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Dear Friends,
Once again, I hope this email finds you well and that you're as ready as you can be for the upcoming school year. Sarah and I have teacher meetings all this week and the kiddos return on Monday. Of course, things are going to be interesting this year but, just like always, we will persevere and get through this together! With all the uncertainties ahead of us, I wanted to try to clarify as much as I can at this time in regards to District and State level band events. Please understand that as with everything this year, we must "roll with the punches" and be ready for things to change at any time. I will do my best to keep you abreast of new information as I receive it. Just know that sometimes new information comes with unanswered questions that I always try to clarify before disseminating it to all of you. First, you should have received the following email from Brad Hudson, Missouri Bandmasters Association's All-State Band coordinator, regarding All-State Band auditions: "Dear Directors, The Missouri Bandmasters Association has been meeting regarding the 2021 Missouri All-State Band. Even though MMEA is holding a virtual clinic, we would still like to recognize a 2021 Missouri All-State Band. We are currently exploring the logistics of a possible rehearsal and performance date late in the spring. All-State Band Auditions will be done via recordings submitted online. More details to follow soon. Due to many schools starting only virtually, the deadline will be March 1, 2021. Directors will register their students as previous years, but there will be a few more steps regarding the upload of the recording. Please encourage your students to audition for the 2021 Missouri All-State Band Sincerely, Brad Hudson All-State Band Coordinator" If you have not received this email, contact Brad (bhudson@kirksville.k12.mo.us) to be added to the list. -DISTRICT AUDITION DEADLINE: Given this new information, Aaron Scriven (Jazz VP) and I have decided to push our District Band auditions back to Tuesday, December 8th. We arrived at this decision for the following reasons: 1. Since All-State Auditions have been moved back, we felt it necessary to follow suit. 2. This will provide students and directors with additional time to work out the logistics of recording virtual auditions. 3. Since both All-State and District choir events have officially been moved to the Spring, we decided to keep our auditions during the Fall semester. We do not want to overload directors and students with multiple high-demand/stress auditions all within the same window. -AUDITION PLATFORM: Festival Scores Due to the virtual nature of the auditions, MBA has decided to utilize an online-based audition system called Festival Scores (https://festivalscores.com/). This decision has not been released to directors throughout the state but has been sent to the Band VP's within each District. This system was developed by former Kansas Band Director Troy Johnson. It is and has been utilized in 6 states across the country and is a tried and true system. I recently participated in a demonstration and training for the system and can say that I don't feel that there is a better system available for recorded auditions. It is our decision to utilize this program for our District-Level Auditions as well. I am currently manipulating the system to find the easiest and most efficient way to administer this year's audition process. I will be working on training/informational videos that will ease the blow of utilizing the new system. I will be sending those out as the event nears. -REGISTRATION: Monday, November 9th - Tuesday, December 8th As of right now, the plan is to open the registration window for directors to input their school info, student info, and upload audition recordings on Monday, November 9th. This would give everyone nearly a month's time to enter in all the necessary information. Unlike in previous years, we WILL NOT be able to REOPEN the registration window once it closes. Once the window closes, you will not be able to add or change any information. -AUDITION FEES: $2.00 per audition + $10.00 per school (Ernie Pratt) By foregoing an in-person performance ensemble, we will not be providing clinician compensation. This means we will not be requiring schools to pay the traditional $10.00 per audition. The fee will be lowered to $2.00 per audition. Remember, this means that if you have one student who is auditioning on 2 different instruments for the concert band and 1 instrument for the jazz band, you will owe $6.00 for that student. The $2.00 charge is strictly to pay for the use and maintenance of Festival Scores. This cost includes registration, storing audition recordings, judging rubrics, posting results, and training for festival managers. I would like to still be able to offer our Ernie Pratt Scholarship to a graduating senior who is selected for one of our District Ensembles. This is a $10.00 contribution to the scholarship per participating school. Much like the system we have used for the past 2 years, Festival Scores conveniently generates invoices for directors. As of right now, I will most likely have to send an additional invoice for the Ernie Pratt fee. -RECORDED AUDITIONS: First, I will contact those who have been selected to judge the auditions and ask for a specific list of scales and etudes that they would like to hear for this year. I will then send that list out to all of you so you can inform your students what is expected. This information will be released shortly before the registration window opens. Students/Directors will record their auditions in a SPECIFIC order and in ONE CONTINUOUS TAKE. This is the format that the All-State Band will be using as well. If this changes, I will send an update. Recordings will need to be in an mp3 format and be free of any edits or effects. If evidence of alteration is found the student will be disqualified. Unfortunately the system does not support the use of mp4/video recordings. The size of the files and the amount of time needed to upload said files would be a hindrance as well. Directors are the only people that can upload the mp3 files to the system. -JUDGING: I will be utilizing the judges list below. The list consists of the individuals that I have already secured. Judges List 2020 You will notice that there are no longer separate scale judges for flute, clarinet, and trumpet. This is due to the rule of having one continuous recording. Once the deadline has passed, Aaron and I will take care of any remaining logistical concerns and then open the judging window. Judges will be allowed to access their assigned instrument recordings and will be given 1 week (at the most) to evaluate all auditions. More judging specific information will be sent as the event nears. -RESULTS: Once judging is complete and any and all doubling issues have been resolved, results will be posted. The plan is to accomplish all of this prior to the holiday break. Aaron and I will work hard to ensure that this is a possibility but please be patient and understanding as we all work with the new system. And there you have it! That's what I have for now. I will send out updates as they become available. As always, let me know if you have any questions. I may not know the answer immediately, but I will find it for you! Best, Chris
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Good evening,
I hope this email finds you all safe, healthy, and enjoying what is left of your summer break. I know that the sheer number of unknowns ahead of all of us is staggering and enough to keep anyone up at night, but please be sure to take care of yourself. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Find some time to get away from the computer and get some fresh air. We will weather this storm and come out stronger on the other side. I am sending this email to provide you with some updates regarding District Band events for this upcoming school year. In addition to those updates I wanted to inform you that the Board has voted to cancel the Summer Meeting that would have been held at Parkview High School. Please help us out by sharing this information with all of the music educators in your school district. Also, if you are aware of any new directors, please forward their contact information to me so I can update my list. Thank you in advance. DISTRICT BAND 2020 - Over the past couple weeks, the MBA All-State Band coordinator was in communications with the Band VP's throughout the State in order to obtain a general consensus regarding District level events. After discussing matters with the SCMMEA Board, we have made the decision to seat a non-performing ensemble through means of virtual auditions. It will take some time to iron out the details as to what this will look like but I wanted to make sure that you and your students were aware of this as early as possible. Please continue to encourage your students to work on the material so we can still put forth the best students to represent our incredible district at the State level! Although the MBA has not made an official statement regarding the status of the All-State Band, it is my opinion that they will be following suit. I will update everyone on the procedures and what to expect as we work to put together a fair and efficient process. Below you will find a few items that would normally be distributed at the Summer Meeting: 1. This is a document that I put together for those who are not familiar with the books that the All-State/All-District audition material comes from. It is a complete list of the books needed to accommodate all of your students (or at least I hope so... Please let me know if I have missed something). All-State Band Audition Books 2. This is a list of websites that will help you through the year regarding our profession and other band-related news. SCMMEA Band Helpful Websites 3. This is a helpful document when it comes to the 2 editions of the Arban book and the difference in page numbering. Arban 1936 vs. 2013.pdf 4. Another helpful document if you are interested in forming a 501c3 with your Booster organization. Thank you John Devos! Forming a 501c3.pdf 5. Lastly, here are the cuts for this year's District Band audition material. PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS BEFORE SHARING IT WITH YOUR STUDENTS! District Cuts Set 1 2020-2021 Please let me know if you are unable to open any of the above documents. As always, if there is anything that I can do to help - or if you just want someone to talk shop with - I'm here! Best, Chris See the document below for the information that was discussed at the MMEA Saturday meeting. If you have questions let me know. -Chris 
In light of our current weather situation and projected forecast for tomorrow, the District Band Clinic & Performance will be postponed until NEXT Saturday, January 18th. The rest of the schedule will stay the same.
-Chris Hello all!
PLEASE READ!!! Regardless of whether your school participates in District Band events. This includes nominations for the John East Mentoring Award!It's that time again!!! Congratulations to all of those who are having fantastic marching seasons and congratulations to those who are very close to concert season! This email contains a lot of information about District Band Auditions. Please read through the entire email. As always, if you have questions, please ask! JOHN EAST MENTOR AWARD: NOMINATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 29TH (District Band Registration/Cancellation Deadline)!! If you feel that there is a director who has made your life a little easier throughout the years and you would like to recognize him or her for their kindness, take a second to nominate them for this wonderful award. This award is for an SCMMEA band director that has put in many years of service to education and the SCMMEA. The award should recognize the veteran director that is always willing to help the "rookie" director with a humble attitude. John never vaulted himself above others, and always made young directors feel a sense of worth about themselves. Young and old directors spent a great deal of time with John seeking or receiving advice. He was always there for everyone and he appreciated the "fraternity" of our job. Click the link below to submit your nomination: John East Nomination Form AUDITIONS: Tuesday, November 5, 2019. (For future planning, they are the first Tuesday of each November). This year the auditions will be held at Parkview High School. We will begin at 4:30 pm. Arrival info from Curtis: Parkview dismisses at 2:55pm. Schools should not arrive before 3:30pm. All students should be dropped off at the cafeteria entrance on Chrisman Drive and busses will park at JFK Stadium. Thanks!! JUDGES: Judges have already been selected and notified. Judging information will be sent out as we get closer to the event. If you have any questions let me know. COST: The fee for each audition is $10 (Concert and/or Jazz). If your student is auditioning for both Jazz and Concert or on multiple instruments, it is $10 for EACH audition. For example, if you have a student who plans to audition on Soprano Clarinet ($10) and Bass Clarinet ($10) for concert band and Tenor Saxophone ($10) for jazz band, then the total for that one student is $30. In addition to your audition fees, each school needs to pay $10 for the Ernie Pratt Scholarship. Ernie was a longtime band director at Republic & Kickapoo. In honor of his contribution to Music Education in the South Central District, the SCMMEA band directors award a scholarship to a senior that is a member of the SCMMEA District Band who is planning on becoming a music major. Applications will be due the day of the District Band Concert and will be selected by a committee and awarded that night at the concert. Please make all checks payable to “SCMMEA.” MUSIC DISTRIBUTION: Music and rehearsal/concert info will be emailed and/or shared via Google Drive. Folders will be handed out at the first rehearsal, January 4. As soon as your students finish their auditions and/or you finish judging AND RESOLVING ALL DOUBLING ISSUES, you are free to go. Be sure to have your phone available in the event that we need to contact you with any further doubling concerns! You will be emailed and/or Google Doc shared the results as soon as possible. The goal is to get the results out that evening, if not, they will be sent out the next day. CANCELLATION DEADLINE: Registration will open Thursday, October 17, 2019. Please read the instructions very carefully and be sure to include all the information asked. You can ADD or REMOVE students through the registration system at any time until the Cancellation Deadline of Thursday, October 29, 2019 at 11:59pm. After this point, you will be financially responsible for all remaining entries. MSHSAA: This is a MSHSAA sanctioned event, so that means there must be an official at the event for EACH participating school. I’m sure that we’ve all had enough MSHSAA training to know who qualifies as a “school official”. REHEARSALS & CONCERTS: The first rehearsal is Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Parkview High School from 9-12. We have had scheduling issues in the past with All-State Choir kiddos so I am checking on their rehearsal schedules. Be prepared for a possible change. I will let you know what I found out ASAP. The full day rehearsal/concert is Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Southwest Baptist University. Seating of the bands will start at 8:45am and rehearsal will begin at 9:00am. The concert will be at 6:30pm in Pike Auditorium on the campus of SBU. The make-up date for the rehearsal/concert is Saturday, January 18, 2020. The clinicians are John Zastoupil, MSU for Honor Band and Tim Allshouse, Blue Springs for Concert Band. LINK FOR REGISTRATION: Below you will find a link to the online registration form which will work hand-in-hand with our online judging system as well. It is INCREDIBLY EASY but in the event that you have troubles, I have recorded a screenshot video to walk you through the process. Registration link: scmmea.g-toms.org Tutorial Link: Screenshot Tutorial As always, if you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to let me know! Chris Below you will find all handouts for the 2019-2020 School Year. These will be sent out via email as well. Let me know if you have any questions. -Chris
Hello again,
Welcome Back! I know, I know... It went by WAY TOO FAST!!! As much as I've wanted time to slow down for a little bit, it just keeps pushing ahead. The new school year is upon us and we will soon be immersed in all things band. All of those feelings of anxiety, nervousness, excitement, remorse (for the end of summer), etc... They cover us like a familiar back to school blanket. I wish each and every one of you a calm and completely stress-free school year! (One can hope, right?) Our annual SCMMEA Summer Meeting is rapidly approaching. Like last year, the meeting will be held at Parkview High School. Breakfast items will be available at 8:30am and lunch will be provided at around 11:45am. Between those 2 delicious meals, we've got a great schedule lined up for the band folks this year! If you are wondering how to improve or build a great relationship with your staff and administration, we've got a great session with Phil Milligan. As a former band director, principal, and now, University supervisor, Phil has a unique perspective on teacher-administrator correspondence. It should be a great presentation, especially for all of our new educators! And for the first time in quite a while, we will be having a reading session! BRING YOUR HORNS!!! If you are a doubler, tripler, quadrupler, bring them all! We should be able to establish a decent instrumentation if everyone participates. There was a lot of interest in this session and JW Pepper has picked out a great lineup of tunes from the likes of Gary D. Ziek, Robert Sheldon, Brian Balmages, and more. There's everything from beginner level to some "meat and potatoes" for us to sink our teeth into! We can even discuss sightreading practices and procedures! A special thank you to those who have volunteered to spend some time on the podium! RSVP If you plan to attend this year's summer meeting please fill out the following link so we can have an accurate head count for food: https://forms.gle/hZsqNF6v88swQjMN8 Also, we are in the process of trying to make sure that all of our records are up to date. Please take a couple minutes to fill out the link below. Even if your information hasn't changed! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGISTER STUDENTS FOR DISTRICT LEVEL EVENTS WITHOUT FILLING THIS OUT FIRST! https://drive.google.com/open?id=1znWGjD8qexz6JdurPKdlSR_bh6tHuMd4ueU-dLC6AQs Lastly, just in case you might have missed it, the SCMMEA has a new website! It's extremely user-friendly and filled with a ton of info! If you haven't had the chance to check it out yet, here's the link: www.scmmea-9.org Once again, I look forward to visiting with all of you at the meeting and throughout the school year! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions let me know! See you soon! Chris Hey all!
So, I was curious to see who would be interested in doing a reading session at our Summer Meeting on Saturday, August 24th. If you have not participated in a reading session, they are a BLAST! I feel that we can adequately fill out an ensemble and read through a few different tunes (various difficulty levels). FYI - The session would most likely take place BEFORE lunch/business meeting. RESPOND VIA EMAIL TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, AUGUST 1ST!!! 1. Will you be attending the meeting? 2. Are you interested in participating in the reading session? 3. What are some of your favorite and/or effective pieces? Include composer and difficulty level - Please select tunes that you have in your library as we will not be purchasing music for this session. 4. Are you willing to conduct a tune (or 2)? Once I receive responses to the above information, I can narrow the selections down to a few (8-10) that we can read through and decide who will hop up and put us through our paces! I hope you all are having a great Summer! I also hope to see many of you at the MBA Summer Convention this Sunday! Best, Chris CHECK YOUR EMAILS!
There are several schools who have yet to pay their 2018-2019 District Band Audition Fees. If you are on the list, you should have received an email from scmmeahsband@gmail.com. Please respond ASAP! THANK YOU!! Best, Chris An email has been sent to those who helped out by judging District Concert & Jazz auditions last year. If you are willing and available to judge again this year, please let me know!
Thanks and have a GREAT Summer!!! -Chris |
AuthorChris Sacco Archives
January 2020
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