Author: David Raney

Resilient: If the recent past has taught us anything, the lesson gleaned is the Alabama Music Educators Association is resilient. From COVID shutting down our conference, to putting on a very successful virtual conference the following year, and even having to reschedule performance groups after canceling our 2024 conference due to weather concerns, this association has shown time and time again that together we are resilient.

I closed my last Ala Breve article by expressing my profound gratitude for the dedicated members of the entire ABA Board, who tirelessly work behind the scenes to ensure our students have opportunities to grow and experience musical moments that they will cherish for a lifetime.  As I reflected, these past few days, after our Summer Board Meeting, I once again felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

Greetings to all! I am currently writing this article after having spent 12 days traveling with the Hoover High School choir in France and, unexpectedly, Holland. If you are curious about the unexpected part, I hope I will have the opportunity to share the whole story with you at an event this year. Wherever life’s path led you this Summer, I am grateful it brought you back to a new school year!

I hope everyone is enjoying a much-needed rest before the thrill of the school year begins. The Alabama Orchestra Association has an exciting year ahead, so please make sure you keep up with member emails, social media, and our website! 

It is that time of year again! After a summer that included some rest, some travel, and some work, I feel ready to tackle the new year, welcome new and returning students, and get into teaching and preparing for performances. Are you refreshed and ready to go? Ready or not, here we go! What about all you “new” elementary music teachers? Have you been preparing lesson plans and evaluating performance music in anticipation of the school year?

It is with great expectation and excitement that I write my first article as President of the Higher Ed. Division of the Alabama Music Educators Association. I am also proud to introduce our President-elect Dr. Ted Hoffman and our Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Brandon Slocumb. I would like to acknowledge and thank our immediate Past-President Dr. Carly Johnson.

We are headed back to Birmingham!  It is not too early to start thinking about attending our AMEA Conference in January, 2025. Just remember, you must join NAfME, and you should pre-register if possible.  A healthy organization is always concerned with growth and development, and the AMEA board is interested in growing our organization, and for getting all music teachers in Alabama involved in professional development through AMEA and NAfME. 

We’re back! We hope everyone’s summers involved rest and rejuvenation, leading up to a year filled with growth and inspiration. One opportunity that will surely inspire you is our 2024 Alabama NAfME Collegiate Summit. This year’s event will be on Sunday, September 22nd, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Hulsey Center for the Arts. The theme for this year is “Community.”