Category: AlaBreve Articles

I would like to encourage our members to go ahead and pre-register for the 2026 AMEA Professional Development Conference.  The process is easy, and you can check it off your to-do list today!  The link is here:

During my travels as the Alabama State Teacher of the Year, I had the amazing opportunity to meet and form bonds with state Teachers of the Year (STOYs) from the other 49 states as well as some of our U.S. territories including Washington, D.C. We even met and became friends with international Teachers of the Year as we spent a week in Huntsville, Alabama learning about the American space program.

By now, we’re all back in the swing of things after an always-too-short summer break. Whether it’s the first steps of the marching band show or the first steps of putting an instrument together, there’s an excitement about the start of a new year. And while the responsibilities that exist within the walls of our band rooms are numerous, I want to encourage you to go “beyond the band room” as an educator and leader in your school. 

As the school year begins anew, my hope is that you all are stepping back into your classrooms and rehearsal spaces with fresh energy, renewed purpose, and passion for nurturing young voices. Whether you’re a veteran director or just beginning your journey in choral music education, the Alabama Vocal Association stands ready to support, guide, and inspire you throughout the year.

It is wild that we have made it to the start of another school year. I hope Alabama music teachers have enjoyed a well-deserved rest. The Alabama Orchestra Association has an exciting year ahead, so please make sure you keep up with member emails, social media, and our website! 

I hope you have had a restful and enjoyable summer. I also hope that your fall is enjoyable and productive as you each begin a new year in your chosen field. At the recent AMEA Conference, I asked attendees of the HED Luncheon to complete a brief survey and to encourage their colleagues to do the same. I received some great feedback from the survey; however, I would like to hear from a greater number of our constituents.

This past month, I had the opportunity to attend the NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit. There, I learned about the importance of our community of music educators and the need for us to advocate for music education. For many of us, cNAfME is a club at our school that may host monthly meetings, bring in guest speakers, or organize social events.

It is not too early to be thinking about our AMEA Conference in January, 2026. 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.

Is there ever a time when you are not thinking about music, or playing music, or considering what type of music to read next? If you’re like most Alabama music educators, music is almost always at the forefront of your mind even when you are supposed to be resting. T. S. Eliot pinned it correctly, that you are the music because the music always lasts.