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Rules & Guidelines

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ATSSB Region 21 Rules

Approved August 5, 2023

Participation

Participation is limited to schools in Region 21 eligible for membership in ATSSB. Eligibility is according to state ATSSB bylaws. Must be in UIL Class A, AA, AAA and AAAA schools and their feeder schools. Private High Schools whose enrollment falls into the Class A, AA, AAA, AAAA parameters along with their feeder schools and are approved by the ATSSB State Board. Head directors at each eligible school must be current members of ATSSB and TMEA.

The Head Junior High School director must be a current member of ATSSB and TMEA. The head director’s memberships cannot be used. The Head Directors card cannot be used unless there is no junior high band director. In order to participate, students must be eligible according to the current UIL Rules of Eligibility.

Entry Procedure

Entry Procedure Auditions will follow the ATSSB audition procedures as listed on the ATSSB website. All entries will be done online and must include correct student information. Deadline for entries is 14 days prior to the actual audition date or the date posted on the online entry program. Late entries will be accepted up to 7 days prior to the actual audition date or the date posed on the online entry program. Postmarked or faxed Purchase Orders (or Purchase Order requisition forms) with a copy of the head directors ATSSB and TMEA cards should be sent to the Region Coordinator by the deadline date. Checks may be mailed after the deadline but must arrive before the auditions begin. Failure to do so may result in all your students being disqualified.

Entry fees

Concert Entry fees are $14.00 and Jazz Entry fees are $25.oo if entered during normal entry time, during late entry there will be an additional $14.00/$25.00 fee per entry. Entries begun less than 14 but more than 7 days prior to the contest will be assessed a 100% student fee charge. A CAMPUS entry created less than 14 days prior to the contest will be subject to the TMEA Grievance Process. Directors should enter all they believe will audition regardless of eligibility. The director is responsible for enforcing eligibility rules on the day of the contest. No additions to a school’s list of students will be accepted on the day of contest. Directors and students are responsible for checking the list of audition material and known errata.

If a director DNAs all their entries 7 days or less than the start of the audition, it is still the director’s responsibility to come and judge, monitor, etc. or send a proxy at their own expense. A student may be denied permission to try-out if that student’s director does not attend the try-outs. All Schools are required to bring adult chaperons to all auditions to help monitor and assist their students. All fees must be paid for supported by a school purchase order or check prior to the start of ATSSB Auditions.  Area fees are paid BY THE SCHOOL to the region and one check will be cut to the Area chair for Area advancement fees.

Auditions

Directors/judges will arrive no later than 15-30 minutes ahead of the scheduled judges meeting prior to auditions to ensure a timely contest. 

Auditions ATSSB Rules will be followed for Region 21 Auditions. ALL directors from each school or a qualified proxy must be available to judge, monitor, and/or serve in whatever capacity the region coordinator requests on the day of auditions. Failure to do so may disqualify that schools students from the audition process. If a director cannot attend the try-out it is their responsibility to find and pay a qualified proxy.

Any problems must be referred to the Region Coordinator. ATSSB is not liable or responsible in any way for a student’s equipment not functioning or responding properly. Judging: Five judge panels will be used for all Middle School and High School Try-Out Rooms.

Judges must remain at the try-outs for 30 minutes after the results of the section(s) they adjudicated. Judges are prohibited from scoring music that is not the official audition material for that contest. Students auditioning should be out of the view of judges. At no time should the judges or students be in view of each other. There will be no vocal communication between participants and the judges. The Monitor must stand away and out of sight of the participant while he or she is playing.

If a student makes an area spot but does not make the band, the region coordinator will seat the band student in the all-region band at the end of the section. The student will then participate in all-region events.

Recorded Auditions

Region XXI will defer to the ATSSB State Office for rules and guidance regarding recorded region auditions.

Middle School Auditions

The Region will be split into zones (east and west) and will have separate middle school all-region auditions which will make 1 band for each zone.  Zones below are starting points and are subject to change to allow Region Coordinator the ability to “level” the zones.

West Zone Schools:  All Saints, Alto, Athens, Bishop Gorman, Brookhill, Brownsboro, Bullard, Crocket, Cumberland Academy, Elkhart, Frankston, Grace Community, Grapeland, La Poynor, Leveritt’s Chapel, Lovelady, Palestine, Rusk, Van, Westwood, Winona

East Zone Schools:  Arp, Beckville, Carlise, Carthage, Center, Central, Central Heights, Chapel Hill,  Cushing, Diboll Garrison, Groveton, Hemphill, Henderson, Huntington, Joaquin, Mt. Enterprise, Overton, San Augustine, Shelbyville, Tatum, Tenaha, Timpson, Troup, West Rusk, West Sabine

High School Audition Music:

High School Music is the ATSSB All State Audition Music and is available in the Prescribed Audition List (PAL). The ATSSB website is the official source for errata. www.atssb.org

Junior High School Audition Music:

Junior High School Music is selected by the region and is in a three year rotation. The music is available through the Region Coordinator and is on the Region 21 ATSSB website.

Students may use their own copy of the music in the audition room. An original of the music will be provided in each of the try-out rooms

Cuts to Audition Music:

High School Cuts: Scales: 3 scales and the chromatic scales            Music: At least 50 percent of each etude

Junior High Cuts Scales: 3 scales and the chromatic scale                Music: None

Jazz Auditions

Jazz Auditions will follow all region contest rules with the exception of music cuts. These are set by the State Board of Directors.

No Cuts Jazz Auditions:

Wind Instrument Auditions

Instrument Auditions: Refer to the wind audition procedures on atssb.org.  The warm-up will be a one-breath warm-up. You may play any one note for one breath. Only one person in the audition room at a time. All other students will be quiet in the hall way. Parents of the student auditioning are not allowed in the room.

High School auditions will be in one round

Middle School auditions will be in one round

No music has to be memorized for the audition

Middle School Percussion Auditions

Percussion Auditions: All percussion equipment to be used must be in the audition area before auditions begin. Students may take their sticks and mallets with them to the holding area but must leave equipment in the audition area.  Hosting school may provide limited mallet and/or timpani in the holding/warm up area.

All middle school percussion auditions will take place in one round with student performing each excerpt back-to-back in the room.  Once the student leaves the room, their audition is considered complete.

High School Percussion Auditions

Percussion Auditions: All percussion equipment to be used must be in the audition area before auditions begin. Students may take their sticks and mallets with them to the holding area but must leave equipment in the audition area.

ROUND ONE: SNARE DRUM

  1. The first 5 students will be allowed in the audition room for a 30-second warmup timed by the Monitor.
  2. After the warmup, all but the first performer will exit the room, then auditions begin.
  3. After five students have auditioned, the next five will be allowed in to warm up (see No. 1 above).
  4. This continues until all students have performed the first round (snare drum).

ROUND TWO: MALLETS

  1. The first 5 students will be allowed in the audition room for a 30-second warmup timed by the Monitor.
  2. After the warmup, all but the first performer will exit the room, then auditions begin.
  3. After five students have auditioned, the next five will be allowed in to warm up (see No. 1 above).
  4. This continues until all students have performed the second round (mallets).

ROUND THREE: TIMPANI

  1. The first 5 students will be allowed in the audition room for a 30-second warmup timed by the Monitor.
  2. After the warmup, all but the first performer will exit the room, then auditions begin.
  3. Each student will be given 30 seconds to tune each timpani with timing done by the percussion monitor.
  4. No audible or electronic device may be used to retune timpani during the performance of an etude.
  5. Judges will be instructed to adjudicate tuning as a part of the audition as they see fit.

Clinic and Concert

The Region Coordinator will secure clinicians. The region will give input on whom to hire. Region Clinic/Concert Music should be selected and distributed the day of the auditions. It is the director and/ or student to get this music on the day of the auditions. Students selected to the ATSSB All Region Band will be required to attend all rehearsals and concert. Failure to attend all scheduled events will result in forfeiture of membership. If a student is unable to attend the clinic/concert that students director will notify the Region Secretary. The Region Secretary will contact the alternate. All schools represented must have a director and/or sponsor in attendance during the clinic and concert.

Concert attire

Concert attire for High School Band is the schools concert band uniform. Junior High band will wear dress clothes. Blue jeans, athletic shoes, and/or athletic shirts should not be worn for the concert.

Region 21 ATSSB Student Code of Conduct

  1. All participants will show respect and courtesy towards everyone at all times.
  2. Students will be on time for all rehearsals.
  3. Attire will conform to the student’s school policy.
  4. Brass Players must bring their own mutes, oil, etc.
  5. Woodwind Players must bring their own reeds, etc.
  6. Percussion Players should bring their own sticks and mallets as well as snare drums.
  7. Food, candy, gum, or drinks are allowed only in designated areas, never in rehearsal areas or during performance.
  8. Hats will not be permitted inside the buildings at any time during ATSSB activities.
  9. No alcohol or illegal drugs will be tolerated.
  10. No smoking or any other form of tobacco is permitted. Vulgar and profane language is not acceptable at any time.
  11. No cellphones (texting), gaming devices, and/or computer use during the clinic/concert.

These rules are not meant to supersede individual school policies, but to serve as a guideline for appropriate student behavior at ATSSB Events. Failure to follow these guidelines could result in removal from the organization. Any illegal activity will result in immediate removal.

Students at the Audition:

  1. All students should be checked in with monitor before the auditions begin.
  2. Students will audition in order by their Audition ID.
  3. Students auditioning on a wind instrument will be allowed a one-breath warm-up.
  4. Scales should be played exactly as notated (tempo, slurs, rhythm, etc.).
  5. Students are responsible for reporting any mechanical problems to the monitor before beginning the etude portion of the audition. Up to such time as the scales are completed, a student has the right to exit the audition room due to mechanical failure of his/her instrument and return to complete the audition after the instrument is repaired or the student locates another instrument to use. If an instrument cannot be repaired prior to the conclusion of the audition and the student is unable to continue the audition, the audition will be considered complete. If the student leaves the room after the first note of the first etude has been played, the auditions will be considered complete.
  6. Students have the right to an anonymous audition.
  7. Students are responsible for attaining the accurate audition material. Students are responsible to refrain from any activity that would identify themselves or their school during the audition.

Region Coordinators Duties

The coordinators duties are as outlined in the ATSSB Constitution. Band Organizer Duties Prepare folders for the clinic and concert, and to be issued at all region auditions. Organize the acquisition of all equipment and stands for your band. Help to set up the band. Cover code of conduct for the band. Organize percussion set up, announce T-Shirt, plaque, and CD sales. Make sure students know rehearsal times and break times. Introduce clinician. Provide clinician with needed items. Check Roll for the band. Collect folders and distribute patches.

ATSSB will not allow proxies for voting in any region meetings. You must be present to vote.

Instrumentation of Ensembles

 HS Wind EnsembleHS Symphonic BandHS Concert BandWest Zone JH BandEast Zone JH Band
Flute610101010
Oboe12222
Bassoon12222
Clarinet1224242424
Alto Clarinet12222
Bass Clarinet24444
Contra Clarinet12222
Alto Saxophone44444
Tenor Saxophone12222
Baritone Saxophone12222
Trumpet816161616
French Horn48888
Trombone510101010
Bass Trombone12200
Euphonium36666
Tuba36666
Percussion77777
String Bass1100 
Total62110110107107