This year’s conference was outstanding with so many opportunities for professional development. Wednesday began with the AMEA board and ABA board meeting to finalize the conference and planning for the future. Thursday’s concert schedule was a great view into the instrumental education in Alabama. The day started on aspectacular note with the Liberty Park 7th & 8th Middle School Band and Oak Mountain High School Symphonic Band. The concerts from Muscle Shoals High School Wind Ensemble and Thompson High School Wind Ensemble were both amazing glimpses into what our bands can achieve. The night continued with the UAB Wind Symphony which was outstanding. A new event with the 10 pm concert featured the Alabama Winds. Their concert included “In My Father’s Eyes” by Julie Giroux. It is dedicated to the 1963 bombing victims of the 16th Street Baptist Church. It featured the choir from the 16th St. Baptist Church. It was a moment none of us will soon forget. Friday’s concerts with Fairhope Middle School Symphonic Band and Spain Park High Symphonic Winds were equally as great. Thanks to these directors and students for your hard work and dedication to your programs. So many of the clinics were done by our own members. Many thanks to all the clinicians for sharing your wonderful talents. As you begin preparing for MPA consider applying to perform next year. We have great bands in this state at all levels. Bite the bullet and apply to perform.

As we have just finished all districts all-state auditions, we must learn the process to benefit our students. For any ABA event, read the handbook on that section. The most recent edition can be found on myamea.org. When you don’t prepare, it’s your students that suffer. It also causes stress on the chairmen and people organizing the event.

MPA is our next event. As you prepare, remember everyone cannot perform at 11:00am on the last day. Be flexible and cooperate so when the adjudication starts it is as stress-free as it can be.

The solo festival will register online this year. The link will be emailed and posted on the abafest.com website. Fill out all information and print the last page of the receipt email. The band director, student, and parent must sign this page before mailing with payment to Harry McAfee.

Directors are so passionate about their students. When we are involved in ABA events they are all our students. Everyone deserves our full professional attention.

At All-state this year, we will have elections for Jazz President-Elect, Recording Secretary, and ABA President-Elect. The nominating committee is Chris Lindley from Albertville High School, David Caddell from Echols Middle School, and Will Mixon from Gulf Shores High School. If you have recommendations, please contact them. The organization needs the best person for these positions.

Lastly, abafest.com in its current form will end July 31st. Please watch for instructions, go to district meetings and read emails. “I don’t know” can’t be an excuse. Do we accept that from our students? Let’s be professional and remember we are band directors and can make magic out of situations that possibly could not succeed. Good Luck at MPA and we will see you in Huntsville for All-State.

At All-State we will discuss and vote on the following legislation:

2019-1

Currently:

Article XVI, Section 3
c. No electronic instruments may be used unless included in the score by the composer. Any other exceptions to must be presented to the Chairman of the Music Selection Committee (Vice-President) for approval.

Change to/Add:
Article XVI, Section 3
Electronic instruments may be used if they are included in the score by the composer or with approval from the Chairman of the Music Selection Committee (Vice President). An electronic piano and necessary hardware, provided by the band performing, will be allowed to be used to substitute for a piano part that is included in the score by the composer.

Rationale:
There are many publications that require a piano part. This change to the bylaws will allow directors to choose to perform on an acoustic piano (if available) or an electronic piano. The main advantages to the electronic piano are the student can prepare for assessment on the instrument they will perform on and you can ensure that it is in tune

2019-2
Article XX. Non-Traditional Students

This article outlines the process to allow non-traditional students to participate in a band with Alabama Bandmaster Association member public schools. The guidelines below outline participation for all activities sponsored by the Alabama Bandmasters Association.

Section 1. Home School Guidelines

a. Enrollment

1) Students must enroll in a member public school in order to participate in a band performance or practice.
2) Must be enrolled at the member public school that serves the area in which the student’s guardians reside.
3) Must be enrolled within the first 20 days of the semester in the school they are zoned to attend.
4) All home school students are eligible once enrolled based on local board policy.

b. Academic Accountability
1) Must be enrolled and attend two electives offered by the school.

i. One of these electives is required to be the band class the student participates with at performances.
ii. The other elective class can be taken on campus or through the school ’s virtual program.
iii. The ABA recommends that the other elective is not an additional band class or private lessons class.

c. Practice Time
1) A home school student’s practice time must be equivalent to but not to exceed that of a traditional student during the school day.

Section 2. Virtual School Guidelines

a. Enrollment

1) Virtual school students must follow all ALSDE policies.
2) Local board policy must be in accordance will all ABA bylaws.

b. Academic Accountability1) The student must be enrolled and attend the band class the student participates with at performances.

c. Practice Time:

1) A home school student’s practice time must be equivalent to but not to exceed that of a traditional student during the school day.

Section 3. Charter School Guidelines a. Enrollment

1) Alabama public charter school students must enroll within the first 20 days of the semester in the school they are zoned to attend.

2) For eligibility in an Alabama public charter school, enrollment must be at the public charter school that serves the area in which the student’s parents reside and all other requirements are met.

3) If a public charter school (conversion or start up) does not have band, the student may return to his/her home school (based on the student’s residence) to participate.

b. Academic Accountability
1) The student must be enrolled and attend the band class the student participates with at performances.

c. Practice Time:
1) A home school student’s practice time must be equivalent to but not to exceed that of a traditional student

during the school day.

Mentioned in Article XI, Section 1, Letter g (pg. 9) – All-State Auditions, & Article XVI, Section 3, Letter h (pg. 16) – MPA

1) Only students who are enrolled in their high school, junior high school, or middle school band are eligible to participate in the Alabama Bandmasters Music Performance Assessment.
2) Students who are being home schooled under guidelines established by the State Department of Education may participate in the Alabama Bandmasters Music Performance Assessments as long as they meet the following prerequisite: Membership in an instrumental ensemble that meets on a regular basis to rehearse and perform traditional band literature, whose conductor meets all membership requirements of the Alabama Bandmasters Association.

As the school year has begun with 12+ hour days, working with beginners on their new instruments and preparing for all the next events of the year, don’t forget to register for the AMEA Conference in Birmingham, January 17-19 2019. The conference is a great way to re-energize at the beginning of the second semester. With the number of applicants, Garry and I discussed different scheduling possibilities, and that includes an amazing program by The Alabama Winds. Let me encourage you to make plans now to attend their concert, set for 10 pm Thursday night. You do not want to miss it! In addition to this treat, we’ve planned many clinics covering a wide range of topics that we hope will inspire you to ‘learn and return’ by taking some new ideas and energy back to your own programs.

The board received thirty-five applications to perform. Choosing from all the applicants was a great problem to have and shows our bands are continuing to improve and are wanting to share their outstanding students with the music educators of Alabama. The groups that have been selected are truly outstanding, and include Liberty Park 7&8 MS Band, Oak Mountain HS Symphonic Band, Music Shoals HS Wind Ensemble, Thompson HS Wind Ensemble, UAB Wind Symphony, Alabama Winds, Bob Jones HS Percussion Ensemble, Auburn University Jazz Band, Fairhope MS Symphonic Band, and the Intercollegiate Band.

Please remember that the middle school etudes are selections from the Rubank Advanced Volume I. These students must present a copy of the book at the registration table at the district level. String bass and percussion will continue with the current cycle of etudes. The scales for the middle school must be performed at the range listed on the website. There is also a four-minute time limit on the middle school scales. As a professional organization, we must strive to adhere to the rules and regulations that are in place for the benefit and fairness of our students’ success.

The music performance classifications have changed for this year. Your district chairmen should have discussed these changes in detail at your district meetings or through email. The current bylaws are online at www.myamea.org. Please read the bylaws first before calling and asking a question whose answer can be easily found. Your ABA board works very hard for you while maintaining their own band programs, and we ask that you please be patient with them at the busy times of the year. Read their emails, get registrations done on time, and participate and help during your district events. Band directors demand so much of our students on a daily basis, but we often do not live up to what is expected of us as members of ABA. I am speaking to myself as well when I say this: let us strive to do our jobs for our students and for their success at ABA events. When judging all-state auditions, they are all your students and need professionalism and fairness. When you don’t meet deadlines, judge at district All-State auditions, or follow the bylaws and guidelines, it is your students that potentially suffer.

If you have not already updated your directory on abafest and myamea, please do so immediately. We are still finding mistakes in member’s information. This helps the organization keep you informed and

to make sure your registrations are processed correctly. The ABA has asked that when you are registering for events, you complete the process yourself by mailing the payment and registration to the appropriate person at ABA. We constantly receive checks and registrations sent to the wrong places, causing delays in processing. Thanks for your attention to this detail.

All-State 2019 will be in Huntsville. Please use the hotel links on the website to book rooms. It is easier for you and benefits the organization!

Finally, the AMEA conference is more than great concerts, inspirational and educational clinics, and meetings. It is a time to listen to veteran directors on how they have conquered the problems the younger directors face. And for veteran directors, it’s a great time to hear new ideas, innovative techniques, and to be inspired about a fresh look at a career to which they have devoted their professional lives. Find a way to join us at the AMEA conference and let’s continue to make our organization stronger for the benefit of our students.