Archive for

Day: November 1, 2021

We’re Back!

Nov 1 2021

I hope you are off to a great start for the school year and your students are engaging in productive musical experiences. It has been so nice to see many musical programs enjoying live performances. This simply reminds me of how important the gift of music education is to the lives of our young people.

In August, the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) Governing Board met to continue planning for the 2022 conference. The board has put a great deal of time and effort into making our next conference the very best possible. There is no question that everyone is eager to get back to in-person clinics and performances. We are looking forward to the opportunity to grow professionally together in January.

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Matthew Arau, is the Music Education Department Chair and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. In addition, Dr. Arau is the Founder of Upbeat Global, which is an organization created to inspire positivity through leadership and music around the world. I recently attended one of his sessions and immediately knew he was the person that is needed to address the music educators of Alabama. Please be sure to attend his keynote address to AMEA at the presentation on Friday morning at 10:15am. Prepare yourself to be inspired by his uplifting message.

I am extremely excited about our keynote performing group, Act of Congress. They were scheduled to perform for our 2021 Conference and have agreed to perform for 2022 since we were unable to have performances in person last January. If you have not yet heard of this native Alabama group, you are in for a special treat. The first time I heard them perform I was impressed with their musicality and creative way to arrange their unique style of music. Since that time, I have purchased several of their albums and have become quite a fan. You can visit their website at http://actofcongressmusic.com and find an extensive music collection through iTunes. Their Christmas music is exceptionally good!

The board has been eagerly planning the AMEA 75th Anniversary for quite some time. It was decided last January to delay the formal celebration until it could be celebrated in person. Pat Stegall formed a Celebration Committee and has done an exceptional job making plans for this momentous occasion. Please join us during the reception scheduled on Friday night of our 2022 conference as we commemorate and celebrate this anniversary.

I am proud of the work our Division Leaders have done over the summer that has resulted in great ideas for in-person and new events. I have seen the leaders of the Band, Vocal, Orchestra, General/Elementary, Higher Education, and Collegiate Divisions collaborate in order to solve many of the new issues we are facing in education. This work will result in additional innovated opportunities for music educators that will positively impact you and your students.

Alabama has a rich history of extremely gifted leaders that had a tremendously important influence on my career. These leaders inspired me to be a better educator by teaching me the importance of maintaining a professional attitude, even during the hard times. You probably have leaders that you admire as well. Those leaders all started by saying “yes” to a leadership position. There are many local, district, regional, and state leadership opportunities that support music education. Please consider finding a place you can serve in a leadership role to promote music education. I encourage you to get involved with your division, become a future leader, and be willing to serve.

This is an election year for AMEA. In January, we will share the bios of the nominees for the new president-elect. I hope you will take the time to read about the new candidates to decide who you think should be the future leader of our association. You will receive a ballot in the spring for the election, so please take the time to reflect on your decision and cast your vote.

As we continue to move forward, let’s remind ourselves to stay focused on spreading our joy for music education to every student in our classroom. I know it may not always seem like you are appreciated but you are. Your enthusiasm to do your very best will impact those around you, including your colleagues. As music educators, we sometimes feel very isolated due to our unique subject. I encourage you to take the time to check on other music educators in your school system and district. You just might be the encouraging voice they need to hear today.

In closing, I wish you all the best. I look forward to seeing you in person in January at the 2022 AMEA Professional Development Conference. It is my pleasure to say, “We’re Back.”

Best regards,

David Raney

Join/Renew/Register!

Nov 1 2021

Check out the AMEA website and register for the 2022 AMEA conference online at www.myamea.org. You will find it is easy and will save you time and money. Reunite with friends and colleagues from all over the state in January as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of AMEA! Rejuvenate your energy and renew your enthusiasm for the rest of the school year! I can’t wait to see you at the registration booth!

When you are joining or renewing your membership, think of those music teachers in your area that may not be active members, and send them a message inviting them to join and encourage them to register for the conference! You could send an email with their contact information to me at pstegall@mscs.k12.al.us and I will invite them!

Renew your membership now at www.nafme.org. Membership in NAfME is required for participation in state MEA sponsored events like the AMEA Conference, the Elementary Division Fall Conference, All- state and Musical Performance Assessments. Joining NAfME secures your membership in AMEA and in your division. Renewing your membership annually will help you in achieving the continuing service award at our conference on year 25 and beyond.

I look forward to receiving your completed registrations. They should be postmarked by January 8, 2022, and received by January 14, 2022.

AMEA 75th Anniversary Celebration

President Raney asked that we create a committee to plan some in-person events for the celebration of AMEA’s 75th Anniversary. I would like to thank our committee members for their wisdom and input! The members are Pat Stegall-Chair, Michael Zelenak, Frank Buck, Ann Witt, Carl Hancock, Blair Calloway, and Sarah McLendon. We are planning several events for the conference including “Cocktails and Cakes” as part of the President’s reception. President Raney will cut the cake and we will have a toast in honor of 75 years as AMEA. Southern Performances is providing each division with a Flag/Banner for our opening ceremony procession and a group picture of the division members in attendance. We are planning displays for the AMEA Hall of Fame and Past Presidents, AMEA lapel pins, and an opportunity for retirees to meet with our FAME attendees to build relationships. We hope that you will participate in the Celebration of 75 years of AMEA!

Pat Stegall

PS

Renew, Refresh, and Reconnect

Nov 1 2021

Greetings colleagues! As you read this issue of Ala Breve, you will notice a common theme – we are excited and looking forward to an “in-person” conference in January. Whoo-hoo! It feels as though it has been decades since we were in the same room together. As you read this issue, you will also see that we have a great lineup of sessions and concerts. In addition, we are celebrating AMEA’s 75th anniversary. It will be a party that you don’t want to miss.

Renew: If you are reading the print version of Ala Breve, you have already renewed your membership. Congratulations! If you are reading it online, maybe not. COVID has taken its toll on AMEA membership. Our numbers have declined since March 2020. Now is the time to reverse this trend. Renew your membership and encourage others to do the same. In my opinion, music is an important part of everyone’s life and a powerful form of advocacy is to support our professional organizations. It’s the right thing to do. Join now.

Refresh: Have you ever wondered why so many state MEAs have their annual conferences in January and February? These conferences provide that boost needed to help us make it to the end of the school year. By the time January rolls around, we have worked through all of the strategies and ideas that we collected during the summer. Don’t return to the classroom with tired and worn-out activities. Learn something new. I challenge you to attend a session that is out of your comfort zone. If you are a band director, go to a choral session, and vice versa. You will be surprised at what you will learn and how it can change your perspective of teaching. Although I taught at the secondary level, I regularly attended elementary sessions. General music teachers have strategies to engage the most reluctant learner. They will rock your world!

Reconnect: The adage “it doesn’t matter what you know, but who you know” rings true in the field of music education. Maybe you need help finding a piece of music or borrowing an instrument. Maybe your auditorium is under construction and you need another venue for your concert. Maybe you are looking for a new job and are searching for openings. Surrounding yourself with knowledgeable people will help you overcome these challenges. More importantly, as Jackie Wiggins stated “all knowledge is socially constructed.” We learn from others. The personal connections you will make at the conference will help solve your problems and develop your pedagogical content knowledge.

Did I mention that we have a great lineup of sessions this year? We have something for everyone. Keep in mind that the HED Recital takes place on Thursday at 3:30 pm and the HED Luncheon is at noon on Friday. In addition, we are joining forces with the C-NAfME division for our inaugural Lesson Planning Competition on Friday at 3:30 pm. In this event, talented pre-service teachers will demonstrate their instructional skills in short vignettes. Support our collegiate students. They are our future.

See you at the conference!

Michael Zelenak

 

Collegiate Division Updates

Nov 1 2021

We are delighted to announce that registration is now open for the 2021 Collegiate Summit, Connect: bit.ly/ALSummit21. This in-person event will be hosted at Moody Music Building on the campus of the University of Alabama. The itinerary includes a keynote address by Dr. Ruth Brittin, Chair of the Department of Music Education at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, breakout sessions for instrumental, choral, and general music, an early-career teacher panel, and a dinner for all of the speakers and participants.

Our inaugural partnership with the Higher Education Division is also now underway for the edTPA Lesson Planning Competition. Details are available here: bit.ly/LessonPlanningCompAL. Participants must be an active cNAfME member, a student enrolled in a university-sponsored educator preparation or provisional certificate teaching field program, and attend the 2022 AMEA Conference. The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2021. We hope you will compete in this newly created event!

Better Together

Nov 1 2021

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” ~ African proverb

Do you ever find yourself jealous of classroom teachers? I do all of the time! They have a “tribe” in their hallway. They can collaborate daily. They can walk next door to ask a question about their subject. The lesson didn’t work the way they wanted……what worked for you?

We are on an island. Most of us are the only music educators in our building. Some are the only music educators in the system. Some of us are lucky to be in a larger system and have people in town with whom we can bounce around ideas.

We have started yet another year unlike any year in the past. However, we are all in the same boat. We all have children who may have lost singing skills due to the lack of singing. We have children who have missed out on playing the recorder. (My students are begging to be able to play this year!) Do not let the challenges of the year discourage you!

We need to form our “tribes.” We need to support each other. Share ideas. Ask questions. Give answers without being condescending. Form a text group. Share ideas on social media. Write articles for the Ala Breve.

Those of us veterans have it better than novice teachers. We have years of experience from which to draw. Are you a veteran teacher with a new teacher in your district? Become a mentor! You have a wealth of knowledge to share. Are you a beginning teacher and need some guidance? Reach out and we can put you in touch with someone who can help you!

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Updates

Nov 1 2021

I enjoyed seeing and catching up with so many of you at our Fall Workshop on September 10. Thank you to the University of Montevallo and Dr. Melinda Doyle, Director of Choral Activities for being such welcoming hosts. Thank you to all presenters and facilitators who made our day one of learning, refueling, and collaborating. At the general membership meeting, we voted on clearer AVA Handbook wording (no policies were changed) that states that participation in All-State Show Choir meets the All- State requirement for OCS eligibility. We also voted on wording that clarifies that District Chairs ask adjudicators to confer in the situation of abnormal ratings splits at SCPA. Please visit the website to read the adopted Handbook revisions as well as the minutes of the meeting. While you are visiting the website, be sure to check out the newly typeset AVA Handbook. Thank you to Margaret Heron for tackling this huge task. We hope this document will be more user-friendly moving forward.

All-State Auditions are October 31-November 9. We are planning to hold these auditions in person at several sites throughout the state. However, contingency plans are in the works should we need to move auditions to a virtual format.

All-State Show Choir Auditions will be recorded and submitted via Google Classroom. Teachers will receive the appropriate Google Classroom code once the audition submission window opens. Students will upload videos of both their singing and dance auditions. Step-by-step instructions will be provided shortly after registration closes. Thank you to Cam Weiler for serving as All-State Show Choir Coordinator.

Honor Choir Screenings will also be recorded and submitted via Google Classroom. This year’s Honor Choir will be an a cappella jazz choir. Thank you to Hilen Wilson for serving as Honor Choir Coordinator.

The 2022 AMEA Conference will be January 20-22 at Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Along with performances by exemplary choral ensembles from around our state and highly acclaimed presenters, we will also have All-State Show Choir and Honor Choir at this conference. The AMEA conference promises to be an event you will not want to miss.

All-State Festival will be March 10-12 at Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.

State Choral Performance Assessment and Solo and Ensemble Assessment are scheduled in person in each district in the spring.

Warm Regards,

Randall Fields

AVA President

 

Expanding Access and Exploring Growth Through Orchestral Performance

Nov 1 2021

Nothing catches your attention as fast as the powerful opening themes to many of John Williams’ timeless film scores such as Star Wars, Home Alone, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, or Schindler’s List. The sweeping power of this style of orchestral music is firmly rooted in a neo-romantic tradition closely associated with the 19th-century techniques of Tchaikovsky or Wagner. Orchestral music now impacts every aspect of life, to each video gamer’s delight, to the rock-crossover stage with Elton John and Pink Floyd, to the Copland Rodeo melody that encourages you to buy the latest SUV, and back to the concert hall to be captivated by a Puccini opera, Broadway staple, or classical masterwork.

We look to Gustavo Dudamel and Youth Orchestra L.A.’s Super Bowl halftime appearance in January 2016, to motivate us to provide opportunities for all music students regardless of race, class, or gender. It logically becomes a personal charge of the Alabama Orchestra Association to ensure that all instrumental students in Alabama have access to experience participation in a full orchestra of 80-100 woodwind, brass, percussion, and string students. I am thankful to a number of band directors and studio woodwind, brass, and percussion teachers that have encouraged the organization to open more seats to students that have not yet had a chance to play in a full orchestra. To that end, AOA is excited to announce the addition of the North All-Region Orchestra Festival (Huntsville HS) and South All-Region Orchestra Festival (Prattville HS) concurrently on January 8-9, 2022.

Please encourage your students to participate! Details and audition materials can be found here:

https://alabamaorchestraassociation.org/

DEADLINES for AUDITION SUBMISSION/REGISTRATION

October 15, 2021 – String and Harp Auditions
November 12, 2021 – Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Auditions

● New School Orchestra Programs – If you are a school administrator, our AOA Executive Team wants to work with you on developing a new string program in your local school. As a complement to excellent band and choral programs around the state, a string program appeals to the diverse student willing to find their unique voice and will place your school district on the map for prospective families (will help propel district population and revenue growth)

All-Region Orchestras –

● North All-Region Orchestra – January 8-9, 2022 ● South All-Region Orchestra – January 8-9, 2022

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All-State Orchestras –

● February 10-13, 2022

Orchestra Music Performance Assessment

● April 22-23, 2022

Thank you for your never-ending commitment to your student artists. As we return to the live concert stage, I am inspired by your commitment to engaging your community with the value of music. Please know that my door is always open at dstevens1@una.edu.
Sincerely,

Daniel Stevens

Seeing Band Through a Different Lens

Nov 1 2021

This year certainly started a little differently than I had planned. Just when I thought the pandemic was coming to an end, we are dealing with a new variant that has presented new challenges and difficult decisions. Honestly, there have been days where I have allowed myself to fall into a funk due to the unknown and daily quarantines. Your perspective has a profound impact on your purpose. Considering different lenses will help you navigate yet another challenging year and give you the will to persevere.
Director’s Lens: Band directors are some of the hardest working professionals in the world. Countless hours are spent planning, rehearsing, and participating in band activities. We see the value in the activity and push students to heights they didn’t even know were possible. Regardless of the circumstances, we have focused on providing as close to a normal band experience as possible for our students. We know the value of the activity and keep the student’s well-being our top priority. During the pandemic, we have had to make decisions in areas that none of us are qualified. We have had to keep a healthy balance of musical achievement, student life, health, and safety to operate a successful program during a global pandemic.

Student’s Lens: As bad as we hate to admit it, most of our students are in band for reasons other than musical achievement. Many of our students do band for the social outlet that it gives them. Others do band to have opportunities that they wouldn’t have without being involved in the activity. Many of our students are finding a place where they belong for the first time in their life. There are the few students who have found their true passion and we have to provide them with the experiences that will push them as well. Students, at the end of the day, want to please their directors. Students are pulled in so many directions. We have to make sure we are giving them an experience with realistic expectations to avoid disappointment and burnout.

Parent’s Lens: It’s easy to forget that this season is the first for several of our students. This past fall brought about a new experience for me. My oldest son was spending his first year at a high school band camp. I have been a part of band camps for many years and never thought much about the parents who were leaving their kids in my care for eight hours a day. As I watched him walk in I had some very interesting thoughts:

• I hope he likes it.
• I hope he makes some new friends.
• Did we do all the things? (Hydrate, Sunscreen, DEODORANT)
• Will he want to go back?
• Will it be fun?

This event made me question what was important to my students and parents. Do we spend as much time thinking about our kid’s experience as we do musical excellence?

Which Lens Do You Look Through?:
To truly be a successful music educator, we have to be able to see through all three lenses. As bad as I hate to admit it, my definition of success once centered around marching contests and performances. As I have aged as a music educator, I have seen trophies and accomplishments come and go. The relationships and experiences we give our students are what will go with them for the rest of their lives. What is important to us is sometimes not the same things that are important to our kids and parents. Finding the correct balance of these lenses will lead to a more positive experience for students, parents, and even us directors.

Take Note
• Please make sure you have registered on our new website: www.alaband.org. You must be a member of NAFME to register. In the near future, you will not receive correspondence from ABA if you have not registered.
• We are now accepting applications for collegiate / professional performing ensembles for the 2022 All-State Band Festival. The application can be found on our website.
• Registration for All-State auditions will take place on the director’s side of our website. This registration will open on Nov 1, 2021.
• Please make plans to attend the Summer Conference. It is being held June 28-30, 2022 in the newly renovated Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama.

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