I wrote my original column [below] for an August 15th deadline. As we go to press on November 15, I retain my focus: our organization exists to sup- port and enhance music teaching and learning for ALL students and teachers. I added a few thoughts at the end of this message in light of recent events.


Karen Salvador


For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Karen Salvador, and I am president of MMEA from May 2016-May 2018. I am currently a music teacher educator at the University of Michigan-Flint. Be- fore that, I taught elementary general music in Ea- ton Rapids, MI and then choir and drama in New Zealand. You may have seen me around; both of my graduate degrees are from Michigan State, and I have presented workshops on a variety of topics in places like MMC.


Sitting down to write my first “President’s Mes- sage” presented an occasion to reflect on the growth and strength of MMEA. Here are some points of pride from the 2015-16 school year:


Student Events


• MMEA again featured 5 regional Elementary Choral Festivals with an overall attendance for all sites of 204 students. Next year, we will be changing the name to “Young Singers Choral Workshop” to clarify the nature of the event for participants, teachers, and parents.


• March brought MMEA’s 4th annual Instru- mental Clinic, which we have expanded to two sites because of high levels of participa- tion and interest. Based on continued growth, we are adding a third site next year.


•


Building on the success of our inaugural El- ementary Honors Choir last year, we hosted another one this year. Due to the popularity of the event, next year we will be splitting into two choirs, 3rd/4th and 5th/6th.


• Each year at the Michigan Music Confer- ence MMEA hosts an Honors Composition Concert highlighting


The winner of this event also performs at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival.


Professional Development


• MMEA, in conjunction with MSBOA, MS- VMA, and MASTA, presented the 11th an- nual Michigan Music Conference. Alto- gether, MMEA administered about 75 lecture and demonstration-based workshops. Next year, our elementary preconference will fea- ture Jacque Schrader and Rick Layton, and our conference headliner will be Dr. Herbert


student composers.


“Butch” Marshall from Baldwin Wallace Uni- versity.


•


Last Fall MMEA held its 3rd annual General Music Fall Workshop at Michigan State Uni- versity. Plans are moving forward for the 4th Annual General Music Fall Workshop, which will be hosted by Hope College and feature Sanna Longden.


• Grand Valley University hosted the MMEA Collegiate Conference, which is a profes- sional development workshop for collegiate students. Next year it will be at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.


• We also hosted our first Music Education Technology Workshop.


Advocacy and Policy


• We continued the momentum from our first Michigan Music Advocacy Day by organiz- ing another one in March 2016. Representa- tives from the MMEA, MSBOA, MSVMA and PMEPD participated in legislative office visits to discuss proposed legislative initiatives SB 718 and/or HB 5284. These bills would close the “all subjects loophole” and mandate ongoing and sequential music instruction in elementary schools. We featured elementary and secondary performance groups in a noon concert on the Capital Building Glass Floor Rotunda.


• We have created advocacy tools on our web- site, and we have been increasing the frequen- cy and timeliness of our policy communica- tions—changes in national education policy and developments at the state level have made this essential.


Music for all…


Reflecting on MMEA’s considerable accomplish- ments over the past year, I feel proud to be part of an organization that champions “music for all.” As President of MMEA, I attended NAfME’s na- tional assembly as Michigan’s delegate in June 2016. The national assembly focused on NAfME’s diversity and how we can better serve marginal- ized students and teachers. This focus coincided closely with NAfME CEO Michael Butera’s resig- nation following his divisive and inflammatory re- marks in May1


. Both Mr. Butera’s resignation and


the focus on diversity and inclusion at the national assembly are evidence of the power of our mem- bership to collectively uphold our principles by challenging NAfME’s leadership to affect change.


YOU are the music teachers, college students, and 6


President’s Message


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