Music Teacher Evaluation by Non-Music Administrators
Building Relationships From the Music Room
Practical Strategies for Ensemble More Creative Motivation New Year of New Perspectives Than and YouGrowth Thi nk The New ‘HOW’ in Online Music Education
PLUS:
Art Education Is Essential Statement FCAP: The Business of Supporting Music Educators June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Recipients
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2
Florida Music Director
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Grades 4-12
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)
Contents August 2020
Volume 74 • Number 1
Editor-in-Chief
D. Gregory Springer, PhD Florida State University College of Music 122 N. Copeland Street Tallahassee, FL 32306 (850) 644-2925 (office) (dgspringer@fsu.edu)
Editorial Committee Terice Allen (850) 245-8700, Tallahassee (tallen1962@hotmail.com) Judy Arthur, PhD Florida State University, KMU 222 (850) 644-3005 (jrarthur@fsu.edu) William Bauer, PhD University of Florida, Gainesville (352) 273-3182; (wbauer@ufl.edu) Alice-Ann Darrow, PhD College of Music, FSU, Tallahassee (850) 645-1438; (aadarrow@fsu.edu) Jeanne Reynolds Pinellas County Schools, Largo (727) 588-6055; (reynoldsj@pcsb.org) John K. Southall, PhD Indian River State College, Fort Pierce (772) 462-7810; (johnsouthall@fmea.org)
Advertising Sales Valeria Anderson (val@fmea.org)
Director of Finance and Client Relations
Richard Brown , MBA, CAE, CMP (richard@fmea.org) 402 Office Plaza, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 878-6844
Official FMEA and FMD Photographers
Bob O’Lary Debby Stubing
Art Director & Production Manager
Lori Danello Roberts, LDR Design Inc. (lori@flmusiced.org)
F E AT U R E S
2020-2021 Board of Directors, Chairpersons, and Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Art Education Is Essential Statement . . . . . FCAP: The Business of Supporting Music Educators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9-10 11
June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Recipients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 17 Music Teacher Evaluation by Non-Music Administrators . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Practical Strategies for Ensemble Motivation and Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
New Year of New Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . 30 The New ‘HOW’ in Online Music Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
D E PA R T M E N T S
Circulation & Copy Manager
Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . 4
Component News.. . . . . . . . . 33
Copy Editor
President’s Message. . . . . . . . . 5
Committee Reports. . . . . . . . 38
Advocacy Report. . . . . . . . . . . 8
Research Puzzles. . . . . . . . . . 46
Corporate Partners. . . . . . . 12-13
Executive Director’s Notes. . . . 47
Academic Partners. . . . . . . . . 14
Officers and Directors.. . . . . . 49
Valeria Anderson, (800) 301-3632 Susan Trainor
2019-20 FMEA Donors. . . . 19-21 August 2020
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FMEA Wins 2020 NAfME Membership Award Thanks to our members’ outstanding participation, the Florida Music Education Association is the recipient of the 2020 NAfME Membership Award in the Large MEA category. The award is based on membership growth metrics.
Advertiser Index 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. CIRCULATION: 4,500 educators. Published eight times annually by The Florida Music Education Association, Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education: 402 Office Plaza Tallahassee, FL 32301-2757. 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. 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: D. Gregory Springer, PhD, dgspringer@fsu.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. 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. 2020-21 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.
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Music Director
The Florida Music Director is made possible by the participation of the following businesses whose advertisements appear in this issue. 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 these advertisements 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. ADVERTISER Breezin’ Thru, Inc............................................................................................ IFC This advertiser provides additional support to FMEA members through membership in the Corporate and Academic Partners program. This Partner deserves your special recognition and attention.
President’sMessage
Facing Challenges While Preparing for Success
H
ello, FMEA members. I hope this issue of Florida Music Director finds you healthy and safe. Usually the beginning of the school year is filled with excitement and expectations. Yet, what was normal is not
normal, and we have new realities we must confront and overcome. This school year will begin with many questions, and few absolute answers. I recognize your anxiety, uncertainties, and worries. However, I want to remind you of opportunities that may help to create some sense of normalcy and success.
Steven N. Kelly, PhD President Florida Music Education Association
As you begin this academic year, I would like to suggest the following to help create success: 1. Keep music in music education. Students join music classes to sing and play. Reducing music to worksheet packets being sent home or other nonperforming filler activities eliminates the very essence of a music class. I assure you that students miss music class and want to perform again.
2. Be involved. Be directly involved in decisions being made for your school, including decisions that may not initially affect your music classes. Talk to your principals, counselors, and other colleagues. Contact
your superintendents and school board members. Get your students’ parents involved. Tell everyone that music is important, and may be the most important class of the day as students return to school.
Remember, music teaches more than notes and rhythms; we also help students cope with their anxieties. 3. Stay informed. Read, talk, and observe changes in your school and how they affect your programs. Be
aware of your students and how they are coping with so many changes and uncertainties. Social and emotional learning will be vital. Connect with your students and help guide them through their challenges.
4. Be visible. Programs that will survive best after COVID-19 and social unrest are resolved will be those that are visible NOW. Show the value of music and the many different ways music education contributes to every student’s complete education. Be your best advocate!
5. Take care of yourself. Get rest, wash your hands, wear masks, and social distance as much as possible.
Remember to take time for yourself! Teaching this semester will be more difficult, but if you cannot be in the classroom because you are sick, your students will not receive the best possible music experience.
6. Above all, make your students the focus of your classes. This suggestion is most important. Like you, students are coping with social and emotional issues. They may not have had their instruments or been able to
sing in a group. Teachers will need to meet their students on the students’ level more than ever before. We may need to adjust our instructional approaches and activities to where our students are when they
first return. This adjustment does not mean we reduce our standards. Students want to succeed and
grow. But where we start might need to be adjusted so students are not overwhelmed in the beginning. Please know that FMEA is here to support you. Visit our website for resources for teaching in this diffi-
cult time. We will be working with our component organizations to offer more resources and information
throughout the year. Look at the NAfME website for information and resources from a national perspec-
tive. You and your students can overcome the challenges and be successful. Stay informed, stay well, and take care of your students. I am with you, and so is FMEA. Stay strong and please contact me if I can help you.
Sincerely,
Steven N. Kelly, PhD, President
Florida Music Education Association
August 2020
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2020-2021 Board of Directors
If you need information about the Florida Music Education Association, please call us at 1-800-301-3632.
Steven N. Kelly, PhD President
Kenneth Williams, PhD Past President
Shelby R. Chipman, PhD President-Elect
Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD FMEA/FSMA Executive Director
Ian Schwindt FBA President
Marc Decker, DMA FCMEA President
Julian Grubb Florida NAfME Collegiate President
Mark A. Belfast, Jr., PhD Florida NAfME Collegiate Advisor
Ernesta Chicklowski FEMEA President
Matthew Davis FOA President
Jason Locker FVA President
Edgar Rubio Member-at-Large
STAFF Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD Executive Director Valeria Anderson, IOM Director of Operations Richard Brown, CAE Director of Finance & Client Relations Josh Bula, PhD Director of Information Technology Jenny Abdelnour Public Affairs & Communications Coordinator Jasmine Van Weelden Marketing & Membership Coordinator
Harry “Skip” Pardee FMSA President
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Music Director
Committee Chairpersons
Debbie Fahmie Awards
Steven N. Kelly, PhD Budget/Finance, Development
Alice-Ann Darrow, PhD Diverse Learners
Mary Palmer, EdD Emerging Leaders
John K. Southall, PhD Conference Planning
Fred Schiff — Florida Corporate & Academic Partners
David Williams, PhD Contemporary Media
Jeanne W. Reynolds Government Relations
Ex-Officio Members
Bruce J. Green Multicultural Network
Scott Evans Professional Development
Don D. Coffman, PhD Research Valerie Terry FSMA President
Ed Prasse Secondary General Music
Michael Antmann, EdD Student Leadership
D. Gregory Springer, PhD Florida Music Director Editor-in-Chief
August 2020
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AdvocacyReport
Not Throwing Away My Shot This is hard. Period. Jeanne W. Reynolds Chairwoman Government Relations Committee
I
t is important to acknowledge the stresses, the unknowns, and the dramatic effect the pandemic has
had, and will continue to have, on music education. Every educator has been impacted by this virus,
but music educators face additional challenges. We work closely together in ensemble settings, and
because music is an art form that exists in time, audiences are an integral part of the art we make. Not knowing how we can safely perform together in real time, or when we will be able to present our music
to live audiences, amplifies the fear, confusion, anxiety, and grief that all educators are feeling. With so many worries and uncertainties regarding the 2020-21 school year, advocacy may seem like the last thing on your to-do list.
Wrong. Advocacy should be the first thing on your to-do list.
Advocacy in the age of COVID-19 will involve some deep soul searching. The “how” of our music
teaching has been changed. Typical instructional practices, performances, and even music performance
assessments are not guaranteed this year. At a minimum, so much will look and feel different. We need to reflect deeply on what is truly
It’s time to take a shot
important and find new ways to teach music concepts well.
Rise up, rise up, it’s time to take a shot
But advocacy has always been about the “why.” Why is it important
for students to participate in high-quality sequential music education
Rise up, it’s time to take a shot
programs? If music education is to thrive in a post-pandemic world, we must be very focused and vocal about its importance for all students,
Rise up, take a shot, shot, shot
and we must be creative and brilliant about new ways of delivering con-
It’s time to take a shot, time to take a shot And I am not throwing away my shot Not throwing away my shot — Lin Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton
tent. The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) brought
together more than 50 national organizations to develop the Arts Education Is Essential
statement, included on pages 9-10. Familiarize
yourself with this statement, if you have not done so already.
Now it’s time for you to develop your own personal statement. Find
your voice and use it. Tell the story of the student who participated
in virtual learning the last quarter of the 2019-20 school year for one
reason only—your virtual music class. Without you and the music
program, she would have given up on school entirely. Tell the story of the family who wants to return to a brick-and-mortar school for one program only—your choral program. Talk about the extraordinary
power of music education on brain development and emotional health. Cite data and statistics from your
own school as well as state and national statistics. It is important to have data to back up your stories. As the old saying goes, data make you a credible advocate, but stories are memorable. To be an effective advocate, you need data and stories.
Stop focusing on what we cannot do. This sends a message to decision makers that your program
cannot function during the pandemic and that it is expendable. Focus on the music. Focus on your stu-
dents. Focus on what the future could be. Don’t just talk about creativity. Be the creative problem solver
administrators desperately need. Creativity and arts education are more critical now than ever before. Seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to elevate music and the arts for future generations.
The pandemic will not last forever. We must ensure there is a strong structure for music education
during and after the pandemic. To paraphrase Lin Manuel Miranda’s words from the musical Hamilton, don’t throw away your shot.
8 F l o r i d a
Music Director
Arts Education Is Essential This statement of support for arts education has been reviewed and endorsed by the national organizations listed on page two.
It is imperative that all students have access to an equitable delivery of arts education that includes dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts that supports their educational, social, and emotional well-being, taught by certified professional arts educators in partnership with community arts providers. Teaching and learning will never quite be the same in our post-COVID-19 world. However, our commitment to provide rich and varied educational experiences remains unwavering. The arts have played an important role in these tumultuous times and will continue to do so for all students, including the traditionally underrepresented, those with special needs, and from low-income families. Here’s why:
Arts education supports the social and emotional well-being of students, whether through distance learning or in person. Self-awareness, self-efficacy, self-management and perseverance, social awareness and relationship skills are central to any arts education activity, no matter the age and ability of the student or the environment in which the learning takes place. The arts, with their strong emphasis on team-building and self-reflection are supremely suited to re-ignite students’ interest in learning through collaboration, while simultaneously fostering creativity, critical thinking, and communication.
Arts education nurtures the creation of a welcoming school environment where students can express themselves in a safe and positive way. Celebrating our ability to come together as educators and students is vital to creating a healthy and inclusive school community. The arts, through a rich partnership among certified arts educators, teaching artists, and community arts providers, play a valuable role in helping students and their families build and sustain community and cultural connections.
Arts education is part of a well-rounded education for all students as understood and supported by federal and state policymakers. As defined in ESSA, “music and the arts” are part of a well-rounded education. Every state in the nation recognizes the importance of the arts as reflected in rigorous PreK-12 state arts standards. Forty-six states require an arts credit to receive a high school diploma, and 43 states have instructional requirements in the arts for elementary and secondary schools. As noted in Arts Education for America’s Students: A Shared Endeavor: “An education without the arts is inadequate.” The healing and unifying power of the arts has been evident as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country. We have seen and heard it play out through works of art on sidewalks, shared musical moments from porches, in plays and dance performances, and every other imaginable iteration of art making. As states and schools work through multiple challenges in the years ahead, arts education must remain central to a well-rounded education and fully funded to support the wellbeing of all students and the entire school community. Arts Education Is Essential
August 2020
1
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Endorsing Organizations Afterschool Alliance
Music Teachers National Association
American Choral Directors Association
NAMM Foundation
American Composers Forum
National Art Education Association
American Orff-Schulwerk Association
National Association for Music Education
Americans for the Arts
National Association of Elementary School Principals
American String Teachers Association Barbershop Harmony Society Carnegie Hall Casio America, Inc. Chorus America CMA Foundation
National Association of Secondary School Principals National Coalition for Core Arts Standards National Dance Education Organization National Education Association
College Band Directors National Association
National Federation of State High School Associations
Conn-Selmer, Inc.
National YoungArts Foundation
D’Addario Foundation
Organization of American Kodály Educators
Eastman Music Company
Quadrant Research
Education Through Music
QuaverEd
Educational Theatre Association
Recording Academy
Give a Note Foundation
Save The Music Foundation
Hal Leonard
State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education
Historically Black Colleges and Universities National Band Directors’ Consortium
The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation
Jazz at Lincoln Center
United Sound, Inc.
Jazz Education Network
Varsity Performing Arts
KHS America
West Music Company
KORG, USA
WURRLYedu
League of American Orchestras
Yamaha Corporation of America
Little Kids Rock
Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
YOUnison
Music for All Do you represent a national organization interested in endorsing this statement? Email essential@nafme.org © 2020 Arts Education Is Essential
2
FCAP The Business of Supporting Music Educators by Fred Schiff, Chairman FMEA Corporate & Academic Partners
The business challenges facing FMEA Corporate Partners, Academic Partners,
and exhibitors are unprecedented. What was once a matter of improving a dynamic system of relationships and information delivery is now an exercise
in reinventing and redesigning new ways of conducting business. In a nutshell, business as usual is no longer business as usual.
However, throughout our state and the country, the music industry rallied
its resources in support of music education. Individual music stores hosted “think tank” meetings, symposiums, and discussions on how to keep students engaged and how to plan for the coming school year. The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) partnered with NAfME to present numerous
webinars designed to answer the tough questions of how to move forward and how to be heard.
The past five months have proven that Florida’s music education profession-
als can readily adapt to an overnight change in the landscape. Teachers quickly
and adeptly configured ways to reach their students and did their best to keep
them engaged. They Zoomed together and created and invented systems, concepts, and never-before-seen teaching methods. If there was ever a group of
professionals who could improvise and play this pandemic by ear, it was our Florida music teachers.
What I witnessed was inspirational and demonstrated, once again, that in
Partners Make It Possible The Florida Corporate and Academic Partners help strengthen music education in Florida through their tireless work to support teachers. FMEA expresses its greatest thanks to each of our Partners, Corporate and Academic, for their partnership over the past year. We hope that FMEA members from across the state support our Partners as they support FMEA and Florida music educators. The Academic Partner memberships are for colleges, universities, and military organizations, and the Corporate Partner memberships are for businesses and organizations. Please choose the appropriate button for more information.
Corporate Partners
any circumstance, when it comes to the advancement of education, no one does it better than Florida’s music educators.
The need for social and emotional learning has never been greater, so make
Academic Partners
sure you communicate this vital aspect of education with your administrators and school board members. Music education offers our stakeholders the opportunity to expand the boundaries of a virtual world that wants to close us in.
Additionally, as we begin reopening our economy, please keep in mind your
FMEA partners and their employees as you make purchasing decisions. We are with you every step of the way and look forward to helping you achieve your musical goals.
FMEA.org/partners
FMEA is a not-for-profit professional education association that serves and supports music education across Florida. FMEA promotes and publishes the Florida Music Director and music education research, organizes professional development programs, and broadens teachers’ knowledge and interest in their profession through affiliation with colleagues. Membership in FMEA is open to music instructors from pre-kindergarten level through college, including music supervisors, and component organization membership is available for your specific music education focus.
August 2020
11
GOLD
SILVER PARTNERS Music is Elementary Music Man, Inc. The Horn Section, Inc. Partners as of June 30, 2020.
*Please visit FMEA.org/partners for partnership details or call 850-878-6844.
12
Florida Music Director
Please take time to thank and support our 2019-2020 Corporate Partners.
PARTNERS
BRONZE PARTNERS Cadence Music Carl Fischer Music D’Addario Excelcia Music Publishing Head’s House of Music J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc. MakeMusic, Inc. Music & Arts
National Concerts Neil A. Kjos Music Company Noteflight Romeo Music Spring Hill Music Academy Tampa Bay Institute for Music Therapy West Music Company
August 2020
13
Please take time to thank and support our 2019-2020 Academic Partners.
GOLD PARTNERS
SILVER PARTNERS
University of North Florida
BRONZE PARTNERS
Cannon Music Camp - Appalachian State University Florida College Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Southern College Holy Cross Lutheran Academy Infinity Percussion Kent State University School of Music Mercer University Northwestern State University (LA)
Palm Beach Atlantic University Rollins College Department of Music Stetson University Union University University of North Texas University of Tampa Valdosta State University West Virginia University School of Music
Partners as of June 30, 2020.
14
*Please visit FMEA.org/partners for partnership details or call 850-878-6844. Florida Music Director
June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Recipient Shayna Singer submitted the following essay with her application for the June M. Hinckley
Music Education Scholarship. It appears here with minor editing and the addition of a headline.
Bringing Joy Through Music by Shayna Singer
E
June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Recipient
Ever since I began my music education program at the SOS Children’s Village in
Coconut Creek, I realized how much I love
to be able to bring musical opportunities
to and spark passion in children. The SOS Children’s Village is a nonprofit organization that provides foster care for children
all around the world, dedicated to keeping children together after being separated from
their parents. As president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society at my school, which
was recently recognized as the Chapter of
the Year from the National Association for
Music Education, I decided to bring my chapter to the children’s village to perform
a Christmas concert in December 2018. After coming up with a program that consisted of
choral and brass ensembles as well as solos, we performed for the 25 children who were
eager to hear what we had prepared. It was
an overwhelming experience. We spent about two hours perform-
accompaniment for Disney movies, drum on buckets, and
allowing the children to experiment with instruments, and doing
activities. I have created personal relationships with the
ing, speaking with children, holding an instrument petting zoo, arts and crafts. After leaving the village to return to school that day, I was charged with emotions. I thought to myself, “These children deserve so much more; they were so eager and so excited to see
understand wind/brass/string instruments among other children, and the house parents tell me they look forward to our class every month.
Coming from such a strong performance background,
the performances and play with the instruments.” I decided that I
teaching and education have been quite different for me. I
Beginning in February 2019, I began our official music education
Chopin Barcarolle or standing on the stage about to perform
wanted to share music with them even more.
program, where we visited once a month bringing instruments,
providing individual and group lessons, and so much more. Throughout the year, we taught them to compose songs, create
am so used to sitting on the piano bench about to play the
the lead role in Massenet’s Cendrillon. Performing was definitely my forte, but after creating my own piano studio and
Continued on page 16 August 2020
15
Shayna Singer Continued from page 15
teaching up to five students at a time, I
Music is a part of everybody’s life in
Music sparks love, hope, and peace, all of
shape in listening to tunes in the car, hear-
our younger generation to be able to bring
realized that I had a love for teaching.
one way or another. For some, it takes
tutoring students with special needs in
ing your neighbor’s speakers play songs,
I often spend early mornings at school music theory and keyboard skills, as well
as weekend nights traveling to houses to teach piano lessons. Although teaching was new to me, it felt natural. Week after
week, I love seeing the dedication and improvement of my students.
Over the past year, working with indi-
vidual students as well as the children at the SOS Children’s Village, I realized my
hidden passion for music education. Being
able to bring opportunities to children is
one of the most gratifying experiences for me and allows them to expand upon their
horizons to things they never thought they could do. It also made me realize how much I enjoy bringing joy through
music to others. All of this filters into why I want to become a music educator.
or turning on some jams in between class. For others like me, it is so much more than that. It sparks emotion, memories,
passion, creativity, and inspiration. In
the darkest moments in my life, such as learning how to cope with my father’s illness and the changes it made to my fam-
ily, music has always been there for me. Whether it is through singing an Italian
art song, playing an F blues piano solo, or listening to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.
6, music has helped me through so much.
feel as if music, especially classical music,
is becoming less and less popular with the younger generation. Although I do have
many colleagues from around the world that are pursuing classical music in college and beyond, I still feel as if classical
music is disregarded often. Ever since I
have begun the music education program at the SOS Children’s Village, I am ded-
icated to making music available to all students, no matter what their situation is.
Overall, music has impacted everyone
in one way or another, whether we know
is up to us, the music educators, to allow
to people, and help us through our dark-
person, to help others, and much more. It everybody in the world to feel the way we do about music. It is extremely impactful.
No matter what background—one’s
race, age, economic status, gender, or
generation.
should be available and encouraged to all.
Access
music to all people of the world. Often, I
It has inspired me to become a better
I want to spark passion and creativity in
students as well as educate our younger
which the world needs more of. It is up to
religion—all genres and styles of music
ls a i r e t a
M y c a c Advo
it or not. It can bring happiness and love est times. It is therapeutic in so many ways! No matter what happens in the
world, music should always be available
to everyone in order to spread love and joy between us and is something of which we can always use a bit extra.
at
Including the
“Make Your Case” Database
16
Florida Music Director
June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Recipient Mark Stevens submitted the following essay with his application for the June M. Hinckley
Music Education Scholarship. It appears here with minor editing and the addition of a headline.
A Passion for Teaching Music
I
by Mark Stevens
June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Recipient
I have always wanted to be teacher. When I was little, I had my own pretend classroom and my own pretend class. It wasn’t
until middle school, however, that I began to explore the world
of music and what it had to offer for me as a person. Band opened up an entire new chapter in my life. It’s given me hope, courage, confidence, and peace—things that I’ve never experienced at the same time before with any other activity. I just
knew that band was different, it felt different. By the time I fin-
ished my freshman year in high school, I decided that I wanted
to become a band director so I could share the joys of music with young students.
I knew that this would be such a perfect fit since I loved
teaching so much as well as making music for others to enjoy. Being a music educator would allow me to open the eyes of students to the cultural and emotional impacts that music can have
on an individual. I began to see my capabilities as an educator while serving on my high school band’s leadership council, specifically, as a drum major. I had to have a great knowledge of music, music theory, score analysis, and how to achieve beauti-
ful overall band sonority. Needless to say, this was not an easy job. However, my peers came to respect me and recognize that I was invested and dedicated to pursuing greatness. As a music educator I would be dedicated to my students, fun, inviting, and most importantly, passionate about what I do.
I have a great passion for teaching music. I’ve always loved
music and how it’s helped me as a student. It’s helped through
meant that they would feel better and would smile a little bit
for teaching includes teaching music, as well as its impacts on an
program that have become happier because of band. I know that
dark periods in my life and through school as well. My passion
individual. However, my passion for teaching also goes beyond the classroom setting. I wish to help shape mature young adults
that can conquer any challenges that they may face. This is what high school band has done for me, and so I wish to continue
this for my future students. I also wish to help those in need. Music can serve as a sanctuary for those facing trouble in life,
and I would love to be able to offer that for my students if it
more every day. I’ve witnessed students in my high school band as a music educator, it would be my responsibility to make sure that my students remain happy with the music they make, but also with the person that they are becoming. I have such a desire
to be there for students because I know just how much that has
meant to me over the years. Just having someone that can listen
to one’s worries and troubles, and to have someone that can care
Continued on page 18
August 2020
17
Mark Stevens Continued from page 17
for one during tough times can mean a
districts across the country, can respect
the school (freshmen orientation, more
person that a student needs.
equally so that every student has an equal
great experience to be able to have the
lot to a student. I have the desire to be the I personally feel that music is a vital
part of a student’s education. It helps
students build maturity, organizational skills, and concentration. Studies over
and support our school music programs opportunity to pursue greatness and to see how music can benefit themselves as well as their friends and families.
I was very fortunate to attend a school
the years have shown that students who
where the arts were greatly respected.
or participate in music clubs/organiza-
the beginning as an incoming freshman.
take music classes in high school and/
tions in high school tend to make better grades, be more organized, and are less likely to get arrested later in life. Many people don’t realize the benefits of music
education and take it for granted. In my
home school district (St. Johns), we are known for being the top school district
in the state of Florida. However, when
it comes to our music appreciation, we fall just short of where I wish our school district should be. We have fantastic band
and choir programs in our county; it’s
just that some programs aren’t funded as
greatly as they should be. I feel that no program should be slighted the chance to
make an impact on a student’s life due to financial strains and challenges. My hope
is that my home school district, and other
However, this was not quite the case in I walked into a band program that had suffered from financial hardships, major
director turnover, and a mostly unsup-
portive student body from the school itself. This hurt me deeply as I saw other
pep rallies, more parades, etc.). It was a support of the students, staff, and com-
munity. It made me even prouder to serve
as the drum major for my high school band. It meant so much more to be part
of a band program that supported others and brought the best out in its members, as well as outside supporters. My wish
is that every music program can receive
the same amount of respect, honor, and support because it makes the experience that much more memorable.
As I’m writing this essay, my emotions
groups around the school (like sports
are taking the best of me as I’m reflecting
being respected, honored, and supported
ter due to COVID-19. I have lost my last
teams and academic clubs) that were
by the students, staff, and community. I
always promised myself that one day this program that I cherished greatly would
be respected and admired by many. I’m happy to write that this did happen. My
junior year started to see some increase in respect with more school involvement (pep rallies, etc.), but my senior year
was the pinnacle of this. The band was requested for many more events around
on all that I have lost this second semes-
state solo & ensemble performance, my last high school band concert, my last St.
Augustine (community) concert band concert, my last high school band banquet,
my last prom, and even a traditional graduation. I never would have thought that something like this would have happened
to a kid like me. It’s times like these, however, that make us stronger—and if music
has taught me anything, it’s to stay strong and push through any obstacles you come
across. Without music and music educa-
tion, I don’t think that I would be able to get through a time like this. I think
that many students would lose hope and would feel lost and abandoned. Music has kept us, though. It has shown us that there
will be better days and that no matter what, we will be happy.
I wish to become a music educator
because I want to be able to cherish more magical moments with young students.
I wish to offer music in schools to students who desperately need it and who rely on it each and every day. I wish to
serve my community and family well. Music has done that for me. The very
least I could do would be to give back to
18
those that I love. Florida Music Director
FLORIDA MUSIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2019-2020 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
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No current donors at this time.
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SUSTAINERS continued Bob O’Lary & Debby Stubing Kimberly Oppermann On Behalf of the Board of Directors of HCEMEC, Inc. Mary Palmer Edward Prasse On Behalf of Nancy Masters Jeanne Reynolds On Behalf of Pinellas County Schools Performing & Visual Arts Teachers Mary Catherine Salo In Memory of Gary Rivenbark & Wes Rainer Steven Salo In Honor of John Jamison & Dr. Bill Prince Kathleen Sanz In Memory of June M. Hinckley Fred Schiff J. Mark Scott In Honor of Judy Arthur & Judy Bowers
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Florida Music Director
Carol Casey Shelby Chipman Dale Choate Don Coffman Erin Cushing Virginia Dickert In Memory of Lindsay Keller & Debbie Liles Michael Dye Curtis Edwards Judith Evans Melanie Faulkner Bradley Franks In Memory of Gary W. Rivenbark Mark Goff Louise Gore Sharon Graham Walter Halil John Henderson Bernie Hendricks Stanley Hoch Neil Jenkins Pauline Latorre Lu Anne Leone Joseph Luechauer
Kevin Lusk Cak Marshall In Memory of Sylvia Perry of Peripole, Inc. Stephen Mayo Robert McCormick Jeneve Medford Jarvis Kim Miles Katie Grace Miller In Honor of My Aunt Artie Ree Nathan John Nista Harry “Skip” Pardee On Behalf of Quinn & Vivienne Pardee Galen Peters David Pletincks In Honor of Alexis & Jonathan Pletincks C. William Renfroe In Memory of Herb Beam, Past FVA President Rollins College Department of Music Alicia Romero-Sardinas In Honor of John Rose Melissa Salek Cristyn Schroder Ted Shistle
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August 2020
21
Music Teacher Evaluation by Non-Music Administrators by Jeffery B. Redding and Eileen McGonigal
T
Teacher evaluation continues to be a “hot topic,” not only in the
education community, but seemingly everywhere. It is conten-
tiously debated among politicians. One only needs to look at
social media or online forums to conclude that everyone seems to have their own opinion about how to best evaluate teachers. To compound the issue, many administrators are expected to evaluate teachers in subject areas for which they have no exper-
tise or even a basic level of understanding. A popular line of reasoning is that “good teaching is good teaching, regardless
of the subject.” Using this widely held belief, non-music eval-
uators, therefore, should be able to accurately and correctly evaluate music teachers by observing them teach. Although a “good teaching is good teaching” approach to teacher evaluation provides an accurate measure of some components of effective
teaching, crucial aspects of effective teaching in music may be
overlooked. The education of our students and the future live-
lihood of teaching professionals are too important to overlook what systematic, scientific research has found.
What does the research say about music teacher evaluations
by administrators/evaluators who are not specially trained in music? Jeffery B. Redding (2011) completed research on the
perception of teacher effectiveness and discovered some particularly eye-opening results. Redding’s study focused on three
primary areas of observational teacher evaluation: (1) accuracy/ inaccuracy of instruction; (2) high/low teacher delivery; and (3) on/off task student behavior. In this study, experienced
Continued on page 24
22 F l o r i d a
Music Director
August 2020
23
Music Teacher Evaluation by Non-Music Administrators Continued from page 22
non-music teachers, experienced music
teachers, college music students, and high school students all viewed previously recorded video segments of
music teaching. Expectedly, the results of Redding’s study indicated that teaching
with accurate instruction, high teacher delivery, and on-task student behavior resulted in high evaluative ratings from all groups of evaluators, regardless of their musical background. Likewise,
teaching with inaccurate instruction, low
delivery, and off-task student behavior resulted in very low evaluative ratings.
This is what we would expect from all evaluators. It is clear from these results,
however, that the evaluative component
of teacher delivery seems to hold more
task behavior, an important component
regardless of content, potential learners
teacher evaluation.
was presented in an interesting way with
as long as the content information is deliv-
weight and “overwrite” the other areas of
High Teacher Delivery
of effective teaching, when information high delivery.
Teaching with high delivery may
can be seduced into thinking they learned ered with enthusiasm (Naftulin, Ware, & Donnelly, 1973). The original Dr. Fox
lectures can be viewed with simple web
Teacher delivery includes observable
also cause some evaluators to overlook
Observable aspects of high teacher
of effective teaching. In Redding’s (2011)
tact with students; varying the volume
ers’ group was greatly affected by teacher
skills may have an overall greater effect
posture; using facial expression through
racy of instruction. The only groups to
in comparison to other teaching charac-
smiling; and exuding a high degree of
instruction was inaccurate were the col-
behaviors that accompany instruction.
delivery include maintaining eye con-
and pitch of voice; maintaining good raising eyebrows, widening eyes, and
energy. Conversely, low delivery behaviors include an audible voice but very
little inflection and variation in volume;
poor posture; indifferent facial expres-
sions with a lack of eyebrow movement
and smiling; and lethargic, dull, and sluggish energy. The teaching segments
another extremely important component
study, the experienced non-music teachdelivery and not influenced by the accu-
rate the teachers ineffective when the
lege music students and the experienced music teachers. The ratings of experienced
music teachers were most affected by the accuracy of teacher instruction in evaluations of teacher effectiveness than any other evaluative group.
These findings are not entirely new. In
with high teacher delivery received the
a series of well-known studies referred
regardless of whether the students were
actor (under the guise of Dr. Myron L. Fox)
highest teacher ratings by all evaluators,
on task or off task. Even when a teach-
er’s classroom management was lacking, evaluators still rated the teacher higher when the teacher displayed engaging
and exciting delivery. Thus, evaluators were willing to overlook students’ off-
24
to as the “Dr. Fox” studies, a professional
gave an extremely entertaining and char-
ismatic lecture that included nonsensical
and inaccurate content to an audience of educators and professionals. The audience
gave Dr. Fox extremely high evaluative ratings for his lecture, suggesting that
Florida Music Director
searches (for example, see https://you tu.be/RcxW6nrWwtc
).
It is in this way that high delivery
on the perceived effectiveness of a teacher
teristics, such as precise and extensive knowledge of the subject matter. In anoth-
er music research study (Madsen, 1999), accuracy of teacher instruction, student attentiveness, and teacher delivery were
examined as they affected the effective-
ness ratings of teachers. In this study, teachers received high evaluations when the delivery was high and the students
were on task, even when the information presented was incorrect. All evaluators attended to teacher delivery more than accuracy of instruction and students’ on-
or off-task behavior. Like Redding’s (2011) study, high teacher delivery was again
rated as being more effective than accurate subject matter in Madsen’s (1999) study.
clearly define and explain the musical academic material that will be taught.
Although this additional documentation may be cumbersome and take addition-
al time, the benefits to students will be worthwhile.
Jeffery B. Redding, PhD, recipient of the Correct and Accurate Subject Matter Unfortunately,
inaccuracy
teaching content impacts student achieveof
infor-
mation may not always be noticed by
evaluators since it is typically examined
alongside teacher delivery and is often evaluated by experts without specific
music knowledge. Because of this lack of content-specific knowledge, problems may arise when experts in education are
evaluating educators who are teaching subject matter outside of the evaluator’s expertise. This would appear to present a considerable problem, as students
could be learning wrong material with incorrect information taught. It could be potentially problematic for an evaluator
to assess a beginning music teacher and
not recognize if and when inaccurate instruction occurs. Additionally, it can
be frustrating for expert music teachers to endure an administrator’s misevalu-
ations when the administrator does not
ment substantially while it has less effect
on student ratings of instructors (Abrami, Leventhal, & Perry, 1982). Based upon
this information, it is important to decide why educators are being evaluated in
the first place. Are we evaluating educa-
tors to boost student evaluations of the teacher, or are we evaluating teachers to
assess a teacher’s potential impact on stu-
dent learning? If accurate content has the greatest effect on student achievement, then it is imperative that educators teach
correct content. Correct subject matter, therefore, is crucial to the assessment of
music teacher effectiveness. If non-mu-
sically trained teacher evaluators are unable to identify when subject matter
is inaccurate, then evaluations need to be administered by musically trained
experts who can differentiate between accurate and inaccurate subject matter.
Because music teachers in many states
understand aspects of the lesson—for
are evaluated by school administrators
presented in a music lesson or rehearsal.
not be familiar with a music teacher’s
example, when academic content is being Administrators’ evaluations, while contributing expert advice regarding delivery and classroom management tech-
niques, offer little to evaluate the accuracy of the content.
Student Ratings vs. Student Achievement
Research data have indicated that instructor delivery impacts student ratings of
instructors substantially, yet it has little effect on student achievement. Conversely,
and other education personnel who may subject matter, it would be prudent for
school districts nationwide to incorpo-
rate evaluations of “special area” teach-
ers by specialists within their respective
academic areas. Additionally, music and other related subject area teachers should
educate evaluators about what their students are learning, especially if the evalu-
ator lacks appropriate content knowledge in a teacher’s particular field. For example, a music teacher could provide lesson
plans in advance of an evaluation that
2019 GRAMMY Music Educator Award, is the director of choral activ-
ities at the University
of Central Florida. Dr.
Redding is in demand nationally and internationally as a guest conductor, speaker, and
clinician. He has been honored with multiple
awards for his achievements and service to the profession.
Throughout her 16 years of
teaching,
Eileen
McGonigal has taught
band, orchestra, and guitar at the elementary, middle, high school, and
college levels. She recent-
ly graduated from Florida State University with the PhD and is the new director of bands and assistant professor of music at Central College in Pella, Iowa. References Abrami, P. C., Leventhal, L., & Perry, R. P. (1982). Educational seduction. Review of Educational Research, 52(3), 446-464. https:// doi.org/10.2307/1170425 Madsen, K. (1999). The effect of accurate/inaccurate teacher instruction, high/low teacher delivery, and on/off task student behavior on musicians’ evaluation on teacher effectiveness. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Naftulin, D. H., Ware, J. E., Jr., & Donnelly, F. A. (1973). The Doctor Fox lecture: A paradigm of educational seduction. Journal of Medical Education, 48, 630-635. https://doi. org/10.1097/00001888-197307000-00003 Redding, J. B. (2011). The effect of choral conductor intensity on the perception of teacher effectiveness (Publication No. 3483596) [Doctoral dissertation, Florida State University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
August 2020
25
Practical Strategies for
Ensemble Motivation and Growth
M
by Kari Adams
Motivation is an ever-present concern in the classroom, and
teachers are often frustrated when motivation strategies
branded as quick fixes work only for a brief time or with a
few students. With a basic understanding of the components of motivation, teachers can create or find strategies that have
intrinsic
a lasting impact on students. This understanding, however, is
difficult to attain, as the motivation literature is vast and can be challenging to wade through. Most researchers agree that
people are motivated when they believe a task has intrinsic value, take part in a healthy culture, and experience feelings of competence (Pink, 2009). Therefore, effective motivation
strategies are ones that communicate value through intrinsic motivation, connectedness to a motivating culture, and competence through emphasizing growth. Value: Intrinsic Motivation
Tangible rewards such as prizes, candy, or redeemable ticket systems may appear effective because they can yield immediate results; however, those results are often short-lived, and
psychologists have consistently found that rewards have a
long-term negative effect on intrinsic motivation (e.g., Lepper et al., 1973; Deci et al., 1999). When the rewards are gone or no longer valued by the students, motivation disappears.
Encouraging students to be intrinsically motivated may take
26
more effort and creativity but will provide lasting results. Florida Music Director
connectedness Students are intrinsically motivated
a day to perform student-chosen solos
ing, relevant, and valuable (Pink, 2009).
for students to engage in their own indi-
when they find a task to be challengTo encourage intrinsic motivation, teach-
ers can assign tasks at the proper level of challenge and help students make
connections between tasks and goals. For example, Pink recommended using “DIY (do it yourself) report cards� (p. 188), a strategy in which students grade
themselves in a variety of skills and provide a short summary of their progress
or small ensembles, or providing a day
vidual or small group musical projects. These rewards are especially effective
when delivered intermittently and unexpectedly. If-then rewards can encourage
students to weigh the action against the value of the reward or develop a sense of
entitlement, but intermittent rewards are unexpected gifts.
throughout the semester. Students could
Connectedness:
self-assessments with teacher assess-
Often conversations about motivation
use the report cards to compare their
ments, set goals for the coming semester, or serve as springboards for student-led parent-teacher conferences.
Rewards in the form of praise or expe-
riences, rather than physical objects, can motivate students without harm. Teachers can reward students with activities that promote a love of music, such as allowing
students to perform a favorite piece in the
last few minutes of class, setting aside
Highly Motivating Culture
focus on individual behavior; however,
group culture can have a strong impact
on how individuals behave. A healthy, motivating culture can positively impact
individual behavior, commitment, and
motivation. Author Daniel Coyle (2018),
in his exploration of motivating corporate cultures, found several common foundational concepts required to build a highly
Continued on page 28
August 2020
27
Practical Strategies for Ensemble Motivation and Growth Continued from page 27
motivating culture. According to Coyle,
that they will never have an accurate
play vulnerability. Before embarking on a
bers are ones that communicate safety
ating unless they ask students how they
group goals, outline their responsibili-
cultures that motivate individual memand belonging, encourage vulnerability
and growth, and orient behavior of group members toward shared goals. Music
educators
can
communi-
cate safety and belonging by building
assessment of the culture they are creare experiencing that culture; therefore,
teachers must invite students to share their opinions and feedback regarding classroom culture.
Strategies that work to break down
relationships with individual students
the wall between conductor and student
among students. Encouraging students
admit mistakes openly or actively seek
and encouraging relationship-building to take risks and make mistakes without
detrimental consequences communicates safety. Music educators can also communicate safety and belonging by promoting
student voice and autonomy; encouraging students to participate in error detection,
strategy identification, or co-teaching can prioritize students’ voices. Students can
also have a voice in repertoire selection, community outreach planning, and creation of the class mission statement. It
is important for educators to remember
28
encourage vulnerability. When teachers
feedback from students, they are displaying vulnerability. Although these are simple practices, they are not necessarily
easy. It can be frightening to ask students for feedback on our teaching practices; however, providing students with a voice
new unit of study, invite students to select
ties in reaching those goals, and provide feedback on what they need from the
teacher to reach their goals. At the end of the unit, semester, or concert, engage students again in reflection on whether they
met their goals and what they would do differently next time. Involving students
in these discussions is highly motivating and also can be transformative to teach-
ing. In my own classroom, conversations with insightful, intelligent, and committed students have been integral to my growth as an educator.
Finally, highly motivating cultures ori-
in their own education will serve both
ent behavior toward a shared purpose.
and students in their commitment to the
shared purpose is to invite students to
educators in their pedagogical growth class or ensemble.
The inclusion of students in goal set-
ting and evaluation is another way to dis-
One simple way to begin thinking about
create a mission statement. Begin by
working as an ensemble to name and
rank the group’s priorities. Ask students
competence
Florida Music Director
to consider who they are as a culture,
Dweck (2007) encouraged educators to
short-term costs. The ideal classroom is
Music educators could involve students
but one that allows students to flour-
why they do what they do, and what
model a growth mindset for students.
only how the ensemble will function as
in their growth process by sharing their
their primary goals are. Consider not a performance group, but also how it can
serve the school and the community and how students can connect with others on the regional, state, or global stage. Then,
continually communicate these priorities
to students in the form of concrete examples. Describing behaviors that align with the priorities set by the ensemble can help orient behaviors toward the shared goal.
Competence: Growth Mindset
In the book Mindset, Dweck (2007) pre-
sented over three decades’ worth of
research in the field of competence motivation. According to Dweck, people conceive of their abilities and potential as
either fixed or malleable, and this belief influences the types of goals people set,
the way they respond to setbacks, and
personal musical or instructional goals with students and inviting feedback when trying a new strategy. Helping students track growth is another powerful tool for encouraging a growth mindset. As
primarily intended to show their talent, and to give up in the face of setbacks.
Those with a growth mindset are likely to select challenging activities, intended to bring about growth, and to persist through obstacles.
It is difficult to motivate students to
take on challenges if they believe their musical ability is a fixed trait. Teaching a
growth mindset allows students to experience feelings of competence in the face of challenging tasks. Several authors in
music education have explored the impor-
that providing students with effort-re-
lated feedback influenced students’ goal
setting and their motivation to practice. Participants who received praise for their effort rather than their talent were more
likely to select challenging rhythms and to engage in home practice. Using feed-
assistant professor of choral
State University and conductor of the FSU Women’s Glee Club. Prior to her
appointment at FSU, Dr. Adams completed the PhD in music education at the University
of North Texas. She is a passionate educator, conductor, clinician, and researcher. References
skills can improve with practice.
Adams, K. (2019). Developing growth mindset in the ensemble rehearsal. Music Educators Journal, 105(4), 21-27. https://doi. org/10.1177/0027432119849473
communicates to students that musical
Although some motivation strategies
detrimental to the value students place
on musical activities in the long run. The strategies outlined here are sustainable and encourage commitment to music
making because of its intrinsic value. It is important to recognize that this path is
not easy. Building on intrinsic motivation
requires patience and dedication from the teacher, a healthy culture requires maintenance, and teaching a growth mindset
requires constant reflection on the strat-
egies used and feedback provided in the classroom. Additionally, even in the ideal classroom, students are human and will, therefore, not feel motivated at all times.
Coyle, D. (2018). The culture code: The secrets of highly successful groups. Random House. Davis, V. W. (2017). Error reflection: Embracing growth mindset in the general music classroom. General Music Today, 30(2), 11-17. https:// doi.org/10.1177/1048371316667160 Davis, V. W., & Persellin, D. (2017). Harnessing the power of failure in your music classroom: Grit, growth mindset, and greatness. Southwestern Musician, 85(7), 68-73. Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., & Koestner, R. (1999). A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychology Bulletin, 125(6), 627-668. https://doi.org/10.1037/00332909.125.6.627 Droe, K. L. (2013). Effect of verbal praise on achievement goal orientation, motivation, and performance attribution. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 23(1), 63-78. https://doi. org/10.1177/1057083712458592 Dweck, C. S. (2007). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Ballantine Books.
tangible, if-then rewards and quick fixes
Lepper, M., Greene, D., & Nisbett, R. (1973). Undermining children’s intrinsic interest with extrinsic rewards: A test of the ‘overjustification’ hypothesis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 28(1), 129-137. https:// doi.org/10.1037/h0035519
the long-term benefits far outweigh the
Pink, D. H. (2009). Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. Riverhead Books.
Enacting these strategies is challeng-
ing, and it can be tempting to revert to
to teach a growth mindset in secondary
during the transition period; however,
ensembles (Adams, 2019).
knowledge and skill.
back in rehearsal that focuses on effort
tance of a growth mindset (Davis, 2017;
Davis & Persellin, 2017) as well as ways
students need to grow in their musical
music education at Florida
education researcher Droe (2013) found
appear to be quick fixes, they may be
mindset are likely to select easy activities,
space, opportunity, and encouragement
skills that change with practice. Music
a fixed mindset believe that their abilunchangeable. Individuals with a fixed
result in an environment that provides the
Kari Adams, PhD, is
time, they see that musical abilities are
Conclusion
ities are due to natural talents and are
ish. Dedication to these strategies will
students track their own progress over
the decisions they make about future
involvement in an activity. People with
not one that forces students to comply,
August 2020
29
New Year of New Perspectives by Jason Thomashefsky, EdD, Chairman FEMEA Member Engagement
T
he 2019-20 school year has been
strong and at school, extraordinary pos-
Below are some of the ways I myself
These positives should be celebrated and
distance learning that I believe can be
a huge shake-up to the education
itives emerged that cannot be dismissed.
dents, parents, and all educational stake-
expanded upon in hopes not only to sur-
system as a whole. Teachers, stu-
holders were given too many variables
vive in the new reopening situations but
or colleagues of mine thrived during expanded upon moving forward.
The first example of thriving during
to THRIVE.
distance learning was the increased con-
entire educational delivery platform in a
educators may have experienced setbacks
our field. Music educators are used to act-
distance learning was not easy. Though
stress about the upcoming school year.
to address in a short amount of time.
Many school districts worked over their
matter of days. The switch to statewide we have ended the last school year and
are looking to begin our journey into the
next school year under many new conditions of reopening, it is important that
we learn from the things we were able
to do during our experience in distance learning.
During the original shutdown at the
end of the 2019-20 school year, music
teachers across the state were asked to transition our performance-based edu-
cation medium to an online platform. Though I imagine almost the entirety of the music education population
would have preferred to finish the year
It is important to note that many music
and may have feelings of anxiety and
Though these stressors are real and play a huge role in our decision making mov-
ing forward, it is important to identify
the positive things we can build upon that have emerged during this crisis. Arts such as music education play such a critical role in our school system that we
owe it to all of our students and stakeholders to continue to grow and perform our best, even during this pandemic. Let’s take a look at the positives gained,
the new skills learned, and the ideas that came about during our distance learning
adventure and consider ways to apply them going into the next school year.
nection I experienced to my colleagues in ing like they are on a desert island. All too
often, elementary general music teachers
are the only teachers of their subject area in the school. They may drift from
building to building, and rarely are given the opportunity to have meaningful collaboration time with peers teaching their
same subject. During quarantine, however, I began to hear stories of music teach-
ers finally having the chance to meet with larger groups because of the reliance on
software such as Zoom and Google Meet. The camaraderie experienced by my fel-
low teachers in Lee County was not just an anomaly in our area of the state. Other
groups of teachers have found the time to
meet and collaborate. Developing strong
“
During quarantine, however, I began to hear stories of music teachers finally having the chance to meet with larger groups because of the reliance on software such as Zoom and Google Meet.
30
Florida Music Director
”
“
Music educators sought to give the students of our state as close to an authentic, live experience as possible.
”
relationships and sharing ideas with our
to my students to record themselves per-
school year? How can you build upon
be continued into the next school year as
cation experience would not have been
distance learning into this next semester?
colleagues is a great practice that should
often as we can. Though we may not have the amount of time given to us during
forming at home. This type of music edupossible if not for distance learning.
Lastly, the ability to learn and incor-
the original distance learning experience,
porate new skills to help deliver quality
area gives us inspiration and resiliency to
Music educators sought to give the stu-
our connection to others in our subject continue to deliver relevant and needed music content to our students.
Another great positive of adapting to
the new way of teaching was the involvement of parents. Now I understand that
the switch to online learning leads to many students not getting equitable
access to music education. In some cases, students were left out of the arts altogeth-
er. However, in areas where music was allowed to continue, many teachers saw
the music-at-home connection get stron-
ger during distance learning. Parents who normally get a “school was good” comment from their students actually saw what was going on in their classes. This
was especially true in the virtual music
room. Tech programs such as Flipgrid
music education cannot be overlooked. dents of our state as close to an authentic, live experience as possible. This caused
the various musical activities I assigned
and what practices are you going to dis-
miss? What opportunity are you going to take to make yourself a better educator?
If we grow and thrive with this pro-
tional experience, we make our case and
looked for alternative ways to deliver our lessons in various webinar-style formats. The sale of green screens went up across
our country, and I imagine it is because
teachers were looking for ways to spice up their instructional delivery videos. These
new skills that we used to thrive during
cation a relevant part of the total educa-
advocate for our jobs. We music educators
will continue to thrive and our bonds will continue to develop if we continue
to focus on the positives and absolutely look toward making this a great school year.
distance learning should not be forgotten
Jason Thomashefsky,
fall. We should continue to grow and
music educator in Ft.
and set aside as we return to school this cultivate our skill sets to further enhance our teaching.
Though the above situations were some
certain you have success stories of your
siblings, and other relatives taking part in
What resources are you going to update
software to create virtual ensembles. We
in my online classroom were challenged dents. Because of this, I saw parents,
ideas with others who may be struggling?
fession and continue to make music edu-
engineering, recording, and video editing
of my own experiences of thriving during
to participate in activities with their stu-
Will you be willing to share your great
many of us to seek various types of music
gave parents the chance to see what we actually do during our lessons. Parents
the great things that happened during
the events of the past year, I am almost own. Please consider taking the time to
reflect on those experiences and use them as fuel to continue to grow as an educator.
How can you use them this upcoming
EdD, is an elementary
Myers, Florida, and has served for nine years as a
music teacher at Rayma
C. Page Elementary School. He received his undergraduate degrees in music education
and jazz studies from Rowan University
in Glassboro, New Jersey. In addition, he received the MS in neuroscience and psychol-
ogy and the EdD in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. August 2020
31
‘HOW’
The New in Online Music Education by Shannon Stem, Chairwoman FEMEA District 6
B
ack-to-school brings a myriad of emotions to both
instruments as before, we can use body percussion. Instead of
excited, desiring my music students to reach the goals
and showcases, we are able to focus on teaching music funda-
students and teachers. I always start the school year
we create together. This year adds to the excitement a mix of
fear and uneasiness as we continue to find ourselves teaching
focusing on whether or not we can have our music productions mentals, and THAT is something to be celebrated!
It is time for us to collaborate with one another, to reach out
in the middle of a pandemic full of unknowns. I imagine THIS
to our district chairpersons and the FEMEA board, and to truly
expected.
educators in order to provide the highest quality comprehensive
is where most of us are finding ourselves. And that is to be
With this new climate for teaching, we are presented with
many wonderful opportunities. We all know the value of what
embody the mission of FEMEA—to unite and support music music education for all children. We are all in this together!
it is we do with our students on a daily basis, and now, whether
Shannon Stem is the music teacher at
are able to more freely share music education with not only
She graduated from Troy University with the
you are preparing to teach music in-person again or online, we
our students, but their parents and communities as well. At the beginning of our stay-at-home order last school year, music teachers shared creative ideas and lesson plans with each other.
This is just the beginning of the ingenuity we will discover this school year.
Whether your school utilized Quaver, Seesaw, Google
Classroom, or even paper and pencil assignments, you and your music content were the bright spot in your students’ days. More students completed the assignments than we thought or
saw; more parents were actively involved in singing, dancing,
University Academy in Panama City, Florida. BME. She has been teaching elementary music for the last eight years. She serves as the district
chairwoman for FEMEA District 6, has served on several revision committees for the Florida
Teacher Certification Exam in Music, and has served on her local music committee in multiple capacities. In 2017, Shannon Stem was named Hutchison Beach Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year and has
since taken on roles within her district as a mentor teacher to beginning teachers and those new to the area.
and making music; and now more than ever the students are
eagerly awaiting music with you. Knowing this, I plan to revisit
all of the topics that are challenging for our young brains to comprehend and remember, and plan to revamp the way I have been teaching them. If we are unable to sing as much as we
did before, we can use movement. If we cannot use as many
32
Florida Music Director
Ernesta Chicklowski is president of Florida Elementary Music Educators Association. She can be reached at (813) 272-3090 or ernesta.chicklowski@sdhc.k12.fl.us
ComponentNews
A
nd just like that, another summer
FLORIDA VOCAL ASSOCIATION
As an association, FVA is making the
Cristina Morales, Lisa Testa, Carmella
ing its programs and services to members
trict chairpersons. We also welcome Brad
comes to an end and another school
necessary adjustments to continue offer-
selecting music, working on calendars,
and students. Some of our programs will
year begins. Amid all of the planning, setting up classrooms, and meeting new students and parents, I hope you are
refreshed and ready to meet the demands
of a new year with joy and a renewed sense of mission and purpose.
That was how I began my FMD column
a year ago. From a distance, August 2019
and August 2020 look very different, but if you zoom in and look closely, they are
more similar than you might think. What
has not changed (and I suspect never will) is that our students need to connect with their world through music, and that they are led by passionate choral music
look much different, due to necessary
physical distancing requirements or a transition to virtual/digital platforms. Making these changes to our usual
procedures with regard to auditions,
honor choirs, assessments, and meetings requires a huge effort from many people. Thank you to all of our board members
Finally, I am happy to report that the board has selected Michael Dye as FVA’s
next executive director. Mike will work
alongside Mark Scott during the upcom-
ing school year, officially taking over as executive director on July 1, 2021.
Like many of you, I value organization
There have been—and will continue to
as those details are confirmed throughout the year.
I would like to take this opportuni-
Rock, Wesley Roy, and Solangi Santiago,
ronment.
of the Past Presidents’ Advisory Council.
more information about new procedures
process! Stay tuned, as you will receive
standing to provide their students with
experiences possible in our current envi-
Franks to the board as the new chairman
and planning, but I also thrive on prob-
ty to thank Janet Edewaard, Kristi Fish,
the safest and most meaningful musical
Turner, and Charlotte Walters as new dis-
for their many hours in support of this
educators who have poured themselves
into seeking out the resources and under-
Jason Locker, President
Ashley Leland, Ashley Lewis, Jennifer who have completed their terms as district chairpersons. We welcome Brady
Boardman, Alex Glover, Jessica Mongerio,
lem solving and overcoming challenges.
be—some discouraging moments as we adjust to change this year. I firmly believe,
however, that we will make it through
this time, and will emerge stronger and better because of it. With that belief in
our hearts, let us once again prepare to meet the demands of a new year with joy,
and with a renewed sense of mission and purpose!
August 2020
33
FLORIDA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION
ComponentNews I
Matthew Davis, President
hope you found time during the sum-
date in your district. In addition to your
members at no charge. Please stay tuned
a highly unusual spring semester. This
FSMA dues are paid so your students are
opportunity!
mer to rest, restore, and reflect after
will indeed prove to be a very different
FOA/FMEA dues, please ensure your
eligible to participate in any MPAs this
for more information about this exciting The Florida Orchestra Association is
coming year.
dedicated to supporting you and your
through many challenging times in our
FOA/FLASTA Fall Conference will not
back and ideas about all areas in which
this year and beyond! The importance of
Instead, the fantastic professional devel-
school year, with many challenges ahead. Remember this: Music has prevailed past, and music will continue to prevail
our service to our students as music and
arts teachers cannot be overestimated in times such as these. The teaching may
look different, but the students and the music will always be in the forefront.
Unfortunately, due to the virus, the
meet at the Hilton Orlando this year.
orchestra program. I welcome your feedFOA is involved. Feel free to email me at mdavis@myfoa.org.
Let me know how
opment sessions will be recorded and
FOA can better serve your needs!
on demand. These sessions will be pass-
families good health, happiness, and ful-
moved to the FOA website to be accessed word protected and available to all FOA
I wish you, your students, and your
fillment this school year.
I am very thankful for a phenome-
nal FOA leadership team. Understand
FLORIDA MUSIC SUPERVISION ASSOCIATION
we are working very hard to provide
the support you need during this chang-
Harry “Skip” Pardee, President
ing landscape. Know you have dedicated
and extremely talented individuals on the FOA Executive Board working for your
success. I want to thank Past President
Jason Jerald, President-Elect Carol Griffin, as well as Executive Director Donald
Langland for their countless hours of work and support. Please know you are in good hands.
As you prepare for the new school
year, please review the upcoming registration deadlines. FMEA/NAfME/FOA membership dues must be postmarked
by September 12 or paid online by September 21. All-state registration/eli-
gibility information can be found on the FMEA website (FMEA.org
website (myfoa.org
) or the FOA
). Many thanks to
Brian Hellhake and his committee for their work on the all-state audition music.
Audition music is available for download from the FOA website. Please refer to
the all-state audition page for the latest
information, including any errata in the
audition music. Please note that the allstate recording window has moved to the
week of September 27. Check with your
district chairperson for the recording
34
Florida Music Director
W
hen discussing music education advocacy, a wise mentor of mine once said: “Unless you have a seat at the table, you are actually on the menu.”
The proverbial table these days comprises superintendents, district-level leader-
ship, curriculum staff, teachers, and health professionals, all meeting to discuss what school programs will look like when the school year begins. By now, decisions have been made that are (and have been) extremely difficult to make, with no perfectly clear resolution in sight. That is why the Florida Music Supervision
Association has done its very best to try to remain at the table during this difficult decision-making process.
Each week, music program leaders from across our state have met virtually to
discuss the progress made in each community and to share resources with one
another. The work this team has done over the past six months is nothing short of astounding! From guidance documents to equipment purchases, curriculum changes, learning management system coordination, staffing concerns, and so
much more—music supervisors and program leaders in Florida are working tremendously hard on ensuring a robust arts education for Florida’s students.
Meaningful conversations about the importance of music education are hap-
pening all around us. Despite the recent challenges, our profession is united and
committed to arts education. Students truly need what the arts provide, and
you are the catalyst providing it. Please know that during this interesting time,
FMSA is here to assist you in any way possible. FMSA is committed to assisting not only those districts fortunate enough to have a district-level program leader, but all districts in Florida. If our organization can be of assistance to you and
your crucial work, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Have a wonderful school year!
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
FLORIDA NAfME COLLEGIATE
Mark A. Belfast, Jr., PhD, Advisor
W
ell … here we are. August 2020. The start of another academic year,
and what a year it promises to be! The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside down. Few things today
are as they were at this time in 2019. It is absolutely mind-blowing how much can
change in a single year: the way we meet,
the places we eat, how we shop, the way we do school and go to church … the list seems endless. How do you measure the
change you’ve experienced? In friends?
Followers? Afternoon walks with your dad?
In the United States, the COVID-19
crisis forced all of us to slow down, and in
those still, quiet moments, many people
heard the voices of their neighbors who had been crying out for justice, peace, equality, and liberty for centuries. The last six months have hit the American social, political, and cultural scenes like a tidal
wave, and we’ve all been forced to reeval-
uate our norms, our biases, and the things we hold to be self-evident. I hope you
use this time to read some books, watch some documentaries, and otherwise edu-
cate yourself on the issues affecting our country, and yes, you, today. Many of us have certainly had to reimagine how we do what we do, and ensure we do it with
provided classes, camps, and workshops
Helpless
do you measure your knowledge, or lack
platforms to ensure students continued
stant reminder of why we do what we do.
empathy and integrity—and well! How thereof, of the social, political, and cultural history of the small world in which we live?
Despite the inherent discomfort that
often accompanies discovery and change,
much good has come from these chal-
lenging times. With little or no time to
prepare, musicians across the country have brilliantly developed musical expe-
riences for people of all ages when they needed music the most. Music teachers
via Zoom and other videoconferencing
not only to experience quality music but to further develop their musical knowl-
edge and skills. They were joined by countless performing artists around the
from their homes, the music
created during this season has been a conHow do you measure up? What have you
done during this time to become a better musician, educator, human?
2020 has been a long year, quite literal-
world who recognized the need for the
ly, and it’s not over yet. As you encounter
music. Whether it was the Dillard Center
I encourage you to choose joy and love.
enriching, invigorating, healing power of for the Arts Jazz Ensemble’s sizzling virtual band rendition of Cotton Tail
or
Jimmy Fallon, the original Broadway cast
of Hamilton, and The Roots performing
the many challenges before you this fall,
Love yourself. Love your neighbor. Love
your craft. Love the journey. How do you measure a year in the life? Measure in love.
August 2020
35
ComponentNews
FLORIDA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION
Ian Schwidt, President
many of those bands as possible into the
FBA community to help make all of us stronger.
In an effort to alleviate any pressure
coming from a marching MPA for the
school year 2020-21, no band in the state of Florida will be required to participate in marching MPA in order to participate
in concert MPA or solo and ensemble MPA. We want you to be able to con-
centrate on your program and meet the
needs of your students in whatever form that may be. We do not want you to feel
any pressure to take your current circum-
stances and try to make them fit your
F
irst, I want to say thank you. And
I have been blessed to hear from so
program into a traditional year.
Furthermore, as of this writing, school
I want to say it again. Thank you,
many of you about your conquering of
classification will be lowered one clas-
making the square peg of music edu-
And now I want to ask you to share
selection in the spring. This is based
thank you, thank you! Thank you for
cation fit in the round hole of virtual learning. Thank you for keeping music in the lives of your students. Thank you
for holding discouragement at bay and
continuing to persevere when it seemed hopeless. Thank you for keeping music
alive and vibrant in our schools. Thank you for making the magic of music a reality for all of your students despite ridiculous obstacles and challenges.
What a great virtual summer confer-
ence we experienced this summer. The
presenters brought so many excellent
obstacles and your defiance of the odds.
your strategies, discoveries, and ideas.
FBA has started a collection of short videos and documents made by our members of the tips and tricks that helped them successfully teach virtually. If you
Melvin, Josh Sall, Shawn Barat, Mara Rose, Sheldon McLean, Jason Duckett,
Jim Matthews, Kelly Dorsey, Jody Dunn, Keith Griffis, Bernie Hendricks, Fred Schiff, Gary Green, Jason Hatfield, Rich
DeRosa, Jeremy Langford, and Jeremy George.
36
unfold throughout fall 2020.
As the school year is now upon us,
officers, and the executive committee
for more information. The submissions we have received are categorized and
available on the FBA website. So many great ideas!
Bernie Hendricks, Dr. Shelby Chipman,
that is now available to view on our FBA
Fourth Wall Ensemble, Tom Bracy, Tara
fied even more as we see circumstances
please email virtual@fba.flmusiced.org
out our teaching lives! Thank you to Jeanne Reynolds, Ear Peace Foundation,
during spring 2020. This may be modi-
please do not hesitate to reach out to
you haven’t yet but would be willing to,
and Cathi Leibinger put together a
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Dr. Kathy Sanz,
on the loss of nine weeks of instruction
have already contributed, thank you! If
ideas for us to consider and employ, not
only for this coming year but through-
sification for the concert MPA literature
thought-provoking Social Equity Forum
president’s YouTube channel. We highly
encourage everyone to watch it and to reflect on the messages as you do. Using this forum as a launching point, we have
begun the Band Reclamation Task Force led by Bernie Hendricks. We are going
to need everyone’s help in identifying
and connecting with bands across our
state that may not be currently participating in FBA. Our goal is to bring as
Florida Music Director
committee chairpersons, your district
members with any questions, issues, or ideas. We are all FBA, and this is an opportunity for us to become stronger as an organization. Let’s work together and
lift each other up every day. We all work so hard to pour into our students’ lives,
so please make sure someone is pouring
into your life as well. Find another band director (or even two or three or more) to partner with and build each other up
daily. Look for the new band director
who is not connected in your district and connect with him or her as well. It is time
for all of us to be leaders in our programs, in our schools, and in our organization.
We’re all in this together! This will be a great year because we teach music in the state of Florida—together!
FLORIDA COLLEGE MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Marc Decker, DMA, President
I
’m writing this article in the last days
as students attended in significant num-
uncertainty for music education. Every
and other online platforms for no other
bers on Google Hangouts, Zoom, Webex,
of June, which is a time of significant
reason than to socialize. Every section
day I put in my earbuds and go for a long
started a group chat to stay in touch, and
walk to reflect on the many possibilities
some decided on their own to create fun
for the upcoming school year and adap-
videos. At first I was surprised, but then
tations that can keep our students safe.
came to realize that just like us, our youth
I always feel anxious as I start my walk,
had their social lives stripped away by
but toward the end feel relief having con-
the pandemic. They feel alone and yearn
sidered anew some aspect of the coming
for interaction. Music is inherently inter-
year. Recently, as an exercise in positiv-
active as we perform for others and with
ity and planning, I decided to focus my thoughts on the certainties for the upcom-
ing school year, and this has given me
summer I asked my student leadership
First, our students are eagerly wait-
the current and future members of my
both comfort and conviction.
ing for the upcoming school year. This
team to host online gatherings for both ensembles. The result was overwhelming
others, and our classrooms embody the need for community through music. No
matter how significant the modifications
to our instruction will look this year, the students will always seek out music.
Second, the challenges we face will be
done as a community of educators and all of us are fervently preparing. When I FLORIDA NAfME COLLEGIATE
Julian Grubb, President
speak with colleagues, it is immediately clear that they are committed to having
an outstanding and safe school year.
D
Each of us is exploring a multitude of
to physically meet with everyone this year; however, we are working hard to
ingness to share ideas. Furthermore, the
ue to the uncertain times we live in, the State Executive Board has decided that our annual Florida NAfME Collegiate Fall Conference will be held on
a virtual platform this October. We are disappointed that we will not be able ensure that our members receive the Fall Conference they deserve. We have a
lineup of great sessions, such as “Careers in Nontraditional Teaching Situations,” “Exploring the Rockestra,” a session on how to incorporate nontraditional instru-
ments into the orchestra setting, and “Discussions With the Music Supervisors,” a panel discussion of Florida music supervisors, proctored by state board members with questions provided by NAfME collegiate members in real time.
Please make sure to check out our podcast! Our next installment of “Music
Talks: Discussions on Music Education” is titled “The History of American Music
Education.” In this podcast we learn about the profession’s past and how it can help us understand how it affects our present situation and near future. This episode features the new state advocacy committee members and special guests
such as Dr. Steven Kelly (FMEA president) and Dr. Deborah Confredo (professor of music education at Boyer College of Music at Temple University).
Be sure to follow us on Instagram for more information about new initiatives
and the Fall Conference, @flnafmecollegiate.
Please stay healthy, and remember, the arts bring us together. Let’s be sure to
do our part to make sure we all prosper together!
imaginative plans for how music can be
taught safely, and the level of creativity in
our field is unprecedented, as is the willinnovations we implement this year will
shape the future of music education long after the pandemic is gone. I’m grateful
to work in this field and to be a member of Florida’s music education community.
Let’s continue to draw inspiration from each other and trust that united we can accomplish anything.
As I finish each of my long walks, I
tend to end on the same thought: We must succeed. All of us as music educa-
tors have been touched by music. It has been a source of strength, hope, and reassurance throughout our lives. We became
music teachers to share our love of music
with others, and it is more important than ever that we succeed. Stay strong and stay safe!
August 2020
37
CommitteeReports
DIVERSE LEARNERS COMMITTEE Alice-Ann Darrow, PhD, Chairwoman
Including Students With Disabilities in the Age of COVID-19:
Is Blended Learning the Answer? O
n June 11, Governor Ron DeSantis
includes an element of student control, “...
to examine the approach more closely than
Richard Corcoran announced their plan
or skip forward through online content as
headline in Forbes read “The Coronavirus
they do their online learning, the path
Education: From Now On, Blended Learning
even the location from which they want to
or may not become the norm, but it will likely
brick-and-mortar classroom or anywhere
determined the end of the coronavirus and
ability and flexibility of blended learning
convenience and financial feasibility of Zoom
ed instructional approach for students
classrooms, some form of virtual academic
and
Education
Commissioner
to reopen Florida schools at “full capacity”
for face-to-face learning in fall 2020. Music educators are eager to return to their usual teaching practices while including new instructional strategies learned
during their virtual teaching experiences. However, if cases of COVID-19 continue
to increase in Florida, it is likely music educators will incorporate some form of blended learning in their teaching.
Blended learning combines classroom
and virtual instruction. Staker and Horn
(2012, p. 3) defined blended learning as:
“A formal education program in which a student learns, at least in part, through
online delivery of content and instruction
with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace, and at least
in part, at a supervised brick-and-mortar
location away from home.” Critical to the definition of blended learning is that it
the ability for students to pause, go back,
they might have otherwise. In fact, a recent
free agents, … to choose the time at which
Pandemic Has Unleashed A Revolution In
they want to take to learn a concept, or
Will Be the Benchmark” (Dans, 2020). It may
complete the online work—whether in a
be adopted by many educators until we have
else” (Maxwell, 2016, p.1). It is the adapt-
the safety of the classroom. Because of the
that has made it a frequently recommend-
technology for meetings, conferences, and
with disabilities.
gatherings will undoubtedly continue even when teachers return to the classroom. Most blended-learning programs fol-
Blended Learning Blended learning has been employed as an alternative to instructor-led instruction since the 1970s; though it has been used more frequently in recent years as computers have become more affordable, computer literacy has increased, and more homes have computers. Certainly, the potentially chronic nature of COVID-19 has prompted educators
Classroom Learning
Blended Learning
Face-to-Face
A La Carte or Self-Blended, and Enriched Virtual. The Rotation model includes four
sub-models:
Station
Rotation,
Lab Rotation, Flipped Classroom, and Individual
Rotation.
The
following
descriptions of these models are fair-
ly standard. They are taken from Horn and Staker (2014) and Blended Learning Universe (2020):
� Traditional
low one of four models: Rotation, Flex,
Rotation Model. In a rotation model
of blended learning, students rotate from in-person learning to online learning on a
Online
Learning
set schedule or a schedule determined by
a teacher. There are four models for how
« Station
students rotate.
Rotation.
The
Station
Rotation model allows students to
rotate through stations on a fixed schedule, where at least one of the
�
stations is an online learning station.
38
Florida Music Director
This model is most common in ele-
mentary schools because teachers are
already familiar rotating in “centers”
« Lab
or stations.
Rotation. This model, like a
Station Rotation, allows students to
rotate through stations on a fixed schedule; however, online learning
occurs in a dedicated computer lab.
This model allows for flexible scheduling arrangements with teachers or
paraprofessionals, and enables schools
« Flipped
to make use of existing computer labs. Classroom. The Flipped
Classroom model flips the traditional relationship between class time and
homework. Students learn at home via online coursework and lectures,
and teachers use class time for teach-
er-guided practice or projects. This model enables teachers to use class time for more than delivering tradi-
tional lectures and to provide more
« Individual Rotation. The Individual time for individual assistance.
Rotation model allows students to rotate through stations, but on indi-
vidual schedules set by a teacher or
a software algorithm. Unlike other
A La Carte or Self-Blended. A course
usually do not require daily school atten-
essarily rotate to every station; they
accompany other experiences the student
twice-weekly attendance, for example.
rotation models, students do not necrotate only to the activities scheduled on their playlists.
Flex Model. A course or subject in which online learning is the central vehicle for
student learning. Students move on an individualized schedule among learn-
ing modalities. The teacher of record is
on site, and students learn mostly in the classroom, except for any homework
that a student takes entirely online to is having at a brick-and-mortar school or learning center. The teacher of record
Blended Learning for Students
teacher. Students may take the A La Carte
An advantage of blended learning for
for the A La Carte course is the online
course either on the brick-and-mortar
campus or off site. This differs from fulltime online learning because students
take some courses a la carte and others face to face at a brick-and-mortar campus.
assignments. The teacher of record or
Enriched Virtual. The Enriched Virtual
on a flexible and adaptive as-needed basis
school that allows students to complete
other adults provide face-to-face support
through activities such as small-group instruction, group projects, and individual tutoring. Some implementations have
substantial face-to-face support, whereas others have minimal support.
dance; some programs may only require
model is an alternative to full-time online the majority of coursework online at home
or outside of school, but attend school for required face-to-face learning ses-
sions with a teacher. Unlike the Flipped Classroom, Enriched Virtual programs
With Disabilities
students with disabilities is that various models facilitate small-group instruction
that can be tailored to meet students’ individual needs. As digital natives, today’s
students are often more acquainted than their teachers with the various types of
technology used in blended learning.
Students frequently find technological devices such as tablets more engaging than large-classroom instruction. Students who learn differently are not stigmatized when they struggle with one-
size-fits-all instruction, and are allowed Continued on page 40 August 2020
39
CommitteeReports Continued from page 39
dents with disabilities. Zavaraki and
Schneider (2019) conducted a recent systematic review of the research literature on blended learning and students with
disabilities and found that computer- and
network-based technology can improve
academic performances of these students when used in blended learning environ-
ments. In addition, their review of the
literature revealed that assistive tech-
nology, computer-based technology, and network-based technology are the most for them, but also are used by their peers
for convenience and thus are less stigmatizing than pull-out services or special education classrooms.
Research on Blended Learning to progress at their own pace and to
select methods of instruction that fit their interests and preferred learning modalities. Blended learning also supports the
philosophy and concepts of differenti-
ated instruction by allowing students options for how they will receive instruc-
tion and demonstrate what they know. Finally, blended learning provides ways
to measure learning until students have reached the required mastery. Students
have access to these measures and thus can monitor their learning and develop independence in their progress.
An important part of Universal Design
for Learning is the incorporation of technology, a great equalizer for many
students with disabilities (CAST, 2020). Examples are software programs that
Researchers Means, Toyama, Murphy,
learning advisable for students with disabilities. These features are often lifelines
40
to support its use, the blended learning
approach has considerable potential to support students with disabilities.
As in general education, blended learning
ment than traditional brick-and-mortar schools. In their meta-analysis of 45 stud-
ies on blended learning, the researchers
reported that blended learning tended to be more effective than traditional faceto-face learning, and that fully online
learning’s effectiveness was equivalent to face-to-face instruction. The meta-analysis included only one study on students
with disabilities; however, the findings
of the one study did demonstrate support for the effectiveness of blended learning for students with disabilities (Englert,
Zhao, Dunsmore, Collings, & Wolbers, 2007).
Thompson, Ferdig, and Black (2012)
classrooms, they demonstrated smaller
features are, in part, what makes blended
while more quality studies are needed
may be a more effective learning environ-
al student population, blended learning
for students who are deaf. Accessibility
puters, tablets, and smart phones. These
abilities. The researchers concluded that,
Music Technologies Useful for
found that when students with disabil-
features are now standard on most com-
learning approach for students with dis-
and Baki (2013) found that for the gener-
translate text to speech for students who
are blind, or that translate speech to text
popular technologies used in a blended
ities were enrolled in exclusively online
learning gains when compared to the
Students With Disabilities
in music education is an instructional approach that incorporates the use of vir-
tual learning environments, computers, tablets, and other contemporary technologies. Musicians and persons with dis-
abilities have both benefited greatly from advancements in technology. Therefore, it is not surprising that technology would also play a substantial role in the music
education of students with disabilities. Various devices such as the Soundbeam™
have allowed students with the most severe disabilities to participate in music making. Inherent in the blended learn-
ing approach and its implementation in
music classrooms is the use of technol-
ogies that can advance the learning of all students, but especially those with disabilities. Sandee Wallace compiled a list of technological resources
for teach-
traditional classroom. Consequently, they
ing music to students with disabilities as
ment was a viable alternative to bet-
music therapy at Florida State University.
concluded a blended learning environter meet the individual needs of stu-
Florida Music Director
part of a project for her master’s degree in Ms. Wallace previously taught music at
MULTICULTURAL NETWORK Bruce J. Green, Chairman
Nina Harris School for students with disabilities in Pinellas Park, Florida. She
is particularly gifted at adapting music instruction for students with severe and/ or multiple disabilities. She currently
teaches at Governor’s Stem Academy in
Charlotte, North Carolina. She can be reached at srwallace528@gmail.com. Conclusion
During this time of COVID-19, as with all
adversities, we will experience moments
of resilience and inspiration, as well as personal and professional growth. Our professional growth will likely include employing new approaches to teaching,
adding new software to our collection
of teaching tools, and finding levels of inventiveness we didn’t know we possessed. I do believe we will all be together again and with our students. In the
meantime, celebrate good health, person-
al security, family, and friends, and keep
those without one or more of these good fortunes in your thoughts and hearts. We
will overcome. Stay safe, stay well. Our
profession needs you, and your students need you and the musical experiences
you bring to them. As always, feel free to contact me to request assistance with students who have disabilities or to share
your ideas for teaching all of our students with diverse learning needs. References Blended Learning Universe (2020). Blended learning models. Retrieved from https:// www.blendedlearning.org/models/ CAST (2020). Center for Applied Special Technology. Retrieved from http://www. cast.org Dans, E. (2020). The coronavirus pandemic has unleashed a revolution in education: From now on, blended learning will be the benchmark. Forbes Online. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ enriquedans/2020/04/13/the-coronaviruspandemic-has-unleashed-a-revolution-in-education-from-now-on-blended-learning-willbe-the-benchmark/#5fb3731a536f
A
s we continue to adjust to the new norms of our local communities, I would like to greet you from the desk of the FMEA Multicultural Network where
we will continue to strive forward in efforts to ensure that a quality, comprehensive music education experience is available to ALL Florida students. I would be
remiss if I did not thank and acknowledge the outstanding leadership of Bernie
Hendricks. His unswerving commitment to music education and FMEA is some-
thing we can all aspire to. Mr. Hendricks’ love for his family and students shows us every day how to be the best version of ourselves by being a great family man, band director, conversationalist, and downright amazing person. Thank you for your service, Bernie; because of you the Multicultural Network is better.
As the new guy at the helm, allow me to introduce myself to some of you I
may or may not have had the pleasure of interacting with. My name is Bruce Green, and I am originally from Lincoln Sr. High School in East St. Louis, Illinois. I had the pleasure of having Ronald Carter as my high school band director. After matriculating at Bethune-Cookman College and earning a degree in music
education, I went on to earn an MBA. As of 2019, I am the band director at Jones
High School in Orlando. Before that I was the director of bands at Edgewater High School in Orlando for 10 years, and before that my time was spent in elementary and middle schools to span 23 years in the profession.
It is my hope that we will continue to build upon the foundation of excellence
laid before us as we continue to make sure that all students have access to quality music education everywhere. Over the next few weeks, months, and maybe years to come, our communities may call upon us to help shape and reshape the way
we provide music for all students regardless of their background, social-economic
status, religion, or race. In light of all that is going on in our world, we are faced
with the reality of race and what our role will be to help facilitate a working
environment where all students are safe, respected, and valued. I challenge us
to become leaders on the forefront of what our students need as we lead them in seeing the world through another lens.
Englert, C. S., Shao, Y., Dunsmore, K., Collings, N. Y., & & Wolbers, K. (2007). Scaffolding the writing of students with disabilities through procedural facilitation: Using an Internetbased technology to improve performance. Learning Disability Quarterly, 30(1), 9-29. Horn, M. B., Staker, H. (2014). Blended: Using disruptive innovation to improve schools. Retrieved from https://www.blendedlearni ng.org/w p - content/upload s/2014/11/ 1-Models-of-Blended-Learning.pdf Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., & Baki, M. (2013). The effectiveness of online and blended learning: A meta-analysis of the empirical literature. Teachers College Record, 115(3), 1-47. Maxwell, C. (2016). What blended learning is— and isn’t. Retrieved from Blended Learning Universe at https://www.blendedlearning. org/what-blended-learning-is-and-isnt/
Staker, H., & Horn, M. (2012). Classifying K-12 blended learning. San Mateo, CA: Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation. Thompson, L. A., Ferdig, R., & Black, E. (2012). Online schools and children with special health and educational needs: Comparison with performance in traditional schools. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14(3): e62. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384422/ Zavaraki, E. Z., & Schneider, D. (2019). Blended learning approach for students with special educational needs: A systematic review. Journal of Educational & Social Policy, 6(3), 75-86.
August 2020
41
CommitteeReports
EMERGING LEADERS COMMITTEE
Mary Palmer, EdD, Chairwoman
T
his year we Zoomed into the annual
FMEA Emerging Leaders Conference.
It’s clear that this format made it possible
for new Emerging Leaders as well as speakers to join us from throughout the state and beyond. We are happy to wel-
come 57 Emerging Leaders representing 18 counties from the Panhandle to Miami. Incredibly inspiring keynote speaker,
Dr. Dré Graham, 2020 Florida Teacher of the Year/Christa McAuliffe Ambassador
Pictured are speakers from the FMEA Emerging Leaders Conference: top row—Dr. Steve Kelly, Dr. Mary Palmer, Dr. Kathy Sanz, and Scott Evans; bottom row—Malissa Baker, Jeanne Reynolds, Dr. Dré Graham, Debbie Fahmie, and Andrew Burk. Not pictured is Anthony Beatrice.
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
for Education and now executive director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice for the Florida Department of Education, focused on
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Leading through YOUR ‘Why?’” As a
makers. Jeanne emphasized the need
level. FMEA president and FSU profes-
Broward County came to see his students
always to stay actively involved. We are
encouraged us to be open/flexible as we
result of this talk, Christian Gordon of as the next generation of world changers.
Wow! With us from Boston was Anthony Beatrice, executive director for the arts in Boston Public Schools and an exemplar of leading change through transitional
times, who emphasized the importance
to vote in the upcoming elections and looking forward to a follow-up Zoom
Happy Hour to continue developing our
Florida and across the nation.
future, let us keep positivity and flexibil-
We in Florida are fortunate to have
Manela of Miami-Dade County plans to
vast array of forward-looking and inspi-
ways to address the unique situations
ahead.
president of NAfME, inspired us with the rational work being done on the national
Pinellas
County Coordinator of Fine Arts Jeanne Reynolds, FMEA
advocacy chairwoman and past president, along with
Andrew Burk of St. Johns County,
shared
important
information and strategies
to empower us all as advo-
cates for music (and the other arts) education in our schools. Kalyn
Todd
of
Several of our Zoom participants cited
the positivity of this gathering. As we
tory advocates for music education in
great leaders. Our own Dr. Kathy Sanz,
connect with colleagues to develop new
look to and navigate an unknown future.
abilities to become informed, participa-
of networking. Based on her take-aways
from Mr. Beatrice’s presentation, Nerissa
sor of music education, Dr. Steve Kelly,
Broward
County especially liked the
move forward into an unpredictable
ity as our mantra as we continue to keep
the students and communities we are privileged to serve through music in our
hearts and minds. None of us is alone … reach out to each other for support.
Our special thanks to our
planning
and
leadership
team: Scott Evans, senior director of visual and per-
forming arts, Orange County Public
Schools;
Debbie
Osceola
County
Fahmie, fine arts resource teacher,
Public Schools (retired) and
community volunteer; and Malissa Baker, music teach-
er, Manatee County Public Schools.
In spite of the unknown
tip to use phone messaging(!)
yet
munication device with leg-
remain positive and optimis-
as our most important comislators and other decision
42
Florida Music Director
anticipated
challeng-
es of the coming year, let’s tic together!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Scott Evans, Chairman
H
ere we go! After a tumultuous and
them the skills to create, perform, and
ent is that you have now lived through a
many of us held out hope that this new
requires constant reflection about how we
have had time to reflect on your strengths
trying year for music education,
school year would allow us to return to doing what we do best in the familiar and comfortable way we have always approached music education. It is quite
clear now that business will not be back to usual for the 2020-21 school year, and
understand music. This is a tall order that
teach, why we teach, and what we teach.
invigorate our instructional practice.
What remains constant during these
challenging times is that we owe it to our
students, in whatever environment we are
provided, to deliver instruction designed to ensure all students receive the highest-quality music education possible. We
are charged with continuing to spread
the joy of music making to as many young people as possible while providing
works best for you, continue to listen for
approach to teaching.
new and successful ideas, and choose a
The best way to stay flexible and
an incredible abundance of profession-
an opportunity to update, enhance, and
based on recent experiences. Pick what
and how flexible we must all be with our
this as a frustrating and demoralizing the profession, or we can look at this as
fessional growth can look different now,
us about how precious our profession is
informed as an educator is through
endeavor that will challenge our faith in
and weaknesses. As a result, your pro-
This past year was a reminder to all of
the need for music education to evolve is ever more evident. We can approach
few months of modified instruction and
deliberate path of personal and professional growth toward providing the best
professional development. There was
music education for your students.
Music education is resilient, as evi-
al development these past few months
denced by its existence in public schools
rooms, and social media meeting spaces.
of music education, but an invitation to
offered through online classes, blogs, chat
since the 1830s. COVID-19 is not the end
Music teachers collaborated across the
reconsider what we are teaching and to
country to share ideas, learn about new
reexamine our approach to teaching the
technologies, and spend more time get-
students who have been placed in our
ting to know the resources provided to
care. Our profession is strong because of
them at the local level. There was so much
our commitment to evolving as educators
available, it was often difficult to choose
and our inexhaustible drive to deliver
what to focus on and how to select the
the gift of music education to all stu-
best of those opportunities. This year
dents. Now is the time to reflect, learn,
will likely be no different in regard to the
and grow so that we can meet this new
number of offerings. What will be differ-
opportunity.
August 2020
43
CommitteeReports
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Debbie Fahmie, Chairwoman
Madsen’s words really resonate with me.
With that in mind, I
would like to remind you
that
Nominations.”
The two categories that are typically
self-nominated are the Music Enrollment
Awards Program are
and they are due a bit later in the school
open, and we are
waiting to recognize
those heroes who
have demonstrated
visionary thinking, resilience, positivi-
ty, innovation, and a collaborative spirit during the past several
months
when education as
we have known it has been turned
would like to start my column by
upside down with no warning to pre-
Madsen as shared by Dr. Mark Belfast
over the award categories and consider
in This Time of Social Distancing.” Dr.
has embraced opportunity in a changed
ruly great and successful teachers share three
This FMEA program offers several
quoting the brilliant words of Dr. Cliff
pare for such a change. Please check
in his last column, “Music Education
nominating anyone in your sphere who
Madsen is quoted as having said, “[T]
world.
qualities: tolerance for ambiguity, intellec-
awards in recognition of the efforts and
I would dare to extend this thought
lege professors, school administrators,
that the same is true about successful
business partners, and others who have
leadership positions.
education.
year, the word new takes on a much-ex-
in the nomination process ensures that
history on this earth. In terms of music
individuals throughout our state. The
imaginative, creative, revived, unique,
Music Education Service and the Music
get my drift. Although we don’t really
applications are done online. To help
look like this fall, we do know that it will
ful nomination packet, we have exam-
rienced in the past, and that’s where Dr.
were selected in the past. Use these as
tual curiosity, and the ability to transfer.”
Go to “Examples of Successful Awards
nomina-
tions for the FMEA
I
models for putting together your packet.
accomplishments of music educators, col-
and the Music Education Service awards,
year. Get these deadline dates on your calendar now if you might be a part of either
category: Music Education Service Award is due November 3, and Music Enrollment Award is due November 5. Both of these
applications are fairly effortless. You’ll be surprised at how simple it actually is and
glad that you took the 15 minutes or so to apply when you are seated in a room full of honorees and FMEA dignitaries
being recognized for your accomplish-
ments. If your school qualifies for the Music Enrollment Award (with 35% for
high schools and 45% for middle schools), the awards ceremony is a great way to get
your principal to attend the conference. Once there, the conference is typically a transformational experience for an
administrator, which yields benefits to the music program at your school.
Please check the FMEA website
for
details about the awards and nomination
beyond just successful teachers and say
superintendents, school board members,
administrators and anyone involved in
made outstanding contributions to music
of individuals who don’t just fight for
As I welcome you back to a NEW school
Our membership’s active involvement
of “what could be.” Music education has
panded definition than ever before in our
FMEA recognizes the most deserving
education, the word new now means
deadline for all categories (except the
process.
I am so excited to receive nominations
“what was,” but have a growth mindset always changed lives and has brought hope and joy to all people throughout
many generations. This year will go down in history as one of those pivotal moments
for education in general, and I know that
innovative, advanced, novel—I think you
Enrollment awards) is September 11. All
know at this time what education will
guide you in putting together a success-
FMEA Awards Program or the nomina-
be different than anything we’ve expe-
ples of award nomination packets that
tact me. Best wishes as you embark upon
44
Florida Music Director
music education can be at the forefront.
If you have any questions about the
tions process, please don’t hesitate to conthis NEW school year.
CONTEMPORARY MEDIA COMMITTEE David Williams, PhD, Chairman
T
he
FMEA
Contemporary
Media
Committee is excited to announce a new
FMEA all-state group that will be part of the
2021 Professional Development Conference in January. The Florida All-State Popular Music Collective could
An overview of audition requirements is below: DJ – perform a three to four minute set that includes a min-
imum of five samples or clips from at least two songs, and
demonstrates your best work. Make sure to concentrate on
sonic and rhythmic improvisation. Any included lyrics must be “school safe.”
Rapper/Hip-Hop – using the supplied backing tracks (one in a slow tempo and one in a fast tempo), create and perform school-
well be the first state-level all-
safe lyrics. Specific themes will be supplied for each piece. And
state group of its kind. As planned
now, the group will consist of stu-
dents in grades 9-12, and include a DJ, two or three rappers/hip-hop artists, two or three
vocalists, two or three guitarists, a bass guitarist, two keyboardists, two drummers,
and potentially a few other instrumentalists. Staff will include a director, a vocal coach, and a sound technician.
The Collective will focus on and per-
perform a segment of an original rap you have created (no more
than one minute in length) demonstrating your best work (again, with school-safe lyrics).
Vocalist – sing two songs with supplied backing tracks. And sing a segment of one song, a cappella, of your choice (no more than one minute in length and with school-safe lyrics) that showcases your range (preferably an original, but a cover is acceptable).
Electric Guitar – perform a stylistically appropriate guitar part using the
form mostly original music created by the
supplied backing tracks (from two different styles). And perform a seg-
er-centered pedagogical approach where
one minute in length) demonstrating your best work (your
students, and it will be run using a learn-
ment of something original you have created (no more than
the students will have significant autono-
original can be performed on electric or acoustic).
my over the choice of literature performed. Students will also be expected to partici-
pate in preconference communications to begin the planning process of selecting literature. Audition materials are available on the FMEA website.
Auditions
will occur through video recordings, with
links submitted to the FMEA website by September 14. Personnel selections will be made by members of the Contemporary
Bass – perform a stylistically appropriate bass part using the supplied backing tracks (from two different styles). And perform a segment of something original you have created (no more than one minute in length) demonstrating your best work.
Keys – perform a stylistically appropriate keyboard part using the supplied backing tracks (from two different styles). And
perform a segment of something original you have created (no
more than one minute in length) demonstrating your best work.
Media Committee, and results will be com-
Drum Kit – perform a stylistically appropriate drum kit part
Any student, grades 9-12, participating
And perform a segment of something original you have cre-
municated by October 5.
using the supplied backing tracks (from two different styles).
in the Florida Music Education Association
ated (no more than one minute in length) demonstrating your
(FMEA) All-State Popular Music Collective
must be enrolled/registered at a public school, private school, public charter school, home education music cooperative, or vir-
tual school, and be sponsored by an FMEA member teacher from that school. In addition, the student must be a regularly participating member of a school-based music
best work.
Whatever – perform a stylistically appropriate part using the supplied
backing tracks (from two different styles). And perform a segment of something original you have created (no more than one
minute in length) demonstrating your best work. NOTE: this
category is for students who would like to audition on any instrument not included above.
program that is sponsored by an active FMEA member.
Please contact David Williams (davidw@usf.edu
) with any questions. August 2020
45
ResearchPuzzles
RESEARCH COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
FOR MUSIC TEACHERS This on-going column seeks to stimulate awareness of research issues for FMEA teachers and researchers.
Don D. Coffman, PhD University of Miami
How are researchers exploring the risks of spreading COVID-19 while making music?
I
’d like to provide the latest news, although it is only
July 1 (my submission deadline for the August issue).
I hope we know much more soon, based on studies
(e.g., social distancing and isolation, room ventilation and filtration, and personal protective equipment).
From my searching, the most comprehensive (and
being done at the University of Colorado, Colorado State
readable) review of research to date with best practice
studies, wind players enter an aerosol testing chamber
paper “Risk Assessment of a Coronavirus Infection in the
University, and the University of Maryland. In these
and play notes at loud and soft volumes. The flow of air (and particles) emerging from the instruments will
be measured to get an overall understanding of relative airflows from the instrument bell, finger holes, fipples,
and the musician’s nose and mouth. They will also mea-
sure the effect of various mitigations (plastic shields or music stands placed at the end of the instruments, wear-
ing surgical/homemade masks, wearing N95-certified respirators, wearing face shields, and utilizing low-re-
sistance filtering mouthpieces. There are plans to assess the potential impact of aerosol generation in a rehearsal room with multiple players, if that can be done safely,
to gauge the effectiveness of passive control techniques
recommendations is an English translation of a May 19 Field of Music” by Drs. Spahn and Richter, two medical doctors with music training of the Freiburg Institute for
Musicians’ Medicine (FIM), University Medical Center and University of Music Freiburg. I will not attempt to summarize that report here. Instead I have prepared a shared folder link for anyone wishing to review the proposals for the research studies in Colorado and this Spahn and Richter report (https://bit. ly/3gaQAgD
).
Stay safe! I will update you
with more information as soon as I can.
Email your questions and feedback to d.coffman1@miami.edu Research Puzzles.
46 F l o r i d a
Music Director
ExecutiveDirector’sNotes
Arts Education Is Essential
H
aving just completed my two years as president of the National Association for Music Education
(NAfME), I have had the opportunity to work with many national associations and state music
education associations in addressing the many changes and challenges we are facing for music education.
FMEA Executive Director Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD
In addition to NAfME leadership and staff, I have had the opportunity to work closely with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), and the Country Music Association Foundation (CMA).
FMEA is supporting the Coalition Study on Effects of COVID-19 in collaboration with many other asso-
ciations. We want to be as safe and prudent as we can be in terms of music making with children. As educators, we are first and foremost responsible for the safety of the students in our care. The research is being
conducted by the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the efforts are being organized through the College Band Directors National Association and the National Federation of High Schools. The research has been
conducted throughout the summer and should provide preliminary results at the end of July. In addition, research is being conducted at the University of Maryland. One of the critical pieces of this study is to look
The mission
of the Florida
Music Education Association is to promote quality, comprehensive
music education in all Florida schools.
for mitigating factors for aerosol disbursement in our music education classes. FMEA will be posting the information as soon as it is released. Arts Education Is Essential
As decision makers and policymakers plan for school reopening in the fall, the Florida arts associations have endorsed a statement entitled Arts Education Is Essential.
ment on pages 9-10.
Please see the state-
The signing organizations convey that the arts have already
played a pivotal and uplifting role during the health crisis,
and that arts education can help all students, including those
who are in traditionally underrepresented groups, as students
return to school this fall. Arts Education Is Essential speaks
to arts education’s role in supporting the social and emotional well-being of students, an area that administrators, educators,
and parents have highlighted as essential to students’ safe-
ty and success during the pandemic and as students return
to school this fall, whether in person, online, or in a blended fashion. Arts education also creates a welcoming school envi-
ronment and a healthy and inclusive school community, helping
students, educators, parents, and the community at large build
and strengthen their connectedness during this time of social isolation and social distancing.
Arts education supports the social and emotional well-being
of students, whether through distance learning or in person.
The arts have an advantage when it comes to providing develop-
mental experiences. The arts are social. The arts are emotional.
Social and emotional learning opportunities provide students with self-awareness, self-management,
social awareness, responsible decision making, and relationship skills. Self-awareness, self-efficacy, Continued on page 48
August 2020
47
ExecutiveDirector’sNotes Continued from page 47 self-management and perseverance, social awareness,
and relationship skills are central to any arts education activity, no matter the age and ability of the student or
the environment in which the learning takes place. As
music educators, we focus on social-emotional skills that include the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary
for students to recognize and control their emotions and behaviors; establish and maintain positive relationships;
make responsible decisions and solve challenging situations; and set and achieve positive goals.
Students will need to develop and rebuild their rela-
tionships with their teachers and their peers. Social and emotional needs will most likely be heightened and will need even more attention than we have provided in
the past. Addressing those needs and planning specific
activities for reacclimating students to the classroom will require focused attention.
Arts education nurtures the creation of a welcom-
ing school environment where students can express themselves in a safe and positive way. Music educators have the opportunity to work with their students over multiple years, developing teacher-student relationships that grow into a deeper understanding of the students
through interaction with their families and the com-
with whom we interact will have had different experiences during the pandemic.
What does back to school look like? Who knows? But
what we do know is that we will need music education.
« We will give more focused attention on each person as an individual. « The classrooms will have a more learner-centered focus. « There will be students returning in the fall who have not touched their instruments for at least six months. « Music educators will need to consider literature that
I believe we will find the following things to be true:
meets the needs of students who have had a gap in their learning without losing the musicality and art-
« Newly created uses of technology will meld with istry necessary for successful experiences.
traditional music education approaches in order to
offer even better opportunities and experiences for
« Teachers will need to develop new and creative our students.
ways to recruit students into their programs, both
students who have participated in their programs before and new students.
There are certainly many what ifs for which we don’t
munity, fostering a caring environment. Repeatedly we
know the answers.
to school is because of their music teacher.
staying informed and being proactive in sharing your
for all students as understood and supported by fed-
be a part of the solutions and the decisions that need to
hear stories from students that the only reason they go Arts education is part of a well-rounded education
eral and state policymakers. Florida students deserve
a rich and well-rounded education of which music and
the arts are a part. Without these important subjects throughout the school day, students are deprived of the education they deserve. As noted in Arts Education
for America’s Students: A Shared Endeavor: “An education without the arts is inadequate.”
Over the years, I’ve led discussions with several of
our music education associations about the importance
of foresight in making good decisions, by anticipating needs and asking what-if questions; however, I certainly didn’t anticipate the COVID-19 pandemic. We are con-
But we do know that each of us must have a plan. By
ideas, you can work with your school administrators to
be made. Let them know you have a plan for the return
of students and have systems in place for safety concerns such as instrument hygiene, etc.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I believe music educa-
tors are resilient and will rise to these new challenges and opportunities.
Stay in touch with FMEA. Check the website often
as we continue to provide updates, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Stay safe, stay well, and keep in touch. Musically,
tinually looking to determine how and when schools will open in the fall. That being said, we know things will be different for everyone. Each student and teacher
48 F l o r i d a
Music Director
Kathleen D. Sanz PhD
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F LO R I DA M U S I C E D U C AT I O N A SSO C I AT I O N
Officers and Directors
EXECUTIVE BOARD President
Steven N. Kelly, PhD
Florida State University; College of Music, KMU 330 Tallahassee, FL 32306 (850) 644-4069; skelly@admin.fsu.edu Past President
Kenneth Williams, PhD
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts 2445 San Diego Road; Jacksonville, FL 32207 (904) 346-5620; kenwms@flmusiced.org President-Elect
Shelby Chipman, PhD
Florida A&M University, Department of Music Foster-Tanner Music Bldg., Room 318 Tallahassee, FL 32307; (850) 599-8165 shelby.chipman@famu.edu FBA President
Ian Schwindt
Titusville High School 150 Terrier Trail S.; Titusville, FL 32780-4735 (321) 264-3108; schwindt.ian@brevardschools.org FCMEA President
Marc Decker, DMA
Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Rd.; Boca Raton, FL 33431 deckerm@fau.edu FEMEA President
Ernesta Chicklowski
Roosevelt Elementary School 3205 S. Ferdinand Ave.; Tampa, FL 33629 (813) 272-3090 ernesta.chicklowski@sdhc.k12.fl.us
Historian/Parliamentarian & Executive Director....................................................Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD Hinckley Center for Fine Arts Education 402 Office Plaza Dr.; Tallahassee, FL 32301-2757 (850) 878-6844; Fax: (850) 942-1793; kdsanz@fmea.org
Past President................................................... Katherine Attong-Mendes University of Miami; kxa395@miami.edu
FLORIDA ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Committee Council............................................................... Debbie Fahmie fahmied@yahoo.com
President..................................................................... Ernesta Chicklowski Roosevelt Elementary School; 3205 S. Ferdinand Ave.; Tampa, FL 33629 (813) 272-3090; ernesta.chicklowski@sdhc.k12.fl.us
Conference Planning Committee.............................John K. Southall, PhD Indian River State College; 3209 Virginia Ave.; Fort Pierce, FL 34981 (772) 462-7810; johnsouthall@me.com
Past President...............................................................Rosemary Pilonero rosemary@femea.flmusiced.org Executive Director............................................................. Jennifer Sullivan 1750 Common Way Rd., Orlando, FL 32814 (321) 624-5433; slljenn@aol.com
Contemporary Media................................................... David Williams, PhD University of South Florida; 4202 E. Fowler Ave., MUS 101 Tampa, FL 33620; (813) 974-9166; davidw@usf.edu Diverse Learners.....................................................Alice-Ann Darrow, PhD Florida State University, Music Education and Music Therapy 123 N. Copeland St.; Tallahassee, FL 32306 (850) 645-1438; aadarrow@fsu.edu
FLORIDA MUSIC SUPERVISION ASSOCIATION
Emerging Leaders............................................................ Mary Palmer, EdD 11410 Swift Water Cir.; Orlando, FL 32817 (407) 382-1661; mpalmerassoc@aol.com
Past President............................................................................Scott Evans scott.evans@ocps.net
President.....................................................................Harry “Skip” Pardee Collier County Public Schools; 5775 Osceola Trail; Naples, FL 34109 (239) 377-0087; pardeh@collierschools.com
Treasurer......................................................................................... Ted Hope Hillsborough County Public Schools, School Administration Center 901 E. Kennedy Blvd.; Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 272-4861; ted.hope@sdhc.k12.fl.us
FMEA Corporate & Academic Partners....................................Fred Schiff All County Music; 8136 N. University Dr.; Tamarac, FL 33321-1708 (954) 722-3424; fredallcounty@aol.com
FLORIDA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION President................................................................................Matthew Davis Harrison School for the Arts; 750 Hollingsworth Rd.; Lakeland, FL 33801 (863) 499-2855; matthew.lawson.davis@gmail.com
Multicultural Network...........................................................Bruce J. Green (407) 927-3141; bruce.green@ocps.net
Southeastern University 1000 Longfellow Blvd.; Lakeland, FL 33801 (863) 667-5104; mabelfast@seu.edu
Secondary General Music.............................................................Ed Prasse Leon High School; 550 E. Tennessee St.; Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 617-5700; prassee@leonschools.net
Matthew Davis
President....................................................................................Julian Grubb Florida Gulf Coast University, 1519 Neptune Dr.; Lakeland, FL 33801 (863) 430-9466; grubb.julians@outlook.com
Budget/Finance, Development.................................. Steven N. Kelly, PhD Florida State University, College of Music, KMU 330 Tallahassee, FL 32306; (850) 644-4069; skelly@admin.fsu.edu
Research...................................................................... Don D. Coffman, PhD University of Miami; d.coffman1@miami.edu
FOA President
FLORIDA NAfME COLLEGIATE
Awards.................................................................................... Debbie Fahmie fahmied@yahoo.com
Florida NAfME Collegiate Advisor
Collier County Public Schools 5775 Osceola Trail; Naples, FL 34109 (239) 377-0087; pardeh@collierschools.com
President......................................................................... Marc Decker, DMA Florida Atlantic University; 777 Glades Rd.; Boca Raton, FL 33431 deckerm@fau.edu
FMEA COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Professional Development........................................................Scott Evans Orange County Public Schools; 445 S. Amelia St.; Orlando, FL 32801 (407) 317-3200; scott.evans@ocps.net
Harry “Skip” Pardee
FLORIDA COLLEGE MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
FSMA President ........................................................................Valerie Terry Carlos E. Haile Middle School 9501 SR 64 E.; Bradenton, FL 34212 vterrymusic@gmail.com
Florida Gulf Coast University 1519 Neptune Dr.; Lakeland, FL 33801 (863) 430-9466; grubb.julians@outlook.com
FMSA President
Business Manager..................................................................Jo Hagan, CPA 8975 San Rae Rd.; Jacksonville, FL 32257 (904) 379-2245; Fax: (904) 379-2260; jo@barefootaccounting.com
Editor-in-Chief.....................................................D. Gregory Springer, PhD FSU College of Music; 122 N. Copeland St.; Tallahassee, FL 32306 (850) 644-2925; dgspringer@fsu.edu
Florida NAfME Collegiate President
Mark A. Belfast, Jr., PhD
Florida Bandmasters Association P.O. Box 840135; Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 (954) 432-4111; Fax: (954) 432-4909; exec@fba.flmusiced.org
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Government Relations..................................................Jeanne W. Reynolds Pinellas County Schools, Administration Bldg. 301 4th St., SW, P.O. Box 2942; Largo, FL 33779-2942 (727) 588-6055; reynoldsj@pcsb.org
Julian Grubb
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Past President...........................................................................Jason Jerald jason.jerald@sdhc.k12.fl.us Executive Director............................................................. Donald Langland 220 Parsons Woods Dr.; Seffner, FL 33594 (813) 502-5233; Fax: (813) 502-6832; exdirfoa@yahoo.com
FLORIDA VOCAL ASSOCIATION President.................................................................................. Jason Locker Orange County Public Schools; 445 W. Amelia St.; Orlando, FL 32801 (407) 317-3200; jason@fva.net
Student Development.............................................. Michael Antmann, EdD Freedom High School; 2500 W. Taft-Vineland Rd.; Orlando, FL 32837 (407) 816-5600; michael.antmann@ocps.net
Past President.....................................................................Tommy Jomisko tommy@fva.net Executive Director....................................................................J. Mark Scott 7122 Tarpon Ct.; Fleming Island, FL 32003 (904) 284-1551; exec@fva.net
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE Exhibits Managers................................................ Byron and Bobbie Smith 4110 Tralee Rd.; Tallahassee, FL 32309 (850) 893-3606; fmeaexhibits@fmea.org
Business Manager..................................................................Jo Hagan, CPA 8975 San Rae Rd.; Jacksonville, FL 32257 (904) 379-2245; Fax: (904) 379-2260; business@fva.net
Harrison School for the Arts 750 Hollingsworth Rd.; Lakeland, FL 33801 (863) 499-2855; matthew.lawson.davis@gmail.com
Local Co-Chairpersons Ted Hope—(813) 272-4861; ted.hope@sdhc.k12.fl.us Melanie Faulkner—(813) 272-4461; melanie.faulkner@sdhc.k12.fl.us Hillsborough County Public Schools, School Administration Center 901 E. Kennedy Blvd.; Tampa, FL 33602
FVA President
FLORIDA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION
Executive Director....................... Kathleen D. Sanz, PhD (kdsanz@fmea.org)
President...................................................................................Ian Schwindt Titusville High School; 150 Terrier Trail S.; Titusville, FL 32780-4735 (321) 264-3108; schwindt.ian@brevardschools.org
Director of Finance & Client Relations...............................Richard Brown, CAE (richard@fmea.org)
Jason Locker
Orange County Public Schools 445 W. Amelia St.; Orlando, FL 32801 (407) 317-3200; jason@fva.net Member-at-Large
Edgar Rubio
Silver Trail Middle School 18300 Sheridan St.; Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 (754) 323-4321; merenguesax@aol.com
CENTER FOR FINE ARTS EDUCATION
402 Office Plaza Dr.; Tallahassee, FL 32301-2757 (850) 878-6844; Fax: (850) 942-1793 Director of Operations........................Valeria Anderson, IOM (val@fmea.org)
Past President..................................................................... Cathi Leibinger Ransom Everglades School; 2045 Bayshore Dr.; Miami, FL 33133 (305) 250-6868; pastpresident@fba.flmusiced.org
Technology Director......................................Josh Bula, PhD (josh@fmea.org)
Executive Director......................................................................Neil Jenkins
Marketing & Membership Coordinator................................. Jasmine Van Weelden (jasmine@fmea.org)
Public Affairs & Communications Coordinator..............................................Jenny Abdelnour (jenny@fmea.org)
August 2020
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