What is Modern Band?
Modern Band is a school-based music program that utilizes popular music as its central canon. Modern Band teaches students to perform contemporary popular music, and to compose and improvise. Styles that are studied include rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, rhythm & blues, electronic dance music, and other contemporary styles as they emerge. Modern Band also utilizes (but is not limited to) the musical instruments that are common to these genres: guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice and technology.
Overview
The All-State Elementary Modern Band, composed of students in grades 4–6, will perform as a part of the Kentucky Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference held in Louisville, February 8–10, 2024. The performance will be on Friday afternoon, February 9, 2024.
Coordinator
Dr. Martina Vasil
105 Fine Arts Building
College of Fine Arts, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506
859-257-8203 (w)
412-716-5595 (c, please text first)
martina.vasil@uky.edu
Coaches
Kailey Holmes
David Dockan
Mia Ibrahim
Fees
Audition Fee: $7
Participation Fee (if accepted): $50
Eligibility
Teachers must be current members of KMEA, and they must register their school or music program prior to submitting auditions.
In order for students who attend an elementary school to be eligible to audition, the elementary school must be registered here.
In order for students who attend a middle school to be eligible to audition, the teacher in charge of the Modern Band program must register the middle school band, choir, or orchestra program to which they are assigned using the registration form here.
If this does not apply, the teacher should call the KMEA office at (859) 626-5635 or email tori@kmea.org for guidance.
Deadlines
Monday, September 11, 2023 | Audition form opens. See Audition Requirements below. |
Monday, November 6, 2023 | Audition Form, Video, and Fee Deadline – Please complete the All-State Elementary Modern Band (ASEMB) Audition Form (which includes the place to upload the video). Completing the form generates a PDF that is sent to the email address you provide for the first question. – Please send completed form to KMEA – Include a check, credit card info, or purchase order information OR you may pay online. – Alternately, forms may be emailed along with the image of a signed P.O. to tony@kmea.org. – A final option is to pay online using this form. YOU MUST ALSO SUBMIT THE AUDITION RECORDING THROUGH THE ABOVE AUDITION FORM! |
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | If any audition fee is not received in the KMEA office on or before this date, the corresponding audition not being assessed. |
(Updated 11/13/2023) Monday, November 20, 2023 | Release of results on the KMEA website. |
(Updated 11/20/2023) Friday, December 1, 2023 | Selected participant registration deadline. – Send 1 copy of the 2023–24 ASEMB Selected Student Registration form (fill out by going to File -> Make a copy) with payment. Do not send payment to the ASEMB Coordinator. – Send 2023–24 ASEMB Behavior Contract for each student to the KMEA office. |
Recommended deadline of Friday, December 15, 2023 | Housing forms due to the Galt House. Housing forms do NOT need to be mailed to the KMEA Office or the ASEMB Coordinator. |
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | Participants travel to Louisville, KY for afternoon/evening rehearsal. |
Friday, February 9, 2024 | Morning rehearsal and an afternoon performance. |
Director’s Expectations for Students
Directors should nominate students willing to work with peers and adults.
2024 Schedule & Repertoire
Coming soon!
Audition Requirements
Teachers must submit a video of each student performing two songs (one song is required and one is the student’s choice). Each song is a separate 60–90 second file. Label each recording using a firstname-lastname format. Any audition recording that has been electronically enhanced in any way (reverb, auto-tune) will be disqualified. Please ensure students are not wearing school-affiliated clothing and that the school is not identifiable from the video (e.g., don’t record in the gym where the school logo may be easily seen).
Step 1: Students should introduce themselves at the beginning of each video and announce the title of the song they will play: “Hi, my name is _____ and I will be playing _______.” The teacher will not talk.
Step 2: Students perform “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons for 60–90 seconds on their instrument of choice, using the appropriate backing track provided below. Here is a link to a printable version of “Thunder” Audition Music.
Step 3: Students chose the second song, which should contrast with the style of Thunder. This video may be accompanied or unaccompanied with a backing track. The video should be 60–90 seconds long.
Options for a Contrasting Song (Original songs are welcome)
For additional students click the link “Submit another response”