NJMEA Member Spotlight , Maedean Kramer

At Far Hills Country Day School (FH), a preschool through grade eight private school in Central NJ, the music program consists of preschool through grade seven taking general music classes three days in a 10-day cycle, grade eight taking arts selectives once a week, and grade five taking additional instrument classes once a week. Those who want more arts offerings can perform in the Far Hills Philharmonic, the Far Hills Jazz Band, the four musicals produced throughout the year, and take lessons at the Far Hills Conservatory, all which occur before or after school. All of the general music classes perform in a holiday concert program, with the middle school (grades five through eight which is called the upper school at FH) performing in an additional spring concert, and the lower school (grades preschool through four) performing in grade plays and cross-curricular performances. The philharmonic, jazz band, and musicals perform in additional concerts and showcases held throughout the school year and the summer. At Far Hills, the music department prides themselves in giving every student the opportunity to make and “do” music. Whether that involves singing, playing an instrument, learning about music, producing music, and so much more, it is their goal that every student is able to experience all aspects of music.

Maedean Kramer has taught at FH for the past eighteen years, after previous years of teaching at a boarding school, as well as accompanying for music studios. She teaches grades five through seven general music classes, grade eight selectives (which can consist of chorus, music technology, music production, STEAM, and more), grade five instrument class, and is also the house director of grades five and six. As many other music educators do, Maedean wears a lot of hats and wears them all well. However, out of all of those hats, the one she takes most honor in is teaching general music to middle schoolers and being able to get all of her middle schoolers to perform to the best of their abilities at the concerts. This is not a simple task, especially with the changing voices of middle schoolers. In order for her to succeed with this, Maedean molds her general music classes into a safe place where all students can experience and learn music in positive and successful ways.

Missy Strong, a NJ elementary music educator and last issue’s spotlight member, states in her sessions about neuroscience and music, the middle school music teacher has the job of “filling the vessel” that is given to them. This means that from the ages 0-7, the early childhood and elementary music educators are molding the child’s brain and creating this music vessel that can be very small to very large, depending on their music experiences they receive from home and at school. Maedean has the task of filling those vessels when they come to her in the fall. From watching her and working with her, Maedean just does that. During the fall, Maedean has her general music classes reviewing music theory concepts they have learned from their previous years in lower school music classes. She assesses their vessels to determine the best way to fill them. She uses the fall trimester to give the students opportunities to create, perform, and respond to music while using multiple modalities to reach all of her learners who have various sizes of vessels.

When November approaches, she turns her general music classes into choral classes. She picks strong choral repertoire for the holiday concert with such great composers for middle school voices, such as Cristi Cary Miller, Andy Beck, Greg Gilpin, Roger Emerson, Linda Sobo, Mary McDonald, and more. When one looks into Maedean’s classroom during the concert preparation period, one sees all students engaged. Maedean will purposely pick music that brings out the best

in her middle schoolers. Choosing varied styles of repertoire with two to three-part singing which can be learned in about seven classes is key. She structures each fifty minute class with sectionals with the boys rehearsing while the girls work on the keyboards and then they flip, and for the last few minutes of class put the parts together. In middle school, they are so self-conscious about their voices. Providing a safe space to explore their changing voices is key. She stretches their comfort zone and finds ways to highlight student’s strengths. For those students who also play instruments, she will choose repertoire that have additional instrumental parts included so she can give students an opportunity to accompany their peers and display their talents. By the time of the concert, Maedean has a performance that showcases students singing, moving to and performing music in a variety of ways.

After the concert season, Maedean turns her general music classes into learning about music. Her fifth grade continue to learn about reading and creating music, which leads into a composer study of Franz Liszt. Her sixth grade uses a brief study in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to launch her lyrics unit, asking the question, “Do lyrics influence the music or does the music influence the lyrics?” Her seventh grade deep dives into a unit about the orchestra, which leads to either building an instrument from recycled materials or creating a presentation on one of the four instrument families. This leads to a composer study about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. She also incorporates music production as the school is 1:1 Chromebooks and she has access to keyboards for each student. During the school year, all students will produce, collaborate and perform music using technology such as Makey Makey devices, and Soundtrap and Groove Pizza, as well as traditional methods. This allows all students the ability to create music in a way that is most comfortable for them, whether it be composing with traditional methods, enhanced methods using technology, or a combination of both.

The spring brings about another concert and more integration between the arts and the curriculum found in their daily classroom studies. Again, Maedean assesses the students’ learning abilities, uses multiple modalities to teach them, and finds numerous ways to include music that connects to them. She does this while keeping the learning of music at the core. Finally, when the students reach grade eight, Maedean knows them so well that she can offer music selectives that she knows they will connect to and learn a great deal. These have included Chorus (for those who want to continue singing in parts and performing), musical theater (for those who want to act, sing, and dance on stage), STEAM (for those who want to create music using all of STEAM components), STOMP (for those who want to perform and create rhythmically), and Music Production (for those who want to create and produce music), to name a few.

Middle school musicians are a special breed and those who teach them are amazing teachers. Maedean Kramer is one of those amazing middle school music educators who can reach all of her students by providing programs that include singing, playing instruments, creating music, performing music, acting, dancing, connecting music across the curriculum, and more. She gives her middle schoolers numerous opportunities to learn and find their voice in a safe, musical environment. She is adored by her students and her colleagues. I know as she teaches my fifth-grade daughter. I am thrilled when my daughter tells me that her favorite class is music and her favorite teacher is Mrs. Kramer (I mean this from my heart as I also teach my daughter in her instrument class). When I asked her to give me more details, she told me, “I like Mrs. Kramer’s music room because it is where I can shine and feel great about myself.” As a mother, this is all I want for my child. As a music educator, I am proud and honored to work alongside of Maedean and continue to learn how to be a better music educator because of her work in the classroom.

If you know a teacher that we should spotlight, or a music program doing great things, let us know at patrickaokeefe@gmail.com and we can feature them on social media or in a future TEMPO! We would love to hear about the diverse and passionate practices happening throughout the state!