The Yellow Board

TMEA All Sate

Posted by Curious on 1/19/2021, 4:07 pm

Hey! We were told that the recordings the kids turned in to area will be the recordings they use to rank the AllState-qualifying kids. Anyone know when those recordings will be heard and when the results will be posted?
Thanks!

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Give Us a VOTE! on 1/21/2021, 8:57 am, in reply to "TMEA All Sate"

ATSSB claims it's membership has pushed for a clinic/concert, hmnnnn I don't remember ANTONE actually asking for a vote on that!! This is dangerous - surely will be a super-spreader event!

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Negative on 1/22/2021, 11:24 am, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

It was sent out in an email and vote was taken. You are free to have whatever opinion you want but please do not make baseless claims of untrue actions. We voted, you don't have to go if you don't want to and nobody is forcing you.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by ATSSB on 1/20/2021, 10:09 am, in reply to "TMEA All Sate"

It is weird that ATSSB still has plans for Clinics/Concerts... Shouldn't TMEA/ATSSB be on the SAME page??

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by DesertJazz on 1/20/2021, 3:50 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

Remember that at the core of the groups ATSSB is a separate organization from TMEA. There was a statement put out today explaining ATSSB's position: https://www.atssb.org/files/STATE/EricGray_1-20-21.pdf

Objectively if you look at bands operating across the state, you'll see that small schools have been the most likely to still be playing, rehearsing, forcing everyone face to face, etc. Personally I appreciate they have offered up that we can have our students in their own room for the hotel. Can we operate like this safely? By then? Personally I'm hoping by June we've gotten our shots for teachers at least and I'll feel fairly safe for my and my assistant's sake. 16+ are approved for one of the vaccines already, I don't know that it will make it down to them by then though, so that may very well still be a concern.

As of right now we've probably hit the worst peak of numbers. I suspect there will be another peak post spring break, but hopefully that June one is much less. (Memorial Day/State Solo and Ensemble could cause some increases potentially)

Keep in mind it looks like TSSEC is probably a go based on UIL not cancelling any of their activities thus far. That is way riskier than an all-state clinic/concert in my opinion. I'm assuming the state will put guidance on masks/bell covers during the events. If they can do some decent distancing I won't feel any worse off than we have been in school.

It does feel like this is going to generate some animosity between the groups again to some extent. The attitudes from the cities to the smaller towns though from what I can tell is vastly different right now. ATSSB has listened to its members though who would prefer not to throw in the towel five months from the end of the year if there's any way to give our kids the experience playing with their fellow All-Staters.

Personally I'm appreciative of that stance.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by sboder on 1/22/2021, 6:13 am, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

Best statement of the letter. Common sense. Proceed and prepare as if it is going to happen. Easier to cancel than to 'uncancel'.

"Our membership voted in an overwhelming positive response for the leadership of ATSSB to begin this process and that is exactly what we are doing. If we need to cancel this event due to the pandemic, we will do that in the best interests of our students. If we need to cancel this event because leadership of ATSSB was unprepared to make it happen, that is unacceptable."

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Worse on 1/21/2021, 9:02 am, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

You don't believe the students will be any worse off than sitting in their own bandhall? Really? Well they will be sitting next to people from all across the state of Texas vs right in their own small town. that is a HUGE difference.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by DesertJazz on 1/21/2021, 8:49 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

I guess let me explain myself more here. First of all I'm not saying this is 100% safe. There is definitely not 100% safe on anything we're dealing with right now in our schools. In our situation we've had kids in person since the middle of September when we began phasing students in, and we forced all of our students back at the end of 2nd six-weeks.

I was truly skeptical about anything moving forward this year. Friends of mine have unfortunately had more of what I had expected with lots of cases in their schools, and constantly shutting down. Most of my colleagues I'm speaking with still have some/majorities of students virtual.

I know every single town is dealing with this situation differently!

During this time I have had several positive students come through our band halls, but as of right now - knock on wood - we have not had spread through our rehearsals. We've followed the UC/CSU guidelines in our procedures with masking, bell covers, and distancing. The closest we had from what I can tell went through the basketball teams.

I don't know what the spaces are like in Melissa, but if we can get anything close to the spacing we've had in our band halls, with masks/bell covers being required, I believe even if there is a positive case present - statistically a pretty good chance if it happened today - we would most likely not see spread if things are mitigated according to guidelines.

My bigger thing is I've also begun to realize what we do or don't do isn't going to make a difference at this point. Basketball has been ongoing with no masks, indoors, and definitely showing spread - has anything stopped there? At a certain point it's a question of if the exposure is any different. Yes it will be to some extent, but on the other hand we've all been living with these life style changes and health precautions for nearly a year. It'll be over a year by then. Kids have grown used to the masks and washing of hands in my school at least.

As of a couple days ago Texas has administered 1.7 million vaccines. That's not second doses separated, so let's just call it 800k people. Currently 2.2 million Texans have been infected. A million of those cases have a chance of still having immunity to some extent by May. That takes us to 10% of Texans (Yes there is probably some overlap with infected who had the vaccine too - no way to calculate that right now). At this rate - and I expect vaccines to speed up, we're looking at probably another 5 Million plus individuals being vaccinated before May. Maybe 6 million... Depending on transmission rate of these new variants, plus vaccines, hopefully nearly 50% of Texas will have been protected in some way by then.

Is any of this certain? No. But under these circumstances it is quite possible that a clinic in June does become viable. In the linked letter that ATSSB sent out, they specifically mention making a final call in May. There is still potential to cancel if needed, but they're not throwing it out this far out.

If I had made my initial gut call in July about marching band we wouldn't have done contest this fall. I'll be the first to admit I've been surprised by my community's luck so far. My superintendent encouraged me to try and see what happened - and we were able to make it through Area with minimal issues. (Lost a trumpet soloist, center snare, and guard member for Region, and my best saxophone for Area)

I'm all for a call that may need to be made in the interest of safety... but with ATSSB looking at hosting it at a school district, using a non-convention hotel, and having less groups, honestly it gives us much more flexibility than TMEA has. I think it's worth considering as a possibility until we need to cancel - not just cancelling now because of the conditions right now. June is a long time from now!

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by bassrocks on 1/20/2021, 10:03 am, in reply to "TMEA All Sate"

Our region told us that they would not be ranking the kids this year. I was REALLY hoping that they would maybe put together a small concert in early June, even it it was a one day clinic/concert! These kids worked so hard, but it's not going to happen. TMEA just said that everything would be virtual until June 1st.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Respectfully.. on 1/20/2021, 4:55 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

This virus isn't going to go away by June. Kids can't even get the vaccine yet. Putting 90-100 random kids in a room and keeping them there for a 6-8 hour clinic is the pinnacle of a super-spreader event for kids.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Last weekend on 1/20/2021, 9:28 am, in reply to "TMEA All Sate"

Area A Judged and posted results last weekend. Many student certified as "All-State".

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Judge on 1/19/2021, 5:07 pm, in reply to "TMEA All Sate"

They won't. TMEA has cancelled the All State ensembles.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Yes, but on 1/19/2021, 9:20 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

I thought they were still putting the AllState kids in “order”? No?

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by uh on 1/20/2021, 9:49 am, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

I believe all directors got the same email. It stated that this year advancing from area would mean that they are a part of the All State Band. No further auditions or chair placement will happen.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by sam vimes on 1/20/2021, 6:59 am, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

My wife usually judges the chair placements at TMEA. She was informed that she would not be needed this year. Seems to me their just going to call making All-State "good enough".

To me, is there a point in an additional ranking at this stage other than ego?

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by ummm on 1/20/2021, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

Yes. It may be part ego, but also as a former all-stater myself I wanted to see my progress year to year. There are some seniors that have busted their tail to get that top spot. They not only do it for ego, but in this day and age of negativity, I want it to know that, hey I can do it.

Let kids have a chance to have some pride. Nothing wrong with letting them have a moment....

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Well... on 1/20/2021, 9:29 am, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

...speaking for myself, I have been asked these two questions in interviews:

1. Did you have any students in the All-State Band?

and...

2. What was their chair position in the All-State Band?

Now, regardless of our current situation, you *know* there's going to be a DFA, or principal out there that is going to ask this. So in some cases, yes, there is more than ego at stake.

On an aside, I have also been asked, with greater frequency, these two questions:

1. What rating did your band get at Region Marching UIL?

and...

2. Who'd ya beat at Region Marching UIL?

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by BD on 1/21/2021, 3:23 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

Who on Earth would ask those questions in an interview? Who did you beat at Region Marching UIL? What???

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Hmmmm... on 1/21/2021, 7:28 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

...my guess is that there are people out there that think if Band X gets a 1, and Band Y gets a 2, then Band X "beat" Band Y.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by That’s not true on 1/21/2021, 6:54 pm, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

First... that info can be found easily without you being asked.

Second, that never happened.

Re: TMEA All Sate

Posted by Bye! on 1/21/2021, 8:53 am, in reply to "Re: TMEA All Sate"

I'm in my 18th year of teaching, 4 different districts, probably 10 interviews taken throughout my career. Not *once* have I ever been asked about All-State students or what ratings or "who I beat at Region Marching." (FWIW...you don't "beat" anyone at Region Marching). Honestly, those types of questions would mark the end of my interest in that particular position.

« Back to index

771

[ The Yellow Board ]