Fwd: Honor Band Rules and Procedures update

TMEA Region 6 Band Directors,

The email below contains very important information concerning the TMEA Honor Band process. If you are a TMEA Band Divison member, you should have already received this email. The reason I am forwarding it to everyone is to once again convey the importance of its contents. If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Thank you,

Steven Dojahn

Midland Lee HS Director of Bands

Mighty Rebel Band

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: TMEA News <news@tmea.org>
Date: Mon, Oct 28, 2019 at 11:42 AM
Subject: Honor Band Rules and Procedures update
To: <sdojahn@gmail.com>

Dear TMEA Band Division Membership,

You have probably already heard that in June 2019, a committee met to discuss the Honor Band competition.

The committee's chief priority was to enhance the Honor Band process for the students involved. All options discussed were in the context of what is best for the students and their band experience in middle and high school.

The following steps have taken place in this process:

• At the June meeting, committee members discussed issues and made suggestions for changes to the competition.
• Committee member Gerry Miller summarized the committee's suggestions in video format.
• This video was sent to the 33 Band Division Region Chairs for their review prior to a Region Band Chair meeting at the summer conventions in July.
• Region Band Chairs discussed the changes during their July meeting.
• Region Band Chairs were asked to present this information to the membership at the fall Region meetings and deliver feedback to TMEA.
• Based on the Band Division membership feedback, final suggestions were presented to the TMEA Executive Board.

Such a topic will always result in differing opinions. The new Honor Band rules are a result of the above process. There are four significant changes in these new rules:

1. Recorded music time limits will be enforced.
2. UIL performance is not required to be one of the four performances available.
3. More bands will advance from Region to Area, and from Area to State, giving more students the opportunity to experience the success of their work to a fuller extent.
4. Aligning the performances of 1C and 3C in the same year, and offsetting 2C and 3C from the same year.

Much of the document has already been in existence, with some rewordings incorporated throughout.

TMEA exists for the good of Texas music students. One of our stated goals is "To offer quality musical experiences for students." TMEA is also blessed to have so many caring and wonderful teachers as members. We believe these updated rules further contribute to quality musical experiences for students.

Respectfully,

John Carroll
Associate Band Director
Permian High School
TMEA State Band Vice-President/Chair
432-553-2780

Texas Music Educators Association
7900 Centre Park Dr, Austin, TX 78754
888-318-8632 | 512-452-0710
www.tmea.org