Dear JJ,

Greetings from the Oregon Music Education Association!!

The following email includes OMEA's June News.

Please enjoy your time of these next few months. If you need to renew your OMEA/NAfME membership, please do that sooner than later. Your membership must be current to submit All-State and All-Northwest auditions this fall.

There will be e-newsletters sent in July and August providing updates on the 2024-2025 school year. Otherwise, enjoy your summer break!

There is still time to submit a session proposal or performance application for the 2025 conference in Eugene. Please click here for more information on the conference.

All-State information including audition material and 2025 conductor bios can be found by clicking here.

Direct All-State questions to Kristi Stingle at allstatechair@gmail.com.

Direct questions regarding the conference to Elizabeth Soper at omeaconferencechair@gmail.com.

Please remember that this upcoming February All-Northwest will be held in Spokane from the 13th - 16th. All-State and All-Northwest auditions require separate submissions.

Please click here for session presentation or a performance application for All-Northwest.

All-Northwest audition material can be found by clicking here.

Direct any All-Northwest questions to Scott.Ketron@wmea.org.

In case you missed it - we would like your input to create a mission and vision statement for our organization, as well as begin to engage in strategic planning. 

Now that we have a dynamic new website (thank you, Ben Lawson, for accomplishing this task!) these statements of purpose will be visible in a public space to hold us accountable and set a guiding vision for the work we do for all of you and your students. 

Please complete this survey to give feedback on the direction of OMEA, in addition to our strengths and challenges. This survey.

We appreciate your input!

Erika Lockwood, OMEA President-Elect

Laura Arthur, OMEA Advocacy Chair

What can you do, RIGHT NOW? Advocacy steps to take action today!

Advocacy Tip #1: As budgetary decisions are being made at the school, district, and state level, familiarize yourself with the OMEA Program Standards. While access to music education from a certified educator is a first step, it doesn't capture the distinct needs of music programs as a measure of quality!

Advocacy Tip #2: We all know that music is an essential part of our students’ academic and social-emotional learning. As the music education expert in your building and district, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your building and district leadership, be involved, and advocate for your students, your music colleagues, and yourself. Remind your administrators that music is part of a well-rounded education, as defined at the federal level by the Every Student Succeeds Act. 

Advocacy Tip #3: Check out ArtsScan, a side-by-side comparison of all states and their arts education policies.  

Advocacy Tip #4: Did you know the Oregon Department of Education sends out a monthly Arts Education newsletter? Read the June edition, or sign up to be on their email list!

Advocacy Action: Education in Oregon is facing a significant funding crisis.  Contact your Oregon Legislators, or find your legislators based on your address HERE, and encourage them to fund the Quality Education Model.  

Advocacy Links: Find more resources at NAfME and the NAfME Advocacy Resource Center, or visit oregonmea.org/advocacy.

Laura Arthur

OMEA Advocacy Chair

larthur@pps.net



OMEA Advocacy Website

We are the Oregon Music Educators Equity professional learning community! If you have a brilliant resource, song, approach, or idea that you want to share with other music educators, please share it here.

Thank you so much for those who participated in our affinity spaces at the conference! We would lover to hear your feedback and ideas for what to improve for next year!

Cynthia Navarro

DEI Co-Chair

navarro16@gresham.k12.or.us

Amanda Sarles

DEI Co-Chair

asarles@siuslaw.k12.or.us

For the last two years, OMEA has been exploring the possibility of adding a Secondary General Music Chair to the board. I am excited to announce that the position has been approved and that I am committed to fulfilling the role in the inaugural term. This role will serve middle and high school music teachers who are teaching anything other than band, orchestra, or choir – as well as elementary music teachers whose work lands outside of the traditional general music curriculum. Some examples include:

• World music ensembles such as mariachi or steel drum bands
• Popular music courses such as songwriting, class guitar, or rock band
• Digital music classes such as music production
• General music classes such as music survey, music theory, or dedicated special education classes.

I truly believe that these courses have an essential role in our K-12 schools as they serve a population who has traditionally been excluded from music education. If we are to build robust music education programs, these courses must run alongside traditional ensembles.

My own interest in this work has been building over the last two decades through professional development with World Music Drumming and Music Will as well as my own kids’ limited opportunities to explore the music they loved while enrolled in public schools. As the program coordinator for music education at Portland State, I have been part of modernizing our curriculum to decenter European music; provide coursework for future music educators in rock band, mariachi, and music production; and emphasize culturally responsive pedagogy in our music education program. I am excited to share my passion for broadening the options for students in our K-12 systems, for collaborating with our colleagues who are already doing the work, and supporting those who are curious about trying something new.

My goals in this role are:

1. Collect Data: Who is already teaching these types of classes? What are they teaching? Who takes them? What kind of support is in place in terms of curriculum and budget?
2. Build Connections: How can those who are teaching similar courses work together to problem solve and share best practices? Who is able to support emerging programs?
3. Provide Professional Development: What can we add to our conference to celebrate the work already being done and support teachers interested in starting new courses? How can we partner with NAfME to build on the work they are doing in this area?
4. Create a Toolkit: What do districts, schools, and teachers need to know to build new programs? How does current licensure through TSPC limit our options and how can that change?

There is a concern amongst some ensemble directors that adding alternate music courses will take students away from their programs, but the evidence around the country shows the opposite. Providing more options gets more kids involved in music and not only does not diminish the numbers in band, orchestra, or choir, but often brings more students into the ensembles.

My first step is to find out what is already happening in our state. Please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire: Secondary General Music Survey.

Mari Schay

OMEA Secondary General Music Chair

mschay@pdx.edu

Please click here for choir results. Orchestra and band results can be found here.

The State Jazz Contest page can be found by clicking here.

Many thanks to Stewart Schlazer and Gary Riler for coordinating the State Solo and Chamber Championships.

2024 Solo Contest results.

2024 Chamber Contest results.

Gary Riler

OMEA Chamber Ensemble Contest Chair

griler@pps.net

Stewart Schlazer

OMEA State Solo Contest Chair

sschlazer@fgsd.k12.or.us

Thank you all for joining us at January's OMEA State Conference in Eugene! As we continue to refine and improve the conference experience for everyone, please take a moment to complete a survey by clicking here.

To find session and performance applications for the 2025 OMEA State Conference "Resonance: Building Human Connections Through Music," click here!

Elizabeth Soper

OMEA Conference Chair

OMEAConferenceChair@gmail.com

Oregon's ACDA Summer Workshop with be August 13th this year and will be hosted at Portland Community College's Sylvania campus. This will be a one-day event focused on reading sessions and pedagogical best-practices to prepare directors for the new school year.

Kathy Briggs

OMEA Choir Chair

kathy.briggs@smapdx.org

www.oracda.net

Please click here for information on an August professional development gathering featuring a bass clinic, a reading session, and plenty of social time!

Ashland Chamber Music Workshop in Southern Oregon. July 14-19. At this workshop, Oregon teachers can earn CEUs through Southern Oregon University while spending a week playing their instrument! The workshop cost is $550. The CEUs are free. The ACMW Director, Jenifer Carstensen, is also the leader of bands at Ashland Middle School. They are looking for violinists in particular but all are welcome to apply by clicking here. 

Email Jen if interested:

Jenifer Carstensen

2025 OMEA All-State audition packets.

2025 All-Northwest audition packets.

OMEA Conference Performance and Session Application.

Krista Debolt

OMEA Orchestra Chair

kdebolt@grantspass.k12.or.us

www.orasta.org

OREGON BAND DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

BAND AND ORCHESTRA ADJUDICATION WORKSHOP AND ADJUDICATION TRAINING

Date: Friday, August 2nd, 2024

Time: 9:00 am* - 4:00 pm

Location: Mt. Hood Community College (Band Room)

Address: 26000 SE Start St. Gresham, OR 97030

While invited to attend the entire workshop, candidates for recertification may choose to forego that content that is specific to forms and process and check in at 10:30 am.

OBDA ADJUDICATION COMMITTEE CHAIRS: 

Mary Lou Boderman

Jennifer Bell

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

This workshop offers training in the use of the OBDA/OSAA Band and Orchestra Evaluation System. Participation is open to any interested band/orchestra teacher or director wishing to improve their understanding of the Evaluation System regardless of their interest in becoming a certified adjudicator. Following the presentation there will be an opportunity for those wishing to complete an assessment to obtain certification to do so. This workshop is a mandatory requirement for OBDA Adjudicator Certification.

WORKSHOP FEE:

Free to current OBDA members

$25 registration (includes a 2-year OBDA membership)

Adjudicators must continue to hold OBDA membership to maintain certification.

REQUIREMENTS FOR OBDA CERTIFICATION

-Must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience teaching band or orchestra with demonstrated success at the secondary or university level.

-Submit the certificate indicating completion of the NFHS Adjudicator Certification Course.

-Must complete approved OBDA workshop training and successfully complete the adjudication assessment.

-Adjudicators must recertify every 5 years​.

Below are the results from the OBDA Proposal Voting Session (May 27th - June 2nd). 

OBDA PROPOSAL VOTING RESULTS:

OBDA Proposal #1 | Required Literature: PASSED

88.7% Approved (55 votes)

11.3% Do Not Approve (7 votes)

OBDA Proposal #2 | Bylaws - Orchestra Membership: PASSED

93.5% Approved (58 votes)

6.5% Do Not Approve (4 votes)

OBDA Proposal #3 | Sight-Reading Procedures - Rhythm/Tempo: PASSED

96.8% Approved (60 votes)

3.2% Do Not Approve (2 votes)

OBDA Proposal #4 | Sight-Reading Procedures - Seven Minute Timing: PASSED

98.4% Approved (61 votes)

1.6% Do Not Approve (1 votes)

Please email us if you have any questions. Thank you. 

Eben A. Fernando Heldreth

OBDA Secretary

ebenheldreth@gmail.com

The spring edition of the Oregon Music Educator, was released at the end of April. Please click here to access OMEA publications. Issuu will now archive all OMEA publications dating back to 1948. These older editions will be posted as access becomes available for scanning.

Associations Partner to Advocate for Arts Education

Educational Theatre Association, National Art Education Association, National Association for Media Arts Education, National Association for Music Education, and National Dance Education Organization Join to Advance Federal Policy Goals

HERNDON, VA (May 30, 2024) — Research shows that arts education is crucial to a well-rounded education, but U.S. schools too often don’t provide consistent access to robust education by qualified arts educators. The nation’s five arts education associations have officially joined together to work toward changing this. 

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), National Art Education Association (NAEA), National Association for Media Arts Education (NAMAE) National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) will partner to amplify the value of arts education through joint advocacy work. 

NAfME Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy and Public Policy Amanda Karhuse will lead federal advocacy for the coalition. Karhuse has more than 25 years of experience in federal policy and advocacy with NAfME, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and as a legislative assistant. 

Karhuse will lead the associations in building a shared federal legislative agenda on arts education and lobby congressional staff and U.S. Department of Education officials to achieve that agenda. The partners’ top priority is pushing for federal legislation to name all five art forms as integral to a well-rounded education. “We want to see every art form emphasized in educational policy so more students have equitable access to the discipline of their choice,” said Karhuse. 

“This partnership allows us to speak with one voice for the value of arts education.”

The group is collectively working to support proposed legislation including the Arts Education for All Act, the Reimagining Inclusive Arts Education Act, the Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act, and the anticipated Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act.

The partners also will be advocating for arts educators to receive the resources they need to provide quality arts instruction: dedicated space, budget, and class time; professional learning opportunities; and a supportive school community. 

In addition to the work outlined above, the coalition will focus on sharing data on the use of federal funding for arts education, conducting advocacy campaigns for federal issues impacting arts education, educating association members on policy issues through blogs and webinars, and hosting joint advocacy day opportunities on Capitol Hill. 

“Our collective goal is for all schools to be arts-rich schools,” said Karhuse. “This partnership allows us to speak with one voice for the value of arts education.” 

Arts educators can follow the progress of the partners’ advocacy initiatives on their respective websites. 

Please click here to access the latest edition of NAfME Notes.

Congratulations to Cecil Adderley, NAfME's President-Elect! Click here to read about, Berklee's Cecil Adderley.

Deb Confredo of Temple University recently succeeded Scott Sheehan as NAfME's President. Her term runs through 2026. Please click here to read more about Deb Confredo.

A Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter opens up a world of opportunities for students who have already shown themselves to be academically capable and musically gifted. Through performance and community service, they’ll develop confidence, creativity, critical thinking, compassion, and a host of other leadership skills sure to serve them well in school and beyond.

Click here to join or renew your Tri-M membership!

Click here to access NFHS publications and e-newsletter subscriptions.

Follow OMEA on Instragram at "oregonmusiceducation."

You can also follow OMEA on Facebook by liking "Oregon Music Education Association."

OMEA social media is a great way to receive news and updates in real time!