MISSOURI MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION: Welcome to the web site of the Missouri Music Educators Association. If you are not a member of MMEA, you will learn about the very dedicated, talented, and committed membership of the association, and the high standards and quality music educational activities afforded the young people of Missouri through MMEA
 



LETTER FROM THE PAST PRESIDENT

IRONS IN THE FIRE
Paul Copenhaver
MMEA President

As MMEA’s newly elected Board of Directors members, District Presidents, and newly appointed Advisory Council members begin their duties, each faces a lengthy list of established responsibilities for his/her position, as well as deadlines for submission of articles, reports, and forms. These people also bring fresh ideas and great enthusiasm to our organization. So, I thought this might be a good time to inform you of some of these happenings.

Steve Litwiller [Boonville], Mentoring Chair, has attended clinics, and has met with a number of experts as he formulates a proposal to assist our beginning teachers. Guiding and assisting these teachers through that all-important first year with advice specific to the teaching of music from experienced educators seems to be critical for both immediate and long-term success. As of this writing, Steve has written a plan for Missouri schools, will soon take that proposal to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for their perusal, and plans to present the plan to our Board of Directors/Advisory Council at their meeting on May 17.

Our Historian, Marvin Manring [Stockton] recently visited our MMEA archives in the Specific Collections area of Meyer Library on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield. He reports there are fourteen boxes of papers, microfilm, and a few recordings. All of these items need to be carefully compiled, documented, and stored someplace that is accessible to our members. There are a number of options for the future housing of these important items, and I’ve asked Marvin to make a recommendation to that end.

Our area Vice-Presidents are busy arranging for clinicians for our upcoming 71st Annual In-Service Workshop/Conference. Early reports indicate these clinicians and their clinics will be both interesting and informative. Our district presidents are busy planning activities for next year such as district meetings, audition dates, etc.

Aurelia Hartenberger [St. Louis], our Advancing Music Education Chair, has been very busy working with the DESE steering committee for the Curriculum Alignment Initiative to be sure the Fine Arts are represented on the new Entry-Level and Exit-Level Competencies required by the passage of Senate Bill 389 in May 2007. Entry-Level Competencies are defined as “articulating the competencies and skills necessary for access to beginning collegiate-level work,” and Exit-Level Competencies will “define the knowledge and skills that a student is expected to have gained as a result of successfully completing an entry-level general education course at the postsecondary level.” Aurelia’s understanding and assistance writing these competencies is important to the overall project, and assures MMEA’s interests are well served.

Music In Our Schools Month Chair Nylah Beach [Salisbury] has been busy assembling ideas to help you with the celebration of MIOSM. These ideas are creative, practical, and will work in almost any size school. Her experience celebrating MIOSM at the local and district levels provides an excellent resource for this important event.

I had the opportunity to meet a group of students from Logan-Rogersville High School in early March who initiated House Concurrent Resolution 26 [sponsored by Representative Bob Dixon/Springfield]. HCR26 “encourages the governor and DESE to secure additional funding for fine arts in Missouri.” These students are concerned about many of the same issues as MMEA members---lack of budget, lack of staff, limited offerings, etc. They were present to testify before the House Education Committee concerning HCR26. Each of them presented a solid case for the inclusion of fine arts classes in our schools, the benefits of these classes, and the desire to have even more opportunities made available to them. I also testified in favor of HCR26, which the Committee later voted to “pass.” As of this writing, HCR26 is waiting to be assigned for discussion on the House floor.

Our MMEA website has been a concern since its inception. Website Coordinator Karen Stafford [Washington] has done a superb job in making our website more user friendly and providing information useful to our members. Just a few highlights are the “News & Events” section that includes information pertinent to music education at the state and national levels, an “Advocacy” section with news from DESE and contact information for members of the Missouri General Assembly, and an archive of articles written by our Board of Directors members. Another important feature includes handouts from many of the workshops at our recent conference. You will also find information about GLE’s, the Show-me Standards, and the National Standards included in the “Curriculum Information” area. A number of application and order forms are included, links to our eleven districts, MSHSAA, and our affiliate organizations, as well as contact information for all MMEA officers. The website is easy to navigate, provides useful information, and represents MMEA in a positive manner!

By the time you read this, a number of us will have attended the MENC National Assembly and National Biennial In-Service Conference in Milwaukee. The National Assembly provides the state leaders the opportunity to discuss various issues, learn about happenings in other states, receive leadership training, and relate needs and concerns. The In-Service Conference provides an excellent opportunity to observe possible clinic session topics, hear performing groups from throughout the country, and make important connections with clinicians and/or presenters from a wide area.

So, you can see we do have many “irons in the fire.” We’re seeking to preserve MMEA’s heritage, immersed in present needs and concerns, and planning for the future.