Another Successful MMEA In-Service:Get Involved!

As I write my final article as outgoing General Music Vice President, over the past two years, General Music has provided its membership with two in-service/ conventions that have listened to what you, the membership, have requested. There was a need for general music sessions to be from more of a K-12 perspective. In retrospect, I provided some sessions geared toward specific areas of your stated concern, that being middle and high school general music classrooms. Many members at this year’s in-service asked me what the general music category encompasses so let me take a moment to share with you that this does include any content that can directly relate to the K-12 classroom. If you have topics you would like to see presented in the future, please note these at the end of each in-service by using your evaluation form in the back of the in-service program or directly email the incoming general music vice president, as her email address is located on our MMEA website.

These past two years, the MMEA board has made every effort to provide our membership with high quality professional development and sessions of interest that apply to your area of instruction. In the area of general music, the board has looked closely at avoiding high interest sessions from overlapping, as well as providing more sessions in the area of general music. At the 2007 and 2008 in-service, both general and elementary sessions were held primarily in the Northwinds room at the resort. We hope that this was conducive to more participants and allowed all that wanted to attend to be in attendance. This has allowed us to create a less conflicting schedule as we do not have to compete with Salons A & C as much as in the past. Hopefully, we made your trek up the hill to Northwinds worth your time and energy of getting there!

I hope that you have enjoyed the sessions that have been presented in the area of general music while under my leadership. I am confident that there will continue to be informative sessions provided by your newly elected vice president. At this year’s in-service we were able to have several excellent Missouri presenters, including Dr. Carla Maltas of the University of Central Missouri speaking on Children’s Literature, Dr. Carol McDowell of Southeast Missouri State University who gave us great resources of adaptations for students with special needs, as well as Ms. Terre McPheeters who shared with us music literature geared toward those that teach middle school choirs where teachers were able to leave with a packet of music sponsored by J.W. Pepper. Our other clinicians came from around the United States. One of those clinicians is Kalani of California who presented a session entitled, “Together in Rhythm,” focusing on drum circle activities which built a working knowledge of various drums and drumming techniques. Another out-of-state clinician was Dr. Alex Ruthmann, of Indiana, is a Missouri native who presented an enlightening session on how to compose creatively using various cost-effective sources of technology. Mrs. Cristi Miller of Oklahoma, provided our membership with ideas for new music literature that is appropriate for elementary to middle school choirs. Complimentary packets and sponsorship were provided by Hal Leonard and J.W. Pepper. From the University of Illinois – Carbondale, Dr. Pamela Stover shared with us activities and resources to use in the secondary general music classroom.

I would encourage Missouri music educators, with ideas and topics to present, to consider becoming an in-service clinician. Many of our best presenters are right here in Missouri, so please send in your forms. If you have a topic in mind, please submit a session proposal form to the specific area MMEA vice president for consideration, as the new vice presidents will begin forming the next in-service docket of presenters in the coming months. Forms may be found on our MMEA website.

One of the most enriching experiences I have had as a music educator was when my choir and I performed at the MMEA In-service. I encourage you to commit to submitting a recording of your performance group to the appropriate area vice president on the MMEA board. It is a memory that you will have showing your strength, courage and accomplishment that will linger both in your student’s minds and your mind for years to come. Knowing how vital performances at the annual MMEA In-service are, a general music performance group was proposed and voted in as one of the performing groups for the January 2009 In-service. I encourage all interested K-12 music educators to submit recordings of their performing groups that may include performances of Orff instrumentation, Handbell choirs, Drum circles, Recorder consorts or other performance groups. Forms and guidelines may be found on our MMEA website.

It is my pleasure and honor to have served the Missouri Music Educators Association over the past two years as your General Music Vice President. I thank you for the support you have given me during my elected term and allowing me to provide the music educators of Missouri opportunities to continue growing professionally. Please always remember that you make a difference in the lives of so many children through music. Keep up the great work, Missouri music educators!

Patti Tavenner