Maine Motif Association
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The Maine Music Educators Maine Motif Association MMEA Conference Edition Reflections on the COVID-19 Anniversary SPRING 2021 Volume 5, Issue 3 Spring 2021 ontents Volume 5, Issue 3 The official publication of the C Maine Music Educator’s Association. From the Board Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA) page 3 MMEA 2020-2021 Board Directory page 4 MMEA Calendar 200+ members including working music educators, retired teachers, page 5 MMEA Spotlight and collegiate students Formally founded in 1917, MMEA page 6 Letter from the President is the oldest recognized state music educator association in the Sandy Barry, MMEA President USA. page 7 Previewing the Band Conference Sessions Bill Buzza, MMEA Band VP Mission Statement: To promote and advance Music page 9 Covid Spring Education by providing a voice and venue for advocacy and Drew Albert, MMEA Choral VP advancement of Music Education in Maine. page 10 Ending off Right Linda Vaillancourt, MMEA Orchestra VP All editorial materials should be sent to: page 11 PK–5 Conference Offerings Hanna Flewelling, Editor Dorie Tripp, MMEA General Music PK–5 VP Email: [email protected] Submit materials for publication MMEA All-State Conference 2021 HERE page 12 Conference Session Guide page 22 Conference Presenters All advertising information and orders should be sent to: Beth Labrie, Executive Director Email: [email protected] 2 Maine Motif | April 2021 2020–2021 MMEA Board Executive Committee Specialty Interest Chairs State Festival Managers President: Sandy Barry Music Teacher Education Chair BOC All-State SSAA Chorus President-Elect: Andrew Forster Philip Edelman Colin Graebert Past President: Ben Potvin Tri-M Honors Society Chair Nora Krainis Executive Director: Beth LaBrie Richard Nickerson BOC All-State SATB Chorus Advocacy Chair Ashley Albert Victoria Cherry BOC All-State Orchestra Board Officers Retired Teachers Chair John Lawson Sam Moore-Young BOC All-State Band Secretary: Danielle Collins Collegiate Chapter Chair Kyle Smith Treasurer: Sarah Bailey Dr. Jocelyn Armes Jazz All-State Honors Jazz G. Music K-5 VP: Dorie Tripp USM Collegiate Representative Kyle Smith G. Music 6-12 VP: Erin Morrison Josh Hyssong, Katie Lind, and Jazz All-State Jazz Band Orchestra VP: Linda Vaillancourt Gabe Reed Mike Sakash Band VP: Bill Buzza UMO Collegiate Representative Jazz All-State Combo Choral VP: Drew Albert Jacob LaMontagne Pat Michaud Jazz VP: Matt Waite Jazz All-State SSAA Chorus D1 Chair: Missy Shabo Michelle Snow D2 Chair: Sarah Dow-Shedlarski Conference Chairs Jazz All-State SATB Chorus D3 Chair: Brandon Duras Jesse Wakeman D4 Chair: Danielle Gorman Conference Co-Chairs D5 Chair: Kaitlyn Young Nancy Cash-Cobb D6 Chair: Christine Proefrock Ben Potvin State Festival Chairs D7 Chair: Pam Kinsey Conference Registrar Jon Simonoff BOC All-State Festival Chair Jazz Conference Assistant Kristen Thomas Mike Sakash All-State Auditions Chair Brian Hutchinson MMEA is still seeking interested Instrumental Jazz Chair candidates to serve in the following Publication Staff Becky Mallory positions. These are presidential Webmaster Adam Metzler appointments for a two-year term. Editor Please direct inquiries to Hanna Flewelling Sandy Barry at [email protected] In Search of: Vocal Jazz Chair Solo and Ensemble Chair mainemea.org 3 MMEA Calendar Thursday Keynote: NAfME President Dr. Mackie Spradley Friday Keynote: Dr. Richard White R.A.W. TUBA Saturday Session: Wynton Marsalis Jazz at Lincoln Center THURS. 4/22: 6:00-9:30pm MASTER SCHEDULE: https://bit.ly/ED2021ConferenceSchedule FRI. 4/23: 6:00-9:30pm SAT. 4/24: 9:00am-5pm NAfME Members: $45.00 NAfME Collegiates: $25.00 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: All-Eastern Honor Ensembles! REGISTER HERE Dedicated Concert Hour! EASTERN DIVISION WEBSITE: Exhibitor Connections! https://bit.ly/easterndivision2021 MMEA Event Schedule Apr. 9–10 Virtual Solo & Ensemble Festival May 20–22 MMEA BOC All-State Festival @ UMaine Apr. 9–10 Virtual State Jazz Festival Apr. 22–24 Virtual Eastern Division Conference June 28 MMEA Board Meeting @6:30 via Zoom May 10–15 MMEA Virtual Conference May 18 MMEA Jazz Meeting, 5 pm (Zoom) Click here for a printable version May 18 MMEA Board Meeting, 6:30 pm @ UMaine of this calendar May 19 MMEA All-Member Meeting, 6:30 pm (Zoom) 4 Maine Motif | April 2021 New Board Members and Election Results 2021 MMEA Election Results District 1: Missy Shabo District 3: Brandon Duras District 5: Under Review District 7: Pam Kinsey General Music 6–12: Dr. Christian Giddings Chorus VP: Drew Albert Orchestra VP: Linda Vaillancourt Secretary: Cassie Cooper mainemea.org 5 ETTER RESIDENT L from the P Dear Colleagues; No matter where you live and work in this gloriously diverse state, winter is receding. (thanks, Dad!), and we’ve all been the fall yard work, and as the pandemic ebbs ones offering. I know you’ve been the it leaves behind things we may not have ones stepping forward and helping known were there. What is revealed can because I have seen so much support vary vastly from place to place. As we offered this year. The examples are in- take stock of what this year has done and numerable, but here are a few: members the clean up begins, I ask you to turn who joined the writing group during the your gaze to your neighbors in the music ow winter departs though, can look summer that resulted in MMEA’s DEIA community. How are we doing? How very different. Southern Maine, statement, people who completely rebuilt are we all doing? Music will return to all Hwhere I live, saw temperatures in the 60’s our audition process and learned a new schools in Maine. When and how are on a recent Friday with the snowdrops platform for hosting auditions and fes- yet unknown for many. Be vigilant. Be as peeking their heads up from my father’s tivals, VP’s who retooled entire festivals helpful to others as you can. Slow down garden. The winds changed overnight and then took on the task of including and consider the circumstances of others. with blustery freezing weather return- another complete event so that more Your support can come in any form--a ing just in time for the weekend. I have students would have opportunities, VP’s message to a colleague, a simple strategy friends who were sneaking in a quick trip who continue to address current process- that is working for you, a shared lesson. up North to take advantage of possibly es and materials to bring improvements While the entire world has experienced the last good snowmobiling conditions to our festivals, and District Chairs who the same calamity, who better than other of the season. Despite what the calendar are already turning their attention to music teachers to understand what we says, we know that for a while a final fall planning. A review of this edition of have endured? Your words and expe- round of snow could come our way. I’ll the “Motif” will underscore the amazing rience may be just what someone else bet your snow shovels are still nearby. work of our conference co-chairs. So needs to help them persevere this spring. much professional development! Are Let’s work to ensure a season of renewal So too, the stranglehold the pandemic these people provided time from their for us all. has had on our lives and schools this year workday to accomplish these tasks? Do Be well, is loosening. Just as we remain vigilant they have an abundance of free time? Are with the weather in Maine, we must they superhuman? Of course the answer Sandy Barry remain ready to proceed with caution. is “no”. And although they may be the MMEA President Along with our cautious approach we first to raise their hands, it doesn’t mean [email protected] need to be willing to step forward and they don’t need help sometimes too. offer help to our neighbors. We’ve all needed help shoveling after a big storm The receding snow reveals the forgotten 6 Maine Motif | April 2021 Previewing the Band Conference Sessions Greetings fellow music educators! As I write this, it’s been exactly one year since our state was first shut down from COVID-19. ver the past year, I have definite- And I am excited to see her Zoom session ly grieved the loss of aspects of “Teaching Your Parents How to be the Omy band program. I have at times felt Music Educator at Home”. I’m sure this helpless and frustrated with the chal- information will be beneficial during lenges I’ve faced as I tried to plan a path periods of remote and typical instruction. Teaching Your Parents How to be the forward in maintaining basic elements of Music Educator at Home my program. However, there have also And that’s not all!!! Here are brief Beth Fabrizio been times when I’ve celebrated success- descriptions for the great band sessions How parents can support their kiddos es, such as new teaching strategies and we’re offering at the MMEA Conference at home and make practice effective and lessons I’ve tried, and connections I have which will be taking place online May interesting. Websites/YouTube/ and a sea made with students. I have also thought 10-15. of support info. about what I’ve learned over the past year that I can use to further refine my craft as a teacher. Upgrading Your Clarinet Section Beth Fabrizio As I’ve considered sessions for the May Strengthen your clarinet section using conference, I’ve looked for presenta- technique exercises, tone quality, tongu- tions that acknowledge our experiences ing, reed selection and care, alternate from the past year and look forward to fingerings and a myriad of warm up rebuilding our programs this spring and exercises for your students.