ARIZONA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
JANUARY NEWSLETTER
conference keynote speaker Glenn Nierman
He will also be participating in our Hall of Fame awards luncheon, New Teachers: Building the Bridge to Success open forum session, and Collegiate meet and greet.
PICTURES NEEDED FOR HALL OF FAME AWARDS LUNCHEON
Conference 2016: What's new?
- HALL OF FAME AWARDS return to Friday lunch 12:30 - 2:15pm in the newly renovated Arizona ballroom
- UNIVERSITY NIGHT (Friday 5:30 - 7:00 pm in the Arizona ballroom) will feature the U of A choir, NAU Wind Symphony and ASU Symphony Orchestra presenting a masterwork from each perspective area. The UA choir will be giving a presentation on “Chichester Psalms” by Leonard Bernstein, the NAU Wind Symphony will be giving a presentation on Percy Grainger’s “Colonial Song” and its ramifications on “Australian Up-Country Tune” and “Gum-Sucker’s March”, and the ASU Symphony Orchestra will be giving a presentation on Johann Strauss’ “Der Fledermaus”. This will be an incredible educational experience for all members of AMEA, as well as a unique opportunity to hear fine performances of these masterworks.
- OPEN FORUM interactive sessions on Saturday (topics include Mentoring to Mastery, Boost or Bust: Utilizing your booster organization, New Teachers: Building the path to Success and Teaching outside of your specialty)
PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 26. Click HERE to register.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SCHEDULES CAN BE FOUND BELOW
Need Sub Plans while you attend conference?
ADVICE FROM AZSGM PRESIDENT ANNEKA BERGSTRAND:
Writing lesson plans for a music substitute is near impossible! Unfortunately, it's difficult to come across retired music teachers, or other musically inclined subs. Therefore, we need to accept the fact that our cherished music students will not be singing, playing, dancing, moving, or creating much on days that we are absent. This is especially true on days when we call in last minute. This is why it's always a good idea to keep a set of emergency plans, or a sub tub, on hand. These might include a collection of resources that are helpful to substitutes. My favorite for younger general music classes, Kindergarten through 3rd grade, include puzzles. Crosswords, word searches, and short quizzes, are an easy way to still incorporate some music terms and questions. Make your own puzzle sites allow teachers to do this for free. Some are:puzzlemaker.com, edhelper.com, and theteacherscorner.net.
If you have time, creating a custom quiz for your students is also a great tool for subs. I have used specific pieces of music, or concepts to design quizzes that encourage students to look through their scores in order to find the answer. While this is great for middle or junior high students, you can also do the same thing with upper elementary music students.
As always, don't assume your substitute has the same teacher or technology training as you. Lesson plans for substitutes should always include the following:
1. Seating charts
2. Classroom expectations and procedures
3. Emergency plans
4. Directions to use classroom technology
5. Student leaders or helpers
6. Names of other teachers who can help if needed
7. Manipulatives, CD's, and other necessary materials.SUB PLAN IDEA FROM AMEA PRESIDENT JENNIFER HAMILTON
(Band & Orchestra Director at Coconino High School)
I sometimes use a survey, in which students self-evaluate a recording of the band or orchestra. It includes a simplified rubric, questions about individual and ensemble growth, and student suggestions for improvements. It can be a great way to focus on self-evaluation and student accountability. Click HERE for a rubric and questionnaire that can be adapted for your use.
SUB PLANS AND SUPPLEMENTAL WORKSHEETS FOR BANDS FROM COLLEEN BOSSELLI
(Band Director at Isaac Middle School)
Need emergency sub plans? Are you looking for new supplemental instrumental music books to add to your collection?
These books below consist of written instrument fingering charts, theory worksheets for beginning bands, music quizzes of all kinds, a music activities book, a beginner’s introduction to reading music, and a book of music lists that any director will find useful.
All books cover many subject areas within the instrumental music curriculum and are a quick way to give assessments on those shortened days, use them as daily reinforcement worksheets for your students, or simply use them as sub plans.
FINGERING PRACTICE FOR BEGINNING BANDS
THEORY WORKSHEETS FOR BEGINNING BANDS
READY TO USE MUSIC ACTIVITIES KIT
THE MUSIC TEACHER’S BOOK OF LISTS
Other websites that might be useful for sub plans:
Elementary music worksheets that look like games
Music theory worksheets in progressive difficulty
Music theory worksheets for very young elementary students
Music theory worksheets for young musicians #2
Elementary band fingering chart worksheets
Many types of music worksheets for downloading
Thank you Anneka and Colleen for the great ideas and resources!
HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL AUDITION PREPARATION
BAND: Recordings of Wind & Percussion Etudes courtesy of ASU Collegiate NAfME
CHOIR: Arizona Choral Sight-Reading Audition Archives
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE AMEA ACTIVITIES HANDBOOK
Need a refresher on audition requirements and a sample score sheet?
Below are corresponding page numbers for your convenience.
BAND
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS p. 35 - 37
SAMPLE WINDS SCORE SHEET p. 166
SAMPLE PERCUSSION SCORE SHEET p. 167
CHOIR
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS p. 38 - 41
SAMPLE SCORE SHEET p. 171 - 174
ORCHESTRA
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS p. 42 - 45
SAMPLE STRINGS SCORE SHEET p. 168 - 169
HARP
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS p. 46 - 47
SAMPLE HARP SCORE SHEET p. 170
Important Information about Regional Choir Auditions from ACE President Darin Shryock
CONCERT & FESTIVAL PREPARATION ADVICE FROM ABODA PRESIDENT BILL HUMBERT
As the spring semester begins approaching warp speed, I am sure that concert and festival preparation is high on the list of things “to do” in the coming weeks for you. Here are some thoughts to help you manage your time, and maximize your preparation.
Perceive what is happening in your rehearsal. We must focus and be more aware of characteristic problems that arise daily in wind band and orchestra rehearsals. Daily, efforts need to be made to address tone development, pitch, rhythmic clarity and accuracy, articulation, note length, as well as developing consistency in the ensemble. Do you have a plan to address the daily basics of making music better? Are you spending a good amount of time each day working on the fundamentals with your students? These music fundamentals are the key to your performance success.
Pinpoint and isolate the materials that you plan to teach each day. Break learning into small and sequential steps, then, build upon these small steps to increase the size and scope of your instruction. Remember to always be specific and to the point. If you set an expectation, make sure that you inspect for student understanding of that expectation.
Precise instruction is vital to the success of your ensemble. Here are some easy steps to developing this concept. Define what is wrong. Have a “Plan A” and a “Plan B” available to repair the issue. Understand what it is that you desire from your ensemble, and have a plan for them to get there. You must navigate for your ensemble.
Strive to be Pleasant and Positive. As teachers, sometimes these are difficult to maintain. What type of environment do you create for your ensemble? Are you creating an environment in which people are willing to: give to you, give to the group, or take a risk? In order for your ensemble to achieve at their highest level and reach their potential, the environment you create in the classroom needs to be honest, open, and welcoming. Your students need to know that it is ok for them to take a chance with you and invest their time and talents into the ensemble.
Passion must be shown daily in your rehearsals. This is the most contagious of thing that we can show our students. You can give as much passion as you want in a rehearsal…and never deplete your supply. However, make sure that your passion is genuine…Hollow passion can be seen immediately and your credibility as a leader will be compromised
Your most important assets in a rehearsal are the people…your students. They will be better because of the time they have spent with you. Your are leading them down a path of being better musicians, better people, and assisting them in developing life skills that will carry them to success far beyond your classroom or the performance stage. Enjoy the ride.
PLEASE VOTE BY FEB. 10!
NAFME IS CURRENTLY ASKING MEMBERS TO VOTE ON THE NATIONAL PRES-ELECT, WESTERN DIVISION PRESIDENT & BYLAW AMMENDMENTS LISTED BELOW:
Welcome to the 2016-2018 National Association for Music Education Election. In this election, you are being asked to vote for National President-Elect and three (3) Bylaw Amendments. In addition, members in the North Central, Southern and Western Divisions are asked to vote for Division President-Elect.
National President-Elect
The National President plans and presides at all meetings of the Association and presides at meetings of the National Executive Board. Candidates for the 2016-2018 NAfME National President-Elect Candidates spoke at this year’s National Assembly. You can view the videos to hear their speeches before voting. The elected president-elect will serve two years as president-elect (2016-2018), two years as president (2018-2020), and two years as immediate past president (2020-2022).
Division President-Elect
Division presidents preside at their board meetings and communicate their concerns to the National Executive Board. The elected division president-elect will take office one week prior to the National Assembly in June 2016, and assume the office of division president in June 2018.
Bylaw Amendments
(1) Require appointment of an Independent Audit Committee
(2) Allow flexibility of administration of the Hall of Fame
(3) Allow international affiliates
Read about the Bylaw Amendments.
How To Vote
Election-America is the service provider for these elections. To vote, please follow these instructions:
- Go to the voting site by clicking on this link or copying and pasting it into your browser's address field:
https://vote.election-america.com/NAfME - Enter your Email Address and your Member ID.
- Click on Enter and follow the voting instructions.
The election closes at 11:59 pm Eastern time on February 10, 2016.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ARIZONA'S US ARMY ALL-AMERICAN MARCHING BAND MEMBERS!
Eight students from four Arizona high schools were chosen to participate as members of the 2016 US Army All-American Marching Band. These students were chosen from around the country as members of this elite ensemble that performed in San Antonio at the Alama dome for the 2016 All-American Bowl. Congratulations to these students and their directors!
Sienna Samour and Caroline Earnhardt from Perry High School
Jacob and Zachary Lythgoe from Campo Verde High School
Lauren O'Donnell from North Canyon High School
Jennifer Dam, Zachary Mahoney and Sophia Miller-Gutierrez from Mountain Ridge High School
UPCOMING AMEA DEADLINES
ABODA Deadlines
- All-State Jazz Band Participation Registration 1/15
ACE Deadlines
- see AMEA High School below
AMEA ELEM / JUNIOR HIGH Deadlines
- Elem School / Junior High All-State Band Participation Registration 1/15
- Northern AZ MS SE / Regional Auditions 1/15
- Elem School / Junior High Solo & Ensemble Registration 1/15
- Northern AZ Middle School Regional Auditions 1/15
- Pageant of Bands Registration 1/22
AMEA HIGH SCHOOL Deadlines
- High School Solo & Ensemble Festival Tier 2 Participation 1/15
- AMEA Regional Participation Registration 2/5
- AMEA / ABODA / ACE All-State Audition Registration 2/26
Arizona Music Educators Association
Email: ameapresident@gmail.com
Website: azmea.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaMusicEducatorsAssociation/