Iimaginewe’veallheardtheoldphrases,“themorethingschange,themoretheystaythesame,”or“those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” Taken at face value, those sayings can feel a little (or a lot) pessimistic.Theysuggestthatnomatterhowmuchprogresswemake,we’redestinedtocirclebacktothe samemistakes
Iwatchthenewseverysooften,butusuallypreferPBS,BritBoxandlisteningtotheCarpenters Thereis somuchsadness,darknessanddivision Nomatteryourpersonalbeliefsorpoliticalpersuasion,theworld can be a somber and solemn place While it shows my age (yes, I’m 60), I was remembering the Anne Murraysongfromtheearly80's(backinthe1900s).
We just celebratedValentine’s Day, and while its beginnings are somewhat dark and complicated, today we observe it as a celebration of love. What began centuries ago as a story marked by conflict and sufferinghasbeentransformedintoadaycenteredoncare,connection,andaffection.Thatshiftaloneisa reminderthatmeaningcanchange,andthatwearenotstuckrepeatingthepastexactlyasitwashanded tous
Loving well beyondValentine’s Day is an act of hope. It’s a belief that we can learn from history without being trapped by it, that we can choose kindness even when cynicism feels easier.When we care for one anotherconsistentlyandintentionally,weparticipateinshapingsomethingbetterthanwhatcamebefore. Maybe that’s the real lesson worth remembering, not that history repeats itself, but that love, when practiceddaily,hasthepowertorewritethestory. Enjoythisrecording.
Are you needing a break from the bleak message of the news A break from the sometimes tediousness of life. It is not too late!! You can still register for SWACDA 2026 in Albuquerque. While we will remember the good of the past; some past presidents will lead in All-Conference Sings,wewillbelookingforwardtothefuture.LookingforwardtoNewHorizonsandwherethey canleadus.
Sally shared this article with me. It was written in 1984, when Sally was TMEA President and published in TMEA’s Southwestern Musician Due to the fact that educators were still facing similar challenges, it was reprinted in the same publication in 2020 It is as true in 2026 as it was in 1984 Thank you Sally, for your leadershipandyourinsight!!!JDO
Astheeffectsofrecenteducationlegislationbecomemoreapparent,howanindividualchild’seducational experiencesmaybechangedisincreasinglyevident Goodcasescanbemadeforpraisingsomeaspectsof the reforms while questioning others, primarily side effects of the major thrust A simplistic view has its drawbacks, for the situation is complex Previous practices were not uniformly harmful nor are the mandatedchangescreatingresultswhichare100%positive Theabsolutenecessitytomaintainbalancein achild’seducationisbeingreaffirmed
If one were to reduce the goals of the public schools to the most concise form possible, would it not be to produceproductive,responsibleadultscapableoffunctioninginandcontributingtoademocraticsociety? ExperiencesinFineArtscontributetotherealizationofthesegoalsinuniqueandpowerfulways.Finearts areanessentialingredientofabalancededucationaldiet.
MeetingtheNeedsoftheChild
Today’s technological explosion mandates that students attain mastery of a body of factual knowledge. Attainment of cognitive skills is receiving a great deal of attention, and justifiably so. But encouraging masteryofaspecificbodyofknowledgealonewillnotequiptoday’sstudentfortomorrow’sworld. Studentsmust:
In this time of an unprecedented information blitz, no one can hope to learn everything about any one subject. One simply must develop the ability to master the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed at one ’ s chosen vocation. Many of today’s jobs will be obsolete tomorrow. Those who are flexible, welladjusted, and highly motivated will be equal to the challenge of updating their job skills throughout their lifetimes.
Past President’s Corner continued
A performing group is a microcosm of society In addition to well-documented skills related to music reading, self-expression, self-discipline, and concentration, performers become interdependent There is no more important skill required in a democratic society than that of sharing common goals with others and working together to achieve them A child needs to acquire the skills and knowledge to function in a technological society but he still must learn to interact socially and to deal with others with ease and effectivenessinaworksituation.
As the family unit breaks down and group interaction in the home becomes more rare in our microchip society,childrenmustfindanothersourcetodeveloptheabilitytocommunicatewithothers.Tolimittheir schoolexperiencestohighlystructured,individualizedlearningexperiencesistocreateanimbalancethat deniesthemtheopportunitiestodevelopskillscrucialtotheirfuturewell-being.
An educational system which focuses on individual achievement alone, reserving group activities for the academicallyelite,prohibitstwoveryimportantgroupsfrombenefittingfromthisvitaltypeofexperience.
Theunderachiever’sproblemscannotsimplybelabeledlazinessorlackofability.Immaturity,instabilityin the home, social maladjustment, and peer pressure are but a few of the myriad of contributing factors Offering tutorials to students in academic danger treats the symptoms of their problem, but does not alwaysgetattheunderlyingcauses Todenyanacademicallyweakstudenttheopportunitytoparticipate in the culminating experiences of a performance class, the performance itself, is to deny him an opportunityforpersonalgrowthwhichcouldverywellbeaneffectiveantidoteforhisscholasticproblems The economically deprived have a special need for the nurturing that can be provided by teachers and participantsinperforminggroups.Thesharedexperiencesofthegroupinperformancecreatebindingties. Childrenwholackstrong,stablefamilybackinglooktosupportgroupslikethisasasourceofstrength.To imposepunitivemeasuresonchildrenwhoarestrugglingtofindthemselvesisastepbackward.Depriving themofanexperiencewhichhasgreatpotentialtohelpthemhelpthemselvestoachieveatanacceptable levelanddevelopapositiveself-conceptiscounterproductive.
PeoplewithGod-giventalentsinthefineartshavethecapacitytomakeuniquecontributionstosociety if their talents are nurtured. Under present conditions, because of the crowded schedule of required classes, many youngsters may never discover their special abilities. This priceless resource will go untapped. Childrenneedthefreedomtoexploreelectiveareasandfindwheretheirinterestsandabilitieslie.Deprive a child of this opportunity to discover and develop his talents, and you have robbed society of a priceless sourceofenrichment Thisisreality asrealasanytestscore
Teachers of fine arts classes also have a responsibility to maintain balance Meeting the emotional and socialneedsofthemembersofaperforminggroupisintertwinedwithdevelopingtheirmusicianship The goalsforeachgroupmustbebasedontheirstateofdevelopmentsothattheyarechallengedtolearn,grow and thrive through a series of meaningful performance experiences. Schedules that demand excessive expenditures of time and energy in an attempt to reach goals which are unrealistic for the group either becauseofthedifficultyofliterature,frequencyofperformanceordegreeofperfectionexpectedcannotbe regardedasapartofabalancededucationforallstudents.
Past President’s Corner continued
Atrulybalancedcurriculumwillnotdevalueperformanceexperiences.Abalancedcurriculumwillallowall childrentheopportunitytoperform,asstatedintheEssentialElements(thestatestandardsthepreceded the TEKS). The validity of this type of learning is indisputable, and not to be confused with optional activitieswhicharecorrectlyregardedasextracurricular.
In his book With Your Own Two Hands: Self-Discovery Through Music, Seymour Bernstein says: “Performance generates a vital energy that converts irresponsible behavior into a consideration for others, doubt into confidence, and weakness into strength A successful performance is the pinnacle of achievementinmusicaldevelopment Inonesense,performingentailsasynthesisofthought,feelingand physicalmovements;butinabroadersense,itsignifiesasupremeactofartisticgiving”
Congratulations!Likemanyofyou,wehavejustfinishedaseasonofhonorchoirsandall-statefestivals As thenewlyelectedOkCDAPresident,Ihavehadtheprivilegeofseeingadeeperlevelofthecountlesshours andactsofserviceittakesouramazingteacherstoprepareeachyoungsingertoparticipate.Whatalabor of love, sacrifice, passion, and dedication to organize, assist in funding, prepare, and advocate for these opportunities
Oftentimes,wethinkofthesingularmomentswithaclinicianasbeingthedefiningmomentsthatcreatea desireinayoungmusician’shearttocontinuesingingorevenchooseamusicrelatedcareer Iknow,Iwas fortunateenoughtohavemanyofthosekindsofexperiences.ButasIreflect,myviewandperspectiveof that has changed over the last few months as I have witnessed a state-wide community of teachers and mentors performing beautiful small and simple teaching moments of preparation, development, and support for each of these fine young singers Just to name a few examples, I witnessed teachers encouragingsingersmomentsbeforeauditionsandcomfortingthemimmediatelyafterward.Theyarranged buses and permission slips, and even drove students to and from events.They ran preparation rehearsals before school, after school, and sometimes during lunch to ensure students were ready for the festival. In oneinstance,ateacherrushedtofindareplacementpieceofmusicforastudentwhohadmysteriouslylost oneoftheirfourselections.
Thank you for building a community of singers wherever you are You are building a more beautiful, empathetic,andpowerfullycompassionateworldthatneedsourlightandhealing!
The third movement from “Illuminare,” Nox opens with the traditional Kyrie text before expanding into additional Latin passages. Hagenberg’s compositional style blends lush harmonic writing, sustained melodiclines,anddynamictexturalgrowthtocreatedramaticspiritualarc.
AmanecerisdrawnfromGrases’ssuite“VisionesdelLlano,”aworkinspiredbytheVenezuelanplains The music captures the gradual emergence of light and the sonic textures of the natural environment, employing layered vocal writing, evolving harmonic color, and rhythmic vitality. This suite paints the sunriseovertheVenezuelanplainsandgoesontoexplorethediverselivesfoundontheplains.
https://www.jwpepper.com/amanecer-10279691/p
Repertoire
2-Year College Continued
Dúlamánarr DesmondEarley
Voicing:SATB
Accompaniment:Acapella
Language:IrishGaelic
Based on a traditional Irish folk song, Dúlamán recounts a spirited exchange centered on seaweed harvested and maritime life The optional bodhrán adds authenticity and kinetic energy, and the featured tenorsoloprovidescontrastandnarrativefocus
https://www.jwpepper.com/dulaman-11332034/p
EvocationbyHye-YoungCho
Voicing:SATB
Accompaniment:Piano
Language:Korean
Evocation is a sensitive and lyrical choral setting of a poem by Korean poet Sowol Kim, reflecting on themesofgrief,longing,andremembrance.Cho’scompositionalvoicecombinesexpressivemelodicshaping andasupportivepianoaccompanimentthatenhancestheemotionalnarrativewithoutovershadowingthe vocallines.
For my repertoire suggestions this issue, I'd like to feature a pretty specific area - Acapella! Our chorus typically performs with full orchestra or a band and so I always love the opportunity to do acapella pieces to truly showcase the choir. I hope you find these helpful. As always, if you ever need any assistanceinprogramming,I'mhappytohelp!
