President’s Note

Happy September to everyone!

This edition of the TMTA newsletter includes a few important announcements from our Student Affiliate committee and our MTNA/TMTA Competitions chair. Make sure to read all the way down the page! I hope your teaching has started off smoothly and that you can start to smell the fall season in the air. (Do we have fall in Texas? Not in the Panhandle…although at least we’re getting some rain now!)

In service to you all,

Richard Fountain

Important Theory Announcements

Please note a change for 10^th-12^th grade students regarding the required theory level in the 2022-2023 TMTA Handbook under the Theory Eligibility for Other SA Activities heading:  “Once a student earns a 90 or above (at grade level or below grade level), he/she must advance to the next test level with the exception of those in Grades 10-12 who may continue to test at Level 9, 10, or 11 regardless of medal status.”

What does this mean for your students? Students who have earned a medal on the Level 9, 10, or 11 theory test may continue to test at the same level and still be eligible for other theory required Student Affiliate events with a passing score of 70 or above.

Here are a few examples:

• A student who earned a Whitlock or Theory Achievement Medal on Level 9 last year may take and pass the Level 9 test again this year and through his/her senior year for SA eligibility.
• An 11th grade student who earned a Whitlock medal last year on the Level 10 test may take and pass the Level 10 test again this year and next year for SA eligibility.
• A 12th grade student who earned a Whitlock medal last year on the Level 11 test may take and pass the Level 11 test again this year for SA eligibility.

Other important reminders:

• Students may remain at the same test level until receiving a medal with the exception of those in Grades 10-12 who may continue to test at Level 9, 10, or 11 regardless of medal status.
• Students do not have a required minimum test level unless participating in another Student Affiliate event requiring theory testing. Please refer to the TMTA Handbook for more information.
• All students earning a 90 or higher on a TMTA SA theory test will earn a medal: Whitlock medal for at grade level testing or Theory Achievement Medal for below grade level testing.
• Keep encouraging students to aim for the Senior Awards!

Bonus Question Information for Levels 8-12: The bonus question will remain a written question for 2022-2023 where students write in the counts for the notes and rests below the four measures of rhythm.