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Festival Improvement Committee Report January 10th, 2009 MSBOA State Office, Okemos
The following FIC representatives were in attendance: Kyle Nester – District I, Rich Brand – District II, Jeff Ehardt – District III, Kristin Blanchard – District IV, JoAnn Gross – District V, Eric Olsen – District VI, Keith Westmoreland – District X, Albie Todd – District XI, Eric Joslin – FIC Chair
Other attendees: Joel Shaner – State Vice President for S&E, Rick Catherman – District XII President, Christina Jordan – District VIII President representing Dist. VIII Paul Lichau – Assistant to the Exec. Director,
All motions, passed, defeated or tabled, are included in this report. Any additions to the language of existing policies, procedures or rules are underlined. Every attempt has been made to reproduce the motions and discussions in the order in which they occurred at the meeting. Finally, any references to sections of the yearbook will be done using page numbers from the 2008-09 75th Anniversary yearbook.
Our day began with the presentation of a report prepared by the Definitions Sub-committee. Our thanks to Paul Lichau for his work in preparing a list of terms and concepts as a starting point for our work. The list included items that have come up through the years as members and districts call the state office with questions or looking for interpretations of language in the yearbook. Thanks as well to Jeff Ehardt, JoAnn Gross and Eric Olson for taking the time away from their families to work on this committee. The Sub-Committee met on Friday evening and surveyed each section of festival rules, looking for terms or concepts that 1) seemed ambiguous and required clarification or 2) because of the possibility of varied interpretations required a single consistent definition. As we worked through these items, we were careful to remember that we were not changing rules. We did recognize that there could be changes to how rules were applied around the state because of the definitions we were proposing, but we worked to keep defining our sole focus. The result of the work of the Sub-Committee was a two-page list of items it felt were the most important to address at this time. The full committee did an outstanding job, giving each individual definition careful, deep consideration and making modifications as they saw fit. The resulting list of terms and definitions is attached to this report. This glossary is a “living” list, similar to our basic music list, to which new terms and definitions can and will be added as the need arises. Each definition is numbered and the motion for each individual definition is listed.
Motion #1 It is moved by JoAnn Gross and seconded by Eric Olson that the Policy Study Committee create a step by step process a MSBOA worker will follow to obtain a qualified substitute for a festival work assignment. Motion Passed
Motion #2 It is moved by John Hawkins and seconded by Christina Jordan that the definition for “On-Line Entry” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “On-line entry – Entry of data for an event or ensemble to be entered in an MSBOA festival using MSBOA website www.msboa.org.” Motion Passed
Motion #3 It is moved by Joel Shaner and seconded by Rich Brand that the definition for “Deadline” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Deadline – The last date that the signed documents for festival entry must be in the mail or in some cases hand delivered to the person/office responsible for the festival. Merely completing online entry by the listed date does not satisfy the deadline requirement.” Motion Passed
Motion #4 It is moved by Rich Brand and seconded by Rick Catherman that the definition for “Postmark” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Postmark – A date issued by the U. S. Postal Service and imprinted on the envelope showing the date of mailing. A date on an envelope created by a school or office postage meter or computer generated postage program may not be valid as the envelope could be created days in advance of actual use.”
Motion #5 It is moved by Kyle Nester and seconded by Kristin Blanchard that the definition for “Jazz Combo” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Jazz Combo – A Jazz combo will consist of a minimum of 2 performers and a maximum of eight performers.” Motion Passed
Motion #6 It is moved by JoAnn Gross and seconded by Cathy Kintner that the definition for “Enrolled” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Enrolled – a student will be considered enrolled in a class if they are listed on the official roster for the class, their attendance is taken in accordance with school district policy, and academic credit is given.” Motion Passed
Motion #7 It is moved by Kristin Blanchard and seconded by Christina Jordan that the definition for “Permanent Members” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Permanent members - students enrolled in the ensemble.” Motion Passed
Motion #8 It is moved by Cathy Kintner and seconded by Kristin Blanchard that the definition for “Regularly Scheduled Curricular Ensemble” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Regularly Scheduled Curricular Ensemble– A band or orchestra that meets as a regular class, at a scheduled time. All of the students are enrolled in the ensemble. However, a string class may add wind and percussion players enrolled in the member school’s band to form a full orchestra and maintain its status as a regularly scheduled curricular ensemble.” Motion Passed
Motion #9 It is moved by John Hawkins and seconded by Jeff Ehardt that the definition of “Qualified Substitute” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Qualified Substitute – An adult who has the appropriate knowledge of and experience with, the festival and position to be filled.” Motion Passed
Motion #10 It is moved by Eric Olson and seconded by Cathy Kintner that the definition for “Taking an Adjudicator to Task” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Taking an Adjudicator to Task – Approaching an adjudicator about a rating and/or comment. An evaluation process is in place to address adjudicator quality.” Motion Passed
In the years since the Chamber Ensemble was added as an event type to our Solo and Ensemble Festivals, multiple amendments have been made to the associated S&E rule. While initially necessary to allow for the “common practice” of doubling parts in certain ensemble types, each time this occurred the additions redefined what a chamber ensemble was for a specific instrument type or grouping. The resulting rule now attempts to define five different types of instrument collaborations as the same thing even though they differ from the original concept of a “chamber ensemble” at its most basic level. The committee felt this was at the root of the confusion and made the following motions in an effort to help rectify this situation.
Motion #11 It is moved by Joel Shaner and seconded by Jeff Ehardt that the following definition of “Chamber Ensemble” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Chamber Ensemble – An ensemble of 9 – 20 musicians, one on a part, with all parts being played or as indicated in the score. MSBOA encourages the performance of chamber music as an end to itself and also to promote individual musicianship in a soloistic setting.” Motion Passed
Motion #12 It is moved by Christina Jordan and seconded by Kristin Blanchard that “Woodwind Choir,” “Brass Choir,” and “Chamber Strings” be added to the Solo and Ensemble Festival as event types separate from the current Chamber Ensemble event type. Motion Passed
Motion #13 It is moved by Joel Shaner and seconded by Jeff Ehardt the following definition of “Woodwind Choir” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Woodwind Choir – An ensemble of 9 – 20 musicians, with no more than two players on a part, with all parts being played or as indicated in the score.” Motion Passed
Motion #14 It is moved by Joel Shaner and seconded by Jeff Ehardt the following definition of “Brass Choir” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Brass Choir – An ensemble of 9 – 20 musicians, with no more than two players on a part, with all parts being played or as indicated in the score.” Motion Passed
Motion #15 It is moved by Joel Shaner and seconded by Jeff Ehardt the following definition of “Chamber String Ensemble” be accepted for inclusion in the MSBOA Glossary. “Chamber String Ensemble – An ensemble of 9 – 20 musicians, using multiple players on a part, with all parts being played or as indicated in the score.” Motion Tabled to Fall Meeting September 2009
FIC Representative Kyle Nester from Chippewa Hills has volunteered contact Linda Trotter, V.P of String Activities and work in conjunction with her to contact and survey string teachers around the state as to the implications of this definition. His work will be presented at the next meeting of the FIC in September 2009.
Discussion then turned to the issue of solo and ensemble music purchased from internet sources and how this type of music purchase impacts the application of S&E Festival rules governing original scores. The following motion was made to address this issue.
Motion #16 It is moved by John Hawkins and seconded by Rick Catherman that the following sentence be added to the Solo and Ensemble Festival Information and Rules as article b of the Definition of an Original Score, under item 10 of Section B Performance Rules, page 18, “b. For music purchased on the Internet, proof of purchase must be presented to the room chairman before performance at the Solo and Ensemble Festival.” All remaining articles of the Definition of an Original Score will reflect this addition. Motion Passed
General Discussion Items The committee discussed the Marching Band Festival Timing Rules. The rules for Timing and Penalties have multiple guidelines. First, a 15-minute time block is given for each band. During those fifteen minutes the band must enter, warm up, perform and exit the field. Inside this first time frame, a second time requirement exists. The show must be a minimum of seven minutes long and can only be a maximum of thirteen minutes long. Inside that time requirement, there is a minimum time requirement of four minutes “time in motion”. Should a band not meet one of the minimums or exceed one of the maximums, their rating is lowered one division. At issue is the point when the timing of those two internal requirements begins. The fifteen-minute time block begins very clearly when the scoreboard clock beings counting down your time, however the concern of the committee is how to make the “beginning of the show” consistent and clear for both the Official Tabulator/Timekeeper and the Director. The committee did not propose a motion at this time. The Adjudicator Feedback Process was discussed. It was stated that a more efficient feedback process, possibly on-line, might raise the percentage of members who complete the evaluation of adjudicators. We recognized this would be better for both the adjudicators as well as the members. It would allow for a more complete year-end performance evaluation report to the adjudicator and, members may feel their concerns over adjudicator quality are actively being addressed. Realizing this would be an item for the consideration of the State Vice President for Adjudication, the discussion moved on issues from the district representatives.
Concerns from Districts District IX – A question arose regarding the use of music for S&E festival that was sold with only a CD accompaniment. District III – The members of District III are continuing their Pilot Project for S&E, which applies the grading system from State S&E Festival to their District festival. In this second year they will be creating a rubric that defines the point breakdown. District IV – A question arose regarding making cuts to pieces for festival. There seems to be an interpretation that allows for cuts to be made, especially in the case of certain lengthy piano pieces or concerti, but there is not specific language in the rules concerning cuts. In addition, a District IV member reintroduced the idea of making State Band and Orchestra different from the experience at District festival. This member proposed to eliminate Sight Reading at either district or state and replace it with a clinic. We explained that this had been introduced in the past but was not an attractive proposal to the executive board sitting at that time. District VIII – A question regarding Special Needs Accommodations was discussed. It was explained that this issue has come up before. Some rules already exist, as in the rule waiving sight-reading for visually impaired or blind students at State S&E. As a committee we have attempted to address them – as in the case of passing a motion to waive the sight-reading requirement for visually impaired or blind students at Band & Orchestra festival. But, beyond that we were hesitant to make rules that may put MSBOA in a position at odds with federal legislation. In addition a clarification of pyrotechnics at Marching Band Festival was asked for and given.
Thank you to all the members of the State Office who help with the preparations for our FIC meetings. Especially, thank you to Paul Lichau for his work in preparing materials for the Sub-Committee meeting. Finally, it is my pleasure to work with such thoughtful and dedicated colleagues on this committee. They continually impress me with their patience, the care with which they approach the work of addressing our festival rules and the consideration they give to the issues at hand. It has been my pleasure sitting as the chair of this committee and working with them.
Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Joslin Chairman, Festival Improvements Committee
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