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historian and retired members


Challenges Become Opportunities in WMEA


Kristine McLain, WMEA State Chair, Historian & Retired Members


I will soon be the retired, “Retired Representative/ Historian” for the WMEA Council.


It’s been a joy. I’ve even become a histo- ry buff. Who knew? At first, I thought of


myself as the retired educator representa- tive. I saw myself as an advocate for the retired music educator. With our knowl- edge, energy, skills and time, I thought, what’s out there for us, how can we be of service, how can we continue to grow? With those questions in mind, I explored existing programs. I found a wealth of excellent musical opportunities available for people of all levels of abilities in all aspects of music making with a multitude of ideas for service. Music as lifelong learning is a priority of the WMEA and the offerings continue to grow.


As the 50th anniversary of WMEA ap-


proached, Richard Fellenz gave me a box of historical materials. As I scanned through them and perused almost 50 years of Wisconsin School Musician, my interest in the history of WMEA grew. Through my reading I met impressive, dedicated teachers and leaders with lofty purposes. I developed great respect for those music educators who made the challenges faced by those in the 1960s and earlier, an oppor- tunity to found an organization developed to assist state music teachers with meeting the demands of the job.


I saw the focus of music education evolve and progress. I read of the development of the major elementary music method- ologies with the influence of Wisconsin and Midwestern music educators. I saw WMEA founding the Comprehensive Mu- sicianship Through Performance (CMP)


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Project. Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to develop and build a center for music education. Challenges became opportunities for success.


When I was in college, I attended my first Wisconsin Music Educators Conference (WMEC – now WMEA) meeting in Janu- ary at the UW‐Madison Alumni Center. My elementary music teacher, Marian Simons, at the time, director of music for the Fond du Lac Schools, greeted me at the door. What an amazing feeling it was to be welcomed to this wonderful orga- nization, dedicated to those in my future profession, by someone I’d known and trusted my whole life.


Eventually, Marian Simons became my administrator, mentor and friend. Through the years, many of our challenges were similar to those of today: Finding the money for music and equipment, advocat- ing for music in our schools, recruiting, scheduling and staffing, along with match- ing curriculum with state and local stan- dards and resources. These were concerns of most communities. Tracing our roots has led me to realize the expertise and knowledge contained in our history, and the work of our retired members, provides us a bounty of ideas and strategies for problem solving. When I think back to the leadership strategies exercised by my early administrator, Marian Simons, I noted the following strategies she utilized.


1. Evaluate the issues at hand. 2. Accentuate the positive.


3. Take some bad with the good. Be a good example!


4. Allow input and ideas from those around you.


5. Step back and listen.


6. Encourage members to serve through their strengths.


“Tracing our roots has led me to realize the expertise and


knowledge contained in our history…”


7. Utilize community resources. 8. Be appreciative and kind.


9. Keep high expectations. A correction is okay.


10. Work as a team – a musical family.


Today’s challenges seem to extend beyond those of the past. They appear overwhelming at times. It also seems like many are cyclical. Whether it be budget, public opinion, government bureaucracy, the changing American family, recruit- ing, scheduling or staffing, we might find assistance in looking at our history and those who have who have found success in the past. The past strategies are still ap- plicable today. With the foresight of our predecessors, their willingness to meet the struggle as an occasion for success and the dedication and high ideals of our present educators, the struggles of today will be only a memory of our progress.


The best to each of you as you meet each day as a new opportunity. Happy trails to you!


Kristine McLain is a retired elementary music educator from Fond du Lac. Email: kvmclain@charter.net


April 2012


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