown High School, a school for the musically gifted, in Elmhurst, Queens, where he was signaled out to provide music for special events, such as graduations. His baccalaureate and professional degrees in piano, voice, vocal pedagogy and conducting were earned at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. His career in music began at Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss., as a professor of voice and music theory. He joined the music faculty at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1967, where he served as director and accompanist of the university choirs, interim music department chair and assistant professor of music. His areas of concentration and expertise were piano and voice. Richard was university organist for Alabama A&M University, as well as

director of Music Ministries at Church Street Cumberland Presbyterian Church of America and Center Grove United Methodist Church in Huntsville. He was a member of Church Street CPCA, where he served as an ordained elder, pianist, organist and member of E.D. White Men's Fellowship. He also coordinated and directed many musical programs and events. Richard was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Delta Theta Lambda chapter; the Most Worshipful Prince Hall, a Mason of Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Huntsville; and Phi Mu Sinfonia fraternity. He held professional memberships in AEA, ACDA, MENC and NATS.A dependable tower of strength has left us. A giant sequoia has fallen. He leaves a legacy befitting a man of his vision and convictions. He lives on through all of the lives touched by him. he was true to his code and his God.

Richard Franklin Tucker

THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY BANDS

ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE

THE 21ST ANNUAL

AUBURN UNIVERSITY SYMPHONIC HONOR BAND FESTIVAL

FOR GRADES 9-12

FEBRUARY 9-11, 2012

FEATURING

Deadline

For more info for rmation nomination f November orms: November30, 11200,

Deadline for nomination forms: November 30, 2011

For more information regarding Festival, please visit our WEBSITE: BAND.AUBURN.EDU

JEFF F

AMEA 2012 Performers

The Saks High School Band is dedicated to musical excellence. Beginning and intermediate band are offered to students in grades 6 and 7 at Saks Middle School. The High School Band consists of students 8th grade through 12th grade. Accomplishments of the band include: all superior ratings at District and State Alabama Bandmasters Association’s Concert Band Competition and Assessments from 2004 through 2010; all superior ratings at marching band contest in Georgia and Alabama, including Best In Class and First Place in Division One in the Covered Bridge Marching Festival in 2004 and 2010, The Mud Creek Marching Festival in Hanceville, AL in 2005, the 2006 Southern Classic Marching Contest at Jacksonville State University, Concourse of Champions in Oxford, AL in 2007, and the Dixie Jubilee Jam Contest in Weaver, AL 2008,2009, & 2010. Several Saks Band graduates continue to further their musical knowledge at a college level as music majors and band members. Many students in the band participate in ABA solo and ensemble events. The Concert Band was honored to be selected to perform at the 2007 AMEA In-service Conference. The Jazz Band has performs at several functions in the community including performing at Ross Bridge C. C. for the State P.E.O. Convention in May 2011. Working each day to embrace the tangible and intangible benefits of musicianship, the Saks Band is inspired by these inspirational words of Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act but a habit”

The Concert Choir is the premiere choral ensemble at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The choir has developed an outstanding reputation across the United States and Europe in a short amount of time. Most recent activities include a premiere recording of K. Lee Scott’s Gloria for MorningStar Publications, the ACDA Collegiate Choral Festival, and premiere performances in New Orleans, La. Past performances include the 2008 NCCO Conference in Cincinnati, OH., the AMEA Winter Conference in 2008, and the 2006 Southern Division Convention of ACDA. The choir has also performed in international choral competitions, including the Fleischman International Trophy Competition in Cork, Ireland and the 34th annual Florlilege Vocal de Tours in Tours, France.

The Boaz Intermediate School Honor Choir was formed in 2006. It is an auditioned group of fourth and fifth grade students. The group rehearses once a week after school. This choir presents an annual Spring and Christmas Concert as well as performs at various local events throughout the school year. They have performed in conjunction with the Gerhart Chamber Music Festival since 2007. The group currently has 72 members and is under the direction of Miriam Richey.

AMEA 2012 Performers

Bottenfield Middle School is located in Adamsville, Alabama. The Choral Department consists of 217 students and four choirs: 6th Grade Choir, 7th & 8th Grade Girl’s Choir, 7th & 8th Grade Boy’s Choir, and 7th & 8th Grade Mixed Choir. All members are required to be proficient in music theory as well as in performance. Many students are also honor students and participate in many extracurricular activities inside and outside of school. The 7th and 8th Grade Mixed Choir has consistently received superior ratings at district and state level choral performance assessments. The choir has also competed in festivals in Atlanta, Orlando, and Panama City Beach for the past several years earning top ratings.

The Hillcrest High School Percussion Ensemble is entering its second year as a formal group. The ensemble is comprised of 9th – 12th grade students who are motivated by playing great literature and displaying their passion for music outside of the concert band setting. Students in the ensemble have had experiences performing in the Midwest Clinic, CBDNA Southern Division Conference, All-State Convention, and various honor bands around the state.

The Hoover “First Edition” Jazz Band is under the direction of Mrs. Sallie Vines White. First Edition performs at many school and civic functions throughout the school year. Membership in the group is by audition. The group’s instrumentation consists of 5 saxophones, 5 trombones, 5 trumpets, full rhythm section and a vocalist. The group performs a variety of music from the big band era and today. They do numerous performances for a wide variety of venues. The First Edition Jazz Band has received national recognition through its selection as a finalist in the Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Jazz Contest for the past 4 years. As part of this festival, they have had the opportunity to have clinics with internationally known artists and clinicians. These artists have included Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, Jason Marsalis, Jim Ketch, Leon Anderson, Jack Wilkins, Terrell Stafford, and others. Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, and Leon Anderson have all come to Hoover High School to do intensive on-site clinics with the group. Prior to their selection to Swing Central they were selected into the North Texas Jazz Festival and also received Superior ratings for 6 years in a row at the Loyola Jazz Festival in New Orleans. The group is regularly represented in the Alabama All-State Jazz Band. In 2011, nine members of First Edition were represented in the Alabama All State Jazz Bands.

The Etowah Youth Orchestras was founded in 1990 to provide the students of Northeast Alabama with major musical and educational experiences through training, development, and performance. The EYO has presented concerts throughout the United States and abroad, including Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers for the Performing Arts, Manston and Stratford-Upon-Avon in England, and San Jose and San Ramon in Costa Rica. The EYO has become nationally recognized for its performances of contemporary music and has been recognized with the receipt of eleven ASCAP Youth Orchestra Awards, and an additional ASCAP Award for American Programming on a Foreign Tour.

AMEA 2012 Performers

The Liberty Park Middle School Symphonic Band is comprised of all 7th and 8th grade band students at Liberty Park Middle School in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. The ensemble, consisting of eighty-six musicians, is unique because it meets as four different “sectional” classes each school day, allowing for a more individualized approach to the music. The symphonic band has consistently received superior ratings at the Alabama Music Performance Assessment since the school opened in 2008 and has been noted by judges as having a “powerful” and “well-blended” sound. Under the direction of Travis Bender, the band program at LPMS has grown to include over one hundred forty musicians in a school population just under five hundred. The majority of band students at Liberty Park participate in additional music activities outside of school including Solo and Ensemble Festival, AllState, and various honor bands.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville Chamber Choir began as a student-run ensemble in the early 2000s. It was created by a group of young and ambitious music majors and non-majors seeking to expand their knowledge of the choral repertoire. By 2005, the ensemble became a legitimate part of the choral program at UAHuntsville, specializing in a cappella music from all time periods. Erin Colwitz became their conductor in fall of 2008. Currently, the UAHuntsville Chamber Choir is the elite, most highly selective choir on campus. This group also serves as ambassadors for the University—often performing at University functions. They also appear regularly at local high schools in order to recruit and attract new singers to the program. They specialize in very difficult music, primarily unaccompanied. Most recently, they appeared on UAHuntsville’s New Music Festival, premiering new works by Curtis Lindsay (UAH student) and Julian Bryson (Huntsville music teacher). They plan to tour Los Angeles this spring.

The Auburn UniversitySymphonic Winds, conducted by Director of Bands and Professor of Music, Dr. Rick Good, is the premier performing ensemble of the Auburn University Bands. A select group of 55 players, the Symphonic Winds perform a broad and diverse repertoire of standard and contemporary band literature along with occasional transcriptions. In recent years, this group has performed numerous times for Alabama Bandmasters Association events, and has undertaken tours within the southern region of the United States each spring. Of special note, the ensemble applied and has been accepted by the United States – China Cultural and Educational Foundation to The People’s Republic of China for a tenday performance tour, March 2012. Membership in the AU Symphonic Winds is by audition and is open to any Auburn student regardless of major.

AMEA 2012 Performers

Prattville High School, located in Prattville, Alabama, proudly supports the 250 students who perform in the Prattville High School Band. Band students who perform in the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and the Wind Symphony complete a rigorous audition process and are selected based on talent and skill. The Prattville High School Wind Symphony is comprised of the fiftyone best instrumentalists in the Prattville High School Band. In just six years since its establishment, the Wind Symphony has developed a tradition of excellence. The group has consistently received “Superior” ratings at the Alabama District and State Festivals, and has proudly earned “Superior with Distinction” ratings at the ABA MPA in 2010 and 2011. Over 100 members of the Wind Symphony have been selected as individual participants in numerous university honor bands, the District Honor Band, and the All-State Honor Band. Additionally, all members of the ensemble who have participated in the ABA Solo and Ensemble Festival have received “Superior” ratings. The members of the Prattville High School Wind Symphony combine their skill and leadership with their love of music to reach their full potential as an ensemble and as individual representatives of their school and community.

The Jacket Sing-Sations Elementary Choir is made up of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students from all four elementary schools in the Oxford City School System in Oxford, Alabama: Coldwater Elementary (K-4), DeArmanville Elementary (K4), Oxford Elementary (K-4), and C.E. Hanna Elementary (5-6). Auditions are held each spring. The choir began in 2008 under the direction of music teachers Lorraine Busby and Kristina Sisco. The group was created to give Oxford’s elementary students the opportunity to continue their education in music reading and performance skills beyond their weekly 30 minute music class. The choir began with 45 members in the 4th and 5th grade and has grown into a 70 member choir, with 6th grade being added this year. The Jacket Sing-Sations perform for various community and school system events throughout the year. The 4th grade members attend the AMEA Elementary Music Festival annually. The 5th graders attend the Jacksonville State University Honor Choir annually. The 6th grade choir members will add solo and ensemble to their annual events this year. The Jacket SingSations rehearse once a week after regular school hours. They perform a variety of choral literature and styles.

Gulf Shores High School is located in the lower portion of Alabama and has long been known as Alabama’s premier vacation getaway. Enrollment at Gulf Shores High School typically is around 800 students. The Gulf Shores Symphonic Winds is in its sixth year under the direction of Tim Brannan. During those six years the band has grown from less than 30 members to 115 this year. During that time the band has never received less than a superior rating at any festival or competition attended. The band has traveled to Orlando, Hawaii and will be traveling to New York this spring to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Mr. Brannan collaborates with fellow director Ryan England to teach at Gulf Shores High School, Gulf Shores Middle School, Gulf Shores Elementary School, Orange Beach Elementary School and Swift Consolidated School.

PRE-REGISTRATION FORM

AMEA In-Service Conference

January 19-21, 2012

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center, Montgomery, Alabama

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME______________________(for badge) MENC ID#

Please enclose a copy of your card.

Home Address: __________________________________ ____________________ ______ _______

Home Phone: ______________________________ Email: __________________________________

School Name: ______________________________________________________________________

School Address: _________________________________ ____________________ ______ _______

School Phone: ______________________________ Cell: ___________________________________

Primary Division Affiliation: (check only one)

Other Division/s Affiliation: (check all that apply, or none if only one division affiliation)

Please tell us if you are: _____Clinician _____Conductor of a performing group at the conference

Current Members, Clinicians, Conductors

Pre-Registration $80.00 (On-Site Registration $90.00)

Retired Members Registration Complimentary

First Year Teachers

Pre-registration $65.00 (On-Site Registration $75.00)

Spouse* or Guest* of AMEA Member Registration $15.00 *may not be a music teacher

CMENC Members

Pre-Registration $30.00 (On-Site Registration $35.00)

Non-Member Alabama Music Teacher

Pre-Registration $185.00 (On-Site Registration $195.00)

TOTAL AMOUNT PAID $____________ MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO AMEA

A fee of $35 will be charged for returned checks No Purchase Orders Accepted. Check or Credit Card Only

To pre-register with a credit card go to www.alabamamea.org through January 10, 2012

************************* Mail form and check by Jan. 10, 2012 to: *********************** AMEA, 1612 Second Avenue SW, #181, Cullman, AL 35055

Important: Forms and payment received after Jan. 10 will be held at the registration desk for onsite registration. Do not send forms or payment to the above address after Jan. 10, 2012!

THANK YOU! Your conference packet will be ready at the registration desk in the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel. Your receipt will be in your packet at the conference. ********************************************************************************************************************************************

Please do not fill in the information below. This is for AMEA bookkeeping ONLY Personal Check # _________________________School Check # ______________________ Membership verified and payment receipted by: ________________________________ Date: ____________________

2012 C 2012 C ONFERENCE ONFERENCE S S CHEDULE CHEDULE

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

8:15 p.m.

AMEA Governing Board - Renaissance, Riverview 2 Steve McLendon, Presiding

ABA Governing Board - Renaissance, Riverview 2

John Cooper, Presiding

AVA Governing Board -Renaissance, Riverview 4

Jane Powell, Presiding

CMENC Governing Board - Renaissance, Riverview Boardroom Dakota Bromley, Presiding

AOA Governing Board -Renaissance, Riverview 3 Clay McKinney, Presiding

Thursday, January 19, 2012

7:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.

AMEA Leadership Breakfast - Renaissance, Ballroom B

Guest Speakers: Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser & Benny Ferguson, SDMENC President

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Conference Registration - Renaissance Registration Lobby

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

All-State Show Choir Registration - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall A

Alabama Honor Choir Registration - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall B

All-State Show Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance Exhibit Hall A

AOA/CMENC/ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Alabama Ballroom A

Improvisation: Take the Fear Out - Jim Tinter, Clinician

AVAInterestSession - Renaissance, Alabama Ballroom CD

12 Simple Rehearsal Tips for a Better Middle School Choral Experience- Greg Gilpin, Clinician

ABA Interest Session - Renaissance, Alabama Ballroom E

What is Lab Band and How Do I Start One? - Terry Ownby, Clinician

FAMEWelcome and Introduction - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

Session with Benny Ferguson, SDMENC President

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Alabama Honor Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall B

Keynote Address - Renaissance, Montgomery Performing Arts Center (MPAC)

Choosing Excellence is Easy: Maintaining it is the Key to Success - Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser

FAME Luncheon - Renaissance, Starlight Foyer

ABA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Hoover 1st Edition - Sallie Vines White, Conductor

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

Are You Hip as a 4th Grader? - Jim Tinter, Clinician

HED Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B

How to Improve Your Conducting When There Isn't Time to Work on It - Chester Phillips, Clinician

1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

CMENC Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Rehearsal Technique According to the Twelve Commandments - Erin Colwitz, Clinician

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Assessment Strategies for the Instrumental Ensemble Classroom - Sean Powell, Clinician

FAME Session - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

Leadership is a VERB, it requires ACTION - Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Clinician

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

All-State Jazz Bands Registration - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 7

All-State Show Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance Exhibit Hall A

Alabama Honor Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall B

1:50 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Visit Exhibits - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall C

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

All-State Jazz Bands Rehearsals

Gold Band - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 7 Silver Band - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 1

Middle School Band - Renaissance, Riverview Meeting Room 1

2:20 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.

AVA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Bottenfield Middle School Mixed Choir - Sherrell Huggins, Conductor

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

A Whole Lot of Hullabaloo! - Greg Gilpin, Clinician

ABA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B

Essential Elements 2000 - Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Clinician

AOA, CMENC, HED Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Use of the iPad in Musical Lessons and Rehearsals - Grant Dalton, Clinician

3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

3:25 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

FAME Session - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

Why Teach Music? - Panel Discussion

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

Choral Expressions for the 2-Part Choir - Greg Gilpin, Clinician

ABA, CMENC Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B Got Band? No Wind Ensemble - No Problem! - Becky Warren, Clinician

AVA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Ours Is A Calling - Paul Gulsvig, Clinician

AOA, HED Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Performance Psychology in the Classroom - Erik Janners, Clinician

4:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

FAME Wrap-up - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

ELEM Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Boaz Intermediate School Honor Choir & Oxford Elementary Jacket Sing-Sations

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

How to Play and Teach Beginning Jazz Improvisation - Jim Tinter, Clinician

ABA, AVA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Breathing Efficiently: Improving Tone Quality in Instrumental and Vocal Performance Ensembles

Michelle Debruyn, Andree Martin & Robert Murray, Clinicians

5:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

ELEM Board Meeting - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

All-State Jazz Bands Rehearsals - Montgomery Meeting Rooms 7 & 1, Riverview Meeting Room 1

AMEA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Presentation of AMEA Honor Roll

Benny Ferguson, SDMENC President

UAB Concert Choir - Brian Kittredge, Conductor

Prattville High School Wind Symphony - Rob Cothran, Conductor

7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

All-State Show Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance Exhibit Hall A

Alabama Honor Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall B

Friday, January 20, 2012

8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.

ABA Business Meeting - Renaissance, Ballroom B

John Cooper, Presiding

AOA Business Meeting - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Clay McKinney, Presiding

9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

ABA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Liberty Park Middle School Symphonic Band, Travis Bender, Conductor

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B

JW Pepper Presents New Orchestra Music

AVA, ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Maintaining Diversity: A Survey of Multicultural Choral Literature - Rollo Dilworth, Clinician

CMENC, HED Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Free AND Fantastic, Cheap AND Classic: the World of Choral Public Domain Library - Ian Loeppky, Clinician

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

All-State Show Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance Exhibit Hall A

Alabama Honor Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall B

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

All-State Jazz Bands Rehearsals - Montgomery Meeting Rooms 7 & 1, Riverview Meeting Room 1

9:50 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Visit Exhibits - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall C

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

ABA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Gulf Shores High Symphonic Band - Tim Brannon, Conductor

ELEM, AVA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

Reading Session of Chorals at All Levels - Greg Gilpin, Clinician

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Teacher Preparation Curricula: Do We Teach Them What They Need to Know? - Marvin Latimer, Clinician

CMENC Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full? Positive Classroom Management for Your Music Classroom

Diane Orlofsky, Clinician

12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Phi Beta Mu Luncheon - Renaissance, Ballroom B

AOA Concert Session - Renaissance MPAC

Etowah Youth Symphony Orchestra - Michael Gagliardo, Conductor

1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

ABA Concert Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Hillcrest High School Percussion Ensemble - Nick Smith, Conductor

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

That's the Ticket! Classroom Management Strategies that Really Work! (Part 1) - Tiffany English, Clinician

CMENC Interest Session - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

1st Year Teacher Panel Discussion

HED Research Poster Session - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall Prefunction Area (Lobby)

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Alabama Honor Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall B

All-State Jazz Bands Rehearsals - Montgomery Meeting Rooms 7 & 1, Riverview Meeting Room 1

1:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.

All-State Show Choir Rehearsal - Renaissance Exhibit Hall A

1:50 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Visit Exhibits - Renaissance, Exhibit Hall C

2:20 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.

ABA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Saks High School Concert Band - Gene Inglis, Conductor

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

That's the Ticket! Classroom Management Strategies that Really Work! (Part 2) - Tiffany English, Clinician

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B

Alfred Publication’s Orchestra Expressions - Sandra Dackow, Clinician (with the Etowah Youth Orchestra)

AVA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

The Middle School Chorus: Recruitment, Rehearsals and Repertoire - Rollo Dilworth, Clinician

CMENC Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Assessment - Panel Discussion

HED Interest Session - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

Slide Technique for Young Trombonists - Matthew Wood, Clinician

3:25 pm. 4:15 p.m.

ABA, CMENC Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

10 Gems for Great Rehearsals - Gregg Gausline, Clinician

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B

Hands On Conducting - Sandra Dackow, Clinician (with the Etowah Youth Orchestra)

AVA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Conducting the Choral Art Song: How Text Informs Tone and Gesture - Rollo Dilworth, Clinician

HED Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Quality of Sound for the Percussionist - Gene Fambrough, Clinician

ELEM Business Meeting - Renaissance, Montgomery Meeting Room 5

Beth Davis, Presiding

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

AVA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

UA Huntsville Chamber Choir - Erin Colwitz, Conductor

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

Creating Composers: Ideas and Activities to Help Each K-5 Student Unleash Their Inner Composer

Craig Hurley, Clinician

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B

Rehearsal Techniques - Sandra Dackow, Clinician (with the Etowah Youth Orchestra)

HED Performance Session - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

ABA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

From Chalkboards to Tablet Computers: Strategies for Implementing Technology from the Podium - Jed Smart, Clinician

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

All-State Jazz Bands Rehearsals - Montgomery Meeting Rooms 7 & 1, Riverview Meeting Room 1

Alabama Honor Choir Dress Rehearsal - Renaissance, MPAC

AMEA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

Presentation of Awards

Alabama Honor Choir - Rosephanye Powell, Conductor

Auburn University Symphonic Winds - Rick Good, Conductor

Saturday, January 21, 2012

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

All-State Show Choir Dress Rehearsal - Renaissance, MPAC

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

Be My Neighbor (Part 1) - Joey & Andrea Coleman, Clinicians

AVA Business Meeting - Renaissance, Ballroom CD

Jane Powell, Presiding

ABA Business Meeting - Renaissance, Ballroom B

John Cooper, Presiding

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Tempo Press Reading Session - Sandra Dackow, Clinician

9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

ELEM Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom A

Be My Neighbor (Part 2) - Joey & Andrea Coleman, Clinicians

ABA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom B

Dealing With Difficult Parents in Your Program: Soothing the Savage Beast - Randall Coleman, Clinician

AOA Interest Session - Renaissance, Ballroom E

Writing and Arranging - Sandra Dackow, Clinician

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m. 10:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

AVA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

All-State Show Choir - Paul Gulsvig, Clinician; Santana Shelton, Choreographer

All-State Jazz Bands Warm-up - Montgomery Meeting Rooms 7 & 1, Riverview Meeting Room 1

ABA Concert Session - Renaissance, MPAC

All-State Jazz Bands (Middle School, Silver, and Gold Bands)

ACDA Business Meeting - Renaissance, Ballroom E

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

AMEA Governing Board Meeting - Renaissance, Riverview 2

Steve McLendon, Presiding

Keep Your NAfME Profile up to date! It’s as easy as 1-2-3

1. Visit the NAfME website, www.NAfME.org

2. Sign in with your email address and NAfME membership #

3. Click “Member Services”

AMEA uses contact info from the NAfME database to send the Ala Breve and E-Newsletters. Don’t miss out!

Join Us!

(Share this application with non-MENC member colleagues and tell them the benefits of joining MENC.) For today’s students to succeed tomorrow, they need a comprehensive education that includes music taught by exemplary music educators. When your colleagues join MENC: The National Association for Music Education, they automatically become a member of Alabama Music Educators Association. From local activities to national issues, MENC and AMEA offer the combination of services and benefits music educators need!

Advocacy—MENC informs legislators of the importance of an education that includes music, supports National Standards for Music Education, and sponsors programs such as Music In Our Schools Month® and Advocacy Groundswell Music Educators Journal—Articles on teaching approaches, current issues, classroom techniques, and products and services. Teaching Music—Practical teaching ideas for all specialty areas. Discounts on Resources—25% off all MENC publications, videos, and specialty items. In-Service Conferences and Meetings Opportunities to exchange ideas with colleagues; member discounts on registration fees. Leadership Opportunities—Participation on MENC task forces and committees; sponsorship of collegiate and Tri-M Music Honor Society chapters. Automatic State Association Membership—All the benefits offered at the state level, including the state journal and access to local meetings, festivals, and more!

General Music Today—Dealing specifically with the concerns of the general music educator. Journal of Music Teacher Education—Focusing on issues of importance to the music teacher educator.

UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education Practical applications for music education research findings.

Journal of Research in Music Education—The latest findings in music education research.

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There’s More! Take the MENC Membership Tour at www.menc.org/about/view/tour-of-menc-membership

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Preschool Choral/Voice Teacher Education Elementary Band Jazz Junior/Middle School Orchestra Technology/ Senior High School Show Choir Theory/ College/University Guitar Composition/ Administrator/ General Music History Supervisor Special Learners Marching Band Private/Studio Research Mariachi

AMEA Immediate Past President Pat

Stegall

How long do you plan to teach? This is a very important question for all of Alabama’s teachers. If you are a young teacher or a more experienced teacher…keep reading. As the state legislature continues to ramp up its efforts to help our state’s economic woes, teachers all across Alabama need to be vigilant at following the changes that are taking place. Let me encourage you to make contact with the RSA and inquire about the future…your future.

I find myself at a major crossroad much sooner than I thought I would. First, I have had to consider how the changes in health insurance costs will affect my family. On January 1, 2012, there will be a $30 per month increase in my premium, which is for single coverage.

Another $30 increase will take place Jan.1, 2013; 2014; 2015 and 2016. At this time, no one is able to project how much more after that period, but there is no guarantee that this will be the end of the increases. When you do the math, it really adds up. For example: $360, $720, $1080, $1440, $1800 add up to a total increase over the next five years of $5400. This, along with increased retirement costs will dramatically reduce every teacher’s actual take home pay. There are no foreseeable pay raises, so you really do need to take a look at how it affects you and your family. According to one source, there are 10,800 public school employees that are eligible to retire from now until December 1, 2011…that’s right…December 1, 2011 is the last day you can retire under the old system. In order to avoid the insurance increase you will need to file your paperwork with the retirement system no later than November 1, 2011. After that, the new insurance rates will take effect along with the retirement rate increase and you will pay more out of your pocket book

Legislative Issues

if you retire past that date.

Also, in the next legislative regular session they are discussing making changes to the retirement benefit calculator. The bottom line is that the legislature plans to make you pay more into the system, but receive less in retirement benefits. There are several points up for discussion that will directly affect anyone that teaches past January 1, 2012, including only paying retirement benefits for eleven years; forcing everyone in the system to place their RSA money into a 401K retirement account; increasing insurance premiums; doing away with RSA and taking it over with an appointed board which will be under the Governor’s control. We can only expect things to get worse before they get better. You need to stay in touch with your legislators and keep up with the drastic changes that are going to affect us all financially.

How will this affect our music programs? Certainly, there are music

teachers among those eligible that will make the choice to “get out while the gettin’ is good!” I only hope they have studied the facts and make a wise decision about their future. The loss of the experienced and seasoned music teachers of Alabama due to “earlier than planned” retirement because of this financial fiasco could be detrimental to many programs. Will there be enough time for administrators to find adequate replacements? The time frame could leave many programs without a music teacher for a period of time. Will the CFO’s take this opportunity to cut more music programs? This is serious stuff!

When the revolving doors start moving and the hiring process begins, will programs be able to find the best person for the job? Teachers are already under contract for this year and may find themselves at odds with their local school system if they are interested in filling one of the new vacancies. Much wisdom is needed in this time of adjustment and I can only hope that there will be adjustments and allowances that will enable the music programs to continue to thrive during this pruning process. My encouragement is in knowing that after

pruning…new growth takes place. I have hope that the growth will be in the right direction for the music programs of Alabama.

If you are vested with 25 years or more of service, you need to contact the RSA immediately to find out your options about retirement. You aren’t required to retire, but you need to look at the whole picture. You may not be ready to retire, but you need to know the facts so you know you have had the opportunity to make the best decision for you and your family. Time is short…so if you haven’t started looking at the problem, it would be in your best interest to start right now!

Step One: Determine your situation (years of service,age)

Step Two: Contact RSA and look at your options if you retire under the current system. Ask about your options under the new system and compare with how long you plan to teach.

Step Three: Make long term projections for your financial security. Make an Excel file and calculate your income and what it will cost you to live on for the next 20 years…30 years…40 years.

Consider that your insurance through PEEHIP is only good until age 65, then Medicare/ Obamacare will take over in it’s place. Remember, inflation is between 3-4% per year so include a projection that allows for that each year. Your retirement check will be reduced by Federal Income tax withholdings and Insurance costs and any other deductions you choose. You no longer will pay state income tax, or FICA.

Step Four: Look at your income from Social Security and the options you will have with that program…hoping it is still there when you become eligible.

Step Five: Talk to a financial planner/ advisor to help you with any questions you have.

Step Six: Make a wise decision based on a few questions like:

“Can I afford to retire?”

“Am I ready to retire?”

“What can I do during my retirement years?”

“Will I need to work in my retirement years? If so, what are my options?”

Step Seven: If you decide to retire, make sure you meet the deadline of November 1 to get your paperwork to the Retirement System of Alabama to retire by December 1, 2011 or you will miss the opportunity to retire with your best benefit package.

Finally, do not be afraid to contact your state senator and representatives and express your concerns and interests. If you don’t communicate with them…they will not know how you feel. Many of the parents of students we teach are unaware of the serious nature of this time we are experiencing regarding education funding. Tell them what is going on and ask them to help.

AMEA 2011 - 2012 Division Events

Alabama Bandmasters Association

AMEA In-Service Conference/All-State Jazz Band

January 19-21, 2012 - Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

All-State Solo Festival

April 11, 2012 - 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

District IV

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band State MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band State High School MPA State Middle School MPA

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District V

All-State Band Auditions State MPA

District Honor Band

Solo & Ensemble Festival

District VI

All-State Band Auditions

District Honor Band 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 12-14, 2012 - Mobile

Summer In-Service Conference

June 27-28, Hilton Garden Inn, Orange Beach

January 28...........................................Brewer High School

February 17-18...............................Bob Jones High School

February 23-24............................................................TBA

March 15-16......................................................Decatur HS

March 31.........................................Liberty Middle School

April 21............................................Hartselle High School

January 14..................................Jacksonville High School

February 29-March 2................Gadsden City High School

March 9-10.........................Gadsden State Comm. College

April 30...............................................Oxford High School

May 1......................................................Arab High School

January 28...............................Muscle Shoals High School

February 17-18.................................Cullman High School

March 6-8................................Muscle Shoals High School

May 5 Muscle Shoals Middle School

January 14...........................................Hoover High School

March 30-31.................................Homewood High School

February 28-March 1...................Homewood High School

March 6-8.....................................................................TBA

April 24....................................Homewood Middle School

May 5.........................................Thompson Middle School

January 28..........................................................Tuscaloosa

February 22-23..................................................Tuscaloosa

February 24-25...................................................Livingston

March 15...............................................................Prattville

April 24..............................................................Tuscaloosa

January 28..........................................Opelika High School

February 24-25...................................Auburn High School

March 6-8...........................................Auburn High School

March 3..............................Smiths Station Jr. High School

April 21............................................Montgomery Catholic

January 14.......................................Davidson High School

March 7-8.........................................Saraland High School

April 28.........................................Semmes Middle School

May 5......................................Spanish Fort Middle School

January 28.................................................Troy Elementary

March 7-9.......................................Enterprise High School

March 16-17..............................Eufaula, Lakepoint Resort

April 21...........................................Rehobeth High School

Alabama Orchestra Association

Alabama Vocal Association

Fall Workshop - September 9-10 - UA Moody Music Building, Tuscaloosa

All-State Show Choir Auditions - September 29-30 - Wallace State, Hanceville

September 30-October 1 - Huntingdon College, Montgomery

All-State Show Choir Festival at AMEA Conference - January 19-21- Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

Honor Choir Festival at AMEA Conference - January 19-21- Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

FAME - January 19- Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center

All-State - March 7-10, 2011 - Samford University, Birmingham

OCS/OA at All-State - March 7-10 - Samford University

VII

Elementary/General Division

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.

January 19-21 - AMEA In-Service Conference, Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Convention Center

Alabama Music Educators Association Young Composers Competition

The AMEA Young Composers Competition has been created to encourage Alabama's developing student composers by providing professional level review and consideration. By recognizing outstanding student compositions, this process will support Alabama music teachers by recognizing their efforts to incorporate the MENC standards. It is also hoped that this kind of professional recognition will provide a showcase for the composition talents of these young Alabama musicians.

Competition Guidelines and Regulations

Eligibility: Open to students grades K-College

Requirements:Compose a solo, song, string quartet, concerto, or any medium of choice in one of the categories.

Score Format: TWO copies of an original score must be sent with the entry form. Hand-written and computergenerated formats are accepted. Measures MUST be numbered on each score submitted. Tape, CD or computer-generated recordings are encouraged but not mandatory.

Contest Rules and Procedures:

1.Sponsoring teacher must be AMEA member.

2. Entries must be original unpublished compositions. No transcriptions or arrangements will be eligible.

3. The purpose of the competition is to encourage student composers. Therefore, the compositions must be conceived and constructed by the composer.

4. Entries shall be between 1-8 minutes in length.

5. Adjudication comments will be available after all entries have been reviewed.

6. Compositions must be submitted with a full score. Recordings are welcome but not mandatory. Please do not send parts with you score.

7.The composer's name must appear on the score and recording (if available). The date of the composition must appear on the title page.

8.All entries must be postmarked by OCTOBER 29. 2011. Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.

9.Finalists will be selected from each Division and Category, the judges will determine how many finalists will be selected.

10.All rights, including copyrighting, remain with the composer.

11.Submitted materials will not be returned.

12.Compositions submitted must not be published and must not have won any other competitions.

13.The panel of judges may include qualified university composition faculty, members of the music industry, composers and other music educators. Their decision will be final, with the right to withhold awards in the event that no entry is judged worthy.

14.Each composer may submit one entry.

15.Finalist(s) will be recognized at the annual AMEA conference.

Judging: Entries will be accepted in the following divisions and categories:

Division 1 - Elementary (K-5)

Division 2 - Middle (6-8)

Division 3 - High (9-12)

Division 4 - College

Composers may enter a piece from any of the FIVE categories below:

Category A: Solo composition (including song with accompaniment; orchestral instrument with accompaniment, e.g. violin sonata).

Category B: Chamber piece for duo, trio, quintet, etc. (other than string quartet).

Category C: Orchestral/Band/Choral. (large ensemble work)

Category D: String Quartet.

Category E: Jazz - a piece for jazz ensemble.(combo or large ensemble)

Points (100):30 points - structure, musical creativity, and development.

30 points - compositional technique; use of instrument(s).

30 points - melodic, rhythmic and harmonic consideration.

10 points - presentation (to include correct musical notation).

Judging: All entrants will receive a written critique from the judging panel. The decision of the judging panel is final.

Prizes & Awards: Composition finalists will be recognized at the AMEA conference.

Entry fee: $20.00 Checks should be made payable to Homewood Middle School.

Deadline: Postmarked on or before October 29, 2011

Entry: Send composition and completed entry form to: AMEA Young Composers Competition

c/o Chris Cooper

Homewood Middle School

395 Mecca Ave. Homewood, AL 35209

2011-2012 APPLICATION FORM

SIGNATURE

SIGNATURE OF TEACHER

Music Industry News...

Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music

Nashville – June 3, 2011 – There’s a new music program designed to bring added excitement to the way music is taught to school children – Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music. Combining the latest

the PSD400 Series of professional digital recording systems. Loaded with features, flexibility, and multiple file-sharing options, the PSD430 is an advanced portable digital recording system for music practice and recording.

The PSD430 has three available media types for recording and playback – plug in a miniSD card, connect an external flash drive or hard disk drive via USB, or record or playback audio on the built-in CD recorder.

His list of past students is impressive with superstars such as Beyoncé, Solange, Mario, Demi Lovato and Ray J, all having studied with him during the course of their careers.

technology in web design with interactive white boards and high definition production on DVDs, Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music is the place where learning music is seriously fun. Quaver’s School Program is a comprehensive classroom DVD series, Teacher Guides and website designed to help music teachers inspire children to learn and love music. The DVD program features 30 high-energy and entertaining episodes, each covering an essential music element: theory, instruments and ensembles, composers and music history, and music styles. A full-color Teacher Guide including guidelines for teaching tips, hands-on student projects, and other tools accompanies each episode. In addition, teachers will receive one-year full access to the Online Quaver Classrooms that contain Teacher Only resources. In addition to the school program, students will be introduced to QuaverMusic.com, the premier online destination for kids to explore music, which will provide several music creation tools and games to support music education in the classroom. The school program follows the standards of NAfME the National Association for Music Education (formerly known as MENC - The National Association for Music Education) and the National Standards for Arts Education and incorporates input from some of the nation’s best music teachers.

Superscope Technologies, Inc.

Geneva, IL – Superscope Technologies, Inc. is announcing its newest addition to

The PSD430 also features simultaneous real-time control of tempo and key changes, and play-along options include A-B looping for practice sessions and voice reduction for singers who wish to sing-along with their favorite recordings. Advanced features include overdubbing, punch-in/out recording, reverb and delay, panning, editing and three-band parametric equalization.

When speaking about the serious student, Tom says, “Superscope becomes a vital part of their talent development. To have the ability to record yourself and play it back without having to go to a studio is invaluable. They’ll go to the studio when they’re ready and hopefully lay down a hit record.” And in the meantime, Tom will continue to use Superscope in his practice as a vocal techniques instructor. “I send my students home with practice instructions for our next session on their thumb drive. They also get to take their recordings from the session with them. The benefits of Superscope, along with proper instruction, have allowed many of my students to begin their careers in such major markets as New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. As their teacher that makes me very proud.”

A 15-year veteran vocal techniques instructor, Texas-based Tom McKinney is currently focused on the user-friendly PSD430. A teacher for students of all levels and genres – country, pop, rock, opera, R&B, blues, gospel – Tom uses his Superscope on a daily basis.

“With this model, my students can record directly to an SD card or USB drive. I’ll have my students record their vocals on the PSD430, and then we’ll play it back. If we need to, we’ll change the key of the accompaniment and re-record. It’s proven extremely helpful for them to take home what they’ve learned in their session with me,” Tom explains.

Tom’s students range from age ten to adults, all at various levels in their careers.

“The tools on the PSD430 help teachers and students stay organized,” says Superscope’s Market Development Manager Tim Smyth. “Our products are designed to not only give students immediate feedback, but also help educators track progress by storing a student’s lesson material and recordings in a folder or playlist. The practice material is then shared with students using SD cards, USB devices, CDs, etc. The PSD430 really makes music lessons more efficient.”

Other Superscope models include PSD450 and PSD410. The PSD450 includes all playback and record features found in the PSD430 and adds a 160 GB hard drive for direct recording with plenty of file storage for archiving and tracking students’ progress. The PSD410 records directly to SD media, USB flash drives or an external hard drive and includes all playback features found in the PSD430.

Superscope Technologies, Inc., develops and markets audio products to meet the needs of professional and amateur musicians, music educators and their students, and vocalists throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.superscopetechnologies.com.

THREE CRITICAL CONCERNS

(Part 2)

by Jim Smisek

Choice of literature is perhaps the most important professional decision we make for our programs. I believe that we must find a balance between what will challenge our students and what will benefit the constituency. The constituency is the music program, school program, school district, and the community outside the school that supports our programs. We must do our “homework” to discover what will educate our students and also educate our constituency. We must be careful not to “over educate” with literature that is not reaching to all members of this community; however, we have an obligation to establish/support the validity of music education and build the relationship with the community for their support. A major area of support especially considers money! Without the financial support of our community, we will not be able to purchase the music or instruments needed to perform. It is common sense!

The choice of literature directly relates to our philosophy of music education. We must establish our philosophy and abide by what we have determined. Ray Cramer suggested that we should consider, “What comprises music of artistic merit?” He gave us a list of 7 items to consider:

DOES THE MUSIC HAVE…

1.a well conceived formal structure?

2.creative melodies and counterlines?

3.harmonic imagination?

4.rhythmic vitality?

5.contrast in all musical elements?

6.scoring which best represents the full potential for

beautiful tone and timbre?

7.an emotional impact?

When considering literature for your ensembles, here are a few suggestions:

I. Concert Band

A. State lists are a fantastic resource for you to use. Obviously we must pick music from the Alabama list for Music Performance Assessment (MPA). However, we may use the other state lists as a resource that may include repertoire not on our state list.

1.AL (http://www.alabamamea.org/bandmasters/) Click on Cumulative List

2.Texas (http://www.uil.utexas.edu/music/pml.html)

3.Florida (http://www.flmusiced.org/fba/dnn/)

4.Georgia (http://www.gmea.org/Divisions/Band/Band.htm) Click on LGPE Music List.

B. Books are another excellent resource for us to use. The list below highlights a few that I have found extremely helpful during my career.

1.Teaching Music Through Performance in Band compiled and edited by Richard Miles, GIA Publications.

2. The Works of John Philip Sousa by Paul E. Brierly, Integrity Press.

3. March Music Notes by Norman E. Smith, Program Note Press.

4. Band Music Notes by Norman Smith and Albert Stoutamire, Program Note Press.

5. Music for Concert Band by Joseph Kreines, Florida Music Service.

6.Guides To Band Masterworks by Robert J. Garofalo, Meredith Music Publications.

C. Colleagues are perhaps your BEST RESOURCE! Contact those directors who have “been around the block”. These educators can help you understand the importance of choosing the appropriate level music for your specific ensemble. You may have a group that has no double reed instruments and the level of your players is an average beginner player. What will you do? Ask that colleague what he/she would do! They have been there and done that! You want your students to have a successful experience that is rewarding both on the stage and in the classroom. Ask those college guys because they have a lot more

“score-study” time and fewer band parent meetings! Many of your colleagues would be glad to come to your rehearsal and “lend an ear” to help you and the students. Call on them!

II.Marching Band

A.There are very few State Lists that exist for marching band; however, there are several resources that we may consider.

1. Books written by accomplished band directors throughout our country are available. These texts are valuable tools to help us consider ways of teaching. Here are several texts that I am confident will be helpful:

a. The Complete Marching Band Resource Manual: Techniques and Materials for Teaching, Drill Design, and Music Arranging by Wayne Bailey and Thomas Caneva, University of Pennsylvania Press.

b.Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best by Paul Buyer, Meredith Music.

c.Marching Fundamentals (a video DVD) by Greg Martin, Alfred Publishing.

d.The Marching Band Handbook, by Kim R. Holston, Mcfarland & Co., Inc., Publications.

e.The Marching Band Program: Principles and Practices, by Bentley Shellahamer, James Swearingen, and Jon Woods, C. L. Barnhouse Co.

2. Our Colleagues are an invaluable asset and this was discussed above. In addition, reach out to those who a are actively involved in Drum & Bugle Corps. These professionals are “up-to-date” considering matters of drill design and the field of marching arts. Many of my ideas come from my experiences with this activity and associations with those involved in the activity. In summary, the literature we chose identifies both the program and the director. Who we are and what we desire to accomplish is evident in this decision. There are times that we must acquiesce to the desires of the school community and that is when we must adjust to “play the game”. However, do not accept lower standards of performance with your ensembles. Maintain your high expectations because that is what is vitally important to the continued success of your students. They must accept the idea that every performance is important. The pep rally in the gymnasium, the Friday night football game, District MPA, and the International Marching Band Competition are all important! In my final installment of Three Critical Concerns, I will focus on jazz education. I will discuss the philosophy of teaching jazz, choice of literature and other concerns related to jazz education.

Online Professional Development! Got music education questions? Want some expert advice?

NAfME offers this exciting free benefit to members throughout the school year.

NAfME members visiting the band, orchestra, chorus, and general music networks can get expert advice in answer to their questions. Our mentors rotate on a monthly basis and respond to your questions every few days.

If you would like to be a mentor or make a recommendation regarding the mentoring website, please contact Susan Lambert at SusanL@nafme.org.

Visit www.nafme.org/mentors

Dr. James J. Smisek is director of bands and chairman of instrumental studies at Samford University.