I know that we have all been very busy trying to move from a brick and mortar school to a cyber one in the last three weeks. One thing I know about teachers, we work very hard with everything we are given to create the best learning environments for our students. While we hope it not to be the case, the reality for which we need to prepare is that this school year is likely going to end online. In listening to superintendents from larger school districts, reading comments from other people of influence on state level affairs, and a federal report that states this is an 18 month battle seem to indicate our state, as well as most others, will continue distance learning through the end of the scheduled school year. Regardless, I know you are doing things for your students now that can and will be applied to future teaching when we do get back into our classrooms.
My condolences to many spring events, travel, and concerts that have been canceled already. While many summer events and conferences have been canceled, postponed or are up in the air we will still soon be working on CMEA Clinic-Conference 2021. Due to constraints we are facing right now and anticipated delays in the near future we are pushing back the planning stages and timeline to ensure that everyone necessary can help in the process and that we can plan with the best knowledge of how our country is moving forward with meeting and travel stipulations. This new timeline will be for the 2021 conference only.
Normally the process would begin April 1st with the opening of clinic proposals and performance audition submissions. We will not be meeting the first of June to begin the planning process so this deadline does not need to begin in April. The Call for Clinic Proposals will begin June 1 through July 31. I’m sure there will be a plethora of online learning subjects. Selections of the proposals will happen about the end of August. Auditions for Performance will run from August 1 through September 16. Selections for performing groups will need to be made by the middle of October. Applications for CMEA awards will coincide with the June 1 to July 31 timeline for clinic proposals. We are still hoping that we can abide by posting the conference program at the end of November to mid-December so you can share with your administrator if necessary for permission and/or compensation. We will be using online meetings as well as face-to-face meetings to make things happen in as timely a manner as possible. Please understand that this timeline is subject to change as decisions are made at local, state and national levels.
I want CMEA to be there for you but I do not think that copying what others are doing so well is the answer. What I propose is creating a Google Form that members can use to put in helpful content, whether it is a link to a helpful site or an online form or sample class lesson, where the content is readily available to all music teachers to use as they need to. Google Forms turns the data into a Google Sheet which is searchable. I think there are other places that are doing this as well but in my experience having many options to locate information makes it much easier on everyone.
New Timelines for the 2021 CMEA Conference
Timeline for Call for Proposals for Conference Sessions -
June 1, - July 31- Call for Proposals open on CMEA Web site
August 5th - August 18th- council members review and vote on proposals
August 19th – August 25th chairs make final selections and indicate final selections in the goggle document.
August 26th – 31st- Chairs notify those selected and not selected to present a conference session and begin plugging sessions into a pre-determined conference schedule from the June meeting.
Timeline for Performing Group Submissions-
August 1, 2020 through September 16, 2020- submission window opens
Late September/early October (date to be determined soon)- CMEA selects performing groups and selected directors are notified
Timeline for Honor Awards and Hall of Fame Award Nominations-
June 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020- nomination process opens
September 1, 2020- Individuals receiving awards are notified
Timeline for Conference Early Registration-
Conference Early Registration Opens- August 1, 2020
Conference Early Registration Closes- January 2, 2021
Greetings from Tri-M
It is times like this that we need music in our lives more than ever. It is times like this that is is very challenging to do so. How can Tri-M help.? I will list several suggestions.
1.We are in recruiting season. Do you have video clips from Tri-M to share with your feeder program.
2.Ask your Tri-M students to write a letter saying why they should be in Band, Orchestra or Choir and send it to your feeder program.
3.Have your Tri-M students make a video clip of them separately and put them into a film to showcase Tri-M
4.Ask your chapter to write to someone in a nursing home since visitors are not allowed. No need for names, just a “I am thinking about you” or I care about you would mean the world to them.
5.Continue to communicate with your chapter if possible. We all need each other right now.
May you continue to be strong for each other and may we all get through this together.
Sincerely,
Michelle Ewer
Colorado Tri-M Chair
All-State and Clinic/Conference Medals and
Solo/Ensemble Festival Medals
Did you know that you can purchase CMEA Solo and Ensemble Awards even if you did not attend a CHSAA Solo and Ensemble Festival? If you hosted a regional Solo and Ensemble Festival or a county of district festival you can still order CMEA Solo and Ensemble medals.
Have you participated in a CHSAA Large Group Festival and put off ordering the award plaque? You can still order plaques for past festivals.
Did you have students in All-State Jazz Band, All-State Jazz Choir, All-State Orchestra, or the Elementary, Middle School, or High School All-State Choirs? If you did this might be a great time to honor these students with an All-State Medal. You can order these medals for your students and have them shipped directly to your home address. This is a great way to recognize your students for their accomplishment.
Have you thought about stocking up on Solo and Ensemble Medals, All-State Medals, or Clinic/Conference Performing Group medals? This might be a good time to spend remain budget dollars to stock up on these medals before your funds run out.
All award orders can be placed by going to the CMEA web site at cmeaonline.org, clicking on the General Information Tab and Clicking on the Order CMEA Awards Tab. All transactions can be completed on-line, including credit card payment.
Do you have questions regarding CMEA awards? You can direct those questions to CMEA Awards Manager- Ken Anderson at awardscmeaonline@gmail.com
Colorado Music Educators Association www.cmeaonline.org
