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. This year was no different. Despite a rare winter storm making some roads impassable in the southern part of the state, hundreds of music educators, music teacher educators, and students convened in Birmingham to collaborate, learn, and connect with colleagues and friends in the music teacher world.
We kicked the conference off to a fantastic start with Shades Mountain Elementary School Singers and conductor Meredith Devore. These students wowed us all with beautiful singing which incorporated percussion instruments, movement, and recorders. What a treat for us all!
Then, Forum J at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) came alive as impassioned music educators talked and made music with other devoted music educators while learning about exciting elementary music methods and real ways to put new ideas into practice.
Some highlights include learning about Taiko drumming and black excellence in the music classroom with dynamic duo, Jamal and Lillian Kennedy.
We attended sessions to learn about choral warmups, movement, and new repertoire for the elementary choir from Greg Gilpin.
Lorelei Batisla-ong and BethAnn Hepburn encouraged us to get out of our comfort zones by using manipulatives, student partner learning, and ukuleles in the elementary music classroom. Also, music teacher educator, Dr. Morgan Soja, from Samford University taught about using music activities to connect with ELA standards.
Your AMEA elementary division leaders worked tirelessly to ensure that this conference was one to remember. I think we can all say we left the BJCC and returned home with heads full of ideas and hearts full of enthusiasm about elementary music education in Alabama.