ATSSB NEWSLETTER Volume XXIV, No. 1, June 2014 Updated June 3, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS SMALL SCHOOL BANDS Beginning our 24th year of service to small school bands in Texas 2117 Morse Street Houston, Texas 77019 (713) 874-1151 ATSSB Executive Committee President's Column by John Young John Young, President 2013-15 Wills Point High School 1800 W. S. Commerce Another year has come to an end Wills Point, Texas 75169 and I hope that after you have had 903-873-2371 email: [email protected] time to step back from it, you have found that you had many successful Jim Cude, President-Elect 2013-15 moments to be proud of. Not just Whitesboro High School #1 Bearcat Drive ratings or awards but that you were Whitesboro, Texas 76273 able to touch a child’s life and make 903-564-4229 email: [email protected] a difference. You were able to grow as an educator and if needed reignite Brandon Brewer, Immediate Past-President 2013-15 Princeton High School that passion to teach. I encourage 1000 E. Princeton Drive you to take some time for you and Princeton, Texas 75407 your family to get away from the 469-952-5400, XT2986 email: [email protected] band hall and rest. The time to re- flect will give you an understanding Kenneth L. Griffin, Executive Secretary (appointed) Association of Texas Small School Bands of what you accomplished person- 2117 Morse Street ally and as a program. Look for ways to make rehearsals better and Houston, Texas 77019 work smarter. 713-874-1151 (voice & fax) email: [email protected] Some of you are moving to new positions. We hope that you are staying in our organization but if you’re moving on to a 5A or Marilyn Bennett, Class 1C/2C Representative 2013-15 Olney Junior High School 6A then we wish you the best of luck. We hope that you will keep in 704 W. Grove Street touch with ATSSB. Your focus on our “small school bands” has made Olney, Texas 76374 us stronger than ever and thank you. If you are retiring then congratu- 940-564-8613 email: [email protected] lations! I wish I was. Please make plans to attend TBA in July. They have a great Carroll Rhodes, Class 1A/2A Representative 2014-16 Tahoka High School line-up of clinics, concerts and exhibits. The leadership of TBA is es- P.O. Box 1500 pecially sensitive to ATSSB concerns and allows us to sponsor clinics Tahoka, Texas 79373 806-561-4538, XT237 as we can. Try to make TBA a part of your summer plans. email: [email protected] A special “Thanks” goes out to all who helped make this year a success. ATSSB is strong because of the great members we Mel Hadderton, Class 3A Representative 2013-15 Holliday High School have. I am always reminded how great our membership is for when I 751 S. College Avenue ask for someone to serve, they always say yes! We have tremendous Holliday, Texas 76366 940-586-1873 support from all across the State! TMEA especially has been so gener- email: [email protected] ous and supportive in our relationship. We look forward to the future with great support from TMEA and its leadership. Russ Rutherford, Class 4A Representative 2014-16 Celina High School I hope you have a great summer for August will be here 3455 N. Preston Road sooner than you think. Celina, Texas 75009 469-742-9119 email: [email protected] Sincerely, 1 (Griffin, continued from Page 3): President-Elect’s Column begins - or go ahead and send in the check now while you are thinking about it. The State Board by Jim Cude voted to increase dues to $50 beginning this next year, but remember that after October 1, the dues increase to $75 unless you are joining as an Associate Member or College Division Member As I write this I am awaiting my students results at the Texas State (everything is the same, you just cannot run for office, vote, or enter students in anyATSSB Solo & Ensemble Contest at Hendrickson High School. It is an competition). Retirees who retire as an Active Member retain their Active Membership but dues amazing showcase of musical talent in our great state. Thanks to are reduced to $25 per year. A cover page showing your ATSSB and TMEA membership card Brad Kent, George Strickland, Patty Esfandiari, and Melinda Strick- must be sent with the initial entry forms for the first audition entered (ATSSB or TMEA). Don't land for hosting our students and staff during this annual event. forget that if you enter students in the Jazz Ensemble competitions that audition deadlines are It is truly a monumental task and they make it look easy. It is so EARLY, so get your ATSSB and TMEA dues taken care of as soon as possible. I email a copy of encouraging to see how strong music programs are in Texas. This your card as soon as I receive payment of dues, so be sure we have an accurate email address for is evident by the sheer numbers of students participating in these you and that your school does not block mail from this office (attachments trigger spamguards, contests and it is so great to hear the literature that is being played so make sure we are allowed). Don't forget, most schools have new classifications this year due by the students. This contest was the last thing to check off my list to he UIL renaming Classes 2A-5A to Class 3A-6A (Class 1A was split into 1A and 2A). Check of things to finish up the school year. Yes of course I have grades the classification by your school name to be sure it is accurate. If there is a discrepancy, be sure to turn in, inventory to check, and a show to finalize, but this was to let us know as soon as possible. the final performance for my band this year. The performances have ended for this group of In your fall region meetings, you need to nominate a Class 3A Representative to the students. All that is left is paperwork to finish this year and begin another. I plan on taking time State Board of Directors and a President-Elect. The election will be held at the General this week to reflect on the times these students and I enjoyed making music this year. I have had Session tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 202 of some wonderful experiences in leading and learning from my students this year. I will also miss the Convention Center. After nominees have accepted their nominations, their pictures and those students that are graduating , they have given so much to our band program. They have biographies (if submitted) will appear in the online December Newsletter, so keep an eye out for exemplified a great virtue in life, the ability to finish an activity they started seven years ago. that issue. Please get involved in the district, region, and area activities of ATSSB - and seek In fact they gave me a picture of their class and under the picture it reads “we finished strong”. state office if you would like to serve at that level. It is a lot of work, requires a lot of time and This week as I finish the necessary paperwork, I plan on reflecting on my students and the per- effort, and entails constant contact with fellow officers, but the end results are very worthwhile formances that we enjoyed. (and obviously beneficial to our students and ATSSB in general). The Prescribed Audition List Update (Use Year D) is now available online: I encourage you to reflect on your year and think about what worked and what didn’t, the won- http://www.atssb.org/execsec/YearDUpdate.15.pdf. We do not mail a copy of the Update to all derful musical moments and the wonderful students that you had in your band hall this year. I high school band directors and members with the September Newsletter (the ATSSB Website is am so thankful for the blessings of these students and look forward to what the coming year the official document of ATSSB). The September Newsletter will be mailed, but only to include brings. Have a great summer and take some time to do nothing! a free copy of the 2014 OPS winners CD as a reference tool for our directors. All Newsletters are now available online as a pdf file. If you have lost or misplaced your AL,P you will have to download the page(s) you need from the Website. This coming year, Michael Haithcock (University of Michigan) will be the clinician for the Symphonic Band. The Symphonic Band will premier a piece by Randall Standridge, Executive Secretary’s Column commissioned by ATSSB. Robert Washut (Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of by Kenneth L. Griffin Northern Iowa) will be the clinician for the Jazz Ensemble. Dr. Eric Hammer (University of the Pacific at Stockton, California) will be the Concert Band clinician. Your membership expires on September 1. Please take a minute to Fred Angerstien of the Kinkaid School has secured instructors for short clinics regarding look over your data as posted in the Directory online: http://www.atssb. the ATSSB audition etudes at TBA. These clinics will be given on Monday, July 28: org. and click on the DIRECTORY 2014-15 link in the left sidebar.