Presidential Farewell

Dear Alabama cNAfME Members,

My time as the Alabama cNAfME President has come to a close in a much different fashion than I imagined it. I am sad that I did not get to say a formal goodbye at the conference, so I would like to take a moment to do so. Serving as the ALcNAfME President was one of the greatest honors of my lifetime. I learned more than I ever imagined I would, did more than I thought I could and even traveled further than I thought I might. My time on the state board will define my career as a music educator. I have learned the importance of advocacy, the inner workings of our wonderful state organization, what it means to be a true leader, and so much more.  I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for this experience. Thank you to the rest of the AMEA Governing Board for teaching me and letting me be a voice in our organization. Thank you to cNAfME for allowing me to learn how to lead. Thank you to Dr. Merciers for guiding me and for building me up. Thank you to my fellow executive board members for helping me make my crazy dreams come true. I am proud to say I served on the ALcNAfME board and cannot wait to see what the future holds for me. Once again, thank all of you so very much!

-Sarah Hicks

Virtual Winter Summit

Even though AMEA was canceled this year, we have another opportunity to meet. The Alabama cNAfME State Executive Board will host a virtual summit on Zoom on February 17, 2024, at 2 p.m. Distinguished and experienced educators Will Panter and Dr. Mary Land will present “The Mentorship Continuum: Continuing Growth in Students & Self,” and Dr. Sarah Burns and Blair Callaway will share their expertise in “Professional Collaboration between Cooperating Teachers and Student Interns.” This will be an excellent opportunity for extra time with a few of our clinicians selected from the AMEA Conference.

We will also be having our General Business Meeting and holding elections for the Alabama cNAfME State Executive Board. It is time to choose a new President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. This is a great way to serve and experience a leadership role at the state level. If you are interested in running, please attend the Summit. Stay tuned for the Zoom invite on Instagram @cnafme_al.

University of Alabama Service Project

In spring 2023, the University of Alabama cNAfME Executive Board became aware of a need at University Place Elementary School. In most Tuscaloosa City Schools, music teachers use Quaver Ed, a technology-based curriculum, to guide instruction. University Place Elementary School’s music teacher teaches Quaver’s ukulele unit instead of recorder. Due to underfunding, only about half of the class can hold an instrument during instructional time. The other students use cardboard with hot-glued toothpicks affixed to them instead of actual instruments.

When the UA cNAfME chapter learned of this inequity, they made it their annual goal to raise the funds to buy University Place a complete classroom set of instruments. The chapter planned and hosted a formal dance for the School of Music to accomplish this goal. Executive Board members secured several community sponsors who provided food, decorations, and lighting for the event. Students in every area of the music building, including choir, orchestra, marching band, music therapy, music education, and music performance, bought tickets to attend the event and support the cause. On September 29, 2023, over 100 students filled the band hall to celebrate and support University Place Elementary School.

The UA chapter raised over $2,000 to support Tuscaloosa-area elementary school music programs. Due to the event’s success, they not only purchased ukuleles for University Place Elementary School but also plan to support Walker Elementary, which desperately needs classroom instruments, too. The ALcNAfME State Executive Board is proud of the University of Alabama chapter and the contributions made to their community. They are a great example of collegiate chapters’ work all over the state.

The Alabama cNAfME State Executive Board is eager to announce our 2023 Collegiate Summit theme – Try Everything! We have been working diligently since early May to bring this Summit to life, so we wanted to share a little about it.

What is the Collegiate Summit?

The AL cNAfME Collegiate Summit is an annual event designed by collegiates for collegiates. This event has been held for several years, serving as an opportunity for pre-service music educators to learn, make connections, and ask experts questions about what it is like to enter the field of music education. The Collegiate Summit is typically held in the fall semester, and the event’s location rotates throughout different universities in the state of Alabama.

Where will it be? 

AL cNAfME Officers Matthew Suit (President-Elect) and Kensley Fuller (Secretary) are excited to host the 2023 Collegiate Summit at their home university, Troy University. In fact, the entire State Executive Board is enthusiastic about the collaboration with the Troy University Chapter.

When will it be held?

The Summit will be held on Sunday, October 29, 2023, from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Registration will begin at noon, and the Summit will kick off with a featured performance by the Troy Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Who is invited?

Though this event is specifically geared toward college students, all music educators are welcome! In fact, this event is entirely free! The AMEA Governing Board supports collegiate students by providing funds for this event, including a pizza dinner! Please follow us on Instagram @cnafme_al for information about how to register for the Summit.

What should I expect?

We are delighted to bring a new format and concept to our annual Summit for its 2023 edition. As music educators, we are called to push the boundary of what is considered traditional music, exploring music that might be outside of our comfort zone to innovate and progress in our field. This year, we will primarily learn about Modern Band through lectures and interactive performances. Modern Band typically entails teaching instruments such as guitar, drum set, keyboard, and vocals. We will learn the basics of teaching and performing at the Collegiate Summit with these instruments.

Hello, Alabama Music Educators! As you can tell, this article is a little bit different. This quarter, I want to take the time to tell you about an opportunity that my President-Elect and I had this summer that changed my perspective on advocacy and leadership.

In May, Dr. Lyda (AMEA President) contacted Matthew Suit (ALcNAfME President-Elect, Troy University) and me (ALcNAfME President, Sarah Hicks, University of Alabama) about attending the NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, in June. Each state was asked to send a few delegates, and Matthew and I were excited to be the Alabama Delegates. As we got closer to our departure date, Matthew and I both shared some nervousness. We realized that this was the first time that either of us had traveled without our parents and a large school group and that the task of advocating for music education on Capitol Hill was no small feat. We were happy to learn as soon as we arrived that 20 other collegiate delegates from all across the country were just as nervous as we were. Though we knew we would be traveling with our state MEA President and officers to Capitol Hill, we all feared not being qualified to speak on behalf of music educators. Thankfully, this was far from the experience that we actually had.

From the first moment we set foot in the House of Representatives buildings, we were met with smiling faces. I was surprised that so many of the interns and staff members working in the Congressmen’s offices were even from my own school, The University of Alabama. What brought the biggest smile to my face was that when we told any staff member that we were with the National Association for Music Education, they had something positive to say about music. From interns that played in the trombone choir at Auburn to a Chief of Staff who played saxophone in his high school marching band to Congresswoman Sewell, who played the clarinet through all of her schooling, almost every person that we talked to was impacted by music at some point in their lives. It was so inspiring to hear about how much music meant to so many different people, from so many different places, in so many different occupations.

When it was finally time to speak with either our representative or one of their staff members, I shared the story of how music has changed my life. While I was first intimidated by the policies Dr. Lyda explained and the initiatives that Ms. Susan Smith (NAfME Southern Division President-Elect) shared the importance of, I was asked to explain why I found it so crucial for every child to receive music education. Matthew and I were happy to tell our stories, and we were pleased to hear that they provided insight, human connection, and understanding to the staff members.

On the second day, the collegiates had the opportunity to learn about leadership. One of the speakers said that maturity is understanding how your actions affect others. It was empowering to know that taking time out of my summer to go out of my comfort zone and tell my story could impact students all across America. Matthew and I wanted to present our experience to you and say this: no one is too young, too old, too busy, or incapable of advocating for something they believe in. You have a powerful voice. If you are brave enough to step outside of your comfort zone and use it, you will make a tremendous impact. Matthew and I would like to thank Dr. Lyda and the members of AMEA’s Governing Board for making it possible for us to experience the NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit. The experience empowered us to continue advocating for music education for the rest of our careers.

We hope you will consider attending our ALcNAfME Collegiate Summit on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at Troy University. We will spend the day learning about ways to connect all aspects of music education, and explore newer genres such as Modern Band, to be more inclusive and inviting of all types of music! Stay tuned to our social media outlet on Instagram for announcements of registration and the schedule of professionals we will host on Instagram @cnafme_al. Join our state GroupMe as well, Alabama Collegiates!

COLLEGIATES AT THE CAPITOL
On March 21, 2023, the Alabama Music Educators Association hosted the first annual Hill Day in Montgomery, Alabama. This event advocated for music education in all schools throughout Alabama, particularly those overlooked due to socioeconomic status. Hill Day not only brought together many music educators supporting an important cause, but it also inspired many collegiate students to begin thinking about the importance of advocacy before they even enter the classroom as teachers.

According to Matthew Suit, a sophomore at Troy University and the President-Elect for the State Executive Board, almost 30 collegiate students were excused from class to attend Hill Day. There were students in attendance from Troy University, the University of Alabama, and many other institutions across the state that both performed and observed the day’s events. Another one of our Executive Board members, Reid Sayle, had the opportunity to perform with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the day. Matthew noted that the college students who were not performing enjoyed the live music, listened to the inspirational speeches of Dr. Rob Lyda and Mr. Phil Wilson, and had valuable conversations with our state legislators.

Matthew advocated for music education in his conversations with Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, Senator Clyde Chambliss, Representative Marcus Paramore, and Representative Leigh Hulsey. When describing Hill Day, Matthew said, “This event gave me inspiration and confidence for talking to those in a higher position and advocating for music education not only in my life but in the lives of those around me.”

In an outstanding show of support for music education, a majority of the Troy University chapter of cNAfME was able to attend Hill Day. Kensley Fuller, a Troy student, and State Executive Board member described what she experienced throughout the day. Kensley reported, “Troy students and professors made plans and discussed this event for weeks leading up to the event. To prepare for this event, we wrote and practiced pitches to talk to representatives about our philosophies of music education. We left Troy very early to get to Montgomery to watch the opening performances by Hillcrest Elementary and the Auburn High School Jazz Band. For a while, we cheered them on and mingled with local educators. I was able to meet educators from many different places, levels of experience, and areas of expertise. It was a great opportunity to network with others in our field. After that, we met with various people at the Capitol who gave us a tour of the facilities and educated us on how they operate in those spaces. We left with a greater understanding of our governing systems, and I believe we were able to make connections with them along the way, which left them with a greater understanding of what we do and why we do it. Each person we talked to was able to form some sort of connection to music education, such as the fact that they were in band or choir at one point, their children were involved in the arts, or they simply just have an appreciation and love for music.”

It is so inspiring to know that Hill Day not only impacted music education because we could advocate to our legislators, but it also impacted music education because our future educators supported and advocated for our schools. The future is brighter because these students learned about our government and its impact on music education. The State Collegiate Board would like to thank Dr. Lyda and all of the AMEA members who facilitated this event. We would also like to thank Mrs. Smith for coordinating the participation of the Troy cNAfME chapter in Hill Day. Based on our inaugural experience at Hill Day, the collegiates anticipate always having great success connecting with Capitol legislators!

Collegiates Conquer AMEA
Attending the 2023 Alabama Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference as a collegiate student is an exciting and inspiring experience. Taking a weekend to escape the confines of the music building and entering a world of like-minded people living our goal is a magical experience. Here is just a brief overview of the fantastic things that our collegiate members got to experience this year.

Did you know?
126 cNAfME Members registered and attended AMEA. cNAfME hosted three collegiate events at AMEA: the Collegiate Mixer and edTPA Competition (in collaboration with HED) and the Collegiate Luncheon. Students from the University of Alabama, Troy University, University of Montevallo, Auburn University, Samford University, Faulkner University, Alabama State University, Jacksonville State University, and Huntington College all attended the luncheon. For the first time, collegiates assisted with registration and met many of our state educators individually!

Collegiate Mixer
The Executive Boards of cNAfME and HED hosted the Collegiate Mixer in the Sheraton Ballroom on Thursday, January 19, 2023. While enjoying lemonade, chips, and other light snacks, the collegiate students enjoyed filling out an icebreaker BINGO card that encouraged socializing and connecting with students from all the different colleges and universities represented.

Collegiate Luncheon
Combine food with the opportunity to connect with other aspiring music educators around the state, and you get 60 awesome cNAfME members that attended the Collegiate Luncheon this year. The luncheon began with announcements from Professor Susan Smith (Collegiate Advocacy Council for NAfME and Southern Division President-Elect), Dr. Rob Lyda (AMEA President), and a special appearance by Dr. Deb Confredo (NAfME National President-Elect)! Our guests highlighted upcoming national events, including the cNAfME Zoom chats hosted by the Advocacy Board and the Collegiate Advocacy Summit, which will occur for the first time in person in three years in Washington, DC, this June! Dr. Lyda asked us to write postcards for our legislators so we can hand them out on Hill Day in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 21, 2023. Finally, Dr. Deb Confredo inspired our members with a great speech about how much her MEA experiences impacted her as a student.

2022 President Mariah Martin presided over a full chapter meeting. Proceedings included the passing of an amended cNAfME Constitution and Bylaws, the election of the 2023 Executive Board, and the formation of a new GroupMe Chat where members from across the state can communicate with each other and share their adventures in music education! Please stay tuned for a QR code in our post- conference email to sign up.

Sessions, Socializing, and More!
AL cNAfME hosted thought-provoking sessions this year full of excellent content, presented by educators from secondary to higher education, including the 2nd Annual edTPA Competition (hosted with the HED Division). The prize is a year’s membership to the AMEA! There were three outstanding finalist presentations on Saturday, January 21, 2023, and the winner was Sawyer Strickland of Jacksonville State University.

Final Thoughts
We would like to extend a special thank you to Mariah Martin for her incredible leadership and the 2022 eBoard. The knowledge acquired, the connections made, the number of career-changing experiences, and the leadership developed at the 2023 AMEA Professional Development Conference will leave a lasting impression on the Collegiate Division! We look forward to what the new year brings, hopeful and inspired by the promise of a bright future and wish for even more collegiates from all over the state to attend next year.