2022 Colorado Music Educators Association Conference
Thursday, January 27, 2022
West Music Presents: Music Theory That's Fun!
Denise Gagne
Managing editor of Themes & Variations, Preschool music teacher and frequent visitor to elementary school music classroomsChildren who are musically literate are given the tools to become life-long music makers. In this session we’ll explore fun ways to teach theory: games, ball bouncing, bean bags and many activities!
He Said, She Said, They Said: Gender Neutrality in the Music Room
Our ultimate goal, as teachers, is to ensure that our students feel safe, respected and valued members of the class community. Therefore, it’s important to look at various aspects of our classrooms, ensuring that ALL students are seen and respected for who they are as an individual. One prime example of this is gender neutrality. In this session we will explore the importance of gender neutrality in various ways. Participants will discuss the “what, who, where, when” of gender neutrality. The session will have a “hands-on,” or demonstration, approach, focusing on the importance of neutral pronouns and non-gender specific roles in singing games, play parties and other musical repertoire. Attendees will have a chance to explore using gender neutrality within various classroom situations and to discuss how this will make music education more inclusive for all students.
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Music and Children's Books: A Harmonious Duet
Are you looking for some great new books to support your music curriculum? Come discover books that focus on musicians, music genres, rhythm, and more. Attendees will receive a list of books discussed in this session.
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Teaching Melody, it CAN be Fun!
Teaching melodic elements is so much more daunting than teaching rhythmic elements. Students must establish a solid foundation of listening skills to be successful when learning about melodic elements. In this session, participants will sing, move, play, and read their way through the preparation and practice of a few melodic elements. How to establish a strong foundation to develop the students’ ears will be discussed. Most importantly, FUN teaching strategies will be demonstrated and experienced to ensure student success.
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Journey Around the Globe with Recorder
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Antelope Trails Elementary School - Handbell Choir
Presider - Laura Cresap, Antelope Trails Elementary School Principal
Concert Host - Julie Kuhlman, District 4 GMC Representative
Friday, January 28, 2022
West Music Presents: Listening Fun!
Denise Gagne
Managing editor of Themes & Variations, Preschool music teacher and frequent visitor to elementary school music classroomsListening and responding to music is important for the emotional well being of our students. In this session, you’ll explore engaging and fun listening activities for all age, from your littles to Middle school. We’ll move and create movement with scarves, ribbons, cups, plates and more. We’ll explore form and cultural context. This session is fun – and will give you many lessons to use in your classes!
Teaching Without Words: Exploring Innovative Teaching in Elementary Music - presented by RMC-AOSA
Stop losing your voice, teachers! With instruments, sound cues, body language, unique vocal sounds and more, we can conquer the lost voice. In this session, we will explore classroom procedures, learn a dance, play a xylophone piece, explore unpitched percussion, and more – all with as few words as possible.
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AESco: Manipulative Madness! Creativity in the Music Classroom
Do you need ways to inspire creativity and social interaction in your music class? Get ready to move, bounce, wave, and pull as we explore musical concepts using manipulatives such as scarves, tennis balls, elastics, dowels, and more! Certified Eurhythmics teachers Oren Logan and Gregory Marxen will lead in this active session inspired by the teachings of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze.
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A Brain-aligned Approach to Fostering Belonging in the Music Room
How can we create a safe place where students have agency and feel cared for as they engage musically, socially, and emotionally? Learn what practical insight educational neuroscience has for those seeking to forge authentic connections to students and how these apply specifically to elementary and middle school music classrooms.
Learn how educational neuroscience help teachers create a safe place where students have agency and feel cared for as they engage musically, socially, and emotionally.
Using Children's Literature to Teach Melodic Literacy
When we think about teaching music literacy to elementary-aged children, most music educators’ minds turn to Zoltan Kodály. In this session, children’s literature serves as the inspiration for melodic music reading via the Kodály sequence. Your students will enjoy singing, dancing, playing barred instruments, creative movement, and improvisation as they learn to read music notation.
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials:
West Music Presents: Storybooks for Diverse Classrooms
Denise Gagne
Managing editor of Themes & Variations, Preschool music teacher and frequent visitor to elementary school music classroomsIt’s a good time to review the storybooks in your classroom, to be sure that all the students in your classes with see themselves in the story. This session will share lessons for some beautiful storybooks that will have your students singing, playing, moving, reading, writing, creating. Your students will be inspired to reach for a star!
Ark Valley Children's Chorale Concert
Presider - Janet Golding
Concert Host - Shannon Glenn, GMC Secretary
Teresa Himel will receive her 2021 25-Year Recognition Award during this concert.
Saturday, January 29, 2022
West Music Presents: Potpourri of w
Denise Gagne
Managing editor of Themes & Variations, Preschool music teacher and frequent visitor to elementary school music classroomsHow can you have a life when you spend so much time planning your lessons, dealing with student behaviors, assessing and doing report cards? Teachers spend a ton of time dealing with their students emotional well being, sometimes forgetting to look after their own emotional well being. This session is full of tips and ideas for making your job easier!
Moving to multiple genres of music: increasing student connection, engagement, and musicality
Movement is integral to true understanding in music - helping students better comprehend expression, form, and other musical concepts. When a student develops movement competence in the early years, the learning is even more powerful and continues into adulthood. Learn how to boldly and joyfully include all genres of music, including Pop, Global, R & B, to your repertoire to meet students where they are and draw them into this crucial (and fun!) component of being musical.