April 2019 Southwestern Musician

APRIL 2019

ADAPTS to every teacher.

ENGAGES every student.

No matter what technology is available in your classroom, Quaver’s online curriculum resources are designed to help you engage your students and enhance teaching of musical concepts and skills. Test drive our library of 6,500+ resources and customize lessons to suit your needs!

Try a FREE Preview in your classroom for 30 days!

QuaverMusic.com/TXMEA0419

(866) 917-3633 @QuaverMusic Š2019 QuaverMusic.com LLC

Contents VO LU M E 87 ɵ I S S U E 8 ɵ A P R I L 2019

Convention Highlights Post-Convention Offerings & 2020 Convention Proposals . . . . . . . . . . . 4 I Love Music: All-State Musician Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Congratulations Four-Year All-State Musicians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 2019 Clinic/Convention Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 38, 62 Lessons Learned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Inspiring Hopefulness (First General Session Keynote Highlights) . . . . 36 Featured Clinician Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Practicing Innovation (Second General Session Keynote Highlights) . . 61 Survey Says: Convention Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 TMEA Membership, Convention Attendance & Meeting Minutes. . . . . 73

Columns President’s Notes . . . . . . . . . 5 [J O E

M U Ñ OZ]

Executive Director’s Notes . .12 [R O B ER T

F LOY D]

Band Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 [J O H N

Updates

CA R R O L L]

Orchestra Notes . . . . . . . . . 31

Spring Region Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

[M IC H A EL

Welcome the 2019–2020 TMEA Executive Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Vocal Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 [J E D

S T R I N G ER]

R AG S DA L E]

Nominate Students for the Texas Music Scholar Award . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Congratulations TMEA Scholarship Recipients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Elementary Notes. . . . . . . . 56 [A B I G A I L

H AW ES]

Arts Education Day at the Capitol Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

College Notes . . . . . . . . . . . 64

on the cover

All-State Tenor-Bass Choir members Brianna Bernabe (junior), Jaden Wood (sophomore), and Amaka Marchie (senior), each from Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy, rehearse during the 2019 TMEA Clinic/ Convention. Photo by Karen Cross.

[V I C K I

BAKER]

Southwestern Musician | April 2019

1

Editor-in-Chief: Robert Floyd UĂ R\G@tmea.org 512-452-0710, ext. 101

Managing Editor: Karen Cross

kcross@tmea.org 512-452-0710, ext. 107

TMEA Executive Board President: Joe Muùoz PXQR]M#SHDUODQGLVG RUJ 3775 South Main Street, Pearland, 77581 281-997-3219 – Pearland HS

Attend Your Spring TMEA Region Meeting Region

Date

Time

Location

1

May 11

10:00 a.m. meeting, Amarillo HS Cafeteria 9:30 a.m. food

2

May 18

10:00 a.m.

*X\HU +6 'HQWRQ

3

May 11

10:00 a.m.

Lake Highlands HS

4

May 10

5:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant HS

brian.coatney@pisd.edu 2200 Independence Parkway, Plano, 75075 469-752-9396 – Plano Senior HS

5

May 18

9:00 a.m.

Terrell Academy for STEM/VPA

6

April 27

1:00 p.m.

3HUPLDQ +6 %DQG +DOO

7

May 18

10:00 a.m.

*UDKDP +6

Past-President: Robert Horton

8

May 4

10:00 a.m. meeting, Midway HS Auditorium 9:30 a.m. food

9

May 4

9:00 a.m.

President-Elect: Brian Coatney

rhorton@conroeisd.net :HVW 'DYLV 6WUHHW &RQURH 936-709-7806 – Conroe ISD

Band Vice-President: John Carroll MRKQ FDUUROO#HFWRUFRXQW\LVG RUJ 1800 East 42nd Street, Odessa, 79762 432-553-2780 – Permian HS

Orchestra Vice-President: Michael Stringer mstringe@aisd.net :HVW $UNDQVDV /DQH $QQH[ $UOLQJWRQ 682-867-7662 – Arlington ISD

Vocal Vice-President: Jed Ragsdale MHGUDJVGDOH#WRPEDOOLVG QHW 1RUWKSRLQWH 5LGJH /DQH 7RPEDOO 281-357-3230, ext. 1106 – Memorial HS

Elementary Vice-President: Abigail Hawes DELJDLO KDZHV#FÀVG QHW 13734 Lakewood Forest Drive, Houston, 77070 281-370-4040 – Moore Elementary

College Vice-President: Vicki Baker 9%DNHU#WZX HGX 3 2 %R[ 'HQWRQ ² 7H[DV :RPDQ¡V 8QLYHUVLW\

:LOOLV +6

10

May 13

6:30 p.m.

/DPDU 8QLY 0XVLF %OGJ

11

May 4

12:00 p.m.

McCollum HS

12

May 5

2:30 p.m.

Madison HS, San Antonio

13

May 4

10:00 a.m.

*HRUJH 5DQFK +6

14

May 18

10:00 a.m.

Del Mar College

15

April 28

2:00 p.m.

McAllen Memorial HS

16

May 6

5:00 p.m. meeting, 4:00 p.m. steering committee

Frenship HS

17

May 11

9:30 a.m.

Shadow Creek HS

18

April 13

10:00 a.m.

Anderson HS

19

May 4

10:00 a.m.

Pasadena Memorial HS

20

Mar 30

9:00 a.m.

Adamson HS, Dallas ISD

21

May 4

10:00 a.m.

Jacksonville HS

22

May 13

7:00 p.m. meeting, 6:00 p.m. UIL

UTEP

23

May 11

9:00 a.m. meeting, 8:30 a.m. coffee

Kerr HS

24

May 11

10:00 a.m.

Frisco Centennial HS

25

May 18

10:00 a.m. meeting, Allen HS 9:30 a.m. food

Communications Manager: Karen Cross | kcross@tmea.org

26

April 25

6:00 p.m.

Connally HS

Financial Manager: &ULVWLQ *DIIQH\ | cgaffney@tmea.org

27

May 11

9:00 a.m.

Cypress Creek HS

Information Technologist: Andrew Denman | adenman@tmea.org

28

May 11

10:00 a.m. meeting, Harlingen CISD PAC 9:30 a.m. food

29

May 18

12:00 p.m.

Holmes HS

30

May 18

10:00 a.m.

Chisholm Trail HS

TMEA Staff Executive Director: 5REHUW )OR\G | UĂ R\G@tmea.org Deputy Director: Frank Coachman | fcoachman@tmea.org Administrative Director: Kay Vanlandingham | kvanlandingham@tmea.org Advertising/Exhibits Manager: Tesa Harding | tesa@tmea.org Membership Manager: Susan Daugherty | susand@tmea.org

Administrative Assistant: 5LWD (OOLQJHU | rellinger@tmea.org

70($ 2IÀFH Mailing Address: 3 2 %R[ $XVWLQ Physical Address: 7900 Centre Park Drive, Austin, 78754 Phone: 512-452-0710 | Toll-Free: 888-318-TMEA | Fax: 512-451-9213 Website: www.tmea.org 2IÀFH +RXUV Monday–Friday, 8:30 A.M.–4:30 P.M.

31

May 18

10:00 a.m.

%LUGYLOOH )LQH $UWV &HQWHU

32

April 30

6:00 p.m.

Cedar Park HS

33

May 18

10:00 p.m.

Summer Creek HS

Southwestern Musician (ISSN 0162-380X) (USPS 508-340) is published monthly except March, June, and July by Texas Music Educators Association, 7900 Centre Park Drive, Austin, TX 78754.

6XEVFULSWLRQ UDWHV 2QH <HDU ² 6LQJOH FRSLHV 3HULRGLFDO SRVWDJH SDLG DW $XVWLQ 7; DQG DGGLWLRQDO PDLOLQJ RIĂ&#x20AC;FHV 32670$67(5 6HQG DGGUHVV FKDQJHV WR 6RXWKZHVWHUQ 0XVLFLDQ 3 2 %R[ $XVWLQ 7; 6RXWKZHVWHUQ 0XVLFLDQ ZDV IRXQGHG LQ E\ $ / +DUSHU 5HQDPHG LQ DQG SXEOLVKHG E\ 'U &O\GH -D\ *DUUHWW 3XEOLVKHG ² E\ 'U 6WHOOD 2ZVOH\ ,QFRUSRUDWHG LQ DV 1DWLRQDO E\ +DUODQ %HOO 3XEOLVKHUV ,QF 3XEOLVKHG ² E\ 'U + *UDG\ +DUODQ 3XUFKDVHG LQ E\ ' 2 :LOH\ 7H[DV 0XVLF (GXFDWRU ZDV IRXQGHG LQ E\ 5LFKDUG - 'XQQ DQG JLYHQ WR WKH 7H[DV 0XVLF (GXFDWRUV $VVRFLDWLRQ ZKRVH RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO SXEOLFDWLRQ LW KDV EHHQ VLQFH ,Q WKH WZR PDJD]LQHV ZHUH PHUJHG XVLQJ WKH QDPH 6RXWKZHVWHUQ 0XVLFLDQ FRPELQHG ZLWK WKH 7H[DV 0XVLF (GXFDWRU XQGHU WKH HGLWRUVKLS RI ' 2 :LOH\ ZKR FRQWLQXHG WR VHUYH DV HGLWRU XQWLO KLV UHWLUHPHQW LQ $W WKDW WLPH RZQHUVKLS RI ERWK PDJD]LQHV ZDV DVVXPHG E\ 70($ ,Q $XJXVW WKH 70($ ([HFXWLYH %RDUG FKDQJHG WKH name of the publication to Southwestern Musician.

2

Southwestern Musician | April 2019

Texas A&M University-Kingsville Department of Music

®

2019 Audition Dates January 26 • February 23 • March 2 • April 6

Substantial Scholarships Available

New Music Building Opening Fall 2019

Bachelor of Music Degrees Concentrations: Music Education Performance Performance with emphasis in Piano Pedagogy Performance with emphasis in Jazz Studies

Master of Music Degrees Concentrations: Instrumental Music Education Vocal Music Education Elementary Music Education Vocal Performance Instrumental Performance

To schedule an audition or for more information, contact: 361-593-2803 Email: Paul.Hageman@tamuk.edu or visit www.tamuk.edu/music

Post-Convention Offerings Clinic Handouts

CPE RECORDS ďĊĴðĊķðĊæ qīďåÐĮĮðďĊ­ă 'ÌķÆ­ĴðďĊ ÆīÐÌðĴ ðĮ ­Œ­ðă­ÅăÐ ďĊăř Ĵď }T' ­ÆĴðŒÐ ĉÐĉÅÐīĮ ­ĊÌ ďķĴȭďåȭĮĴ­ĴÐ registrants who attended the convention. Attendees œðĴì å­ĉðăř ďī ŒðĮðĴďī Å­ÌæÐĮ ­ĊÌ īÐĴðīÐÌ ďī ĮĴķÌÐĊĴ ĉÐĉÅÐīĮ Ìď ĊďĴ 쭌Р­ÆÆÐĮĮ Ĵď ÆīЭĴÐ q' īÐÆďīÌĮȘ 1. Go to www.tmea.org/cpe 2. Log in and create or update your online personal schedule.

2. Verify the clinics you attended to completion.

3. Save your CPE selections.

4. Print your CPE record and submit it to your administrator. Keep a copy for your records.

}ď ŒðÐœ ­ĊÌ Į­ŒÐ ÆăðĊðÆ ì­ĊÌďķĴĮ Ĵì­Ĵ œÐīÐ ĨīďŒðÌÐÌș æď Ĵď www.tmea.org/convention and log in to the personal schedule page. An icon will display next to the clinic name if the clinician provided a handout for download.

Clinic Audio Files Go to the personal schedule and log in. If you were a registered ­ĴĴÐĊÌÐÐ œìď ĨķīÆì­ĮÐÌ ­ÆÆÐĮĮ Ĵď ­ķÌðď ťăÐĮș řďķ œðăă ĮÐÐ ­Ċ ðÆďĊ ĊÐŘĴ Ĵď ĴìÐ ÆăðĊðÆ Ċ­ĉÐ Ĵď ÌďœĊăď­Ì Ĵì­Ĵ ­ķÌðď ťăÐȘ

Performance Recordings Ĵ œœœȘĴĉЭȘďīæȥÆďĊŒÐĊĴðďĊș řďķ œðăă ťĊÌ ­ ăðĊā Ĵď ĴìÐ T­īā ķĮĴďĉ Recording online store for recordings made during our convention.

Submit a Proposal for the 2020 Clinic/Convention Why Submit?

What Attendees Want

Before You Submit

Offering 300 professional development clinics is one of the most amazing ­ĮĨÐÆĴĮ ďå ĴìÐ }T' ăðĊðÆȥ ďĊŒÐĊĴðďĊȝ Some of our most popular clinics are ĨīÐĮÐĊĴÐÌ Åř ĉÐĉÅÐīĮ þķĮĴ ăðāÐ řďķȘ It’s time to create a detailed proposal Ĵď ĮķÅĉðĴ åďī ĊÐŘĴ řЭīȸĮ ÐŒÐĊĴȘ wì­īÐ œì­Ĵ řďķ āĊďœ ­ĊÌ ìÐăĨ ÆďăăЭæķÐĮ across the state return home with new ðÌЭĮ ­ĊÌ ĮĴī­ĴÐæðÐĮȝ

Attendees want clinics on these topics: • rehearsal techniques • teaching methods (elem–college) • instrument methods • classroom management • repertoire selection • technology integration • conducting techniques • recruiting & retention Ȣ ķīÅ­Ċȥīķī­ă Æì­ăăÐĊæÐĮ ɪ ĮďăķĴðďĊĮ Ȣ ĮĨÐÆð­ăȭĊÐÐÌĮ ðĊĮĴīķÆĴðďĊ • and much more

Your proposal should offer a complete Įķĉĉ­īř ďå œì­Ĵ řďķ œðăă ĨīÐĮÐĊĴș ­ĊÌ ĴìÐ ĴðĴăÐ ĮìďķăÌ ÅÐ ­Ċ ďÅŒðďķĮ ðĊÌðÆ­Ĵďī ďå ĴìÐ ÆďĊĴÐĊĴȘ wķÅĉðĴ ­ ĮìďīĴ Åðďæī­ĨìðÆ­ă ĮĴ­ĴÐĉÐĊĴ ďĊ ЭÆì clinician. Be prepared to offer a very short summary as well as descriptive ÌÐĴ­ðăĮ ­ÅďķĴ œì­Ĵ ­ĊÌ ìďœ řďķ œðăă present and to what audience. Be very ÆăЭī ­ÅďķĴ œì­Ĵ ­ĴĴÐĊÌÐÐĮ œðăă œ­ăā ­œ­ř åīďĉ řďķī ÆăðĊðÆ āĊďœðĊæȘ

www.tmea.org/clinicproposals April 1–June 1 4

Southwestern Musician | April 2019

B Y

J O E

M U Ñ O Z

PRESIDENT’S NOTES

Inspiration and success

I

April–May—Attend your spring Region meeting (see page 2).

April 1–June 1—Submit proposals online for the 2020 TMEA Clinic/ Convention.

May—TMEA membership year opens for online and mail/email submission.

May 1—Deadline to nominate students for a Texas Music Scholar award.

June 13–14—CEDFA Summit 20, Austin Airport Hilton.

June 30—All 2018–2019 TMEA memberships expire.

July 25–27—TBA, TCDA, TODA Conventions in San Antonio.

February 12–15, 2020—TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio.

hope our annual gathering in San Antonio is still inspiring you. This April issue is a way for us to review and relive the wonderful things we shared while attending our annual TMEA Clinic/Convention.

The inspiration started with a packed house for the President’s Concert. THE PIANO GUYS kicked off the festivities prior to the concert by sharing their story and music with our All-State students during their meeting. With our All-State students’ reaction and appreciation following that brief performance, it was clear we would all be in for a stunning evening! Their performance at the sold-out President’s Concert was bursting with energy.

As they offered more about themselves during the concert, my thoughts kept returning to the incredible power of what’s possible through sharing music with others and how music can change lives. This was brought into even greater perspective when astronaut Doug Wheelock joined THE PIANO GUYS to present our keynote at the First General Session. Each remarked on the impressions music teachers make on their students, and I hope their words rekindled your fire to make a difference each and every day with your students.

The Power of Performance The inspiration continued with our Honor and Invited performances and All-State concerts in each of our divisions. What our fellow teachers and students shared with us musically are reminders of what is possible when you synergize talented students, passionate leaders, and music. Each concert provided inspirational experiences not only for the audience but also for the performers

What our fellow teachers and students shared with us musically are reminders of what is possible when you synergize talented students, passionate leaders, and music.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019

5

as well. The All-State student concerts are always a source of inspiration. The talent of our All-State musicians is unbelievable.

What they can accomplish in a few short days is extraordinary. The ovations for these performances are a two-way street.

You feel appreciative for the performance, and the performers often become overcome by you expressing that appreciation.

This year, we were honored to welcome the Saitama Sakae HS Wind Orchestra from Japan to our convention. Their performance and clinic were standing room only, and they exceeded all expectations. I know I wasn’t the only one moved by what they shared with our membership. What we couldn’t see from the audience was that those students were equally moved by the appreciation they received for their contributions made through music.

Urban Music Education Focus Our urban music education roundtable sessions and urban education focus continue to grow. Meeting the needs of all teachers and students is important to our association. While attending one of these roundtable sessions, I heard a clinician remark on the challenges our urban school teachers face every day. He also led a discussion of how to conquer those challenges to provide a quality music education to all students. Some urban directors shared that while they were inspired by attending clinics at our convention, sometimes attending an honor group’s concert can leave them feeling frustrated, as their educational environment isn’t reflected by these groups.

These teachers provide more than enrichment to a school curriculum. They are often a student’s only avenue for success. We must never forget the perspective that we teach in different environments with varied resources. We must work to celebrate the successes of all students and teachers, regardless of their challenges. It

was also shared that this focus on the challenges experienced in urban or underserved populations gives teachers a place to discuss their needs, and they are leaving with ideas to apply on their home campuses. The attendance at the urban specific content provided at TMEA continues to grow. The TMEA Executive Board will continue its efforts to provide targeted support for our urban school teachers and students.

Another Successful Convention The 2019 TMEA Clinic/Convention was a big success, as evidenced by the images and words shared throughout this issue!

We continue to see growth in our Texas Future Music Educators (TFME) chapters and had 1,277 student members in attendance at our convention. Growth is also seen in the number of college student members, who attend our yearly gathering to get practical strategies that can assist them as they prepare to be our music educators of the future. The exhibit hall continues to be one of the major highlights.

This is one of the largest gatherings in our country of music vendors, and through it, we learn about the latest in music education resources and instrument innovations.

Leadership Changes Thanks go to the Executive Board for their work to make this a successful TMEA Clinic/Convention. Special thanks go to our division Vice-Presidents for their work selecting the clinics that covered such a depth of content for our attendees.

The over-300 clinics are the foundation for the largest music education professional development opportunity provided in our state and nation. Thanks go to our outgoing Board members for the time, effort, and talent they offered their divisions over the past two years. Departing members are Vocal Division Vice-President Derrick Brookins and Elementary Division VicePresident Casey Medlin. Leaving our

FEBRUARY 12–15, 2020 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Celebrating TMEA’s Centennial!

6

Southwestern Musician | April 2019

TMEA Executive Board after five years of leadership, passion, and vision is our Immediate Past-President Andy Sealy. A special thank-you to Robert Horton for his outstanding leadership and focus on supporting our membership, students, and stakeholders through his service as President for the past year. During the convention, the membership selected new members to the Executive Board (see page 11 for your 2019–2020 Board members). I look forward to working with our new and returning members as we prepare for the 2020 Clinic/Convention, when we will celebrate TMEA’s Centennial.

Thanks to the TMEA Staff An integral part of the continued success of TMEA and our annual convention is our TMEA staff. Their many skills often go unnoticed but are never unappreciated! These dedicated individuals consistently support our membership, with an unmatched attention to detail.

Our staff of ten executes the work of staffs two and three times their size, and the success of our convention is a direct reflection of their world-class talent and dedication. Take a moment to reach out and share your thanks with our amazing staff members!

2020 TMEA Clinic/Convention: Celebrating TMEA’s Centennial Continued success of our convention comes from our members being part of the process of suggesting and presenting clinics. If there are individual presenters or topics you want to see as part of the 2020 TMEA Clinic/Convention, please take time to encourage those presenters who are held in high regard to submit clinic proposals, or prepare your own clinic submission for consideration for next year’s content. The online clinic submission is open from April 1 to June 1. Clinic submissions are sent out for membership feedback through a survey in early June (this is only one aspect of clinic selection).

Division Vice-Presidents review the submitted proposals, survey results, and more to create a program of clinics that offers a wide breadth and depth of content. The Executive Board values your feedback and survey participation. Please be an active part of the process to provide our membership with continued resources to provide diversity and depth of clinic content for the convention.

TCU SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Summer Music 2019 TCU Yamaha “Sounds of Summer” Percussion Camp June 7&8 Brian West, director TCU Clarinet Workshop June 10&11 Gary Whitman, director TCU Band Camp June 17-20, High School Session June 21&22, Middle School Session Bobby R. Francis, director TCU Flute Workshop June 24&25 Shauna Thompson, director TCU Saxophone Workshop June 26&27 Joe Eckert, director TCU Harp Workshop July 10-12 Laura Brandenburg, director TCU All-State Choir Camps Purple Camp, July 14-17 White Camp, July 17-20 Sheri Neill, director Christopher Aspaas, conductor TCU String Workshop July 22-24 Elisabeth Adkins, director

To register, please visit our website at www.music.tcu.edu/smi.asp or contact TCU Extended Education at 817-257-7132.

Vast opportunities.

Your musical future is wide open. At the Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts School of Music, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help you turn your passion and raw talent into a professional career as a performer, educator, scholar, and innovator.

Broaden your horizons across 26 major ensembles and countless chamber ensembles.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no limit to where your creativity and commitment will take you.

Vastly different.

NEW - PhD in Music Education Contact Janice.Killian@ttu.edu for details.

NEW - Summers-Only MM in Choral Conducting Contact Alan.Zabriskie@ttu.edu for details.

Visit us at music.ttu.edu

TTUSchoolofMusic

Thank You for Attending!

We hope this issue brings to m mind ind great memories of the ins inspiring spiring performances you witnessed, the helpful lessons learned, and the meaningful connections you made during the 2019 TMEA Clinic/ Convention. We look forward to seeing you again next year, when we’ll celebrate TMEA’s Centennial!

—TMEA Staff & Executive Board Southwestern Musician | April 2019

9

Joe Muñoz President

2019–2020 TMEA Executive Board

Robert Horton Immediate Past-President

!

AY D TO up

Jed Ragsdale Vocal Vice-President

Abigail Hawes Elementary Vice-President

Vicki Baker College Vice-President

/HDUQ PRUH DERXW WKH ([HFXWLYH %RDUG PHPEHUV DW ZZZ WPHD RUJ DERXW ERDUG VWDII ERDUG

Small School All State July 22-23 • $40

Enrollment Form: UTPB.edu/Choral-Camp-SS

Si

gn

Michael Stringer Orchestra Vice-President

Brian Coatney President-Elect

John Carroll Band Vice-President

Large School All State July 29-31 • $70 Enrollment Form: UTPB.edu/Choral-Camp

ity n rtu nce o Invites you to All State Choir Camp pp elle e O Exc r e 9AM - 4PM • Lunch provided each day • All events at the Wagner h ets W Nöel Performing Arts Center • 432-552-3286 • Music@utpb.edu Me Southwestern Musician | April 2019 11

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTES

% < 5 2 % ( 5 7 ) / 2 < '

Administrator support is key

A

nother convention has come and gone, and with the efforts of our Executive Board, TMEA staff, our sustaining members, and hundreds of volunteers, it certainly was amazing. Having visited with many members and exhibitors, and as evidenced in the convention survey results, this convention had a special vibe about it that only can be defined by the upbeat mindset and spirit demonstrated by each of you who attended.

Have you ever attempted to explain to someone who has never been to a TMEA convention what that experience is like? Quite a challenge, isn’t it?

When I get that call from a potential exhibitor or an out-of-state educator considering attending, I usually am not very successful. Almost in exasperation, I simply say, “You have to experience it to grasp the magnitude of it all.” Once they come, they inevitably look me up or call me and say, “I get it now.”

Sometimes that person to whom you are trying to describe the convention is your principal, superintendent, or other upper-level administrator. How amazing it would be to get every principal and upper-level administrator to our convention. Through the years TMEA Executive Boards have had lengthy discussions about how we can market and share what the convention experience is really like to administrators. At one time, we invited every superintendent in the state to a Friday luncheon at the convention as an incentive to attend. We had as many as 100 superintendents there, and they heard speakers

We must never lose sight of the fact that our programs in Texas would never have achieved the level of excellence for which we are known without administrator support.

12 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

April–May—Attend your spring Region meeting (see page 2).

April 1–June 1—Submit proposals online for the 2020 TMEA Clinic/ Convention.

May—TMEA membership year opens for online and mail/email submission.

May 1—Deadline to nominate students for a Texas Music Scholar award.

June 13–14—CEDFA Summit 20, Austin Airport Hilton.

June 30—All 2018–2019 TMEA memberships expire.

July 25–27—TBA, TCDA, TODA Conventions in San Antonio.

February 12–15, 2020—TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio.

middle school band session I JUNE 9-15

high SCHOOL harp JUNE 9-14

middle/high school orchestra (gr. 7-10) JUNE 9-15

middle school saxophone academy JUNE 10-14

high school jazz combo JUNE 16-21

MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND SESSION II JUNE 16-22

REGISTRATION BEGINS JANUARY 22 www.LONGHORNMUSICCAMP.ORG

HIGH SCHOOL BAND/ HONORS WIND ENSEMBLE JUNE 23-29

mariachi JUNE 30-JULY 3

HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR JUNE 30-JULY 3

& LOCATIONS Dallas • Austin • Houston Abilene • Alabama • El Paso North Carolina • Ohio • Virginia Chicago • Nor Cal • So Cal

CAMP TYPES ADRIT (Advanced by Audition) PREMIER (by Recommendation) REGULAR (available at all locations) CLARINET! (Frisco, Keller & Prosper Locations) BAND DIRECTOR (Dallas, Houston)

PROGRAMMING REED MAKING CHAMBER MUSIC MASTER CLASSES FUN!

www.bocalmajority.com

such as Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Dan Pink, Sir Ken Robinson, two different commissioners of education, Mike Huckabee, and others. However, that number dwindled over time, and it was the same superintendents each year in attendance. We weren’t telling our story to new administrators, so I recommended to the Board that we give it a rest. We may consider doing that again sometime in the future.

For many years we have provided complimentary registration to any upper-level school administrator. This year 92 administrators registered online. For many years we have also invited six to eight superintendents to serve on our convention advisory committee. TMEA pays their expenses and only asks that when they return home they share with us any suggestions for making our convention better. This has also proven to be dollars well spent, and we always pick up an idea or two to improve the experience.

This year one superintendent, Dr. Jessica Johnson, Dayton ISD, took her experience a step further in terms of personal takeaway from the sessions she attended. Dr. Johnson writes a weekly blog, Johnson’s Journal, for her district staff (from bus drivers to school board members). The week after our convention, she chose to write her blog based on what she learned at the convention. One of her favorite sessions was “Find a Way Every Day,” led by two band directors from Keller ISD. She ended her blog with the following comment: “Thank you music teachers! We appreciate the jobs you are doing! I enjoyed my TMEA experience and my time with some of the DISD educators!

Thank you for all you do for our children and for having high expectations, for your consistencies, and your best practices! We are educating the whole child by giving them such a quality music program from elementary to high school!” You can read this installment of Dr. Johnson’s blog at www.tmea.org/johnsonjournal.

While we tend to vent and take out our frustrations at times on the administrative team for whom we work, we must never lose sight of the fact that overall our programs in Texas would never have achieved the level of excellence for which we are known without administrators such as Dr. Johnson who both support and believe in us. Nurturing those administrative relationships must be a priority for us in the overall landscape of our job description.

Upon returning home we emailed administrators who registered and attended as our guests and asked for their input on the value of music education in their district and on their campuses. Some of those suggestions are shared below.

Southwestern Musician Managing Editor Karen Cross has done an amazing job again of crafting this issue to tell the story of the convention in picture, quotes, data, and anecdotal messaging. I encour-

age you to share your copy with your principal, superintendent, or other upperlevel administrator. I plan to deliver a copy to members of the Senate and House Education Committees as well as the State Board of Education.

We must take advantage of such opportunities to spread the word of how we touch children’s lives in our classrooms and how we continually strive to hone our pedagogical skills.

School Administrators Speak to the Value of Music Education After the convention, we invited school administrators who attended to share their perspective on the value of music education. We appreciate those who took time to respond and allowed us to publish their thoughts on how music contributes to the wellrounded education for all students.

Participation in a quality music program provides students the opportunity to learn life skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, perseverance, discipline, and creativity. Music education doesn’t just teach notes and rhythms. Music touches souls and brings inner beauty to the surface. —Carole Mason, French Elementary Principal, Klein ISD Through a quality music education, I believe students gain great listening and language skills, improve their self-esteem, relieve any stress, and improve test scores, and their brains work a little harder. —Wanda Johnson, School Board Member, Galena Park ISD Students who study music gain connectedness to school; the ability to struggle, practice, and achieve; a family; and time management skills. —Kimberly D. Martin, Principal, Galena Park HS Music education is the backbone for ensuring student success. In areas where students are more economically deprived, music education provides hope, dreams, and a haven where students can use their time after school not just to further their academics but also to supplement the music education they receive during the day and to be part of one of the most successful organizations in preparing our students for tomorrow’s challenges. —Chester Arizmendi, Principal, Lopez ECHS, Brownsville ISD Students gain confidence and experience success through a quality music education. A quality music program should provide opportunities for students to learn about themselves (strengths and challenges), develop an appreciation for all genres/ cultures through the diverse selection of music, and foster pedagogical relationships and connections among the educator, the student, and the medium of music.

A quality music education is tangible and real and can be heard in the outcomes of the final product and seen in the demeanor of the students. —Mark Garza, State Compensatory Education Coordinator, San Antonio ISD Students who receive a quality music education consistently score higher on college entrance exams and assessment tests. I believe that students exposed to the arts gain a better understanding of the world around them and they become great contributors to society. —Ida Sudolcan, School Board Member, Southwest ISD Students gain a cultural experience that will last a lifetime. Music education enhances other subjects, especially mathematics. —Chester Juroska, Retired Superintendent Southwestern Musician | April 2019 15

BAND NOTES

B Y

J O H N

C A R R O L L

In Memoriam Charles “Chuck” Kingsley October 7, 1952–January 6, 2019 Jefferson “Jeff” Doughten June 11, 1942–January 15, 2019 David Norris November 15, 1946–January 15, 2019 Rodney Parker December 20, 1957–February 20, 2019

An extraordinary convention

I

sincerely hope you were able to attend the TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio a short two months ago, and I hope your experience exceeded your expectations.

Perhaps you attended that one clinic that opened your eyes to a better understanding of how to achieve a higher level of intonation in your ensemble. Maybe you heard a solution to get your non-varsity students to articulate better.

Or possibly you discovered a new secret to better sightread-

ing techniques.

Here’s something I took away from my interactions with conductors of a variety of our performing groups: no job is perfect. Every position at every school has obstacles to overcome. Sometimes it is a lack of administrative support. Other times it’s an abundance of student conflicts with other school activities and jobs (a problem that exists in all sizes of schools). And often it’s the reality that some schools have more budget resources than others. But somehow, someway, these conductors been able to overcome these issues. This was a reassuring reminder to me that even in situations that are not ideal, students can still be taught, success can still be realized, and memories will still be made.

There is certainly a lot to be said for that benefit of attending a convention where you’re surrounded by thousands of other teachers who share your passion.

16 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

Scott Rhame January 1, 1946–March 1, 2019

April–May—Attend your Region meeting (see page 2).

April 1–June 1—Submit proposals for the 2020 TMEA Clinic/Convention.

May—TMEA membership year opens.

May 1—Deadline to nominate students for a Texas Music Scholar award.

May 15—Invited middle and high school jazz band application deadline.

June 13–14—CEDFA Summit 20, Austin Airport Hilton.

June 15—Deadline for Region Honor Band qualifiers to be postmarked to Area Listening Center Chair.

June 19–20—Area Honor Band Listening Center sessions.

June 30—All 2018–2019 TMEA memberships expire.

June 30—Deadline for Area Honor Band qualifiers to be postmarked to State Band Chair.

July 25–27—TBA Convention in San Antonio.

February 12–15, 2020—TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio.

Texas Summer Flute Symposium Sunday-Friday, June 9-14 Dr. Julee Kim Walker – Texas A&M University-Commerce Jasmine Choi – International Flute Artist

Leadership, Drum Major & Colorguard Camp Sunday-Thursday, June 16-20

2019 SUMMER MUSIC CAMP SERIES

Frank Troyka – Conn-Selmer, System Blue Director of Education Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser – Attitude Concepts for Today Koji Mori – Lassiter High School, Music For All Drum Major Institute

Blast of Brass Sunday-Saturday, June 23-29 Factory Seconds Brass Trio (from the Cleveland Orchestra) Jack Sutte – Trumpet Jesse McCormick – Horn Richard Stout – Trombone

In partnership with System Blue and the 18-Time World Champion Blue Devils

All State Choir Camp Wednesday-Saturday, July 10-13 Dr. Randall Hooper – Texas A&M University-Commerce

Online registration now open:

tamuc.edu/music

f TAMUCMUSIC f TAMUCBANDS f TAMUCCHORALE

Did you attend any concerts? Weren’t they fabulous? This year, we enjoyed three invited jazz band performances—from middle school through university level.

These groups showed off a specialized part of our Band Division and did so in a masterful way. We were able to hear four invited university bands. As I have said before, these bands of older students set such a high standard in Texas, with many of your former students in their ranks.

The four TMEA Honor Bands truly inspire, especially as we consider the performance level students can rise to within

a short time from their initial notes in beginning band. A highlight this year was our rare opportunity to hear a school band from Japan. I don’t believe anyone left the theater after that concert with anything less than awe for these young people.

To top it all off, our division hosted eight outstanding All-State Band concerts with almost 1,000 All-State students performing. I think the Saturday All-State Band concerts can be quite moving. These young students have come together as strangers, and just within 2–3 days have made musical memories that will last a lifetime. The

The Pursuit of Excellence

2019

SUMMER CAMPS JUNE 9 –13 JR. HIGH BAND CAMP JUNE 16 –20 INSTRUMENTAL CONSERVATORY CAMP JUNE 23 –27 ORCHESTRA CAMP JULY 21–24 ALL - STATE CHOIR CAMP

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY

1751 Avenue I, Suite 225 Huntsville, TX 77340 936-294-1360

WWW.SHSU.EDU/ACADEMICS/MUSIC

MEMBER THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ™

18 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

joy one can see when watching the families congratulate these musicians after the concerts is heartwarming.

Hopefully, you got to visit the exhibits at least once. Without our wonderful exhibitors, we couldn’t have the convention as we know it. How about any AllState rehearsals? Did you sit in on any of them? If not, I hope you will consider that for next year. See how these leaders in our field work and rehearse a band.

Were you able to take time to catch up with colleagues and make new acquaintances and get your emotional batteries recharged? There is certainly a lot to be said for that benefit of attending a convention where you’re surrounded by thousands of other teachers who share your passion.

I hope your San Antonio experience was the best yet! And while this month’s issue is a look back at our amazing convention, we’re already looking forward to our 2020 convention, when we’ll celebrate TMEA’s Centennial!

Honor Band Entries By the time you read this, your deadline for the initial Honor Band entry will have passed. However, know that you still need to complete your honor band entries. Your Region’s entry page will have the deadline for that.

Area Honor Band Listening Centers This year’s Area Honor Band Listening Centers will be conducted on June 19–20 at four locales: Areas A & B—Abilene Areas C & D—Duncanville Areas F & H—Spring Areas E & G—San Antonio Invited Middle and High School Jazz Ensemble Applications Please consider applying to be an Invited Middle School or High School Jazz Ensemble performing during the 2020 TMEA Clinic/Convention. Applications and recording submissions to perform must be submitted online on the TMEA website by May 15. For additional information, applications, and rules, go to www.tmea.org/invitedjazz.

Spring Region Meetings Please make definite plans to attend your spring Region meeting. Don’t overlook this opportunity to be involved

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

TRUTH IN GREAT MUSIC Learn more about auditions, programs, and scholarships at music.byu.edu or 801-422-2660.

TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

BAND, CHOIR, & ORCHESTRA | JUNE 23-28, 2019 MULTIPLE ELECTIVES & PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES COMMUTER OR OVERNIGHT CAMP MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL BANDS PRIVATE LESSONS AVAILABLE OPTIONAL SCHLITTERBAHN EVENING ACTIVITY ACHIEVEMENT- BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO REGISTER, VISIT TLU.EDU/SMA

in decisions that directly affect you.

Additionally, it gives the opportunity of fellowship with your colleagues in your part of the state.

2020 Convention Proposals Last year, 207 proposals for Band Division clinics were submitted, most from fellow Texans. We have such a wealth of talent in this state, and I respectfully ask you to consider submitting a proposal for the 2020 Clinic/Convention (or encourage someone you know who could offer a great session). Please consider what would benefit your fellow band directors and be willing to share your knowledge and experience. The clinic proposal process is April 1–June 1. Please go to www.tmea.org/ clinicproposals for more information. On that webpage, you’ll read about the topics that convention attendees have shared are the most important to them—that information is considered when we select from the proposals.

Texas Music Scholar Nominations The Texas Music Scholar Award

recognizes high school students who exemplify high standards of meritorious performance in the areas of scholarship, musicianship, and citizenship. Please go to page 23 and to www.tmea.org/ musicscholar to learn the criteria and process for nominating. You must complete the application process by May 1 (this includes returning a printed certification form with required signatures by that date). This honor means so much to the students.

Band Division Business Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 14, 2019 Stars at Night Ballroom 1–2 The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. by Band Division Vice-President John Carroll.

A motion was made to approve the minutes from the Band Division business meeting held during the 2018 convention as published in the April 2018 Southwestern Musician. This motion was seconded and then was approved by the membership.

Craig Kirchhoff, 2019 TMEA Band Division Featured Clinician, spoke to the membership.

John Morrison, Texas Bandmasters Association President, gave an update on the 2019 TBA Convention.

Bradley Kent, Director of UIL Music Activities, gave the UIL report.

Vice-President Carroll acknowledged and recognized various members for their service to TMEA and recognized Honor Band finalists and winners for 2018–2019.

Carroll gave an update on this year’s Honor Band process and important reminders concerning the rules, guidelines, timelines, and ethical practices for the Honor Band process.

Carroll clarified Band Division participation in the Sinfonietta Orchestra.

Carroll encouraged the membership to serve their respective Regions in any positions of leadership.

With no new business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:53 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Lester Williams, Clear Springs HS.

ALL STATE CHOIR CAMP July 9 - 12, 2019 FREE tuition for 2019 All State Choir members Registration Link:

umhb.edu/allstatechoir (254) 295-4686 Southwestern Musician | April 2019 21

TMEA’s All-State Symphonic Band conductor asked ensemble members to answer the question of why they love music.

Their answers offer a compelling reminder of the extraordinary power of music.

It connects people, regardless of our differences.

It gives me an opportunity to join an amazing community of people who love doing what I love, and it gives me a way to challenge myself in a way I’m not able to otherwise.

It has the ability to change lives. I have seen it change numerous lives around me (some musicians, some not), and without a doubt it has changed mine.

It is the only place where I can nerd out and not feel ashamed. It gets me through every day.

It has helped me love myself.

It is universal and understood by everyone despite our increasingly divergent society.

It offers endless possibilities. No two pieces of music are the same, and the experience with one is always unique from another.

Notes are my voice. Rhythm is my pulse. Music is everywhere around me. It is constant. I can’t escape it— and why would I want to?

I can express & feel stronger than I can anywhere else.

It allows me to express emotions in a way that I would never have the courage to do with words.

22 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

It is where I do not feel out of place. Regardless of competitions and negative feelings we all sometimes face, music is the one thing that makes me not feel alone or out of place as most of us teenagers do. I can be myself, because we musicians are all weirdly brilliant in our own ways, and I love that.

It distracts me from the chaos and hardship in this world.

Because of the connection I make with others, it is what brings out the best of me.

It provides me with an endless ambition of excellence and happiness that I can share with countless friends who cherish the same ideas.

You get to express yourself, you get to relieve stress, and you get to inspire people as much as other’s inspire you.

It brings joy, peace, and most importantly—unity.

It’s like a gateway to happiness.

Moving to America from China about eight years ago, the language barrier kept me from succeeding. However, with music, it’s as if all the language in the world is universal—I found the very things I love, the very things I value, and the very friends I am truly grateful for having.

It’s my creative outlet; the only time I get to let out my frustrations and experience emotion and passion to the fullest is while I’m playing.

It’s always changing.

It’s never the same, not even once.

Congratulations Four-Year All-State Musicians The following musicians qualified for membership in Texas All-State ensembles four consecutive years. Our congratulations go to these incredible students and their families and teachers for this most impressive accomplishment!

Christine Abreo, Stanley Violin School, Violin 2 Faith Adams, Birdville HS, Soprano 1 Isaiah Allen, Tuloso-Midway HS, Tenor 2 Lisandro Atencio, Lake Ridge HS, Percussion Frankie Barraza, Borger HS, Alto Katie Bulen, Taft HS, Alto 2 Jadon Campos, Dawson HS, Bass 2 Kevin Chan, Clear Lake HS, Violin 1 Leon Chen, Plano West Sr HS, Oboe Edward Cho, Allen HS, Violin 1 Nathan Cloeter, Brazoswood HS, F Horn Itzhak Corona, Grulla HS, Tuba Isaak Crum, Keller HS, Bass 2 Alyssa Estrella, Clear Brook HS, B-flat Clarinet Dylan Fernandez de Lara, Johnson HS, Violin 1 Aaron Fish, West Texas HS, Bass Carlos Garcia, Rio Grande City HS, Tenor Trombone

Hayden Groover, Liberty HS, Bass Jakari Holland, Liberty-Eylau HS, Tuba Matthew Hook, Canton HS, Bass Richard Huang, Liberty HS, Oboe Brian Kang, Health Careers HS, Violin 1 Yenna Lee-Gannon, Plano West Sr HS, Viola Yuvia Leon, Athens HS, Flute Iris Lin, Plano West Sr HS, Violin 1 Jonathan Liu, Seven Lakes HS, Violin 2 Samantha Liu, Plano West Sr HS, Violin 2 Audrey Livingston, Argyle HS, Flute/Piccolo Jennifer Lopez, Vela HS, Soprano 2 Joshua Luper, Bullard HS, Bass 1 Abby Lysinger, Pearce HS, Alto 1 Shalini Namuduri, Independence HS, Violin 2 Ethan Nguyen, Guyer HS, String Bass Madison O’Brien, Aledo HS, Soprano 1

Eralp Orkun, Leander HS, Bassoon Scott Sanders, Lake Ridge HS, F Horn Neo Scott, Clements HS, String Bass Margaret Seo, Westwood HS, Violin 2 Hailey Sherrill, Smithville HS, F Horn Katie Stobbe, The Woodlands HS, Soprano 2 Ansun Sujoe, Bethesda Christian Sch, Bassoon Sunny Tang, Taylor HS, Oboe Joshua Tovar, Veterans Memorial HS, Bass Matthew Turner, San Jacinto Christian Acad, Tenor Archer Wang, Clements HS, Cello Kyler West, Conroe HS, Tenor 2 Elyana Williams, West Rusk HS, F Horn Rachel Wresh, Melissa HS, Soprano Daniel Yang, Liberty HS, Bass Clarinet Kristine Yuan, Taylor HS, Violin 2 Eric Zhang, Plano West Sr HS, Viola

Nominate Your Students for the Texas Music Scholar Award The TMEA Music Scholar Award recognizes students in high school music programs who exemplify attributes of meritorious performance in the areas of scholarship, musicianship, and citizenship.

Designation is attained by TMEA Active Member recommendation of students in grades 9–12 who have met the following criteria during the current school year: • Is a viable member of the school’s parent musical organization for the entire school year.

• Maintains in all cumulative coursework an overall “A” average as defined by the local school district for the current school year.

• Maintains academic eligibility for the entire school year.

• Participates in all scheduled events of the parent organization.

• Attends, as an audience member, two director-approved concert events at the high school, collegiate, or professional level during the school year.

• Has auditioned for, been selected to, and participated as required in a TMEA or ATSSB organization (band, orchestra, or choir).

• Performs a UIL Prescribed Music List Class 1 solo for a competition or public performance.

• Consistently exhibits behavior that brings honor to the parent organization, school, and community.

Go to www.tmea.org/programs/tms to complete and print the application.

The printed form must be signed by the appropriate school officials and must be postmarked by May 1 to qualify.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 23

2019 TMEA CLINIC/CONVENTION

24 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

More images on page 38

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 25

2019 MUSIC SUMMER CAMPS

BAND CAMPS High School, June 9-14 Middle School, June 16-21 Drum Major/Leadership Academy, June 23-27 Strings Camp, July 7-13 Choir: All-State High School Camp, July 15-18 Piano Camp, July 21-26

music.sfasu.edu/camps

Congratulations TMEA Scholarship Recipients This year, TMEA is awarding $195,000 in scholarship funds for students who will be working toward careers in music education or furthering their current careers with additional studies.

Five-Year Undergraduate Bill Cormack—up to $15,000 Nicholas Pfister, Bridge City HS

Past-Presidents—up to $12,500 Conley Grimet, Katy HS

Past-Presidents Memorial—up to $12,500 Hayden Gish, San Marcos HS

Executive Board—up to $12,500 Katie Bulen, Taft HS

One-Year Undergraduate—$2,500 Audrey Cascarelli, Tomball Memorial HS Sadie Chamberlain, Barbers Hill HS John Eychaner, Permian HS Cassidy Freeman, Graham HS Javier Garza, Economedes HS Robert Gonzalez, Travis HS Rachel Heiser, San Marcos HS Jonathan Moore, Cypress Ranch HS Bailee Rettig, Brenham HS Thomas Shafer, New Braunfels HS Abigail Stewart, Churchill HS Kyle Tomasek, Cedar Ridge HS Rachel Wresh, Melissa HS

College Division One-Year Undergraduate—$2,500 Taylor Courtney, Texas Christian Univ Ashley Dean, UT/Arlington Jacob Diewald, Texas Tech Univ Mark Dingler, Texas Christian Univ Julia Durbin, Southern Methodist Univ Samantha Ely, Texas Christian Univ Andrew Fowler, Texas Tech Univ Hunter Hendrickson, UT/Arlington Brooklynne Johnston, West Texas A&M Univ Anna Kim, Texas Tech Univ Anna McClung, Houston Baptist Univ Karisma Mendoza, Texas Tech Univ Brandon Morrison, UT/Austin Erin Rainer, Univ of Houston Natalie Rosales, Texas Tech Univ Brennan Ross, Texas Tech Univ Katelyn Seymour, Sam Houston State Univ Kyle Smith, Univ of Houston Patrick Vu, Texas Christian Univ Stone Wang, UT/Austin

Five-Year Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients Nicholas Pfister, Conley Grimet, Hayden Gish, Katie Bulen (not pictured)

One-Semester Student Teaching—$2,500 Amy Aycock, Texas Tech Univ Moises Correa, UT/Austin Katherine Dodgen, UT/Arlington Azalea Gonzalez, Texas Woman’s Univ Kristin Hodges, Southern Methodist Univ Holly Johnston, West Texas A&M Univ Tristan Keller, Texas Tech Univ Madeline Kerkemeyer, Texas Tech Univ Ashley Lopez, UT/Rio Grande Valley Celeste Luna, Texas Christian Univ Sara Marnik, Texas Tech Univ Kameryn Mattingly, Texas Tech Univ Kasey McMurray, Baylor Univ Natalie Miller, Southern Methodist Univ Grace Nelson, Baylor Univ Olivia Owens, Texas Christian Univ Gillian Quiggle, Texas Tech Univ Austin Rabon, Baylor Univ Merit Rogge, Angelo State Univ Anastasia White, Trinity Univ

One-Year Graduate Study—up to $2,500 Jose Garcia, Sugar Land MS/Texas Tech Univ Alyssa Grey, Univ of North Texas Alexander Johnson, Keller MS//Southern Methodist Univ Kevin Knight, Crosby HS/Univ of Houston Marty Lenard, Schreiner Univ Shauna Pickens, Texas Tech Univ Olivia Tucker, Univ of North Texas Ogechi Ukazu, UT/Austin Southwestern Musician | April 2019 27

Lessons Learned The following is a sampling of thousands of attendee comments about lessons they learned during the 2019 TMEA Clinic/Convention.

Create a semester crash course for older students interested in band, followed by inclusion in the second semester.

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Count long, tied notes from their highest value to their lowest to help students plan their bow usage.

Spacing each singer 18–24 inches apart can greatly change the comfort of singers of all levels, and thus change the sound of the ensemble.

Set personal teaching goals before having students take on goals. They can tell if you aren’t guided or driven by a particular purpose.

If they can sing it in tune, they can play it in tune.

Have orchestra students tune their instruments by first singing the fifth intervals of their open strings.

Create a space where students can "remove their masks" and be accepted and loved for being their true selves.

Our students need to just sit and listen to good music.

Listening to music doesn’t always need to be turned into an assignment.

In jazz band warm-ups, everyone plays bass and individuals improvise.

Sessions on improvisation reminded me to let go a little bit of control and allow my students to be creative. With a shortage of time, we often focus on getting as much done as possible. We need to remember that creativity is one of the things that make Americans some of the greatest inventors of the world.

28 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

Start your band with a breath only— no count-off or prep. Wait to conduct until they’ve started. This forces kids to focus on themselves and listening across the ensemble.

We should expect more from our students. This makes me think hard about how much I do for my students versus how much they should be able to do for themselves (as long as I give them the right tools to do so).

When I stop for every little thing in rehearsal, I make it so students don’t have to think.

Take care to listen to tone quality of drums, not just technique.

Start class without words, by listening and moving to a piece played as soon as students enter the classroom.

Have students create their own lyrics to a folk song. This can be a fun way for students to express themselves and collaborate with their classmates.

In working on articulation, have students place an index finger on their chins and have them say tah without moving their chin or finger. Everything should happen inside the mouth.

Facilitate audiation by building wait Errors are wonderful feedback. Learning time into echo-singing. Hold your music is similar to learning a video game— hands palm-down when modeling sometimes it is most effective to get in and the pattern. Students don’t repeat do it rather than trying to explain it first. the pattern until you turn your hands over. This encourages Have flute students sing with vibrato audiation and good breath. to help learn how it works on the flute.

Punch a hole in each manipulative bag so the kids can’t pop them as they take the air out!

Have choir students conduct with you to help them better understand the gestures.

Make music priority one.

There were concepts I didn’t professionally agree with, but that's the lovely thing about music. There are multiple means to achieve success.

When we conduct ensembles, we’re either sensitizing or desensitizing the students.

Listen carefully, and teach the students what your gestures mean.

Human metronome: one stand partner plays steady eighths or sixteenths; the other plays the written music. It’s helps with alignment!

Look at bowings as movements. Instead of just working rhythm, work with the students on how rhythms should feel within the bow and within the whole body. It is important to understand the choreography of each piece.

Use sign language to give kids directions for procedures.

To avoid dry mouth, drink apple juice during a performance.

Use beginner method books as sightreading for the class. Technically, they’ve seen it before, but being able to read it on sight is harder and will help them to better their sightreading skills.

Make eye contact with each player every day—not just each section.

Connect even the most ordinary technical practices with emotion and purposes.

Building relationships and connections with our students and community is at the heart of what we do.

Connect Google Forms and Docs to your program’s Google Calendar, so when a parent clicks on an event, they see the information page and attached digital permission slip.

Smithsonian free world music resources: folkways.si.edu/lesson-plans/smithsonian Practice in short segments of 5–10 minutes with 5–10 minutes of rest. Continue alternating this pattern to keep the memory activated.

To help students be better practicers, teach them to be better noticers.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 29

B Y

M I C H A E L

S T R I N G E R

April–May—Attend your spring Region meeting (see page 2).

April 1–June 1—Submit proposals online for the 2020 TMEA Clinic/ Convention.

May—TMEA membership year opens for online and mail/email submission.

May 1—Deadline to nominate students for a Texas Music Scholar award.

May 1—HS Full, JH/MS Full, and JH/ MS String Honor Orchestra Part A online submission deadline.

June 1—Upload and postmark deadline of entry materials for HS and JH/MS Full, and JH/MS String Honor Orchestra.

June 8—First round of Honor Orchestra judging (HS and MS/JH Full, MS/JH String).

June 30—All 2018–2019 TMEA memberships expire.

July 25–27—TODA Convention in San Antonio.

August 1—Deadline for waivers to the audition process to be received at TMEA headquarters.

September 15—HS String Honor Orchestra Part A online submission deadline.

February 12–15, 2020—TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio.

ORCHESTRA NOTES

Recognizing the past, focused on the future

A

s I reflect on the 2019 TMEA Clinic/Convention, I am once again inspired by our organization.

A big congratulations to Brian Coatney, the rest of the TMEA Executive Board, and the TMEA staff for reminding us all why we chose this profession and inspiring us to carry on with a renewed sense of purpose the remainder of our school year. The wonderful clinics that were presented help us move our instruction forward, the inspiring Honor Orchestra concerts remind us of the outstanding teaching and learning that happens in Texas schools, and the All-State performances leave us speechless and bursting with pride, realizing just how much students can accomplish after only three days of rehearsal.

As we prepare for the celebration of TMEA’s Centennial in 2020, I’m reminded of how the Orchestra Division has changed over the years. The inaugural performance of the All-State Orchestra was in 1953 with Clarence Sawhill as the conductor. The program consisted of the first movement of Franck’s Symphony in D Minor, Glinka’s Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla, and Jamaican Rhumba for String Orchestra by Benjamin. Just a couple of years later, in 1955, a second All-State Orchestra performed for the first time. It was not until 1999 that our division heard the performances by three All-State ensembles, as the All-State String Orchestra performed its first concert under the baton of Maestro Larry Livingston. This year, we witnessed the conversion of the All-State String Orchestra to a full orchestra, and this first performance

As educators, we must continue to show our students what it means to be part of an interconnected society that appreciates the contributions of each member.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 31

by the All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra was met with a thunderous standing ovation at the conclusion of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

Thinking about my personal history with TMEA, what comes to mind is my first experience as a Region Chair running an audition. I loaded up three boxes with my desktop computer, a monitor, and a bulky printer for our use calculating and publishing results. At the end of the audition, we waited over an hour for the violin results to calculate on the new TMEA audition software. Fast-forward just a few years, and I was loading my backpack with a small laptop and number pad to run the latest software that would calculate results in less than five minutes. For our veteran teachers, remember how difficult it was to find recordings of educational pieces in the late 1980s? I am sure many of you are now having flashbacks to offices where the cassette tapes occupied more room than the music library, and finding the right piece took a catalog system more sophisticated than the school’s library.

I believe we all realize how far music education has come in just a few years.

Today, finding a recording of any piece is

as simple as a quick Google or YouTube search, and students have immediate access to a variety of educational apps on devices that fit in the palms of their hands. Entry processes are all online, and in just a few minutes you can have multiple students or groups entered in contests. (Can you believe that every form used to be typed on a typewriter?) The tabulation of results is instant, and students are informed of their results almost immediately instead of waiting for weeks and running out to the mailbox right after Thanksgiving, hoping they would see the TMEA logo on the outside of a letter.

This exercise of reflecting on the past wouldn’t be as meaningful without also looking forward. What are students going to be like in 10 or 15 years? What technology will be available that will further speed up access to information? Will humans become even more disconnected from each other and rely on virtual meetings rather than face-to-face interactions? While pondering these questions, a moment of sadness crept over me. I wondered, what would my February look like each year if I didn’t gather with my colleagues to celebrate and learn? Would watching a livestream of an

Honor Orchestra concert from my home school give me the same joy I have while sitting in Lila Cockrell enveloped in the music? Could virtual collaboration be the same as sitting in the convention center’s north lobby, sharing a cup of coffee with my colleague and discussing strategies that worked in our classrooms?

I spent a few minutes thinking about possible future experiences and came to the realization that, as music educators, we are teaching the skills for the future, today. Today’s students seem more disconnected from each other than ever. As I walked through the halls of one of our schools last week, I noticed students were looking down at their phones and almost every child had earbuds in their ears. As I passed by the students, I said hello to several, and only a few responded—most didn’t even hear me. As I continued to the orchestra classroom, I found the teacher standing at the door welcoming each of her students, shaking their hands, reminding them to remove their headphones and store them away, and open their tuning app to check their tuning before the bell rang. All the students complied, and soon I witnessed instruments being unpacked,

IS YOUR STUDENT SET UP FOR SUCCESS?

W W W . C O D A B O W . C O M

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 33

BLAST OF BRASS JUNE 23 - 29, 2019

22nd SEASON

JACK SUTTE trumpet RICHARD STOUT trombone

JESSE McCORMICK horn

FACTORY SECONDS Brass Trio

Members of THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA

A BRASS CHAMBER MUSIC CAMP for students in Middle School, High School, and Early College

Masterclasses and Recitals with International Artists Large and Small Ensembles Individual Instrument Choirs Orchestral Excerpts, Jazz Improv, and Eurythmics Classes College & Career Counseling Choice Ensemble Competition Housing, Meal Plan, and Recreational Activities

www.blastofbrass.com

! t s a l B

Register for a

students transitioning to their place in the ensemble, and using their device to check their tuning.

One by one, the students put their phones on the floor face-down underneath their chairs and began looking to the podium for instructions. At this point the teacher began to take them through their warm-up sequence and then began rehearsal exactly as they do each day. As the period went on, I heard phrases like “imagine,” “look at each other,” “breathe together,” and “move as one.” I quickly realized that this is how I imagine the future of education: a future where students are engaged, interconnected, and communicative. Today, more than ever, our students need us to teach them how to connect with others, how to achieve greatness as a part of a team, and, most of all, how their individual contribution affects other humans.

As educators, we must continue to show our students what it means to be part of an interconnected society that appreciates the contributions of each member. It is our job to show them how to collaborate, imagine, and make decisions that benefit the whole.

It is incumbent on us to help them understand the importance of art in society and teach them how each individual life can be enriched by the deep knowledge of art.

While we embrace future technologies that make life easier and more convenient, let us not forget the past that allowed us to feel, connect, and rely on each other. The future is upon us, the ultimate success or failure of our art lies in the hands of the students we teach. Show them how to feel, how to love, how to connect, and how to appreciate all who came before them and all who will come after them.

Texas Music Scholar Nominations The Texas Music Scholar Award recognizes high school students who exemplify high standards of meritorious performance in the areas of scholarship, musicianship, and citizenship. Go to page 23 and to www.tmea.org/musicscholar to learn the criteria and process for nominating. You must complete the application process by May 1.

Honor Orchestra The deadline to complete Honor Orchestra Part A is May 1 for HS Full, JH/ MS Full, and JH/MS String Orchestras. All Honor Orchestra rules are on the TMEA

website under the Orchestra Division menu. Carefully read the rules to ensure you meet all deadlines and regulations.

Clinic Proposals All clinic proposals for our 2020 convention are submitted online from April 1 to June 1 at www.tmea.org/clinicproposals.

Consider sharing new and innovative techniques that have been successful in your classroom. We have a wealth of instructional knowledge in our state, and I encourage you to offer that knowledge at our convention, or encourage someone you know who has valuable experience and insight to propose a clinic.

Orchestra Division Business Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 14, 2019 CC 214 CD, 5:15 p.m.

Brian Coatney, Presiding Brian Coatney called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m., and members approved the Orchestra Division business meeting minutes as printed in the April 2018 issue of Southwestern Musician.

Sixto Elizondo offered the TODA report, where he discussed the welcome reception, headliners for convention, reminder to preregister, and recognized TODA board members.

With no nominations from the floor, the election for TMEA Vice-President and Orchestra Division Chair were held.

Bryan Buffaloe spoke on behalf of Michael Stringer and Bingiee Shiu spoke on behalf of Jason Thibodeaux. Election Ballot committee consisted of Michael Alexander, Penny Meitz, and Craig Needham. Michael Stringer was declared the election winner.

The membership then enjoyed a performance by TexASTA Young Artists Solo Competition Junior Division Winner Performance. Eric Fried introduced Matthew Ho, violin, from St. Mark’s School of Texas. Matthew executed a moving performance of Eugene Ysaye’s Sonata #3 for Solo Violin.

Coatney led a discussion about AllState Audition Material, including the following:

• Lawrence Wheeler suggested that we select one etude and one Bach composition to encourage seniors to audition since most college auditions require a Bach composition.

• The division expressed interest in continuing this discussion.

Coatney also led a discussion about the State Audition Process, including: • Discussion about whether the Orchestra Division should go to an Area audition process similar to the Band and Vocal Divisions. Some directors believe that we should have better representation in the All-State String sections. The string sections are predominately populated by students in the DFW, Austin, and Houston areas.

• The division concluded that this discussion needs to continue and charged the new Vice-President to form a steering committee.

Door Prizes were awarded, and the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Chris Tran, Plano Senior HS.

Products that Enhance Music Performance

Discounted Prices

Highest Quality

Friendly, Knowledgeable Service Satisfaction Guaranteed

• Reduce audition material to excerpts of two etudes and four orchestra excerpts from the All-State repertoire.

• Release all audition material in July rather than releasing the etudes in May and excerpts in July.

www.valiantmusic.com

1-800-573-6013 Southwestern Musician | April 2019 35

inspiring hopefulness During the First General Session, Steven Sharp Nelson and Jon Schmidt of THE PIANO GUYS performed and offered inspiring words about how influential music is.

They offered moving reflections they have of their music teachers and their influence on their lives, especially on their ability to choose hope.

NASA Astronaut Colonel Douglas Wheelock echoed their reflections with his own experience studying with an inspiring teacher who led him to understand that he needed to find his passion and that he must pursue his dreams.

The following are excerpts from this keynote address to the TMEA membership.

I feel like I can be more resilient, choose happiness, and choose hope because of my music teachers.

All of us know how profoundly we’re affected by music.

I believe the soundtrack we choose to employ in our lives is directly proportional to our ability to choose happiness and our potential for success, and in our resilience, which is a much needed trait in our youth today.

You are making a profound difference. We see it—we get to meet your students. Our favorite part about meeting students pursuing music education is they’re striving to have a good life soundtrack. They have a light in their eyes. And they have a special smile on their faces. And you have had a hand in both. That is the magic of music.

Jon Schmidt

Steven Sharp Nelson

We need to hog the airtime with hopefulness. And that’s what you beautiful people are doing—you are hogging the airtime with hopeful, beautiful music. It has such a ripple effect, and you have no idea how much. So that is our message—it’s such an honor to be in a room full of hope’s finest banner bearers, hope’s hardest workers.

It is very life-changing what you’re all doing. Don’t give up.

Like you, I’m an ordinary kid, from an ordinary place, but I had a teacher speak to my life.

After the Moon landing, my teacher Christine West came into class and said, “Well one day, you could do that, too.” And I thought she was crazy. We were in this ordinary place, in this

Douglas Wheelock 36 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

ordinary town. But as we went through that school year, she kept telling us, “You can do it too—why not?” And I began to believe it—and that’s the power we have as educators. We can transform the life and the heart of a young student. It’s the most amazing gift that anyone can give back to our world.

Pursue your dreams Sing your song Write your story When you finally discover that you can, then you must.

2019 TMEA CLINIC/CONVENTION

38 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

More images on page 62

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 39

B Y

J E D

VOCAL NOTES

R A G S D A L E

In Memoriam Stacy Trom Gonzalez November 28, 1966–February 23, 2019

Keep calm and teach on April–May—Attend your spring Region meeting (see page 2).

April 1–June 1—Submit proposals online for the 2020 TMEA Clinic/ Convention.

May—TMEA membership year opens for online and mail/email submission.

May 1—Deadline to nominate students for a Texas Music Scholar award.

May 10—Deadline for 2020 Convention Performing Choir application and recording upload.

June 13–14—CEDFA Summit 20, Austin Airport Hilton.

June 30—All 2018–2019 TMEA memberships expire.

July 25–27—TCDA Convention in San Antonio.

August 1—Deadline for waivers to the audition process to be received at TMEA headquarters.

February 12–15, 2020—TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio.

A

t any point throughout the year, we can find ourselves stuck in the thick of our current situation. As we face the task at hand, we can easily feel overwhelmed and outmatched (maybe you’re confounded by a lack of progress with a boys’ choir class). When my students experience these same feelings, the advice I offer them is to keep their focus forward. To drive that point home, I use the analogy of a race. If you keep looking to either side of you, or especially behind, you’ll likely lose speed and get passed by another contestant. Worse still, you may trip and fall out of the race completely. However, if you simply keep your eyes focused on what’s ahead, the likelihood of reaching your goal increases dramatically!

When I’m facing what feel like impossible challenges, I focus on the following phrase: narrow everything down to what can be done, not what cannot be undone. To me it sounds like a statement we’ve heard from Yogi Berra, and I hope it makes sense. We all make mistakes. As much as we’d like to take things back or wish our missteps away, those instances cannot be undone.

They are there forever. However, those mistakes are also now in the past. Good or bad, they are behind you. Now is the time to focus on what can be done. It’s an important lesson that every teacher (and student) must learn, and when

If you simply keep your eyes focused on what’s ahead, the likelihood of reaching your goal increases dramatically.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 41

we apply it to our everyday challenges, it can help us transform what at first seemed insurmountable into something we can successfully overcome.

By the time this magazine mails, many of you will have completed UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation. If it didn’t go as you envisioned, don’t dwell on what can’t be undone. Every event, every panel, every year will be different. Your students still need to be taught for the rest of the year—and beyond, and you are the one to equip and inspire them in their continued development.

Take a step back to look at the big picture. Ask yourself how you can help make it better next time. Should you ask for suggestions for repertoire? Should you get another set of ears to listen to your groups?

How can you get outside help without the funds to support it? These are all valid questions. If you don’t have money for a clinician, barter. Trade with another director and clinic their choir if they’ll clinic yours. Offer to judge their pre-UIL contest if they’ll work with your choir. Perhaps the simplest is to ask someone to write comments at your concert and take them out

orders@rhythmbee.com 903-725-3304

7+5(( 0217+6 )5((.

The Gilmer ISD Choral Music team of Melody McMullen and Bill Marshall is a pairing of “naturals.” Melody’s intui ve choral technique and Bill’s expert keyboard skills make it look easy. But those roles are not their greatest asset. They are master teachers. The Gilmer Choral students are blessed to have such a talented team!

Melody McMullen, Director

Bill Marshall, Choral Assis-

of Choral Music, Gilmer ISD

tant/Accompanist, Gilmer ISD

“Our students have come to engame changer in my classroom. joy RhythmBee’s animated rhythm and solfege drills, and it has helped tremendously with way to introduce new students to sight singing, and it is a great their sight reading skills. Pacing of the material is completely up refresher for my veteran students. Rhythmic acuity and theo- to the teacher, and this company ry understanding have skyrocket- is the best at customer service. I recommend RhythmBee to any and kids beg me for RhythmBee choir that struggles with sightreading.” so they can be The Champion!”

“RhythmBee has surely been a

42 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

for dinner. I’ve done each of these. We must seek ways to make our situations work. It may take some time to figure out, but for our wonderful students, it’s always worth our effort!

If you’re still preparing for a contest or UIL evaluation, adopt the approach that you aren’t performing for the judges.

Simply perform to the best of your and your students’ ability. Teach the choir that’s in front of you, not the choir you wish you had. Recognize their strengths and capitalize on them (more on this subject in another column). I hope you and your students gained something positive through the UIL evaluation process!

Convention Reflections What a convention we had just two months ago! It takes so many volunteers to make our convention happen, often long before the event begins. Region Chairs and Coordinators, All-State Choir Organizers, Section Leaders, Ballroom Manager, Clinic Coordinator, Facilities Team, Clinicians, Presiders, Door Monitors, Area Chairs, and many others are involved in so much preparation for the convention and the AllState process. A hearty congratulations goes to everyone for their hard work, and a special thanks goes to our most recent Vocal Division Vice-President Derrick Brookins. This convention was one of the best in recent memory! Clinicians were first-class and the performing groups were some of the best we’ve heard! So many people expressed their appreciation for the wonderful sessions offered. The climate of the convention had such a positive and motivational environment (I realize the pressure is on)!

I am deeply honored to members of the Vocal Division who have entrusted me to represent you as your Vice-President.

The gravity is not lost on this guy, but I am looking forward to serving you all in this capacity and will work tirelessly to help ensure an incredible convention for 2020, when we will celebrate TMEA’s Centennial. I look forward to our All-State Choir candidates experiencing an affirming and educational audition process, and I thank you in advance for the support you will give your students and the time you will offer your association to ensure a positive experience for all involved!

Texas A&M University-Kingsville Department of Music

®

Graduate Studies

New Music Building Opening Fall 2019

Master of Music in Music Education Instrumental, Vocal or Elementary

Master of Music in Performance Instrumental or Vocal

Designed for the active teacher to complete over three summer semesters

Designed as a two-year, full-time program to be completed over four regular semesters

Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Scholarships Available • Enhance your teaching and performance skills • Study with accomplished faculty • Perform with award-winning ensembles • Advance career potential • Develop research expertise

Contact Dr. Melinda Brou, Graduate Coordinator, at 361-593-2824 or Melinda.Brou@tamuk.edu

www.tamuk.edu/music

2019 TMEA CD/MP3/DVD Order Form All State Concerts 54701-MCD 54702-MCD 54703-MCD 54704-MCD 54705-MCD 54706-MCD 54707-MCD 54708-MCD 54709-MCD 54710-MCD 54711-MCD 54712-MCD 54713-MCD 54714-MCD 54715-MCD 54716-MCD 54717-MCD

CD

Audio MP3

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

DVD

CD MP3 DVD DVD Bundle Bundle

____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ N/A ____ N/A ____

ALL 3 CD MP3 DVD

Visit Booth #1667

BEST DEAL

____ 5A Symphonic Band ____ 6A Concert Band ____ 6A Symphonic Band N/A Jazz Ensemble I ____ N/A Jazz Ensemble II ____ ____ Sinfonietta Orchestra ____ Philharmonic Orchestra ____ Symphony Orchestra ____ Treble Choir ____ Tenor-Bass Choir ____ Mixed Choir ____ Small School Mixed Choir N/A ATSSB Concert Band ____ N/A ATSSB Symphonic Band ____ ____ Texas Two-Year College Choir N/A TCCBDA Symphonic Band ____ N/A TCCBDA Jazz Ensemble ____

CD MP3 DVD DVD Bundle Bundle

ALL 3 CD MP3 DVD

Order before

2-22-19

for Free Shipping College

BEST DEAL

Audio MP3

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ Texas Christian Univ Symphony Orchestra ____ ____ ____ ____ Plano West Senior HS Chamber Orchestra N/A ____ N/A ____ N/A ____ N/A Martin HS Symphony Orchestra ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ Beckendorff JH Symphony Orchestra ____ ____ ____ ____ Doerre IS Symphony Orchestra ____ ____ ____ ____ FULL SET AVAILABLE ORCHESTRA

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ N/A ____ N/A ____ N/A ____

____ Texas A&M Univ Kingsville Wind Symphony ____ Texas A&M Univ College Station Wind Symphony ____ Univ of North Texas Wind Symphony ____ Texas State Univ Wind Symphony ____ Saitama Sakae Wind Orchestra ____ Carlisle HS Band ____ North Lamar HS Symphonic Band ____ Vandegrift HS Wind Ensemble ____ Atlanta MS Symphonic Band N/A Baylor Jazz Ensemble ____ N/A McMath MS Tiger Jazz Band ____ N/A Waxahachie HS Jazz Orchestra ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ FULL SET AVAILABLE BAND

Orchestra 54731-MCD 54732-MCD 54733-MCD 54735-MCD 54736-MCD 54737-MCD

Choir 54740-MCD 54741-MCD 54742-MCD 54743-MCD 54744-MCD 54745-MCD 54746-MCD 54747-MCD 54748-MCD 54749-MCD 54750-MCD 54751-MCD 54752-MCD

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

____ Texas A&M Commerce Univ Chorale ____ UT - Arlington A Cappella Choir ____ Robert E. Lee HS Varsity Treble Choir ____ Paschal HS Panther Corps ____ Plano West Senior High Chorale ____ Tompkins HS Chorale ____ Cedar Park HS Mixed Choir ____ North Shore Senior High Chorale Men ____ Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy Singers ____ Trinity Springs MS Varsity Treble Choir ____ McCullough JH Mixed Choir ____ Blalack MS Varsity Treble Choir ____ FULL SET AVAILABLE CHOIR

2019 TMEA OF

DVD

CD/MP3/DVD

$35.00ea.

250.00set 175.00set 225.00set 175.00set

$45.00ea.

350.00set 250.00set 325.00set 250.00set

$50.00ea.

425.00set 325.00set 400.00set 275.00set

GET ALL 3

Shipping Prices

Any Single 3-5 Items 6-9 Items 10+ Items

$4.00 $6.00 $8.00 $9.00

Credit Card # Security Code_______ /

Visa / Mastercard / Discover / AMEX

Signature Daytime Phone # Required for MP3 - School Purchase Orders Accepted -

Email

TOTAL ORDER TOTAL BEST DEAL CD/MP3/DVD TOTAL CD/DVDs TOTAL MP3/DVDs TOTAL DVDs ONLY TOTAL CDSs ONLY TOTAL MP3s ONLY TOTAL FULL SET(S)

____@ 50.00 each ____@ 45.00 each ____@ 45.00 each ____@ 35.00 each ____@ 20.00 each ____@ 20.00 each

$_______ $_______ $_______ $_______ $_______ $_______ $_______ $_______ SHIPPING TOTAL $_______ + Please note, due to copyright laws, we may be unable to include DOO VHOHFWLRQV RQ WKH Ã&#x20AC;QDO SURGXFW

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE/SEND ORDERS TO: MarkCustom.com P.O. Box 406 â&#x20AC;¢ Clarence, NY 14031 phone: (716) 759-2600 â&#x20AC;¢ fax: (716) 759-2329 info@markcustom.com Booth # 1667 Order Online at : www.MarkCustom.com

Custom.com 10815 Bodine Road Clarence, NY 14031-0406

Shipping Label: Please PRINT

Elementary 0&' BBBB 54756-MCD ____ 54757-MCD ____ 0&' BBBB 54759-MCD ____ 54760-MCD ____ 54761-MCD ____

BEST DEAL

CD or MP3 with DVD

*All Honor Groups Permission Pending

Band 54764-MCD 54718-MCD 54719-MCD 54720-MCD 54721-MCD 54722-MCD 54723-MCD 54724-MCD 54725-MCD 54726-MCD 54727-MCD 54734-MCD 54728-MCD

CD or Audio MP3

Audio Downloads available at www.MarkCustom.com

CD

DVD

Available in 10-12 Weeks

Any Single Concert $20.00ea.

All Available Band-19 175.00set All Available Orchestra-8 90.00set All Available Choir-17 160.00set All Available Elementary- 6 90.00set

Exp. Date

Honor Groups

Concert Pricing

BBBB ____ ____ BBBB ____ ____ ____

BBBB ____ ____ BBBB ____ ____ ____

BBBB ____ ____ BBBB ____ ____ ____

BBBB ____ ____ BBBB ____ ____ ____

BBBB *ULIÃ&#x20AC;Q (OHPHQWDU\ )LIWK *UDGH &KRLU ____ Lakeshore Elementary Spotted Half Notes ____ Eddins Elementary Honor Choir BBBB 1HLOO (OHPHQWDU\ 5RFNLQ· /RQJKRUQV ____ HEB Elementary Honor Choir ____ Bentley Elementary: Bentley Beatz ____ FULL SET AVAILABLE ELEMENTARY

NAME __________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________ CITY ___________________ STATE _____ ZIP _______ COUNTRY ___________________

Texas Music Scholar Nominations The Texas Music Scholar Award recognizes high school students who exemplify high standards of meritorious performance in the areas of scholarship, musicianship, and citizenship. Go to page 23 and to www.tmea.org/musicscholar to learn the criteria and process for nominating. You must complete the application process by May 1 (this includes returning a printed certification form with required signatures by that date).

Get Involved Please attend your spring Region meeting (see page 2 for the details) and step up in your Regions to volunteer. Also, please volunteer to help during the 2020 TMEA Clinic/Convention (register to volunteer at www.tmea.org/vocalvolunteer). Offer to help those around you as a mentor, a sounding board, a set of ears to listen to recordings, and more. What you give will come back tenfold. Upward and onward!

Clinic Proposals All clinic proposals for our 2020 convention are submitted online. This process is open April 1–June 1, and you can enter your proposal at www.tmea.org/ clinicproposals. Please consider sharing your experience and knowledge with your colleagues. If you don’t want to present, encourage someone you know who has valuable experience and insight to offer to propose a clinic.

Vocal Division Business Meeting Thursday, February 14, 2019 5:15 p.m., Hemisfair Ballroom Derrick D. Brookins, Presiding The meeting was called to order at 5:17 p.m. by Vice-President Derrick Brookins. Members approved the Vocal Division business meeting minutes as printed in the April 2018 issue of Southwestern Musician.

In Old Business, Brookins shared from an Executive Board meeting in March 2018, that 15 Small School Vocal Regions and five Small School Areas had been installed. The All-State Small School Mixed Choir is in its fifth year and, overall, auditions went very well. Over 2,000 students initially began the audition process.

For New Business, support speeches were asked to be given for the candidates for Vice-President of the Vocal Division.

JD Janda, the Tomball ISD Director of Fine Arts spoke on behalf of candidate Jed Ragsdale. With Ragsdale as the only candidate, he was elected by acclamation.

A moment of silence was offered for Choral Directors who had passed away during the past year.

TCDA President Pam Elron-Huffman was invited to offer greetings and give an update about the TCDA Convention, July 25–27. The 2019 TCDA All-State MS/JH Choir will be conducted by Tom Shelton.

Past Vocal Vice-Presidents were recognized, as well as those who became TMEA

Presidents. MS/JH Coordinators, Region Chairs, Area Chairs, All-State Choir Organizers and accompanists were also recognized.

Brookins thanked the membership for the opportunity to serve TMEA and entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 p.m.

TMEA President Robert Horton conducted the membership in singing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Minutes respectfully submitted by Jed Ragsdale.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 45

Graduate Courses

Intensive Music Education Courses as Brief as Two Weeks (plus online components)

June 4 to July 5 Introduction to Applications in Music Technology: MUSI 5342 • Dr. Keith Dye (O) Classroom & Rehearsal Behavior Management: MUED 5344 • Dr. Janice Killian (O) Applied Music Literature: Choral Conducting MM: MUAP 5302 • Dr. Alan Zabriskie • M-F 1pm-3pm (L) Conducting Techniques and Analysis I: Choral Conducting MM: MUAP 5306 • Dr. Alan Zabriskie • M-F 3pm-5pm (L) Choral Ensemble: Choral Conducting MM: MUEN 5101 • Dr. Carolyn Cruse • T&Th 6pm-8pm (L)

June 3 to June 14 Teaching Music in Urban Settings: Meeting the Needs of Culturally Diverse Learners: MUED 5344 • Dr. Jacqueline Henninger • 8am-12pm (L,V) Band Conducting Methods: MUAP 5310 • Dr. Eric Allen • 1pm-5pm (L) Foundations of Music Education: MUED 5340 • Dr. Jacqueline Henninger • 1pm-5pm (L,V)

June 17 to June 28 Choral Directors Workshop (during All-State Choir Camp - June 24-29): MUSI 7000 • Dr. Carolyn Cruse • 8am-12pm (L) Band Rehearsals: Strategies to Maximize Student Engagement and Development: MUSI 7000 • Dr. Keith Dye • 8am-12pm (L,V) Graduate Theory Review with AP Primer: MUTH 5300 • Dr. Peter Fischer • 1pm-5pm (L) Learning & Music: MUED 5332 • Dr. Janice Killian • 1pm-5pm (L,V)

July 8 to July 19 Vocal Choral Pedagogy: Voice-Building in the Choral Rehearsal: MUED 5325 • Dr. Carolyn Cruse • 8am-12pm (L,V) Styles in Wind Literature of the 19th & 20th Centuries: MUTH 5305 • Dr. Peter Martens • 8am-12pm (L,V) Tests & Measurements: MUED 5333 • Dr. Janice Killian • 1pm-5pm (L,V)

July 9 to August 9 Advanced Applications of Technology in Music Education: MUSI 5343 • Dr. Keith Dye (O) Topics in Orchestral Music Education: Rehearsal Strategies for the MS and HS School Orchestra: MUED 5327 • Dr. Blair Williams (O) Graduate Music History Review: MUHL 5300 • Dr. Stacey Jocoy (O)

O = online • L = live • V = video conference

TTU Summer-Only Options

• Master’s

in Music Education in Music Education (Distance) • MM in Choral Conducting • Master’s

Early enrollment encouraged for anticipated summer scholarship eligibility.

SUMMER 2019 Performance Camps

MARIACHI CAMP

June 11-14, 2019

June 25-29, 2019

ALL-STATE CHOIR CAMP

July 7-13, 2019

BAND & ORCHESTRA CAMP

My dream is that every person

ach year, TMEA Band, REBECCA MACLEOD, ORCHESTRA who attends TMEA will make Orchestra, Vocal, ElemenOne of my biggest reflections from a plan to integrate into their tary, and College Divisions this conference came from talking with invite nationally recogteachers following my sessions. Teachers teaching and their conducting nized educators to serve as Featured had many questions about how to make concepts they have learned Clinicians. These in-demand cliall of their students successful, which nicians deliver their insights duris after all what we should strive to do. while attending the convention. ing multiple clinics throughout the The demographics of our classrooms convention. are rapidly changing. Students are We asked each of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Featured Clinicians to share a increasingly more diverse, while the string teacher population in review of what they offered in their clinics. Given these educators the United States is still 90% white, and predominantly female. regularly present across the nation, we also asked them to comResearch tells us that our students benefit from having role modment on their experience at our convention. Be sure to read from els who seem more like them. One way to bridge this cultural gap them allâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they each have wonderful reflections on their topics and between teacher and student is to recruit slightly older students reactions to our convention. from the same community to come into the classroom and help.

These students are referred to as near peers. Having a slightly older CRAIG KIRCHHOFF, BAND mentor helps younger students relate and feel comfortable. Having It is my sincere hope that teachers will consider employing some these students work together can be transformative for both the of the student-centered rehearsal techniques I explored with the mentor and mentee.

Johnson HS Wind Ensemble. It is my fervent belief that we should Another really important issue to consider is how inclusive your be tapping into the creativity, the imagination, and the musical classroom feels to students of various backgrounds. What pictures gifts our students potentially can offer every day in rehearsal. In are hanging on the walls, and do these pictures represent all the doing so, this can provide the opportunity for meaningful, colstudents in your classroom? Using a wide variety of musical styles, laborative, and inspiring rehearsals. instructional styles, and modes of communication can really help Every time I have attended a TMEA convention, I leave San students thrive. Consider incorporating group problem-solving Antonio inspired by the vitality of the conference and the enthusiactivities into your classroom, or even your ensemble setting. astic support for music education. Having said that, my dream is I simply love the quality and depth of instruction that is takthat every person who attends TMEA will make a plan to integrate ing place in Texas. The student performances I attended were very into their teaching and their conducting concepts they have learned inspirational and a model of what students can achieve when given while attending the convention. It is the reality of human nature the opportunity. On the other hand, many teachers approached to return to school and continue down the same tried and true me concerned because they have such limited instructional time, pathway. Integrating change is difficult work, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work that has only 45 minutes per week, and their students are unable to take the potential to yield rich experiences for our students and for our their instruments home to practice. This presents an incredible chalprograms. lenge in terms of equity. How can a student with few resources be

E

48 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

Nathan East Depends on Yamaha.

“When I'm looking for that ‘Upright’ sound, I reach for my Silent Bass. The sound quality is rich and full and the feel is very comfortable. In my arsenal of basses, my SVB-200 has become an important instrument for live gigs as well as in the studio.”

-Nathan East, Renowned Bass Artist 4wrd.it/NEAST

The second part of my presentations focused on sound and acoustics. Voicing can make a remarkable difference in the vocal health and stamina of ensemble singers. It may also be a key to singing with excellent intonation. We focused on the process of voice placement and arrangement of singers. Berton Coffin said, “There is no reason to have a Stradivarius sound like a cigar-box violin so that both will sound the same. Instead of removing the resonance from voices that have it, one should try to establish the formant in all voices of the choir in which it is lacking.”

It was an honor to be with you. Thank you for your interest in continuing to learn and inspire your students. The energy and enthusiasm from such a broad group of conductors (church, school, choral, non-choral) was inspiring to experience. It is clear to see that TMEA is thriving and continuing to keep outstanding music at the core of its communities.

Be the teacher who helps your students find their voice through exploration, performance, and joy in music class. successful? How do we decide reasonable expectations? From my point of view, the long-term goal should be to continue expanding opportunities so that more students have access to quality instruction. In the short term, we need to adjust our goals and expectations so that we put the child first, making sure that they feel successful, are inspired by the arts, and wish to become lifelong learners and participants in music.

JOE MILLER, VOCAL Learning to become a conductor begins with a love for working with other people. It is not enough to be a good musician, historian, or philosopher; a conductor must have a passion for service— service of fellow human beings and service of the music. John Maxwell says, “It’s one thing to communicate to people because you believe you have something of value to say. It’s another to communicate with people because you believe they have value. People’s opinions of us have less to do with what they see in us than they do with what we can help them see in themselves.”

To reach our communities, we must listen and respond to their needs. We do this through creating sound, designing repertoire and experiences that engage the community, and building communities that value the importance of humanity and artistic expression.

JERRY KERLIN, ELEMENTARY A ballroom crowded with Kodály-inspired teachers and other curious musicians-educators became a true motivation for me— standing before them and wanting to share every Irish dance, song, and tune I had absorbed working among the New York Irish in the 1990s. Judging from their reactions, I brought them Irish singing games and dances previously unknown. And I delighted in the joy and laughter that echoed throughout the Grand Hyatt ballroom.

One topic I explored was the teaching and learning compound

Music scholarships available to non-music majors I Faculty who focus on UNDERGRADUATES

think. perform. explore.

I National and international ENSEMBLE TOURING I DEGREES in music education, performance,

and composition I MASTER of Arts in Teaching, a 5th year program

with a full year of student teaching and 100% job placement (20 consecutive years) I Located in CULTURALLY VIBRANT San Antonio I STUDY ABROAD opportunities I 16 ensembles

trinity.edu/music June 2014, the Trinity University Music Department was recognized as an ALL-STEINWAY SCHOOL by Steinway and Sons, for its commitment to excellence and purchase of 32 Steinway pianos.

50 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SUMMERS-ONLY MASTER OF MUSIC EDUCATION 3-Summer program Build professional relationships Practical for the working teacher Go beyond in-service development Learn from UNT faculty Renowned guest instructors Band, choir and orchestra tracks June 3rd to July 11th, 2019 Apply now BEYOND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MUSICED.MUSIC.UNT.EDU | JESSICA.NAPOLES@UNT.EDU

meter and its notation. I had always taken the idea of my teacher, Lois Choksy, that kindergartners should be able to label compound meter songs as “skipping songs.” By contrast, I’ve discovered that they can then name simple meter as “jogging songs.”

Each label refers to differentiation of subdivision of “big beat” (macrobeat) into “little beat” (microbeat). First graders can discover the opening rhythm of “Oliver Cromwell” as tahm tahm tee-tee-tee tahm, the equivalent of tah tah tee-tee tah, and a dottedquarter note can just be given to them as “one sound on a beat in a skipping song.” Musical understanding tied to cultural context always seems to foster powerful pedagogy (Jerome Bruner 1996, Jerry Kerlin 2008).

While teaching six clinics in three days is exhausting work, I did explore the vast exhibition space, and I did hear the Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra give a thrilling performance of ‘Le Sacre du Printemps.’ Thumbing through the catalog of clinics, I was overwhelmed by the 2019 convention offerings. Texas musicianseducators certainly enjoy a rich event devoted to ongoing learning and musicing. I feel grateful to have been asked to share my experience as part of TMEA 2019.

TRACY KING, ELEMENTARY Teaching music is hard work, but it should also be joyful work.

Think about that when planning your lessons. Teach the stuff but do it in a joyful way. In each session I presented some practical and inexpensive ways to enhance our time with our students. Engage your students with simple ideas and a bit of novelty. A regular piece of paper is a ready-made listening journal. Be inspired by writing

52 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

stations in the first-grade classroom and design a new workstation for your music classroom. That empty water bottle can be upcycled to teach about instrument families. That’s not just a tennis ball but a hands-on manipulative for teaching note values. What exciting and memorable learning opportunities can be created with a pool noodle or a rubber chicken? How can you use children’s literature to make music and inspire creativity? Think this is just silliness?

Think again! This is the stuff that childhood memories are made of! Be the teacher who helps your students find their voice through exploration, performance, and joy in music class.

I am so honored to have been able to share my love of teaching music with the passionate educators in Texas. As a music specialist we can sometimes feel very alone. What a blessing to be able to spend time with like-minded friends and share ideas. I think my favorite thing about this conference was making personal connections with so many dedicated teachers and hearing quite a few of them say, “Wow! You teach exactly the way I do or want to!” The TMEA convention is an amazing place to feel validated, inspired, and challenged.

JUDY BOWERS, COLLEGE My best insight came during the first of four sessions focused on reaching underserved populations. My colleague presented her work on understanding people through analysis of 12 characteristics, identifying each as an asset or a debit, and evaluating how the interaction of these characteristics can provide a clearer picture of how people may be viewed or understood. The room was packed, and I observed a real connection to the interactions presented in

the demonstrations. Because she used herself as a model (gender, race, religion, education, etc.), participants seemed to comfortably and easily grasp this technique. I hope attendees left believing that every student in our music programs should not be viewed simplistically, judged in only one aspect—people are more complex than just one easy descriptor.

I left the TMEA convention with an appreciation that many teachers across the state have developed deep concern about students who come to school lacking many essentials required for school success. In the past two TMEA conventions, sessions and programs exploring social justice issues have been present, and these are foundational for thinking through student needs. This year, there were multiple sessions aimed at underserved populations of various sorts.

Texas is well known for keeping music education on the cutting edge of excellence. Musical excellence and pedagogical excellence can exist independently or in tandem. I was very pleased to see teachers buying into the idea that students needing to catch up can successfully grow along with students who are musically thriving by teaching differently—pedagogical accommodations can make this happen. I hope this leadership continues, as nationally, most states face similar challenges.

WILLIAM FREDRICKSON, COLLEGE Even though my four TMEA clinics were on diverse topics (eye contact, student behavior, administrators, and students with special needs), I like to believe there is a common thread that runs through these topics and most of my teaching/life. We often find ourselves focused on the personal challenges and rewards of

Our awareness of the challenges and rewards experienced by those around us (students, administrators, parents, faculty colleagues), and the perspective they bring to their interactions with us, are crucial to ongoing success. teaching music. But our awareness of the challenges and rewards experienced by those around us (students, administrators, parents, faculty colleagues), and the perspective they bring to their interactions with us, are crucial to ongoing success. In addition, thinking about long-term good as much as short-term gain is important to our perspective—the ability to see the horizon as well as those things immediately before us. We are fortunate to be involved with a subject matter that can feed our soul as we exercise our intellect to keep everything moving toward that horizon.

Having been lucky enough to present at a variety of state music conferences I find that each has a unique flavor. This year’s TMEA was my third visit to your wonderful conference in a decade, and I always enjoy the people, the place, and the music. But the people are what make it TMEA.

Marching Arts Director Symposium June 17-19, 2019 Classroom sessions and interactive masterclasses led by leaders in the drum and bugle corps, college and high school marching band activities seek to inspire educators with practical and creative tools to take their teaching and ensembles to the next level.

CPE Credit up to 16 hours available for symposium participants.

online registration is open now: tamuc.edu /music Southwestern Musician | April 2019 53

Celebrating Arts Education at the Capitol

54 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

O

n March 7, fine arts students from around Texas participated in Arts Education Day at the Capitol.

Hosted by TMEA and the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education, this event offers an opportunity to showcase the results of rigorous arts education in Texas schools.

Students begin the day by delivering packets to each legislatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. Some student groups enjoyed the opportunity to have a conversation with the legislator who represents their district. When a

legislator wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t available, students shared their message and the packet of arts advocacy information with the staff members and invited them to attend the performances.

From noon to 1 p.m., the capitol rotunda resonated with performances by choirs, instrumental groups, and dance programs.

Performances continued that afternoon in the outdoor rotunda of the capitol extension. Thanks go to the students and their directors for representing the importance of fine arts education so well!

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 55

ELEMENTARY NOTES

B Y

A B I G A I L

H A W E S

What are your TMEA takeaways?

I

hope you’ve had time to reflect on your time spent at this year’s convention in San Antonio. Were there any aha! moments that you remember in particular? Did one of our invited performing groups program a selection you’re now considering? Did one of our clinicians demonstrate a game or activity you couldn’t wait to work into your lesson plans? How about the dialogues at Saturday’s Elementary Sendoff session? Did a colleague or presenter say something that resonated with you? Maybe it was something as simple as David Row’s suggestion to punch a hole in your manipulative bag!

No matter where you heard or saw them, be sure to take a few moments and write down those TMEA takeaways. Start a Google Doc, make a binder, or find a notebook to keep those tidbits of information in one place. One storage solution I’ve recently found useful is Google Keep—it’s an app that allows you to store little sticky notes of information (including photos!) on your smartphone or other device. Even if you’re not ready to try a new idea now, safely store it away for future reference—you’ll thank yourself later for doing so. Remember, even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences, so don’t be afraid

Even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences, so don’t be afraid to take a risk and try that new song, game, or activity.

56 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

April–May—Attend your spring Region meeting (see page 2).

April 1–June 1—Submit proposals online for the 2020 TMEA Clinic/ Convention.

May—TMEA membership year opens for online and mail/email submission.

June 13–14—CEDFA Summit 20, Austin Airport Hilton.

June 15—Deadline for 2020 Convention Performing group application and online recording upload (choirs and instrumental).

June 30—All 2018–2019 TMEA memberships expire.

July 25–27—TCDA Convention in San Antonio.

February 12–15, 2020—TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio.

Play now. Play for life.

West Music is your summer workshop source for books, Orff instruments, and drums!

WE’LL Trinity University Orff Levels

SEE YOU AT:

SMU Orff and Kodaly Levels World Music Drumming in San Antonio

WESTMUSIC.COM Contact us today: 800-397-9378 • educationconsultants@westmusic.com

3 Reasons to Switch to 1 ALL of Book 1 is FREE in SmartMusic Build assignments, track your ensemble’s progress, and keep students practicing with free SmartMusic accounts.

2 Free access to SI Online Easy and free access to streaming audio and video content for Sound Innovations and Sound Percussion makes it convenient for your students to practice anywhere.

3 Books for every level of student & ensemble From instrument setup and first sounds through advanced techniques and ensemble skills, Sound Innovations has a book for every student.

Learn more at alfred.com/TX3Reasons

58 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

to take a risk and try that new song, game, or activity.

Finally, whether it’s over social media (#TMEATakeaways) or in person, I hope you’re able to share your takeaways with others. Host a share session with nearby music educators to provide opportunities for those who might not have made it to the same sessions to learn from each other and to offer the opportunity to discuss ways to apply those new ideas to your unique teaching situations.

If you haven’t already done so, go to www.tmea.org/cpe to create your CPE record through your personal schedule.

Show your administrators all the amazing clinics and performances you attended this year and start planning now to come back to learn more and celebrate TMEA’s Centennial in 2020.

In Gratitude Our yearly convention would not be possible were it not for the help and support of so many. Our thanks go to our Elementary Region Chairs and our division volunteers, presiders, performing group guides, assistants, and more. Our members help ensure the very best experience for all in attendance. Their tireless work—often behind the scenes—is what keeps our division ticking.

Thanks also go to our clinicians for sharing their time and talents with us.

Their time spent preparing and presenting their wealth of knowledge positively impacts not only those who attended their session, but also thousands of students across the state for many years to come!

We express great appreciation to our amazing invited performing groups and their directors who bring music to life in our featured concerts and help showcase the results of high-quality music education. These performances help provide an inspiring example and, even more importantly, give these young students the gift of memories to last a lifetime.

Finally, we extend thanks to outgoing Elementary Vice-President Casey Medlin for her dedicated service, leadership, and guidance. Following in the service of many wonderful leaders in our profession, I am humbly looking forward to serving our membership in the coming term and beyond. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions for our division.

Call for Clinic Proposals Are you thinking about submitting a clinic proposal for our 2020 Clinic/ Convention (February 12–15)? You will need to complete the online proposal process by the June 1 deadline. Further information about the submission process can be found online. Visit www.tmea.org/ clinicproposals. Please consider sharing your experiences, knowledge, and expertise with others—we have so much to learn from each other!

Needed: Invited Performing Ensembles for 2020 Each year, the call goes out across our great state for elementary performing group submissions. This year is no different! And with it being TMEA’s Centennial celebration year, I’m truly looking forward to seeing the best our state has to offer.

Are you an active TMEA member who teaches in Texas and has taught an ensemble for a minimum of two school years (current and previous)? If you answered yes, I sincerely hope you’ll consider applying to perform. Auditioned, non-auditioned, and district/city honor choirs are all welcomed! And please don’t forget that instrumental and Orff ensembles will also be chosen to perform at next year’s convention.

Think about it—your upcoming spring concerts and end-of-year performances could present opportunities to capture high-quality video recordings that could be used for your submission application.

Don’t let those chances pass you by! If you do plan to record at an upcoming concert, be sure to inform your audience. Excess crowd noise and other distractions could present issues for the Invited Performing Groups selection committee as we listen and watch for next year’s Invited Performers.

Of course, any high-quality video recording that does not contain school or director identification (in the audio or on a title screen) may also be uploaded for consideration.

For more details about submission requirements, please visit www.tmea.org/ elementaryapplication. Remember, the deadline to submit is June 15!

Elementary Division Business Meeting Minutes February 14, 2019 5:15 p.m.

Grand Hyatt Texas Ballroom ABC TMEA Elementary Vice-President Casey Medlin called the meeting to order.

The minutes from last year’s Elementary Division business meeting were approved as printed in the April 2018 issue of Southwestern Musician.

Medlin recognized and thanked Elementary Region chairs, past VicePresidents, and Executive Board members for their service to TMEA. Invited clinicians and sponsors were also recognized for their work to ensure the success of our convention.

Medlin reminded the membership of the 10 p.m. deadline to submit their vote for TMEA’s next President-Elect. Ballots were transmitted electronically to each active member’s email address on file with TMEA. Elementary Division election procedures and guidelines were discussed, and brief speeches on behalf of the two candidates for the office of Elementary Division

Vice-President: Abigail Hawes and Katherine Johns, with Michele Hobizal speaking on behalf of Hawes, and Kathy Kuddes speaking on behalf of Johns.

Members of the election committee supervised the distribution of ballots to active TMEA members in attendance, and ballots were collected for tabulation.

TCDA Elementary Vice-President Katy Flowers discussed the highlights of the upcoming TCDA Convention, July 25–27.

Invited keynote speaker, John Fitzgerald of Village Music Circles Global, addressed the division membership and led the group in rhythm activities.

Members of the door prize committee, led by Region Chair Becky Compton, supervised the awarding of door prizes.

Sponsors were invited to briefly comment prior to their item being awarded.

The Election Committee members returned with results, and Abigail Hawes was announced as the 2019–2021 TMEA Elementary Division Vice-President and Division Chair. The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

2019 dates: April 12 April 26 May 3

2020 dates: April 3 April 7 April 24

Visit www.SMMFestival.com or call 1-855-766-3008

Adler Bassoons F. Lorée Oboes Fox Oboes & Bassoons Fox/Renard Oboes & Bassoons Yamaha Oboes

Oboe & Bassoon Rentals Oboe & Bassoon Reeds Reed Making Tools Reed Making Supplies Books & Music Accessories

www.forrestsmusic.com www.facebook.com/forrestsmusic 1849 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94703 800-322-6263 510-845-7178 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM Pacific Time Weekdays 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time Saturday Southwestern Musician | April 2019 59

TCU SCHOOL OF MUSIC

OG R F D E N R 2019 HO

P M A C R I O H C E T A ALL-ST C TO R S CONDU A A P S A R S TO P H E D R . C H R IIS â&#x20AC;¢ R O T C E R IIR I N E IL L D DR. SHER

SESSIONS JULY 14-17, 2019

JULY 17-20, 2019

SECTION LEADERS CHRIS AHRENS NORTH MCKINNEY HIGH SCHOOL MICHAEL DEAN TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL KAY OWENS MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL MARK ROHWER FLOWER MOUND HIGH SCHOOL CHERYL WILSON GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL

FOR REGISTRATION INFO, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.CHOIRCAMP.TCU.EDU Find us on facebook @TCUChoirCamp

Innovation is defined as “creativity applied to some purpose to realize value.” It has to have all these characteristics to meet the definition, but after I thought about this more, I realized this definition was missing something.

Innovation isn’t just a lecture, or reading a book, or some ideas. Innovation is like practicing the piano.

It’s a set of capabilities, and it’s capabilities that have to have a purpose.

John Kao, 2019 Second General Session Keynote Speaker Innovation has a reason for being emphasized in this current period. This age of innovation is characterized by the acronym VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity. . . . This notion suggests we’re in an era of wicked problems. And wicked problems are those problems that are so complex they are unable to be solved by conventional ways of thinking . . . safety, health, the environment, peace . . . you need a lot of innovation to address them.

Improvisation is a key skill in the disrupted VUCA world. And what better way to teach improv than through music—even starting in a drum circle for K–6 kids. It’s about demonstrating that innovative thinking and capacities don’t come from reading a book, hearing a lecture, or thinking about an idea. They come about through developing a capability through practicing.

It’s the virtue of practice—music is about finding the new— about creation.

The flow of resources into innovation is at an unprecedented level and it’s showing no sign of stopping, recession or no recession. And a lot of the best innovations tend to occur in times of recession because those are great times to start companies.

Wicked problems turned on their heads become wicked oppor tunities.

We know about music learning and we know something about innovation. Education has an innovator’s dilemma: you can take an existing way of doing things and improve it but that’s different from trying to change the model fundamentally to something new.

Education is in need of disruptive thinking. No amount of thinking is going to overcome this gap between what students are learning today and what they need to know to thrive in the VUCA world.

The new world of learning will follow certain inevitable channels. Its going to be more amenable to customization, personalization; it will empower the end user. It will enable self-curated, self-directed experiences. But it’s not competition for music teachers. You can easily view it as an enhancement to the interpersonal dynamic of music teacher and music student. But it’s already here.

It’s education any time, anywhere, and there’s a lot going on.

Accept the role as an innovator. You are an innovator.

There’s never been a greater opportunity to do more amazing things in music as long as we have the eyes to see them and the will to pursue them.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 61

2019 TMEA CLINIC/CONVENTION

62 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 63

COLLEGE NOTES

B Y

V I C K I

B A K E R

Courageous crusaders

W

henever I attend a TMEA Clinic/Convention, I am overcome with a sense of unity and camaraderie with thousands of virtual strangers. With a quick glance at a badge, I can learn someone’s name and their place of employment or educational institution. However, what I feel goes far deeper than simply being able to call them by name. What I feel is a communion of souls with a common mission. We share a love for music and for teaching, and that is what calls us to make an annual pilgrimage to San Antonio to listen and learn.

Texas music educators include men and women across a wide age range— vocalists and instrumentalists with differing musical backgrounds and training, teaching positions, years of teaching experience, school populations, budgets, and resources. Despite the diversity of our membership, one trait we have in common is courage.

Courage Is . . .

What is meant by courage? Courage refers to qualities of spirit and conduct.

Courage enables us to face extreme dangers and difficulties without fear. While some music educators may feel this definition describes them, I am more inclined to agree with John Wayne—“Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway.”

In 1957, Senator John F. Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage, a Pulitzer Prize– winning biography that he described as “a book about that most admirable of human virtues—courage.” Many music educators work in inadequate facilities with insufficient resources, and with little to no administrative, financial,

Despite the diversity of our membership, one trait we have in common is courage.

64 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

April–May—Attend your spring Region meeting (see page 2).

April 1–June 1—Submit proposals online for the 2020 TMEA Clinic/ Convention.

May—TMEA membership year opens for online and mail/email submission.

June 30—All 2018–2019 TMEA memberships expire.

February 12–15, 2020—TMEA Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio.

TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS Scholarships are available for both music and non-music majors.

These awards are intended to provide recognition for scholarship and talent in the study of music.

For specific qualifications for each award, visit

www.tlu.edu/music-scholarships.

SCHOOL OF MUSIC DEPARTMENT HEADS

Wei Chen Bruce Lin

Douglas R. Boyer

Deborah Mayes

Director, School of Music and Director of Choral Activities dboyer@tlu.edu 830-372-6869 or 800-771-8521

Choral Accompanist

Beth Bronk

Asst. Professor, Collaborative Pianist

Director of Bands bbronk@tlu.edu

Eliza Jeffords

Kurt Moede Instructor, Horn

Keith Robinson Instructor, Tuba & Music Education Instructor, General Music

Robert Mark Rogers Asst. Professor, Bassoon

Mark Ackerman

Shaunna Shandro

Instructor, Oboe

Asst. Professor, Voice

Adam Bedell Instructor, Percussion

Carol Chambers Instructor, Music Education

Individual audition dates may be requested if necessary.

Carla McElhaney

Jill Rodriguez

Director of Strings ejeffords@tlu.edu

FACULTY

Sunday, May 19, 2019 | 1-3 p.m.

Instructor, Saxophone & Jazz Band

Instructor, Double Bass

Director of Vocal Studies sconoly@tlu.edu Director of Piano Studies edaub@tlu.edu

Saturday, April 13, 2019 | 1-3 p.m.

Scott McDonald

David Milburn

Shaaron Conoly

Eric Daub

SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION DATES:

Asst. Professor, Piano

Paula Corley

Eric Siu Asst. Professor, Violin

Sophie Verhaeghe Instructor, Violin

Steven Vogel

Instructor, Clarinet

Jeanne Gnecco

Instructor, Trombone & Euphonium

Instructor, Flute

Robert Warren

Chad Ibison

Asst. Professor, Piano, General Music & Music History

Asst. Professor, Guitar

Monica Kang-Sasaki Asst. Professor, Piano; Collaborative Pianist

Lance Witty Asst. Professor, Trumpet

Elizabeth Lee Asst. Professor, Cello

BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN ALL-LEVEL MUSIC EDUCATION | BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN PERFORMANCE | BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC

tlu.edu/music

or community support, while being paid a minimal wage. Some face undisciplined, unmotivated students daily and teach them with materials they have purchased with their own money. Add to that an underlying fear on all school campuses— elementary through university level—that a random shooter might unleash a barrage of bullets in their classroom. Yet we still have music teachers who return to their campuses every morning and, against all odds, teach students.

As Kennedy so eloquently stated: “A man does what he must—in spite of per-

T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

sonal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures—and that is the basis of all human morality.”

Azalea’s Story Through the years, I have witnessed numerous acts of courage. I have seen music teachers transform children who were in the direst of circumstances into incredible musicians and self-confident, contributing members of society. While we rightly credit music teachers for inspiring future generations of music educators, I have found that sometimes the desire to

O F

D E P A R T M E N T

N E W

O F

M E X I C O

M U S I C

SCHOLARSHIPS IN-STATE TUITION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AMIGO, WUE, AND LUE SCHOLARSHIPS TO LEARN MORE, GO TO AFFORDABLE.UNM.EDU

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Michelle Morrison mmorrison@unm.edu 505.277.8998 UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS Dr. Michael Hix mhix@unm.edu GRADUATE STUDY Dr. Kevin Vigneau kvign@unm.edu

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE IN JAZZ STUDIES, MUSIC EDUCATION, AND STRING PEDAGOGY.

MUSIC.UNM.EDU

66 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

become a music teacher springs from the heart of a child who didn’t experience the benefit of music instruction. Azalea was such a child.

I first met Azalea when she auditioned for admission into our music department as a transfer student from a community college. She entered the recital hall, modestly dressed in pants and a plain shirt, and she appeared to be very shy. Although she was obviously nervous, she was wellprepared and had a successful audition.

Later I learned that Azalea had taken an eight-hour bus ride overnight from Houston to Denton for her audition. It was at that point I determined that Azalea had the dedication and persistence needed to be successful.

Last October, Azalea asked me to write a letter of recommendation for her to submit with her application for a TMEA student teaching scholarship, and I readily agreed.

It was my pleasure to share Azalea’s amazing transformation into a confident, skilled, and knowledgeable musician and teacher. Prior to submitting her application, Azalea asked me to read her essay and make editorial comments. I was absolutely astonished by the events in her life that had brought her to the door of student teaching. She had never complained, never asked for special favors, never made excuses. Her story was one of great courage and determination.

This is Azalea’s story in her words— As the semester goes by, I get closer and closer to my dream of empowering students through music. I have been chasing this dream for seven years.

While many people would become discouraged, it is clear to me now that these years were crucial to my growth as a musician, as well as an educator.

Throughout my college career I have dealt with lack of financial resources, faced many fears, and encountered several academic obstacles. Yet here I am in my senior year of college as a music education major, and I do not regret choosing this path. Every hardship that I faced chiseled my musicianship and character, and through the chiseling I was molded into a wiser, more perseverant future educator.

When I was fourteen years old, I used YouTube to teach myself how to play chords on my Casio keyboard and began singing and playing in my church’s praise and worship ministry.

My middle and high school did not have a music program and it was not financially possible for me to take private lessons; therefore the development of my talents was hindered due to a lack of resources. I craved for an opportunity to grow as a musician, and my passion for music drove me to pursue a degree in music education.

Unfortunately, I failed all my music courses my first semester of college because I did not know any music fundamentals or even how to read music.

My parents suggested that I move back home and change my major, but I was not ready to give up that quickly.

I started over as a music major at a community college and worked diligently to learn as much information as I could in my courses. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I was growing into my calling. Shortly after that, my father and mother both became unemployed and I became the main financial provider for my family of seven. I had the option of setting my dreams aside, but I took a risk and continued pursuing my education. I was a full-time music student with a part-time job and was involved in outside music activities with my college choir and church. All the odds were stacked against me, but I persevered through that period of my life, excelled in my classes, and transferred to Texas Woman’s University. By joining the Pioneer Music Educators Association, I was able to serve school choirs in Denton through volunteering for UIL, All-Region competitions, and the TWU Choir Camp. Seeing the bravery and the musicianship skills of many young choir students pushed me to want to absorb as much information as possible in order to be the best teacher I could be for my future students.

One of my main goals in life is to open my own music school in a low-income neighborhood for underprivileged children and youth. This school would open doors of possibility for students who could not afford their own instrument or a private music instructor and who did not have access to any music courses or the necessary resources to succeed. Drugselling, alcoholism, gang violence, and dropping out of school is expected

of students who live in low-income neighborhoods. These students need the music school the most. I do not expect all my students to pursue a career in music, but I know that if they are in the music school it is one less student on the streets. There is still much for me to learn and do before this dream becomes reality, but I do not plan on giving up.

I want to teach because I do not want another child’s dream to be put on hold due to an absence of resources or a financial burden. I want to teach because I want to show my students that they can reach whatever goals they set for themselves, even if they have to work twice as hard. I want to use what I have learned in these seven years to teach others, not only about an instrument or a piece of music, but also about the potential they have.

In May, Azalea will complete her sevenyear journey and graduate as a certified Texas music educator. She will then begin her mission to educate and inspire future generations of student musicians. If I were to write my version of Profiles in Courage, Azalea would be featured in the first chapter.

Thank you for your continued contributions to the TMEA Scholarship Fund.

Because of your generosity, students like Azalea have an opportunity to realize their dream of becoming a music teacher. You can donate at any time by returning to your member record and adding a donation.

Clinic Proposals All clinic proposals for our 2020 convention are submitted online. This process is open April 1–June 1, and you can enter your proposal at www.tmea.org/ clinicproposals. Please consider sharing your experience and knowledge with your colleagues. If you don’t want to present, encourage someone you know who has valuable experience and insight to offer to propose a clinic.

College Division Business Meeting Minutes February 15, 2019, 5:15 p.m., CC 304 College Division Vice-President Vicki Baker, Presiding Vicki Baker called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. and the minutes from the

October 2018 College Division business meeting were approved as printed in the January 2019 issue of Southwestern Musician.

Vice-President Baker shared information about the invited clinicians, convention attendance, and booths for the College Fair and College Night.

College Division Committee reports were as follows: Kathy Mayer, chair of the Two-Year College Committee, expressed concerns about dual credit courses, a possible reduction in core hours, future fields of study, formula funding, and digital badges.

Amy Simmons, chair of the Research Committee, reported that 61 research posters were presented at the 2019 convention. She announced that the Texas Music Education Research Report was available online and accessible through the EBSCO database through 2018. Deadline for submitting articles for the 2019 edition is March 1. She encouraged members to join the TMEA Centennial celebration in 2020 by submitting historical research proposals related to TMEA and Texas music education.

Vice-President Baker led the discussion about the proposed edTPA to replace the current PPR exam for Texas teacher certification. Past College Vice-President Si Millican provided an overview of the proposed edTPA and expressed concerns about the validity of the claim of “authentic assessment” and the requisite incorporation of specific educational terms in the videotaped lesson. Other concerns raised included the increase in the cost of the exam as compared to PPR, the logistics of its implementation, issues with the brief timeline during the student teaching semester—particularly for the elementary music placement, the emphasis on writing, time taken away from instruction to prepare for video, lack of cooperating teachers, unqualified external graders, and the lack of feedback. Kristin Pelligrino made a motion, seconded by Janice Killian, that members of the College Division of TMEA meet to discuss a strategy for opposing the adoption of the edTPA at the upcoming SBEC meeting. Motion carried. Baker adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 67

FESTIVAL & PERFORMANCE WR ȴW DQ\ QHHG • Non-Competitive • Amusement Park or • Family Entertainment Venue

Dallas/Ft. Worth Houston San Antonio Austin Lubbock

• Competitive Event with Ratings and Rankings • State-of-the-art Venue • 3-Adjudicator Panel • Award Ceremony

• Competitive Event with Ratings and Rankings • State-of-the-art Venue • 3-Adjudicator Panel • Premier Awards

Dallas/Ft. Worth San Antonio South Padre Island

Houston Corpus Christi Colorado Springs New Orleans

$VN DERXW RXU VSHFLDO WUDYHO + SHUIRUPDQFH UDWHV Request your 2020 performance times online today.

See performance details at directorschoice.travel

• Non-Competitive • Premier Recording Venue • Professional Recording Engineer • 1 Hour on Stage • Sound Check

Dallas/Ft. Worth Corpus Christi

• Non-Competitive • World Class Concert Venue • Professional Archival Recording • Concert Program

New York Chicago Seattle Boston Philadelphia Los Angeles

• Inaugural Youth Chorus Festival with Conductor/Artistic Director 6XVDQ %UXPȴHOG • Festival Musicalé is Three Days of Clinic/Rehearsal • Mass Choral Gala Concert in the Tobin Center San Antonio

877-328-2583 directorschoice.travel

Survey Says . . .

Twenty-three percent of TMEA member and out-of-state attendees completed the post-convention survey. The following information is based on those survey responses. Thank you for providing your feedback!

WHO ATTENDED? Attendee Age 18–24

TMEA Division Band

13%

25–34

Orchestra

24%

35–44

55–64

College Faculty College Students Music Admin

16%

65–74

5%

75+

1%

14%

Elementary

19%

0%

25%

16% 3%

om e, We lc !

Y’a ll

26% 1%

0%

Where are you from?

While most attendees don’t cross state lines to get to San Antonio, it’s impressive to consider the distances some attendees will travel to experience a TMEA convention!

7%

Vocal

22%

45–54

33%

30%

632 Out-of-State

See page 73 for a multiyear membership and attendee report.

Years as a Member <1

10%

1–3

1–5 6–10 11–20 21+ 0%

Conventions Attended

22%

4–10

23%

56 International

27%

16% 25% 27% 25%

10–19 20+ 0%

26% 24% 30%

Over 10,000 active music teachers attended our convention!

You increased San Antonio’s population

by over 30,000!

70 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

THERE’S A LOT TO DO • 321 Clinics • 106 Performances • 1,363 Exhibit Booths

EVENT QUALITY Value for the Cost Very Good

Good Avg

Very Good: 64% Good: 26% Average: 8% Poor+Very Poor: 2%

Poor+ Very Poor

Good Avg

Very Good: 56% Good: 33% Average: 9% Poor+Very Poor: 2%

Poor+ Very Poor

Quality of Clinics Very Good

Good Avg

Poor+ Very Poor

Celebrating Our Centennial!

General Info

TMEA 2019

The convention app was downloaded to 15,500+ devices.

564 Days!

Combined time all users spent in the app.

WHO PAID ?

YOUR WAY? REGISTRATION FEE

Overall Experience Very Good

The App

Over 550 hours of events were held during the four days of our convention—almost 400 of those hours qualified for continuing professional education credit.

Very Good: 48% Good: 41% Average: 9% Poor+Very Poor: 2%

MY NAME IS

51% I Paid 46% My School/District 3% Other

CONVENTION HOTEL 43% I Paid 46% My School/District 11% Other

OTHER TRAVEL EXPENSES 60% I Paid 36% My School/District 4% Other

64% of attendees registered before the fee increased on January 25.

Southwestern Musician | April 2019 71

SAVE THE DATE

FEBRUARY 12–15, 2020 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Celebrating TMEA’s Centennial!

72 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

TMEA Membership and Convention Report Membership

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

10,615

11,007

11,779

11,979

12,739

13,137

13,404

13,421

599

622

720

748

875

904

954

1,007

76

75

88

66

65

59

98

58

3,495

3,397

3,627

3,835

4,232

4,328

4,423

4,636

568

539

549

571

582

717

535

615

Total

15,353

15,640

16,763

17,199

18,493

19,145

19,414

19,737

Convention Attendees

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

8,417

8,780

9,245

9,680

10,259

10,457

10,333

10,642

594

468

495

525

576

568

559

592

54

62

52

50

50

N/A

N/A

N/A

College Students

3,170

3,074

3,290

3,535

3,796

3,830

3,921

4,119

Exhibitors/Sustaining

2,287

2,358

2,510

2,509

2,819

2,727

2,971

2,922

590

314

596

661

795

1,014

1,022

1,277

All-State Students

1,593

1,587

1,644

1,748

1,750

1,778

1,783

1,795

Participants

2,452

2,611

2,910

2,559

2,776

2,818

2,810

2,522

Active Retired Institutional College Students Sustaining

Active Retired Institutional

Texas Future Music Educators

Out-of-State Attendees Visitors/Family/Chaperons Total

226

271

294

292

310

290

338

335

5,882

5,119

5,680

5,197

6,150

6,141

6,021

6,179

25,265

24,644

26,716

26,756

29,281

29,623

29,758

30,383

2019 Convention Meeting Minutes TMEA State Board Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, 5:30 p.m.

Marriott Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio A buffet dinner was served and President Robert Horton called the meeting to order at 5:51 P.M. The following members were present: Executive Board and Staff: Robert Horton, President Andy Sealy, Immediate Past-President Joe MuĂąoz, President-Elect John Carroll, Band Vice-President Brian Coatney, Orchestra Vice-President Derrick Brookins, Vocal Vice-President Casey Medlin, Elementary Vice-President Robert Floyd, Executive Director Kay Vanlandingham, Administrative Director Brad Kent, Ex-Officio Executive Board Member State Board: Region 1: Ginger Denny, Carolyn Terrell Region 2: Mark Rohwer, Ronald Chapman Region 3: Margaret Wis, Karen Lewis Region 4: Arnie Lawson, Jan Blize Region 5: Dianne Babcock Region 6: Jeffrey Whitaker, Clay Johnson Region 7: Michael Childs, Shirley Bouquin, Marilyn Bennett Region 8: Darrell Umhoefer, Brent Colwell, Deborah Barrick Region 9: none Region 10: Alex Wells, Bryan Brassard, Phillip Maldonado Region 11: Richard Flores, Gilbert Sanchez, Amanda Hampton Region 12: Angus McLeod, Edie Cooksey, Ed Gonzales

Region 13: Lisa Stiles, Gene Holkup Region 14: David Edge, San Juanita Rodriguez Region 15: Chad Dempsey, Stacy Gonzalez Region 16: Tom SoRelle, Lindsey Spitsberg, Ashley Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bosky Region 17: Gregory Dick, Lauren Summa Region 18: Joey Lucita Region 19: Gary Hebert Region 20: Jesse Cannon, Lara Whitehouse Region 21: Tommy Corley, Weston Fisher Region 22: Timothy Andrade, Arturo Uribe Region 23: Dorothy Wilson, Jeffrey Tipps Region 24: Chris Cansler, Ann Smith, Katherine Lewis Region 25: Todd Dixon, Matt Cross Region 26: Joey Lowrance, Joshua Thompson Region 27: Sharon Paul Region 28: Melody Eriksen Region 29: Daniel Lugo, Anna Osterman Region 30: Mark Eastin, Darla McBryde Region 31: Michael Dean, Angela Caviness Pedigo Region 32: Bryan Christian, Lisa Holt Region 33: Daniel Ponce, Elisabeth Hale President Horton led the gathering in the TMEA Oath of Office and introduced members of the Executive Board and TMEA Staff.

UIL State Director of Music Bradley Kent reported that UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest has not yet been exempted from the No Pass No Play rule. Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest will take place over a span of three days and directors will have five options to choose from: Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, Monday morning and Monday afternoon. The TSSEC system will open on March 1. Texas Music Southwestern Musician | April 2019 73

Adjudicators Association has formed an ad hoc committee to study sightreading procedures for all three divisions. There is a tentative plan to roll out the new procedures in select Regions as a pilot program as early as 2020–2021. Kent also reported that the State Mariachi Festival has been recognized as an official UIL event and will be held February 22–23, 2019 in Edinburg, Texas.

Reports from Executive Director Robert Floyd: As of 11:00 a.m. on February 12, TMEA Active membership stood at 12,685; Retired membership at 914; College membership at 3,059 with a combined convention preregistration of 13,463.

The Exhibit Hall has been sold out for months and 1,363 booths have been reserved with 465 companies represented.

The convention will open with the First General Session at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday in Lila Cockrell Theater with Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson of THE PIANO GUYS, and astronaut Douglas Wheelock, as keynote speakers. The Second General Session on Friday morning will spotlight a performance of the combined All-State Ensembles and a keynote address

by John Kao. The President’s Concert will feature THE PIANO GUYS. This concert has been sold out for several weeks.

The City of San Antonio has added a new 1.25% tourism fee for all hotel rooms in the downtown area. During the convention TMEA attendees will use 22,000–23,000 hotel room nights.

The 75 colleges/universities participating in the three-day College Fair event are evenly represented by in-state and out-of-state institutions.

College Night will host an additional 56 colleges/universities on Friday evening.

Revenue generated from convention sponsorships has risen from $72,000 in 2018 to $75,000 in 2019.

The Region Presidents, Chairs, and Coordinators are required to file a biannual Region Financial Report. Divisions that fail to file financial reports may be flagged for an audit. Region Presidents were encouraged to monitor the filing of the officers’ reports.

Last October the TMEA State Board Briefing was emailed to State Board and Region officers. Floyd encouraged members to ask questions and provide feedback.

Five grievances have been filed this school year and the process is working as expected.

Financial/Office Report: TMEA investments as of February 5, 2019, were valued at $7,511,999. This total includes $5,980,876 conservatively invested and diversified at Brinker Capitol and $1,531,123 in a money market at Public Employees Credit Union. The TMEA scholarship fund is currently valued at $1,361,695. While TMEA investments lost 2.04% in 2018, due to an extremely rough fourth quarter, it was up 4.52% the first five weeks of 2019.

Floyd presented a brief report on State Board of Education, TEA, and legislative updates.

The number of students who have entered the All-State Small School Choir track has increased by almost 1,000 students since the inception of the Small School Choir. Directors of Small School Choir students are pleased with the new SSC Region/Area structure which was implemented this past fall.

The Executive Board has approved a one-year pilot program that adds 5A winds, brass, and percussion players to the current instrumentation of All-State String Orchestra. This new ensemble has been named the All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra and will have its debut performance on Saturday.

The TMEA website is currently being redesigned, with an estimated completion date of May 2019.

The student membership of Texas Future Music Educators has grown to 74 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

1,556 student members, with 1,369 preregistered for convention.

At the end of the 2018 school year, 2,204 students from 220 high schools were honored as Texas Music Scholars. The entry deadline for TMS is May 1. Forty students were presented with the Collegiate Music Educator Award at the end of the Fall 2018 semester.

TMEA is working with a media branding firm in Austin to plan the 2020 Centennial celebration. This firm is in the process of shooting footage for at least six videos that teachers will be able to use to promote music education in their schools. If you have any ideas for the celebration, please feel free to share with the staff.

President Horton noted that out of a record number of 71,000 students who entered the TMEA audition process this past fall, only six appeals were filed.

President Horton suspended the meeting of the TMEA State Board at 5:58 p.m.. The meeting will resume at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, February 16.

TMEA State Board Meeting Saturday, February 16, 2019, 9:30 A.M. CC Room 224, San Antonio President Robert Horton called the meeting to order at 9:29 a.m. The following members were present: Executive Board and Staff: Robert Horton, President Andy Sealy, Immediate Past-President Joe Muñoz, President-Elect John Carroll, State Band Chair Robert Floyd, Executive Director Frank Coachman, Deputy Director Kay Vanlandingham, Administrative Director State Board: Region 1: Ginger Denney Region 2: Mark Rohwer, Gary Keller Region 3: Ryan Forkner, Karen Lewis Region 4: Arnie Lawson, Jan Blize, Jason Smith Region 5: none present Region 6: Clay Johnson Region 7: Shirley Bouquin, Marilyn Bennett Region 8: Deborah Barrick Region 9: none present Region 10: Bryan Brassard Region 11: Richard Flores Region 12: Angus McLeod, Ed Gonzalez Region 13: Lisa Stiles, Gene Holkup, Reece Nagai Region 14: David Edge Region 15: Chad Dempsey, Michael Murray Region 16: Tom SoRelle, Lindsey Spitsberg, Ashley O’Bosky Region 17: Lauren Summa Region 18: none present Region 19: Gary Hebert Region 20: none present Region 21: Tommy Corley Region 22: Arturo Uribe Region 23: Dorothy Wilson, Jeffrey Tipps Region 24: Chris Cansler, Katherine Lewis Region 25: Todd Dixon, Matt Cross Region 26: Joey Lowrance, Joshua Thompson, Andre Clark Region 27: Danielle Prontka Region 28: Michael Corcoran, Melody Eriksen Region 29: Daniel Lugo, Anna Osterman

Region 30: Darla McBryde Region 31: Michael Dean Region 32: Charles Aguillon, Bryan Christian Region 33: Elisabeth Hale President Horton stated that TMEA is moving into the second biennium of the current alignment and apportionment. The Executive Board is committed to study alignment/apportionment on an annual basis for recommendations at the biennium. Alignment/apportionment is a complicated process because it deals with 33 Regions, with a commitment to proportionate representation of All-State students from metropolitan areas and other areas of the state. Alignment/apportionment is a topic at every Board meeting and any changes or implementations will be made next year. He reminded those in attendance that there are many opportunities, outside the State Board meeting, for feedback. The Board is willing to listen to feedback of all members, because all voices matter.

Executive Director Floyd reported that as of 8:00 a.m., on this date, 15,468 convention badges had been printed on site. Current Active membership stands at 13,421 and College Student memberships at 4,636. The report indicated there are 16,724 convention registration attendees.

Exhibitors are very happy with traffic in the hall. It was learned that one exhibitor served alcohol from their booth during the show. TMEA will revise its policies next year to reflect that no alcohol is to be served in the Exhibit Hall.

Region Reports: Region 1: Thanked the Executive Board for their work and reported that the Vocal Division would like to see more music and rigor in the All-State Small School Choir repertoire. They also have a concern that some vocal cuts favor some voices over others.

Region 2: Thanked the Board for their work and congratulated them on a wonderful convention.

Region 3: “Life is beautiful and we’re good.”

Region 4: Thanked the Board for a great convention and the Vocal Division expressed concern about the Area sightreading music that included a dotted-eighth, sixteenth note rhythm.

Region 5: No report.

Region 6: Expressed thanks to the Board and had no report.

Region 7: Thanked Board for a great convention.

Region 8: Thanked the Board for a wonderful convention and for keeping convention fees and hotel rates as low as possible.

Region 9: No report.

Region 10: Thanked the Board for a great convention.

Region 11: Thanked the Board for a great convention, increased diversity of clinic offerings, and the extension of the Exhibit Hall hours.

The Region 11 membership is appreciative for the recent alignment that addressed the concerns of the 5A band programs; however, there were some unintended consequences that resulted in the Region 11 Orchestra Division membership being split between Regions 12 and 29. The Vocal Division membership is small, and it is difficult to fill five-person panels without hiring judges. This has made it difficult to keep a healthy balance in bank account to cover operating expenses. Region 11 directors request the opportunity to work in collaboration with the Board to resolve some of these issues and they recommend the exploration and formation of a TMEA All-State Mariachi Ensemble using the All-State Jazz audition model.

Region 12: Expressed gratitude to the Executive Board and expressed concerns from the Elementary Division that the workshops offered by the Orff and Kodály Chapters may supplant the directors’ need to attend the TMEA Annual Clinic/Convention. Region 12 elementary teachers want TMEA to remain relevant to their needs. The Region 12 President expressed concerns about the way the Small School Choir/Region/Area

audition process was announced and implemented last fall. While the Region Vocal Chairs were aware of the new structure, the State Board members did not receive such notification. The Region 12 President expressed concern that the Small School Choir directors might have felt unwanted by the Vocal Division because they were not invited to participate in the Region 12 Region Choir Clinic/Concert.

Region 13: Expressed thanks and gratitude for a great convention and appreciated the diversity of the clinic offerings. The Vocal Division was troubled by the Area sightreading selection, and the Elementary Division shares the same concerns as previously stated by Region 12.

Region 14: Thanked the Board for a good convention and thanked Susan and Andrew for the effective registration process. The Band Division would like the Board to consider adding a second 5A All-State Band and expressed appreciation for the new opportunities afforded to the 5A winds, brass, and percussion players to perform with the All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra. They also requested the creation of a Class 2C Small School category for Honor Band Contest.

Region 15: Thanked the Board for the many hours they invested to make this convention possible. Region 15 petitioned the Board to explore the possibilities of forming a TMEA All-State Mariachi Ensemble and provide performance opportunities for mariachi groups during the TMEA Convention.

Region 16: Thanked and congratulated the Executive Board for a great convention. The membership of Region 16 reported they liked the opportunity to download clinic handouts prior to the clinics. The Elementary Division reported that the clinic rooms at the Grand Hyatt were too crowded and that the Exhibit Hall was not an adequate venue for Music Showcase performances.

Region 17: Congratulated the Executive Board on a great convention.

The Band Division would like to see the addition of a second 5A All-State Band and requested that the winds, brass, and percussion instrumentation for the All-State Sinfonietta be posted on the TMEA website. Band directors also expressed concern about the disparity in audition music for their students and about the large number of orchestral excerpts those students were required to prepare. The Elementary Division share the concerns that Region 12 has already reported. The Orff Chapters want to invite students to perform during the Orff Business Meeting during the TMEA Convention.

Region 18: No report.

Region 19: Thanked the Board for a great convention and congratulated Executive Director Floyd on his twenty-five years of service.

Region 20: No report.

Region 21: Inquired about the possibility of including All-State Small School Choir members in the combined All-State Ensemble during the Second General Session. The Region President expressed concern about the number of All-State students riding scooters downtown; asked about the possibility of utilizing vocal groups in the showcase performances; requested TMEA consider a TFME-based scholarship and an adjustment of the All-State rehearsal schedules so those students could attend the TFME General Session. He also asked if TMEA might consider tracking the number of TFME students who are also All-State members. Thanked Dr. Horton for his service as President.

Region 22: Thanked the Executive Board for another great convention.

They support the creation of a second All-State 5A Band and the exploration of All-State Mariachi Ensemble.

Region 23: Offered thanks to the Board for a wonderful convention and for all the support they provide throughout the year to serve our members.

The Vocal Division requested larger rehearsal spaces for the All-State Treble and Tenor-Bass Choirs so there is room for members to observe. They expressed concern about the level of the Area sightreading selections and Southwestern Musician | April 2019 75

proposed that TMEA create a sightreading rubric/criteria like that of UIL, so directors and students know and understand the sightreading expectations for each contest level. The amount of music students are required to learn before they reach the state level has almost eliminated the need for these students to be able to sightread.

Region 24: Expressed appreciation for a wonderful convention.

Region 25: Thanked the Board for a great convention and requested the Board explore opportunities to include representation of more middle school bands, in a concert setting, during the convention.

Region 26: Thanked the TMEA Executive Board and staff for a great convention.

Region 27: Thanked the Executive Board for a wonderful convention.

Region 28: Thanked the Board for the convention and the support they provide throughout the year. Also, thanked Bob Floyd for the work he does with the legislature and congratulated Andy Sealy for his 5 years of service on the Executive Board. The Region President brought the suggestion that Past-President and newly elected officers be recognized earlier in the Second General Session, after the Star Spangled Banner, when the audience is the largest. The membership of Region 28 supports a proposal that the State Board approve an All-State Mariachi Ensemble, so that mariachi students have the opportunity to advance past the Region-level and to perform at the TMEA Convention, effective 2020. Region 28 continues to oppose the current apportionment as it has taken away All-State opportunities from students in Region 28. The following statement was approved by Region 28 during their Fall Region Meeting: All high school students in our music rooms have the opportunity to be a part of an All-State Ensemble with the exception of mariachi students. There are some incredible young musicians who play like professionals, as seen in our All-Region Mariachi concerts. We want these students to have an opportunity to perform with an All-State organization. This pertains to all three divisions (Vocal, Band, and Orchestra), even though mariachi is currently under “orchestra.” We do have vocal, wind, and string instruments in mariachi.

Region 29: Thanked the Board for a great convention; reported that the Vocal Division was unhappy with the Area sightreading selection and suggested that TMEA create specific criteria to prepare students for Area sightreading.

Region 30: Thanked the Executive Board for their service.

Region 31: Expressed thanks to the Board. The Elementary Division would like more ways to promote their meetings and the Vocal Division has requested standardization in the sightreading selections.

Region 32: Thanked the Board for a great convention.

Region 33: Expressed gratitude for the work of the Executive Board and appreciation for a wonderful convention.

A question was raised about the level of participation in the PresidentElect election and how the online voting numbers compared to the number of paper ballots that were cast in the past. There were 3,042 total votes cast online this year. It is important to note that Lila Cockrell Theater only holds 2,300 people.

Executive Director Floyd added that the reason the TMEA Convention is affordable is due to the strong, positive relationship with the City of San Antonio.

President Horton thanked the State Board for providing guidance at the Region-level. He also thanked the TMEA staff for their dedication to serving the membership and recognized Robert Floyd’s 25th anniversary as TMEA Executive Director and said, “Without him our voice would be small.

Without him our voice would be hard to hear.”

President Horton adjourned the meeting of the TMEA State Board at 10:15 a.m.

76 Southwestern Musician | April 2019

First General Session, Thursday, February 14, 2019 Lila Cockrell Theater, San Antonio, Texas, 8:15 a.m.

President Robert Horton called the First General Session of the TMEA 2019 Annual Clinic/Convention to order at 8:16 a.m. and introduced the members of the Executive Board and staff in attendance.

Outgoing members of the Executive Board, Andy Sealy, Brian Coatney, Derrick Brookins, and Casey Medlin were recognized and thanked for their devoted service to music education and the members of TMEA. Derrick Brookins and Brian Coatney were recognized as the official candidates for the office of President-Elect. There being no additional nominations from the floor, nominations were closed.

Nomination speeches were given on behalf of the candidates. Life, Active, and Retired members will be able to vote online after the conclusion of the First General Session until 10:00 p.m. on February 14, 2019.

Si Millican, Chair of the Agenda Committee, thanked his committee members and reported there were no items in the Agenda Box. Four high school students were recognized as 2019–2020 TMEA multiyear scholarship winners: • Nicholas Pfister, Bridge City HS (Bill Cormack Scholarship) • Conley Grimet, Katy HS (Past-Presidents Scholarship) • Hayden Gish, San Marcos HS (Past-Presidents Memorial Scholarship) • Katie Bulen, Taft HS, not in attendance (Executive Board Scholarship) Other TMEA scholarship recipients, past and present, were recognized in the audience. TMEA will award $200,000 in the next year in scholarships to current and future music educators.

Steven Sharp Nelson and Jon Schmidt of THE PIANO GUYS teamed with astronaut Douglas Wheelock to speak about the value of music education and the many ways music touches the lives of students.

There being no further business, President Horton declared the meeting adjourned at 9:48 a.m.

Second General Session, Friday, February 15, 2019 Lila Cockrell Theater, San Antonio, Texas, 8:15 a.m.

Past-President Andy Sealy introduced President Robert Horton who then conducted the 2019 combined All-State Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Mixed Choir in performing the National Anthem and The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

President Horton called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.

Administrative Director Kay Vanlandingham read the minutes of the First General Session held on February 14, 2019. The minutes were approved as presented.

President Horton recognized TMEA Past-Presidents and Advisory Committee members in the audience and Executive Director Robert Floyd was thanked for his twenty-five years of service to the association.

Jo Scurlock-Dillard, chair of the TMEA Public Relations Committee, reported that the 2018 SAT National Average is 1,015. The 2018 SAT Texas Average is 1,020. The TMEA All-State Overall Average is 1,308.

President Horton then introduced keynote speaker, John Kao, who delivered a message that music is essential and that skills in innovation and creativity can be taught and developed.

President-Elect Joe Muñoz presented Horton with the Past-President’s plaque and pin and reported the following divisional election results for Vice-President: Michael Stringer, Orchestra Division; Jed Ragsdale, Vocal Division; and Abigail Hawes, Elementary Division. The new President-Elect of TMEA is Brian Coatney. These newly elected officers will begin their new terms on Sunday, February 17, 2019.

There being no further business, Horton adjourned the meeting at 9:29 a.m.

20 20 2019 01 19 Summer Organ Institute June 9-15

High School Band and Orchestra Camp Band: grades 9-12/Orchestra: grades 10-12 June 16-22

Middle School Band and Orchestra Camp Grades 7-9 June 23-29

Summer Piano Institute gre June 23-29

All-State Choir Camp July 9-13

Music in the Paarkks makes it eas e sy.

An Incredible Experience + More Options = Great Satisfaction + We offer festival only packages + You can easily update your numbers and print out a new invoice 24/7 + Audio critique and printable score sheets available online after your performance + We have more dates and locations than anyone else + Our performance schedules are available on-line + We have the most experienced festival staff in the industry + We are open 12 hours a day to answer your questions

Dates, locations and pricing are all on our website. musicintheparks.com | 1-800-323-0974 | info@edprog.com

Part of the Educational Programs Network | Festivals, Clinics, Workshops and the Professionals to get you there.