Greetings!

Welcome Back to TPSMEA and another wonderful year of music making with your students.

My name is Paula Spencer and I am serving as the Elementary Vice President this year for TPSMEA.  It is my privilege to serve as the coordinator for the TPSMEA Middle School and Children's Honor Choirs. 

Whether you have students that will be participating for the very first time, or you are a veteran teacher with tried and true competitors...............try not to panic!  I hope the picture above will remind you that it will all be ok........eventually :)

Whatever you do, don't let your Middle School or Elementary Students miss out on an amazing and memorable weekend of music making with our outstanding clinicians. 

The process can sometimes seem laborious, especially at the beginning of a new year.  But, when November 9th and 10th rolls around you'll be very glad that YOU and your students made the effort.

Don't hesitate to contact me if I can assist you in any way. 

Paula Spencer

TPSMEA - Elementary Vice President

(713) 557-7211 (text preferred)

joyfulsoundchoir@gmail.com

Important Dates to Remember

Tuesday, October 9      MSHC Solo Chair "ONLINE" Reg. Deadline

Friday, October 12       MSHC "In Hand" Deadline (orms & CD's)

Tuesday, October 16    Judging of MSHC CD's (Houston)

Thursday, October 18   Judging of MSHC CD's (Dallas) 

Thursday, October 26   CHC Solo Chair "ONLINE" Reg. Deadline

Friday, November 2      "In Hand" deadline for CHC reg. forms

November 9 & 10          TPSMEA MSHC & CHC Clinic/Concert

                                    St. John's School

                                    2401 Claremont Lane

                                    Houston, TX 77019

                                    Host:  Audra

Middle School Honor Choir

 The TPSMEA Middle School Honor Choir is an SATB "auditioned" choir.  The choir is made up of 7th and 8th grade students.  Each teacher selects students to prepare an "audition cd"  and submits them for judging.  You must register your students by the deadline listed above at www.solochair.com   You must be a current TPSMEA members to submit audition CD's.  Links for membership to TPSMEA are available on the www.tpsmea.org website.

Audition CD's are judged by participating teachers and, in some cases, guest judges. 

*Please contact me with any specific requests for exemptions to the 7th and 8th grade eligibility rule.........i.e., younger students with changed voices. 

The 2012 MSHC Clinician is:

Mr. Robert Horton

Repertoire for the 2012 Choir is:

Song of the River   SATB) Mark Patterson   BL750 

Old Joe Clark (3---part Mixed) ar. Rentz     Heritage Music Press 15/1982H

Cantate Hodie (3---part Mixed) Lightfoot   Heritage Music Press 15/1965H

Praise the Lord  (SATB) Handel  arr. Hopson  Shawnee Press 35017271

Ubi  Caritas (SATB) Snyder                            Hal Leonard 08703157

GIRLS: She Sings (SSA) Amy Bernon               Heritage Music Press 15/1863H

BOYS: Come Travel With Me (TTB) Scott Farthing      Hal Leonard 08501832

***Audition Cuts will be selected from the following 2 pieces:

Praise the Lord

Ubi Caritas

You may obtain rehearsal and accompaniment CD's through Bass Line Productions.

A link is provided on the www.tpsmea.org website.  Click the choir tab and the link is on the right hand side of the page.

As of Friday, September 7, all music was in stock and available for purchase through J.W. Pepper.  www.jwpeppermusic.com

They have the MSHC list on file.  

(Children's Honor Choir

 The TPSMEA Children's Honor Choir is comprised of outstanding 5th and 6th graders from each school and selected for participation by their teacher.  

(Students should be no younger than 10 and no older than 12 on the date of the event)

Please contact me with any specific questions regarding eligigility of students.

Their is an "online" and in "in hand" deadline that participating teachers observe.  Make sure to check the dates above. You must register your students by the deadline listed above at www.solochair.com  You must be a current TPSMEA members to register students.  Links for TPSMEA registration are available at the www.tpsmea.org website.

Clinician for the 2012 TPSMEA CHC is Mrs. Marianna Simpson

A word about ordering music for the CHC.

www.jspeppermusic.com has the festival list for the CHC. 

Several of the titles are currently on backorder and will be available in 1-2 weeks.  Once your order is placed, they will be delivered when received. 

"Marianina" is coming from overseas. Pepper has ordered stock, but it may be up to a month before you receive this piece.  It is easily learned and please do not panic!!!! I have Pepper's assurance that a large order has been placed and that it will just take time.

The "Gounod" piece is "out of print."  We will make the piece available on the TPSMEA website and you will need to download it.  ADDITIONALLY, when you register for the clinic, you will need to submit $1.50 per participating teachers and students.  Students will not be allowed to participate in the clinic until this amount is received. 

Mrs. Simpson is preparing performance notes for each piece and I will send those to you when I have them. 

You may obtain rehearsal and accompaniment CD's through Bass Line Productions.

A link is provided on the www.tpsmea.org website. Click the choir tab and the link is on the right hand side of the page.

Repertoire for the 2012 CHC:

Gloria                                               Vivaldi arr. Liebergen               Carl Fisher CM 8873

Lovely Appear from The Redemption  Gounod                                    TPSMEA

Marianina                                         arr. Percy Fletcher                     Elkin Music 72311

Fairest Lady                                      Nick Page                                 Boosey & Hawkes 3244092

It's Ragtime (will be choregraphed)          Kirby Shaw                                Hal Leonard SVM04038

This Little Light of Mine                    Traditional - arr. Patterson        Choister's Guild  CG1108

Walking in the Air                             Howard Blake                            Hal Leonard

OOPS!

OOPS!

On the TPSMEA website, the repertoire list for the MSHC and the CHC is actually on the "choir" tab on the front page of the website. Joel Rutherford is working to help me correct this. It's awesome to have a Vocal VP who is also technologically savvy. Thanks Joel!

www.tpsmea.org is the official place to obtain information regard all TPSMEA activities.

On the TPSMEA website, judging of the MSHC CD's in HOUSTON, is not correct.

We will judge on Tuesday, October 16 at Berean Baptist Church in Houston.

The judging of MSHC CD's in Dallas will take place at Prestonwood Christian Academy, Lisa Apple, Host.

Things You Should Do Today

1. Join TPSMEA (find link at www.tpsmea.org)

2. Follow Link on TPSMEA website to order rehearsl and accomp. CD's from Bass Line Productions

3. Click on the "Join My Mailing List" above

4.  Order music from JW Pepper and begin preparation of your students.

5. Calendar the deadline and performance dates listed above.

6. Go the TPSMEA website and read the Elementary Division section to better understand the MSHC and CHC process.

7.  Enjoy the process!!

HOW WILL YOU HELP?

The Elementary Division has a talented and experienced group of teachers!

In order for the 2012 MSHC and CHC event to be successful it will take everyone's contribution.

How Can You Help?  Read the list below and let me know how you can help.

1)  I play the flute, clarinet, tambourine. 

2)  I can prepare the name tags

3)  I can prepare the program

4)  I will serve as Mr. Horton's or Mrs. Simpson's personal assistant.

5)  I am willing to help with set up and maintenance of the rehearsal room.

6)  I will supervise clean up of one or more of the dressing rooms.

7)  I would love to be a section leader for.................?

8)  I live in Houston and will serve as Choir Organizer for the MSHC or CHC.

9)  I will organize the registration process.

THANKS!  I'm sure there will be other tasks, but this is a good initial list. 

(Remember, volunteering is much better than being appointed :)

A Change from Previous Years

 The schedule for the Honor Choir weekend is not finalized, however, I want you to be aware of an anticipated departure from previous years. Most likely, we will not begin reherasals on Friday until apprx. 4:00 p.m. 

I know that many of you (especially those traveling from out of town) typically use Friday evening as a "fun" evening for their students.  I am willing to plan a Friday afternoon (before rehearsal) activity if any of you are interested.  It would be something active and carry a minimal cost. 

Please let me know if this is something you would take advantage of with your students. 

You're not committing at this time, I just would like to know if I should go to the effort to look into the possibility. 

My next communication will include hotel information.  There are several hotels in close proximity to the rehearsal/concert site.  For those of you familiar with Houston, St. John's is near the Galleria and Upper Kirby areas.

Joyfully,

Paula Spencer

TPSMEA Elementary Vice President