Springing forward toward the end of the 2021-2022 school year seems quicker than before as we are all about to close what has appeared to be a somewhat “normal” school year. We all hope that Covid is in the rear window and remain vigilant like never before.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Kevin Beaber for his dignified leadership the past several years. Little did Kevin know when he signed up that he would serve two terms as president as we have continued to keep Mark Walters’ health near and dear to our hearts. Kevin is the first president to wear a president and past-president ribbon simultaneously on his conference name badge. Little did Kevin know that his second term would also be leading CMEA through the challenges of Covid. With a squeaky tight budget and difficult decisions, he led CMEA through the “It’s only two weeks” to “It’s been two years?” extremes of the pandemic. I hope you will join me in recognizing all of Kevin’s time and wisdom as he anticipates his retirement at the conclusion of this academic year. May we all strive to have Kevin’s heart for the human experience, dedication to the next generation of music educators, and love for kids.
With a return to normalcy, CMEA is attempting to resume our pre-Covid calendar. This means that submissions for performance ensembles and clinicians are opening today, April 4th. Both applications are linked in this journal and available on our website. As always, we are seeking the very best that Colorado has to offer. Our world has changed in just two short years and our conference sessions/concerts reflect this change for the better. I encourage you to consider submitting your ensemble(s) for performance at the 2023 Clinic/Conference. There is everything to be gained from submitting, nothing lost. Submit the session proposal that you have been thinking about but too shy or insecure to suggest. Submit a recording of your ensemble(s) to see the growth that comes from your students as a result. The window for these submissions closes on June 4th at midnight. Together, the membership looks forward to hearing about your expertise and inspiring us all to grow as educators.
We are excited to announce our 2023 theme and logo!
Strengthening Connections
Interested in Presenting at the 2023 CMEA Conference?
Call for Proposals - now open April 4-June 4, 2022
CMEA is now accepting proposals for workshops, clinics, and professional development sessions for the 2023 Clinic/Conference!
CONFERENCE DATES: Wednesday, January 25; Thursday, January 26; Friday, January 27; Saturday, January 28, 2023
CONFERENCE LOCATION: Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: on or before June 4, 2022
NOTIFICATION of ACCEPTANCE: by June 30, 2022
PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: by September 15, 2022
CMEA is specifically interested in addressing middle school and elementary school performance ensembles, elementary and middle school vocal and instrumental techniques, score analysis and conducting, non-traditional ensembles, recruiting and retention, and social-emotional and mindfulness supports for both students and teachers. Additionally, session for all grade levels, ensemble levels, and alternative music courses are always welcomed.
Interested in Having Your Group Perform at the 2023 CMEA Conference?
Performance Applications now open - April 4-June 4, 2022
CMEA is now accepting applications for Honor Performing Groups at the 2023 Conference. Elementary Choirs, Elementary Ensembles, all levels of Instrumental and Vocal Performing Groups, Non-traditional Ensembles, Modern Bands, Mariachi, and Community Groups are all invited to apply to perform.
In preparation for completing this form, please have the following files ready to upload:
a quality recording of the ensemble's performance (mp3 is preferred)
a PDF/scanned copy of each score performed on each recording with all and any identifying school/director information removed. (PDF/scans of scores will be held securely and used only in the evaluation/listening process. Scores submitted will be deleted upon completion of performance group selections.)
a PDF/scan of the Principal Signature Page for K-12 Music Groups that can be downloaded at cmeaonline.org under the Conference Tab- Conference Performing Groups
As we begin to plan the CMEA Conference 2023, I want to personally encourage you to submit a proposal for a session to be presented at the conference. Maybe you have been “on the fence” in the past about submitting a proposal because you’re nervous or maybe even fearful of rejection or not living up to an unspoken standard. We hope and want you to submit a proposal! I spoke with so many of you at CMEA about your desire to submit, and also your hesitation. We learn best from each other through each other’s background knowledge and experiences. What you have to share is invaluable and we truly desire your partnership!!! Here are some ideas that many of you shared you’d like to hear:
General Music in the Secondary Level (Middle and/or High school)
Modern Band, Ukulele Sessions
Recorders in the classroom
Boomwhackers in the general music classroom
Orff instrumentation, implementation
Elementary Choral Resources
We also hope to have more performing groups attend this 2023 Conference! Please consider sending in a performing group application.
Instrumental Music Council News
Peter Towes, Chair
A HUGE thank you to everyone who attended our Clinic/Conference in January back at the beautiful Broadmoor! As we planned for an in-person return to CMEA, I was unsure what to expect and hope for. But, I could not have been more pleased by seeing so many of you excited to share in the friendship, inspiration, and rejuvenation that the conference provides. If you were unable to attend this year, I hope that you will be able to join us in 2023.
For me, student performances have been at the heart of the CMEA clinic/conference. I was overjoyed watching the amazing performances by our honor performing ensembles this year. Those students and their courageous directors had the overwhelming task to prepare their performances in an uncertain environment and on a short timetable. I was so proud of each and every ensemble. I would encourage you to submit an audition for the 2023 clinic/conference. Those auditions will be open from April 4 to June 4. Remember that you do amazing work with your students, and you have something to share with your colleagues around the state. We want to see representation from all of our CMEA Districts, but we need your help to make that happen. Please consider applying and encourage others to do the same.
If you are not in a position to bring an ensemble to CMEA, you may also consider presenting a clinic or encouraging a colleague to present. Clinic proposals are also open from April 4 to June 4. Most of the clinics presented at the conference are by Colorado music educators just like you! There is so much expertise across all of our districts, and as we’ve been saying the past couple of years… We are CMEA, and we are Stronger Together!
I would like to congratulate our elected district representatives!!
District 2 Representative Kim Wilson-Paugh
District 4 Representative Jonathan Colson
District 6 Representative Katie Oglesby
District 8 Representative Pat Sheehy
I would like to thank Karen Bautista and Marti Bott for their amazing service to the Instrumental Council and CMEA!! I cannot say enough about the work that they have done to support the educators in their district and for being champions of small schools and rural communities around Colorado. They have been powerful voices in our council.
Vocal Music Council News
I hope your April is a wonderful time of culminating preparations and that May will be filled with celebrations and performances for your programs. In this newsletter you will find the request for session proposals and performance submissions. I urge you to consider yourself and your colleagues as the top candidates for these needs. Here are some criteria to consider.
Performance Submissions - The Vocal Music Council will be talking to all accepted performing groups about leading an informance. We are hoping that these become more of a demonstration group than the stand alone "show". We are looking at this shift because we believe it is a unique opportunity to grow and connect our music educator community. Throughout the year each person usuahas their own concerts and celebrations of learning as well as possible adjudications and competitions. The CMEA vocal council would like to provide a place to raise the curtain and demonstrate your best rehearsal techniques or explanation of performance practice. We want to be invited into that backstage talk and “miraculous” or mundane fix. We want to be learners and not judges of final products. If you have performed in the past please reach out to people who have not and if you have submitted in the past and not been accepted please try again. We are looking for education, insight, and inspiration. So fight against the gremlins of “I’m not right for this” or “I’m not good enough”.
Interest Session Submissions - We have so many diverse needs in our state for music education and education as a whole. I went through college attending CMEA and have continued through my first years of teaching and now as I reach the end of my eighth year of teaching it is amazing how many of the insights of the things that work for me came from clinics or conversations based on sessions at CMEA or CoACDA. Please use the topic you care about, the one that makes you mad, the one that inspires you, or the one you just nerd out about to share with all of your co-workers, the music educators of colorado. We need to know what diverse pathways have been tried and found to reach students. Help us see the blind spots and give us your name or convince the person you know would have so much to offer. Write up a proposal and we will be glad to consider it as we build the event for January. I look forward to hearing from many of you and feel free to reach out with questions.
