Mentoring Ideas Steve Litwiller, Mentoring Chair Go Ye Forth . . . and Circulate!
Circulation is a good thing. Money, information, and blood are all worthless if they stay in one place for too long. To have any positive influence they have to stay in motion. The same principle is true for educators in every stage of their career. No matter what level of ability you think you have, you will never improve unless you continue to broaden your knowledge and skills. This is even more critical for young teachers. Since most of us tend to teach the way we were taught, it is impossible for you to improve as an educator unless you seek out new ideas, methods and materials.
The Missouri Music Educators Association Conference at Tan-Tar-A gives you the best opportunity at the most important time of your career to break out and circulate. Concerts, clinics, and networking with music dealers and knowledgeable teachers provide a wealth of ideas for all aspects of your teaching.
Now that we’ve established the importance of this event, let’s talk about a plan—and I don’t mean lesson plans. If you don’t know what you want from the MMEA Conference in January, you’ll take what you get. So prepare yourself by writing a shopping list of goals for Tan-Tar-A. This list can include questions about classroom management, budget, music for festival, concerts, or classroom use, how to teach sight-reading, searches for equipment or new technology for your classroom. Be on the lookout for ideas on how to improve your teaching when you start school the following Monday.
It’s always good to catch up with former college classmates, so set some time aside for that. But you will gain more from this conference if you get out of your comfort zone and utilize this event to acquire more knowledge. Listen to concerts, go to clinics, talk to exhibitors, and get to know the experienced and
62 MISSOURI SCHOOL MUSIC | Volume 71, Number 2
successful teachers in this state. Meet, engage and learn. Circulate.
Speaking of exhibitors, you might want to check out the ElectroStuff booth in Exhibit Area 51. One new product is a device used to balance and blend mixed choruses. The director simply points it at the loudest soprano and activates the electronic sonic field. “The Point, Press and Mute” is only $29.99. It is also available in an industrial strength model for middle school general music classes. The same company developed a neat gadget for band directors called “Tuberical Grow.” The device electronically stimulates growth plates in the shortest trumpet player in the back of the section so he or she will grow tall enough to carry a sousaphone by the middle of their 7th
-grade year. This product is a real bargain for
only $19.99. Both items are offered at convention discount, pending approval by the American Medical and Musical Association. [Editor’s note: Warning! Some information may be jokes.]
Don’t forget about the pre-conference Mentoring Session at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, January 25 in 74- 77. The featured speaker will be Dr. Frank Tracz from Kansas State University. You will need to register online for this event at the MMEA website. There are other great clinics planned for you on Thursday and Friday. Check the schedule in this magazine. It’s going to be a great Conference. See you there!
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