TMEA Conventions

TMEA Conventions:

Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) holds an annual convention always around Valentine's Day.

In fact, it is always held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.

For 3 days there are clinics (seminars/workshops) held by master teachers from around Texas,
and even many professors and directors of schools of music from universities around the country.
(Public school teachers in most states of any discipline are required to obtain at least
150 hours of professional development credit every 5 years to maintain their license).

In addition, there are All-State competitions and performances (usually held in the Lila Cockrell Theatre)
featuring elementary, secondary, and college bands, choirs, and orchestras;
and sometimes there are performances from the U.S. Air Force Presidential Band,
the U.S. Army Band, the U.S. Navy Band, the U.S. Marine Band, etc.

There are also 2 exhibit halls: East is much larger than the West hall, but both are filled with:
Almost every manufacturer (big and small) of instruments, supplies, accessories, sheet music,
fund raising companies, tour companies, music software companies...
Essentially, an opportunity to test-drive their products and ask questions about them...

There is a college fair (in case you are interested in becoming a music educator),
as well as a college 'reunion' night: Held at the Marriott across from the convention center,
a conference room (for each participating college) has appetizers, drinks, etc.

Of course, because so many people are gathered at one spot, there is also a job fair:
Every HIRING district in Texas has a table with the fine arts director available to meet,
drop off your credentials & teaching portfolio, ask questions, shake hands, etc.

So, you can see that the TMEA convention (the largest music educators convention in the country)
is a great networking opportunity!

I live in a suburb of San Antonio, so I thought not only would I show pictures from the TMEA conventions,
but also to display some pictures of what San Antonio looks like! I hope you enjoy...

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The Alamodome...where the Spurs play!

This side of the convention center is the "ball rooms" which, from the outside, looks like an airport...

Me, playing a "blank" sax...

While waiting for a clinic, I discovered a fallacy to those wonderful chairs (no, I didn't actually break it...)

Bruce Pearson wrote the Standard of Excellence comprehensive band method books that I use...

Here we are again with Bruce Pearson in 2013!

Me, with Dr. Bruce Pearson at the 2015 convention

My own clinic on Recorder Ensemble...

Some images from between the buildings of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center...

Here I am test driving a Yamaha soprano sax & a drum set simultaneously!

Images of the East Exhibit Hall (taken in 2012)

Ed Sueta & me: Ed Sueta's methods books for band are what I used when I started playing saxophone in 1990!

Entrance to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center...

Another view of the entrance to the convention center...

I cannot remember why I took a picture of these escalators...

Watch the people pour into the East Exhibit Hall (when it opens at 10 a.m.)

A view of the entrance to the West Exhibit Hall (taken in 2013)

It's usually 70s during the day here in San Antonio at this time of year...

The Convention Center is located right next to Hemisfair Park (near the Alamo)

Stephanie, sitting outside the Convention Center (2012)

The Marriott (hotel across the street from the Convention Center): Various events held here, too!

Howard Hughes: There are various statues inside the Convention Center of famous Texans...

A close-up of Howard Robard Hughes (Note: This is of Howard Hughes, Sr.--NOT 'The Aviator'!)

The Lila Cockrell Theatre & a 2013 performance of the Texas All-State 4A Symphonic Band

Mimi Butler taught me strings when I was at Rutgers University in New Jersey...
...she has also written many guides on how to run a private music studio...
Here she is pictured with me outside the River Center mall in 2012.

When Mimi was at the Convention again in 2013, what better place to dine at later!

A picture of me wearing my cowboy hat outside the Alamodome...let's Rodeo Texas!

Neil On The Rocks

Neil On The Rocks 2

On-Site Registration...non-TMEA members (family, friends etc.) are welcome at most events for a $10 3-day pass!

Overview: East Exhibit Hall (2013)

Pink Sax by Gemeinhardt...and although you cannot hear it, I was playing The Pink Panther!

Me again with the Gemeinhardt Pink Alto Sax at the 2015 convention

Entrance to the annual Job Fair...where are the jobs in & around San Antonio?!

The Riverwalk actually passes through the Convention Center!

The creators of Row-Loff Productions (Percussion Literature) in 2012...

The Row-Loff guys again in 2013: Chris Brooks (left) & Chris Crockarell (right)

Me with the Row-Loff folks at the 2015 convention

Indonesian Gamelan performance at the 2015 convention instructed by Gordon Jones of
Texas State-San Marcos...I worked with Dr. Jones when I was at UTSA on a gamelan performance
where I was the Dalang (shadow puppet master).

Sam Ruttenberg is a Julliard master of percussion...
...he taught me drums while I was at Rutgers University in New Jersey...
...and here he is at TMEA again selling his own HingeStix®

Scott Joplin statue...

...a closer view of the Scott Joplin statue...

A spiral staircase in one of the other buildings of the Convention Center...

Steph & Neil

Stephanie taking a break with her iPad...

Steps on opposite side of the entrance to the Convention Center...

The Tower of the Americas...similar to the Space Needle in Seattle,
this tower has a revolving restaurant that completes its revolution every 30 minutes...

"Don't go chasin' waterfalls..."

Me, holding a Selmer Mark VI sopranino sax
(half the size of an alto sax, also in the key of E-flat)
at the 2014 TMEA convention...
Selmer Mark VI's are deemed to be the Stradivarius of saxophones...

A 'map' outside/front of the Henry B. Gonzalez convention center in San Antonio, Texas

Me (February 2014) standing on New York, near where I was born...

Me, standing near where I once lived in Northern California...

Me, standing over South Jersey (where I used to live before TX)

Me, standing near Lake Washington (Seattle), someplace I've never been!

Stephanie, posing in Iowa, where she was born...

Me, jamming on an electric violin by Yamaha...

My own clinic on the saxophone at the 2015 convention

Me, preparing for my clinic on the saxophone (at the 2015 convention)

Former Spurs star & founder of The Carver Academy here
in San Antonio is David Robinson at the 2015 convention!

That's All Folks!
Be sure to check back next February for more updates!