district music website - east meadow school district
TRANSCRIPT
District Music Website: www.eastmeadow.k12.ny.us/music
One of The Best Communities in
America for Music Education
Board of Education
Brian O’Flaherty, President Joseph Parisi, Vice President
Joseph Danenza Corey Fanelli
Jeffrey Rosenking Marcee Rubinstein
Walter Skinner
Administration
Louis R. DeAngelo, Superintendent of Schools Lynne Manouvrier, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Robert Gorman, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Anthony Russo, Administrative Assistant for Human Resources
Patrick Pizzo, Director of School Facilities and Operations Mary Ann O’Brien, Assistant Business Administrator
East Meadow Music Directory
Director of Music and Art Abby Behr (516) 478-5532 Music Department Secretary Lynn Naranjo (516) 478-5546 East Meadow High School Chairperson Joel Levy (516) 228-5296 Woodland Middle School Chairperson Stephen Engle (516) 564-4371 W. T. Clarke Middle & High School Chairperson Kevin Scully (516) 876-8710
East Meadow High School Band and Choral Office (516) 228-5236 East Meadow High School String Office (516) 228-5371 W. T. Clarke Middle & High School Band & Choral Office (516) 876-7445 W. T. Clarke Middle & High School String Office (516) 876-7419 Woodland Middle School Music Office (516) 564-6560
Barnum Woods Elementary School (516) 564-6500 Bowling Green Elementary School (516) 876-7490 McVey Elementary School (516) 228-5300 Meadowbrook Elementary School (516) 520-4400 Parkway Elementary School (516) 679-3500
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Concert Calendar 2010-2011 ................................................................................................. 4 Ten Rule of Concert Etiquette for Adults ............................................................................ 7 Group Lessons ......................................................................................................................... 8 Grading Policy ......................................................................................................................... 8 Guidelines For Chorus At The Elementary Level .............................................................. 8 Concerts .................................................................................................................................... 9 How to Practice .....................................................................................................................10 How Parents Can Help.........................................................................................................11 Instrument/Equipment Care and Maintenance .................................................................12 Instrument Security ...............................................................................................................13 NYSSMA Solo Festival .........................................................................................................14 Private Instruction ..................................................................................................................15 To Rent or To Buy ...............................................................................................................16 Compiling a Résumé .............................................................................................................16 Tri-M Music Honor Society.................................................................................................17 East Meadow Summer Music Program ..............................................................................18 Concert Opportunities on Long Island...............................................................................19 Concert Opportunities in New York City ..........................................................................20 Area Youth Organizations ........................................................................................... 21 East Meadow Music Faculty .................................................................................................22 Summer Music Festivals and Camps ..................................................................................23
Welcome to the East Meadow Music Performance Program. Districtwide, more than 4,000 students participate in a performing music ensemble. Involve-ment in the performance of music is a valuable experience for many reasons. Through the processes of practice, rehearsal, and performance, students de-velop self-discipline, enhanced cooperation skills, and an increase in the ability to listen and follow directions. These skills can be carried over into many facets of their lives. It is our hope that your child’s involvement in school music performance will provide him/her with a solid foundation for a lifetime of rewarding musical experiences. The Music Department Handbook has been compiled as a reference for stu-dents and parents and will hopefully provide information and insight into the musical development process.
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2010-2011 Concert and Event Schedule
Sept. 13 WTCHS Marching Band Clinic 29 EMHS Marching Band Clinic Oct. 10 Long Island Columbus Day Parade – EMHS & WTCHS 11 NYC Columbus Day Parade – EMHS Nov. 12 & 13 LI String Festival Secondary Rehearsal 14 LISFA Concert—Berner MS, Massapequa SD Dec. 2 - 5 NYSSMA Winter All-State Conference – Rochester, NY 7 WTCHS Winter Concert - Part 1, 7:00pm 8 WTCMS Winter Concert - Part 1, 7:00pm 9 EMHS Fall Musical Production for Senior Citizens, 3:30pm 10 EMHS Fall Musical Production, 7:30pm 11 EMHS Fall Musical Production, 2:00pm & 7:30pm 13 WTCHS Winter Concert - Part 2, 7:30pm 14 BG Winter Concert, at WTCHS, 7:30pm MDBK Winter Concert 15 WTCMS Winter Concert - Part 2, 7:00pm BW Winter Concert at WDLD PKWY Winter Concert, 7:30pm 20 EMHS Winter Concert - Part 1, 7:30pm Jan. 9 All-County Music Festival Concert - Div. 1 East, 4:00pm, at Tilles Center 14 All-County Music Festival Concert - Div. 3 w/Jazz, 8:00pm, at Tilles Center 15 All-County Music Festival Concert - Div. 4 East, 2:00pm, at Tilles Center All-County Music Festival Concert - Div. 5 East, 7:30pm, at Tilles Center 16 All-County Music Festival Concert - Div. 2 w/Jazz, 12:00pm, at Tilles Center All-County Music Festival Concert - Jazz Div. 4 & 5, at Hillwood Recital Hall, 4:00pm 17 Snow Date for All-County Music Festival 19 WDLD Grade 8 - Winter Concert, 7:00pm 24 Grade Eight Music Orientation for WTCHS, 7:00pm 25 MCV Winter Concert at EMHS, 7:00pm 26 WDLD Grade 7 - Winter Concert, 7:00 pm 27 Grade Eight Music Orientation for EMHS, 7:00pm
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NEW YORK STATE SUMMER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
(NYSSSA) Saratoga, New York
(518) 474-8773
TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER Lenox, Massachusetts
(617) 266-1492
HARTWICK SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL AND INSTITUTE Oneonta, New York
(607) 431-4802 or (607) 431-4800
()
EAST MEADOW SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAM East Meadow, New York
(516) 478-5546
CRANE YOUTH MUSIC CAMP Potsdam, New York
(315) 267-3350
FRENCHWOODS MUSIC CAMP Hancock, New York
(845) 887-5600
USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts
Wheatley Heights, New York (631) 643-7900
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East Meadow Music Faculty
Barnum Woods Linda Braun, General Music
Kathryn Coe, Orchestra Meegan Coleman, Chorus & General Music
Alec Schaefer, Band
Bowling Green Kristen Finello, Orchestra
Dawn Heller, Chorus & General Music Gary Henderson, Band
Heather Jackson, General Music Jonathan Ross, Chorus & General Music
McVey Jessica Bessel, Band
Linda Braun, General Music Kristen Finello, Orchestra
Leslie Levy, Chorus & General Music
Meadowbrook Catherine Shick, Chorus & General Music
Neil Walowitz, Band & Orchestra
Parkway Mary Russell, Chorus & General Music
Jean Vermaelen, Band & Orchestra
Woodland Middle School Stephen Engle, Chairperson Michael Cascardi, Orchestra
Kathryn Coe, Orchestra Patricia Dunn, Band Dawn Heller, Chorus
Heather Jackson, General Music Paul LaConti, General Music Mindy Lamonica, Orchestra
John Marshall, Band Jonathan Ross, Chorus
Richard Simmons, Band Kristin Uhl, Chorus & Lessons
W.T. Clarke Middle School Kevin Scully, Chairperson / Band
Steven Barbieri, Band Adrianna Donovan, Orchestra
David Fletcher, Lessons Dawn Waters, Chorus & General Music
Mary Madeja, Orchestra
East Meadow High School Joel Levy, Chairperson / Band
Michael Cascardi, Lessons Meegan Coleman, Chorus
Gloria Elliott, Chorus Stephen Engle, Band David Fletcher, Band
Christopher Hale, Band Bill Kinslow, Music Theory & Music Production
Mindy Lamonica, Orchestra Lisa McElraevy, Orchestra
W.T. Clarke High School Kevin Scully, Chairperson / Band
Adrianna Donovan, Orchestra David Fletcher, Lessons
Robin Hall, Chorus Mary Madeja, Lessons & Music Theory
Dennis Pettas, Music Production
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Feb. 1 EMHS Winter Concert - Part 2, 7:30pm 2 WDLD Grade 6 - Winter Concert, 7:00pm 8 EMHS Winter Concert - Part 3, 7:30pm 11 - 14 EMHS Disney Band Trip 16 EMHS Winter Concert - Part 4, 7:30pm Mar. 3 Tilles Band Festival Rehearsal, 6:00 - 9:00pm 4 WTCHS Musical Production, 7:30pm 5 Tilles Band Festival Rehearsal, 9:00am - 2:00pm WTCHS Musical Production, 7:30pm 6 Tilles Band Festival Concert, 3:00pm L.I String Festival Concert (Elementary) Old Bethpage MS (Plainview) 9 WTCHS Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction, 6:30pm 14 - 16 Rehearsal for District Music Festival District Music Festival Concert at Tilles Center, 7:30pm 21 Founders Day 22 WTCMS Junior Tri-M Honor Society Induction, 7:00pm 31 - 4/3 All Eastern Division Conference Apr. 7 EMHS Spring Production for Senior Citizens, 3:30pm 8 EMHS Spring Production, 7:30pm 9 EMHS Spring Production, 7:30pm 13 EMHS Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction & Dinner, 7:00pm 29 WTCHS Tri-M Coffee House, 6:30pm 29 & 30 NYSSMA All-State Jazz Festival at Hewlett-Woodmere SD May 9 District Music and Art Awards, 6:30pm 10 EMHS Spring Concert - Part 1 13 & 14 NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble Festival (Non All-State & All-State), Uniondale SD 15 MCV Spring Concert 18 MDBK Spring Concert WDLD Grade 8 - Spring Concert, 7:30pm 19 BG Spring Concert BW Spring Concert at WDLD PKWY Spring Concert 23 WTCMS Spring Concert - Part 1, 7:00pm
2010-2011 Concert and Event Schedule
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23 - 25 NYSSMA Major Ensemble Festival, at Hofstra University 24 EMHS Spring Concert - Part 2 25 WTCMS Spring Concert - Part 2, 7:00 26 WDLD Grade 7 - Spring Concert, 7:30pm 30 Memorial Day Parade - EMHS & WTCHS June 1 WTCHS Spring Concert - Part 1, 7:30pm WDLD Grade 6 - Spring Concert, 7:30pm 2 WTCHS Spring Concert - Part 2, 7:30pm EMHS Spring Concert - Part 3 6 WTCHS Music Awards Night 7 EMHS Spring Concert - Part 4
May 9 District Music and Art Awards Night, 6:30pm
2010-2011 Concert and Event Schedule
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Area Youth Organizations
Children’s Orchestra Society of New York Rehearses in Manhasset on Saturday
Performs at various locations Contact: (516) 869-9696
Gemini Youth Orchestras Auditions to be held in
Early December in Dix Hills (631) 470-2114
Long Island Youth Orchestra Rehearses in Greenvale on Sunday mornings
Performs at Tilles Center Auditions in September
Annual optional summer concert tour Contact: (516) 922-6652 or liyo.org
Evenings/Weekends
Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and Chorus of New York Rehearses at Herricks HS & MS on Tuesday evenings
Performs at Tilles Center, NYC, other locations Auditions in June and September
Annual optional summer concert tour Contact: (516) 676-4751 or myo.org
Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts Rehearses on Saturday mornings in East Meadow
(Grades 5-8 on Monday Evenings) Performs at Tilles Center, Alice Tully Hall, other locations
Auditions in May & June Additional auditions in September based on availability
Optional Summer Concert Tours Contact: (516) 536-2412 and (516) 538-ARTS
nassausuffolk.org
New York Youth Symphony 850 Seventh Avenue Suite 500
Rehearses Sunday mornings in Manhattan Contact: (212) 581-5933
www.firstmusic.org 21
Concert Opportunities in New York City
Alice Tully Hall 1941 Broadway New York, NY (212) 875-5050
www.lincolncenter.org
Avery Fisher Hall 10 Lincoln Plaza New York, NY (212) 875-5030
www.lincolncenter.org
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center 212/875-5788
www.chambermusicsociety.org
Carnegie Hall 57th Street and 7th Avenue New York, NY 10019
(212) 247-7800 www.carnegiehall.org
Jazz at Lincoln Center Hotline
(212) 875-5299 www.jazzatlincolncenter.org
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
70 Lincoln Plaza 62nd to 66th Street
between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue (212) 546-2656
www.lincolncenter.org
Lincoln Center Theatre (212) 362-7600
www.lct.org
The Metropolitan Opera House (212) 362-6000
www.metropera.org
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TEN RULES OF CONCERT ETIQUETTE FOR ADULTS
• Refrain from talking. This is the first and greatest rule. This rule includes whispering to or disciplining your other children.
• Refrain from unwrapping noisy candy wrappers during the performance. If the composers wanted to include crinkle paper noises in the music, they would have.
• Turn off pagers, cell phones and watch alarms. While many phone and pagers now have very symphonic-like rings, they don’t always fit into the musical score, nor do they provide pleasant sounds for your neighbors.
• Do not wave to your child during the concert. After all, they do know who you are already, and they know you are there; you most likely brought them to the concert.
• Do not take flash photography. You don’t want your child to walk off the edge of the stage from flash blindness, do you?
• Do not walk down the center aisle with your video camera. Video cameras work just as well from the back of the auditorium. (Besides, the light is usually not good enough for videotaping anyway.)
• Do not leave as soon as your child’s portion of the concert is over. All of the students deserve a full audience for their performances. Remember, the next time your child’s song could come last.
• Applaud at appropriate times. Some music has several sections. Remembers, it’s not over until all of the sections have been performed.
• Do not leave the auditorium during the music. Wait for a break in the concert to visit the restroom, unless you are carrying a screaming child, in which case you should leave quietly and quickly, please!
• Go to the concert expecting the best. You just might be surprised how good your student sounds when other students join in. Source: MENC: The National Association for Music Education
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Group Lessons Group lessons are a requirement of all instrumental and secondary vocal stu-dents. These lessons provide students with the opportunity to develop specific techniques through differentiated instruction. Attendance at group lessons is essential to student success both as an individual performer and a member of a performing group. In order to minimize disruption of academic instruction, lessons are scheduled on a rotating basis. Lesson schedules are distributed to students and posted in a cen-tral location for referral. The only valid reasons for missing a lesson are legal absence from school or a scheduled exam. It is the student’s responsibility, in consultation with the music teacher, to make up any missed lessons before the next scheduled lesson. The importance of group lessons cannot be emphasized enough. Please keep in mind that 40% of the secondary music performance grade is derived from group lesson participation and preparation.
Grading Policy
Elementary music students in grades 4 and 5 will receive a progress report three times a year, which will be distributed with their academic report cards. Secondary music students (grades 6 through 12) receive a grade for their work in the major performing groups. The grade is reflective of the quality of the stu-dent’s work, effort, progress and participation in the performing group.
Grades for secondary music students are formulated as follows: 50% ensemble participation 40% lesson participation/preparation 10% exams
Guidelines For Chorus At The Elementary Level
In order to participate, students must meet the following expectations:
1. Follow verbal directions. 2. Follow a conductor’s cues. 3. Exhibit self—control and do not disrupt the other members of the chorus. 4. Demonstrate the ability to remain silent and stand still when necessary. 5. Demonstrate the ability to learn and perform the music presented. 6. Adhere to the rehearsal schedule and performance dates.
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Concert Opportunities on Long Island
Adelphi Performing Arts Center Garden City, NY
(516)877-4000 aupac.adelphi.edu
Hofstra University Hempstead, NY (516) 463-5533
Inter-Media Art Center (IMAC)
Huntington, NY (631) 549-9666
[email protected] www.imactheater.org
Jones Beach Amphitheater
Wantagh, NY (516) 221-1000
www.livetonight.com
Massapequa Philharmonic Berner Middle School, Massapequa
Free Admission, features world-renowned soloists (516) 795-4071
Nassau Coliseum
Uniondale, NY (516) 794-9303
www.nassaucoliseum.com
Nassau Community College Garden City, NY (516) 572-7509
Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury, NY (516) 333-0048
Tilles Center for the Performing Arts Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus
(516) 299-3100 www.tillescenter.org
Westbury Music Fair Westbury, NY (516) 334-0800
www.musicfair.com
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East Meadow Summer Music Program
The East Meadow School District offers a summer music program for East Meadow residents and students from surrounding Nassau County school dis-tricts. The program provides group lessons for beginners and a large ensemble experience for students at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Large ensembles include bands, jazz bands, orchestras, chorus, and show choir. Instruction in chamber music performance is also offered for interested stu-dents. Specific starting dates, ending dates and tuition rates are published in an information packet, which is distributed in the spring to all music stu-dents in grades 3-12. Additional packets may be obtained from your school music teachers or from the district music office. Information will also be available on the district music website, www.eastmeadow.k12.ny.us/music
Registration for the Summer Music Program is done online : www.prestochair.com
* * * *
(Beginning instruction is NOT offered on percussion,
guitar, piano, or saxophone)
* * * *
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Concerts Attendance
Students are required to attend all performances scheduled for the group(s) in which they are enrolled. Although concert performance is not the entire focus of the rehearsal activities, it is considered to be a culminating event and an important part of the course work.
Some performances may be scheduled after the year has begun. These may be concerts by special invitation, festival or adjudication performances. Students and parents will be informed of the specifics of these concerts to allow as much planning time as possible. The audience is a vital part of the concert. Please make every effort to attend your child’s concert performances. Also, as a courtesy to all the students, please plan to stay for the entire performance.
Concert Dress Requirements
Dress requirements vary from group to group, and occasionally, special require-ments are made. When uniforms are not supplied, standard concert dress is as follows:
*Boys – dark pants, SOLID white Oxford collared button down shirt, dark shoes and socks, straight tie
*Girls – black dress pants (no leggings), solid white blouse with an appro-priate neckline and the midriff area fully covered, dark shoes
(At the middle schools and high schools, all black is sometime required.) * * * *
JEANS AND/OR SNEAKERS/FLIP-FLOPS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE CONCERT DRESS
* * * *
All students are to wear the required concert dress. If there is a problem, please speak with your child’s music teacher well in advance of the concert. Students not dressed appropriately will not be allowed to perform.
Pre-Concert Preparation
Students are responsible for making sure their instrument is in good working order, they have a supply of reeds, strings, rosin, valve oil, etc., and that they have all of the required music to be performed.
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How to Practice
The practice session is the most important element to successful musical development.
Following this set of guidelines will ensure steady progress:
Find a well-lit place with a firm, straight-back chair where the risk of interrup-tion is minimal. Use a music stand to hold the music at the correct height and position for playing.
Begin the practice session with a regular and familiar warm-up routine, which may include long tones, scales, and simple technical exercises and vocalises. Like an athlete, a performer must first focus his/her mind and warm up his/her muscles before performance can begin.
While practicing, a successful performer always concentrates on the proper rudiments and fundamentals of his/her particular instrument, including pos-ture, breathing, embouchure, hand position, bowing, sticking, etc.
“Practice what you can’t play, not what you can.”
A successful performer focuses on the most difficult parts of his/her music, avoiding the temptation to play only the easy parts. Please remember that making mistakes and working to correct them is an integral part of quality practice.
It is essential that a regular and consistent quality practice routine is established and maintained. Practicing is homework for music class, and must be done on a daily basis in order to ensure success. Set goals for each practice session and al-ways practice with a purpose in mind.
Remember, “Practice Makes Permanent! ”
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The Tri-M Music Honor Society The Tri-M Music Honor Society is the international music honor soci-
ety for secondary school students that motivates and recognizes musical achievement.
Tri-M shares and supports the objectives of every dedi-cated music educator – to increase student and school in-
volvement with music and to strengthen and unify the school music program. Tri-M offers a complete system of rewards
that help motivate effort and recognize excellence in individu-als and chapters. With this system, the society builds self-esteem and provides for a channel of personal fulfill-
ment. A student who is inducted as a Tri-M member has achieved one of the highest honors in the East Meadow
Music Department. Tri-M is a program of MENC: The National Association for Music
Education – the largest non-profit organization dedicated to the ad-vancement of music education. Through its many programs, activities,
publications, and conferences, MENC addresses all aspects of mu-sic education and works to ensure that every student has access and exposure to a balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of
music instruction.
TRI-M MUSIC HONOR SOCIETY
A program of MENC: The National Association for Music Education 17
To Rent or To Buy?
Compiling a Résumé
As a young student begins instrumental music, it is advisable for the family to rent the instrument. As your child shows a commitment to continue, you may want to consider buying an instrument. If so, please consult your school music teacher for a list of suggested vendors and brand names to ensure a purchase of optimum quality and durability.
Your child’s involvement in music will be useful to him/her as they begin to pull together information for college applications. It will be helpful to keep a record of musical activities, which may be beneficial to note in college applications. Suggestions include:
• School music groups (band, chorus, orchestra) • Select groups which require audition (jazz band, show choir, • chamber orchestra, etc)
Performing Groups outside of school (youth orchestras, bands, etc.)
• Participation in All-County, Long Island String Festival, All-State, etc.
• Special awards, participation in Tri-M, honors, etc. related to music
• List of solo literature performed • NYSSMA grades received
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How Parents Can Help There are a number of ways in which you, as parents, can assist in your child’s success. The following suggestions are especially helpful after the novelty of a new instrument has worn off.
Praise your child’s efforts and achievements.
Show interest in the music study of your child.
Arrange a consistent time for regular daily practice. Provide a quiet, well-lit place, with a music stand, in which to
practice.
Provide a safe place in which to store the instrument.
Keep the instrument in good repair. Should a repair be nec-essary, do not attempt to repair your child’s
instrument yourself. Please consult the music teacher im-mediately for the proper course of action to take, or for a list of recommended repair technicians.
Be aware of your child’s schedule in order to help him/her to
be punctual for rehearsals and lessons. See that your child takes his/her instrument and music on days of
lessons and rehearsals. Make faithful attendance at all performances and activities a
priority. Encourage your child to perform for others when
opportunities arise. Play a variety of recordings of master artists for your child
(public libraries are good sources of recorded music). En-courage your child to be active listeners of music.
Take your child to live concerts as often as possible. There
are many wonderful local concerts, and New York City is only 20 miles away. (Please refer to the list of
concert opportunities in this handbook)
Encourage him/her through technical challenges.
Please feel free to contact your child’s music teacher with any questions or concerns that you may have.
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Instrument/Equipment Care and Maintenance
IF YOU PLAN ON PURCHASING AN INSTRUMENT, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER FOR SUGGESTED BRANDS AND MODEL NUM-BERS. The care of an instrument is solely the student’s responsibility. Instruments should always be clean and in proper working order. Reed, valves, pads corks, strings, etc. should be checked regularly to ensure that valuable time (whether in private practice or full rehearsal) is not wasted due to technical problems.
If an Instrument is in Need of Repair: School owned instruments and instruments rented through agencies which service our school district, must be brought to the director of the performing group as soon as a problem occurs. Privately owned instruments and instruments rented through outside sources, should be taken to a qualified instrument repairperson or to the vender from which it was rented. Please see your music teacher immediately for a list of recom-mended repairpersons.
Please attend to broken instruments immediately as any delay will cause a disruption in the student’s progress.
School Music Equipment: All music equipment (music stands cabinets, chairs, folios) is to be treated with the same care and respect shown any piece of school property. School issued music is the property of the performing group; it should be treated carefully and written on very lightly in pencil.
Preparedness:
• All music students are required to have a pencil at all times. • Reed players are expected to have in their case at all times no less than three
good reeds. • Brass players are expected to carry valve oil and slide oil. • Percussion players are expected to provide snare sticks at all rehearsals and concerts. Secondary school percussionists are required to have
practice pads for home use. • String players should have an extra set of strings, a shoulder rest (violins, vio-
las), rosin and a rock stop (cello and bass). As a student progresses through the instrumental program, it is suggested that he/she purchase a metronome and tuner by the secondary level.
Remember, “Practice Makes Permanent! ”
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Private Instruction
Instrumental and Vocal music students:
Private lessons are encouraged as a supplement to the school perform-ing music program. It is important to realize that musical development is different with every child and that each instrument or voice brings a host of unique challenges to a student. A young musician can benefit greatly from the expertise of a specialist on their instrument or voice in a one-on-one setting. What to Consider When Choosing a Private Instructor:
Please consult with your school music teacher before enlisting the services of a private instructor.
The instructor should be a specialist on the instrument.
Specialists intimately know and understand the unique challenges of their instrument, know the best methods of overcoming the problems and are familiar with the standard literature for the instrument.
The instructor must value the total development of the musi-cian.
Lessons should provide regular development in tone and technique, scales, ensemble and solo literature.
The instructor should be positive in approach. Students need to be constantly encouraged for their suc-
cesses.
A current list of private instructors is available through the office of the Director of Music & Art.
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NYSSMA Solo Festival
Every year, music students have the opportunity to participate in the New York State School Music Asso-ciation (NYSSMA) Solo and Ensemble Evaluation Festival. Students are evaluated on their performance of a composition that must be selected from the cur-rent NYSSMA manual. Compositions are organized according to difficulty: Level I (least difficult) through Level VI (most difficult). Students have the opportu-nity to perform both solo and ensemble literature (duets, trios, etc.). Participation in the festival is valuable as it provides the student with an oppor-tunity to perform in an audition-like setting, and to receive an expert, objective evaluation. Some considerations for participation:
1. It is not necessary or even recommended to progress at a rate of one level per year. The student’s real level of ability should determine which piece (or level) is selected, not the level passed the prior year.
2. Strongly consider the recommendation of the music teacher or the private instructor with regard to choosing a solo piece.
3. It is recommended that the music student is constantly learning the stan-dard literature for the instrument. Learning several rather than one solo a year, strictly for the NYSSMA competition will help produce a well-developed musician.
4. While we encourage the student to participate in NYSSMA Solo and En-semble Festival, it is important to stress that the student maintains his/her commitment to the school performing organization and the group lesson requirements.
Check with your school music teacher to make sure the piece
selected is from the current NYSSMA manual and for specific scale and rudiment requirements (String, Piano, Percussion & Jazz).
***The current NYSSMA manual is XXVIII (Effective July 2009)***
Woodwind & Brass Scale requirements (memorized):
Levels 1 & 2 - 3 scales Levels 3 & 4 - 7 scales Levels 5 & 6 - 15 scales
2010-2011 NYSSMA Dates: Classical Guitar: March 23 & 24 - Holy Trinity H.S. All State Jazz: April 29 & 30 - Hewlett Woodmere
All State and Non All-State: May 13 & 14 - Uniondale
You must provide original pieces of music
for the performer(s) and the adjudicator. Photocopies are not permitted!
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Instrument Security
Storage rooms are provided for student-owned instruments at the Middle School and High School. These rooms are usually kept locked although security of the instruments is not guaranteed. The High School also provides some lockers in the storage areas to which students may affix a combination lock. It is wise to take a few precautions, however, to assure the safety of your instrument.
√ Have your case clearly labeled √ Copy the serial number of your instrument and file it away √ List the instrument on your homeowner’s insurance policy School-owned instruments are the responsibility of the stu-dents who are renting them. This includes loss and repair. It is important that parents of students participating in our music program be aware of limitations in the school district’s insur-ance program as applied to burglary, theft, and vandalism of music instruments.
Unfortunately, the school district cannot provide for insur-ance protection against loss or damage for private property left or stored on school premises. This, in effect, means student-owned and rented instruments are not covered by school insurance. It is also important for students using school-owned instruments to be aware that the insurance for these instru-ments only protects them while they are in school. Once the instrument leaves school, it is no longer insured. Although serious damage or loss of an instrument is rare, it has occurred. There-fore, we suggest that parents encourage their children not to leave their musical instruments in school overnight. In addition, it is recommended that parents re-view their homeowner’s policy to determine the insurance protection, if any, afforded to instruments stored on school premises.
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