Here are the latest articles from our leaders published in the Ala Breve. To see all the Ala Breve articles and more, go to our Ala Breve Archive page.
In my last article, I compared the school year to a marathon. I have never run in a marathon. I don’t run unless something life-threatening is chasing me. However, I do know a thing or two about pacing and January is most often the biggest hill to climb for the year. If you are reading this, then you made it! Congratulations! Now, let’s catch our breath and sprint to the end knowing all our hard work has paid off.
There is nothing quite like the AMEA Conference to bring music educators together. AOA, as always, took full advantage of this time together to learn and grow in our craft. Our featured clinician this year was Dr. Brenda Brenner, string music education faculty at the University of Indiana, Jacobs School of Music. Her sessions reminded us that we are teaching children we need to set them up for success at their level, especially within the difficult instruments we teach.
The AMEA conference is always the annual highlight of my journey as a music educator. It is the place many of us go every year to strengthen connections with mentors, former students, and colleagues from far and wide while finding new friends and associates with whom we can learn and grow.
In a word, “WOW”. What an exciting experience for everyone at the 2025 AMEA Professional Development Conference. From the first session to the last, there was so much quality and timely information shared. It was so great to see so many collegiate members taking advantage of the sessions and learning opportunities throughout the conference.
We hope everyone had an inspiring time at the 2025 AMEA Professional Development Conference! It provided many opportunities to learn and connect with others in the profession, and this is especially true for Collegiates. Whether we were attending a session or talking to a mentor in the halls, we were constantly learning.
I recently have been thinking about the impact that my band directors had on my life. I had a different director almost every year that I was in school until I got to college. From seventh and ninth grade band with Dr. Wayne Cameron, to high school band with Bill Hickman, Bill Lazenby, Bill Mallory, and Dr. Tom Hunter and then college with Dr. John M. Long.
The new school year is officially underway and moving quickly. I hope that in these first few weeks of school, you are reaping the benefits of your pre-planning and preparation for this year. By now you have met and reconnected with students and colleagues, pre-assessed skills and knowledge, chosen repertoire, established routines, and mapped out your calendar of events.
I hope everyone has had an excellent start to your school year! It’s wild that we’ve already made it this far into the first semester. I know that there is beautiful music being made in all the AOA members’ classrooms, studios, and venues. We have so much to look forward to this year!
Are you a lifelong learner? I have been thinking about this lately as I began the new adventure of violin lessons this past summer. As an organist, pianist, and choir director, I can tell you it has been a humbling experience. I can now play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Go Tell Aunt Rhody.” Yikes! As tempting as it is, I refuse to give up.
Time flies. I know, that is the understatement of the year. The school year started only about a month ago and already look at all that you and your students have accomplished. Whether choral, general music or instrumental, a lot has happened since the first day of school.
