2022 Colorado Music Educators Association Conference
General Music Council Sessions
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
West Music Presents Movin' and Groovin'
Denise Gagne
Managing editor of Themes & Variations, Preschool music teacher and frequent visitor to elementary school music classroomsIn this session, we will sing, move, dance and play no-touch or adapted games and dances. We’ll have fun reading, writing, improvising and creating because all of these games teach many concepts.
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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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The ABC’s of Songwriting Activism: Art + Blues + Compassion = Change
Do you want to create more opportunities for the intersection of activism and active music-making in your classroom? Songwriting can be tricky, but provides rewarding musical experiences and a platform for student agency and activism. Come learn how the blues genre and visual art combine to provide a perfect initial journey for student activist songwriting that is accessible and successful. Participants will leave our session ready to build a blues unit where students own the entire songwriting process. Not only will they write and sing the lyrics, but they will also play recorder, ukulele, and barred instruments, while exploring important music concepts like form, theory, harmony, and music history. We will also discuss songwriting tips and tricks, plus quality resources for introducing a blues unit to your students. Bring a recorder and ukulele to join in our songwriting!
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Discovering a Treasure Trove of Melodic Games
Folk music resources are the roots of the Kodály curriculum and literacy skills are one of the many branches. In this session participants will learn some golden treasures to add to their collections. Through the materials presented in this session, melodic literacy skills will be presented, experienced and explored. Participants will walk away with new song materials as well as music literacy activities to implement in their classroom.
Presider: Paul Maley
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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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AESco: The "Keys" to Improvisation, Making Piano Easy for Movement-Based Learning!
Improvising music for movement doesn’t need to be scary! Join us for some keyboard games with four AES-certified Eurhythmics teachers. Learn tips and tricks for making improvisation easy and fun and ideas for incorporating movement in your classroom. Participants will walk away with some basic improvisation concepts, melodic inspiration for growing your playing, and some newfound confidence!
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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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Diverse Children's Literature for the Elementary Music Classroom
Are you looking for books for your elementary music classroom that feature music and musicians from diverse races, ethnicities, cultures, and both genders? Come find some books that will help add diversity to your music curriculum. Attendees will receive a list of books discussed in this session.
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Journey Around the Globe with Recorder
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Native American Music into the General and Choral Music Classrooms
This presentation will include an introduction to Native American music, culture, differentiation, and history from tribes in the United States, as well as lesson plan ideas, songs, and resources for implementing Indigenous music into the general or choral music space. The audience will also receive critical insight into the lives of First Nations students, and how teachers can make these students feel validated in their classrooms in any age group.
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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.
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
Breaking the Kodaly Norm: Engaging Upper Elementary
Join ROCKE for strategies and activities that you might not have seen before for engaging your upper elementary students. They are Kodaly inspired but provide variety in your lessons and strategies! We will share activities that utilize technology, playing instruments, projects and more!
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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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Journey Around the Globe with Recorder 2
Add another dimension to your classroom music making with the soprano recorder, guiding your students beyond simple drill and into the realm of making art with music from a variety of cultures. During this session, we will explore a child-developmental approach that can transform recorder playing into an integral part of the music classroom experience, rather than an isolated unit. With these performance-ready lessons, notes are introduced individually, in sequence, and in a musical context.
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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!
Striking Gold with Rhythmic Literacy Activities
Folk music resources are the roots of the Kodály curriculum and literacy skills are one of the many branches. In this session participants will learn some golden treasures to add to their collections. Through the materials presented in this session, rhythmic literacy sills will be presented, experienced and explored. Participants will walk away with new song materials as well as much literacy activities to implement in their classroom.
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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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.
The Big Sing
Anthony Trecek-King
The Hartt School, University of Hartford and a Resident Conductor with the Handel and Haydn Society, Associate Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral Activities
Melanie Trecek-King
Massasoit Community College, Associate Professor of Biology and Science Educator and Communicator, Thinking is PowerA 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.
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.
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The Great Unknown: General Music for Middle School
For Middle School, General Music can truly feel like the Great Unknown. With so much to choose from and not knowing where to start, it’s no wonder some educators feel turned around. This session will talk about how you can transform a “music appreciation class” into one that encourages students to create and build their own world of music. You will walk away with some simple ideas that will help your students (and you) get excited to learn.
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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.
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The Path to Personal and Professional Antiracism: an honest look at my journey so far
A period of difficult personal & professional reckoning led me to confront my own racism, internal bias, & privilege. As a Filipina-American woman, I was surprised to discover how oblivious I was to the pervasive nature of systemic racism in education, the US, & in myself. Every day I grapple with how to eliminate these in my classroom by doing the hard work of shedding my former “colorblind” philosophy to put on one in which I see, acknowledge, value, & celebrate each student. This has resulted in many necessary challenges to me in my philosophy, practice, & pedagogy, but with each step on the path I know I am moving in the right direction. While my story is imperfect, I hope that sharing it provokes thought & encourages other educators to join me on the journey to create a more equitable, musical, thoughtful, & just world for students, their families, & our communities.
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
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.
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Just Add Kids
It’s amazing what kids can do when given the right materials! Join clinician Andy Beck to experience the newest 2-part chorals, songbooks, movement ideas, musicals, and other classroom resources—perfect for those energetic young singers of yours! A complimentary music packet will be given to each director in attendance.
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.
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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!
Gonna Sing! New 2-Part Choral Repertoire
Don't miss this “Sing and Learn” session with Andy Beck. See what’s new for 2-part treble choirs. Learn about the composers, effective vocal tips, creative staging ideas, and more! A complimentary music packet will be given to each director in attendance.
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.