NYSSMA

The NYSSMA date for West Islip is Wednesday April 17th, 2024, at West Islip High School

Students who are interested in participating in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) festival will need to request a registration form from Mrs. Cirasole (available January 2024.) These forms must be completed by your child's private vocal instructor. They will be due NO LATER THAN Wednesday, February 7th, 2024. The fee for NYSSMA must be paid using My School Bucks and varies depending on the level of the solo; please attach your MSB receipt to the NYSSMA form. 

Preparation for the festival with a private vocal coach is crucial in order for your son/daughter to be thoroughly prepared and confident for their NYSSMA solo and vocal sight reading. If your child does not currently have a private vocal coach, please contact me for a referral. Do not put off contacting a coach as many have limited space in their private studios. I am available to accompany your child at the festival. Parents are responsible for purchasing the NYSSMA music ORGINAL scores, photocopies are not permitted, and your child will not be allowed to participate if they enter a NYSSMA room without the original book/score. Be sure to ask the private vocal coach what music you need to purchase; also plan on doing this way in advance.

NYSSMA 2024

The NYSSMA Festival is on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 at West Islip High School.  To ensure that your child is properly prepared and has a positive experience at NYSSMA please be aware of the following.

• Ask their private teacher to practice sight reading with them during their lesson.

• Remind your child to reinforce their sight-reading skills by using the sight reading factory program independently that the district has provided; NYSSMA levels can be customized on the site.

• Discuss with their private teacher how your child will be accompanied at the festival.  Unlike an instrumentalist, singers MUST have some accompaniment during their solo.  Options are a live accompanist (if your private teacher is accompanying you discuss their fee for this service), a *CD recording that the accompanist has provided OR a CD recording that was purchased with your vocal music.  If your private teacher does not accompany you and you are not using a CD please let me know.  I can accompany your child if they are comfortable with me doing so but they must meet with me to discuss the key, tempo, phrasing and nuances of your solo.  I also have referrals for professional accompanists that you can hire; please ask if you are interested.

• Purchase 2 original books/solos.  If you are using a *CD accompaniment and singing from memory you can have 1 book but it must be given to the adjudicator.  However, if at the last minute you feel nervous and wish to look at the music it is best to have a second book as a backup plan.  Otherwise the judge may choose to look over your shoulder while you are singing so they can see the music as well.  That can make an already stressful situation even more tense for some singers!  If you are NOT memorized and you need a live accompanist then you will need 3 original books in total; 1 for the judge, 1 for you and 1 for the accompanist.  Some private teachers will provide an original book for you to borrow; discuss this with them.

• If you enter the vocal room with music that is photo copied your child may be asked to leave the room and will not be allowed to perform their solo.  The adjudicator must notify the Zone Representative who is at the festival and they will make the final determination.  Be advised that this can happen if you have 2 originals and 1 copy.

Should you have any questions or concerns please email me at p.cirasole@wi.k12.ny.us.

*CD players are NOT provided and must be brought in and set up by the singer/family member.