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!
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.
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials:
Singing Games Night: Strengthen the Heart of Your School Music Community
How can we involve families in music making along side their children? Learn how to host a kindergarten or 1st grade Singing Games Night that will showcase the musical learning and joy happening in your classroom.
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials:
West Music Presents: Buckets of Fun
Denise Gagne
Managing editor of Themes & Variations, Preschool music teacher and frequent visitor to elementary school music classroomsIn this session, Denise will share a sequence for teaching students to play bucket drums or desk drums. Tips for teaching, a sequence of skills, and fun pop song play along options will be included.
Friday, January 28, 2022
Playful Procedures: Building a Community of Learners through Responsive Classroom - presented by RMC-AOSA
Come discover how consistent routines, a strong classroom community, and opportunities for exploration and play enhance the wonder of Orff Schulwerk and instill the ideals of Responsive Classroom in our music-making.
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CBA Marching Moving into 2022
This session will be a review of the successful 2021 CBA marching season as well as a preview of the 2022 season. Topics from the December 2021 Marching Affairs meeting will be presented in an effort to inform directors as they begin preparation for 2022 programming.
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 Music to Students with Trauma
We all have trauma-- but as education grows and develops, we are finding better ways of helping students to heal from trauma through the classroom interactions we have every day. In this session you will learn what a young brain does when it has experienced trauma, how Adverse Childhood Experiences can be at the root of a lot of frustrating behavior, and the best ways to help students whom you may not have had any clue what to do with before. We will also discuss how a music educator's personal healing from trauma is crucial to helping your students heal from theirs.
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials:
West Music Presents: Singing Games for Spring
Denise Gagne
Managing editor of Themes & Variations, Preschool music teacher and frequent visitor to elementary school music classroomsIn this session Denise will share singing games for spring that will have your students singing, moving and learning many musical concepts! These lesson ideas will be great for spring – or for any time of year! Learn some new games, movement activities, and get many ideas for engaging ways to teach kids music reading, writing, and listening.
How to Hook 'Em: Using Movement to Refocus and Engage Our Students - presented by RMC-AOSA
From sun salutations to uneven meter to creating drums with our bodies and more, movement is a powerful ‘hook’ to reach even our most challenging students. Explore tried and true ways to effortlessly and playfully move with our students and find entries to creative movement that all students will love.
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!
University of Colorado at Boulder - Wind Symphony
Presider - John Davis, University of Colorado at Boulder Dean of the College of Music
Concert Host - Tom Chapman, IMC District 5 Representative
Mark Dorn will receive his 25-year Recognition Award during this concert.
Saturday, January 29, 2022
Live Audio 101 for Vocal and Instrumental Music
Whether mic'ing a single voice, giving that jazz soloist the extra little push, or amplifying a Marching Band, knowing the ins and outs of your sound system will save you time, and result in a better experience for everyone. In this session, we'll dive into the basics of running sound so your next program can really pop! This crash course will cover how to identify your equipment and get it physically set up, how to choose microphones and gear for your application, and how to achieve a nice, natural sound through sound check.
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials:
Socioemotional Learning through Music: Ideas for Teaching the Whole Child
Elementary-age children need socioemotional skills to become both strong musicians and thriving adults and citizens later in life. Even if your school has not adopted free-standing SEL standards, SEL can be integrated into your regular teaching! Come learn how the five SEL core competencies can be taught simultaneously with music standards and help you respond to students with compassion and understanding. We will provide strategies and planning ideas for songs, games, and activities that promote prosocial skills like self-awareness and responsible decision making for your learners.
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials:
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.
Honest Conversations About Mental Health
It can be challenging to talk about how we feel and what we think, especially in our very public roles as music teachers. Our session is a friendly environment to start conversations about improving our mental health in a relatable way as musicians, teachers, and people.
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials: