Parent & Student Handbook

PMEA Events

PMEA

The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) is a self-supporting organization of professional music educators. It is a part of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Both of these groups maintain a cooperative relationship with organizations and agencies all working for the improvement of music education. The PMEA sponsors a number of special events and activities throughout the year. (See also, Other Opportunities)

Honors Band

In addition to the regular school ensembles at the high school, instrumental band students have the opportunity to participate in the PMEA Honors Band. The purpose of this extra curricular activity ensemble is to give band students of exceptional musical abilities an opportunity to play various types of music with students from other schools with similar skills.

This group is a strictly voluntary organization that requires attendance at various rehearsals (on Saturdays) and a performance (usually held in Carnegie Hall). Auditions for this group are usually held at the beginning of Oct. and rehearsals begin the same month and continue until the end Nov. The audition pieces for Honors Band are posted in the band room and online (a link is usually in the left menu, if available). Students are required to purchase the audition music ($5-$10) and pay a nominal audition fee (usually $5.00). If selected by the audition for participation in the Honors Band, students will have their actual registration and concert music fees paid for by the school district.

Students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to audition for this all-star ensemble. Transportation to and from all auditions, rehearsals and the concert are the responsibility of the individual family.

District Band(s)

In addition to the regular school ensembles at the high school, instrumental band students have the opportunity to participate in the PMEA District Band. The purpose of this extra curricular activity ensemble is to give band students of exceptional musical abilities an opportunity to play various types of music with students from many other schools with similar skills.

Students of outstanding abilities will be asked by the Band Director to submit an application to these groups. This group is a strictly voluntary organization that requires attendance at 2 or 3 days of continuous rehearsals and a performance at the end of those days. The difference between District Band and Honors Band is that each school district is guaranteed at least one member to participate in this all-star group. Students selected for the District Band will have their registration and concert music fees paid for by the school district.

Students in grades 7 through 9 are eligible for the Junior High District Band. The Junior High District Band is a 2-day event; the students will be taken by school bus both days, but it is the responsibility of the parents to transport the students home after the afternoon concert.

Students in grades 10 through 12 are eligible to participate in the High School District Band. The High School District Band is usually a 3-day event. The Band Director will accompany the students on a school bus to the first day of rehearsal. The students will be required to stay at the host school district for the duration of the event and will be housed by families (usually band parents) of the host school district if Region or State Band. At this event the students will be required to audition on their concert music for seating in the event and the possibility of moving on to the next level of band.

There are three levels of PMEA high school bands. Students who are successful in their audition at the District level may be asked to go on to Region Band, and similarly those who are successful in their audition at Region Band may be asked to participate in the All-State Band. Transportation home from each of these events is the responsibility of the individual family.

It is indeed a genuine honor to be selected for any PMEA event. These events are viewed as an incentive for the school age musician to strive to achieve their absolute best level of proficiency on their musical instrument.

In addition to district bands these events are also held for orchestra. Because South Allegheny does not have an orchestra program it is only on rare occasions and special circumstances that we will participate in the PMEA orchestra events.

Since this is an association of professional music educators and not affiliated with any individual school district or state authorities, it is the sole discretion of Ms. Humanic to decide which years, if any, to participate and which students will participate in these activities.

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