The NAfME Equity Resource Center for Music Educators and Music Education Supporters
The NAfME Equity Resource Center is a collection of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging (DEIAB) resources to support our members in their continuing efforts to make DEIAB actionable in the music education profession. Selections for the resource center include webinars, blogs, journal articles, personal stories, and frequently asked questions.
The Center is organized in four sections:
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Personal Stories
• SAGE/NAfME Journal DEIAB Virtual Collection
• NAfME Resource Library Selections that include webinars, articles, and the NAfME position statement
Content in the center will be updated as new resources become available.
Special thanks to the members of the NAfME Equity Committee and Equity Leadership Institute for their work bringing the NAfME Equity Resource Center to life.
To learn more about the NAfME Equity Resource Center, visit nafme.org
Questions? Call 1-800-336-3678 or email nafme@nafme.org
MMEA Board
Executive Board
President Matt Waite president@mainemea.org
President-Elect Ben Cox presidentelect@mainemea.org
Past-President Andy Forster pastpresident@mainemea.org
Executive Director Beth LaBrie execdirector@mainemea.org
Board Officers
Secretary Jen Fletcher
Treasurer Cassie Cooper
G. Music PK-5 VP Caitlin Geishaker
G. Music 6-12 VP Kayla Peard
Orchestra VP Andria Bacon
Band VP Sarah Dow
Choral VP Dr. Christian Giddings
Jazz VP George Redman
District Chairs
D1 Chair Eric Halpin-Desmarais
D2 Chair Linda Vaillancourt
D3 Chair Brandon Duras
MMEA Executive Director Office Hours:
Beth LaBrie will be providing Office Hours each week when she will be readily available by phone or email:
Email: execdirector@mainemea.org
Phone: 207-754-5426
Hours: Monday 8:00-10:00 a.m. & Wednesday 11:00-1:00 p.m. Evening appointments during the week are also available.
Every effort will be made to reply to communications within 24 hours of weekly business hours (Mon–Fri).
D4 Chair Kris Vigue
D5 Chair Danielle Collins
D6 Chair Jamie Calandro
D7 Chair Jon Simonoff
Specialty Interest Chairs
DEIA Marisa Weinstein
Music Teacher Education Dr. Philip Edelman
Tri-M Honors Society Jen Fortin
Advocacy Heidi Corliss
Retired Teachers Nora Krainis
MMEA Historian Richard Nickerson & Dan Gilbert
Teacher Mentor Erin Morrison
Collegiate Advisory Council Dr. Rebecca Dewan
MIOSM Savannah Wright
Publication Staff
Webmaster Adam Metzler
Editor Hanna Flewelling
Social Media OPEN
Conference & Festival Chairs
Conference Bill Buzza
Conference Registrar Jon Simonoff
Jazz Conference Assistant Aaron Henry
BOC All-State Festival Kristen Thomas
Jazz All-State Festival Kristen Thomas
All-State Auditions David Morris
Instrumental Jazz Jason Priest
Vocal Jazz Jesse Myers-Wakeman
Solo & Ensemble Drew Halpin-Desmarais
Modern Band Jenn Holmes
State Festival Managers
BOC All-State SSAA Chorus Julia Edwards
BOC All-State SATB Chorus Ashley Albert
BOC All-State Orchestra Ben David Richmond
BOC All-State Band Kyle Smith
Jazz All-State Honors Jazz Kayla Peard
Jazz All-State Jazz Band Craig Ouellette
Jazz All-State Combo Jason Priest
Jazz All-State SSAA Chorus David Morris
Jazz All-State SATB Chorus Ciara Hargrove
Spring 2025
Volume 9, No. 2
The official publication of the
Maine Music Educators Association
280+ members including working music educators, retired teachers, and collegiate students Formally founded in 1917, MMEA is the oldest recognized state music educator association in the USA.
Mission Statement: Mission: To advance, advocate for, and expand access to music education in Maine.
Vision: MMEA is an association where all people are heard, seen and feel connected through their lifelong musical experiences.
All editorial materials should be sent to: Hanna Flewelling, Editor Email: editor@mainemea.org
All advertising information and orders should be sent to:
Beth LaBrie, Executive Director Email: execdirector@mainemea.org
June 9–11 | Reston, Virginia
The annual NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit is an exciting multiday event that brings together NAfME Collegiate members from all over the nation for leadership-centric learning sessions, advocacy training, and professional networking—concluding with NAfME’s annual Hill Day in Washington, DC. Register Today bit.ly/NAfMECLAS
Questions? collegiate@nafme.org
MMEA Awards
Andrew Forster MMEA Past-President
Happy Spring everyone! I am very excited to see many of you at our conference in May. I’m thankful that I will be fully mobile this year.
We had a healthy number of awards nominations this year and we are looking forward to celebrating those honors at the President’s Reception. Thank you to everyone who submitted materials. Speaking of awards, please let us know if you are retiring and/or have completed a benchmark year of teaching. These longevity awards for teachers who have given 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. years of service will be given out at our all-member meeting next month.
Thank you to all of you who voted in our state-wide elections a few months ago. We look forward to working with our newest board members starting June 1st.
I know that these are unprecedented times and we, as educators, face uncertainty in a climate littered with turmoil. Please know that MMEA and our NAfME parents are busy behind the scenes supporting and advocating on your behalf. Thank you for being heroes for your students and for giving them a safe and positive environment in your classrooms. I wish you a wonderful end to the school year and a restful summer with friends and family.
2025 CONFERENCE
Band
How to make your 5th grade Band program thrive
Larry Jackson
I will share an overview of a successful year in 5th grade Band including instrument suitability testing for 4th graders, how to run your instrument rental day, effective letters to parents, parent open house, how to curb the quit wave, scheduling ideas and effective rehearsal techniques for 5th grade full band. I want to share things that have worked best through 38 years of trial and error, listening to the experts and honing my skills.
Beyond the Snare: Rediscovering Your Percussion Section
Dr. Timothy Heath
Maybe it’s been a while since your percussion methods course, or you just want a refresher/different perspective on foundational techniques. We’ll revisit essential snare drum skills and focus on the often-overlooked instruments in your percussion section. Whether you’re working with auxiliary percussion or other instruments that don’t always get the spotlight, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to integrate them effectively into your ensemble. This interactive session also invites your questions, ensuring you get personalized insights to take back to your practice or classroom.
Why So Many Tambourines? The Art of Curating Your Percussion Section
Dr. Timothy Heath
We’ll dive into the art of percussion instrument selection, unraveling the nuances that make all the difference in your ensemble’s sound. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right drums and drumheads to selecting mallets that enhance your performance. You’ll also explore the subtleties of cymbals, triangles, tambourines, and other essential
percussion instruments—learning how each choice impacts the overall timbre and musical expression. Whether you’re seeking a brighter tone or a richer, warmer sound, you leave with resources providing knowledge to match the perfect instrument to your musical needs.
Bassoon basics and beyond
Wren Saunders
The bassoon is one of the most versatile instruments of the band and orchestra, yet it can be intimidating to directors and beginning students. The goal of this session is to provide band directors with the foundational knowledge needed to guide beginning bassoonists and encourage them to start students on the instrument or how to make the switch from another instrument. USM Osher School of Music artist-faculty Wren Saunders will provide a roadmap for success and demonstrate what every bassoonist and band director needs to know. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring their bassoons (BYOB) and reeds and engage in a hands-on demonstration.
Enhancing Performance Development with Comprehensive Musicianship
Casey Schmidt
Performance development and repertoire mastery are central aims
within instrumental ensemble learning experiences. Although performing is a primary artistic process students engage with in instrumental ensembles, the National Core Arts Standards call on ensemble educators to also foster the artistic processes of creating, responding, and connecting to support comprehensive music learning experiences in ensemble rehearsal spaces. The challenge for ensemble teacher/ directors is to carve out time and space for all the artistic processes while fulfilling the important obligation of meaningful performance development. This presentation will explore practical strategies that attend to each of the artistic processes in performance ensemble learning environments. Please join this session on comprehensive musicianship in instrumental ensembles to learn more about how this approach can have a positive impact on both individual and collective performance achievement.
Preparing Your Clarinetists for College Playing
Beth Wiemann
This session will include tips to review for students looking forward to playing in ensembles at the College level, including audition preparation for those hoping to major in music. Embouchure issues, hand position suggestions, tonguing tips, and warm-up exer-
cises from various current clarinet instructors will be presented, along with information from the International Clarinet Association and its online resources. Attendees are encouraged to bring their clarinets with them to the session.
Band Repair Basics: Flute, Clarinet, Sax
Chris Plaisted
In this clinic we will learn and practice repair tactics for the most common emergency woodwind repairs in the state of Maine. We will also discuss materials and tools that every Maine Band Director should keep on hand for emergency repairs when going to the shop just isn’t an option. NOTE: These skills are for emergency repairs and are NOT intended to be a substitute for your local repair shop or service technician.
Band Repair Basics: Brass
Chris Plaisted
In this clinic we will learn and practice repair tactics for the most common emergency brass repairs in the state of Maine. We will also discuss materials and tools that every Maine Band Director should keep on hand for emergency repairs when going to the shop just isn’t an option. NOTE: These skills are for emergency repairs and are NOT intended to be a substitute for your local repair shop or service technician.
Troubleshooting Tone - Using Mouthpieces & Mini-Instruments
Caitlin Ramsey & Melissa Shabo
Whether you are trying to establish strong fundamentals in younger students or trying to troubleshoot established habits in older students, teaching students to play with characteristic tone can be a challenge. There are so many factors that can contribute to poor tone - many of which we can’t actually see! Through discussion of embouchure development, tongue placement, and air direction/speed, this session will give teachers concrete tools, language, and exercises to help students improve their tone.
We encourage teachers to bring the following to this hands-on session: flute headjoint, trumpet or trombone mouthpiece, and a clarinet or alto saxophone.
Tone first then intonation: Strategies to improve your trumpet section
Ryan Noe
Tone First - THEN Intonation
Good intonation is essential for an ensemble to sound excellent - but it’s not all about tuning slides or pulling out your headjoint ¼ inch! Working within the framework of trumpet playing, this session will challenge you to consider good tone production first, with improved intonation as a secondary result. The presenter will discuss the benefits and science of good tone production as well as demonstrate exercises and methodologies to help you improve your trumpet students’ tone, and ultimately their intonation. Participants will also participate in workshopping to brainstorm how to practically apply these techniques for other instruments.
Beginning Band at the High School Level
Bill Buzza
Having a high school beginning band class can be a valuable recruitment and retention tool for the high school instrumental music program. This session will cover the many aspects to consider when developing such a class including: philosophical considerations, providing instruments, instructional approaches, assessment tools, and resources for you to use.
Beginning Band Day
Fighting the March Slump
Jon Simonoff
Could you start a beginning band day in your area? This session will discuss the Beginning Band Day that Aroostook County has done for the past nine years. Topics include what schedule for the day, what music to perform, faculty involvement, benefits we’ve seen since starting this event, and other things we’ve learned along the way.
Chorus
Roundtable Discussion: All-State Vocal Auditions
Dr. Christian Giddings
In this interactive roundtable discussion, choral teachers can attend and engage in open dialogue about the current All-State Auditions. Participants can exchange ideas, share their experiences with the current auditions, and give suggestions and feedback for improvement. This lively, collaborative session will begin the conversation on revamping the All-State Auditions for MMEA and lead the work of a larger committee in the upcoming fall.
Preparing a Farm-to-Table Choir
Dr. Kyle Nielsen
All music educators enter vocal music classrooms having experienced a variety of “meals and recipes” such as ensemble participation and limited methods courses without really learning how the ingredients–the singers–are prepared and from where they are sourced. This session will director your attention away from focusing on the recipe and toward the quality of the ingredients: the training of singers as individual instruments. Immediately-applicable tools related to breath, posture, the vocal “cords,” and the relationship between vowels and consonants to an efficient vocalism will help you understand the why behind choral methods, allowing you to curate your ensembles with farm-to-table artistry.
Achieving Choral Artistry through Singer-driven Composition
Dr. Michele Kaschub
Do your singers readily focus on the expressive elements of music they are preparing to perform? Do
participants having the opportunity to play the singing games.
My substitute doesn’t “do” music…
Adrian Morneau
Come share your most beloved substitute-friendly plans and activities that encourage active musicking for your elementary-age students in your absence. Please bring copies of your plans and / or a link to a Google Doc/Folder with any materials you can share with the group. If you purchased something from places like TpT, please bring the shop owner’s information so we all may benefit!
The Musical Mansion: Using Canva
Jo Hampton
In this session participants learn how to utilize free Canva slides for easy to navigate visual schedules by grade level, visuals for popular classroom lessons and activities, and links to frequently used videos like scarf dances – all “rooms” in one single presentation: The Mansion. Participants will receive a link to a template mansion to get started, it is encouraged but not required to bring a laptop with you. The mansion not only gives students visual support through class but also gives you digital organization of your most-used activities.
Wabanaki Music
John Bear Mitchell
Wabanaki song and dance is timeless. The various instruments accompany the voice to form songs of made up of intricate chants and accompanied by words in the
language of Maine’s Indigenous people. Participants will learn the different types of genre that make up the various categories of song and explore the diversity in ancient and modern day instruments.
Wabanaki Music Q&A
John Bear Mitchell
A continuation of his Wabnaki Music presentation to all for time for questions, answers and further discussions of teaching Wabnaki music in the general music classroom.
Activating Socio-Emotional Intelligence through Composition
Dr. Michele Kaschub
Composition is a powerful tool for inviting students to consider their feelings and how others might feel, as expressed through musical sounds. This session will examine how to design and deliver composition lessons that activate socio-emotional intelligence and foster musical growth. We will begin by examining the critical role of three compositional capacities – feelingful intention, musical expressivity, and artistic craftsmanship – and consider how each empowers young learners in and beyond their work in music. Composition lessons suitable for PK-5 will be shared along with Tips for Teaching that help music educators and their students succeed in any compositional endeavor.
Composition Pedagogy Triage Ask Me Anything!
Dr. Michele Kaschub
Guiding students as they learn to compose music uniquely reflective of their musical interests and who they are as emerging artists is a rewarding experience. Sometimes, though, finding the right pedagogical approach can be challenging. I invite you to bring your composition stories and challenges to this session. We will identify teaching
strategies that help students across PK-12 settings overcome struggles and achieve their goals. We also will examine some of the pedagogical challenges that teachers experience as they empower young composers. Together, we will identify ways of activating student artistry and teacher creativity so everyone experiences success.
Music Playcations: Gamification for Everyone
Krystal Williams
Music Playcations: Gamification for Everyone is a session that uses Gamification-the process of adding games or game-like elements to something (such as a task) so as to encourage participation. This session will engage participants into games designed to introduce, teach and or refine foundational music skills in a fun and meaningful way. Participants will play their way through several games that are focused on Air Support, Articulation and Rhythmic Accuracy, to name a few.
It’s Time to Play the Recorder
Dr. Michael Smith
Recorders will be provided for all participants, clean and sanitized! The recorder is an inexpensive yet beautiful musical instrument that deserves a sequential curriculum enriched with a diverse repertoire of songs from around the world. By building on students’ prior experiences in General Music, entire classes can learn and perform songs, rounds, and harmony parts together. Effortlessly transitioning between singing, solfège, and playing ensures that all students—of all abilities and ethnicities—experience success and achievement.
General Music (Theater) Class
Patty Gordan
Want to put a little drama (the good kind) into your K-4 General Music classes? Few of us have theater opportunities in our schools for
this age group. Come to this workshop to learn a few songs/activities that will bring out the actor in your young students.
GM 6–12
Disconnected Students and the General Music Classroom
David Dashefsky
Today’s General Music classes provide a wealth of opportunity for students from all backgrounds to participate as consumers, active listeners, and exploratory music learners. “Disconnected” students often manifest with a variety of learning styles that are frequently found among the music class population. Through creative units, engaging activities, and modified assessments, this session seeks to access the “teacher’s toolkit” for ways to elicit greater participation from the disconnected/disinterested student. can harness student’s prior knowledge and what they already love about music and connect with while teaching music.
Tech
Engaging Music Tech Projects for Mid & HS
Wayne Splettstoeszer
Engaging Music Technology
Ideas for Middle and High School showcases creative ways to integrate technology into your music classroom. Explore how tools like Soundtrap can empower students to compose, collaborate, and produce music. Learn how to guide students in podcast creation, remixing popular tracks, and using launchpads for live performance projects. Discover the art of sampling and how it can be used to teach music history, creativity, and production techniques. This session will provide practical lesson ideas, accessible tools, and strategies to engage students of all
skill levels, fostering creativity and excitement in your music technology curriculum.
Soundtrap: The Best DAW for Education
Wayne Splettstoeszer
“Soundtrap: The Best DAW for Education” delves into how Soundtrap supports music learning with unique features like real-time collaboration and built-in translation tools. This session will explore how students can easily work together from anywhere, breaking language barriers with automatic translation for seamless global collaboration. You’ll learn about intuitive tools like loops, virtual instruments, and audio recording that make music production accessible to all students. Soundtrap’s compatibility with various devices and integration with educational platforms make it perfect for diverse classrooms. Discover how this DAW can inspire creativity, improve communication, and transform your music education experience.
Get to the ‘Good Stuff’ Faster with Tech Tools
Dr. James Frankel
Imagine band and orchestra students walking into rehearsal prepared with the basics of rhythms and pitches. This session will focus on the tools and processes to help your students build skills and foundational knowledge. Through guided practice sessions with authentic assessment and feedback, they will succeed and become better musicians faster. We’ll show five software tools that are simple
for you and your students—so that you can rehearse more than the basics sooner.
Making Digital Music Class a Reality for All
Eric Halpin-Desmarais & Jesse Myers-Wakeman Does implementing a technology-based music class seem too complicated and expensive? Think again! Explore ways to use your existing resources to build a curriculum that works for you, for your students, and for your budget. No reinventing the wheel or penny-pinching required!
DEIA
Bridging the Gap Between Home Music and School Music in the PreK–8 Classroom
Dr. Cameron Siegal
The disconnect between music students experience at home and music found in school inhibits responsive pedagogy, equitable engagement, and both students’ short- and long-term engagement in music class. Researchers have demonstrated that while home music is of greater interest than most other subjects, interest in music at school trails those same subjects. This session will cover pedagogies to explore home music in the classroom, including distilling rhythmic content to grade appropriate levels, transfer of tonal concepts between genres, connecting the representation of emotion between music
with and without lyrics, and composition strategies which utilize aesthetics of home music.
Preparing a Successful Jazz All State Audition (Instrumental)
Ben Cox
Considering Equity and Access in Ensemble Recruitment
Dr. Rebecca DeWan
This session will explore recruitment and retention for secondary ensembles through the lenses of equity and access. First, we will synthesize research on recruitment and retention. Then, we will offer practical and ready-to-use ideas teachers can implement into their programs. We will consider equity and access for Maine music students, underpinned by the belief that all students deserve quality music education opportunities through their public school education.
Leading Changes: Targeted Improvisation
Aaron Henry
Often times, using chord scales can be mysterious and overwhelming for students. “Use this scale” isn’t always as helpful as we intend it to be. In this session, I’ll show simple approaches to targeting certain notes at certain times, to create melodic phrases through the chord changes that give students a confident grasp on how to play the changes in a clear and concrete way.
Drum Set Tones and Techniques
Patrick Bragdon
In need of new cymbals or drumheads? Why do my two drummers sound totally different on the set? My brushes don’t make any sound on my snare! There will be over 12 ride/crash/hi-hat cymbals on hand to hear and play yourself..... Over a dozen pairs of drumsticks and mallets.... over 4 different drumheads to hear..... I will explain, play and compare each of those items as well as talk about proper technique to get the best tone out of each cymbal, stick and drum.
Join us for this moderated panel discussion that will provide you with an in depth look at the Jazz All State audition, featuring current and past Jazz All State judges. We will go over tips and tricks to help students prepare, what judges are looking for and how selections are made. Whether you’re brand new to the jazz world or an experienced educator you’re bound to learn something new here!
Teaching Meaningful Improvisation
Dan Barrett
Meaningful improvisation is where creativity and honest expression intersect with jazz language. After students begin improvising with appropriately simple materials, they often hit a plateau of repetitiveness. This session explores how we can help our students expand their perspectives and move toward a more advanced, creative approach. We will talk about processing and absorbing great recordings, mirroring conversation, paying attention to our inner voice, and more. Bring an instrument, or your voice!
195th Army Band Opportunities and Benefits
Jason
Priest & Brady Harris
The 195th Maine Army National Guard Band offers many music ensembles including Concert Band, Marching/Ceremonial Band, Jazz Ensemble, Rock Band, and Brass Band. This session will give insight into what the 195th Army Band has to offer for musical opportunities. During this session, you will hear performances from our Rock Band, Brass Band, and Ceremonial Band. Please feel free to bring your instrument and play along with the 195th Army Band!
Setting Up Your Drum Set Musicians for Success in Jazz and Modern Band
Cameron Siegal
Secondary instrumental music educators are routinely tasked not only with introducing drum set
to beginners, but also providing feedback to more experienced drum set musicians to take their playing to the next level. This session will cover essential concepts and techniques that will allow educators to support drum set musicians at all skill levels in jazz and modern band ensembles, including scaffolding comping, development of characteristic sounds for distinct genres, finding an individual groove, and touch. Providing personalized and stylistically appropriate feedback to drum set musicians will help educators elevate their entire jazz or modern band ensemble.
Jazz Improv Jam for Less-Experienced Jazz Players
Dan Barrett
Like many things in life, our first several attempts at improvisation can be a little nerve-wracking and disheartening. Don’t let that stop you! This session provides a non-threatening environment for all who aren’t experienced in jazz to push through the initial attempts, and move on to some more fulfilling improvisation. No pointed criticism will be given, but some solid basic principles will be discussed: putting together a good mindset, establishing a confident sound, choosing realistic parameters, absorbing style from recordings, and more. Bring an instrument or your voice, and come prepared to participate!
Jennifer Holmes
Want to bring the energy of a real rock band into your classroom? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn essential guitar techniques— open chords, power chords, and rhythm strumming—that you can take straight to your students. No matter your skill level, you’ll leave feeling confident, capable, and ready
Modern Modern Band Guitar & Bass: Play It, Teach It, Rock It!
2025 CONFERENCE
to jam! Get ready to strum, shred, and rock out as we explore engaging, student-friendly approaches to modern band guitar. Come as you are—leave feeling like a rock star!
Modern Band Keyboard: Unlocking Chords & Creativity!
Jennifer Holmes
Ready to unlock the power of the keyboard in your modern band classroom? This hands-on workshop will focus on essential skills like chord playing, rhythmic comping, and simple bass lines—making it easy to get your students playing right away. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your approach, you’ll leave with practical techniques, engaging activities, and the confidence to bring modern band keyboard to life. Come as you are—leave feeling like a rock star!
Modern Band Vocals: Sing It, Teach It, Own It!
Jennifer Holmes
Help your students sing with confidence and style! This interactive workshop will explore vocal techniques tailored for modern band, including healthy singing, vocal warm-ups, harmonization, and performance tips. Learn how to get students engaging with their voices in a fun, accessible way—no classical training required! Whether you’re a singer or just guiding your students, you’ll leave with practical strategies to bring out the rock star in every voice.
Modern Band Drums: From Body Percussion to Beat Master!
Jennifer Holmes
Get ready to feel the groove! This workshop starts with body percussion and builds up to full drum set playing. Learn how to teach the backbeat—the heartbeat of rock, pop, and modern band music—and keep the rhythm driving forward. Whether you’re a drumming pro or just getting started, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to help your students lock into the beat and rock out with confidence. No sticks? No problem! Come ready
to move, tap, and jam your way to drumming success!
Modern Band Jam: Bring It All Together!
Jennifer Holmes
Let’s rock! In this full-band experience, you’ll get to play guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, or sing— your choice! We’ll jam on charts you can bring back to your students, learning how to lock in as a band while keeping things fun and accessible. This workshop will give you the tools to create an engaging, student-driven modern band experience. No matter your instrument, you’ll leave feeling like a rock star!
Orchestra
Eleven Leaps to Literacy for Beg. Band and Strings
Dr. Michael Smith
This session presents a thoughtfully designed approach to Beginning Bands & Strings utilizing the educational philosophies of Gordon, Kodály, Feierabend, Orff, and Suzuki. By emphasizing the importance of auditory preparation, this approach builds a strong foundation in music-making, supporting the success of all students across diverse settings. Students are encouraged to learn songs first
with lyrics and then with solfege, progressing naturally to notation. From there, they expand their creativity through improvisation and composition, using the melodic material of the songs they’ve learned. Finally, authentic playing experiences and auditory assessments showcase student growth while fostering excitement and enthusiasm for continued learning.
String Round Table Discussion
Andria Bacon
Discussion around all things strings in Maine; from All-State auditions to programs.
String Reading Session
Bill Bell
Bring your string instruments and play through orchestral repertoire for elementary, middle, and high school orchestras.
Teach Your Ensemble Fiddle Tunes
Lauren Rioux
Learn useful melodies and chords in a variety of folk styles, as well as the how and why you would want to add them into your existing classical repertoire and curriculum. We’ll cover the nuts and bolts of leading fiddle tunes and ear training in a large mixed instrument/level ensemble, touch upon gentle ways to start improvising, and even arrang-
