Inclusive Teaching Techniques for Children and Adult Beginners
In Memoriam:
John J. DeYoung
PLUS: FBA Candidates
FMEA GRAMMY Semifinalists
Prelude to the 2026 Conference
Executive Director Florida Music Education Association
Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education 402 Office Plaza Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 878-6844 or (800) 301-3632 (kdsanz@fmea.org)
Editor-in-Chief
Kelly Miller, DMA University of Central Florida 12488 Centaurus Blvd. Orlando, FL 32816-8009 (407) 823-4545 (kelly.miller@ucf.edu)
Editorial Committee
Terice Allen (850) 245-8700, Tallahassee (tallen1962@hotmail.com)
John K. Southall, PhD Indian River State College, Fort Pierce (772) 462-7810; (johnsouthall@fmea.org)
Advertising Sales Valeria Anderson (val@fmea.org) 402 Office Plaza Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 878-6844
Official FMEA and FMD Photographers
Bob O’Lary Amanda Crawford
Art Director & Production Manager
Lori Danello Roberts LDR Design Inc. (lori@flmusiced.org)
Circulation & Copy Manager
Valeria Anderson, (800) 301-3632
Copy Editor Susan Trainor
Advertiser Index
The Florida Music Director is made possible by businesses and organizations that advertise with us. They make it possible to provide you with a high-quality publication, and we gratefully acknowledge their support of our mission. We hope you will take special notice of the following advertisement and consider the products and services offered. It is another important way you can support your professional association and the enhancement of Florida music education.
The publisher does not endorse any particular company, product, or service. The Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) is not responsible for the content of any advertisement and reserves the right to accept or refuse any advertisement submitted for publication. Information for advertisers (rate card, insertion orders, graphics requirements, etc.) can be found at FMEAMediaKit.org Florida Music Director reserves the right to refuse any ad not prepared to the correct specifications OR to rework the ad as needed with fees applied.
ADVERTISERS
Dallas Baptist University 43 Florida International University...................................................... 4 Florida State University................................................................. IFC
The advertisers shown in bold provide additional support to FMEA members through membership in the Corporate and Academic Partners (FCAP) program. FCAP partners deserve your special recognition and attention.
2025–26 FMEA MEMBERSHIP: You are eligible for membership in the Florida Music Education Association if you are an individual engaged in the teaching, supervision, or administration of music in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, or universities within the state. Visit FMEA.org/membership to learn more about the benefits of active membership.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Direct correspondence regarding subscriptions to: Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education, 402 Office Plaza, Tallahassee, FL, 32301-2757. Subscription cost included in FMEA membership dues ($9); libraries, educational institutions, and all others within the United States: $27 plus 7.5% sales tax.
SUBMISSIONS: Article and art submissions are always considered and should be submitted on or before the 1st of the month, one month prior to the publication issue to: Kelly Miller, DMA, kelly.miller@ucf.edu.
All articles must be provided in digital format (e.g., Microsoft Word). All applicable fonts and images must be provided. Images must be at least 300 dpi resolution at 100% of the size. All submissions must be accompanied by a proof (color, if applicable). Ads may be submitted via email to val@FMEA.org
CIRCULATION: The circulation of the Florida Music Director is 4,500 educators. Published eight times annually by The Florida Music Education Association, Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education: 402 Office Plaza, Tallahassee, FL 323012757. FMEA reserves the right to approve any application for appearance and to edit all materials proposed for distribution. Permission is granted to all FMEA members to reprint articles from the Florida Music Director for non-commercial, educational purposes. Non-members may request permission from the FMEA office.
President’s MESSAGE
Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD President Florida Music Education Association
Looking Ahead to Conference 2026
Greetings, colleagues! It is my pleasure to greet you in yet another busy month in our schools. Programs are busily preparing for fantastic fall and winter concerts and the upcoming holidays. There are simply no “slow” seasons in our work! We are now only two short months away from gathering in Tampa for our annual Professional Learning Conference. I can think of no better way to charge our professional batteries than to be together in-person for this outstanding event.
We are thrilled to announce some outstanding special guests for our general sessions in 2026! Social media education advocate and star Mr. Gerry Brooks will be joining us in-person for this year’s keynote address, followed by the incredible United States Air Force Band of the West
We are in for a real treat with these outstanding performances, as well as a special appearance from Summer Camargo, trumpet player from the Saturday Night Live band and a former Florida allstate student.
Our conference is once again setting the national standard for music education professional learning and world-class student and professional performances and experiences. We simply cannot wait to greet you in Tampa this January.
As I have offered in prior FMD issues, I want to reiterate my commitment as your president to provide frequent, open, and transparent communication; fiscal responsibility; and a steadfast commitment to music education for all students in our state. As we navigate the important business of FMEA, please know the entire FMEA Board of Directors shares that commitment and is working tirelessly on your behalf to instill a lifelong learning in and love for music. I welcome personal calls and emails from you—please never hesitate to reach out anytime at skippardee@FMEA.org. I’d love to connect!
Always musically yours,
Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD, President Florida Music Education Association
Advocacy REPORT
November Advocacy – Take 2
Out of the 100 or so columns I have written for Florida Music Director, I have never completely scrapped an article and started over. Until today. Sure, writing always involves lots of editing, but starting over from scratch is a first. After attending our annual legislative meeting last week, it was clear I needed to tear up that first article and start again. In my perfect world, every FMEA member would have
Successes
Seal of Fine Arts
been at that meeting. The best I can do is to bring it to you here.
Center for Fine Arts Legislation Meeting
Each year representatives from the Florida Music Education Association, the Florida Art Education Association, and the Florida School Music Association meet to develop our legislative platform. This meeting takes place two to
three months prior to the start of the legislative session and provides us with dedicated time to:
w Assess the state of arts education in Florida
w Celebrate legislative successes
w Assess the legislative climate for future initiatives
w Build strategies to support and grow arts education
w Neutralize harmful legislation
w Draft a legislative platform
Jeanne W. Reynolds
Angela Hartvigsen
What is your role?
It’s simple. Commit to being a better more informed and engaged advocate. Here are your doable deeds:
1. At the 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference, stop by the FMEA Advocacy Hub on the second floor. Ask questions, share input, and take action as requested.
2. Commit to attending at least one of the sessions referenced below. Please note that these dates and times may be subject to change.
The rollout of this project was not easy, nor without problems, but we were pleasantly surprised by the number of students who did earn the Seal and the number of school districts that highlighted these students by offering graduation cords for them. Anecdotally we are also hearing that students are now more likely to stay in arts programs to the earn the Seal. That was one of the objectives.
Next steps – Pursuing legislation to award students who earn the Seal of Fine Arts an acceleration point toward the school grade. We have already secured the interest of some legislators to support this legislation and policy change.
Marching Band PE Credit
The rollout of this legislation has gone well with a couple of exceptions we are addressing.
Next Steps – Cleaning up legislative language to allow for PE waivers for districts that still offer the PE/personal fitness classes rather than HOPE. We will also work toward securing PE waivers for dance students.
Thursday January 15, 2026, 2:05pm
Benny Bolden
Dr. Benny Bolden is a powerful speaker who will present a dynamic session relevant to ALL music educators focusing on pragmatic strategies and good communication to sharpen your skills.
Challenges
Education Budget
As I discussed in the September FMD, we are facing issues related to education funding.
Next Steps – We will align our platform with the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA), Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS), and the PTA’s legislative platforms to champion adequate funding for education and accountability for all schools and entities that accept taxpayer funds.
Non-Degreed Arts Teachers, HB 875
The bill, passed in the 2025 session, requires district school boards to establish minimal qualifications for part-time non-degreed teachers of fine and performing arts courses. Interestingly, the rest of this bill is focused on greater rigor for teachers and programs, not less. This troubling bill requires only a high school diploma for part-time instructors. It appears as if this bill was written to address teaching artists in at least one district where there are schools without any music programs. While the intentions may have been good, the unintended negative consequences of this bill could be significant.
From Catastrophe to Catalyst: Building Effective Communication With Administrators
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1pm
Meghan Alfaro, Lee Commander, Amanda Griffis, Ajori Spencer
Developing good communication skills is a must for effective advocates at all levels.
Building Thriving Music Programs Through Effective Administrator and Music Teacher Collaboration
Friday, January 15, 2026, 10:30am
This very popular session is a must-attend. It features the FMEA awardwinning administrators, superintendents, and school board members who will share information to strengthen support for your programs.
Next Steps – Continue research on origination of bill language; FMEA and FAEA leadership will request a clarification meeting with Department of Education staff; we will work with arts leaders, district leaders, and legislators to neutralize negative effects on schools and students.
Elementary Music
We had some broad conversations about elementary music programs and the inconsistency of these programs throughout the state. There are some schools in Florida with NO elementary music classes. Over the years, we have considered championing legislation to require instruction, but that comes with additional complications. Interestingly, had all school districts provided strong elementary music programs, I am not sure the language in HB 875 referencing non-degreed fine and performing arts teachers would have been added to that bill.
Next Steps – Gather data and develop a plan to address the inequities throughout the state.
The Power of Collective Impact for a Successful 2026
Legislative Session
Friday, January 16, 2026, 11:35am
Dr. Kathleen Sanz and I will delve more deeply into legislation and share ways you can amplify your voice to have a greater collective impact at the state and district levels.
Putting Music on the MAP: How Student-Led Advocacy Is Reshaping School and Community Culture
Friday, January 16, 2026, 1pm Jonathan Casañas
This exciting session features ways to engage students as advocates. Don’t miss it.
No matter how many “takes” it requires, I am committed to growing more informed, engaged advocates. Knowledge is power. And the more advocates we have, the greater our collective impact.
Jeanne W. Reynolds
GRAMMY SEMIFINALISTS INCLUDE FOUR FMEA MEMBERS
The list of semifinalists for 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award has been released! We have four Florida teachers on the list, all FMEA members (including our president-elect)!
Join us in congratulating the 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award semifinalists from Florida:
Photo: Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum
Cindy Ellis Miami Arts Studio 6-12 at Zelda Glazer Miami, Florida
Bernard Hendricks, Jr. Ocoee High School Ocoee, Florida
Jennifer Jimenez South Miami Sr. High School Miami, Florida
Celebrating the Transformative Power of Music
Dear colleagues, as the leaves begin to turn and the air takes on the crispness of the season, I am remind ed that we are standing on the threshold of two of the most significant moments in our musical calendar: the holiday concert season and the Florida Music Education Association Professional Learning Conference. These are not just events on our schedule—they are living testaments to the transformative power of music and the indelible impact that you, as performing arts edu cators, make every single day.
Every rehearsal, every lesson, every late night of planning is an act of courage and conviction. You are not simply preparing stu dents for a concert or a competition; you are equipping them with the skills, confidence, and voice to step boldly into the world. In a society that often overlooks the arts, your work is nothing less than prophetic—it calls forth creativity, cultivates discipline, and ignites in young people a vision of what can be.
As we approach the FMEA Professional Learning Conference, the most important gathering of our year, let us pause to consider what it represents: a community of professionals bound by a shared mission, a celebration of excellence, and a reaffirmation of the truth that music education is not optional—it is essential. This conference is our collective reminder that the baton we raise does more than cue a note; it cues possibility, hope, and legacy.
And as we step into this season, I encourage you to make this month about thanksgiving. Love your family even more. Take time to cherish the people closest to you, for they are the true audience of our lives, applauding us when no one else is watching. Gratitude fuels our artistry, and love sustains our purpose.
Thank you for the tireless, soul-shaping work you do daily. You are the heartbeat of this profession, and I am honored to stand beside you as we prepare for this season of impact and inspiration.
In service and solidarity,
Benny L. Bolden, Jr., EdD, President Florida School Music Association
Benny L. Bolden, Jr., EdD
John R. DeYoung
1927–2025
The Bartow High School Band with United States Senator Spessard Holland in 1964
JJohn R. DeYoung, an FMEA past president, the first FMEA 50-Year Award recipient, and the 2015 FMEA Hall of Fame inductee, passed away on October 7, 2025.
John was born in Ludington, Mich., in 1927. In 1930, his family moved 16 miles south to Pentwater, where he spent his childhood and graduated from Pentwater High School in 1945. Two weeks after graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Army of Occupation in Germany until November 1946. Upon discharge from the Army, he returned to Pentwater to continue with his chosen career of commercial fishing on Lake Michigan. During his high school years, John was actively involved in the high school band as a trumpeter.
In 1947, he was one of a group of six who created a band to play concerts in the park. This became the Pentwater Civic Band, which has performed weekly park concerts from June through August continuously for the past
78 years. Mr. DeYoung was the band’s musical leader during the summers of 1947 through 1950. During the winter of 1947–48, when he played in a dance band, Mr. DeYoung decided to attend Stetson University to become a school band director/music educator.
In January 1952, after earning a BME, Mr. DeYoung accepted the position of band, chorus, and general music teacher at St. Cloud High School for grades 6–12. During the summers of 1954 through 1957, he attended Florida State University, where he earned an MME and graduated in 1957. Mr. DeYoung taught in St. Cloud for more than eight years.
During that time, he met and married Jo Stephens, who also was a teacher. They had two sons, and in the summer of 1960, the family moved to Bartow, where Mr. DeYoung became the band director at Bartow High School and Bartow Junior High School, again teaching grades 6–12. An additional band director was hired the following year, and Mr. DeYoung continued as the high school’s band director and assisted with beginning sixth-grade band students until he retired in 1984. From 1976 to 1984, he was conductor of the pit orchestra for the Bartow Performing Arts Council’s musicals.
After retiring from Polk County Public Schools, Mr. DeYoung served as the convention manager for FMEA. He also taught band classes at St. Paul’s and St. Joseph’s church schools in Winter Haven, served as the interim band director at Lake Wales High School (1986–87), served as the assistant band director at McLaughlin Middle School in Lake Wales (1996–98) and taught private band instrument lessons in Arcadia, Wauchula, and Bartow for several years. In 1990, he was encouraged by several musicians to start an adult band, and so Mr. and Mrs. DeYoung organized the Bartow Adult Concert Band. The Bartow Adult Concert Band has performed seven
concerts each year since 1990. The musicians come from all parts of Polk County. The band rehearses weekly, October through April and in June to prepare for the July 4th concert. All performances are free and attract audiences of 800 to 1,000. On July 24, 2014, the DeYoungs announced they were retiring after 24 years, but the Bartow Adult Concert Band plays on under new leadership.
Mr. DeYoung served two terms as a district chairperson and was president of the Florida Bandmasters Association (1980–81). He is a past president of FMEA (1983–85). He was a 2004 inductee into the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame. In 2013, Mr. DeYoung was the first recipient of the 50-Year Music Education Service Award presented by FMEA.
Mr. DeYoung served as an adjudicator at district events of the Florida Bandmasters Association for 40 years. His other distinctions include: 1976 Bartow Lions Club Outstanding Citizen Award; FBA Award for 35 Years of Distinguished Service (1952–1987); 1994 Spirit of Bartow Award from the Bartow Chamber of Commerce; 1999 Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award; and 2004 Rotarian of the Year.
In 2025, Mr. and Mrs. DeYoung celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary.
We celebrate a life well lived and offer our sincere condolences to John R. DeYoung’s family and friends.
Concert time with the Bartow Adult Band
FMEA Pre-Conference 2026
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Lift Every Voice ... Especially YOURS!
Opening Session: The Predicament
It’s an interesting time for music education in Florida. We see thriving, growing programs in some communities, yet in others, music educators are fighting against underfunding, understaffing, and the threat of losing their programs entirely.
With that in mind, our 2026 FMEA Pre-Conference, Lift Every Voice ... Especially YOURS! is designed to:
1. Engage music educators with the product we have at our various schools.
2. Equip you with the necessary tools and strategies to positively connect your programs to your communities and beyond.
3. Empower us to not only be great music educators, but to also be well-informed advocates for our students, our programs, and our profession.
w We will discuss our current landscape of music education in Florida and begin to explore just how we can exist and thrive with some of the obstacles we face.
w Identify where we are so we can prepare for where we want to go!
Session A: The Product
w Performance by the Roosevelt Elementary School “Roughrider” Music Ensemble under the direction of Ernesta Chicklowski.
w The one thing we are blessed to have is the performance ensembles. These are our products, which vary in every imaginable way. How do we maximize the potential of the students we have in our specific location?
Session B: Your Presence
w Let’s get you connected. How will you (and your program) become or remain relevant in your school and in your community?
w From the classroom to the community: Identifying your stakeholders and building your village.
Session C: Your Platform
w Stay tuned for details!
We can’t wait to see you in Tampa this January!
The FMEA Professional Learning Conference is one of the largest music education professional development events in the United States. In addition to approximately 250 clinic sessions and concerts, it is host to 24 all-state ensembles featuring Florida’s top band, orchestra, chorus, guitar, Orff, and popular music students conducted by world-class conductors and teachers. It is attended by more than 10,000 people, including secondary music directors, elementary music teachers, music supervisors, college students, college music teachers, school administrators, K–12 students performing in the all-state ensembles, students and professional musicians performing with invited performing ensembles, exhibitors, and parents and family members of performing students.
So many reasons to participate:
w An exhibition hall with world-class exhibitors providing products and services for music educators and students
w More than 3,000 music teachers and 300 administrators
w Approximately 250 sessions, covering a variety of topics for all music educators, with on-demand access to recordings after the conference
w Performances and mini-concerts from some of Florida’s top music programs
w Networking opportunities, college fair, awards ceremony, and other special events
Sneak Peek 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference
Jaymel “J. Dash” Johnson – Headliner Student Leadership Workshop
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
1pm–4:30pm, TCC, Ballroom A
Summer Camargo Headliner
FMEA Student Conference Experience
Thursday, January 15, 2026
3:10pm–4pm, TCC, Ballroom D
Summer Camargo is the Saturday Night Live house band jazz trumpeter and a former Florida All-State Jazz Band member.
Jaymel “J. Dash” Johnson, multi-platinum producer, songwriter, film composer, Jacksonville native, and University of Florida graduate, will headline the “Reimagined” Student Leadership Conference for high schoolers and collegiates. After last year’s overwhelming reaction to our one-on-one conversation at the Student Conference Experience, sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), it was obvious that J. Dash has more to share about life and music with Florida’s student leaders.
Gerry Brooks Keynote Speaker FMEA General Session 1
Thursday, January 15, 2026
10am, TCC, Ballroom B
Gerry Brooks is a former elementary principal, author, and motivational speaker known for his humorous social media content, which encourages educators and administrators to foster positive “personal climate and culture” in the workplace.
Important Conference Dates & Information
(subject to change)
November 3, 2025 Hotel room cancellation deadline is 5:00 pm.
November 7, 2025
November 11, 2025
December 12, 2025
Digital Music Showcase submission deadline (FMEA .org/programs/digital-music-showcase/).
Hotels will charge your credit card a nonrefundable deposit for the first night of each room that was not cancelled by the deadline.
Early registration closes at midnight. Prices increase to the regular registration rates. You may continue to register and pay online until the conference.
Postmark deadline for checks mailed to pay for conference registration. After this date, all unpaid conference registrations must be paid by credit card online, or the check must be brought with you to the conference.
All school lodging checks are due to hotels, payable to the hotel where reservations were made for you and/ or your students.
December 15, 2025
The final deadline for discounted hotel blocks; unsold rooms in the FMEA blocks are released back to hotels.
Gold Corporate and Academic Partners Performances in the Exhibition Hall
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026
TCC, EAST HALL A
w Florida State University School of Music Jazz Combo – 2pm
w Frost School of Music at the University of Miami Stamps Woodwind Ensemble – 3:30pm
w Frost School of Music at the University of Miami Stamps Brass Ensemble – 4:30pm
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026
TCC, EAST HALL A
w University of Florida – 12noon
w Stetson University J. Ohlsson West Woodwind Quintet – 2pm
w Pinellas County Schools GAP – 4pm
Conference Policies
To take advantage of early discounted rates, you must register and pay before the early registration deadline. If you are mailing a check to the FMEA office to pay for your registration, it must be postmarked on or before the EarlyRegistration Deadline and arrive in our office before the holiday break.
1. All participants—directors, students, chaperones, and guests—must be registered for the conference.
2. Only directors may register their groups or pick up registration materials if preregistered.
director’s preregistration packet and supervise the students at all times.
3. All participating students must be chaperoned. As required by FSMA, at least one chaperone, other than a director, is required for every ten (10) students or a fraction thereof. However, FMEA policy allows one free chaperone for every six (6) all-state students or a fraction thereof.
4. An additional paid chaperone may be registered for w each six (6) students registered, or w each all-state rehearsal site where registered students are rehearsing.
5. If a participating student is not accompanied by the director from that student’s school, then the principal from that school must furnish a letter designating the person from the school or school district who is to be in charge of that student. The letter should be addressed to the FMEA executive director, explain the extenuating circumstances preventing the director from attending, and must be submitted with registration materials. The school will be notified of approval. This does not release the director from the requirement that they must be registered for the conference. If approved, the person designated in the letter will pick up the
6. Student observers are not allowed to attend the conference. If any student observers are brought to the conference, the offending school’s participation in the conference may be eliminated the following year. Tri-M students or those approved for the “Student Experience” program who are registered and participating in sessions or working for the all-state concerts are exempt from this rule. Chaperones or other attendees are not allowed to bring children who are not participating in an allstate ensemble or student experience . Only registered students, teachers, and chaperones wearing a conference badge are allowed in and around the rehearsals and conference areas. Please make babysitting arrangements before attending the conference.
7. FMEA & NAfME Membership Requirements:
w All Florida school music teachers must register for the conference as FMEA members and be current members of FMEA and NAfME. This includes session presenters, all-state conductors, and directors of all-state students, invited performing groups, and mini-concerts.
w All-state conductors from Florida schools, colleges, or universities must also be FMEA members.
w No current music teacher may register as a chaperone.
w Collegiate students must be collegiate members of FMEA and NAfME.
w Attendees who live outside of Florida must be current members of NAfME. Attendees living outside the United States may contact our office for registration instructions.
(see below). These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Refunds must be requested in writing, or through our Contact Us page (tinyurl.com/ContactFMEA).
3. All requests for emergency refunds must be received no later than January 31, 2026. Requests received after that date will be denied.
4. All refunds will be issued after the conference is completed.
5. There are no refunds for concert tickets or membership dues.
If you test positive for COVID-19 or develop symptoms before the conference:
w If you have symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, or anything that may be contagious, or if you test positive within five days before your planned arrival at the conference, please follow these procedures:
If you have all-state students: You will need to find another teacher to supervise your students and pick up your badges in accordance with conference policy #5 on the previous page. Because director conference registration is a requirement for all-state student participation, you are not eligible for a refund.
If you do NOT have all-state students: Send an email using our Contact Us page (tinyurl.com/ ContactFMEA) describing your symptoms or test results to request a refund in accordance with the policies above.
w If you are not showing symptoms, get re-tested a few days later. If the subsequent test(s) are negative and you still do not have symptoms, research has found that you are most likely not contagious, so you are welcome to attend the conference.
Chaperone Registration
Chaperone registration is based on the following rules:
Elementary Students
w For each elementary student registered, one free chaperone and one paid chaperone may be registered.
w Any additional attendees must purchase a “Guest Pass” at on-site registration for entry into the convention center.
Middle School and High School Students
w For every six students registered, one free chaperone and one paid chaperone may be registered. No other chaperones may be registered until the seventh student is registered.
w Any additional attendees (chaperones or guests) must purchase a “Guest Pass” at on-site registration for entry into the convention center.
w EXCEPTIONS
If you have students in more than one performing ensemble, you may pay for a chaperone for each performing ensemble in which you have registered students.
If you have students from different schools, you may pay for a chaperone for each school for which you have registered students.
Clarification: these are not additional “free” chaperones; these exceptions only allow you to register an additional paid chaperone in addition to the one free and one paid chaperone per six students normally allowed.
Chaperones are not allowed to bring other children who are not participating in an all-state ensemble or student conference experience . Only registered students, teachers, and chaperones wearing a conference badge are allowed in and around the rehearsal areas. Directors are asked to make sure their chaperones are aware of this policy and make babysitting arrangements for their other children before agreeing to serve as chaperones.
Ticket Policies & Procedures
Concert Ticket Reservation and Payment
NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE MARRIOTT.
To attend a concert at the Marriott Water Street, you must pre-purchase electronic tickets online using the button above, or plan to visit the second floor of the Tampa Convention Center to purchase your tickets before walking to the Marriott.
Ticket Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get free tickets for my students’ family members to attend the concert? No.
Can I get free tickets to any concerts?
Can I buy extra tickets anytime?
Can I buy tickets on site at the Marriott?
Does my young child need to buy a ticket?
No. Registered attendees (directors, chaperones, students) are allowed admission to concerts with their name badge, so no ticket is necessary. Attendees that are not registered for the conference (parents, family, etc.) must purchase tickets.
Anyone can purchase tickets online. Electronic tickets will go on sale in September, and sales will close 30 minutes after each concert’s scheduled start time. Paper tickets will be sold at the FMEA Registration Desk during its regular hours Thursday through Saturday.
No, on-site paper ticket sales are only available at Tampa Convention Center in the secondfloor registration area. If your concert is in the Marriott Water Street, you must prepurchase your tickets online or make plans to first visit the convention center to buy tickets and then walk over to the Marriott.
Everyone who will be taking up a seat will need a ticket. Babies that are being held by a parent or sitting on a parent’s lap for the duration of the concert are welcome without a ticket, but children who are old enough to sit in their own seat will need a ticket.
All-State Ticket Policy
1. Registered (BADGED) attendees do not require tickets to attend any all-state concert. This includes directors/ members, directors’ non-teaching spouses, performing all-state students, registered chaperones, collegiate student members, retired members, and VIP guests that you entered as part of your conference registration.
2. All nonregistered (NONBADGED) attendees (parents, family members, guests, etc.) are required to purchase tickets for any all-state concert they wish to attend.
3. There are no “free” or “allotted” tickets. All concert attendees must either wear their conference badge or purchase a ticket.
4. Tickets will be electronic and sold online utilizing a mobile-friendly website. The link will be available on the conference website well in advance of the conference, and directors are encouraged to share the link with all of their all-state students and their parents or guardians. On-site at the conference, the links and QR codes will be posted on signs in the venue so attendees may purchase tickets using their smartphones. Anyone who wishes to attend a concert can purchase an electronic ticket online anytime up until 30 minutes after the concert’s published start time
5. There is no longer a need for directors to pre-purchase any tickets for their students or their families. Instead, they should direct the student and their family to the online ticket sales website. Any directors who still wish to purchase tickets should take care to correctly enter the names and email addresses of the people who will be using the tickets into the online sales portal, or transfer the tickets to those who will be using the tickets using their correct name and email address in the online ticket sales portal.
6. Paper tickets will be on sale at the FMEA registration desk on site at the conference for attendees who would like to pay by cash or who do not want to use electronic tickets. Paper ticket sales for all-state concerts will begin
on Thursday morning and continue Friday and Saturday at the FMEA registration desk. There is no requirement that the director or any other registered attendee be the person purchasing these tickets. If a concert starts after the registration desk is closed, only electronic tickets will continue to be sold before that concert. No tickets will be available for sale at the Marriott. To attend a concert at the Marriott Water Street, you must pre-purchase electronic tickets online or plan to visit the Tampa Convention Center’s second floor to purchase your tickets before walking to the Marriott.
7. All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds for any concert tickets. Tickets may be transferred or exchanged using the online ticket sales portal only.
8. For entrance, ticket, and concert purposes, a concert is defined as the pair or group of ensembles that are performing in the same venue in a common, defined block of time. An example of a “concert” for purposes of entrance and ticketing would be the 5:30 pm concert that features both the Treble Chorus and Mixed Chorus, or the 2:30 pm concert that features the Middle, Concert, and Symphonic Bands.
Concert Re-Entry Procedure
Once a ticket’s barcode is scanned to gain entry, that ticket is marked as “used” and will no longer be eligible for another entry into the concert. Attendees who need to exit and re-enter the concert should be prepared to show their ticket and a photo I.D. to confirm they are the ticket owner to gain re-entry.
All-Ticket Sales are Final. No Refunds.
Please make sure you know the exact name of the all-state ensemble for which you need tickets before approaching the ticket sales window. Exchanges may only be made through the online portal.
Conference Hotels
FMEA has contracted with several Tampa hotels to provide you with the best rates possible.
Hotel Policies
w A maximum of five (5) guest rooms may be reserved per name/credit card.
w Directors should try to reserve rooms for all-state students and chaperones in the hotel where they are rehearsing.
w FMEA is not offering a housing bureau service. All participants MUST reserve online or call the hotel directly to secure reservations.
w If calling, be sure to request the “Florida Music Education Association” room block rate and confirm the guest room rate posted online.
BOOK ONLINE
FMEA.org/conference/hotels
w Credit cards are required for online reservations, and the credit card name must match the name on the reservation.
w If paying by check, reservations must be made over the phone, and a check for the full amount must be mailed directly to the hotel to arrive no later than December 15.
w You do not need to register for the conference before reserving your hotel rooms, but this is something we are considering for future conferences.
w Each hotel will have contract terms, such as parking charges, etc., on its reservation link.
Hotel Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the FMEA hotels so expensive?
Why is it so hard to get a room?
Why don’t you wait and open the hotel block after all-state auditions are released?
I tried calling, but it was busy or they put me on hold forever.
Is there a cancellation fee?
Someone at the hotel told me that cancelled rooms don’t go back into the FMEA block, and they are sold at full price instead. Is that true?
The price on the hotel’s booking page doesn’t match the price listed on the FMEA’s hotel page.
The prices we contract with the hotels are much lower than their standard room rates during the same dates. In many cases, it is less than half their normal rates.
When the blocks first open, everyone tries to get as many rooms as they can in case they need them for all-state students and chaperones, so they fill up very fast. If you wait until after the all-state results come out, many people will have cancelled their rooms and it’s much easier for everyone else to get a reservation.
Our hotel partners are uncomfortable waiting until we are so close to the start of the conference to book room reservations.
We recommend booking online instead. Otherwise, try again in early November after the all-state results are released. Many people will cancel rooms they no longer need if their students aren’t accepted.
No, as long as you cancel all the rooms you no longer need by the listed cancellation deadline, you will not be charged any type of cancellation fee. After the cancellation deadline, a deposit of one night per room in your reservation will be charged to your credit card, and that deposit is nonrefundable.
Only after December 15. Before that date, all the cancelled hotel rooms in the FMEA blocks will be returned to the FMEA blocks and can be reserved by other FMEA conference attendees at the low FMEA rate.
If the FMEA block is full at that hotel, they may be showing you available full-price rooms outside of the FMEA block. Try again in November after all-state results come out to see if anyone cancelled rooms in the FMEA block.
We urge any guest holding surplus reservations/rooms to cancel the excess reservation(s) as soon as possible and no later than 5 pm on November 3, 2025, and you must secure a cancellation confirmation number. This courtesy will make surplus rooms available to other FMEA members and conference attendees.
Nonrefundable Deposit
On November 11, each room reserved and not cancelled by November 3 will be charged a nonrefundable deposit in the amount of the posted rate for one night plus tax. It will be charged to the credit card used to secure the reservation. Invalid credit cards risk reservation cancellation.
Transportation Not Provided
Not all hotels are within walking distance of the convention center. FMEA does not provide any transportation. Transportation and parking (FMEA.org/conference/parking-downtowntampa-info) are the responsibility of each attendee. Directors are asked to share this with their chaperones and students.
If Hotels Are Full
Every year, the hotel blocks fill up almost immediately upon opening due to teachers overestimating how many rooms they will need for all-state students and chaperones. They cancel the rooms they don’t need after the audition results are released (late October and early November).
w Try again in late October or early November after all-state results are released and teachers cancel rooms for students who don’t need them.
w Try again after the cancellation deadline. All cancelled rooms will return to the FMEA blocks until December 15.
w Please do not reserve a room outside of the FMEA blocks! We must fill most of our allotted room blocks to receive discounts for the ballrooms we use for all-state rehearsals. If we do not meet our required minimum number of hotel nights sold, we will need to raise conference registration rates to compensate for the added cost of the rehearsal space.
w If the price listed on the hotel’s website is not the same as the price listed on the FMEA hotel page, the FMEA block for that hotel may be full, and they are showing you full-price rooms instead. Try again in November after all-state results come out.
Beware of Room Block Scams
The hotels listed on the FMEA Hotel List are the only official housing providers for the FMEA conference. The Florida Music Education Association is not affiliated with any third-party hotel brokers. If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent the FMEA offering discounted housing or alternative housing arrangements, be aware it is a scam. If you receive such communication, please contact Val Anderson at val@FMEA.org. The only way to ensure you have a valid hotel reservation is to book your room with one of the listed hotels and mention group code FMEA, or if you are an exhibitor, please use the Hotel Reservation Form on the Exhibitor Information page (FMEA.org/conference/exhibitor-information).
Credit Card Scams at the Hotels
Imagine this scenario: You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card information (for all the charges for your room or just incidentals). You get to your room and settle in. Someone calls the front desk and asks for room 620 (which happens to be your room). Your phone rings in your room. You answer, and the person on the other end says the following: “This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read me your credit card number and verify the three-digit number on the reverse side of your charge card.”
Not thinking anything unusual, you might give this person your information since the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it is a scam. Someone is calling from someplace other than the hotel’s front desk. They ask for a random room number, and then, sounding very professional, they ask you for credit card information and address information. They are so smooth, you will think you are talking to a hotel employee at the front desk.
If you ever encounter this problem, tell the caller you will come down to the front desk to clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone acting like a front desk employee called to scam you of your credit card information. This type of scam may also happen with room service charges. Be alert!
Tampa Convention Center, Room 124 Thursday 8:30am-11:30am Thursday 1pm-5pm Thursday..................................... 7pm-9pm
Friday 8:30am-11:30am Friday 1pm-5pm
Continued on page 21
Policies & Procedures
Indemnity Clause
FMEA reserves the right to change the conference/workshop content, timing, speakers, or venue without notice. The event may be postponed or cancelled due to acts of terrorism, war, extreme weather conditions, industrial action, fewer than expected delegates, pandemic, or any event beyond the control of FMEA. If such a situation arises, FMEA will endeavor to reschedule the event; however, FMEA cannot be held responsible for any cost, damage, or expenses that may be incurred by the registrant as a consequence of the event being postponed or cancelled. Some registrants consider travel insurance to cover the cost of the registration, travel, and expenses for these types of situations. FMEA is not responsible for any registrant’s personal injury (i.e., physical, psychological, or emotional stress) or property damages while attending an FMEA conference or event. Conference registrants assume all risks inherent in attending an FMEA conference for which the registration covers, whether before, during, or after the conference.
Security Procedures
The Florida Music Education Association is working with the Tampa Police Department and Allied Security at the Tampa Convention Center (TCC) to enhance the conference experience for the students and attendees.
Great News!
In order to help keep attendees safe, there will be a heightened security presence throughout the TCC and at various hotels. All entrances to the TCC will be patrolled by uniformed officers of the Tampa Police Department and uniformed Allied Security personnel. They will be patrolling the TCC as well. The Tampa Police Department will be at the crosswalks between Marriott Tampa Water Street and the TCC, at concerts, and patrolling some of the downtown hotels during rehearsals. All attendees (this includes members, exhibitors, chaperones, and student participants) must wear their conference badge during the conference once the authorized registrant obtains the conference packet.
Please be prepared for random bag and/or purse searches. It is encouraged, if at all possible, to use a clear bag, similar to those used at sporting events, for entrance to conference events.
Enjoy the Conference Experience.
Photographic Release
By attending the conference and/or associated activities, you grant permission for FMEA to use any and all photographic imagery and video footage taken of you and your students at this event and activities pertaining to this event, without payment or any other consideration. You understand that such materials may be published electronically or in print, or used in presentations or exhibitions.
Code of Conduct
FMEA is dedicated to providing a positive environment of respect and civility for all attendees, including members, students, parents, speakers, clinicians, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and guests. All attendees are asked to follow all applicable laws and conference policies and to refrain from physical and verbal harassment, bullying, disorderly conduct, or any actions or behaviors that create unsafe conditions or interfere with presentations or performances. Harassment, bullying, and sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for any conference venue, including clinics, workshops, concerts, rehearsals, social events, online, and social media. Violations should be reported to convention center security or conference staff in a timely manner. Violators and their registered students may be expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the FMEA Executive Committee.
Session Attendance Verification Reports
Provide proof of the sessions you attended to your administration with Session Attendance Verification Reports!
Each of our presenters will be provided a QR code and asked to display it on the last slide of their presentation. Scan that QR code to confirm your attendance and add the session to your Verification Report.
Requirements Register for the conference, either via preregistration or on site.
Make sure you can log in to the FMEA website using the web browser on your phone. Use the username and password you chose when you renewed your membership. If you are from outside of Florida, you should have chosen your username and password when you registered for the conference.
Learn how to scan a QR code with your phone. With iPhones and newer Androids, you just need to open your camera, point it at the code, and a box will appear for you to click.
FMEA does NOT automatically submit your hours for you . It is up to you to follow the process outlined by your school or school district to apply for the professional development points toward your certificate renewal.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Mr. Christopher Creswell
All-State Middle School Jazz Band
Friday, January 16, 2026, 7:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Dr. BettyAnne Gottlieb
High School Honors Orchestra
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm
Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
All-State Conductors
Mr. Ken Berg
All-State Middle School Mixed Chorus
Friday, January 16, 2026, 5:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Frank Diaz
All-State Concert Orchestra
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Lori R. Hetzel
All-State SSAA Chorus
Friday, January 16, 2026, 7:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Mark Butler
All-State Reading Chorus
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 8:45am Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
All-State Elementary Orff Ensemble
Friday, January 16, 2026, 1pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Sherrie Maricle
All-State High School Jazz Band
Friday, January 16, 2026, 8:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Mrs. Dayna Cole
All-State Middle School Band
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Ricky Fleming
All-State Intercollegiate Band
Friday, January 16, 2026, 4pm
Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Middle School Honors Band
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am
Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Mr. Paul Morton
Donovan
Ms. Tiffany English
All-State Conductors
Mr. Vincent Oakes
All-State Elementary Chorus
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Elizabeth A. Reed
All-State Middle School Orchestra
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
All-State Middle School Treble Chorus
Friday, January 16, 2026, 5:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Christopher Peterson
All-State TTBB Chorus
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 8:45am Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Kami Rowan
All-State High School Guitar Ensemble
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 12:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Friday, January 16,
Mr. Bob Ponto
All-State Concert Band
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Colonel Don Schofield
All-State Symphonic Band
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
All-State Middle School Guitar Ensemble
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 12:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Dr. David Pope
Middle School Honors Orchestra
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Mr. Ian Schwindt
High School Honors Band
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11am Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
All-State Symphonic Orchestra
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:30pm Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom A
Dr. Jennifer Sengin
Mr. David Springfield High School Honors Big Band
2026, 8pm Marriott Water Street, Grand Ballroom
Mr. William Hart Wells
Dr. Tammy S. Yi
Student Leadership
Jameyel “J. Dash” Johnson
Jameyel “J. Dash” Johnson is a classically trained piano prodigy turned multi-genre innovator whose career has seamlessly bridged the worlds of hip-hop, jazz, blues, classical, and cutting-edge digital media. His teenage years were spent mastering the energy of live performance in blues and jazz bands, foreshadowing the eclectic artistry that defines his work today.
A rapper, songwriter, producer, mixer, and multiinstrumentalist, J. Dash is also a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in computer science—a reflection of his lifelong pursuit of curiosity and mastery. “When I come across something I like, I want to learn everything about it and really understand it,” he says, a philosophy that fuels his cross-disciplinary creativity.
J. Dash first captured global attention with his viral smash “WOP (With Out Prejudice),” a pulse-pounding dance hit that soared on the iTunes Top 100 Hip-Hop Charts, sold more than 100,000 downloads before radio play, and racked up millions of views on YouTube, including a video with longtime collaborator and friend Flo Rida. A digital pioneer, he also launched the first-ever YouTube Street Team, harnessing fan power to create a grassroots marketing movement that anticipated the modern influencer era.
Most recently, J. Dash produced music for a Golden Buzzer finalist on America’s Got Talent, with their breakout song “Feels So Good to Be You” amassing 2 million-plus streams and counting. Beyond his work in the studio, he continues to shape the arts as chair of programming and marketing on the board of the Long Center for Performing Arts in Austin, Texas. He is also the founder of Twylight Zone, an innovative arts discovery platform dedicated to spotlighting creativity and culture.
With a career that defies categories, J. Dash embodies the spirit of reinvention—an artist, innovator, and leader whose work is equal parts vision, craft, and impact.
3,055 Music Teachers
3,009 K-12 Students 1,953 Parents/Chaperones
122 Exhibit Hall Day passes
Turnstile Count: 16,914
All-State Concert Tickets: 5,474 (On Saturday, badges are not required for entry, so concert attendees may attend the exhibit hall as well.) Numbers from the 2025 Conference
CANDIDATE FOR FBA PRESIDENT-ELECT
Hannah Jennings
HannahJennings was appointed director of bands at Lake Nona Middle School in 2010. She is responsible for a fully comprehensive middle school band program consisting of Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Level Wind Bands, as well as Jazz Band. Bands under her direction are consistently rated superior at FBA music performance assessment events. Prior to Lake Nona Middle School, Mrs. Jennings taught at Bridgewater Middle School and Legacy Middle School in Orange County, as well as Southside Fundamental Middle School in Pinellas County.
An alumnus of the prestigious Lassiter High School Band (Marietta, Ga.), Mrs. Jennings holds both a BME in instrumental music education (1999) and an MME (2008) from Florida State University. While at FSU, she was a member of the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Concert Band. She studied conducting with Dr. Patrick Dunnigan and Mr. Richard Clary, and clarinet with Dr. Frank Kowalsky.
Mrs. Jennings is actively involved with the Florida Bandmasters Association as an adjudicator for music performance assessments throughout the state of Florida. She has served as a district secretary for two years and as a district chairperson for eight years. She has also served as a coordinator for the All-State Middle School Band for six years. Mrs. Jennings chairs the All-State Committee. She is also active as a clinician for honor bands and music camps across the state.
Mrs. Jennings holds memberships in the Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Education Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Beta Mu. She resides in Orlando with her husband, Franklin.
CANDIDATE FOR FBA PRESIDENT-ELECT
Jody Dunn
Jody
Dunn is a 1986 graduate of Crestview High School (District 1) where he now holds the position of band director. He went on to earn his music education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1990. While at USM he was a member of the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, in which he served as section leader and vice-president. He was a member of the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, Jazz Lab I, and the Trombone Choir. He performed with USM Chorale, Men’s Choir, and was a founding member of the USM Jazz Singers.
Upon graduation from USM, Mr. Dunn accepted the position as director of the Pickering High School Band in Leesville, Louisiana. Under his direction, the band received its firstever superior ratings. In 1993, he returned to his hometown of Crestview and became the assistant director of the Richbourg Middle School Band and Chorus until 1996. From 1996 to 2006 Mr. Dunn was the associate director of bands at Crestview High School. While serving as the associate director, he was the visual coordinator of the Marching Band as well as the director of the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble II. He assumed his current position as director of bands at Crestview High School in 2006. He conducts the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble I, and oversees three additional concert bands, percussion, chamber winds, instrumental techniques, and the Big Red Machine marching band. Under his direction, the Crestview Band has received the Otto J. Kraushaar Award several times. In 2011, Mr. Dunn was a clinician/conductor for the Southeastern United States Honor Band at Troy University. In 2012, the Crestview High School Band was featured in the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. In 2014, the Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In February 2017, the Wind Ensemble performed at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic in Troy, Alabama. In 2019 and 2023, Mr. Dunn served as the guest conductor of the Matanuska-Susitna Honor Band in Palmer, Alaska. In January 2020, he was the conductor of the Florida All-State High School Honor Band. In 2023, he was the guest conductor for the South Pointe Middle School Wind Ensemble’s (Diamond Bar, California) performance at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Dunn is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southeast. He has served on the State Executive Board of the Florida Bandmasters Association. He recently chaired the FBA Ethics Committee and currently serves as the chairperson of the FBA Marching Band Task Force. He is a recipient of the Certificate of Merit from the National Band Association. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Florida Music Education Association, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, American School Band Directors Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, having served as president of the Omega Chapter and currently serving as a member of the International Board of Directors. Mr. Dunn was the recipient of the 2020–21 FBA Oliver Hobbs Award.
Jody is the proud father of Olivia, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Elijah, and father-in-law of Nate, Daniel, Sarah, and Faith.
CANDIDATE FOR FBA JH/MS REPRESENTATIVE
Richard Uhler
RichardUhler is in his 17th year as band director, and 19th year overall, at Pioneer Middle School, serving previously as the chorus director. A proud alumnus of Pioneer Middle School, Richard participated in both band and chorus as a student, laying a foundation for a lifelong commitment to music education. A 2003 graduate of the Broward County school system, Richard went on to earn his BME from the University of Miami in 2007. His current teaching duties at Pioneer Middle School include Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Advanced Band, Concert Band, two Beginning Bands, and a before-school Jazz Band. Under his leadership, Mr. Uhler’s bands have consistently earned superior ratings at the FBA concert band music performance assessment. Notably, during the most recent school year, Pioneer Middle School reached a new milestone by presenting four concert bands for MPA evaluation.
Richard has been honored twice to receive the Linda Mann
Five-Year Superior Award, in January 2016 and January 2021. An active member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, he has served as secretary of District 15 (2015–2017) and district chairperson (2017–2020). He currently contributes as a member of both the FBA Concert Music Committee and the FBA Solo & Ensemble Committee.
Mr. Uhler served as a coordinator for the Broward County Band Directors Association (2021–2022), the FBA 9-Star Honor Band (2015–2017), and was the on-site coordinator for the Middle School Honor Band in 2016. Most recently, he organized and coordinated the FBA District 15 Directors Band during the 2024–25 school year, producing a successful concert that raised nearly $7,000 to replenish the district’s emergency fund depleted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the school level, Richard has served as the unified arts department chair for the past 12 years and is in his sixth year of serving as chair of the School Advisory Council. He has twice been named Teacher of the Year at Pioneer Middle School, in 2012 and 2022.
His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Florida Music Education Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, and National Band Association.
CANDIDATE FOR FBA JH/MS REPRESENTATIVE Kerry Waldo
Kerry Waldo is the director of bands at Rock Lake Middle School in Longwood, Florida. Mrs. Waldo graduated from Stetson University with a BME (magna cum laude). A veteran teacher, she has taught band in the Seminole County Public School System for 20 years and is in her 16th year as director of bands at Rock Lake Middle School. Ensembles under her direction have consistently earned high marks at FBA district music performance assessments including concert, jazz, and solo & ensemble. Her program alone serves nearly 25% of the total student population at RLMS.
She has served as secretary for FBA District 6 and served two terms as district chairperson. Waldo currently serves on the FBA Music Committee. In addition to teaching and service, Mrs. Waldo enjoys performing with the Brass Band of Central Florida and the Southern Winds and is highly sought after as a trombone performer and clinician throughout the Central Florida area. She has been the honor band clinician for multiple counties in Florida and recently served as the clinician for the 2024 Florida All-State Middle School Honors Band.
Mrs. Waldo is a member of the Florida Music Education Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the Florida Bandmasters Association.
AGELESS UKULELE
InclusiveTechniquesTeaching for Children and Adult Beginners
BY ANN HARRINGTON, PHD
The ukulele is increasingly popular with musicians of all ages. Its portability, cheerful sound, and easy beginning chords make it an ideal instrument for children and adults (Doebler, 2021; Giebelhausen & Kruse, 2018). In any group setting, however, different learners are likely to progress at different rates. Some students may master new skills quickly while others need more time and repetition. Fortunately, the ukulele is highly accessible, allowing two-chord strummers to enjoy making music alongside more advanced players (Bernad & Cayari, 2020), particularly when paired with group singing (Giebelhausen, 2016). By combining the beginner-friendly qualities of the ukulele with a few simple strategies, music teachers can support individuals who need more opportunities for review and practice while continuing to engage learners who are ready for more. Doing so can help educators foster inclusive and accepting
AGELESS UKULELE
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environments that welcome beginners while also engaging advanced players (Kruse, 2013).
Community-based ukulele groups also tend to attract a wide range of players. Beginners and more advanced players alike enjoy the relaxed atmosphere found in many groups (Giebelhausen & Kruse, 2018), and it’s common for members to respond to mistakes with good-natured laughter as well as insightful comments about what went well and not so well. This balance of awareness and humor is typical of many adult learners (Fenwick & Tennant, 2020), leading them to ask thoughtful questions and make requests that address their specific needs. For several years, I’ve had the good fortune to work with older adult ukulele learners. Their questions and self-assessments prompted me to make several changes to my teaching that, in turn, have helped a wider range of players feel supported and included while still providing interesting materials and experiences for those who learn new skills more quickly. In this article, I’ll share four of the teaching strategies that grew from working with older adult ukulele players. Although these techniques were originally developed for adult beginners, they can easily be adapted for use with elementary school students exploring the ukulele.
“Can we start with Jambalaya? I can play that one!”
⏩ Starting With Success
Starting and ending with successful experiences can go a long way toward meeting the needs of students progressing at different rates. I like to begin each session with a familiar and relatively easy song, like Jambalaya, which many of my adult players enjoy. This strategy gives everyone a chance to experience performance success and inclusion right away. Although new or more challenging material will be used during other parts of the class, choosing to begin with a song that is accessible for everyone helps learners start the session feeling confident, capable, and that they are part of the group. Playing another familiar song mid-class or at the end of a session reinforces the sense of musical success and can help less advanced players feel like part of the group. By using this approach for material selection, teachers can support the needs of a wide range of students, providing steady, confidence-building repetition for learners who are still mastering the basics while introducing new material
and techniques that engage learners who progress more quickly. The arrangement of the song Jambalaya that I tend to use includes chords that are easy for most beginners (F and C7), with entire phrases often spent on one chord. Traditional children’s songs such as Apples and Bananas and Skip to My Lou, are also simple two-chord songs that could serve a similar function.
“It’s like two for the price of one!”
⏩ Same Chords, New Tunes
When teaching adults, I sometimes feel compelled to bring new challenges to my students during each session. The feedback I received during my first classes helped me to trust that every lesson didn’t need to feature a new chord, strum, or a more challenging chord progression. Instead, I began to appreciate how using previously introduced chord patterns and familiar strums to play new songs provided repetition for those who were still working to solidify certain skills while the novelty provided through different lyrics and melodies helped keep other learners engaged. For instance, once we learned Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On using C-G7-F, the group thoroughly enjoyed the comparatively short amount of time needed to learn to play Hound Dog. Several group members also expressed their pleasure in having discovered and used a new strategy that they believed would be useful as we worked our way through more songs.
Discussing this strategy with the group members gave us the opportunity to consider how identifying patterns across songs could also be helpful. Over the next few sessions, I asked the group to point out any similarities or differences between two consecutive songs. They indicated times when portions of songs used the same chord progressions, which helped less experienced players find learning a song to be less daunting. The group members also noted when two songs used the same chords in different orders. This observation gave us the opportunity to explore how moving through the chord progression used in the second song would feel different before jumping into the new song. Examples included Have You Ever Seen the Rain and Blowin’ in the Wind. When asked to look for and share similar observations, elementary students are also likely to find similarities and differences between chord patterns used in various songs like The Lion Sleeps Tonight and I Lava You.
“Can you say that again?”
⏩ Clearer Instructions for Quicker Responses
When teaching ukulele chords, teachers often provide visual aids while also describing the steps needed to perform new skills (Gieblehausen, 2016). For example, spoken instructions can help learners make sense of how a chord diagram relates to where they should place their fingers. Some ukulele resources use numbers (one, two, three, four) to refer to all three components (frets, fingers, and strings). Teachers using that system might use spoken instructions such as “finger one, fret one, string three, and finger two, fret two, string one.” The beginners in our group seemed to have trouble making sense of these descriptions, especially when two and three fingers were needed for a single chord. Less experienced players needed more time to decode how each number related to the placement of each finger, and they became uncomfortable continued on page 38
AGELESS UKULELE
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if they felt they were “holding things up.” The idea of community, inclusion, and ’ohana (a sense of family) is a key component of many ukulele groups (Kruse, 2013), so making instructions more intuitive and reducing the feelings of discomfort were an important change. I made two quick adjustments to my spoken instructions that helped learners place their fingers more quickly and learn new chord shapes with greater ease.
First, I changed my instructional language so that I could use a unique naming system for each component (fingers, frets, strings). Calling fingers by their commonly used names (index, middle, ring, little), using numbers to identify frets (one, two, three, four), and calling strings by their letter names (G string, C string, E string, A string) helped learners decode instructions more quickly. For example, speaking instructions for fingering a C chord became “ring finger, fret three, A string” and made it easier for the class to follow the directions.
Next, I experimented with different ways to phrase the spoken instructions. Once I identified the terms and phrases that worked best for a group, I focused on using that language consistently. For instance, speaking the three chord components in the same order each time helped ensure my instructions were clear and easier to follow. I chose to say the components in this order: finger, fret, string because it matched how my students tended to use their hands when attempting new chords. First, they usually extended the finger needed, then moved along neck of the ukulele until they found the correct fret, and then placed the finger on the appropriate string. Using the A-minor chord as an example, this strategy resulted in the spoken instructions “middle finger, fret two, G string.” Saying the components in this order and adding a slight pause between each component helped students readily move through the steps needed to form new chord shapes.
“Wait, where are we looking?”
⏩ Using Stepwise Landmarks to Guide Visual Attention
When working on new music, we sometimes need to stop playing and address certain inaccuracies, unify stylistic elements, or clear up confusion. To do so, each member of the group must visually locate the same spot on their sheet music. If directions are not given in a clear and systematic way, the flow of the class can be interrupted
as individuals scan large portions of their music, looking for the spot in question. Additionally, learners may begin scanning for the spot or musical element as soon as the teacher begins speaking. This may cause their attention to drift away from the spoken instructions as they search, which may lead to requests to repeat information. To streamline this process, I use what I call “landmark directions,” a stepwise way of guiding musicians’ eyes from the most general marker to the most specific.
In ukulele classes, I direct learners’ visual attention by using the landmarks page, stanza, line, and then the specific location. Although it may feel more natural to start instructions with the topic that needs to be addressed, I found that doing so resulted in longer waiting times between music-making. For example, this phrasing initially felt more natural: “There’s a C7 chord some of us are missing at the end of last line of verse two, right before we move into the chorus.” I noticed that as soon as I mentioned the item that needed to be addressed (the C7), people started scanning the full page (or pages) of music looking for the right spot. These actions split their attention between scanning the music and listening to the rest of the description, which often resulted in requests to repeat information. To help these moments go more smoothly and quickly, I began using landmarks to move the learners’ gaze from a general area to the specific location we needed to practice. Using the previous example,
the instructions would be given as follows: “OK, take a look at page two (pause) stanza three (pause) line four (pause). At the end of that line, there’s a C7 chord that some of us are missing.” Ordering the information in this way also encouraged me not to give playing instructions before the group was ready to listen and respond. This small adjustment in instruction led to shorter wait times when moving between important spots in the music and reduced the number of times the instructions needed to be stated. This allowed the group to return to making music together more quickly.
This article summarized four teaching strategies: (1) starting with success; (2) same chords, new tunes; (3) clearer instructions for quicker responses; and (4) using stepwise landmarks to guide visual attention. Each strategy required small changes to our ukulele classes, but together they helped create a learning environment that welcomes and proactively supports individuals who learn at different rates. Whether your students are young or young at heart, these techniques can help build skills and confidence that can lead to enjoying ukulele playing at any stage of life.
Ann Harrington, PhD, is an assistant professor of music education at Florida State University where she serves as an elementary music specialist. She has enjoyed teaching elementary and middle school general music students in several states and facilitates ukulele and recorder groups for older adults.
References
Bernard, C. F., & Cayari, C. (2020). Encouraging participatory music making through differentiation on the ukulele. General Music Today, 34(1), 29–36.
Doebler, G. (2021). Ukulele in music class: Teachers’ perspectives. Visions of Research in Music Education, 38(1), 2.
Fenwick, T., & Tennant, M. (2020). Understanding adult learners. In Dimensions of adult Learning. Routledge.
Giebelhausen, R., & Kruse, A. J. (2018). “A smile on everybody’s face”: A multiple case study of community ukulele groups. International Journal of Music Education, 36(3), 347–365.
Giebelhausen, R. (2016). So, you’re thinking about starting a ukulele program?. General Music Today, 29(3), 38–41.
Kruse N. B. (2013). Without U, it’s just ‘kulele: Expressions of leisure and ’ohana in an intergenerational ukulele club. International Journal of Community Music, 6(2), 153–167.
Merriam, S. B. (2004). The role of cognitive development in Mezirow’s transformational learning theory. Adult Education Quarterly, 55(1), 60–68.
FLORIDA MUSIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
2025-2026
DONORS
Thank you to all of the donors who have shown their dedication to the improvement of music education in Florida by supporting our Mission through financial contributions.
Our donors support specific causes by donating to the FMEA funds of their choice:
FMEA Scholarship Fund
Music Education Advocacy
General Fund
June M. Hinckley Scholarship
Professional Development for Members
Mel & Sally Schiff
Music Education
Relief Fund
The following have graciously donated to FMEA from April 1, 2025, through September 12, 2025.
MAESTRO’S CIRCLE
$10,000 and up No current donors at this time.
Carlos Abril
In Honor of Ms. Terry Paulen
Sandra Adorno
Lucinda Balistreri
In Honor of music & arts educators in Sarasota County
Gordon Brock
Trent Brown
In Honor of J. Mark Scott
Kasia Bugaj
Dale Choate
In Memory of Dr. Colleen Kirk
Dayna Cole
In Memory of Linda Mann
Alice-Ann Darrow
Virginia Densmore
In Memory of Gene Densmore
ARTIST’S CIRCLE
$1,000 – $9,999
All County Music
Artie Almeida
In Honor of my sister, Joyce Slatton, & my niece, Katie Grace Miller
SUSTAINERS
$100 – $999
Virginia Dickert
In Memory of Lindsay Keller & Debbie Liles
Michael Dye
In Honor of Michelle R. Tredway
William Fredrickson
Kathleen James
In Memory of Dr. Dale Blackwell
Beth & Steven Kelly
Sheila & John King
Jason Locker
In Memory of June M. Hinckley
Joseph Luechauer
Deborah Mar
In Memory of Barbara Kingman
David Martinez-Cooley
John Nista
In Memory of Stanley Dmitrenko
Russell Robinson
Fred Schiff
In Memory of Mom & Dad
Mary Palmer
Douglas Phillips
In Memory of Dr. Bobby Adams
Kyle Prescott
Jeanne Reynolds
In Honor of Pinellas County
Performing Arts Teachers
Mary Catherine Salo
In Memory of Gary Rivenbark and Wes Rainer
Steven Salo
In Memory of John “Buck” Jamison & John Aiello & in Honor of Dr. Bill Prince
Alicia Romero-Sardinas
In Memory of John Rose
Kathleen Sanz
In Memory of June Hinckley
J. Mark Scott
In Honor of Jason Locker, Michael Dye, Dr. Judy Bowers, Dr. Judy Arthur & Dr. André Thomas
D. Gregory Springer
Meghan Alfaro In Memory of Carol Boyce
David Bayardelle In Memory of Dr. George Sparks
Mark Belfast In Memory of Dr. Mark A. Belfast, Sr.
Greg Carswell In Memory of all deceased members of the FMEA
William Castillo
Jeff Cayer
Zachary Chowning
Patrick Cooper In Memory of Martha Matteson
Dewey Dodds
James Bruce
Jamie Bryan In Honor of J. Mark Scott
Jeff Cayer
Timothy Eaton
Amanda Gilbert
Angela Hartvigsen
SUSTAINERS
(Continued)
$100 – $999
Jeannine Stemmer In Memory of Barbara Kingman & Lauren Alonso
Leiland Theriot In Memory of Clayton Krehbiel
Richard Uhler
PATRONS
$25 – $99
Patrick Dunnigan
Judith Evans
Margaret Flood
Lisa Foltz In Memory of Rev. V. Ron Feener
Bradley Franks In Memory of Gary W. Rivenbark
Tina Gill In Honor of Gary Rivenbark
John Grau
Ron Guzzo
Cynthia Heidel
Bernie Hendricks
Marsha Kindall-Smith
Joshua Langston
Christine Lapka
Howard Weinstein In Memory of Barry Weinstein
Kenneth Williams
Anonymous In Memory of Joan Lee Alkyer
Matthew McCutchen In Honor of John Carmichael
Amelita McGrath
Kelly Miller
Katie McGuire Menges
Reiko Niiya
Terry Pattishall
Edward Prasse
Arthur Pranno
Marie Radloff In Memory of Charles F. Ulrey
Clinton Randles
FRIENDS
up to $24
William Hazlett
Lisa Hewitt
Sara Hofschneider In Honor of Adaline Burwell
Angel Irizarry
Jason Jerald
Sarah-Christina Larose
Jessica Moore In Memory of Dr. Nancy Barlar
John Parris
Ian Schwindt
Sierra Silvia
Diana Rollo
William Rose
Susan Smith
Cheri Sleeper
Eddie Steadman
Andrea Szarowicz On Behalf of Byrdie L. Jackson
Katelyn Taylor In Memory of Jared Benyola
Valerie Terry
Anonymous (4)
Anonymous In Memory of Archange Fils-aime
John Southall
Kelly Southall
Ajori Spencer
Noiree Weaver
Anonymous (8)
DONATE TODAY FOR A STRONGER TOMORROW.
With your support, FMEA will continue to grow its programs for teachers and students, strengthen united advocacy efforts, and improve your professional development opportunities. Visit FMEA.org to learn more information about each fund and to make a donation.
MULTICULTURAL NETWORK
Arnekua Jackson, PhD Chairperson
MORE THAN MUSIC: Leading With Purpose This Holiday Season
s we enter the final stretch of the semester, music educators across the state are balancing the excitement and intensity that come with the holiday season. Concert preparation is in full swing, lesson plans are evolving into final performances, and the rhythms of our classrooms are shifting toward celebration and reflection.
Yet amid the joyful chaos, November presents a unique opportunity—not only to prepare our students for the stage but also to refocus on our purpose as educators. This season reminds us that the work we do extends far beyond music-making. We are shaping identity, cultivating belonging, and building
community through every rehearsal, every conversation, and every note.
And just as the semester winds down, we begin looking forward to one of the most powerful gatherings of our profession: the FMEA Professional Learning Conference. It is not just an event. It is a recharge and a reminder that we are part of something larger.
of your concert experience. The music of the season is a beautiful opportunity to teach beyond the page.
Recharging the Educator
While we prioritize our students, it is just as important to protect space for our own restoration. This season is often packed with rehearsals, performances, grades, and deadlines. It is easy to lose yourself in the busyness.
Holiday Performances: Centering Culture and Student Voice
The holiday concert season is more than a performance showcase. These moments represent the culmination of months of growth, discovery, and connection. They offer a platform for students to
shine and for communities to witness the power of music education.
As you finalize your programs, consider how your repertoire reflects your students. Are they represented culturally and musically in what they perform? Have you given space for conversation about the origins of pieces, seasonal traditions, or family memories tied to music? These moments build awareness, empathy, and cultural pride.
Where possible, include selections that celebrate global traditions. Invite students to share songs from their cultural backgrounds, or include narration and student reflections as part
Pause. Reflect. Celebrate the small wins in your classroom. Share a smile. Take the scenic route home. Reach out to a colleague for encouragement—or be the one to offer it.
Restoration is essential to longevity in our profession. When we care for ourselves, we return to our students with more clarity, compassion, and creativity.
FMEA: A Moment to Learn, Lead, and Belong
In just a few weeks, thousands of educators will gather for the FMEA Professional Learning Conference—one of the most enriching events of the year. Whether this is your first time attending or your 15th, this experience continues to offer fresh insight,
connection, and professional growth.
As a Multicultural Network, we are proud to contribute to a conference that values diverse perspectives, honors culturally responsive pedagogy, and showcases student achievement across genres and communities. Make it a point to attend sessions that stretch your thinking, engage in conversations that challenge your lens, and support performances that reflect the brilliance of Florida’s student musicians.
This year, we are especially excited to invite you to the 2026 MCN Business Meeting, which will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. This gathering is a chance to network, reflect, and shape the goals of the Multicultural Network for the year ahead. We will highlight several opportunities for members to get involved in ongoing MCN initiatives—from leadership roles to mentorship and programming.
In addition, our 2026 MCN All-State Scholarship is now open for nominations. This scholarship supports students selected for Florida all-state ensembles who
may face financial barriers to participation. Funds are limited. The application deadline is Friday, November 21, 2025, at 5 pm. Teachers must be active members of MCN to nominate students. Annual membership dues are $25, and it’s not too late to join. Sign up today so your students can be eligible to receive this meaningful support.
For more information about the MCN Business Meeting, scholarship guidelines, eligibility, and the online application, please visit FMEA.org/programs/ multicultural-network.
Closing Notes
As the holiday season unfolds and we inch closer to the new year, take time to reflect on the impact you have already made. You have planted seeds of confidence, creativity, and curiosity in your students. You have built relationships that extend beyond the classroom. And you have contributed to something far greater than a performance— you have built belonging through music.
May this season bring you peace, purpose, and a renewed commitment to lead with intention.
We’ll see you at FMEA.
MASTER OF MUSIC EDUCATION
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During the holidays, consider donating to a stronger tomorrow in honor or memory of a role model or loved one.
With your support, FMEA will continue to:
✔ advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all;
✔ grow its programs for teachers and students;
✔ strengthen united advocacy efforts; and
✔ improve professional development opportunities.
FLORIDA NAfME COLLEGIATE
Jason Lane President
The Future Is Bright!
Greetings,
everyone! I hope the second half of 2025 is going well for you. The Florida NAfME Collegiate Executive Board would like to express its gratitude for your support of all collegiate students throughout the state of Florida. This year hasn’t been easy for any of us, but the fact that we all share a strong sense of community is a beautiful concept to grasp, and we can’t help but say thank you.
Fall Conference
It is finally time! Fall Conference is right around the corner, and the Florida NAfME Collegiate Executive Board has a few things we want you to pack before you travel to Tallahassee on November 8:
w Professional attire
w YOUR INSTRUMENT … there will be a lot of music
w Money … lunch and dinner are on your own
w Comfortable shoes for the scavenger hunt
w Anything you need for a night at a hotel
We have some interactive sessions with our clinicians that include playing and singing, and we want you to be a part of all of it. Don’t be afraid to sign up to participate; this is a safe space where you can learn and engage with other collegiate students throughout the state.
Finish Strong!
This year has been full of surprises and unexpected events, but through it all, we have persevered and made it to the holiday season. This is a time to reflect and be grateful for both the good and the bad times 2025 has brought you. As a college student, you might be graduating this December … congratulations, you made it! You might be a collegiate student completing your first semester … congratulations, you made it! Or, you might be a first-year teacher who made it past your first semester … you guessed it, congratulations, you made it! Regardless of your stage in academic or professional career, the work you do is essential to many students. You are appreciated, and you will finish this year strong with your head held high. If no one has said it to you yet, I am proud of you.
FMEA Conference
After you take a well-needed break this holiday, feel free to join the NAfME Collegiate Executive Board at the 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference. This conference marks the start of a new year and a new look for our organization. At this conference, not only will Florida NAfME Collegiate be hosting three excellent sessions with some familiar faces, but we will also be having our elections. Collegiates, if you haven’t already, please ensure you are a registered FMEA member to vote in our elections. Additionally, please ensure that your chapter president completes the hotel scholarship we are offering on a first-come, first-served basis. We will be thrilled to see all of your faces in 2026 and look forward to bringing in the new year with you.
FLORIDA NAfME COLLEGIATE
Mark A. Belfast, Jr., PhD Advisor
Level Up Your Professionalism!
Ready
or not, here it comes! The end of another semester is sneaking up on us already. This time of year seems to really fly by us. We’re in classes for three weeks, and then we’re gone for the Thanksgiving holiday before returning for a heartbeat before the semester is over! As you tighten your bootstraps for the final push into the holiday season, consider the opportunities for growth and development that lie ahead of you.
Florida NAfME Collegiate Fall Conference
Fall Con is here! I can’t wait to see you at Florida A & M University on Saturday and Sunday, November 8–9, 2025. Be sure to check out the fantastic website your state secretary Loanne Mason has designed (flnafmecollegiate.com/ fall-conference). It’s PACKED with information to help you have the best Fall Con experience possible. If you still haven’t registered for the event, it’s not too late. Visit the site to register now!
Component Memberships
Back in September, I provided you with some basic information related to collegiate membership in the various components of FMEA (FBA, FEMEA, FOA, and FVA). This month and next, I will highlight some of the perks of joining those components. As you renew your FMEA membership in preparation for January’s Professional Learning Conference, I hope you’ll consider adding one or more component memberships to your resume. This month we’ll cover the Florida Bandmasters Association and the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association.
FBA Collegiate Student Membership (FREE)
To be eligible for the FBA collegiate student membership, you must:
w be a junior or senior in an accredited Florida college or university
w be pursuing a degree in instrumental music or music education
w be a member of the NAfME Collegiate chapter at the school you’re attending
Membership privileges include:
w ability to serve on committees
w ability to participate in discussions during meetings
w receipt of FBA Bulletins (except MPA Bulletins)
w ability to attend FBA Summer Conference
FEMEA Collegiate Student Membership ($10)
To be eligible for the FEMEA collegiate student membership, you must be a college or university student pursuing a degree is music education.
Membership privileges include:
w access to the member website, including lesson plans, teacher blogs, and weekly and monthly resources to start building a teacher toolbox right away
w ability to attend FEMEA Regionals Festivals for free, observe rehearsals, and volunteer to work with the event coordinators
w a networking session at the FMEA Professional Learning Conference to meet other FEMEA members
w a direct connection with an established FEMEA member mentor to network and ask questions.
Please be careful as you travel to Tallahassee for the Fall Conference. It’s shaping up to be a great event, and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMITTEE
Ajori Spencer Chairperson
In Pursuit of Joy PART 3
BY AJORI B. SPENCER, MEGHAN ALFARO, AND BRIGITTE POULSON
Maybe I’m just not good enough
… Even with a clear sense of purpose and a wellstructured environment, there are still days when our minds don’t fully cooperate. Despite doing the work of leaning into our strengths, we sometimes find ourselves questioning whether we are truly competent. “Maybe I’m just not good enough” is a thought that creeps in. It’s a strange paradox: The same reflective habits that help us grow can also open the door to self-doubt. Our minds, while powerful tools for learning, can just as easily turn inward and magnify our insecurities.
We all wrestle with thoughts that distort reality, moments when our
Catastrophizing:
Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation.
Mind Reading:
Interpreting the thoughts and beliefs of others without adequate evidence.
perception blurs the truth of our progress. Psychology calls these cognitive distortions, but in daily life, they simply feel like those small but persistent voices that challenge our sense of capability. Learning to recognize them is the first step; learning to reframe them is the practice that restores joy. Just as we shape our external environment to support autonomy, we can shape our internal one to protect our confidence and amplify our competence.
Perception Versus Reality
Brains are remarkably efficient. As we accumulate life experiences, our brains develop shortcuts that allow us to process information more quickly and respond
Magnification and Minimization:
Exaggerating or minimizing the importance of events.
Disqualifying the Positive:
Recognizing only the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive.
with less effort. But sometimes our brains get it wrong; efficiency comes at a cost. Cognitive distortions, those irrational thoughts, shape how we see the world, how we feel, and how we act. Let’s take a look at some common examples and how they influence our thinking.
Overgeneralization:
Making broad interpretations from a single or few events.
“Should” Statements:
The belief that things should be a certain way.
below exist in direct opposition to our positive pursuit of joy. But remember, positivity is not about ignoring challenges. It’s about viewing those challenges through a lens that empowers us to respond constructively. If our lens is distorted, it becomes our responsibility to change the lens and push. We will explore that idea in Part 4 when we discuss reframing.
Magical Thinking:
The belief that thoughts, actions, or emotions influence unrelated situations.
All-or-Nothing Thinking:
Thinking in absolutes such as “always,” “never,” or “every.”
Personalization:
The belief that you are responsible for events outside of your control.
Emotional Reasoning:
The assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are.
DIVERSE LEARNERS COMMITTEE
Christine Lapka, EdD Chairperson
Something for Band … and Everyone: Dr. Alice Hammel at FMEA
The 2026 FMEA
Professional Learning Conference promises to be a transformative experience for educators committed to equity, inclusion, and excellence in music education. This month, the Diverse Learners Committee spotlights two sessions by Dr. Alice Hammel—a leader in the field of exceptional education—that reflect our mission to support all students.
Connecting Social Justice, Music, and Disability
Presented by Dr. Alice Hammel We are honored to welcome Dr. Alice Hammel, a GRAMMY Award-nominated educator and 2023 NAfME Lowell Mason Fellow, to lead this timely and thought-provoking session. Dr. Hammel brings a wealth of experience as a nationally recognized author, clinician, and advocate for inclusive music education. Her work has shaped the field through her leadership in the Virginia Music Educators Association, CEC-DARTS, and NAfME’s Equity Committee.
In this interactive session, Dr. Hammel will guide participants through the intersections of social
justice, music, and disability, challenging us to rethink the language we use and the systems we uphold.
Educators will explore:
w How to move beyond labels that “other” students with disabilities
w Strategies for identifying and supporting the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for every learner
w The historical roots and ongoing relevance of the “Nothing About Us Without Us” movement
w Practical ways to foster inclusive, student-centered music classrooms that empower all learners This session is a must-attend for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of equity in music education and to become a more responsive and compassionate educator.
You Have Questions, We Have Answers!
Including Students With Disabilities and Differences in Band
Orchestra and Miami Jam Sessions.
Presented by Dr. Alice Hammel and Ms. Nerissa Rebagay
This dynamic session brings
together two passionate advocates for inclusive music education: Dr. Alice Hammel and Ms. Nerissa Rebagay, a rising leader in the field and doctoral student at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Nerissa brings handson experience as a conductor, music therapist, and educator working with neurodiverse students through programs like the Young Mozarts
Together, Alice and Nerissa will address the real-world questions music educators face when striving to include students with disabilities and differences in band and ensemble settings. Whether you’re a veteran band director or new to inclusive practices, this session will leave you with tools, confidence, and inspiration to ensure every student has a place in your program.
These are just two of many valuable sessions planned for the 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference. We’ll feature more highlights next month—stay tuned.
Rebagay
Hammel
CONTEMPORARY MEDIA COMMITTEE
Clint Randles, PhD Chairperson
Embracing Modern Band, Songwriting, and Music Production in Florida Schools
s the landscape of music continues to evolve, it is essential that our curricula keep pace with contemporary trends and skills. Incorporating modern band, songwriting, and music production into your classroom not only enriches students’ musical experiences but also prepares them for diverse career opportunities in the music industry. Modern band programs foster collaborative learning, allowing students to explore ensemble performance with a contemporary twist. By featuring genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, students connect more directly with their musical interests. This approach encourages creativity, improvisation, and musical independence,
essential skills for today’s musicians.
Introducing songwriting and music production tools equips students with essential skills in digital music creation. Using software such
as Ableton Live, FL Studio, or GarageBand, students learn to craft lyrics, compose melodies, and produce professional-sounding tracks. These activities develop not only technical proficiency but also critical listening, songwriting, and digital literacy. Integrating these elements into your curriculum aligns with new educational standards emphasizing 21st-century skills. It broadens students’ understanding of music as both an art form and a viable career path. Moreover, it makes music education more inclusive and engaging for a generation immersed in technology.
I encourage Florida teachers to consider professional development opportunities and resources available for implementing these techniques at our January conference. As educators, we have the power to inspire innovative musicians who can thrive in today’s dynamic industry. Together, let’s create vibrant, relevant, and inspiring music programs that resonate with our students and prepare them for success in the everchanging musical landscape. It’s the education that many of us would have loved ourselves when we were students involved in school music education.
InAWARDS COMMITTEE
Sondra A. W. Collins Chairperson
this month of thankfulness, I am so grateful for all of you—the amazing music educators, music education administrators, and music education supporters who make up the FMEA. Your FMEA Awards Program continues to thrive thanks to all of you and what you do for music education. From every corner of this huge state, to every day that music is taught, YOUR critical role is what helps ALL of Florida’s students in ALL schools receive quality and comprehensive music education. We know that. We see that. We know you. And we see you. You ARE appreciated!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit nominations for the 2026 FMEA Awards Program. As always, your Awards Committee was so impressed by seeing evidence of quality music education throughout our state. Also, thank you to the dedicated members of the FMEA Awards Committee, who selected the awardees for each major category. Your committee gave due diligence in reviewing every list of achievement and letter of support presented in each nomination packet, ultimately selecting our awardees. Stay tuned for the next few months’ editions, where you will have the opportunity to read all about our next set of amazing 2026 FMEA awardees.
As you think about all those you would like to thank this month, let’s get our monthly dose of gratefulness and inspiration, this time from our 2025 FMEA Leadership Award for Music Education recipient, Dr. Benny L. Bolden, Jr., president of the Florida School Music Association and director for interdivisional support services and secondary schools in Leon County Schools.
2025 FMEA Leadership Award for Music Education DR. BENNY L. BOLDEN, JR.
President of the Florida School Music Association, Director for Interdivisional Support Services and Secondary Schools in Leon County Schools
I“It is with warm regards and thankfulness that I write here today, thanking you all for this prestigious award. It means the world to me. Simply put, music saved my life.
As a young man, growing up in a single parent home, at risk for various reasons, it was music that became the catalyst that drove me to the brink of success, pushing me to want to exceed higher in life. It is with that thought that I now share this opportunity with thousands of kids around the world, pushing the idea that music education changes the lives of so many people.
Can you imagine life without music?! Going through breakups, going through hardships, going to church, with no music?!? Music is very much a part of the fabric of what it is we do each and every day. It embodies the emotions, the ups, the downs, the moments that create lifelong memories. Together, we share in the opportunity to give that opportunity and that perspective to millions around the world.
Thank you for what it is you do in ensuring that our kids have 30 minutes of an outlet that can help them develop life skills, commitment, to this thing called life. Music education is vitally important to the fabric of education as we know it today. It is up to us to ensure that this art form remains within our schools. Together, we are making that happen.
Thank you for this honor, but I am simply giving to everyone around the world that which was given to me—the hope and the ability through music education.”
Andrea Szarowicz President
2025 FOA/FLASTA Fall Conference Recap
The2025 FOA/FLASTA Fall Conference, held October 16–17 at the Hilton Orlando, was an inspiring and energizing gathering of music educators from across the state. Keynote speakers Creston Herron and David Pope, PhD, set the tone with powerful sessions that challenged and encouraged us to think deeply about student engagement, artistry, and leadership in the orchestra classroom.
We extend our sincere thanks to all of the outstanding session presenters and to our dedicated vendors— Germantown Violins, J.W. Pepper, Excelcia Music Publishing , FloridaFundraiser, Muni
Strings, Teach Tix LLC, Violin Shop Tampa, and Beethoven & Co. Their participation enriched the conference experience, providing teachers with valuable ideas, tools, and resources to bring back to their programs.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the weekend was the chance to reconnect with colleagues, share ideas, and reflect on the evolving needs of our students. From classroom management strategies to new repertoire, from performance practices to recruitment solutions, the conversations captured the best of what our orchestra community has to offer: collaboration, innovation,
and
All-State Auditions and the FMEA Conference
We are also grateful to the many individuals who volunteered their time to adjudicate all-state auditions this fall. Congratulations
to all of the students who participated, and a special word of appreciation goes to the teachers who tirelessly prepare and support them throughout the process. Your commitment not only impacts these students’ musical development but also inspires their confidence as young artists.
Looking ahead, we are eagerly anticipating the incredible student performances at the 2026 FMEA Professional Learning Conference in January. By now, audition results should be posted and preparations for the conference well underway.
w Hotel Room Cancellations: Please remember to cancel any unneeded hotel rooms by 5 pm on November 8, 2025. Rooms not cancelled will result in a one-night charge per room.
dedication to excellence in string education.
w Pre-Registration Deadline: Early registration closes at midnight on December 12, 2025. If paying by check, payment must be postmarked by this date. Afterward, registration fees increase—so take advantage of early registration while you can.
New Procedure for All-State Music Distribution
w This year, FOA will implement a new process for distributing all-state orchestra music. Coordinators will provide detailed instructions to directors via email in November and December.
w Please note that these emails will be sent to the addresses on file through MPA Online and those provided to FMEA. It is essential that directors verify their contact information is correct, update it if needed, and check spam folders regularly to ensure they do not miss important communications.
All FOA coordinator emails end with @myfoa.org If questions arise, directors should visit myfoa.org , navigate to the Board → All-State Coordinators section, and contact the
appropriate coordinator directly. As always, the FOA Executive Board remains available to assist you.
This transition is designed to streamline the process and provide greater clarity, ensuring every all-state student is fully prepared for this exciting performance opportunity.
Looking Ahead
As we move deeper into the school year, many of us are also preparing for fall solo & ensemble, the Great American Teach-In, and winter concerts, as well as picking our spring music performance assessment repertoire. Balancing rehearsals, classroom demands, and upcoming events can feel overwhelming, but remember: Your work has a profound and lasting impact on your students. The love of music you share each day fosters a lifelong passion that extends far beyond their time in school.
Good luck with your upcoming concerts —may they showcase not only the talent of your students but also the dedication and artistry you pour into your teaching every day. Together, we continue to shape the future of music education in Florida.
Congratulations to all our 2025 Regionals participants! FEMEA welcomed approximately 350 students and their teachers from across the state of Florida to Southeastern University and the University of Florida. The students learned their music and put on a performance in just one day! It was beautiful to see the dedication and
skill of these students and teachers. I am honored to be a part of these amazing opportunities.
With Regionals in the rearview mirror, it is time to look forward to our January Professional Learning Conference & AllState Concerts. FEMEA is so excited to welcome the 2026
All-State Elementary Chorus
FLORIDA ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Meghan Alfaro President
and All-State Elementary Orff Ensemble to Tampa this January! We are thrilled to have the following esteemed 2026 all-state conductors:
w Vincent Oakes
All-State Elementary Chorus
w Jennifer Donovan and Tiffany English
All-State Elementary Orff Ensemble.
Ani Silva-Berrios, sponsored by West Music, teaches K–5 general music in Virginia. She has taught in Kansas and Florida, led undergraduate and graduate methods courses at institutions including Missouri Western University, UMKC Conservatory, and Vandercook College, and has presented at national and state conferences including AOSA, OMEA, VMEA, FMEA, and KMEA. Ani is the author of ¡Vamos a jugar!, a resource featuring Latin American songs, movement, and literature for K–5 music classrooms. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in music education and flute performance from the University of Central Florida and an MME with Kodály emphasis from the Hartt School, where she trained under John Feierabend. Ani is certified in Orff-Schulwerk, Kodály, World Drumming, First Steps in Music, and Conversational Solfège. Her playful, inclusive approach blends diverse methods.
¡A leer, tocar, y jugar!
Bring text to life through music and play! Explore creative ways to incorporate a variety of text and children’s literature in the music classroom to provide students a fun cross-curricular and enriching musical learning experience.
De colores
Explore music through hands-on activities that spark joy and active participation through colors! With a combination of approaches, these flexible lessons can be easily integrated into any music curriculum while strengthening student engagement and fostering a connected classroom culture.
Our students are in for a life-changing experience with these talented clinicians.
The January conference also features our FEMEA headliners, Ani Silva-Berrios and Melissa Fuller Flores.
You won’t want to miss these exciting professional learning sessions!
Melissa Fuller Flores, sponsored by Peripole, grew up showcasing Filipino folk dances on Air Force bases, including Tyndall AFB (Panama City) and MacDill AFB (Tampa). The foundation of how to move to music prepared her for a BME at the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in clarinet performance at the University of North Texas. Melissa’s energy and passion have enriched young minds through song and dance across Alabama, Texas, Iowa, and Missouri. Certified in Kodály, she shares her enthusiasm through dynamic presentations nationwide, believing in the power of music to inspire and empower learners and music educators at all stages.
Our Classrooms Are Poppin’: Teaching Strategies With Pop Tune Twists
Incorporating pop music into elementary music classrooms can be a valuable tool for fostering musical literacy, cultural awareness, creativity, and joy among students. Let’s join together for an electrifying exploration where we’ll discover ways to seamlessly integrate the pop music your students love with essential musical concepts. You’ll be equipped with practical lessons and activities tailored to support the preparation, presentation, and practice of the musical concepts for your K–6 students. Let’s create dynamic and meaningful musical experiences that empower students to see themselves reflected in our classrooms as they learn.
Podcast
FL Music Ed
Tales from the Heart of Florida’s Music Education Community
Tune in as we delve into the heart of music education, exploring topics that resonate with our members and beyond. Whether you are a seasoned educator or a passionate student, this podcast is for you. With six insightful episodes already available for streaming, there’s no better time to join in the conversation.
KEY CONVERSATIONS
Our Folk Dance Is Poppin’: Popular Folk Dances With a Twist
Join us for an electrifying exploration where you’ll discover ways to seamlessly integrate the pop music your students love with essential musical concepts. You’ll leave equipped with practical lessons and activities tailored to support the music literacy of your K–6 students. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your teaching and to create authentic connections with your students through the power of pop music.
Follow “Key Conversations” on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to receive instant updates whenever a new episode drops.
Grateful for November
October has truly been a wild ride! I hope that you and your families are doing well after what many of us affectionately call “Bandtober.” Between football games, marching competitions, community performances, parades, and unpredictable weather, it’s been a month that really tested our endurance and passion for what we do. Somehow, we always make it through, a little tired, perhaps, but also filled with pride for our students and the incredible work they accomplish.
As we turn the page to November, I hope the slightly calmer pace gives you a chance to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with the reasons we do what we do. This time of year always reminds me how thankful I am for the people around
believe in the importance of music education, my students who challenge me and make me laugh every day, and my family who loves and supports me through every rehearsal, performance, and late-night planning session. I’m also especially thankful for you, my colleagues, who inspire me constantly with your creativity, dedication, and unwavering support for your students and for each other.
Music education can sometimes feel like a whirlwind, but it’s also one of the most rewarding journeys we can take. I encourage you to take a moment this month to pause and recognize all the good things happening in your program and in your personal life. Even on the hardest days, there’s always something, or someone, to be
Now, looking ahead, it’s time to start preparing for the FMEA Professional Learning Conference! This event is one of the true highlights of my year. Beyond the concerts and clinic sessions, what makes this conference so special is the community
FLORIDA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION
Jeff Cayer, EdD President
it brings together. There’s something rejuvenating about reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones who share the same passion for teaching music. Some of the best learning I’ve ever done has happened in casual conversations, in hallways between sessions, over refreshments in the convention center, or at dinner with colleagues who have become lifelong friends.
Make it a goal this year not just to attend sessions, but to really engage. Talk to presenters, ask questions,
share your own experiences, and listen to others’ stories. You never know what insight or idea might completely reshape your teaching perspective.
Adjudication Workshops
For those involved in the adjudication process—or interested in learning more—initial and renewal Adjudication Workshops will take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Please make sure your adjudicator approval status doesn’t lapse! These workshops are open to anyone who wants
to attend. Even if you’re not currently an adjudicator, this is a great opportunity to learn what goes into the evaluation process, gain a deeper understanding of performance standards, and connect with other professionals who share your interest in musical excellence.
Conference Highlights
FBA has an incredible lineup of sessions and concerts planned for this year’s FMEA conference. Educators from all across Florida, and beyond, will be sharing their knowledge, passion, and artistry. Whether you’re looking to refine your beginning band pedagogy, develop your conducting skills, or elevate the musical artistry of your advanced ensembles, there’s something for everyone.
Take a few minutes to download the FMEA app and start bookmarking the sessions and concerts that interest you most. You’ll be glad you did once the schedule fills up!
FMEA.org/ conference/ mobile-app
Hotel Information
If you weren’t able to secure a room, don’t worry. Each year, many additional rooms become available after all-state results are announced and again after the cancellation deadline. So, keep an eye out for those openings and stay flexible with your plans.
FMEA.org/conference/hotels
As we move toward Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take time to truly rest and enjoy your break. Step away from the lesson plans, the drill charts, and the never-ending to-do lists. Spend time with your family and friends, enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, or just listen to music for yourself, not for teaching or programming, but simply for the joy of it.
We pour so much of ourselves into our programs, and it’s easy to forget that recharging is part of what makes us better teachers and musicians. I’m thankful for each of you, for your dedication, for the impact you make in your students’ lives, and for the positive energy you bring to our profession. Here’s to a restful November, a joyful Thanksgiving, and an inspiring start to the new year at FMEA!
INTERESTED IN TEACHING MUSIC IN FLORIDA?
TeachMusic Coalition
FMEA is a proud industry partner of the TeachMusic Coalition.
In response to the nationwide teacher shortage, the TeachMusic Coalition was formed to help find resources and solutions for the immediate, short-term, and longer-term challenges facing the music educator workforce, working to retain, shepherd, diversify, and recruit the next generation of music educators.
Together, we continue to work tirelessly to build the resources and supports necessary to ensure the next generation of students can be taught by outstanding music educators.
FLORIDA VOCAL ASSOCIATION
Jeannine Stemmer President
“Why Not?”
The other day, I tried to strike up a conversation with a familiar face in the elevator. She gave a quick answer and went straight back to her phone.
I wasn’t offended, but I couldn’t help wondering, what was so important on that screen that she missed a chance for genuine connection?
Friends, let’s not miss those moments. The less we interact with humanity, the less human we become.
Years ago, early in my leadership journey with FVA, I was introduced to Simon Sinek’s Start With Why. Jason Locker, past president of FMEA, was the one who handed it to me.
Sinek’s framework is simple:
w Why is your purpose— the reason you exist and do what you do.
w How is your process— the way you live out that purpose.
w What is your product—the tangible result of your work. It’s often pictured as three concentric circles: Why at the center, surrounded by How, then What. For example
I teach choir (what) using creativity and a variety of engaging techniques (how) to inspire students to become the best version of themselves (why).
The problem is, we often get stuck in the how.
Think about it, how many times have we turned down opportunities because we had too much grading to do, too much planning, and not enough “time”?
The how can easily become a trap.
Getting stuck in the how can also look like:
w Intrusive thoughts:
“I’m not good enough,” or “Someone else could do this better.”
w Outside criticism: Letting others define the value of what we do.
w Overwhelm: Feeling paralyzed by too many responsibilities.
All of these distractions rob us of time, time that could be spent building relationships and fulfilling our why.
Staying rooted in our why is vital.
But here’s the question: Does your why include the importance of connecting with humanity?
As music educators, we have a unique calling to be exceptional human beings. We live in the overlap of two powerful forces: music and community. That means we’re not just teaching notes and rhythms, we’re shaping lives.
To do that fully, we sometimes need to embrace what I call the
“Why Not?” in our How What does that mean? It means saying yes to possibilities. It means trying something new. It means not letting fear, fatigue, or efficiency rob us of creativity and growth.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “I can’t possibly add one more thing to my plate,” take a deep breath. Maybe it’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what you already do, better.
Ask yourself:
w Why isn’t my how more efficient?
w How can I make it more meaningful and sustainable?
There’s no prize for being the busiest or the most exhausted. But when you free up energy and margin, you make room for those “why not?” moments.
And that’s where the magic happens.
“Why not?” opens doors to new ideas, fresh inspiration, and deeper connections— many of which may have been part of your why all along.
May your holiday season overflow with beautiful music, peace, laughter, and purpose. May you be a blessing to those around you, and may you, in turn, be blessed as you continue to walk in—and live out—your why.
Research Puzzles
FOR MUSIC TEACHERS
This on-going column seeks to stimulate awareness of research issues for FMEA teachers and researchers.
FMEA RESEARCH COMMITTEE
D. Gregory Springer, PhD, Chairperson Florida State University
Presenters and Topics at a Professional Development Conference
Iknowthat all of us are excited about the upcoming FMEA Professional Learning Conference in January. Professional development is so important for music educators, and attending conferences is one of the primary ways that teachers can learn new teaching strategies and network with other music educators. Dr. Victoria Warnet Richter and Dr. JohnRine Zabanal recently published a content analysis of The Midwest Clinic, an international professional development conference for band and orchestra teachers at all levels (Richter & Zabanal, 2025).
A content analysis is “a method of studying human behavior indirectly by analyzing communications, usually through a process of categorization” (Fraenkel et al., 2012, p. G-2). In other words, it is a method that allows researchers the opportunity to explore the content of written documents systematically, often by classifying and counting the observations in each category. Recent content analyses in music education have included an examination of published string music education research (Sciaroni et al., 2023), doctoral dissertation research (Goehring, 2025), articles published in a specific research journal (Silvey et al., 2019), and articles written for teachers in a specific practitioner journal (Zabanal et al., 2023), among others. Content analyses are valuable contributions to the research literature because they allow teachers to systematically explore trends in research and other types of written communication.
The purpose of Richter and Zabanal’s (2025) study was to “examine session topics and clinicians at The Midwest Clinic from 2000 through 2019” (p. 69). They used a two-stage coding process to classify the content and presenter characteristics from 2000 to 2019. This analysis included 1,636 session topics and 2,263 clinicians across that 20-year period. Across those
years, they found that the number of sessions increased from 48 in 2000 to 141 in 2019—a notable increase that was likely due to a change in the conference venue. Furthermore, they noted that many session topics remained relatively stable over those years. However, there was an increasing trend in certain topics (i.e., classroom leadership, cultural/social competency, profession, and research) and a decreasing trend in other topics (i.e., instrument techniques, repertoire/instructional material, and percussion). During those years, the majority of presenters at the clinic were men, although Richter and Zabanal noted an increasing trend in the number of female clinicians.
This article was published in the journal Contributions to Music Education (Richter & Zabanal, 2025). I encourage you to read the entire article because the authors reported much more information than can be contained in this brief report. Because professional development is so important for the success and career satisfaction of music educators, there is a need for more explorations of professional development conferences such as this one.
References
Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Goehring, T. J. (2025). A content analysis of doctoral research in string education, 1992–2022. String Research Journal, 15(1), 73–88. https://doi. org/10.1177/19484992241239010
Richter, V. W., & Zabanal, J. R. A. (2025). A content analysis of an international professional development conference: The Midwest Clinic 2000–2019. Contributions to Music Education, 50(1), 67–85.
Sciaroni, R. A., Beers, H. L., Brenner, B. L., & Wilson, R. J. (2023). String music education research: A content analysis of peer-reviewed journals from 1990–2021. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 235, 61–79. https://doi.org/10.5406/21627223.235.04
Silvey, B. A., Sims, W. L., Pohlman, G., & Regier, B. J. (2019). A content analysis of Update: Applications of Research in Music Education (1989–2017). Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 38(1), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/8755123319829193
Zabanal, J. R. A., Chang, A. C., & Lofdahl, H. A. (2023). A content analysis of the American String Teacher (2000–2019). String Research Journal, 13(1), 15–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992221121754
Email your questions and feedback to dgspringer@fsu.edu with a subject heading Research Puzzles.
Partners as of October 9, 2025.
*Please visit FMEA.org/partners for partnership details or call 850-878-6844.
Please take time to thank and support our 2025-2026 Corporate Partners.
PARTNERS
Cathy’s Choir Class
Hal Leonard
Head’s House of Music
J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc.
Music is Elementary
BRONZE PARTNERS
MusicFirst
PACE Travel
Sight Reading Factory
West Music Company
Executive Director’s
NOTES
The mission of The Florida Music Education Association is to promote quality, comprehensive music education in all Florida schools.
The Work Continues
Legislation/Advocacy
Some of our members have expressed understandable concerns regarding the September 26 memo from the Department of Education regarding part-time, nondegreed teachers of fine and performing arts, which is part of HB 875. We share these concerns.
We have been well aware of this bill since its passage and have been working on our most effective response and next steps. Our commitment to providing excellent, comprehensive, and sequential visual and performing arts programs taught by high-quality, certified teachers remains unwavering for Florida students.
We will keep you informed and seek your input and action as needed. Rest assured, your FMEA, FSMA, and FAEA education advocacy teams are working diligently on this issue.
Center for Fine Arts Education (CFAE)
The Center for Fine Arts Education (CFAE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Florida Music Education Association. It is a for-profit association management company that manages arts associations, including the Florida Music Education Association, the Florida Art Education Association, and the Florida School Music Association. They have recently advertised for a president/CEO to take over the responsibilities from the current, retiring president/CEO, Dr. Kathleen D. Sanz. The Search Committee, appointed by the CFAE Board of Directors, will conduct interviews to determine the next president/ CEO. The message on the following page was sent to the membership in September.
FMEA Executive Director
Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD
Professional Learning Opportunities for Members
As we look ahead to the 2026 Professional Learning Conference & All-State Concerts, we hope you have already made your plans to attend. Preregistration is now open, with a deadline of December 12, 2025. President Skip Pardee’s conference theme, The Power in Our Profession: Music Education for Collective Impact, will enable us to have a collective impact by collaborating and focusing on a common agenda for music education, fostering continuous communication, and building a strong infrastructure.
Please note:
w Early registration closes at midnight, December 12, 2025, after which prices increase to the regular registration rates. You may continue to register and pay online until the conference.
w The postmark deadline for checks mailed to pay for conference registration is December 12, 2025. After this date, all unpaid conference registrations must be paid by credit card online, or a check must be brought to the conference.
Thank you so much for all that you do for the students in Florida. I am very appreciative of your continued dedication to the profession.
I look forward to seeing you in January at the FMEA Professional Learning Conference & All-State Concerts.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD
Please take time to thank and support our 2025-2026 Academic Partners.
The College of Idaho
BRONZE PARTNERS
Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Southern College Rollins College University of North Florida
Partners as of October 9, 2025.
*Please visit FMEA.org/partners for partnership details or call 850-878-6844.
University of Central Florida; 12488 Centaurus Blvd.; Orlando, FL 32816-8009; (407) 823-4545; kelly.miller@ucf.edu
Conference Planning Committee Chairperson John K. Southall, PhD Indian River State College; 3209 Virginia Ave.; Fort Pierce, FL 34981 (772) 418-9133; johnsouthall@me.com
FSMA President Benny L. Bolden, Jr., EdD laruemusic99@gmail.com
Hall of Fame Chairperson...................................................... Mary Palmer, EdD (407) 252-5172; mpalmerassoc@aol.com
Florida NAfME Collegiate Advisor Mark A. Belfast, Jr., PhD (850) 644-3424; mbelfast@fsu.edu
DOE Arts Education Consultant Erin O’Connor
Florida DOE, Bureau of Standards & Instructional Support 325 W. Gaines St.; Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 (850) 245-0762; erin.o’connor@fldoe.org
President.......................................................................................... Jason Lane Florida A&M University; jason1.lane@famu.edu
FLORIDA MUSIC SUPERVISION ASSOCIATION
President.................................................................................... John J. Dupuis Volusia County Schools; 200 N. Clara Ave.; DeLand, FL 32720-4207 (813) 787-6790; jjdupuis@volusia.k12.fl.us
MULTICULTURAL NETWORK
Chairperson................................................................... Arnekua Jackson, PhD St. Thomas University; 16401 NW 37th Ave.; Miami Gardens, FL 33054 arnekuajackson@gmail.com
COMMITTEES
Advocacy Jeanne W. Reynolds, Co-Chairperson (727) 744-7252; jeannewrey@gmail.com
Advocacy Angela Hartvigsen, Co-Chairperson School Board of Sarasota County; 1960 Landings Blvd.; Sarasota, FL 34231 (941) 927-9000; angela.hartvigsen@sarasotacountyschools.net
Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD Collier County Public Schools; 5775 Osceola Trail; Naples, FL 34109-0919 (239) 377-0087; pardeh@collierschools.com
Awards
Sondra A. W. Collins sondra.collins@marion.k12.fl.us
Budget/Finance, Development
Harry “Skip” Pardee, EdD Collier County Public Schools; 5775 Osceola Trail; Naples, FL 34109-0919 (239) 377-0087; pardeh@collierschools.com
Contemporary Media
Clint Randles, PhD University of South Florida; 4202 E. Fowler Ave.; Tampa, FL 33620-9951 (813) 974-2311; randlesc@usf.edu
Diverse Learners
Christine Lapka, EdD University of Central Florida; 12488 Centaurus Blvd.; Orlando, FL 32816-2372; christine.lapka@ucf.edu
Emerging Leaders Dakeyan C. Graham, PhD, EdD, DMA Alachua County Public Schools; 3600 NE 15th St.; Gainesville, FL 32609 dregraham@gmail.com
Florida Corporate & Academic Partners
Fred Schiff All County Music; 8136 N. University Dr.; Tamarac, FL 33321-1708 (954) 722-3424; fred@allcountymusic.com
Professional Learning Ajori Spencer Pinellas District Office; 301 4th St. SW; Largo, FL 33770-3536 (727) 588-6055; spencera@pcsb.org
Research D. Gregory Springer, PhD
FSU College of Music; 122 N. Copeland St.; Tallahassee, FL 32306 (850) 644-2925; dgspringer@fsu.edu
Secondary General Music Ed Prasse Leon High School; 550 E. Tennessee St.; Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 617-5700; prassee@leonschools.net
Student Engagement Michael Antmann, EdD Freedom High School; 2500 W. Taft-Vineland Rd.; Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 816-5600; michael.antmann@ocps.net
FMEA COMPONENTS
FLORIDA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION
President Jeff Cayer, EdD president@fba.flmusiced.org
Past President Bernard (Bernie) Hendricks, Jr. Ocoee High School; 1925 Ocoee Crown Point Pkwy.; Ocoee, FL 34761 bernard.hendricks@ocps.net
Executive Director Neil Jenkins Florida Bandmasters Association; P.O. Box 840135; Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 (954) 432-4111; Fax: (954) 432-4909; exec@fba.flmusiced.org
Business Manager Jo Hagan, CPA 8975 San Rae Rd.; Jacksonville, FL 32257 (904) 379-2245; Fax: (904) 379-2260; jo@barefootaccounting.com
FLORIDA ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
President Meghan Alfaro Pinellas District Office; 301 4th St. SW; Largo, FL 33770-3536 (727) 588-6055; meghan@femea.flmusiced.org
Past President Ashley Peek Holley-Navarre Intermediate; 1936 Navarre School Rd.; Navarre, FL 32566-7504; ashley@femea.flmusiced.org
Executive Director .................................................................. Jennifer Sullivan 1750 Common Way Rd., Orlando, FL 32814; (321) 624-5433; slljenn@aol.com
FLORIDA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION
President Andrea Szarowicz Steinbrenner High School; 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd.; Lutz, FL 33558-9234 (813) 792-5131; aszarowicz@myfoa.org
Past President ............................................................................. Laurie Bitters Winter Park High School; 2100 Summerfield Rd.; Winter Park, FL 32792 (407) 622-3200; laurie.bitters@gmail.com
Executive Director Cheri A. Sleeper 1915 S. 47th St.; Tampa, FL 33619; (813) 363-4139; csleeper@myfoa.org
FLORIDA VOCAL ASSOCIATION
President Jeannine Stemmer Florida Christian School; 4200 SW 89th Ave.; Miami, FL 33165 (305) 226-8152; jeannine@fva.net
Past President David Pletincks Powell Middle School; 4100 Barclay Ave.; Brooksville, FL 34609-0860 (352) 403-8437; david@fva.net
Executive Director David Verdoni verdoni@fva.net
Business Manager...................................................................... Jo Hagan, CPA 8975 San Rae Rd.; Jacksonville, FL 32257 (904) 379-2245; Fax: (904) 379-2260; business@fva.net
