WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

from TRIAD - FALL 2021

FROM THE EDITOR - Shawn Reynolds

How many of us have said this about our concert pieces, our halftime shows, our musical productions, our curriculum maps, … our lives? Let’s face it - we ARE a work in progress. And it’s okay. In fact, it’s better this way! While we work on ourselves, we also must rely on each other to share, collaborate, discuss, brainstorm, generate ideas, innovate, restart. After more than a year of uncertainty, we may have had to reinvent all the wheels. If and when we made it back to our music rooms, we were likely found still improvising. Maybe the bridge is still playing but we need the next verse. . .

So, let’s talk shop, and share what works! Music teachers LOVE to talk about what we do and what we’re working on, from pre-k all the way to DMA. Even more importantly, we love to hear “WHAT WORKS!” from our colleagues so that maybe we can try it in our own classrooms.

This article is a launching point for conversation -- The coffee is brewing! OMEA Members: The mic is yours. Choose the link applicable below and let us know what is working for you. What piece is your goto for a small junior high band? Is there a solid vocal work for the all-treble middle school choir? How about a chamber piece that lets your students shine at solo & ensemble? Someone out there has a jazz chart that can be heard at every spring concert. Tell us about it!

Whatever your reason for selection - the teaching tools the piece holds within its measures, the ease of putting the work together, or simply student demand/ audience appeal - we want to know what works for you! The list will be an active link accepting submissions on loop, from now til forever. It will be published for you, the OMEA members to see at any point in time, and just like us, will be a work in progress. The link to the database will be shared on social media and in upcoming issues of TRIAD. You will have access to the database for as long as it is active! You can submit as many or as few items that you wish. (Repeat and fade...)

Ultimately, we want this to be an ongoing resource for all members teaching all areas. As we gauge the popularity of this idea, we may even be able to add more topics such as general music ideas that work, or musical theater tricks of the trade. With the contributions of our OMEA members, this can be a fantastic resource! OMEA hive, it’s your verse. Let’s get to work.

Jennifer Mollenkopf

WE ARE

building your future... one note at a time.

PERFORMANCE AREAS:

Band Choir Composition Orchestra Piano

2021-2022 Audition Dates Sat., Dec. 11 Sat., Jan. 15 Sat., Feb. 12 Tues., Feb. 22 Sat., March 26

Learn more at otterbein.edu/music

Otterbein is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

Only Otterbein.

Jennifer is a graduate of Otterbein College (BME ‘94) and the Youngstown State University Dana School of Music (MM ‘06) Currently she is the Director of Bands and Assistant Drama/Vocal Director at East Palestine City Schools for grades 5-12. Jennifer has performed and conducted over 30 plays and musicals in her career. She is a piano and horn player/studio teacher, and has performed with her family and professionally in various brass and community bands. Jennifer lives in East Palestine, OH with her husband David and two daughters, Victoria and Abigail. She is a member of OMEA/NAfME and Women’s Band Directors International, and will be marching with the Band Director’s Marching Band in the 2022 Rose Parade.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? - Jennifer Mollenkopf

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FROM THE EDITOR - Shawn Reynolds