Frequently Asked Questions
(These are the sorts of questions we hope to address in the near future. Stay tuned for some answers!)
- What is the Tri-M Society?
- I’m paying to hear my child perform! What happens to this money?
- My daughter says she wants to take the “Level 1” test in the spring. What does that mean?
- My son wants to audition for SEMSBA. What is that?
- What are Districts?
- How much should my child practice?
- What should my child be doing when she is practicing at home?
- How do I get my child to practice?
- I’ve heard that the High School music groups go on a trip? What is that all about? How much does it cost? Who chaperones it? Do the kids miss school?
- What is this Pierce “Canobie Lake trip”?
- What can I do as a parent to encourage my child with her music?
Tri-M (“Modern Music Masters”) is the Milton High School chapter of the international honor society for musicians, and is a wonderful opportunity for qualifying students. Tri-M is a program of MENC (the National Association for Music Education). Additional information about Tri-M is available at this website. The following summary is taken from that source:
It is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements, reward them for their accomplishments and service activities, and inspire other students to excel at music and leadership.
Follow the calendar for information about when the induction ceremony will be held each year. Below you can read the requirements for membership in Tri-M.
Candidates for the Honor Society must have the following qualifications at the time of their selection*:
- They must have enrolled in a school sponsored music ensemble for at least three years;
- They must be of excellent character, exhibit a good attitude toward teachers and fellow students, and be cooperative and helpful in their classes and school;
- They must have maintained for the previous semester at least an A- grade in music and at least a B average in other subjects;
- Instrumental students must have passed at least Level 3; choral students must have auditioned for District or SEMSBA in the current year;
- And, they must be recommended by their inschool ensemble director.
If the student accepts membership, he/she must fulfill the following assignment:
- Perform an approved vocal or instrumental solo or small ensemble (quartet) before fellow chapter members.
Candidates who fulfill the requirements for membership and have completed the performance assignment may be inducted as new members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society at a chapter membership presentation ceremony, at which time membership pins and cards are presented.
* Membership may be revoked at any time after the induction ceremony if the student does not continue to meet the requirements stated above.
Admission Proceeds
Although FAME members are frequently present at concerts to help sell tickets, proceeds from student performances never go to FAME.
Here are a few of the things that concert admission proceeds have done for our students in a recent year:
- Paid for all registrations for students selected for District, SEMSBA and All State.
- Paid for buses to transport elementary students between schools for concerts, bus to transport HS students to elementary schools for ALP instrumental demonstrations, bus to transport students to auditions when there are more than 20 students.
- Paid to dry clean HS chorus gowns.
- Purchased extra resources for all schools: CD playeers, clothing racks for uniforms, gowns, jackets, resource book on orchestration for each school, vacuum cleaner for music lab, ribbons and award pins.
- Paid for custodial fees for concerts held at Fontbonne during HS renovation.
- Paid to repair and refurbish many old instruments to be loaned to students (many more still need repair).
- Purchased new and interesting, appropriate level music for all performing groups.