12Concert dress
| Musician | Dress |
|---|---|
| Men | Long-sleeved white shirt, black pants, tie, black socks, black shoes |
| Women | White blouse or sweater; black skirt (no minis) or black pants; black socks or neutral / natural stockings; black shoes |
13NYSSMA Solo Festival
The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Festival is an optional individual performance where students play a graded solo for a certified adjudicator and receive written feedback.
When and where — 2026–27
- Levels 1–4: April 30 & May 1, 2027 · Jarvis Middle School
- Levels 5–6: May 7 & 8, 2027 · VVS
The day of
- Arrival: at least 30 minutes prior to the performance time.
- Dress: dress nicely — dress shirts, shoes, and pants, or dresses.
- Transportation: parent or guardian drop-off and pick-up.
- Duration: each performance is approximately 10–15 minutes.
Solo repertoire is chosen with Mr. Brown and matched to the student's grade level and NYSSMA level (1–6). Listening examples are posted on the program site under NYSSMA SOLO.
14All-County Music Festival
Students may be selected by the Herkimer County Music Educators Association (HCMEA) to participate in the All-County Music Festival.
2026–27 festivals
- All-County 1: November 6 & 7, 2026 · Little Falls
- All-County 2: March 19 & 20, 2027 · Mount Markham
Because guest conductors have limited rehearsal hours, students must attend every scheduled rehearsal in its entirety. A student who misses any rehearsal will be asked not to return for the remaining rehearsals or the concert.
Permission slip must be signed and returned no less than two weeks before the festival. Contact Mr. Brown as soon as possible if your child cannot attend.
What All-County is
The Herkimer County Music Educators Association (HCMEA) hosts two All-County festivals each year. All-County 1 (November) showcases High School Chorus, Junior High Band, and Elementary Chorus. All-County 2 (March) showcases High School Band, Junior High Chorus, and Elementary Band.
Ensembles are selected through a round-table process in which the county's music teachers negotiate who is chosen and where each student sits, supported by student NYSSMA solo scores.