Newsletter: August 2009 Issue

LISFA NOTES Volume 32, No. 1

LISFA “DATES TO REMEMBER” 9/29

Nomination Deadline for Nassau Secondary Festival

10/01

Nassau Secondary Selections 3:30 pm @ Lee Road Elem School - Levittown

10/18

Nomination Deadline for Nassau Elementary & All Suffolk Festivals

10/22

Nassau Elementary Selections 4:00 pm TBD

10/23

Suffolk Selections 4:00 pm @ Hauppauge HS

11/13

Nassau Sec Festival Rehearsal 3:30 - 8:30 pm

11/14

Nassau Sec Festival Rehearsal 9:00 am-3:00pm

11/15

Nassau Secondary Concert - 1:00 pm

11/17

LISFA Reception and Meeting 4:00 - 7:00 pm Huntington Hilton

1/15

Suffolk Secondary Fest Rehearsal 3:30-8:30 pm

1/16

Suffolk Secondary Fest Rehearsal 9:00am-3:00pm

1/18

Suffolk Sec Fest Concert 1:00 PM

1/22, 23, 24

Suffolk Secondary Festival Snow Dates

1/29

Suffolk Elem Festival Rehearsal 3:30 - 7:30 pm

1/30

Suffolk Elem Fest Rehearsal 9:00am - 1:00 pm

1/31

Suffolk Elem Fest Concert 1:00 pm

2/5,2/6,2/7

Suffolk Elem Festival Snow Dates

2/26

Nassau Elem Fest Rehearsal 4:00 - 8:00 pm

2/27

Nassau Elem Fest Rehearsal 9:00am - 1:00 pm

2/28

Nassau Elementary Festival Concert 1:00 pm

3/5,3/6,3/7

Nassau Elem Festival Snow Dates

September 2009

President’s Message Dear Colleagues, Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed your summer, and are ready to jump into another school year. There is a huge change this year in LISFA. We are initiating online registration! Many thanks to the committee members – Jody Ratner, Lisa Lee, Karen Gellert, Tracey DeRose – for working with me over the summer. Our registration is similar to the NMEA/SCMEA form and should simplify the selection process for the chairs. Our new format will require you to complete a NOMINATION FORM for each student. Make sure you allow enough time to distribute and collect completed nomination forms, as they must accompany your NYSSMA evaluations. As the nomination process is new to Nassau students, it is crucial that you and/or your director write a cover letter explaining that nomination is not a guarantee of acceptance into LISFA. To help ease your online registration I’ve included instructions in this newsletter and on the website. When nominating your students, I would like you to answer these questions: First, are they qualified? Please don’t consider children who don’t meet the criteria. Follow the criteria guidelines and consider each student carefully before nomination. Secondly, do they want to participate? Consider your personnel rosters and nominate ONLY those who are interested in participating. If your student drops out, please contact the chairpeople immediately. Thirdly, how can you assist? There are many different ways that you can help LISFA during a festival – auditioning, supervision, and sales. When you register, please check off a volunteer activity on your teacher profile. Commit yourself to helping out – it sends a positive message to your students and parents that you are a community minded professional. I would like to thank Jody Ratner for her nine years of service as advertising chairperson. Jody has been a valued member of our board, and spear headed the online registration. Marcia Miller is also leaving the board, having served as a vicepresident in Nassau. I’d like to thank Lisa Leonardi and Mike Malloy who will be stepping into those positions. Our reception will once again take place at the Huntington Hilton on November 17, after our Nassau Secondary Festival. I am looking forward to seeing you at our festivals and reception! Sincerely, Ellen Richardson

2009-2010

LISFA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS President Past President Recording Sec/ Lib. Treasurer Newsletter Membership Scholarship Advertising Publicity/Website Program Editor Professional Liaison Historian

Ellen Richardson Leiann McGrory Tracey DeRose Al Kunins David Minelli Maureen Jenness Peter Tomforde Lisa Leonardi Anissa Arnold Karen Gellert Susan Weber Geri Lisanti-Levi

NASSAU COUNTY VP Secondary Ron Bracco (631) 547-5971 [email protected] HS Chair Mary Ellen Janson (516) 223-1489 [email protected] JHS Chair Jessica Hall (516) 661-3556 [email protected] VP Elementary Michael Molloy (516) 238-9954 [email protected] MS Chair Kimberly Flynn (613) 514-4135 [email protected] Elementary Chair Catherine Colquhun (516) 313-5725 [email protected] Adjudication Chair Judy Witmer (516) 868-2321 [email protected] Hospitality Chair TBA

LISFA Executive Board Meeting Dates October 5, 2009 January 11, 2010 February 22, 2010 March 22, 2010 April 19, 2010

(631) 754-5564 (631) 335-6522 (631) 470-7312 (516) 316-5177 (631) 807-0866 (631) 427-5089 (631) 271-9613 (631) 427-3127 (631) 678-1608 (631) 757-9032 (516) 485-2744 (631) 751-5911

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

SUFFOLK COUNTY VP Secondary Steve Mallalieu (631) 724-5208 [email protected] HS Co-Chair Jason Dobranski (516) 607-7521 [email protected] HS Co-Chair Rachel Nesenoff (631)357-6465 [email protected] JHS Co-Chair Debbie Kim (631) 235-3731 [email protected] JHS Co-Chair Amy Yamagishi (631) 241-1602 [email protected] VP Elementary Katherine Giuliano (631) 239-1155 [email protected] MS Co-Chair Patricia Grasso (631) 379-9762 [email protected] MS Co-Chair Lynette O’Hanlon (631) 678-8514 [email protected] Elementary Co-Chair Diana Gotzen-Berg (516) 426-3119 [email protected] Elementary Co-Chair Lyndsay Williams Adjudication Chair Lisa Lee (516) 409-5141 [email protected] Hospitality Chair Donna Visone-O’Brien (631) 567-6205 [email protected]

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION Elementary Orchestra – Grade 5 (no Grade 4) 1. 2. 3. 4.

Music performed is equivalent to orchestra NYSSMA Level 2+ Ability to play in key signatures of up to three sharps and three flats. Ability to play common meters (including 6/8 and 2/2), dotted figures and syncopation. Violin I – Confident in third position Violin II – Strong in first position Viola - Strong in first position Cello – Strong in first four positions Bass – Shifting in half through third position

Middle School Orchestra – Grades 6 and 7 1. 2. 3. 4.

Music performed is equivalent to orchestra NYSSMA Level 3 to 4. Ability to vibrate Working knowledge of staccato, spiccato, martele, and detache. Violin I – Fluent in first through third positions (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 4). Violin II – Fluent in first position with ability to handle occasional third position (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 3). Viola - Fluent in first through third positions (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 3). Cello – Fluent in first through fourth positions (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 3). Bass – Range to octave G on the G string (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 3).

Junior High School Orchestra – Grades 8 and 9 All of the above, AND 1. 2.

Music performed is equivalent to orchestra NYSSMA Level 4 to 5. Violin I – Fluent in first through fifth positions (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 5). Violin II - Fluent in first through third positions, occasional fifth, (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 4). Viola - Fluent in first through third positions (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 4). Cello – Fluent in half through fourth positions, occasional seventh, (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 4). Bass - Range to octave G on the G string (minimum NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 3).

Senior High School Orchestra – Grades 10, 11, and 12 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Music performed is equivalent to orchestra NYSSMA Level 5 and 6. All students must be (at a minimum) NYSSMA Solo equivalent Level 5. Advanced bowing techniques such as fast spiccato and grande martele. Ability to play in all positions. Viola – Familiarity with treble clef Cello - Familiarity with treble clef and tenor clefs

THERE’S MORE… Please attach NYSSMA forms when NYSSMA grades are given Please give detailed information neatly and accurately Please note: these criteria are minimum guidelines and do not guarantee selection to the festival Each candidate must participate in school orchestra at least 50 % of the time.

Thank you for your efforts!

BE SURE TO MEET APPLICATION DEADLINES

Long Island String Festival Nomination Process Beginning this year ALL nominations for both Suffolk and Nassau string ensembles will be done on-line. Please follow the directions below when registering/nominating your students. 1. Visit the LISFA registration site at www.lisfareg.com. 2. Click on the REGISTER tab listed at the top of the page. 3. Upon completion you will go to BUILDINGS – from dropdown menu click on your buildings and select ADD 4. Go to PROFILE and complete membership information and festival volunteer choices. 5. Go to NOMINATE students – select festival, building, instrument, NYSSMA information from dropdown. Fill in student rank and comments. 6. Go to PRINT NOMINATION FORMS AND FESTIVAL MAPS FROM THE ICONS. 7. Go to CONTACTS for information on where to send your NYSSMA forms and student nomination forms. 8. DIRECTORS: please follow prompts where indicated. You cannot use the same username as NMEA/SCMEA. You can print invoices as well as receive a hard copy from LIMES. PLEASE NOTE: ADHERE TO REGISTRATION DEADLINES. GET YOUR NOMINATION FORMS TO STUDENTS EARLY SO YOU CAN SEND THEM TO THE VP’S ON TIME.

New York American String Teacher’s Association Day of Alternative String Styles Saturday, November 7, 2009 Huntington High School 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Register on line at www.nyasta.com. Registration deadline is October 30th. Clinics are for string students and teachers of all ages! Info: Lisa Leonardi [email protected] Jam with some of the best rock, jazz, hip-hop and fiddle artists in the area. Classes will be tailored as registration unfolds, according to age and instrumentation. Violinists, violists, cellists and bassists are all encouraged to register. Elementary students must be accompanied by an adult. The culminating concert at 3:00 p.m. will include performances by all clinicians and participants. General public may purchase tickets to this event. Call 631 427-3127 for more information. Registration Fees Teachers $65 Teachers who are members of ASTA $60 Students $30 Lunch (catered by The Palatable Panther) $5 Concert Tickets for general public (paid participants free) $10 Professional development certificate (free for ASTA members) $5 CLINICIANS INCLUDE BRIDGID BIBBENS, M IKE BLOCK, R EYNARD BURNS, CURTIS STEWART, 46INK, PHIL GELFER AND MIKE COFFEY’S ECLECTIC E LECTRIC.

LISFA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 2009-2010 REMIT BY NOVEMBER 1, 2009 Name: ____________________________________ Home Address: _____________________________ __________________________________________ Home Phone (

) ___________________________

E-Mail Address ____________________________

Please Circle (if applicable) New Address New Phone Number New e-mail address New School District

School District _________________ School Phone ____________

New Membership

School Building(s) _______________________________ Major Instrument _________________________________

Retired NYSSMA Certified

DUES: $20.00 Please make checks payable to “LISFA” and send to: Maureen Jenness 227 Vineyard Rd. Huntington, NY 11743

BALLOT – PRESIDENT ELECT ’09-10 _______ ANISSA ARNOLD Write –in______________________________________ PLEASE MAIL TO Maureen Jenness or vote by email to [email protected]

LISFA Long Island String Festival Association David Minelli 28 Buckingham Drive Holbrook, NY 11741

In this issue: President’s Message 2009-2010 Calendar Day of Alternate String Styles Flyer On-Line Festival Nomination Instructions LISFA Board Members Membership Application