ABA: Welcome back! News and words from the Alabama Bandmasters Association

Mike Holmes2There are so many things related to teaching band that are the same year after year. The fundamentals of teaching children to play an instrument remain the same. Good posture, hand position, embouchure formation, how to enter the band room, where to put your stuff, respect for one another, and the list goes on but does not change. However, if it is year one or year thirty-five, it is an exciting time. Why? Because it is never really the same. Our students are what keeps this journey fresh, interesting, and not routine. I love sixth grade students! They are fun, needy, interesting, open, and smarter than we know. To see them go from not knowing how to put an instrument together to playing with proficiency in just a few months is very special. We are with them as they grow up, and that is why they are so special to us. The students that stick with us from beginning to end are why we come back for “another great year” because we know that someday those are the students that will come back and stand on the podium ready to begin their first great year!

ABA Summer Conference 2016 was “one of the best ever.” That is a comment that was repeated to me many times as we prepared to wrap up. I am positive that if you attended, you were not disappointed. Many thanks to the 313th Army Reserve band for opening our conference with music provided by their fine Brass Quintet. The 313th Jazz Combo provided entertainment and knowledge as they served as the demonstration group for David Allinder’s informative clinic related to the Jazz Band rhythm section. Dr. Rick Good, Jeff Fondren, Nathan Haskew, David Waters, and Stephanie Ezell showcased the wealth of talent we have in our organization by presenting outstanding clinics as well. “The Lure of the Dark Side,” presented by lawyer Emily Hawk Mills, contained information that every educator needed to hear. If her advice is followed, there would never be another educator jailed for inappropriate contact or communication with a student.

What great attendance we had for the Social Hour/Shrimp Boil – approximately 160 directors and family members attended. Old Fogey Steve McLendon shared some wonderful memories as well as a great message to all that attended. President-Elect Doug Farris is already planning a great 2017 Summer Conference. Thank you to AWB Apparel, Southern Performances, Art’s Music Shop, Demoulin Uniforms, Sound Choices Recording, Super Holiday Tours, and Mouchette Enterprises for serving as sponsors of the Social Hour. Hopefully, you and your family also got in some much needed beach time as well. We will return to Hampton Inn-Orange Beach June 21-22, 2017.

We had a very productive ABA Board meeting. I am honored to be working with such great people. The Music Selection Committee once again has added quite a few new compositions to our cumulative list. The Constitution Committee chaired by Doug Farris submitted a number of recommendations to clean-up our Bylaws and Board Policy. The Bylaw changes will be emailed to all ABA members to review prior to acting on them at the AMEA Conference. Executive Secretary Harry McAfee received a well-deserved positive review from the board as well. Thanks to Harry for a job well done. John Cooper and Chris Lindley presented our new Adjudicator Certification Training Clinic, and it was very well received by all in attendance. This is a “work in progress” and will continue to evolve. Check abafest and our ABA/AMEA webpage for future updates related to the application process and requirements.

As a member of NAfME/AMEA/ABA, you also have responsibilities. Return all dues, fees, registrations, and respond to all correspondence in a timely manner. Renew your NAfME membership now if you have not done so. All Alabama memberships expired in June 2016. Please do not wait until the AMEA Professional Development Conference in January to renew as this creates delays in the onsite registration and pre-registration pick-up process. Check the AMEA/ABA website regularly. You will find needed forms, All-State Band audition requirements and etudes, Cumulative Music list, ABA Directory, and other useful and needed information. Check the abafest.com site weekly for announcements and calendar updates. Your ABA state officers and district officers will continue to use this site to keep you informed as well as have you register for events such as All-State and MPA.

Conference registration and lodging reservations are available now. Visit the AMEA website to access this information. Pre-register today and save. We have a great line-up of performing ensembles and clinics/sessions representing ABA for this conference.

I wish you success as you begin another great year. And DON’T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN!