Friday, December 28, 2012

AMEA Conference Deadline Approaching


From AMEA Executive Secretary, Garry Taylor:  

Only 3 days left!  The deadline to pre-register for the 2013 AMEA In-Service conference on-line or by mail (postmark) is Monday, December 31.  Pre-register today and have your packet waiting for you when you arrive at the conference.  Print a form and mail it in.

You may pick up your packet or register on-site during registration hours:  Thursday, January 10, 7:30 am - 5:00 pm and Friday, January 11, 7:30 am - 1:00 pm.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

All State Remote Registration Instructions - ABA District 2


Deadline – Monday, December 10, 2012: Please read and follow the instructions below.

1.       **Click on link to www.audmgr.com and click on the red link on the page that reads, “Download Area Free”. 
·         A programs list will appear select a Remote Registration program – not Audition Manager.   There is a PC and Mac version.   Click on the appropriate format for your system.  Choose save and save to your desktop or a folder.  This is a file and not an installed program.  Once the download is complete close the program.
2.       **Download the categories file.  This will be available from your district chairman.  There is only one categories file for entire event.  Make sure you have deleted all “categories” files from previous events.
3.       Right Click on the categories file.
4.       SELECT “Save Target as”.
5.       Save in the same place as your Remote Registration.
·         THE FILE MUST BE IN THE SAME PLACE FOR REMOTE REGISTRATION TO WORK, EITHER ON YOUR DESKTOP OR IN A FOLDER.
6.       Close window.
7.       Once you have both files in the same place, click on the remote registration program.  Click Run. A window will open with a drop down menu.
8.       Select the either Alabama District All State Auditions or the Team Auditions.  If the district that is hosting the team auditions is not using audition manager, please check with that chairman for instructions.
9.       A new window will open.
10.   If you are registering for the first time, follow click OK.  If you have already registered but need to make changes, follow the directions in the pop up screen.
11.   Fill out ALL director information. 
·         USE CORRECT PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION
·         On the school, put the name of the school and then use one of the following abbreviations:
                                                   i.      High school – HS
                                                 ii.      ii. Middle School - MS 
                                                iii.      iii. Junior High – JHS
·         Do not use all capitals on the student’s names.
12.   Enter MENC Number.  Please include a copy of the back of your card with your check.
13.   Type in the amount at $10.00 per student (EXAMPLE 4 registered = $40.00).
14.   School fee $15.00.  If you are registering for both only put school fee in once.
15.   Next, put total in this box.  If using a PO, please put the PO number in the box after the total.
16.   Click on Add Student.
17.   Type first name.
18.   Type last name.
19.   Fill out Grade.
20.   Choose scheduling preference early, late or none.  THIS IS FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES NOT ALL STUDENTS.  THIS CLOGS THE SCHEDULE.  THE STUDENTS THAT NEED A SPECIAL TIME WILL NOT RECEIVE IT.
21.   Choose instrument from category menu.  Make sure you select the correct instrument.  High School and Middle School are all in one file now.
22.   Click on Add record to add another student or add record close if you are finished. 
23.   Once all students have been entered, save under the file menu.
24.   Then click on send and follow the instructions.  (IF YOUR SYSTEM BLOCKS THIS YOU WILL BE PROMPTED TO EMAIL YOUR REGISTRATION AUTOMATICALLY TO THE CHAIRMAN.)  Attach the file that was created on your desktop.
25.   Select Print from file menu and send with payment by deadline.  
 Send Payment to:
 David McDaniel
Talladega High School
1177 McMillan St.
Talladega, AL 35160

Thursday, November 29, 2012

All-State and All-District Audition Registration for 2013

Directors, 

If you did not receive an e-mail concerning All-State and All-District Audition Registration for 2013 please contact David McDaniel or Nathan Haskew. 

The deadline for registration is Monday, December 10, 2012. 


Thursday, November 15, 2012

JSU Trombone Ensemble Concert - Nov 27

On Tuesday night, November 27th at 7:30 PM at the Jacksonville State University Performance Center, our Trombone Ensemble and Trombone Quartet will be putting on our fall concert. The concert is free and open to the public - all fans of the trombone are encouraged to attend!

Thanks so much!

Dr. David Lambert
Assistant Professor of Trombone
Jacksonville State University
dlambert@jsu.edu

Thursday, November 8, 2012

From National Band Association Alabama state chair, Corey Spurlin


Colleagues,

I hope you have had a successful Fall Semester. As the Alabama state chair for the National Band Association, I would like to recognize ensembles in our state that perform at any Regional or National events this year. Please let me know if your marching or concert groups have had or will have an opportunity such as this in 2012-13. In our NBA meetings at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, I would like to share the great music making and teaching that is going on across our state.

I am also writing to encourage your participation and membership in this important professional organization. If you are unfamiliar with the NBA, it was founded in 1960 and promotes the musical and educational significance of bands. It is dedicated to the attainment of the highest levels of excellence for bands and band music. We are living and working in a time where advocacy for bands is extremely important, and the NBA is solely focused on the promotion of this single artistic medium. The organization does not limit membership to a certain style or level of band participation, but is open to all teachers and performers that wish to advance the art form. 

On a national level, the NBA has numerous projects that help advance band music and education. The organization provides all members with the official NBA magazine, The Instrumentalist. The NBA also publishes the NBA Journal and provides an online directory to help communication and collegiality among band directors. Members also have access to a selective concert band music list to aid with programming. The organization holds national and regional conventions and sponsors the Revelli Composition Contest, the Merrill Jones Young Composers Contest, the International Conducting Symposium, and the Young Composer and Conductor Mentor Projects. These are just a few of the NBA projects that help develop excellence in band performance at all levels and provide an avenue for the enhancement of band literature.

On the state level, NBA presents awards at the AMEA conference and other state and regional events to recognize outstanding achievement in band performance and education. Should you become a member of NBA, you would be eligible to nominate and present some NBA awards in your county/district as well as within your own band program. This is a great way to honor a deserving colleague or student in your band or in your area. A listing of these awards, which are all free to members, can be found at: https://www.nationalbandassociation.org/awards/http://www.nationalbandassociation.org/awards.

When needed and requested, the Alabama membership of NBA also sponsors events (honor bands, clinics, guest performers, etc...) that help further the development and recognition of bands in our state. It is my goal to increase the Alabama membership in NBA by 15% so that we may be able to offer more services to our state directors and programs. I would love to hear your suggestions regarding ways that NBA can better serve your needs in the state.

I know there are many options for professional membership in our field, but NBA is dedicated to your needs as band director. If you would like to become a member, dues are $55 and there are numerous benefits other than supporting your profession:
* The Instrumentalist - official monthly magazine, sent to all active members. 
* The NBA Journal - published three times yearly (May, October (NBA insert in The
Instrumentalist) & December).
* Access to all areas of the web site, www.nationalbandassociation.org including selective music lists, conducting and composition projects, awards, grants, and much more.

You can join online or print out a form and mail in the application for membership: http://www.nationalbandassociation.org/join/

The NBA is a wonderful organization of professional music educators. I do hope you¹ll plan to join this worthwhile organization today, and I look forward to seeing your name added to our statewide roster. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Best Wishes,

Dr. Corey Spurlin
NBA Alabama State Chair
------------------------------------
Director, Auburn University Marching Band
Associate Director of Bands
334-844-3179 (office)
334-844-3170 (fax)

Thursday, September 20, 2012

All-State Music Questions



 
There have been a few questions concerning the All-State music.   Below is Johnny's response on three of them.

A few questions have arisen concerning the All-State Music that I wanted to pass along. These are all concerning the exercises that students are preparing for this years auditions, not the ones you have completed for next year.

1. In the HS Clarinet Musical Study, in m. 22 there is a natural sign beneath the turn. I believe that this means that the lowest note in the turn should be a natural. However, since it would be an E natural anyway, did you mean that it should be an F natural? The F natural/E sharp seems to fit better with the other turns, but that is probably not the safest way to judge such things.

Answer: The accidental under the turn sign in m. 22 HSL clar. should have been a sharp. I discovered this my self working with a student on Monday. My original version had a sharp and I don't know how it got changed.

2. In the HS Clarinet Technical Study, in m. 14, we have had some question whether the B should be a B flat, as the key indicates, or a B natural.

Answer: HST m 14, the note is correct, but it would have been better had I spelled it with an A-flat instead of a g-sharp. It is actually a misspelled b-flat 7 chord.

3. In the MS Flute Technical Study, in a number of measures, there are grace notes. Did you intend these to be the kind before the beat, or on the beat? There has been a question as to whether they are notated properly.

Answer: The HST flute has two long mordents that should not have been; I inadvertently used the wrong symbol.

4. The last one is the most confusing one to me, because I'm not sure how you would answer this question anyway. In the HS Flute Technical Study there are mordents. I have had a question from a flute teacher who wants to know how you would interpret it. She is concerned that people will interpret it differently, and wants there to be one correct interpretation. Your thoughts? 
 
Answer: Before addressing the MST flute grace notes, I want to do a little research. I know what I meant, but I need to make sure I wrote what I meant. On all of these I will make appropriate changes and send you a new file.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

From Dr. Lambert, JSU

Dear Colleagues -

Greetings from Jacksonville State University!  My name is Dr. David Lambert and I am the new trombone professor at JSU this year.  JSU has a rich history of producing outstanding trombonists, and I am extremely excited and honored to be here working with our dedicated and talented students.  I'll spare you the resume, but you can check out my bio here if you'd like:  http://www.trombone.net/news/news.cfm?ID=1625

I would also like to offer my services to you and your students as clinician and private lesson instructor.  I'm available most evenings here at the University - if your students are interested, please feel free to have them email me anytime!  They can also follow the exploits of the JSU Trombone Studio on our Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/groups/347740605310730/

Finally, I am in the process of organizing a Summer High School Trombone Choir - as soon as I lock down dates and details, I'll pass along the info.  It's a great way to keep horns on faces during the long, hot summer!

I am truly looking forward to getting to know all of you over the course of my career at JSU.  If you ever want to chat, talk shop, or just touch base and say "Hi," feel free to contact me!

Take care, and thank you.

Dr. David Lambert
Assitant Professor of Trombone
Jacksonville State University
dlambert@jsu.edu

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Univ. of South Alabama All-State Podcasts


The All-State Examples are performed for you by the faculty of the school of music of South Alabama. You can find etudes here:
 If you have not printed off your music you can do so here:
Auditions for All-State/All-District will be Saturday, Jan 19, 2013 at Southside High School. 
 Thanks!
Nathan Haskew

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

ABA District II Annual Fall Meeting: Monday, August 27, 2012


It was so good to see the great number of District II directors who attended our annual fall meeting last Monday, August 27.  Special thanks goes out to Steve Reagan at Gadsden City HS for hosting the event.

Our entertainment for that evening was the Jacksonville HS Jazz Band and the Gadsden City HS Danceline.  We appreciate Jeff Gossett and Steve Reagan for allowing their students to perform for us.

The meeting was short and sweet; the only business acted upon was concerning funding for the Regina King Scholarship.  After discussion, etc. it was decided that funding for this scholarship will now be built in to the ABA District II school fees due at the beginning of each year, starting in the 2013-2014 school year.

You may access the meeting agenda by clicking here

Remember that all communication will be online or via email.  You may want to bookmark www.abadistrict2.blogspot.com and http://www.alabamamea.org/bandmasters/index.htm to stay up-to-date on all district and ABA news and deadlines. 

We have a number of band directors who have not updated their director information at https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHZyTU1yUy1tZ2tVcy0zUXBpWnNHNEE6MQ#gid=0.  The following schools HAVE NOT updated their information on the directory:
Anniston HS
Anniston MS
Asbury HS
Boaz MS
Clay Co. HS
Claysville JH
Cleveland HS
Collinsville HS
Cornerstone Christian
Donoho School
Duran N. JH
Duran S. JH
Williams Intermediate School
Emma Samson MS
Etowah HS
Fort Payne HS
Gadsden MS
Geraldine HS
Guntersville HS
Guntersville MS
Hayden HS
Hayden MS
Hokes Bluff HS
KDS DAR
Kitty Stone Elementary
Locust Fork HS
Nichols Lawson MS
North Sand Mtn. HS
Oxford HS
Oxford MS
Sardis HS
Section HS
Wellborn HS

Monday, August 20, 2012

Pre-Register for the AMEA Conference: Jan. 10-12, 2013

Here are important links for you as you plan to attend the 2013 AMEA Conference on January 10-12, 2013 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel / Convention Center.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

District II Annual Fall Meeting: Monday, Aug. 27, 6:00 p.m.


Our annual fall meeting will be held on Monday, August 27, 2012 at the Gadsden City HS band room.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 but plan on arriving at 6:00 for food and entertainment.  Our entertainment for that night will be the Gadsden City High School "Titan Danceline" and the Jacksonville High School Jazz Band.

DUE: your online contact information must be timestamped by August 27th.  Fill out this information by visiting www.abadistrict2.blogspot.com.  Click "Form: Director Contact Info 12-13" on the left-hand sidebar under "Links and Forms".

DUE:  your school participation fee must be postmarked by August 27th to prevent the late registration fee.  Don't forget to include your donation to the Regina King Scholarship. Make checks payable to: ABA District II; send to David McDaniel, ABA District II Chairman, Talladega High School, 1177 McMillan St., Talladega, AL  35160.

REMINDER: New Director Orientation will take place on Saturday, August 25, 9:00 am at the Southside High School band room.  Breakfast will be served.

Monday, July 23, 2012

ABA District II Calendar of Events 2012-20123


A.B.A. District II
Calendar of Events: 2012-2013

DATE
Day of Week
Event
Other InfoINFO
LOLocation
August 25, 2012Saturday
New Director meeting
9:00 am
Southside HS
August 27, 2012Monday
ABA District II Fall Meeting
6:00 (food); 6:30 (meeting)
Gadsden City HS
August 27, 2012Monday
DEADLINE: District school dues / director contact information
Online: Contact Information (click to fill out form).
Mail fees to David McDaniel.

DEADLINE
December 10, 2012Monday
DEADLINE:
All-State Audition Registration
Online: (Audition Manager info will be sent at a later date). Mail fees to David McDaniel.
DEADLINE
January 10-12, 2013Thursday-
Saturday
AMEA Conference
Online: (click for reservation website).
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel
January 19, 2013SaturdayAll-State AuditionsTimes TBA
Southside HS
January 30, 2013Wednesday
DEADLINE:
MPA Registration
Online: Registration (click to fill out form).
Mail fees to David McDaniel.

DEADLINE
February 15, 2013Friday
DEADLINE:
District II Honor Band
Online: Registration (click to fill out form).
Mail fees to David McDaniel.

DEADLINE
February 27-March 1, 2013Wednesday-
Friday
District II Music Performance Assessment (MPA)
Judges:  TBA; TBA; Dr. Frank Buck; Mickey Fisher (sightreading).
Gadsden City HS
March 8, 2013Friday
DEADLINE:
Regina King Memorial Scholarship
Online: (click to download form).  This form must be printed and mailed in to David McDaniel.
DEADLINE
March 15-16, 2013Friday-Saturday
District II Honor Band
Clinicians: TBA, HS
Kevin Mixon, Middle School

Albertville HS
April 1, 2013Monday
DEADLINE:
District II Solo & Ensemble (both)
Online: Registration
(click to fill out form). Mail fees to Nathan Haskew.

DEADLINE
April 17, 2013Wednesday
ABA State Solo Festival
Online: ABA Housing Information
*Watch State Deadline

First Baptist Huntsville
April 18-20, 2013Thursday-
Saturday
ABA All-State Band Conference
Online: ABA Housing Information
Clinicians: Red Band: David Gregory; White Band: Glenn Price; Blue Band: David Starnes. JH School: William Owens
*Watch State Deadline

Von Braun Center
Hunstville
April 22, 2013Monday
District II Solo & Ensemble #1
Times: TBA (afternoon start)
Arab HS
May 4, 2013Saturday
District II Solo & Ensemble #2
Times: TBA (morning start)
Oxford HS
June 25-27, 2013Tuesday-
Thursday
ABA Summer Conference
*Watch ABA Website for Conference registration and hotel information
Hampton Inn,
Orange Beach



David McDaniel, chairman, Talladega HS, 1177 McMillan St., Talladega, AL  35160
Nathan Haskew, vice chairman, Southside HS, 2361 School Dr., Southside, AL  35907

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Alabama All-State Band Festival Schedule, April 12-14, 2012


Hotel ‐ Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel, Mobile
Thursday & Friday Rehearsals – Mobile Convention Center
Saturday morning rehearsals – Mobile Civic Center
Saturday afternoon Concert – Mobile Civic Center
Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel
Thursday, April 12, 2012
1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Exhibits open
1:30 pm    Directors Meeting
2:00 pm    Auditions begin
5:30 pm    Audition results posted
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm Rehearsal (All bands, Convention Center)
7:00 pm ‐ 9:00 pm ABA Board Meeting
Friday, April 13, 2012
8:30 am – 12:00 Exhibits open
8:30 am – 12:00 Rehearsal (All bands, Convention Center)
9:00 am – 10:00 am ABA General Business meeting
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Exhibits open
1:30 pm – 5:30 pm    Rehearsal (All bands, Convention Center
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm University of Mobile Symphonic Winds
Saturday, April 14, 2012    8:00 am – 8:45 am Middle School (Civic Center)
8:45 am – 9:30 am Blue Band (Civic Center)
8:45 am – 9:45 am ABA Board Meeting
9:30 am – 10:15 am White Band (Civic Center)
10:00 am – 10:45 am ABA General Business Meeting
10:15 am – 11:00 am Red Band (Civic Center)
Saturday, April 14, 2012
1:00 pm    Concert (All bands, Civic Center)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

District II Music Performance Assessment Results; Feb. 29-March 2, 2012, Gadsden City HS


Congratulations to all the band members and directors for their participation in the District II Music Performance Assessment on Feb. 29-March 2, 2012 at Gadsden City High School

Special thanks goes out to Jeff Gossett and his Jacksonville High School students, Steve Reagan, Jill DeGaetano, Brian Bankston for hosting the event and to their students and boosters for providing logistical assistance throughout the three day festival.

BAND ADJ. 1 ADJ. 2 ADJ. 3 SR RATING
Litchfield MS c/o c/o c/o c/o c/o
Gadsden MS 7th Grade II I II II II
Zora Ellis MS II I II I I
Scottsboro MS II II II I II
Pleasant Valley HS II I I I I
Gaston HS II I II II II
Slyvania HS II II II II II
Crossville HS II I I I I
Gadsden City HS Concert II II I II II
Arab HS Concert II II I I I
Guntersville HS II II II I II
Springville HS II II I II II
Talladega HS I I I I I W/D
Arab HS Symphonic II I I I I
Gadsden City HS Symphonic I I I I I
Gadsden MS 8th Grade I II I I I
Oneonta MS I I I I I
Arab Jr. Hi II I I I I
Ft. Payne MS II II I I I
Albertville MS I I I I I W/D
Plainview HS I I I I I
Holly Pond HS III III II II II
Albertville HS Concert I II I I I
Weaver HS II II II I II
Lincoln HS II II I II II
Cleveland HS II II II III II
Fayetteville HS III III III II III
Locust Fork HS III III III II III
Ohatchee HS II II II II II
Ranburne HS II I I I I
Boaz HS II II II II II
Southside HS I I I I I W/D
St. Clair Co. HS I I I I I
Scottsboro HS I I I I I
Oxford HS I I I I I W/D
Emma Sansom MS c/o c/o c/o c/o c/o
Rainbow MS I I I I I
Jacksonville HS I I I I I
Winterboro HS I I I I I
Cherokee Co. HS II II II II II
Glencoe HS I II I II I
White Plains HS cancelled due to weather
Alexandria HS cancelled due to weather
Wellborn HS cancelled due to weather
Ider HS cancelled due to weather
Moody HS cancelled due to weather
Munford HS cancelled due to weather
Saks HS cancelled due to weather
Hokes Bluff HS cancelled due to weather
Ft. Payne HS cancelled due to weather
Walker HS cancelled due to weather
Albertville HS Wind Ensemble cancelled due to weather