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MSBOA Mid-West Conference – Amway Grand Plaza
Grand Rapids, MI
January 21, 2006
3:15 PM
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Minutes
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The Michigan chapter of IAJE held a general membership meeting at the MSBOA Mid-West Conference in Grand Rapids. The meeting took place in the Emerald Room at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Fourteen members were present.
The IAJE MI website was discussed. Among its invaluable uses:
- how to leverage it to promote IAJE
- its role as a resource tool for those needing help with their jazz ensembles
We can have a message board component allowing directors to ask questions, then have an experienced educator or musician respond to the individuals particular need.
The need to increase membership was discussed. It was suggested that maybe IAJE could take out an advertisement in the Convention program.
People who attended the Reading Band performance at the Convention enjoyed it, but would like to see the band used in a greater capacity. Such an idea ranges from making a DVD to having a separate weekend conference just for jazz with breakout sessions and clinics for instruments and grade levels. Possibly bringing in a group to work with and talking about rehearsal techniques, etc.
We should send out a survey asking: 1) when the best time to have it would be?; and, 2) what they would like to see presented? This would fall into what the national IAJE office level would like to see, also. They are trying to encourage more state participation. The grassroots level is being lost, they claim.
The partnership was talked about with MSBOA. First that IAJE is not involved with the planning of the state conference for the jazz events in which there was 3 and 2 at the same time. We are trying to build a stronger relationship with MSBOA. We would like to see a true All-State Jazz Band. We would like to have a more updated and user-friendly repertoire list. President Coyle is working on this.
We would also like to see the festivals be IAJE sanctioned. Concerns by MSBOA come from the judging sheets in which IAJE would place more of an emphasis on improvisation and the sight-reading component. Whereas, the national IAJE recognizes the need for sight-reading but it would be more beneficial to have more of a clinic based upon the prepared program and replace it.
Respectfully Submitted,
Max Colley III
IAJE Michigan Secretary
