How often does one see a room full of string teachers sitting around improvising jazz solos? Convention number 70 was a blast! If you didn't get a chance to see Martin Norgaard's two workshops and Andy Dabczynski's two workshops, be sure to get a handout from a friend who did. Their clinics offered us things we can take back to the classroom or studio and use to improve our teaching immediately. That's a breath of fresh air when a lot of the professional development we must attend throughout the school year isn't exactly relevant to what we do as orchestra teachers.

If you liked the fact that the orchestra division had four workshops plus the MOASTA reading session, please express your thanks to our past-president Paul Swofford. He was generous and open-minded in getting those two extra clinics scheduled. With a convention as big as ours, rooms for more clinics are extremely difficult to come by. Paul was encouraging and supportive during the whole process.

Hearing different orchestras perform at the Convention is always a delight, and this year was no exception. Congratulations are due to Larry Dissmore and Evangel's orchestra, Winifred Crock and Parkway Central, Paul Morales and Lee's Summit, Ed Simon and Marilyn Humsiton and Parkway South, Joe Gutowski and Lafayette, and Elizabeth Johnston and Pershing Middle School. Here is a word of encouragement for ALL the orchestra directors in our state: Don't be shy about making and submitting a recording to audition for Convention! We all benefit from hearing your kids play.

When you received the MMEA ballot at the end of last year, you noticed that the choice for orchestra vice-president was between Stephanie Phalp-Rathbun and Ed Simon. That was nice, because either way you voted, the orchestra division would have been in good hands. Stephanie has spent many years of dedicated service on the MOASTA board of directors, and she is appreciated by all the string teachers in Missouri. Ed Simon will be taking over this office for the next two conventions. Ed is a good communicator, and he is intelligent, articulate, and by most accounts, strikingly handsome. The orchestra division of MMEA will improve under his leadership.

On a personal note, I would like to thank all of my colleagues for your kindness and patience while I served as vice-president. Many of you told me that you enjoyed my introductions to the clinics and concerts, and I truly appreciate that as well. I believe that over the last two years, my efforts have helped to reduce tobacco chewing and indiscreet spittoon use during concerts. That, incidentally, is a common problem for orchestras like Chicago, New York, and even St. Louis. Because of those pre-concert instructions, not a single Kitchen Aid stand mixer attachment or flux capacitor interrupted a performance. Never once did anyone encounter venomous reptiles or barnyard animals while an orchestra played. I heard the band division was not so lucky. Sorry, Chuck. Finally, next year Ed Simon is planning to work with the Tan-Tar-A staff to have the entire Salon A served carrot cake for each performance. Carrot cake is pleasant to think about.

Whether you're teaching, playing, spending time with family, or anything else, try to enjoy lots and lots of humor. Laughter is a catalyst for forming healthy relationships, and that is the most important part of teaching, whether you teach orchestra, band, choir, general music, or even one or the co-curricular subjects like math or English. Humor can ease tension before a chair test. Laughter can soften an impending discipline issue before it gets out of hand. Laughter can instantly warm up a rehearsal room. Use it, and not sparingly! Your students will thrive on it.

Andy Johnston