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Ballston Spa Central School District Music Department 2007-2008 School Year Music Festivals (click here for definitions and background information about the festivals)
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Music Department Web Site Directory
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Questions/comments? Please e-mail jmerrill@bscsd.org |
| Definitions / Information about Festivals The information below is a brief explanation about the organizations/festivals that provide wonderful musical experiences for our students and enable them to meet and perform with other student musicians from other schools. Please contact your child's music teacher if you have questions about these organizations/festivals.
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NYSSMA:
New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) is an organization
promoting music and music education in the schools of New York State.
Opportunities for students to be rated on their performance levels are
provided through the various audition festivals held periodically
throughout the school year at various locations. Through their school
music teacher, students register to audition before a NYSSMA adjudicator
(judge) at the solo and ensemble festivals. The audition usually
consists of performing a rehearsed piece of music, playing scales and
sight-reading. Students are judged on both technical and artistic
qualities. The scores they receive are used to determine their level of
playing and possible acceptance into various concerts in the following
school year. The ratings are also helpful when auditioning for
acceptance into
music groups that
are outside of the schools' venue. For more information
about NYSSMA, go to
http://www.nyssma.org/.
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NYSSMA Solo Festivals: These are held in the spring March-June. Your child's teacher will inform the students about which festival to attend, selecting a solo, and applying. Students must have two copies of the music when they perform, Xeroxed copies are not allowed. Applications must be turned in at least six weeks before the festival date and students are notified 1-2 weeks before the festival of the day and time of their audition. The festivals generally run from 3:30-10:00 on Friday and 9:00-4:00 on Saturday. The current registration fee is $14.00 for Level I-IV and $21.00 for Level V & VI. All-State auditions are $26.00 and are open to 10th and 11th graders only. Students must have an accompanist for this audition on a level VI piece. Our MS and HS music teachers strongly recommend private instruction for students auditioning at level IV or above. There is a PIANO ONLY festival in March and it is the only festival for piano solos. The current registration fee for a piano solo is $19.00 for Level I-IV and $26.00 for Level V & VI. Private piano teachers are responsible for having their students sign up; students must turn the registration form into their music teacher or the Humanities Coordinator by January 24, 2008. -Piano Registration Form-
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All County:
"All-County" refers to the music concerts sponsored by the
Saratoga-Warren County Music Educators' Association (SWCMEA), an
organization of fifteen area schools involving about one hundred thirty
music teachers. SWCMEA was established for the purpose of promoting
enriched musical experiences for the students of its member schools, and
is a non-profit organization. All proceeds are used to defray costs of
its festivals, to provide a scholarship for a graduating senior in each
member school, and to support two scholarships awarded annually to
students chosen through an association-wide competition. Students are
recommended by their music teachers for participation in the various
All-County concerts held during the school year.
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All County
Festivals: These
festivals are for students grade 6-12 and are held during the months of
January-April. There are separate festivals for band, chorus (and jazz
band), and orchestra; dates and times are listed above. Music teachers
will send home a permission slip to apply for the festival, this must be
turned in before being considered. NYSSMA festival solo scores are used
to help determine who will participate. Usually, students apply 3-4
months before the festival date and students find out if they are
accepted 6-8 weeks before the festival date. There is an $8.00
participation fee for accepted students.
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Area All-State:
"Area All-State" is a NYSSMA sponsored
concert for very talented student musicians from the local region/zone
of NYSSMA to which the school belongs; Ballston Spa is a member of
NYSSMA Zone 7. Early in the school year students are recommended by
their music teacher and NYSSMA festival solo scores are used to select
who will participate in the band, chorus, orchestra, or jazz band (jazz
band requires an audition). There is a $15.00 participation fee for
accepted students. Saratoga School District has hosted this festival on
the third weekend in November for many years. Participants rehearse
Friday from 1:00-5:00 and Saturday 9:00-1:00 with a concert at 2:00. The
public is welcome! A great opportunity to inspire our younger musicians!
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All-State:
"All-State" is the ultimate NYSSMA experience for only the most talented
of student musicians. Sophomores and juniors play a NYSSMA level VI
solo audition in the spring for selection to the following year's
All-State concert. Competition is extreme: over 6,500 students from
across New York State audition for the approximately 900 positions
available in the All-State performing groups. For more information, go
to
http://www.nyssma.org/students_parents.cfm
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| Suburban Council (Music): Suburban Scholastic Council for Music, a consortium of 13 school districts in the Capital District, sponsors a music staff development day, and a music festival. High School students are recommended for the Suburban Council music festival by their music teacher and NYSSMA festival solo scores are used to select who will participate in the band, chorus, orchestra, or jazz band (jazz band requires an audition); Middle School students must audition for all groups. Each year the festival alternates levels: HS level, grades 9-12 and MS Jazz Band (grades 6-8) or MS level, grades 6-8 and HS Jazz Band (grades 9-12). There is a $15.00 participation fee for accepted students. Usually students apply 3-4 months before the festival date and find out if they are accepted 6-8 weeks before the festival date. Participants rehearse Friday from 1:00-5:00 and Saturday 9:00-2:30 with a concert at 3:00. The public is welcome! |