The Newnan Music Institute is a program designed to prepare students for leadership and/or majoring in music in college. The program itself is designed to create a well rounded music student that is capable of leading and performing in key areas of the musical experience. To be a member of the Newnan Music Institute a student must complete the following:
Take private lessons.
While this is not required to be a member of the high school band program, it is the leading divider between students who receive a music scholarship and those that do not. During the band class, band directors must teach 50 students or more at a single time, but in private lessons, you will work one on one with a professional on your instrument. There is just no substitute for private lessons. Spending some of your money here today, could gain you thousands in scholarship funds later. After all, name a professional athlete that doesn’t have a coach? We have several private lessons instructors that are local to our area that we can put you in touch with.
Try out for District and All State.
It is important that students spend time aspiring to be the best on their instrument. All-State auditions give students an opportunity to see how they “stack up” today with the best musicians in the state. There is no down side to auditioning for all state. If you don’t make it, you still get better from completing the process. If you do make it, you get an opportunity to experience music with the best students in your state.
Attend at least 1 collegiate or professional ensemble concert in the fall and spring semesters.
The best way to learn a characteristic sound on your instrument or develop a lush full ensemble sound is to let your ears experience these sounds first hand. This also exposes you to music of different varieties, styles, genres, etc. Collegiate ensembles can inspire you to creativity as you experience music at a higher level. Furthermore, this can expose you to music at the next level. Be sure to bring Dr. Boyd a copy of the program from the concert. He will ask you to described what you saw and heard to the class.
Teach lessons to a younger player.
Like all professional musicians, teaching and inspiring the next generation should be important to you. You also learn a lot about your own playing when you have to explain this same process to another individual. What if you had a professional musician work with you as a middle school student? What if someone had taken you under his or her wing when you were just getting started? Now consider the fact that you can be this person to someone else who needs it. This is one of the most important steps if you are going to major in music education. The goal here is to work with a young musician for one semester (under the supervision of a band director). You can help that student as they prepare for all state, solo and ensemble, or some other goal established by their band director. Come see Dr. Boyd when you are ready to accomplish this step. You must meet with this student at least once bi-weekly for three months.