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.
School band directors are more than just music teachers. They are cultivators of character, discipline, teamwork, and joy. With each rehearsal, performance, and moment of encouragement, they scatter seeds—seeds that often bloom far beyond the concert hall. These seeds are not just about music; they are about life.
Someone told me once that unexpressed gratitude is like a gift purchased, wrapped, but never given. I would be remiss not to express my gratitude to the AVA organization and for the service and continued dedication of its members to choral music education in the state of Alabama.
It is hard to believe we have reached the conclusion of another school year. What a year of hard work and exciting adventures it has been! AOA’s spring semester is busy with both All-State Orchestra and Orchestra Music Performance Assessment.
Whew! What a year it has been! I feel like the 2024-25 school year has flown by at lightning speed. I have had some exciting performances at my school, and my students have grown and learned so much. The AMEA schedule has been full of many wonderful opportunities for our students and teachers. The elementary music festival in the fall with Dr. Erika Knapp and Dr. Morgan Luttig was an enormous success with students learning new music and performing with confidence.
Staying abreast of what is happening in public and private schools is very important for all higher education educators. We have a responsibility to prepare our students to enter the workplace with an understanding of what is happening in the world of education and what might impact music and arts education in their schools. With this in mind, I want to delve into a curriculum that is growing in popularity in many schools around the country.
For me, the end of an academic year brings much reflection. No matter what happened during the year, I ended it as a different person than when it began. Every student goes through these changes regardless of what school they attend, what degree they’re pursuing, or what year in school they’re in.
As the AMEA Registrar, I have access to our member roster with NAfME. I thought you might be interested in how many members we have and the breakdown of those members that attended the 2025 conference by division. As of April 15, 2025 there are 1,515 paid NAfME memberships in Alabama.
The week of the AMEA conference is typically filled with a flurry of activities in preparation for the hundreds of music educators who will soon arrive for their professional learning opportunities. Zoom meetings occur to ensure everyone has their specific job responsibilities ready to leap into action, while phone calls and in-depth conversations with various speakers ensue.
What an incredible AMEA Professional Development Conference we had! The excitement in the air was contagious! I believe we all had a deeper sense of appreciation this year because of last year’s cancellation. I am so appreciative of the AMEA Board, and especially the ABA Board, for all of the work they put into making this year a resounding success.
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.
