Objective+11+-+Pros+for+Consistency

Please list your comments and don't forget to use your District #.

From Francis Nesta: Consistency provides the same opportunity to every student in the state to earn membership in a District Festival. Consistency protects PMEA members by lessening or eliminating the charge of favoritism. We all realize that there are demographic differences across PA which can result in more individualized instructional opportunities for some students. These same differences exist in every state and within every PMEA district of PMEA. Our teaching schedules are not the same, either. Some prepare more students than others. Some teach more classes. Some teach more grade levels. Preparing a solo is not educationally unsound. The audition approach is working in over half of the districts. I feel quite sure that some blended approach that ensures more than the guaranteed "1" student representation is possible. Check the other wiki links and see what others are doing.

From Eric Dundore (D7P) Having an audition system allows each student to strive for a place in an ensmble and be there due to their own hard work and level of committment to preparation. Of course students and school districts have obvious differences, but students can still make a place for themselves in an ensemble no matter what school or background they come from. Many of our best musicians come from smaller music programs or school districts - individuals who thrive despite the odds. Are we depriving our students of the motivation for working toward a goal and the reward of making it happen through the audition process? Are we cheating some students out of being considered for places in the ensembles by not letting them take charge of their own decisions and successes? Competition in the arts area is not always the best thing by any stretch of the imagination, but it does give students, teachers and parents perspectives on their abilities, their character and their futures.