President’s Message

by Armalyn De La O

As I write my last CMEA President’s Article, first and foremost, I would like to thank the CMEA Executive Board, Board of Directors, and Council of Representatives for their hard work and support over these past two years. In reflecting upon my tenure as president, the encouragement, cooperation, and collaboration demonstrated by the membership, as well as the CMEA leadership team, were critical to navigating the unprecedented challenges CMEA faced both personally and professionally.

During March 2020, prior to the leadership transition from John Burn to myself, California had shut down as a state, throwing us all as educators into “shelter in place” and the video conferencing world of zoom. Zoom, a tool that had previously been used for short meetings, became the “go to” tool for conducting education and CMEA business given the shelter in place mandates. What I immediately rediscovered was the resiliency of educators— especially music educators—in their capacity to change direction on a dime and adjust to the pace while overcoming the obstacles of teaching and working together in a virtual world. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of such an outstanding, passionate group of leaders that support the work of CMEA while educating California’s students.

The passion, creativity, and commitment of the CMEA leadership quickly responded to pandemic conditions and developed outstanding support structures to help CMEA members transition from in-person teaching and learning to the virtual classroom. From April 2020 to the beginning of June 2020, eight webinars were created and presented by CMEA’s Board and Council of Representatives. These timely webinars featured state and national experts sharing topics such as online music instruction, social and emotional learning, and advocacy. Additionally, CMEA created and implemented statewide virtual festivals as in-person performances were not allowed. The virtual venue provided statewide access for students to prepare solo performance pieces, compose and perform original compositions, and receive feedback from clinicians from anywhere in the state. CMEA’s leadership recognizes the success of the virtual festivals in widening and expanding access to students and has committed to continuing these opportunities for students from all over the state. The webinars and virtual festivals are two positive outcomes of CMEA’s response to music education during the pandemic.

In the spring of 2020, the CMEA Advocacy Team began ongoing talks with our state leaders, both in education and in the government at large, to remind them of the importance of music education and music learning for the well-being of both our students and our members. In the midst of the crisis, we didn’t want music education and learning to take a backseat to other content areas. A pivotal moment for the Advocacy Team was the July 2020 California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) first release of school guidance. This guidance communicated that playing and singing music safely would not be possible for students in districts that were returning to in-person teaching in the fall of 2020. As a result, CMEA’s Advocacy Team quickly began to meet with targeted leaders in our state such as the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services to address the ramifications of this guidance.

The Advocacy team called on Dr. James Weaver, National Federation of High Schools Association (NFHS), to speak at these meetings with decision makers and the CDPH scientists about the Performing Arts Aerosol Study findings to clarify how music education could be conducted safely. In lieu of how hard CMEA advocated to clarify the guidance language for playing and singing in classrooms, and despite the CDPH leaders personally agreeing with the science, the success of getting consistent language in the CDPH guidance moves frustratingly slowly. At this time, the state guidance allows students to sing inside with masks, play wind instruments inside with instrument masks and instrument coverings, and, if students are tested every week with negative results, they can sing and play inside with no masks within three feet of distance. In January 2022 CMEA continues to monitor the changing conditions of the pandemic and the impact it has on music teaching and learning in the state.

An achievement I am most proud of during my tenure took place in the spring of 2021. CMEA developed the first CMEA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) policy. This groundbreaking policy provides guidance for the future work and activities of CMEA. The DEIA policy development process was facilitated by The California Arts Project who led a statewide dedicated group of CMEA members. The policy will be introduced at the CMEA General Session at 2022 CASMEC, Thursday, 2:00 – 3:20. In addition, there is a CMEA session on Saturday, February 19, The New CMEA Policy for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA), 3:00 – 3:50, that provides additional opportunities for conversation.

In August 2021, I was able to hold an actual in-person CMEA Board of Directors meeting! It was wonderful to interact with everyone in a physical space together again to socialize and conduct the business of CMEA. Meeting together reaffirmed for us the importance of human connection. CMEA, as an association, is “a group of people organized for a joint purpose.” However, CMEA is much more than this, we are a community: “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” I have appreciated and been honored to work with the CMEA community over these past two years. I look forward to meeting with you as our community gathers in Fresno. Please stay safe, be well, and healthy.