WEST BABYLON SCHOOLS
Anthony Cacciola West Babylon Junior High School
Superintendent of Schools 200 Old Farmingdale Road
(631) 376-7001 West Babylon, NY 11704
(631) 376-7200 Scott M. Payne, Principal
Jennifer Carere, Assistant Principal
January, 2012
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Each spring, the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) offers solo and ensemble rating festivals across the state to interested students. There are two festivals that West Babylon students have the option to participate in this year:
- The NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival for all brass, percussion, woodwind, piano, string and voice solos (non-jazz) will be held in the Deer Park School District on Friday and Saturday, June 1-2, 2012. The registration form for this festival is attached.
- The NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival for all instrumental and vocal jazz, guitar and drum set solos will be held at West Islip School District on Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, 2012. The registration form for this solo festival is available by request from your music teacher.
Participation in a NYSSMA solo festival is voluntary and is conditional on several factors. Please review the attached NYSSMA Information Sheet for detailed information about the festival process and what to expect. Good preparation is essential to successful participation in NYSSMA, and I encourage you to discuss preparation options with your child and teacher before making a commitment.
I am confident that all students will enjoy the experience of preparing for, and performing in, the NYSSMA festival. If your child would like to participate, he/she must have a completed application and appropriate fees submitted to their music teacher on or before Friday, February 17, 2012. Please submit a separate application and check for each solo and student.
Feel free to contact either myself or your child’s music teacher if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
William Doran
K-8 Art & Music Chairperson
631-376-7268
NYSSMA INFORMATION SHEET
WHAT IS THE NYSSMA SOLO FESTIVAL?
The New York State School Music Association’s annual Solo & Ensemble Festival is a state-wide event that occurs each spring. The festival provides an opportunity for students to perform individually in front of an adjudicator, who will provide an objective evaluation of their musical performance. For some students, their NYSSMA evaluation will provide the basis for the potential to be nominated and possibly selected to higher level performance opportunities, such as All-County, All-State and National Festivals.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
Participation in NYSSMA is voluntary and is open to all students. Playing a NYSSMA solo gives students the opportunity to enrich their performance skills above and beyond the performance requirements they are expected to meet in school. Students should only participate in NYSSMA if they are willing to devote additional time to learning a solo, and are comfortable with the idea of performing independently in front of an adjudicator. Please speak to your child’s music teacher if you are unsure whether or not your child should participate.
HOW SHOULD MY CHILD PREPARE FOR NYSSMA?
This question should be discussed BEFORE you decide to sign up your child to perform at the festival. Good preparation is essential to a successful performance by any participant. Our teachers encourage students to participate, but they may be unable to provide the necessary guidance needed to ensure all students are well prepared. Many families hire a private teacher to coach the student off school grounds. If this is not possible, you can speak to your child’s music teacher to find out if they are able to work with him/her during the school day.
WHAT MUSIC SHOULD BE PERFORMED?
The selection of music each student performs must be listed in the current NYSSMA MANUAL, Volume XXIX, effective July 1, 2009. Teachers should be consulted with regard to choosing an appropriate performance level and suggested titles. Please verify all solos to ensure acceptance to the Festival.
TWO COPIES of the music should be purchased, one for the performer and one for the adjudicator. If the solo being purchased includes a piano accompaniment with the student part written in, this piano part is acceptable as an adjudicator’s copy. PHOTOCOPIED MUSIC IS NOT PERMITTED AT THE FESTIVAL, and will disqualify your child if used for a NYSSMA performance.
WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THE MUSIC MY CHILD NEEDS FOR NYSSMA?
The solo music is available through most music instrument dealers in our area. We suggest purchasing the music as soon as possible, as it may take several weeks for a solo to come in if it needs to be ordered.
Note: NYSSMA manual requires that certain publisher’s editions be used for most of their solos. Consult with your child’s teacher or the music dealer to confirm that you are purchasing the correct publisher’s edition.
HOW IS THE FESTIVAL RATED?
Levels I-IV are rated on a 28 point scale, designated as “outstanding, excellent, good, satisfactory, needs improvement”. Level V-VI, and All State are evaluated on a 100 point rating scale and receive plus and minus letter grades.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY CONFIRMATION?
During the month prior to the festival, a performing permit will be given to your child with all the necessary information (date, time, room, and a map to the hosting school).
DOES MY CHILD RECEIVE ANY RECOGNITION FOR HIS/HER PERFORMANCE?
Elementary students (K-5) performing at a NYSSMA festival will be provided with a NYSSMA medal at the school they attend. Secondary students will receive recognition via a participation certificate at the end of the year.
At the county and state levels, NYSSMA ratings help determine a student’s eligibility to participate in All County or All-State Festivals. Although selection is highly competitive, we have several students each year chosen for these groups.
NYSSMA 2012 Registration Form
All Brass, Woodwind, Percussion, Piano and Voice Solos (non jazz)
June 1st & 2nd - Deer Park School District
DO NOT USE THIS FORM IF YOU ARE REGISTERING FOR A JAZZ, GUITAR OR
DRUM SET SOLO!! See your music teacher if you want to register in this festival.
If your child is performing more than one solo, please list each on a separate form and attach separate checks.
Student’s Name______Grade______
School______Instrument or Voice Range______Level*______
Check here_____if you have more than one child participating (or one child performing multiple solos). Submit a separate form and check for each child or solo.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
NYSSMA makes no guarantees with regard to specific date/time requests. Students must be able to perform either on Friday afternoon, June 1st, from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. or Saturday, June 2nd, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. If a conflict prevents your child from participating on a certain day or time, please speak to your music teacher or attach a note to your registration form.
There is no transportation available. A parent must be able to transport their child to and from the festival location at the time and day they are given for their performance.
NYSSMA does not accept requests to have an audition with a specific adjudicator.
Participation fees vary and are non-refundable. See the box below.
Please check off the appropriate category for the solo your child is performing and include the required non-refundable fees as shown below:
______$14.00 All solos levels 1-4 (except piano)______$21.00 All solos levels 5-6 (except piano)
______$21.00 Piano solo, levels 1-4______$26.00 Piano solo, levels 5-6
Make all checks payable to West Babylon Schools. If you are paying in cash, place it in a sealed envelope inside the registration form. Print the child’s name, school and music teacher on the front of the envelope.
I give my son/daughter above permission to participate in the NYSSMA festival. I accept and understand the conditions needed for my child to participate.
PARENT’S SIGNATURE______Date______
*We recommend your child consult with his/her music teacher before registering in order to select an appropriate level solo.
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For office staff only: Amount Paid $______Check #______Cash______REF#______