District IV ​BAND Large Ensemble Assessment
March 19 - 22, 2024
Zachary High School
FORMS & FEES DUE BY
​FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20th

2022-2023 COVID Modifications

As we are still dealing with the impacts of the pandemic, there are many changes this year. 
​Please read carefully!
Groups can participate in-person at our Zachary High School Assessment -OR- submit a recording for a virtual assessment. 

Music Requirements

There will be no classifications  
Must perform a minimum of 2 selections (maximum of 3 selections). 
  • 1 must be from the LMEA PML list on ANY level
    • ​Flex Band formats allowed.
    • A supplemental list of .5 grade level pieces for middle school bands now exists.
  • The second selection can be from any source. 

Sight reading

Sight Reading will be a part of this year’s IN-PERSON assessment ONLY. 
  • High School groups can choose to read from any sight-reading level beginning at Level 1. 
  • Middle School groups can choose to read from Level .5, 1, or *new* .25
  • For schools with multiple performing groups, please contact your District Director for exceptions.
  • If a director does not want to be rated in sight-reading for this year, then they will be scheduled for a sight-reading clinic with the sight-reading adjudicator in lieu of the graded performance​

Adjudicators & Ratings

  • 3 stage adjudicators and 1 sight-reading adjudicator (2 adjudicators will be LMAA certified judges)​
  • ​Ensembles may still choose to perform for Comments Only or Ratings

Considering Virtual assessment?

If you are planning to participate virtually, please fill out the google form listed below and email Jessica Fain at jessica.fain@apsb.org personally so that I can communicate with the person chairing virtual assessment. ​​

REgistration

Entry Forms
  • Submit a paper copy of the Entry Form with your principal's signature 
  • Please fill out the Google Form in addition to the paper form that will accompany your check.   I would encourage you to fill out the google form once you have finalized your selections.  I will be using that information to make the program and labels for the assessment sheets.
  • Send a photocopy of the director's NAfME membership card along with your check and registration form.

Fees
$200 per performing group plus a $25 recording fee for a total of $225 (payable to LMEA District IV).  The $25 recording fee is NOT required if you are doing the Virtual Assessment option.

Deadline
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
  • If I receive it after the date listed above, your group will receive the performance time that is available after I have scheduled the other groups.  As a reminder, I am numbering the forms as I receive them in order to schedule you based on your preference.

Send Forms and Fees To:
Bluff Middle School c/o Jessica Fain, 15464 Bluff Rd., Prairieville, LA 70769

Questions?
Band Directors, if you have any questions, please contact Jessica Fain at jessica.fain@apsb.org.  If this is your first time preparing for assessment, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask questions to a seasoned teacher.  We are all here to help and want to see you and your program succeed.  I encourage all of you to take a look at the adjudication forms & rubrics​ prior to attending assessment. I have attached them to this email as well. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Rules & Regulations

Directors are responsible for knowing what is required under the rules, so please read carefully through the information on the LMEA website regarding your size classification and required music selections.  One selection must come off of any state's music list and no selections can be by the same composers.

Reminder:  A band or orchestra member of the first concert ensemble may participate in the second ensemble or training group of the same type provided he/she plays a different instrument. 
​
Remember that you will need 3 original scores for the judges of your selected performance pieces.  You may want to order these now if you haven’t already.
  • ​Duplicated scores will be accepted only if accompanied by written permission from the copyright owner or if you have purchased it as an ePrint which will be indicated on the score itself.  Directors with illegal material will not be allowed to participate.
  • ​Directors with no scores will not be allowed to perform for a rating.

Day of Festival

What to Bring

  • 3 original copies of scores, measures numbered​
  • 3 copies of seating chart​
  • Percussion Equipment - You will need to provide all mallets, Snare Drum, Bells, and other hardware you need on stage as well as sight-reading. 
  • Percussion provided on stage:  Chimes, Marimba, Xylophone, Vibes, Bass Drum, Gong, 4 Timpani and Piano. 
  • Percussion provided in the sight-reading room:  Bass Drum and 4 Timpani (bring mallets)
  • You will need to provide in the sight-reading room:​​  TBA

Parking

  • If you have parents coming to watch during the morning hours, they will need to park in the gravel lot where the band trailer is parked.  When parking in that lot, they will need to make sure they are not blocking in the buses that are parked on the back side of the lot so that those buses can run their afternoon routes.  If your parents arrive noon or later, they can look for parking spots as the seniors will be finishing up their school day and leaving.
  • Reserve the bus lane in front of the theater for buses and equipment trucks at all times.​​
  • ​As in past years, if you are on campus between the times of 1:30 and 2:30, your buses will need to move out of the bus lane temporarily so that we can dismiss our Zachary High students.

Procedure

​Arrival
  • Arrive on campus at least 30 minutes before your scheduled warm-up time. 
  • Director check-in.
  • Turn in your three copies of judges scores (make sure the measures are numbered).
  • Leave cases on buses/trailers.
  • Approximately 15 minutes before warm-up, line students up outside of warm-up room. 
  • STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE SOUNDS ON THEIR INSTRUMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE WARM-UP ROOM.  REFRAIN FROM TALKING IN THE HALLWAY.   
  • Any parents you have with you can go into the theatre at this time.
​Warm-up Room
  • We will not have many stands in the warm-up room so be prepared for this.  
  • You will be asked to move from the warm-up room 5 minutes before your performance time.
Stage Performance
  • Once on stage, it is okay to do a short scale/chorale/sound check before your group is announced.
  • Between selections, it is not necessary to wait on the judge’s signal to continue on.
  • Immediately after performing, each group is to remain seated for a group picture.  *Please share the picture order information with your students.
​Sight-Reading Room
  • Groups will be led from the stage to the Sight-Reading Room.  This is officially a closed room, spectators not directly connected with the performing group are not permitted in, unless requested by the director.
  • Any staff that works with your students on a regular basis (i.e., assistant band directors, student teachers, team teachers, etc.) are allowed to quietly coach individuals/sections during the 8-minute discussion period.  However, any group instruction must come from the director on the podium.  These staff members must step away at the end of the 8-minute period.  Please ask if you need clarification on this.
  • The LMEA website has a great explanation on the 8 minute process in Sight-Reading, found here:  https://www.lmeamusic.org/assessments/district-large-ensemble-assessment/band-sight-reading-requirements/
​Dismissal
  • After Sight-Reading, bands are dismissed.  They may either enter the Theatre to watch other groups perform, or depart.
  • Food, drink, candy, and gum are not allowed inside the theater.
  • Directors can receive their scores and comments at the check-in table.  Results are not officially posted until the director receives the ratings first.

Judges Comments

You will get your judges comments via google drive this year.  The clean recording of your group will also be uploaded to your google folder this year. ​