nhmealogo.jpg

September E-News from NHMEA

Contents in this message:

Topics in this month's newsletter:


  • Important changes to hotel stay requirements at high school festivals 
  • Jazz and Classical All-State Auditions - Now Open!
  • An update on school reopening guidelines 
  • NHMEA Fall Conference information, with links for registration
  • A link to the latest issue of New Hampshire Quarter Notes 
  • Newly Appointed Board Members
  • School Participation Fees Due October 1
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Club

Jazz and Classical All-State Updates

Auditions for both Jazz and Classical All State will be held in-person this year. Jazz All State auditions will be held on Saturday, October 16th at Souhegan High School. Classical All State auditions will be held on Saturday, November 20th at Manchester Memorial High School. Considerations for both audition dates are being made to take health and safety guidelines into account. Both event chairs are creating contingency plans in the event that prevailing public health guidelines do not allow for in-person events, but at this point auditions will be in-person on those dates.


We are intending for both Jazz and Classical All State Festivals to occur in-person this year. However, in an effort to provide more flexibility for our students, directors and districts, both of these festivals will be run as commuter festivals in 2022. Students will not be required to stay overnight at either festival, though wedding-style room blocks at a nearby hotel will be made available for schools or individuals who or need to stay overnight. Directors will ultimately be responsible for booking hotel rooms for their students if needed. Shuttles to the festival locations will be provided for those staying at the hotels. Both All State committees are working on adjusting schedules to accommodate a commuter festival and more information will be shared as it is available. Students who audition for Jazz and/or Classical All State should be aware that they are auditioning for an in-person, commuter-style festival running at the locations and dates previously announced (February 3-5th at Pinkerton Academy for Jazz and April 7-9th at Concord High School for Classical). Please contact Ken Clark (kenneth.clark@timberlane.net) or Sarah Evans (sarah.c.evans10@gmail.com) with any questions or concerns!


Registration is OPEN for Jazz and Classical

All-State Auditions!

Registration is now open via Opus Event for our Jazz and Classical All-State Auditions.


More information about Jazz All-State Auditions can be found here.


More information about Classical All-State Auditions can be found here.

Registration and Tutorial Link for Auditions

Registration is OPEN for October Music Fest!

Please join us for our annual October Music Fest. The event will be held in person this year at The Event Center at the Courtyard Marriott in Nashua. More information about the event is available on the NHMEA website.

Click Here to Register for October Music Fest

Fall Issue of Quarter Notes

This issue is jam packed with information! We have October Music Festival Details, Articles from our OMF Presenters, Articles from Council Chairs, and even Middle School District and Middle Level Honors Festival information!


Read the Fall Edition of Quarter Notes!

NH Music Education Coalition &

DHHS Guideline Update

This year the NH Department of Education and NH Department of Health and Human Services went pretty “hands off” with guidance and updates for opening schools this fall. NFHS and NAfME put out updated “Phase III” guidance from the International Performing Arts Aerosol Study" in August that we have been recommending schools use for this year.


We are aware of an outdated resource being shared by NH DHHS that is suggesting 8-10 feet for performing groups while indoors (check this language carefully as it assumes you are unmasked). The story of how that language even came about is quite long and involves the Governor’s economic reopening task force from over a year ago. The two main things to know there are: 1) that language was not initially intended for public schools and 2) that your district has the local control to make decisions based on the information you present to them.


The NH Music Education Coalition is working on a letter to advocate directly on your behalf to DHHS and try to have their language removed or updated to the current 3-foot recommendation. If you are having trouble in your district, please contact Sean Meagher at seanfmeagher@gmail.com. We can help you in advocating to your administrators, school board, and community but we can’t help if we don’t know you’re struggling!


NHMEA Welcomes New Board Members

Please welcome our newly appointed board members: Karen Soule, retired superintendent of Somersworth School District and current School Board member in Manchester, will serve as our Superintendent Representative. Brenda Morrow, principal of Windham Middle School, will serve as our Principal Representative. Dr. John Hart from Keene State College will serve as both Collegiate Chair and Research Chair.

School Participation Fees Due October 1

NHMEA School Participation Fees are due on October 1, 2021. Payment of this fee is required for student participation in NHMEA-sponsored events. Invoices and detailed information about this fee were sent to your school's business office in early July.
Click here for your Invoice

Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Book Club

In this video, DEI Chairperson, Michael Truong, briefly discusses what Culturally Responsive Teaching is in a nutshell and gives detail on his book study group on “Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain” by Zaretta Hammond starting on October 6th, 2021. 


Each month, we will read through one or two chapters in the book and then have a Google Meets to come together and discuss the readings. This will be presented through Google Classroom which will serve as a forum for people to post questions, discussion posts, and/or resources related to the reading. People interested will need to have their own copies of the book somehow, someway. NHMEA will not be providing books.


If you would like the Google Classroom Code or have any questions, comments, and/or concerns, please email Michael at mtruong@sau53.org 



Click here for an introduction to Culturally Responsive Teaching by Michael Truong

New Hampshire Music Educators Association

http://www.nhmea.org

Facebook  Twitter