19 minute read
News from Our Board of Directors
from 2022 May TEMPO
Band Performance
Nick Mossa nmossa16[at]gmail.com
Greetings! As we near the end of this school year it is a nice time to look both behind at the long and arduous road we have all travelled as well as the miles ahead for us and our students. The past two school years and all of the consequential abnormalities have seen us all make radical changes to our own practices two school years and all of the consequential abnormalities have seen us all make radical changes to our own practices and programs in the spirit of safety and preservation of the student’s valuable experiences making music in schools. You will likely not be thanked or appreciated enough for just how much you have done over the course of this pandemic but know that in this shared experience across many, many band rooms in our state and beyond that your work has and will continue to matter a great deal for your students and your communities. I commend you for your dedication to your band throughout these two incredible years - your students are lucky to have you!
What lies ahead? Although we can never know for sure what the future may bring, I am hopeful that next year brings us more stability and support for our students to make music safely and happily. At this time, NJMEA is planning on returning to an ordinary All State Band event schedule in February 2023 including one reading rehearsal, weekend rehearsals and overnight housing in Atlantic City, and culminating with a concert at NJPAC. You can find the 2022/2023 All State Band Solo list in this issue of Tempo Magazine so that you may begin preparing with your students. Let’s hope that our school concerts, festivals, and shows of 2022/2023 can also be planned with a familiar and predictable approach!
Finally, this will be my last report as the band performance chair for NJMEA. I want to thank NJMEA for the privilege of serving in this volunteer position for this wonderful state organization for four special years. My successor will have the great honor of working with both the board of directors and the All State Band Committee and I look forward to all of the great happenings that await New Jersey bands in the coming years! I wish you and your students wonderful Spring concert performances and a joyful finish to this incredible school year. Be well, and see you soon!
Retired Members/Mentorship
Kathleen Spadafino kspadeb[at]aol.com
NJRMEA had a very successful meeting at the NJMEA convention in February. We had several new members sign up, and we all enjoyed a presentation by Libby Gopal, who talked about programs to boost All-State and Region participation by Title I schools. She will contact us with more details so we can help in this effort. Our president Ron Dolce has worked very hard to increase our membership, and will send out more emails this spring. Our next General Membership meeting is Wednesday, May 18 at the Asbury Park Music Foundation. We will have a short meeting followed by a tour of the building and recording studios. We will provide breakfast, but after our tour we can all go out to lunch at a nearby restaurant. This is a great day out at the Jersey Shore! Please email Ron at Rdolce561[at]aol.com with any questions.
We hope to see you there!
2022-2023 ALL STATE BAND SOLO LIST
Instrument Solo Piccolo Flute Espagnol Sonata in e, No. 5 Composer Publisher Christensen Kendor 10420 Bach/Wummer Southern SS120
Oboe Sonata KV370, Mvts. 1 & 2
Mozart International 1466 English Horn* Concerto for English Horn Donezetti CF Peters EP4847 Eb Clarinet* Adagio e Tarantella (Bb Clarinet Version) Cavallini Carl Fischer CU526 Bb Clarinet Concerto, Mvts. 2 & 3 Mozart Schirmer 50261780 Eb Alto Clarinet* Darkwood Bennett Carl Fischer W1670 Bb Bass Clarinet Ballade Bozza Southern SS287 Contra Clarinet* Darkwood Bennett Carl Fischer W1670 Bassoon Concert Piece Pierne International 1617 Bb Sop. Sax* Sonata "Alpine", Op. 37 Lunde To the Fore Publishing Eb Alto Sax Sonata, Mvts. 1 & 2 Lunde Southern SS743 Bb Tenor Sax Concerto in g minor Bennett Carl Fischer W1743 Eb Bari Sax Sonata, Mvts. 1 & 2 Anderson Southern ST172 Bb Trumpet Sonata, Op. 18 Hansen Hickman Music Editions Horn Concerto, No. 1 Strauss International 1715 Trombone Morceau Symphonique Guilmont Remick/Alfred TS0046 Bass Trombone* Concerto Lebedev/Ostrand Ed. Musicus EMI128 Ens. Pub. Euphonium Lyric Suite, Mvts. 2 & 3 White Schirmer 50365300 Tuba Prelude, Variations, Chorale & Fugue Mueller Ed. Musicus EM426TU Ens. Pub. Harp* Imprompto Caprice Pierne Leduc AL 10381 Piano* Fantasien, Op. 116, No. 7, Capriccio Brahms G. Henle Verlag HN1216 Timpani Theme and Variations Fink Studio 4 Music (from Musical Etudes for the Advanced Timpanist)
Mallets Tambourine Chinois Kreisler/Green Carl Fischer F1934
Battery Percussion Snare Portraits in Rhythm, Etudes No. 1 AND No. 13 Cirone Belwin/Alfred 00-HAB00101 Keyboard Etude No. 8 (from Audition Etudes) Whaley Meredith Music
*Instruments will be used as needed.
Choral Performance
Mike Doheny michaeldoheny70[at]gmail.com
Congratulations to all of New Jersey’s choral directors! You have almost made it. It has been a year of trying to keep updated on endless changes to protocol, making sure we can deliver our art to our students and community while keeping everyone safe. You have done a tremendous job… so much more than your our students and community while keeping everyone safe. You have done a tremendous job… so much more than your degree prepared you for, or your contract pays you for. In case it hasn’t been said to you often enough, thank you! You are appreciated!
We are thrilled to finally be able to announce our brilliant All State conductors for the 2022-23 season. Dr. Amanda Quist from the University of Miami, and formerly from Westminster Choir College, will be our conductor for the Mixed Chorus, and Ms. Argine Safari from Pascack Valley High School will lead our Treble Chorus. The Choral Procedures Committee is honored to have these two outstanding women with New Jersey roots to educate and inspire our ensembles this upcoming year!
The incorporation of the new solo - “Deep River” - into our audition process presented new opportunities for musical growth and discussion. For the first time in the history of our All State Chorus, an audition element allowed and encouraged our students to demonstrate their personal choices of expression and interpretation - essentially saying “New Jersey students, show us how you would sing this!” While this idea pushes some boundaries for many of us, it is absolutely necessary for the forward motion of our organization. As we attempt to continuously diversify our repertoire, conductors, and the students and school districts we serve, this was a valuable step forward, and the beginning of an exciting journey into new musical possibilities.
As my first full year as Choral Procedures Chairperson comes to a close, I can report that choral music is very much alive and vibrant in our state despite the setbacks we have all experienced. It is apparent to me, however, that finding schools and venues willing to host our rehearsals is getting increasingly more difficult. With fewer school districts enthusiastic about hosting large events for outside people, plus the rising costs of renting spaces, we have been unable to secure venues for our October 15 and 29, 2022 rehearsals. For months, the committee members and I have attempted to contact our former rehearsal locations, and followed leads provided to us by colleagues and the NJMEA Board, all to no avail. At this point, it appears that these rehearsals will be virtual unless a venue becomes available. Please, if you are able to host a rehearsal of the All State Mixed and Treble Chorus on October 15 and/or October 29, contact a committee member, or me at michaeldoheny70[at]gmail.com, as soon as possible.
Please join me in showing thanks and appreciation for our hard working and dedicated Choral Procedures Committee - Barbara Retzko, Viraj Lal, Libby Gopal, Matt Lee, Kahlil Gunther, Cheryl Breitzman, Romel McGinnis, Kristen Markowski, Arielle Siegel, and Hillary Colton!
You have almost made it! Thanks again for all you do. I hope you have a restful and rejuvenating summer. You deserve it!
Photos courtesy of:
Gary Gellman gellmanimages.com
K-12 Ed Tech & Innovation
Shawna Longo shawnalongo[at]gmail.com
Wow! What a year! I am very excited about our upcoming and revamped Music Technology Expo that will be happening later this month (May 19, 9am-1pm) at Lakeside Studios in Asbury Park. Please note - you can attend as a teacher to observe and earn some professional development! If you want to check it Please note - you can attend as a teacher to observe and earn some professional development! If you want to check it out to see how you may be able to include your students next year, feel free to reach out to me via email or directly to Bill Grillo (william.grillo@wwprsd.org).
Our NJMEA Conference in Atlantic City also featured a new structure to the Technology Academy. We split into two academies: K-8 General Music and HS Music Production. We featured many amazing clinicians from across New Jersey and across the country in-person and via Zoom! The list included many nationally recognized presenters including Barbara Freedman, Amy Burns, Bryan Powell, Warren Gramm, Heath Jones, Ethan Hein, Marjorie LoPresti, myself, and Zachary Gates. We also, for the first time ever, featured student performances using technology! If you are a music technology teacher and are interested in featuring your students at our 2023 conference and/or if you have any ideas for potential presenters or topics, please let me know! I am already busy working on our technology academies line-up, which I promise will not disappoint!
PreK-8 General Music
Amy Burns aburns[at]fhcds.org
Welcome Spring! It has been wonderful to see more live, spring performances and ensembles coming back to the NJ schools this year.
Our online, live webinars have been a great success this school year. If you are a current NJMEA member and have not joined us for our webinars, we have recorded previous ones below. Please contact me and I can send you the links to view them and receive PD credits. •Using Digital Portfolios to Capture Musical Creativity and Learning with Katie Wardrobe •Gender Neutrality in the Music Room with Amy Abbott •Creating Video Performances with Amy M. Burns •STEM with Music with Shawna Longo and Zachary Gates •NJMEA Conference Take-Aways from Elementary and Music Technology.
In addition, the North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA) is hosting a free, in-person PD day on Monday, June 6, for the NJSMA (Region 1 of NJMEA) Membership PD Day. The Elementary Division of NJSMA has exciting and meaningful sessions planned for Elementary General Music Educators. Please check their website for more information: https://www. njsma.com/
Inclusion/Diversity/Equity/Access
Katy Brodhead njmea.idea[at]gmail.com
As we begin to close out the 2021-2022 school year and prepare for the fall, the IDEA Committee is focusing on three key initiatives. These priorities were developed with input from our membership at the 2022 State Conferenc and through responses to an equity and culturally responsive teaching survey shared in February. First, we are organizing professional development workshops on IDEA practices that will be accessible over the course of the year. Next, the committee is exploring how to support students with limited or no access to private lesson instruction. Finally, we are planning a statewide student conference to encourage student leadership and provide opportunities for students to engage in diverse musical experiences.
We are also excited to be growing our committee with the addition of a collegiate representative, as well as subcommittee chairs and members! Email NJMEA.IDEA[at]gmail.com to share your ideas or challenges, or to join us in our work!
Special Learners
Maureen Butler maureenbutlermusic[at]gmail.com
As the school year nears its end, this is a good time to evaluate how our special learners have fared in our classes. If you feel that you need more resources, summer is a great time to recharge and research. NAfME has many recorded webinars that you can access, at your convenience, under the topic of Special Learners. If you’re a FaceBook member, check out the Special Learners and Music group, where members share resources, upcoming conferences and strategies. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Someone on our state Special Learners committee will be able to share helpful advice and strategies. Collaborating with each other is a sure way to success!
Choral Festivals
Donna Marie Berchtold firesongwed[at]gmail.com
NJMEA sponsors two Middle School Choral Festivals. We are extremely happy to once again be able to see our young musicians in person!
The first event was held at Rowan University on March 17, 2022. The festival scheduled for Rutgers University will be held on May 25, 2022. Each event features middle school – junior high choral groups ranging from grade 5 – 9. Those choirs which participated at Rowan University were from the following schools: William Davies Middle School, Buena Regional Middle School, Monroe Township Middle School, and Assumption Regional Catholic School. The adjudicators for that event were: Vanessa Bond, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Music Education at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, and Charles Bass, composer, publisher, and Retired Choral Director, Oakcrest High School, Mays Landing, NJ. The Hosts were Dr. Rick Dammers, Dean of the College of Performing Arts and Dr. Chris Thomas, Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Rowan University.
The program for the NJMEA Choral Festival at Rutgers is still being developed for the event to take place on May 25th. At the time of this writing, there are still a few available time slots for schools to perform. There will be two adjudicators at the Rutgers Festival. Judith Nicosia, Associate Professor of Music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, and Dr. Brandon Williams, Assistant professor of choral music and choral music education at the Mason Gross School of the Arts will serve as Hosts for the event.
The coordinators for both Festival events are: Donna Marie Berchtold, NJMEA Choral Festivals Chairperson, (Retired) from the Hamilton Twp. School District (Atlantic County), Mays Landing, and Karen Blumenthal, Von E. Mauger Middle School, Middlesex. At the Festivals, each participating choral group receives written and aural evaluations by the adjudicators, along with a plaque from NJMEA which recognizes the commitment and involvement by the school, its chorus, and the director(s).
Any schools interested in participating in the Middle School – Jr. High Choral Festival(s) next year, should be sure to complete the application form in the January 2023 issue of TEMPO magazine, or online at www.njmea.org.
For more information, contact Donna Marie at: firesongwed[at]gmail.com, 609-226-7751 or Karen Blumenthal, Von E. Mauger Middle School at: blumenthalk[at]middlesex.k12.nj.us , 908.581.5053
OPERA FESTIVAL
Currently, the Opera Festival is going through a redevelopment stage with a small team of excellent volunteers who are rebranding the program to become more inclusive and accessible to more students. There is an anticipation for the Opera Festival to take place in early November 2022. The Location would be at Seton Hall University.
Please send your contact information if you are interested in having more details regarding sending students. We will also be looking for educators to assist with the programming.
Email: Donna Marie Berchtold, firesongwed[at]gmail.com (put Opera Fest in the Subject line)
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Orchestra Performance/Festivals
Susan Meuse susanmeuse[at]gmail.com
It’s been three years, but we finally were able to have in-person auditions! The Orchestra Procedures Committee would like to Congratulate all of the students selected to participate in the 2022 All-State Orchestras and All-State Intermediate Orchestra. The Procedures Committee would like to thank Auditions Chair, Sue Mark and all of the directors who were there to help out. We would also like to thank Brian Verdi, and Justin Lee of JP Stevens High School in Edison for hosting.
During the auditions, the Procedures Committee met to discuss some important topics including the solo list and scales for auditions next year. There will be one big change for the ASO auditions. Students will be asked to prepare orchestral excerpts instead of solo excerpts. All of the excerpts will come from music in the public domain, so no music purchase is necessary.. Look for the requirements in this issue of Tempo and on the NJMEA website. The committee is always seeking ideas from teachers, so please reach out to anyone on the Orchestra Procedures Committee if you’d like to be involved.
Right now, the All-State Intermediate Orchestra is working hard to prepare for their concert on Saturday, May 14 under the baton of Dr. Arvin Gopal. Please come hear these talented students perform. The All-State Orchestra will begin rehearsing this June. The conductor bio and program will be in the next Tempo. As always, if you are interested in getting involved with the All-State Orchestras, please feel free to email me or stop by a rehearsal.
Festivals - I am in the process of working with high school and middle school directors to plan for festivals next school year. If you would like to be involved, please let me know! Sue Mark
Seen at the 2022 NJMEA Convention
All-State Orchestra High School Scales
Revised 05/04/20
All scales are to be memorized. Please no vibrato. Judges/Audition Chair will select which scale(s) is/are to be played. A metronome tempo will be given before each scale. Students will not receive extra points for additional octaves or a faster tempo. Do not repeat tonic within the scale. Repeating highest note is acceptable.
VIOLIN
C# Melodic minor G Melodic minor F Melodic Minor
VIOLA-CELLO
F# Melodic minor C Melodic minor B Melodic Minor
BASS
D Melodic minor E Melodic minor B Melodic Minor
All-State Intermediate Orchestra Scales
Revised 05/04/20
VIOLIN
All scales are to be memorized. Please no vibrato. Judges/Audition Chair will select which scale(s) is/are to be played. A metronome tempo will be given before each scale. Students will not receive extra points for additional octaves or a faster tempo. Do not repeat tonic within the scale. Repeating highest note is acceptable.
9 Major scales:
D, Eb, E, F in 2 octaves; G, Ab, A, Bb, C in 3 octaves Separate Bows: each note will be played as a quarter note with the quarter note = 104mm. Slurred Bows: 8 notes slurred to a bow, as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 104mm.
VIOLA
9 major scales:
CELLO
9 major scales:
BASS
9 major scales:
G, E, F, Ab, in 2 octaves*; A, Bb, C, D, Eb in 1 octave* Separate Bows: each note will be played as a quarter note with the quarter note = 104mm. Slurred Bows: 4 notes slurred to a bow, as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 104mm. *No octave drop.
Excerpts will be posted for download/print on the NJMEA website
INSTRUMENT COMPOSER TITLE & EXCERPT
VIOLIN Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Third Movement; Excerpt: m99-m110 Mozart Symphony No. 39, Fourth Movement; Excerpt: m1-m41
VIOLA Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Second Movement; Excerpts: m1-m10, m49-m60, m98-m106 Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream, Scherzo; Excerpt: m17-D
CELLO Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Second Movement; Excerpts: m1-m10, m49-m60, m98-m106 Mozart Symphony No. 35, Fourth Movement; Excerpt: m134-m197
BASS Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Third Movement; Excerpts: m141-m177 Mozart Symphony No. 40, First Movement; Excerpt: m115-m138
Cadenzas are never required in any solos.
INSTRUMENT COMPOSER TITLE
VIOLIN Bach Concerto in A minor Third Movement (Allegro Assai)
VIOLA Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major Courante
EDITION
International
Any
CELLO Squire Tarantella Complete work Fischer
BASS Simandl, Franz Simandl 30 Etudes for String Bass International Etude No. 16
