#NYSSMA LEVELS MANUAL#

#NYSSMA LEVELS MANUAL#

In addition, committee members are instructed that all music literature from the NYSSMA Manual Level VI repertoire lists must be given equal consideration in the candidate selection process. In the process of developing the master proficiency list, no qualified candidate on a local proficiency list may be passed over for another student on that list. The All-State Selection Committee reviews (in no specific priority): member school music teacher recommendations, adjudicator recommendations, the candidateвЂ™s previous NYSSMA Solo ratings, grade in school, zone representation, participation in the previous yearвЂ™s All-State, and participation in other performing organizations. After all recommended candidates are sorted numerically, a number of other factors are used in determining the final placement of students on the master proficiency list. Numerical scores and ranking on the local proficiency sheet are of primary importance in developing the master proficiency lists. These committee members are charged with the monumental task of sorting through the proficiency lists from every festival and compiling a statewide master proficiency list for each instrument and voice part. The committees are made up of NYSSMA members from virtually every zone in the state. Late in June, the вЂњprocessвЂќ continues when selection committees are convened. At the end of the festival the All-State adjudicator gives their completed paperwork to the NYSSMA Zone Representative who then matches the adjudication sheet with the studentвЂ™s completed application form and forwards them, along with the proficiency sheet to the appropriate All-State Chairperson. This year over 2400 students received scores of 98 or higher and were recommended for All-State consideration.

If there are multiple students with the same qualifying score, the adjudicator must list those students in a proficiency order based on his or her evaluation of all performances. The вЂњprocessвЂќ continues with the adjudicator ranking every recommended student by score first, with the 100вЂ™s ahead of the 99вЂ™s etc.

Every student who earns a score of 98-100 must be recommended. At the conclusion of the festival, the All-State adjudicators create a rank ordered proficiency list of all students being recommended. All-State adjudicators are responsible for evaluating every All-State solo of the same instrument or voice part. The All-State selection вЂњprocessвЂќ begins with the solo being evaluated by a NYSSMA Certified All-State adjudicator at one of these designated sites. Last year, 43 All-State audition sites were scheduled in schools throughout the state. These zones represent geographic areas within the state and also take into account the student populations within these zones. New York State is divided into 15 regional zones by NYSSMA. Last spring, over 6,500 sophomores and juniors from across the state of New York prepared for All-State evaluations in the hope of being selected. The All-State experience begins with a music educator, his or her student and an accompanist spending countless hours preparing a NYSSMA Level VI solo which must be selected from repertoire lists in the current manual. This article outlines the вЂњprocessвЂќ used by our organization in selecting students for participation in the NYSSMA All-State performance groups. How does NYSSMA select these students? This seems like a simple question however the answer is complex.

NYSSMA CONFERENCE ALL-STATE: вЂњTHE PROCESSвЂќД®ach year in late August approximately 900 students are notified that they are selected to participate in the NYSSMA Conference All-State music groups.

Nyssma levels