We blinked and here we are in March. March has been historically recognized by NAfME as Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM) across the country. Isn’t everyday music in our schools? I believe it is but the unified month of focus brings strength to benefit all. February and March can tend to be a dark cloud of overwhelming stress in this profession. Perhaps this is why we need to promote our programs during this season. It reminds us how much we and our students need music. Advocating for music education is inherent to many of us as we market our own school programs on a daily basis. This is exactly what MIOSM is about.
Music educators can keep doing what we always do and still increase awareness. MIOSM is more than just a pencil or pin announcing the event. There should be no extras added to our plates as educators. MIOSM is a simple act of mentioning it in conversation to build awareness or sending a promotional link to the school office’s newsletter. It’s making sure your board of education receives a calendar invite to your already scheduled concert this month. It’s asking if your ensemble from solo & ensemble can perform at the board meeting/community event. It’s changing your social media profile photo/frame or sharing an inspiring article about the benefits of music education in your school.
NAfME has a robust menu of resources if you wish to seek more opportunities to advocate for your program. Here are just a few:
The DEIA Taskforce will meet this spring to debrief, comment, and discuss ideas from the January CMEA Clinic and Conference. This year, the CMEA Clinic/Conference program included tags for sessions that were identified as DEIA presentations to facilitate participants in choosing sessions that fit this designation. DEIA sessions were purposefully included in the different tracks usually organized by CMEA to provide participants access to these different approaches to DEIA. We plan to continue using this tag in future programs to facilitate experiences in DEIA.
Implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within a Wind Band Curriculum was one well-attended session led by one of the DEIA Taskforce members, Dr. Wesley Broadnax. During this session, Dr. Broadnax outlined wind band music composed by people of color, women, and people who identify as LGBTIA+. We were able to listen to several pieces by Black composers and to have a resource list of wind band music organized by grade by these underrepresented wind band composers.
We are curious about your experience in the DEIA sessions at the CMEA Clinic/Conference. Was there a session that you liked that stood out to you? What would you like to see more of, as it relates to DEIA topics? What would help you in your experience with DEIA beyond sessions at the clinic/conference?
Direct feedback to these questions and anything else related to DEIA to Dr. Carla Aguilar at caguil13@msudenver.edu.
Hope you are enjoying the spring!
Carla Aguilar, PhD, Metropolitan State University of Denver, DEIA Taskforce Chairperson
Greetings from Tri-M
Michelle Ewer, Tri-M Chair
Greetings from Tri-M,
Words cannot express my gratitude to everyone who participated in Tri-M day this year. Our total enrollment was 476. This is a record for Tri-m day. Last year we had 250. I was hoping for 300 and then watched the numbers rise. It was a thrill to see the numbers go up daily. Thank you to the directors who took an extra day off from school to bring your students to Colorado Springs. Everyone dressed and acted in a professional manner and engaged in the sessions that were presented. I am already thinking of ways to tweak it for next year. I know that students are asking for sessions to meet with other students to talk Tri-M. There is always room for improvement, and I will do my best to keep providing an educational and enjoyable experience for you and your students.
A special thanks to all of our presenters who did a fantastic job. Thanks for your patience and flexibility as numbers were adjusted daily. You made a difference for the students. You helped them to develop new career paths or take a new teaching strategy back to their classrooms. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Special thanks to Kevin Padrowski for leading through Shenandoah. It was a very moving experience. If you captured it on video, could you please share it with me? I was only able to get a portion of the performance.
Dr. Tim is our national Tri-M chair. Of- course I had to share our success with him when I got back home. He was stunned and so pleased. In turn, he contacted national NAFME to share the news. I received an email from Scott Sheehan our national NAFME president congratulating Colorado and the growth of Tri-m across the state. We are the talk of national, which I love.
What is in store for your chapter next? January and February tend to be very dark months, but we are heading into spring. What projects are you planning? Perhaps a canned food drive or helping to recruit for the next school year, playing at a senior facility, hosting a car wash, or making lunch for the staff at your school. The possibilities are endless.
It is time to start thinking about graduation chords. Shop here for your Tri-M merchandise.
Please continue to support Tri-M. It means so much to your students. For many, it is their voice, and their safe place to hang. Together we can provide that opportunity for our students to develop leadership skills and lifelong friendships.
Sincerely,
Michelle Ewer
Colorado Tri-M Chair
National Advisory Board
CMEA Conference Planning 2024
Timeline for Call for Proposals- Honor Performing Groups- Honor Awards Timeline
Call for Proposals for Conference Presentations
Proposal form opens on Monday, May 1, 2023
Form closes on Friday, June 2, 2023
Proposals considered at the State Assembly meeting on June 10, 2023
Proposals finalized by June 23, 2023
Presenters notified by Margie Camp of acceptance by June 30, 2023
Call for submissions- Conference Honor Performing Groups
Submission form opens on Monday, May 1, 2023
Form closes on Friday, June 2, 2023
Groups selected on June 9, 2023
CMEA President notifies those groups selected by June 16, 2023
CMEA Honor Award Nominations
Submission form opens on Monday, July 31, 2023
Forms close on Friday, September 29, 2023
Committee meets by October 13, 2023
Award Recipients notified by CMEA Past-President by Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Colorado Music Educators Association
Election Commission Report 2023
The following are the certified election results for the 2023 CMEA Board and State Assembly Elections:
Chair-Elects
Paul Maley – General Music Council
Chuck Stephen – Instrumental Music Council
Bryan Kettlewell – Vocal Music Council
Odd-Numbered District Representatives
Dallas Merrihew – District 1 General Music Council
Darren Delaup – District 1 Instrumental Music Council
Shannon Schell – District 1 Vocal Music Council
Chelsea Pennock – District 3 General Music Council
Loni Obluda – District 3 Instrumental Music Council
Kris Pierce – District 3 Vocal Music Council
Jenny Hall – District 5 General Music Council
Thomas Chapman – District 5 Instrumental Music Council
Anna Saks – District 5 Vocal Music Councilq
Nicholas Brenholz – District 7 General Music Council
Andrew Bruington – District 7 Instrumental Music Council
Marla Sitton – District 7 Vocal Music Council
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 accomplishments. (Note- currently All-State medals are out of stock and are on back-order. Medals may not arrive by the end of the school year.)
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 remaining budget dollars to stock up on these medals before your funds run out.
All award orders can be placed by Clicking Here. 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.comoffer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
