Steve McLendon AMEA President
If you’re taking the time to read this, chances are that you are a responsible,
ambitious music educator who seeks to increase and enhance their professional skills. I would also be willing to bet that you attended this year’s AMEA conference. Thank you for coordinating that attendance. Your willingness to leave the classroom for a couple of days and relinquish a portion of yourweekend is a real sacrifice. In turn, I hope that your conference experience was as fulfilling and inspirational as mine was.
When I first began teaching and heard the words “professional development hours,” it did not takeme long to develop an aversion to the phrase. I had spent a large amount of time (and money) in the classroom learning how to be a professionalmusic educator. Howmuch more development did I need? My school systeminsisted that I needed these hours, but the diploma above my desk was my personal proof that I had spent enough hours developing into a professional. Fortunately, my youthful arrogance was short-lived and I realized that learning was a lifelong endeavor.
Sum THE FLORIDA ATEST
ORIDA STA UNIVERSITY
TATE
...the Renaissance inMontgomery was officially
christened as our conference headquarters by the AlabamaMusic Educators Association.
The problem was that my school’s professional development offeringswere not always beneficial to me as a music educator. I was open to their ideas, but the reality was (and is) that a music classroom is different from any other classroom setting. My mentor, Dr. John M. Long, insisted that MENC, through the Alabama Bandmasters Association and Alabama Music Educators Association, was the answer. He was right. My professional organization gave me access to the best band programs in the state. I was able to listen to those groups perform in a formal setting and then talk to their directors in an informal setting. Over the years, I’ve learned more from these casual conversations and exchanges than I ever did in the classroom.
The opportunities that AMEA provides formusic educators have only increased. Your most recent opportunity for professional development was at the conference last month.
I hope you
attended the conference and took full advantage of the clinics and concerts that were presented. If you received credit for professional development, I hope it was earned by your faithful attendance
ummer Music CampsMusic Camp Cellebrating
mps Celebrating Our 70th ur 70 0 Summer!
Choral Ensemble Camp Honors Piano Camp
Elementary Music Day Camp Double Reed Workshop Guitar Workshop
Jazz Ensemble Camp: Middle School Jazz Ensemble Camp: Senior High Double Bass Workshop
Tuba & Euphonium Workshop Honors Chamber Winds Camp String Orchestra Camp Senior High Band Camp
Marching Band Leadership Camp Middle School Band Camp
June 12 - 18 June 12 - 25 June 13 - 17 June 14 - 17 June 14 - 18 June 19 - 25 June 19 - 25 June 22 - 25 June 22 - 25 June 26 - July 9 June 26 - July 9 June 26 - July 9 July 10 - 15 July 10 - 16
850.644.9934 6
http://music.fsu.edu
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
musiccamps@fsu.edu
musicc
camps@fsu.edu
and not for simply registering and returning the certificate. Talk to your division officials regarding what you liked about the conference and what you didn’t, as well as what you’d like to see in the future.
From the beautiful voices of Alabama vocalists to the unique echo of steel drums, the Renaissance in Montgomery was officially christened as our conference headquarters by theAlabama Music Educators Association. I was so proud to see the intercollegiate honors band make its first appearance under the baton of guest conductor Ray Cramer. Their concertwas a glorious andmoving musical experience, and Carla Gallahan was the catalyst behind this extraordinary addition to the conference. The Huntsville Youth Symphony was an excellent example of the talented string programs in our state. A clinic for elementary music teachers informed me that BoomWhackers are more than just baseball bats and pretend swords (although I haven’t convinced my grandsons.) Seriously though, the enthusiasm of elementary/general music teachers is contagious.
I believe President Truman said, “It’s amazingwhat you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” That describes yourAMEAGoverning Board. These people work tirelessly for their divisions, often with little recognition. Several of them are finishing their terms this summer and I’d like to personally and publicly thank themfor their service: Chuck Eady (ABA), Marcy Wilson (AOA), Sharon August (ELEM), and Taylor Sparks (CMENC). Thank you Pat Stegall for organizing FAME and Garry Taylor for putting this conference together. Mr. Taylor was the reason this year’s conference ran so smoothly in a brand new venue.
I hope everyone has a strong finish to the year. Good luck in all your performance assessments, spring concerts, and other musical events.
February 2011
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