Massachusetts Music Educators Association
Best Practices in Hybrid and Remote Learning Resource Website
The MMEA Conference Committee is offering free monthly virtual workshops in each specialty area.
Equity and Diversity in the Music Classroom
MMEA Band Council
Clinicians: Caroline Han, Britney Alcine, and Darcy Milligan
Join us as we open ourselves to the topics of equity and diversity in our classrooms and ensembles. We will hear from Wayland Public Schools Diversity and Equity Coordinator and METCO Academic Dean Caroline Han who is described as, "interactive, real, and someone who understands the different lenses many people look through". She will be addressing the recent rise in Asian American hate crimes. In addition, we will hear from Britney Alcine, a masters candidate in orchestral conducting at UMASS Amherst who shared, "I've never been truly represented, especially as a Black woman. But times are changing: Black businesses and companies are being showcased, issues that are experienced by Black people are being recognized, and seeing a Black person playing something other than jazz on a stage is being normalized. Representation matters for all, but especially of Black people who see it the least". And to close our session we will hear from Darcy Milligan, a music student who transitioned during high school. He will provide some direction as to how music teachers can better understand, support, and facilitate the journey of transgender students in their classrooms and rehearsals spaces.
We hope you'll be able to join us as we listen to the stories our three speakers have to share and depart with strategies to better support our students in matters of equity and diversity in the music classroom.
Supportive Strategies for Teaching Band in a Hybrid or Fully Remote Setting
This session will share examples of what is working for instrumental music colleagues teaching online during the pandemic. Topics will include adaptable literature for small cohorts, tech platforms such as Upbeat, Sight Reading Factory and SmartMusic, integrating affordable hardware for better online audio, and options for authentic online assessment. The session leader will be Simon Harding from Nipmuc Regional High School (Mendon-Upton Regional School District). This session will be recorded and available from MMEA for future reference.
Universal Design for Learning and Music
Clinician: Rhianon Gutierrezz
Sponsor: Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs
How can we create more inclusive and welcoming learning spaces? In this session, you will gain a foundational understanding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework based in the learning sciences that intentionally plans for learner variability.
Your 2021 Recruitment Roadmap: 3 Steps, 3 Weeks, to 30% Growth
Clinician: Scott Lang, Sponsored by Music & Arts
Whether you teach elementary school, middle school, high school, band, choir, or orchestra, this webinar will provide you with everything you need for recruiting in 2021, including:
• A sure-fire plan
• Done-for-you resources
• Timeline & to-do lists
• Technology tools
• Inspiration
If you are overwhelmed, overworked, or concerned about your enrollment for the coming school year, then THIS is the one webinar you will want to attend. Music & Arts is proud to sponsor BE PART OF THE MUSIC as they present their most impactful webinar yet!
Ukulele
Intermodal Arts Practices for Expression and Creativity in General Music
Clinician: Nicholas Patrick Quigley
How can music, sound, visual arts, movement, drama, storytelling, writing, and consciousness all be woven together? How can we do this safely, and in compliance with Covid-19 safety guidelines? Intermodal arts processes can empower students towards individual and collaborative expression and creativity, and we hope you'll join us to experience it for yourself.
Social-Emotional Learning and Music
Clinician: Marlene Markard
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a process through which students acquire critical life skills that help them succeed in their academic careers and beyond. For young musicians, SEL guides students in developing effective practice habits, time management skills, active listening skills, problem-solving skills, collaborative skills, responsible decision-making skills, the ability to self-regulate in class and on stage, and much more. In this session, music educator Marlene Markard will outline the five core social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies and discuss practical SEL strategies that music educators can use to transform their inclusive music classes and private instrument lessons.
Hip-Hop in Music Education
Clinician: Meaghan O'Connor-Vince
Barnstable Public Schools
This workshop will show music educators how to effectively use Hip-Hop and MusicFirst as tools to teach students listening skills, composition, analysis and evaluation of music, sequencing, recording, and basic production techniques. This presentation provides a Hip-Hop composition unit with descriptions of lessons, resources, rubrics, and general student directions intended to produce tangible and authentic assessments of student learning for each project/song.
Reaching Students with Disabilities in Ensemble Settings, Remote and In-Person
Clinician: Shana Pistilli
Engaging students with disabilities in ensemble settings can be very challenging for music educators. Shana Pistilli has spent much of her teaching career working with students with disabilities in instrumental ensembles. In this session we will explore and discuss some challenges that may arise for students with disabilities, specifically in an ensemble setting, and some strategies that you can bring back to your classroom and rehearsals.
African American Spirituals
Clinician: Dr. Felicia Barber
Professor of Music Education, Westfield State University / President of MA ACDA
The presentation will include the topics of themes of spirituals, spirituals in concert, and the history of spirituals. This presentation would be great for both general music teachers and choral music teachers. Dr. Barber has recently conducted a thorough study on Spirituals including the dialect of spirituals and has a book on these topics due out in March. This presentation is in conjunction with MA ACDA.
Building Confidence with Partner Songs: An Introduction to Songs Children Sing
Clinician: Dr. Anthony Trecek-King
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Anthony Trecek-King has cultivated an international reputation as a choral conductor, scholar, pedagogue, and media personality. In this presentation, Dr. Trecek-King will offer insights and techniques for teaching new songs in the K-6 classroom, as well as an introduction to SongsChildrenSing.com, a catalog of original music by Aline Shader. He will focus on teaching approaches for Aline's partner songs that blend timeless lyrics and lilting melodies and celebrate the power of music to build confidence, spur imagination, and foster the unity that singing together brings. Link: https://songschildrensing.com
Choral Reading Session
Clinicians:
Repertoire presented in association with Massachusetts ACDA.
Jennifer Kane-Elementary Choirs
Andrew Scoglio-High School Choirs
Lisa Graham-SSA Choirs
Nathan Reiff-TTBB Choirs
Jamie Hillman- Worship Repertoire
*Thank you to JW Pepper for providing digital links for this program.
Is it Music Class? Is it Social Studies Class? The Answer is Yes!"
Clinician: Suzie Petrov
PK-5 Music, Lynn Public Schools / Co-Director, Kodály Music Institute
The days are gone when a general music teacher could open a textbook and follow the series from one chapter to the next. All song collections are a product of their time and place and we are now called upon to inspect our repertoire and curriculum through a new lens of socially conscious awareness of the needs of our students. I would like to encourage colleagues to rise to the challenge and enjoy the fruits of your research and discoveries. Participants will come away with songs, games, and activities that can be adapted to a variety of teaching situations- online, hybrid, and in-class.
Choral Music Education and Remote Learning
-It Can Be Done!
Join us for a panel of choral music teachers of all levels sharing techniques and tips for successful remote learning in the choral classroom. Ideas shared will include technology resources, music resources, video resources, successful lessons and units, and community building.
Community Building in the Choir
Join us for an evening of sharing ideas of what has worked for various choral directors in the area of community building so far (and what maybe hasn't worked!). Whether your semester is changing and you're getting a new group of students, or you're looking for new ideas to refresh your choir community, you'll walk away with in-person, remote, and hybrid ideas to start the second half of the year!
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Zooming to Success: Engaging Remote Lesson Ideas for the K-5 General Music
Please join us for an hour of engaging and effective lesson ideas for the remote general music classroom, including songs, chants, games, books, technology and movement activities. This session will be presented by Christine Morgan (North Reading Public Schools) and Maria Doreste Velazquez (Boston Public Schools & Berklee Institute for the Arts and Special Education). A copy of all google slides will be shared with participants and this session will also be recorded in case you cannot join us!
MMEA Workshop Recording 1/19.movDead White Guys Need Not Apply
Steve Damon, clinician. Music educators have been teaching the music of white, dead guys for centuries, I can identify with white guys, but many of our students can't. Our students are white, black, and many, many shades in between. Our students aren't all guys; they're female, non-binary, and LGBTGIA. I have put together elementary and middle school general music lessons focusing on non-white not guys - and most are still alive. Come, learn, and share your lessons, which don't emphasize white, dead guys.
Bridging the Gap Between Elementary and Middle Schoo
Speakers:
Remote Learning & Teaching Composition
This session will focus on various topics, including Note Flight, music creation, remote learning, and others.The Council for Music Composition seeks to promote and improve the teaching of music composition in school settings. For more information, questions, suggestion, or to be part of the council, please email Joe Pondaco at jpondaco@duxbury.k12.ma.us
Composition Calls and Contests for Students
SEMMEA Composition Contest. For student in the South Eastern District MMEA.
NAfME Electronic Music Competition (contest opens in the spring)
NAfME Student Composer Competition (contest opens in the spring)
NAfME Student Songwriters Competition (contest opens in the spring)
Engaging Students by Teaching Composition
Joe Pondaco-clinician
Music composition education is an exciting and engaging way to reach our music students. It can be included in every music class and not just in the current virtual environment. Joe Pondaco, SEMMEA/MMEA composition chair and music composition teacher at Duxbury High School, will discuss different composition education perspectives and ideas for teaching composition based on those perspectives that can be applied to any music class in various settings.
Unlock Your Students' Learning: Make the Special Education-Music Education Connection with Dr. Rhoda Bernard
The learning schemes of our music students are growing increasingly diverse. In this session, you will gain experience with evidence-based strategies from Special Education that can help you reach every student in your classes and ensembles. Learn to utilize strategies like task analysis, errorless mastery, and discrete trial teaching. Learn to create and share social stories, if/then constructions, and reinforcement techniques to support student behaviors and lessen anxiety. Whether you are teaching in person, in a hybrid format, or fully remotely, you will be able to incorporate these approaches immediately into your practice and unlock your students' music learning.
Apps and Gadgets that Won't Break the Bank
There are quite a few accessories to choose from to help with our teaching. We'll take a look at a few applications (free and cheap) as resources, and look into entry-level computer peripherals to up your game. The clinician is Richard Sargent.
Chrome Music Lab & Bandlab in the Classroom
Clinician - Harry Wagg - Lynnfield High School
A look at how Chrome Music Lab Songwriter & BandLab for Education can be used in the classroom for music production, songwriting, and theory activities. *
Advocacy: National, State, and Local Perspectives
Story Collection Google Form for Social Media
Speakers:
John Mlynczak (MMEA Advocacy Chair)
Tooshar Swain (NAfME update on federal budget news)
Cindy Mahr (Asst. Superintendent of Business and Finance of the Wellesley Public Schools)
Dan Rivenburgh (Embracing the New Music Educator program)
Jonathan Rappaport (ArtsLearning Advocacy)
Dr. Kim Smith (retired Superintendent Wakefield Public Schools)
Anne Fennell (past NAfME Innovations Council Chair)