Southwestern Section Update

Dr. Tamara Thies Southwestern Section President

As we start the new year, there is a tradition of revisiting the previous year for what we accomplished, then looking toward the future for new and interesting possibilities to create. During the fall of 2022, we hosted our annual CMEA Southwestern Section Fall Conference at California State University, Long Beach. Our goal was to approach conversations focused on diversity, equity, inclusivity, and anti-bias in music education. In the morning, participants engaged in digital, electronic, and acoustic music making through composition and songwriting. After lunch, a mindfulness session offered activities for self-care as well as ways to help students refocus and decompress. Three reading sessions— choral, band, and orchestra—offered insights into historically marginalized composers and introduced some new names and new music to participants. The day ended with instrument breakout sessions where participants could learn specifics of vocal, low brass, double reed, string, percussion, and ukulele. Please view the highlight reel from the conference. We hope to see you at our 2023 event.

Looking to the future, the Southwestern section is interested in Celebrating Diverse Music Making. In the spring, we are planning to develop a non-competitive festival that provides feedback to students, alongside workshops for students to continue cultivating their unique talents. We are especially interested in engaging music making through emerging practices like digital, mariachi, steel pan, hip hop, and modern band. Our plan is to design the festival this year and offer it in the spring of 2024. If you have ideas and/or would like to be involved with creating this opportunity for students, please contact the Southwestern Section President, Tamara Thies at Tamara.Thies@csulb.edu. We look forward to building opportunities with you and for your students.