choral
State Music Conference in October is well-planned, well-attended and well- worth your while (If you think it’s too much work to plan for a sub, send me an email and I will give you some ideas.). The WSMA State Honors Music Project (high school and middle level) is one of the most rewarding experiences for individual music students our state offers (http://
wsmamusic.org/state-honors-project). The Wisconsin Choral Directors Associa- tion’s NextDirection is also one of kind. A three-day workshop for high-school age future music educators, the students not only experience music making at a high level, they receive an in-depth look into the choral music profession. I highly rec- ommend that you check out this program for your best and brightest students: http://
new.wischoral.org/nextdirection.
Knees
I was watching the Green Bay Packers pre- season game when Jordy Nelson tore his ACL in August of 2015. Like thousands of other heart broken Packer fans, I cried. His recovery was long and he was greatly
missed, yet I was amazed at his commit- ment to his role as leader on the team, even when he could not play. We have yet to see how his injury will affect this next season, but the entire Packer Nation is hopeful! I am sure you are wondering what this has to do with the state of mu- sic education in Wisconsin (especially if you are Bears or Vikings fan). Knees are meant to bend. They absorb pressure. They allow us to reach many levels, high and low. The current political, financial and social landscape in our state has brought some to their knees. It is important to rise up and band together so that we can share each other’s strengths. I challenge you to join a Professional Learning Community, such as the one offered by Julie Palkowski at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction:
http://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts/ pd/plc. You may find strength in similar programs offered by your school district. In any case, do not become an island in your school. Reach out and find strength in others so that the pressure you may be feeling may cause your knees to bend, not break.
Toes
To complete my kindergarten musical melodic metaphor, we come to the toes. Every year, at the start of summer, I treat myself to a pedicure. I know at first it may seem a bit odd to have someone scraping away the dead skin as you sit there like a queen on her throne, but I take so much pleasure in having my toes painted a pretty color, (and I have 10 of them to look at)! So my challenge for you this fall, before you begin the grind of teaching is this: Take time to discover (or re-discover) your joy in teaching students through music. Take pleasure in the students that you teach. Take pains that you offer them the best music to learn and the richest art to experience. Take heart in that you work in a district that offers music education to every child. Take pride that you work in a state of hundreds of strong, confident, gifted teachers of students through music. Wisconsin: MusicStrong!
Marcia Russell teaches general music and choir at Platteville Middle School, grades 4-8, and is a member of the Wisconsin CMP Committee. Email:
Russell@platteville.k12.wi.us
Apply to Perform at the State Capitol! Once again WMEA will be sponsoring concerts in the state capitol during the months of March and April.
Criteria for Selection To best showcase music education in Wisconsin the following selection criteria is used:
• Considered together, the groups invited will represent all grade levels – elementary, middle, high and collegiate.
• Considered together, the groups invited will portray a wide variety of types of performing organizations.
• Considered together, groups from all areas of the state will be represented.
• In order for as many students to have the opportunity to participate as possible, groups that have not performed at the capitol in the past will be considered first.
• Applicant must be a WMEA member.
Procedures WMEA will request preferred dates from the capitol.
• Request forms will be available at
wmeamusic.org by Oct. 1 and the WMEA booth at conference.
• Download and complete the request forms. Then send the completed forms to WMEA State Chair Linda Meier*.
• Requests must be submitted by December 1, 2016.
• Dates listed are tentative and subject to change by the capitol.
• Capitol will confirm in January. • If selected you will be notified by January 15.
* Requests must be made through the State Chair! Contact information will be found on forms.
Questions: Contact Linda Meier at
lmeier@wsmamusic.org or 608-850-3566. Wisconsin School Musician 33
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