NJMEA Member Spotlight Maedean Kramer
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t Far Hills Country Day School (FH), a preschool through grade eight private school in Central NJ, the music program consists of preschool through grade seven taking general music classes three days in a 10-day cycle, grade eight taking arts selectives once a week, and grade five taking additional instrument classes once a week. Those who want more arts offerings can perform in the Far Hills Philharmonic, the Far Hills Jazz Band, the four musicals produced throughout the year, and take lessons at the Far Hills Conservatory, all which occur before or after school. All of the general music classes perform in a holiday concert program, with the middle school (grades five through eight which is called the upper school at FH) performing in an additional spring concert, and the lower school (grades preschool through four) performing in grade plays and cross-curricular performances. The philharmonic, jazz band, and musicals perform in additional concerts and showcases held throughout the school year and the summer. At Far Hills, the music department prides themselves in giving every student the opportunity to make and “do” music. Whether that involves singing, playing an instrument, learning about music, producing music, and so much more, it is their goal that every student is able
to experience all aspects of music. Maedean Kramer has taught at FH for the past eighteen years, after previous years of teaching at a boarding school, as well as accompanying for music studios. She teaches grades five through seven general music classes, grade eight selectives (which can consist of chorus, music technology, music production, STEAM, and more), grade five instrument class, and is also the house director of grades five and six. As many other music educators do, Maedean wears a lot of hats and wears them all well. However, out of all of those hats, the one she takes most honor in is teaching general music to middle schoolers and being able to get all of her middle schoolers to perform to the best of their abilities at the concerts. This is not a simple task, especially with the changing voices of middle schoolers. In order for her to succeed with this, Maedean molds her general music classes into a safe place where all students can experience and learn music in positive and successful ways. Missy Strong, a NJ elementary music educator and last issue’s spotlight member, states in her sessions about neuroscience and music, the middle school music teacher has the job of “filling the vessel” that is given to them. This means that from the
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ages 0-7, the early childhood and elementary music educators are molding the child’s brain and creating this music vessel that can be very small to very large, depending on their music experiences they receive from home and at school. Maedean has the task of filling those vessels when they come to her in the fall. From watching her and working with her, Maedean just does that. During the fall, Maedean has her general music classes reviewing music theory concepts they have learned from their previous years in lower school music classes. She assesses their vessels to determine the best way to fill them. She uses the fall trimester to give the students opportunities to create, perform, and respond to music while using multiple modalities to reach all of her learners who have various sizes of vessels. When November approaches, she turns her general music classes into choral classes. She picks strong choral repertoire for the holiday concert with such great composers for middle school voices, such as Cristi Cary Miller, Andy Beck, Greg Gilpin, Roger Emerson, Linda Sobo, Mary McDonald, and more. When one looks into Maedean’s classroom during the concert preparation period, one sees all students engaged. Maedean will purposely pick music that brings out the best JANUARY 2020
