2022 Colorado Music Educators Association Conference
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Bow Guides, Wrist Guards, Chapstick? A Guide to Teaching Aids and Their Many Uses
Parents are busy and tired of fighting with their kids, students can't remember everything to practice and as a teacher, you know you can't move on until technique is correct. Sometimes technique feels like an uphill battle and can be very discouraging to students and parents. There are so many teaching aids, common and uncommon, to use to help with this exact scenario and this session will focus on what can be used to help the many different technique pitfalls our students succumb to. These teaching aids help the student focus on what's really fun about learning music: The Music!
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Hearing vs. Listening in Music: How to hear better by knowing what to listen for
Hearing what exactly is going on in our ensembles is perhaps the most challenging aspect of conducting. In this clinic we will explore ways to broaden our awareness and musical expression, and to hear our groups more effectively, by knowing where to listen and what to listen for.
Building an Equity Bridge Through Student-Led Chamber Ensembles
El Sistema Colorado's mission is to harness the joy of music and ignite the potential in our future leaders through an immersive youth music education program that transcends socioeconomic barriers. We see our equity focus coming to life in two distinct areas: Dismantling white supremacy within the arts environment and facilitating socio-emotional learning with a social justice focus. How does a music program make this shift? Through student-led chamber ensembles designed to give students both voice and choice in their music making experience. We think these small ensembles may be the most efficient and effective way to shift music education to being more student-centered, equitable, and culturally responsive.
Join El Sistema Colorado and Quartet Maravilla as we demonstrate how chamber music can build an equity bridge while preparing students for lives as professional musicians.
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Arranging with Your Secondary Ensemble
Understanding the basic elements of art music (melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, texture, etc.) is an essential part of every musician's education. The ability to manipulate these elements in creative ways can help solidify knowledge of these elements in ways that simply encountering them in repertoire cannot. At the secondary level, directors often lack the time or resources to give their students creative license over materials played in the classroom. This session offers classroom-tested strategies for arranging and composing with secondary level ensembles that focus on engaging all students in the creative process while teaching and reinforcing the knowledge of musical elements.
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Help Teaching Music Theory/Harmony to Children - contact Dylan Fixmer at [email protected]
Inherently Political: A Conversation Around Activism and Artivism in Concert Music
In this session, I will discuss the activism that is at the core of a number of my works, and considerations that should be taken when composing and commissioning such music.
Friday, January 28, 2022
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:
Alliance for Music Education Equity: Supporting Music Experiences and Music Educators for Diversity
Looking to dive deeper into the content of the session? Check out these supporting materials:
Teaching Terrific Tone: Creating a Beautiful Sounding Orchestra
Orchestra is a performance-based class, so let’s perform well! Come experience specific strategies for transforming the sound of your orchestra in just one rehearsal! This clinic will be filled with reminders for experienced teachers and is a must-see for young string teachers who need rehearsal ideas ready for Monday!
Fort Collins High School - Symphony Orchestra
Presider - Jennifer Roth, Fort Collins High School Assistant Principal
Concert Host - Loni Obluda, CO ASTA President