Jazz Audition Update

I'm sending you all a quick email to remind you that the deadline for entering students into the All-Region Jazz Audition is this Friday, September 25^th (Tomorrow) @ 12:00pm (Noon).

The entry portal will close at that point and NO LATE ENTRIES will be allowed.

 

To help you navigate through the next steps of the audition process, I've created the following bulleted list:

 

• After entering your students, you should receive an email from TMEA/Music First with instructions on student logins.  Be sure to share that info with your students as that is how they will access the individual contest "audition rooms".
• Beginning this Saturday morning (September 26^th @ 12:00am) through the following Wednesday evening (September 30^th @ 11:59pm), your students will be able to record themselves and upload their recordings into the MusicFirst audition portal. (Details on this process, with step-by-step instructions, can be found within the TMEA Audition Entry portal where you entered your students.)
• *Note: All the necessary backing tracks (Improv and Drum Tracks) have already been uploaded and can be accessed for the corresponding component(s) of the recorded audition.
• Following the conclusion of the Audio Upload period, the director from each school that entered students into the contest will need go back into the MusicFirst contest portal and verify each student's recording to ensure that it is, in fact, the actual student's recording.
• Once the Director Verification period is complete, the judging process will begin. You will receive a notification from MusicFirst on how to proceed through this phase of the audition process in the next day or so once I've assigned all the judges to their respective audition room(s).  Once the Director Verification period is complete, you will have approximately 24-48 hours to login to MusicFirst, listen to the recordings in your audition room assignment(s), and rank them.  After all judges have completed this process, MusicFirst will tabulate the results of the audition.
• *Note: At present, I do not have enough judges to complete the TMEA-mandated five-person judging panels. If this does not change, I may be forced to assign each director to multiple rooms and recruit the head director from each school participating to judge, even if that person is not the jazz band director.
• Once all judging is complete, we will publish the results and name our 2020-21 All-Region Jazz Band members!
• *Note: Since all students that make the Region 6 Jazz Band automatically advance to Area, more details regarding the Area-level audition process will be made available to you in the coming days…

 

As a point of reference, see the complete audition process schedule below:

 

Signup Start: Saturday, September 12, 2020
Signup Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2020 12:00 pm (Noon)
Audio Upload period: Saturday, September 26, 2020 to Wednesday, September 30, 2020 11:59 pm
Director Verification period: Thursday, October 1, 2020 to Friday, October 2, 2020 11:59 pm
Campus Fee: $100.00; Student Fee: $20.00 ($17.50 Region Fee + $2.50 Audio Fee)

 

If you have any questions about the audition process, please let me know.  If I don't know the answer, I will reach up to our TMEA leadership and find out what I can.

 

Thank you, in advance, to everyone for helping our students have a positive experience throughout the new audition process.

 

Jon

 

Dr. Jonathan M. Kraemer

Director of Bands

Abilene High School

2800 North 6^th Street

Abilene, TX 79603

325.677.1731 (x1827)

jonathan.kraemer@abileneisd.org

www.eagleband.com

 

UIL Region 6 Marching Entry Deadline Approaching

Directors:

It has been 23 years since Region 6 has had a change in UIL leadership.  It is with great respect and appreciation that I want to commend Charles Nail on the job he did for the music teachers in Region 6.  I still call on him frequently as a mentor.  

 

I hope that I have emails for everyone.  I have utilized the email list from ATSSB and TMEA as well as those from our larger districts.  HOWEVER, Please forward this email to any new directors in the region.  

 

The deadline for entry to the two Region 6 marching events and Twirling S&E is just a few short weeks away and I thought a reminder might be in order for everyone.

SOUTH ZONE MARCHING CONTEST - SAN ANGELO - EVENT CANCELLED (bands MUST enter in the East Zone or West Zone) In general, bands to the west of San Angelo should go to Odessa and those to the east should go to Abilene.

WEST ZONE MARCHING CONTEST - ODESSA - DEADLINE IS October 7, 2020 (New contest date is November 7, 2020)

EAST ZONE MARCHING CONTEST - ABILENE - DEADLINE IS October 7, 2020 (New contest date is November 7, 2020) 

REGION 6 TWIRLING S&E - ODESSA - DEADLINE IS October 7, 2020 (All Region 6 twirling entries will attend this S&E)   (New contest date is November 7, 2020) 

 

The entry process is outlined for you by going to the Region 6 website (www.uilmusicregion6.com). 

1.  Click on "REGION MARCHING BAND" (left column)

2.  Click on Marching Entry Procedures

 After reading the information there click on the link that takes you back to the Homepage and click on LINK TO ENTER ALL REGION 6 UIL MUSIC EVENTS in red print.  ALL ENTRIES WILL BE MADE ON-LINE THROUGH THE TEXAS MUSIC FORMS WEBSITE.  

 

The entry fee for all bands is $400.00 per group. ($100 late fee)

 

TWIRLING ENTRIES - If you have twirling entries they are also due on the deadline date shown.  The process is the same as for Marching Entries (above).  Then look for the link that says TWIRLING ENTRY PROCEDURE in red print.  

 

Entry fees for solo-ensemble entries is $10.00 per person. ($10 late fee)

 

DO NOT SEND YOUR FORM 1 WITH YOUR ENTRIES.  THE FORM 1 IS DUE ON THE DAY OF CONTEST AND SHOULD BE DATED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE CONTEST.  Eligibility often changes between the entry deadline and the contest date.  Providing the Form 1 on the day of contest assures that your eligibility is current.

 

Please begin the process of getting a check for your fees NOW.  Fees are due at the entry deadline.

 

SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE REGION 6 EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ON OR BEFORE THE ENTRY DEADLINE FOR YOUR CONTEST:

1.  Statement of Compliance (available on the Region 6 website)

2.  Announcer Script (available on the Region 6 website)

3.  Invoice showing your entry and the amount (After completing your online entry, click on "MY ENTRIES" (red box, top of page), then click on a blue box that says "PRINT INVOICE.") A copy of this invoice may also be used to accompany your purchase order for fees to your Business Office.  

4.  A School Check for your entry fees

5.  If you are in Class 3A, or 5A and intend to participate in the respective Area Marching contest, please be sure you have clicked the AREA INTENT button during the entry process.  No letter of intent is necessary.

6.  Class A bands will be certified directly from the Region Marching event to the 1A State Marching Contest if they receive an overall rating of "1" at the Region Marching contest.  No Area event is scheduled for Class A bands.

 

SEND THE ABOVE INFORMATION TO:

                Jay Lester, Executive Secretary

                UIL Music Region 6

                221 Grape St.

                Abilene, TX 79601

 

Thanks in advance for getting all this done PRIOR to the deadline.  Please correct the name and address with your business office now.  

 

If you have any questions, please email me at uilregion6music@gmail.com   (please note that this email is slightly different from Mr. Nail's - do not let your email program autofill or it will likely go to him)

 

--

Jay Lester, Executive Secretary

325-260-3925