Dear Elementary Friends,
Abraham Lincoln, 16thPresident of the United States once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” President Lincoln was “sharp” enough to realize that a dull axe would not effectively do the job he was aiming to do. The same can be said for us. After more than nine months of planning, teaching, smiling, wiping tears and noses, clapping, singing, dancing, learning, playing instruments, laughing, and collaborating, it is time for you to sharpen your saw. In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey suggests that highly effective people spend time Sharpening Their Saw,meaning they take time to rest, rejuvenate and begin making plans for the new year. As you enjoy the summer months, take time to reflect on who you are as a music educator, and how your students benefit from your presence in their lives. A little reflection will surely inspire you to return to your school in the Fall with a renewed purpose to educate as you never have before….because your students deserve it.
For your planning purposes, we are pleased to announce that our annual Elementary Music Festival will be on Friday, October 12 on the campus of Samford University. In honor and celebration of Alabama’s Bicentennial, our festival director Cliff Huckabee has arranged to have two directors with deep Alabama roots. Dr. Damion Womack, assistant professor of music at Huntingdon College, will be directing one ensemble with a choral emphasis, while Mrs. Rhonda Tucker, retired Alabama educator, will be directing the Orff emphasis ensemble. Your students are sure to gain great knowledge in either ensemble. There is limited space available for your students, so be sure to sign up early at www.tinyurl.com/ameafestival2018.
We are also excited to learn from Mrs. Rhonda Tucker at our joint Fall Workshop on Saturday, October 13. This workshop is a great opportunity for music educators to learn together under the leadership of an expert. Stay tuned for details on time and location.
Other activities to sharpen your saw this summer include:
Orff-Schulwerk Levels I and II Certification will be June 18-29 at Samford University. The instructors are Erika Bridge, Brent Holl, and Rachel Aupperle. For more information, please contact Larry Hardin at lhardin@samford.edufor more information.
Kodaly Levels I and II will be July 9-20 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook. For more information, please contact Dr. Becky Halliday at ahalliday@montevallo.edu
The East Alabama Music Workshop will be held at Grace United Methodist Church in Auburn August 25, 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Contact Dr. Rob Lyda at lydarob@me.comfor more details.
We are working to provide meaningful opportunities for you. If you have ideas or suggestions, please be sure to share them with us. We will also be updating our email database soon.
We want to hear from you! If you have not been receiving emails from us, please send an email to elementaryamea@gmail.com, and we’ll be sure to add you to our mailing list.
Happy sawing and well wishes,
Phil Wilson, President
Elementary/General Division
