Answers
What is All-State?
All-State is an honor choir event sponsored by the state music education association, the TN Music Education Association (TMEA).
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How do students become eligible for All-State?
Students earn eligibility for All-State at the auditions held in the fall by scoring among the top scores in their vocal section.
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Are there other requirements for eligibility?
Yes. Students must first successfully participate in All-East and then they must pass a screening audition demonstrating their ability to correctly sing all pitches and rhythms on the music to be performed by their assigned ensemble.
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How can I determine which of my students made All-State?
All-State selection results will be posted on the All-State page of the ETVA website.
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What does “Alt” mean on the All-State Results?
“Alt” stands for “Alternate” and it indicates that your student did not quite score high enough to actually be selected for an All-State choir, but they are in a “runner-up” position. If a student is the third alternate, there are two other people ahead of him/her. If three other students in the same voice part and the same choir drop out for any reason, you the director will be contacted to ask if your student wants to move up into the choir.
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Why are alternates assigned to a particular choir?
All singers who are eligible for All-State, both those actually selected and alternates must go through a screening process no less than six weeks prior to All-State to demonstrate their preparation of the All-State music for their assigned group. For an alternate to be eligible to replace someone in either the SATB or the Men’s/Women’s Choirs he/she would have to prepare and screen on two sets of music. This would be an expensive and time-consuming gamble, as an alternate never knows whether he/she may be called. By designating the alternate for a particular choir, there is only one set of music to be learned.
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Would an alternate EVER be called to fill a place in the choir to which they were not originally assigned?
There is a provision for this to happen. Suppose ETVA has called all its baritone alternates for the SATB chorus but still has baritone alternates for the Men’s Chorus. If another opening in the SATB Baritone section occurs, ETVA may let a Men’s Chorus baritone prepare the SATB chorus music and be screened on that music. If he passes the screening, the student may take the opening in the SATB chorus allowing ETVA to fill its quota. If there is not enough time to screen the student, ETVA may give the slot to MTVA or WTVA to fill if they have a screened baritone alternate. Otherwise, the slot will just go unfilled.
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How are students assigned to a particular choir?
The person in charge of Auditions in ETVA follows a procedure to assign the students to a particular choir. ETVA has an assigned quota of slots per section in the All-State SATB, Women’s and Men’s Choruses. The process of determining this quota is explained on the TMEA All-State webpage. After auditions AND after students have completed All-East, the person doing the assignments takes the top scores (as determined in the September audition) from each voice part down to the quota. The students are assigned a random number and sorted to give each student an equal chance to be assigned to any choir. After the students are sorted randomly, the correct numbers of students are assigned to each choir. Then the next ten scores below the cutoff score are designated as alternates and are alternately assigned to the SATB or Men’s/Women’s Choirs.
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My student has been assigned to the same choir at All-State for three years. Is it possible to have him/her reassigned to the other choir?
There is no official policy on reassignment between choirs. Since the goal is to make the three choirs as equal as possible switching between the choirs may offset the balance. If a student is a graduating senior and has never had the opportunity to sing in the alternate choir and wishes to do so, the student’s DIRECTOR may contact Terry Sanford to request that the change be made and the request must come BEFORE results are posted. These requests will be honored when it is possible to make arrangements to do so without exceeding the quota and without forcing reassignment of another student.
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Is the SATB choir better than the Men’s or Women’s Choir?
No. The random assignment process generally distributes high and low scores throughout the choirs. It is possible for all the top scores to end up in the same choir, but it is highly unlikely. Keep in mind that the “low” scores still represent the very best scores from a region. It is an honor to make it to All-State, period. No one All-State ensemble should be considered more honorable than another.
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Why can’t a student be in an instrumental and choral All-State ensemble at the same time?
Because Tennessee’s All-State ensembles rehearse simultaneously with a rigorous rehearsal schedule, it is not possible to do both. It would not be fair to the other ensemble members nor the guest conductors for students to split the available time between ensembles.
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Where will All-State be held?
(New or revised this year)
For several years the All-State location was centered on the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville. In 2011, All-State is scheduled for the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville. In 2012, All-State is scheduled for the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Chattanooga. Please check the All-State page for announcements on future All-State locations.
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When should I reserve my rooms?
It is a good idea to reserve rooms as soon as results are announced. It is easier to cancel a reservation than to try to find a room after all have been booked.
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If I only have one or two students going to All-State, what should I do about rooms?
Ask around to see if other directors are trying to fill rooms. You may save your students/school some money by combining your students with their students. Your area representative may be able to help you find another director with whom you can combine students.
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How many nights will I need to stay?
(New or revised this year)
The All-State schedule will vary depending on where the event occurs. Please check the TN Music Education Association website for the current year's All-State schedule.
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How should I pack for All-State?
The All-State rehearsals are casual dress and directors generally dress casually. Check the TMEA All-State Handbook for the concert dress code. There is no designated dress code for directors at either the rehearsals, the TMEA Conference, or the performances.
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Can I bring other students to All-State besides my All-State participants?
No. Students who are not officially designated as belonging to one of the All State ensembles may not stay in the Convention hotel and may not attend rehearsals or be present at All-State events. Directors discovered violating this policy may be called to appear before the All State disciplinary committee and could have all their students disqualified from attending All-State.
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What do I do while the All-State students are rehearsing?
Directors are encouraged to observe the All-State rehearsals. The guest clinicians are experts in choral music and you can pick up many valuable rehearsal techniques from them. Also, the TMEA state convention will have interest sessions, concerts, and exhibits for you to attend during the rehearsal times. This is a great time to network with fellow directors and to meet new friends. In addition, you will be assigned supervisory duties at some rehearsals.
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Why do I have to supervise rehearsals or call roll?
An event like All-State brings with it numerous legal responsibilities. You should consult with your Principal to see what your obligations are in regard to students on out of town fieldtrips. Even though the students in rehearsal are generally well-behaved and on-task, in order to assure their safety and their full participation, they may occasionally need a polite (or not so polite) reminder to focus on the task at hand. By assigning duty, the directors of a region share the responsibility and ensure that the students are always under supervision and that things run smoothly. Each region (East, Middle, and West) will have teachers supervising each rehearsal to make sure that there’s always someone who can find an authority figure from a region should there be a problem with a student. Do not feel as though you can only correct or help students from East TN – when you are supervising, ALL the students are your responsibility. In addition, it is your professional obligation to fulfill all assigned duties.
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I’m scheduled for duty during the one session/concert I most wanted to attend. Can I switch?
Certainly, you may switch duty times with another director from East TN if they are willing to do so.
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Where will the All-State concerts be held?
(New or revised this year)
The All-State concert venues will be announced on the TN Music Education Association All-State page.
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Will the concerts be recorded?
Yes, TMEA contracts with a professional recording company to record the concerts. The recordings are usually sold at the concert. Some companies will allow mail or internet orders. The recordings generally take six to eight weeks to be delivered.
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Who can attend the concerts?
(New or revised this year)
At present, the concerts are open to anyone with no charge. This is subject to change dependent on the performance facility
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