Online Prescribed Music List Features and Other Music News
By Richard Floyd | Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:20 AM
While growing up in a very rural Richardson, Texas (main street was two blocks long and there was one traffic light) one of the big attractions each week was to take in a movie at the Ritz. It was an old style movie theater where you could catch the latest Hollywood feature for nine cents. As a bonus there was usually a cartoon and the all-important preview of coming attractions. Those previews always built anticipation and sometimes excitement for things to come. So with that childhood thought in mind, allow me to share a “main feature” and a “previews of coming attractions” with you.
NEW ONLINE PRESCRIBED MUSIC LIST FORMAT
In December, the UIL Music Division launched a new version of the online Prescribed Music List. The new format and search engine is the result of input from the UIL Music Selection Committees, countless suggestions from directors across the state and the work of an Internet technology design team at the University of Texas. With the new system, you can search selections by event, UIL ID, title, grade, arranger/composer, publisher and specifications as in the past. However within each of these features, there are additional options available to customize your search.
The listed also can be formatted by preferences so it can be viewed alpha by title or composer and sorted by grade level. A click on an individual title will take you to a detail view that gives detailed information regarding performance requirements, publisher and availability. A publisher pop-up window provides publisher information that in the near future will include a link to publisher Web sites.
Two other features include the option to export the data into Excel on your own computer or convert the data to a printer friendly format.
Finally, each title detail page includes a “report error” feature that allows you to automatically submit an email to the state UIL Music Office with comments concerning errors or omissions.
Every effort has been made to create a fast, convenient and efficient tool to help directors search the PML and quickly find the information they need to make decisions regarding the selection of repertoire. Directors are encouraged to go to: http://uil.utexas.edu/music/pml_help.html for detailed information pertaining to all features.
Suggestions and recommendations for continued refinement are welcome.
SAFETY TRAINING
In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 82 that requires all coaches, trainers, marching band directors and some other selected groups to undergo Safety Training. The training must cover emergency action planning, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, effective communication with 9-1-1, the recognition of potentially catastrophic injuries and conditions and other relevant safety issues.
The UIL has been asked to create an online program that will make it possible for band directors to comply with this law. It will consist of four units entitled:
(1) Emergency Action Planning and Sudden Cardiac Death
(2) Head and Neck Injuries
(3) Heat, Hydration and Asthma
(4) Safety
By Feb. 1, this program will be available online and located on the UIL Music Page at: www.uil.utexas/music. Upon the completion of all four units directors will have the option of printing a certificate that can be submitted to school officials to document mastery of the training.
ORCHESTRA SIGHT-READING MUSIC TO BE COMPOSED
Each year the members of the Orchestra Sight-reading Music Selection Committee are challenged to find appropriate repertoire for full orchestra and string orchestra sight-reading. To address this concern, the UIL has launched a pilot program to have music written for the three conferences that have the largest participation. In cooperation with TRN Publishers, composers have been invited to write works for the AAAAA, CCC and CC string orchestra categories. The composers selected will work specifically with the existing criteria in an effort to provide music that is both satisfying and within the parameters of the committee’s expectations for each of the three categories. These selections will be used for sight-reading competition in the spring of 2010. After the concert season is complete, these works will be available for purchase through TRN.
TSSEC SCHEDULED FOR MAY 30 AND JUNE 1
The Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest is traditionally scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. Conflicts are minimal on this weekend and facilities on both the University of Texas and the Texas State University campus are readily available. However, every seven years we must deal with a calendar where TSSEC must be scheduled one week after the Memorial Day weekend in order to secure the space needed to host the event. Potential conflicts will be compounded this year by the fact that many schools are on calendars that extend the school year into the first week of June. The UIL is fully aware that these developments will create challenges for many schools.
The online entry will open March 1 with the entry deadline set for April 1. As in the past, it will be possible for a school to request a preferred date; however, entries will be carefully monitored and sites will be closed when maximum participation for that day is reached. Thus, directors are encouraged to determine their schedule priorities and register early if their entries need to be accommodated on a specific date.