GCS Band Directors Meeting
Grimsley High School Band Room
March 14, 2011

Meeting Called to order by lead teacher Ed Kimbrough

Open Discussion on the events that occurred at the All County Band Auditions on February 8^th, 2011.

Student Volunteers

• Student volunteers should be well trained.
• There needs to be better communication between runners and audition rooms.
• Where they trained on what to do? How were they trained?

Brian McMath volunteered to help train the helpers for next year’s auditions.

Problems:

• There needs to be adequate training for helpers and judges
• There were horns sitting for an hour outside the audition rooms
• Horns need two rooms instead of doing all parts of the audition in one room
• Stefan- Directors need to be trained and follow directions.  If they don’t there needs to be consequences for them.
• Trent- Can we use the CDBA handbook?
• Stefan- Is there any consequences for directors who break protocol?
  • Jeremy- In the CDBA By Laws, letters will be sent to the directors principal if they continue to disregard the rules.  If their misconduct continues then their students/school will be ineligible to audition.
  • Brent- We should be glad to have the All County program because some schools systems do not.  We need to make positive light of it.
• Juli- Had a question about scores.  Middle School Trombones almost took a week to get the scores back.  What is the deal about getting judges sheets to the scoring room? Can we have the room helpers hold the sheets till auditions are done and send the sheets all at once?
  • K. Butler- There was no consistency between judge 1 and 2
  • Juli- Why does judge 1 or 2 have anything to do with scores?
  • Jeremy- It makes it easier to see that the judges stay consistent in scoring.  The end outcome is the same.
  • Hal- this would be a procedure issue
  • K. Butler- Actually right now there is not a place to sign on score sheets so no one knows who it is.
• Ashley- Can we do it on lap tops and use google documents- spread sheet?
  • Open discussion about online scoring
  • Then tabled till a later meeting.

• Stefan- Jeremy will you do the scoring next year?
  • Jeremy- Yes.
• K. Butler- I saw kids who hadn’t audition have scores already in the spreadsheets in the judging room.  Why was this?
  • The spreadsheets from last year’s auditions were used and not zeroed out.  With the old scores in the spreadsheet it was difficult to tell who’s scores had been entered.
• Can we call only 5 horns at a time instead of 10? The horns where in the audition hallway too long.
• K. Butler- Can oboe cuts be known before?
• Ed- Copy of the solo list should be available for judge’s room so judges can check to make sure the cuts are to the right solo/movement and the first two pages.
• Tammy- I was in the oboe room. Listening to the first few auditions I could tell something was wrong.  I tried to get the runner to find out if it was the right solo. They could not find anyone.  I got the runner to send all the oboes back to the warm up area.  We need to have a movement list in the judge’s packet to check movements/cuts.  I think we need leeway in cuts and have input as directors in the decisions that were made.  It’s about the student getting a good audition experience.
  • Ed- No one was putting blame on you.
  • Tammy- I couldn’t find anyone for help when I had a question. Someone should be available at a central location for advice and questions.
  • Juli- We should get some of the “old farts”, term of endearment, who have retired to come and help.
• Brian- In years past he could remember as a judge making the cuts himself for his room.  Can we do that again?
  • Jeremy- Two problems occurred when we did this in the past and that is why we don’t do it anymore:
    • Judges were making cuts out of range for instruments
    • Directors were telling students where the cuts would be
  • It shouldn’t be that hard to look at the solo list and the scale sheets to make sure the solo is right and the cuts are within the range.
• Ed- There were judges hearing auditions past 9pm because cuts were way too long.

Jeremy- I make a motion to adopt the CDBA Hand Book for our guidelines.

Discussion:

• Andy- Is everything in the handbook applicable to county level?
• Ed- We only use the first two pages of the solo

Jeremy- I motion that we accept it now as is and in September amend it to meet our county.

• Brian- I think the amendment needs to happen in April to be ready for next year while it is still fresh in our minds.
• Ed- Do you want to send out before the April meeting?
• It is on the CDBA website

• Juli- When addressing parent, we were questioned why it didn’t go as well as district? We shot ourselves in the foot and appeared not prepared for auditions.
• Jeremy- The audition time slots worked well BUT you and your students have to be on time so auditions can begin on time. We would have to be more strict with audition times and keep sheets at the rooms.
• Juli- Would a financial obligation keep more to come and less no shows?
  • Andy- Answer to finical obligation: At the orchestra meeting Nathan brought up a $2 fee for auditions and another $2 for the clinic.
  • Ed- we should vote on this when Nathan brings it up.
  • Jeremy- I’m not for it but when the budget is tight it might have to happen so we can continue to have the event.
  • Ed- There are many costs that are associated with All County- substitutes, clinicians, and music.

Ed- Let’s review points that people have made so far:

1.     Band Directors should have a meeting before to go over rules procedures
2.     There was an issue with the number of students called at a time to go to audition rooms
3.     The runners and parent helpers hold be trained so they are consistent with their procedures
4.     Horns need 2 rooms
5.     There is an issue with score sheets going to the scoring room from audition rooms.  Ed suggests that maybe judges enter their own scores when they are done judging
6.     Establish judge 1 and 2 on score sheets to keep consistency
7.     Include CDBA Solo List with correct movements so judges can double check cuts
8.     Establish a job for resource for anyone who has questions or issues that arise unexpectedly

a.     Brian- Isn’t that the job of the auditions chair? Answer they are judging

b.     Ashley- Nathan should be kept our of the judging room

c.     Ed- auditions chairs for MS / HS and Nathan should be the ones for the resources

d.     Brian- there are plenty of retired directors and college students that can help

9.     Adapt the CDBA Handbook to meet our county needs
10.  We should have audition times like at the district level.
11.  Possibly add a fee to auditions and clinic

Ed- Are there any other issues or concerns?

• K. Butler- Auditions Chair and site host should have a sub for half a day to make sure they get there on time to set up and run things
  • Hal- A lot of times if you work out with your principal before so you can leave early
• Stefan- We have to get everyone there on time
• K. Butler- Chair needs to get to auditions host a day early so they can be ready to start
• Get judges in the right room (principle instrument) or at least one lead judge if possible
• K. Butler-Nathan can email principal about the auditions
• Andy will be the HS Clinic Chair
  • Music folders
  • Percussion needed
  • Seating Chart- show how many students; chairs and stands needed
  • Stefan- Chairs need to come the day before or early with names cards on the stands
• MS Clinic Chairs- Kristen and Ashley
• K. Butler- Auditions Chairs can ask lead teacher when making cuts

Clinic

• Start at 9am
• Be here on time
• Is anyone in charge of equipment?
  • Andy and Stefan
  • Stefan- If music needs different percussion instruments I need to know. I still need some vibes.
• Will it be recorded? We have to check with Nathan to make sure in place.  Hal will check with Nathan.
• K. Butler- We need to thank Wells Trophy in the program for the trophies they made
• Stefan- I would like to introduce the HS clinician
• Hal- What about horns?
  • Ed- They will audition when they get there, they will sight read new parts so seats can be established.
  • We should start auditions right at 9am to get them on the concert music ASAP.
  • Stefan will get the rooms for audition
  • Ed- Do we need to hear scales, solo and sight reading?
  • Juli- Can we get them here earlier like 8am?
  • Stefan- Can we do it after school?
  • Juli- There is too much going on after school
  • K. Butler- Ask all HS Horn Directors first before we make a decision
  • Directors then volunteered to judge

• Hal made a motion to adjourn
• Stefan seconded

GCS Band Director Meeting Minutes
11-15-2010
Grimsley High School

New Business
-Ed.- All County Jazz clinic is December 7 at EGHS
-Ed (NGHS) is hosting All District Band Clinic at Northern High School
-May ask for equipment to borrow from our schools to accommodate the ensembles, may need parents who have trailers to can carry equipment.
-GCS Jamboree will be at SEGHS again since it was rained out this year.

21st Century Skills
Nathan Street
SharePoint- Will show how to use it again
-Essential Standards:
-ARCE: Accountability and Curriculum Reform Effort at the DPI website there is a list of     the new Essential Standards
-There was talk that our standards were too broad and not deep enough so that is how the Essential Standards developed.

ML- is music literacy
MR- Musical Response
MC-Contextual Relevancy
This is important for us to know.
Developed for K-12
K- stands for Kindergarten

Band students who have taken Band in 6-8th grade will have to keep a portfolio and will be able to skip the beginning level in high school and take the advanced level.
-There is no prerequisites in place or audition process.
-There will be honors credit available for 9th-12th band courses.
-There will have to be a band class offered at every middle school in Guilford County.
-The class codes that you teach now will not be existent any more
-There will be a beginner, proficient, intermediate, and advanced level classes.  Students can choose advanced honors course pathway when this is effective in the 2012/2013 school year.  Right now there is not separate course codes for the levels of classes.

Note: If you are teaching an Honors Courses make sure you are differentiated instruction for those students because right now DPI is auditing arts education classes.   Beginning band will be offered in high school.  High school students will also have to keep up with a portfolio throughout high school.

21st Century Skills: On the Sharepoint- Please read the ideas because they can be helpful
Global Awareness: Hymn of the Fallen; American Elegy; Pick some music that was inspired by Global Awareness and present it’s relevant to your students.  Invite guest speakers from other cultures.

Senate Bill 66: Part of this bill outlines guidelines for requirements for Arts Education.  We should offer theater, art, dance, music at the middle school level.

Race to the Top
-9.9 million dollars in Federal Funds for Guilford County.
-There is an assessment component.  We don’t know what the arts assessment looks like and if it will come from the state or district or if we can got to contest and receive a rating.   -The test shows that your students grow.
-There will be a pretest and a post test.

CDBA New Audition Rubric
Jeremy Ray
CDBA Middle and High School Audition Rubric
Stefan- are the going to have a separate rubric for percussion?
Jeremy- No. They are working on them but will not be ready for January’s Audition.
The areas of focus on the rubric are: Scales- Tone, Breath Support, Pitch/Intonation, Pitch Center, Articulations, Note Release, Pulse Control, Rhythmic Accuracy.
You will have to know what the rubric says before you come in to judge.
Andy-If it is half in one category and half is in another category?
Jeremy- it is up to the judge what he values more.
Stefan- But the rubric is clear cut how can you give your opinion?
Jeremy- Its up to personal preference.
Solo- Tone, Breath Support, Pitch/Intonation, Pitch Center, Articulations, Note Release, Pulse Control, Rhythmic Accuracy
Listen to examples and discussed how to use the rubric for the judging process.
Scales are more clear cut and the solo has
-What is the 1-3-5 of the solo box?
Jeremy- It’s the low middle and high range for the box to give you guidance to where their score belongs.
All registration for CDBA will be online.  The due date is December the 8th.  There will be no on site the day of registration.  There will be no late registration.  There will be a $10 fee per school and $8 per student.

Open Questions:
Nathan- Does everyone understand the new teacher evaluation? The meetings are open to anyone that would like to give presentation for their leadership component.
Ed- Can we as a group go through and adopt music and method books for the text book list?
Nathan- We already have one.  There is no one getting text book money this year or next.
Stefan- years ago we went through the text book adoption but no one bought it.  They picked the Yamaha Band Student.
Nathan- I would like to see the state contest lists to be adopted.
Nathan- We are using a DVD Company this year not the county people.  We see $5 from each DVD that will go back into
Jeremy- Can you send out the sub code for All County?
Nathan- I’ll send it in email.
Meeting was called to adjourn by Nathan.

GCS Band Director Meeting
October 18, 2010
Smith High School

GTCC Mark Wheeler
High Point Campus (336) 334-4822 ext. 4111
mrwheeler@gtcc.edu
Pre-Music Major Program
Associate in Fine Arts Program
Can Transfer to any university program

On Stage-
Margret Arbuckle, Executive Director
Guilford Education Alliance
On Stage
-Independent organization
-They are about crating and promoting quality education for all
-This year  they will have:
-Tony Griffey- Attended High Point Public Schools- Grammy Award Winning Sing will be honorary chair for On Stage!
-Author Rafen: Wants to give students the opportunity learn market and production skills related to On Stage!  Students from Smith High School will be involved to help.
-Audition Procedures located on www.guilfordeducationalliance.org/alliance/stage.php
-DVD will be made and sold of On Stage!
-Please provide information of needs for your production
-Grants and underwriters will be available
-There will be a Superintendent’s Choice Performance winner
-T-shirts will be made
-Shout out forms will be available

Nathan strongly suggests that we get involved.  Live auditions are preferred, however tapes are accepted.  There are increasing auditions and so it will be more competition this year.
Slocumb- This was a great experience for his band and was asked by The City of Greensboro to perform it again because it was inspiring.

Brent Davis
Greensboro Music Academy
Brent is the new saxophone instructor for them
Wants to gain students and build up a saxophone ensemble
There are master classes, auditions, solos, and get feedback.

All County Orchestra
Tomorrow All County Orchestra Winds Tapes are due
Expect an email if you email your audition recordings
The clinic is Nov. 19-20 at SWGHS

Jamboree
Marching Band Jamboree is a week from today
Make sure your buses are available since the rain date.
There will be lots of food for purchase.

All County Jazz
All County Jazz Tapes are Due the 29th of October
Send your tapes to Chuck Capps

Recordings
New Beginnings Recordings will be there from now on to record GCS Events. They will have multiple cameras/shots

All District Information
Check All District Website for new changes ncbandmasters.org webpage.
New judging rubric available.
Scale order has changed.
-WW do most flat scales to sharp
-Brass goes from most sharp scales to flat.
Time limit has changed for scales from 3 to 2.5 minutes.
No add-ons or new registrations will be allowed after registration.

All County Band
To set precedence  across the board all directors that participate in All Counties has to:
-Be a member of NCMEA
-Judge at auditions
-Be there for the clinic for both days to supervise their students
Jeremy wants us to familiarize yourself with the new rubrics so your not guessing what the rubrics are asking of you.

New Evaluation System
Nathan- On the new evaluation system you have to present that you are showing leadership.  You can present a lesson to the directors to fulfill that element of the new teacher evaluation.

NCMEA Convention
Congratulations to Ben Keith and Donnie Walter’s Orchestra.  They are performing at conference on Tuesday morning.

Sound System Presentation
Larry Kirby
Music Pastor at Summerfield’s First Baptist Church
Presentation on how to run a sound system.

SharePoint
Nathan- Share Point Presentation
-Can use for Policy and Procedure Manuel
-Continuously edit
-You should make the Sharepoint website your home page or favorites and check it often.
-Eventually move away from mass emails.
-Caution: Nathan can not stop you from changing items. Please don’t change the documents under the handbook. Nathan can see who changed what.
-Please don’t make groups because it causes problems.
-You don’t want to select alert me because every little change will be emailed to you.

Open Discussion
Robyn: Is there anything about requiring middle schools to do marching bands?
-Nathan: no, it is not apart of the standard course of study.
Juli: Is heading up recognition committee.
Ed: Heard that no schools are allowed to go on field trips during April or May.
-Nathan: It is a regional superintendents issue.  Central region is not allowing field trips after spring break.  GCS has approved motor coach company and we have to use them.  It is an insurance issue.
Nathan: Dennis Askew of the Judges for the Jamboree is unable to do it next week so Dr. Stephen Edwards at Catawba College is going to fill in.
Kristen- Has made scale sheets for All County band. When they are finished she will send to Nathan to put on the Sharepoint.