APRIL 2020
Enjoy these pages from the April issue of Southwestern Musician featuring the memories of our amazing 2020 TMEA Clinic/Convention!
Thank You for Attending! We hope this issue evokes memories of a most inspiring and motivational event, made even more special by the celebration of TMEA’s Centennial! —TMEA Staff & Executive Board Southwestern Musician | April 2020
5
Brian Coatney President
Michael Stringer Orchestra Vice-President
Jed Ragsdale Vocal Vice-President
John Carroll President-Elect Joe Muñoz Immediate Past-President
2020–2021 TMEA Executive Board
Dana Pradervand Band Vice-President
Abigail Hawes Elementary Vice-President
Paul Sikes College Vice-President
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Post-Convention Offerings CPE RECORDS Continuing Professional Education credit is available only to TMEA active members and out-of-state registrants who attended the convention. Attendees with family or visitor badges and retired or student members do not have access to create CPE records.
Clinic Handouts Go to www.tmea.org/convention and log in to the personal schedule page. An icon will display next to the clinic name if the clinician provided a handout for download.
Clinic Audio Files
1. Go to www.tmea.org/cpe and log in.
Go to the personal schedule and log in. If you were a īÐæðĮĴÐīÐÌ ĴĴÐĊÌÐÐ œìď ĨķīÆìĮÐÌ ÆÆÐĮĮ Ĵď ķÌðď ťăÐĮș an icon will display on each clinic with a recording.
2. Create or update your online personal schedule.
Performance Recordings
2. Verify the clinics you attended to completion. 3. Save your CPE selections. 4. Print your CPE record and submit it to your administrator. Keep a copy for your records.
Ĵ œœœȘĴĉÐȘďīæȥÆďĊŒÐĊĴðďĊș řďķ œðăă ťĊÌ ăðĊā Ĵď ĴìÐ online store for concert recordings.
Advocacy Videos Go to www.tmea.org/itstartswithmusic to share and download the amazing music education advocacy videos premiered at the convention. Show them at your events! Southwestern Musician | April 2020 19
2020 TMEA Scholarship Recipients FIVE-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE Bill Cormack—up to $15,000 Julie Zahrndt, Red Oak HS
Past-Presidents—up to $12,500 Jacob Dixon, Plano Senior HS Past-Presidents Memorial—up to $12,500 Maxwell Gray, Tomball Memorial HS Executive Board—up to $12,500 Meredith Bowden, Grandview HS Centennial — up to $12,500 Kaylee Smith, Allen HS
One-Year Undergraduate—$2,500 Ashley Adams, Friendswood HS Xavier Bailey, Timber Creek HS Kayden Burns, Amarillo HS McKenzie Comeaux, Sterling HS Jonathan DeAnda, Central HS Nicolas Devia Luna, The Woodlands HS Taylor Frick, Magnolia HS Christine Le, Liberty HS Kirsten Leo, Taylor HS Margaret Liu, Victoria East HS Xander McRae, McKinney Boyd HS Johniel Najera, Flower Mound HS Brooke Olivarez, Langham Creek HS Victoria Ramirez, Naaman Forest HS Zachary Rohwer, Flower Mound HS Cayden Rolfe, San Marcos HS Logan Scott, Georgetown HS Hayleigh Stephens, Frenship HS Angelica Trevino, Roma HS Hannah Trippe, Plano East Senior HS Audra Wright, McAllen Memorial HS
COLLEGE DIVISION One-Year Undergraduate—$2,500
Marissa Anthony, Sam Houston State Univ Gabriella Baez, Texas State Univ Sterling Davis, Stephen F. Austin State Univ Samantha Ely, Texas Christian Univ Klint Fabian, UT/San Antonio Andrew Fowler, Texas Tech Univ Garrett Franks, Texas Tech Univ Kaylee Knafelz, Texas Tech Univ Emily LeBlanc, Stephen F. Austin State Univ
Five-Year Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients Julie Zahrndt, Jacob Dixon, Meredith Bowden, Maxwell Gray, Kaylee Smith
Brandon Lippert, UT/Permian Basin Kevin Lopez, Texas Woman’s Univ Gabrielle McCullough, UT/Austin Marshall Mixon, Texas Tech Univ Brandon Morrison, UT/Austin Maryssa Redding, Univ of North Texas Heidi Schuppenhauer, Texas Tech Univ Katelyn Seymour, Sam Houston State Univ Patrick Vu, Texas Christian Univ Misa Womack, Texas Tech Univ Lyndsea Woodall, Texas Tech Univ
One-Semester Student Teacher—$2,500 Nelson Adams, Baylor Univ Richard Alvarado, Texas Christian Univ Anna-Sarah Baxleyova, Texas Tech Univ Jeremy Brown, Texas Tech Univ Mariann Davidson, Texas Tech Univ Herbert Donnell, Texas Tech Univ Taylor Michelle Evans, Sam Houston State Univ Armando Fuerte, Texas Tech Univ Kristen Graham, Trinity Univ Michael Isenberg, Baylor Univ Kaleigh Jackson, Texas Tech Univ Connor MacAllister, Texas Tech Univ Rachel Militzer, Texas Christian Univ Marisol Montanez, Texas Tech Univ Brennan Ross, Texas Tech Univ Caleb Santacruz, Texas Tech Univ Patrick Schmidt, TAMU/Kingsville Kristen Shuman, Texas Tech Univ Shannon Skillman, Baylor Univ Adam Thomas, Texas Christian Univ Lauren Vandergriff, Southern Methodist Univ
One-Year Graduate Study—$2,500
Amanda Blackstone, Farley MS/Texas Tech Univ Haley Carbonero, Haltom HS/Texas Woman’s Univ Wesley Davis, Marcus HS/Univ of North Texas Laura Flanagan, Texas Tech Univ Alyssa Grey, Univ of North Texas Hannah Morrison, Baylor Univ Kyle Norman, Alvin JH / Sam Houston State Univ Deborah Seitter, Texas Tech Univ Jonathan Villela, UT/Austin Francis Vu, Univ of North Texas Emily Wiley, Evers Park ES
This year, TMEA is awarding $225,000 in scholarship funds for students who will be working toward careers in music education or furthering their current careers with additional studies.
Southwestern Musician | April 2020 35
2020 TMEA CLINIC/CONVENTION
22 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
More images on page 46
Southwestern Musician | April 2020 23
TMEA presented “It Starts With Music” during our convention’s First General Session. This extraordinary production was the highlight of the 2020 Clinic/Convention for many and encapsulated why TMEA continues to work to support music education for all. TMEA thanks performers (listed in order of appearance below) and production staff for their dedication and tireless work that led to this incredible event. qŦķæÐīŒðăăÐ Aw# 9ðĊÐ īĴĮ #ÐĨīĴĉÐĊĴȰUðÆďăÐ TăďĊÐș ÌðīÐÆĴďīț qķă NĊðæìĴș ĨðĊď #ķĊÆĊŒðăăÐ >w ĨĨÐăă ìďðīȰLÐĮĮÐ ĊĊďĊ AAș ÌðīÐÆĴďī }īÐĊðĴÐÐ TÆāÐř ĊÌ TĴĴìÐœ TÐīīðĴĴș ŒďÆă ĮďăďðĮĴĮț ĮÐř OÐ ðÐș ĨðĊďț īřĊ ìÆďĊș ĨÐīÆķĮĮðďĊ }ÐŘĮ ɪTȯNðĊæĮŒðăăÐ }īķĉĨÐĴ 'ĊĮÐĉÅăÐȰNřăÐ TðăăĮĨș ÌðīÐÆĴďī tÐðăăřș ďĊĊďīș Uďīș ĊÌ ďăăÐÐĊ ìĴăÐřș ŒðďăðĊ ĊÌ ÆÐăăď ăăřĮďĊ ìķș qÐīĮďĊ tĊÆì Twș ŒðďăðĊ :īÆÐ wďĊæș åďīĉÐī åďķīȭřÐī }T' ăăȭwĴĴÐ ĉķĮðÆðĊș ŒðďăðĊ NðřďĮìð }ĉæœș ĨðĊď īķĊ sķīĴÐĴș }ÐŘĮ }ÐÆì ĊðŒÐīĮðĴřȰ#ŒðÌ #ÐÐĮș ĨīďåÐĮĮďī ďå ĮŘďĨìďĊÐ ĊðŒÐīĮðĴř ďå UďīĴì }ÐŘĮ qÐīÆķĮĮðďĊ 'ĊĮÐĉÅăÐȰTīā 9ďīÌș ÌðīÐÆĴďī }īÐŒďī #Ðīřș ŘřăďĨìďĊÐ ĮďăďðĮĴ House Band: 'īðÆ ðĴĴĊÐī ĊÌ #ŒðÌ īďĮĮș ĴīķĉĨÐĴț qďĊÌÐī 'ĮĴș ĴÐĊďī ĮŘďĨìďĊÐ #ŒðÌ ďīăĊÌș ĴīďĉÅďĊÐț #ăăĮ wìīÐŒÐș æķðĴīț ĊÌīÐœ :ďðĊĮș ÅĮĮ #ŒðÌ ăÆāÅķīĊ ĊÌ qķă NĊðæìĴș āÐřÅďīÌĮț ĊÌīÐœ 9ķìīĉĊș ÌīķĉĮ Director/Producer: NīðĮ ĊÌīÐœĮ Music Director/Producer: Nř ĊăĊÌðĊæìĉ Stage Managers: LĉðÐ ðăÐř ĊÌ }ĉĉř ăăīÌ Sound Designer: ďÅÅř TăďĊÐț Technical Director: #īīÐăă ĉìďÐåÐīț Lighting Designer: LÐåå 'ăăðĊæÐī
24 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
+ ,
Music Makes Me Happy
Music Helps Us Believe in Ourselves
Music Education Changes Lives
Music Prepares Us for Success
Music Class: A Safe Place to Grow
Music Brings People Together
Music Connects Us
Music Makes Me the Best Version of Me
! " ! # $ % %& ' ' ( ) * Southwestern Musician | April 2020 25
2020 All-State musicians answered the question “What does It Starts With Music mean to you?” TķĮðÆ ðĮ ðĊ ÐŒÐīř ĮĨÐÆĴ ďå ĉř ăðåÐȰA œāÐ ķĨ Ĵď ðĴș œăā ðĊ ĴìÐ ìăăĮ Ĵď ðĴș æď Ĵď ĮăÐÐĨ Ĵď ðĴȘ TķĮðÆ ìĮ ĴķæìĴ ĉÐ ìīÌ œďīā ĊÌ ÌÐÌðÆĴðďĊ ĊÌ ìĮ æðŒÐĊ ĉÐ ĨĮĮðďĊȘ AĴ ĮĴīĴĮ œðĴì ĉķĮðÆ ÅÐÆķĮÐ ĉķĮðÆ ðĮ ðĊ ÐŒÐīřĴìðĊæȰðĴȸĮ ĴìÐ ÅÐæðĊĊðĊæș ĉðÌÌăÐș ĊÌ ÐĊÌȘ
Everything in life must have some sort of music to it. Without music, life is just boring. It means that we are free to express ourselves, our emotions, and our creativity in something we love, and this should be valued and cherished always.
“it” can be anything. From life, to recovery, to careers, and so much more!
Many things start with music: leadership, character, work ethic, and perseverance.
“It starts with music” is an ode to life. Music is infused in our lives, from our first breath to our last.
Music can transform lives powerfully and it can subtly influence your life when you’re least expecting it.
ĊřĴìðĊæ ÆĊ ĮĴīĴ œðĴì ĉķĮðÆȘ ìĴȸĮ ðĉĨďīĴĊĴ ðĮ ĴìĴ ĮďĉÐďĊÐ ĴāÐĮ ðĊðĴðĴðŒÐ Ĵď ķĊÌÐīĮĴĊÌ ĊÌ ÐĊþďř ĉķĮðÆ ĊÌ ĉāÐ ðĴ ĴìÐðī ďœĊȘ
Everything has a beginning. Your teachers and those involved with music education have the potential to shape you into a great person. It doesn’t matter if you will have a career in music or not, the skills and lessons that you learn from all your music teachers can change you.
TķĮðÆ ķĊðĴÐĮ ĨÐďĨăÐ ðĊ ăðåÐăďĊæ åīðÐĊÌĮìðĨĮȘ AĴȸĮ ĴìÐ ÅÐæðĊĊðĊæ ďå ÆďĊĊÐÆĴðďĊ Ĵď ĮďĉÐĴìðĊæ æīÐĴÐī ĴìĊ řďķīĮÐăåȘ
We hear lullabies; we learn the alphabet song and nursery rhymes. From birth, we’ve all had something connecting us, even though we didn’t know it—and it was music.
It means that joy and happiness begins with music. “It Starts With Music” will conjure in my head green-bluepurple-magenta, the memory of receiving a shiny sticker and a congratulations, the exhilaration, the awe of seeing the Henry Ș :ďĊš®ăК ďĊŒÐĊĴðďĊ ÐĊĴÐī åďī ĴìÐ ťīĮĴ ĴðĉÐș ĴìÐ ĮÐĊĮÐ ďå contentment during long rehearsals. “It Starts With Music” will always mean something more than just a phrase to be interpreted. 26 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
For me, it’s where I began to grow as a person. It started with music and it will end with music.
A ĴìðĊā ÅďķĴ ăă ĴìÐ ĉÐĉďīðÐĮ AȸŒÐ ÆīÐĴÐÌș ăă ĴìÐ ăÐĮĮďĊĮ AȸŒÐ ăÐīĊÐÌș ĊÌ ìďœ ðĴȸĮ ÆìĊæÐÌ ĉÐ åďī ĴìÐ ÅÐĴĴÐīȘ AĴ ăă ĮĴīĴÐÌ ÅÐÆķĮÐ ďå ĴìÐ œďĊÌÐīåķă ĉķĮðÆ ĨīďæīĉĮ AȸŒÐ ÅÐÐĊ Įď ăķÆāř Ĵď ÅÐ ĨīĴ ďåȘ
A ÌďĊȸĴ ĨăĊ Ĵď ĉþďī ðĊ ĉķĮðÆș ÅķĴ ĴìðĮ ĨìīĮÐ īÐĉðĊÌĮ ĉÐ ĴìĴ ÐŒÐīřĴìðĊæ ðĊ ĉř ăðåÐ œðăă ĮĴðăă īÐŒďăŒÐ īďķĊÌ ĉķĮðÆ ĊÌ ĴìÐ ŒăķÐĮ AȸŒÐ æðĊÐÌ Ĵìīďķæì ÆìďðīȘ
It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter what career path you choose, music will impact your life in every way. When I hear “It Starts With Music,” I see a spark that can ignite the world and a universal language to unite it.
Music is the foundation of our lives. We listen to music every day. It makes us dance, laugh, cry, and it inspires us. Without music, our lives would be empty. For some people (like me), music is the gateway to things like mental health, good character, and good work ethic. To me, “It Starts With Music” could refer to people being successful in other areas of life as well as the way music brings people together and helps to create a loving and hard-working community.
ȵAĴ wĴīĴĮ ðĴì TķĮðÆȶ īÐĨīÐĮÐĊĴĮ ăă ĴìÐ ÐŘĨÐīðÐĊÆÐĮș åīðÐĊÌĮìðĨĮș ĊÌ ĴìÐ æðĊÐÌ āĊďœăÐÌæÐ œÐ ăă æÐĴ ďķĴ ďå ďķī ĉķĮðÆ ĨīďæīĉĮȘ TķĮðÆ ìĮ Ċ ÅðăðĴř Ĵď ÅīðĊæ ĨÐďĨăÐ ĴďæÐĴìÐī ĊÌ Ìď ĮďĉÐĴìðĊæ ÅÐķĴðåķăȘ
It almost Music is a language everyone understands. literally means It can make you feel a range of emotions that without music, from mourning to joy. Everything we there is no start to me. do involves music somehow. Every day has to start with music to make it a good one.
Music gives life and joy to everyone in some way. Music means something different to everyone and yet we all can come together through music. It is amazing that something so universal can still be so personal at the same time. Music is at the root of all of our connections with people. It is the reason we were all at the convention, and it was so cool to be able to meet people with this interest and dedication to it.
TķĮðÆ ĴÐÆìÐĮ œìĴ ðĴ ĉÐĊĮ Ĵď ÅÐ ìķĉĊș ĊÌ ðĴ ÅīðĊæĮ ďķĴ ĴìÐ ÅÐĮĴ ðĊ Ċ ðĊÌðŒðÌķăȘ
Music has the ability to provoke thoughts and feelings that nothing else can. Music inspires people to be better. It also acts as a refuge for people who are struggling.
It means the basics for the real world. Music taught me how to manage time. Music taught me to never give up. Music taught me that there is always more to work for.
Music is so crucial and important in everyday life that even the birds sing. Southwestern Musician | April 2020 27
Sailing the Sky
The TMEA Executive Board commissioned Frank Ticheli to compose a work for band, orchestra, and chorus to commemorate TMEA’s Centennial. This work, entitled Sailing the Sky, was premiered February 14, during the 2020 TMEA Clinic/Convention Second General Session. This exciting and inspiring piece was masterfully performed by All-State Choir, Orchestra, and Band members, joined by the San Antonio Children’s Chorus. In addition to composing the music, Ticheli also wrote the lyrics (on the right of this page), inspired by quotes from previous All-State students sharing why music is important to them. As a product of Texas public schools and having taught at Trinity University in his first full-time teaching position, Ticheli eagerly accepted the challenge of writing such a piece honoring 100 years of music education in Texas. The Executive Board requested a grade-4 piece that would explore a wide range of musical expression—festive, celebratory, melodic, rhythmic, reflective, cinematic, fun—a piece that could truly capture the spirit of our musical heritage. Ticheli has provided four versions of the piece: orchestra and chorus, band and chorus, chorus and piano, and band only. All versions will be published by Manhattan Beach Publications by December 2020.
It All Begins With Music TMEA members were the premiering chorus for the anthem “It All Begins With Music” during the Second General Session. Based on a theme from Sailing the Sky, Frank Ticheli gifted this anthem to TMEA. Take advantage of this generous gift by downloading the 2- and 4-part anthem (shown on the adjacent page). Teach it to your students—from elementary through college—and share this music and message on an upcoming performance! Go to www.tmea.org/anthem to download the music.
It all begins with music, Like the dawning of the day. Like the moon and stars above, It will guide us on our way. Ev’ry generation hears its call, The language of the soul. Through time and space it dances on, A blessing for all.
44 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
Sailing the Sky
It lifts me off my feet, I am floating in mid-air, Then it pulls me back to Earth, As I dance without a care. It holds me tight, it calms my fears, And never lets me fall. It lets me breathe, and when I need a friend, I hear its call. From the Guadalupe Mountains to Caddo Lake, Voices shout and trumpets blare. From the town of Amarillo to Galveston, Oh! Joyous music is everywhere. It all begins with music, beloved art. Timeless wonders delight the muse. And every generation will play its part Oh! Sharing music from Bach to Blues. It fills the heart, renews the soul, It makes us dance but that’s not all: A gift from our ancestors, pure and clear, The glorious sound of an ancient melody. A beautiful legacy, true and dear. The whole human race, a wondrous symphony. All across the state of Texas and burning bright, Glorious music excites the air, Every instrument a beacon, a shining light. Sounds of music are everywhere. It fills the heart, renews the soul, It makes us dance, but that’s not all: It makes us laugh, it lets us cry, Our lives are lifted up, we sail the sky.
Composed as a gift to the Texas Music Educators Association in celebration of their 100th anniversary
IT ALL BEGINS WITH MUSIC TMEA CENTENNIAL ANTHEM For Chorus a cappella SATB
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all be - gins with mus - ic,
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the
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day.
Like the
mp œœ ‰ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ J J
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j ‰ œ œ œj œ ™ œ̇ œ œ œ™ œœ œ a
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œœ œœ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œœ ˙
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24 œj ‰ œ œ 44 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
call,
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j j j œœ œœ ™™ œœ ‰ œœ œœ œœ œœ ™™ œœ œœ -
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FRANK TICHELI
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U œ̇ œ œœ all.
U œ̇ œ œœ ˙ œ u all.
Copyright © 2020 by Frank Ticheli Southwestern Musician | April 2020 45
2020 TMEA CLINIC/CONVENTION
46 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
More images on page 64
Southwestern Musician | April 2020 47
Lessons Learned Share recordings with other This celebration of our 100 Through body movement and high directors. I started this even years made me remember that chanting, audience members on the before we left the convention and what we do every day starts back wall in the large, carpeted room already have some great feedback could hear the middle school choir with music and results in ÆăÐīăřȘ }ìĴ œĮ ÅÐÆķĮÐ ĴìÐřȿĊďĴ to improve my group! We truly better lives for so many in so those in the front row—were the targets are all here to help each other! many varied circumstances! of the sound. By imagining they were throwing a spiraling football to those Using a condensed choral formation can reduce the sound people in the back, the choir threw their quality before it has a chance to reach the rest of the room. voices like high school singers. Visualize the mallet as a tool. Let the mallet rotate on the fulcrum between the finger and thumb in order to use less force and energy.
Use the Transpose Chrome extension to control YouTube (and other) videos that play online. You can transpose, change playback speed, and set up a repeating loop of your choosing with the simple control panel of the extension in your browser.
I no longer say, "Because I said so." I say, "Show me what you can do." I learned that something as simple as letting students hold something (e.g., a Boomwhacker or a puppet) will help them release inhibitions and sing more readily.
Teach students to consider practice in terms of goals, how to achieve them, and whether that is the best strategy. Time is irrelevant if you can maximize the productivity.
Success takes time! I often forget the value in sitting down with my scores to get to know them better so I can teach them better. Why teach and have expectations for my students if I don’t do the same for myself?
I found this 60/10 advice interesting: for every 60 minutes using your voice, rest it for 10. And, drink at least 64–80 ounces of water during the day to stay hydrated. I have already noticed improvement.
Use more learning games to increase student engagement.
I changed the way I tune my middle school orchestra. Now we check our open strings pitch ťīĮĴ œðĴì ĴķĊÐīș ĊÌ ĴìÐĊ œÐ play them as 5ths by having two groups at a time play different strings. Example: First violins play E and seconds play A, then switch. This helps them get used to the sound of the 5th, like tuning in double-stops.
Teach with joy!
>ďăÌ ķĨ řďķī ťĮĴ Ĵď īÐĨīÐĮÐĊĴ do to get the students to tune without verbal prompting. 54 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
Learners need endless feedback more than they need endless teaching.
When learning movement, have students say and do, whisper and do, then think and do. This really works.
Convention attendees shared the following concepts and ideas they learned at the convention and that they have already put into practice with success.
Incorporate a melody sheet with non-varsity bands as a supplement to reading a new piece of music. By introducing everyone to the melody, all students get a chance to play the fun part, and it exposes them to material they will then recognize in the new piece. You don’t always have to sing in performance. Expressive movement to a song is SRZHUIXO 0\ ¿UVW JUDGHUV will showcase an expressive movement piece on their next music program.
Students will grow up and not remember the notes they played, but they will remember how they felt throughout their experience in your program.
I love the convenience of Google Notes on my phone. I now jot down ideas, information, dates, and more on it. It really helps with organization and productivity!
Make a list of what is important and what seems necessary or urgent. I feel more focused in my teaching and my personal life when I concentrate on what is important.
Sightreading for beginning choirs: keep rhythm separate from pitch, and put text with rhythm to improve accuracy.
I started teaching with the unattainable goal of turning my band around in a semester. At the convention, I realized the error of my ways. With a plan for students to meet a small goal each week rather than a huge goal for the end of the year, I am making vital connections with my students. They are showing not only improvement but also more interest in band and music-making. Have choristers snap when they are supposed to cut off. It’s a great way to make quick individual assessments on how well your students are reading music.
Be an experience maker instead of an information giver. When a string student holds the instrument ZLWK D ÀDW KDQG VD\ ³QR SDQFDNH KDQGV ´
Perfectionism is overrated. Passion is underrated! Always remember you can call your mentors any time. Maybe it’s been a month, year, or a decade. Mentors always want to help and give advice!
Race, ethnicity, and culture are three respective parts of our students' identities. Our students deserve our attention to these things, and as educators we must be willing to lean into the ĂŒĂ°Ĺ¨Ă†ÄˇÄƒÄ´ ÆÄ?ÄŠĹ’Ă?ÄŤÄŽÂÄ´Ă°Ä?ÄŠÄŽ Ä´ĂŹÂÄ´ ĉÂĹ™ ÆÄ?ĉĂ?Č˜ ”Ă? ĉġĎĴ be willing to explore cultures different from our own and be willing to stay informed to better serve students of all races, ethnicities, and cultures. You can tune the ukulele A-string down to a G WR PDNH DQ RSHQ QR ÂżQJHU & FKRUG IRU \RXQJHU grades. Then they can accompany many of the familiar folk songs and pentatonic melodies!
Create chorales from small segments within a piece for a great tuning exercise. Within these chorales, chunk each beat and listen to the chord progressions until you eventually add in all the notes. This helps students hear the chord progressions and their role in the overall chord.
Listening to good music is a worthy use of class time. Southwestern Musician | April 2020 55
2020 TMEA CLINIC/CONVENTION
64 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
Southwestern Musician | April 2020 65
Survey Says . . .
Over 3,000 TMEA member and out-of-state attendees completed the post-convention survey. This information is based on those survey responses. We appreciate your feedback and we look forward to using it as we continue to look for ways to improve this event.
WHO ATTENDED? Attendee Age 18–24
TMEA Division Band
14%
25–34
Orchestra
23%
35–44
College Faculty College Students Music Admin
15%
65–74
5%
75+
1%
0%
25%
15%
The states and countries with the most making the trip were:
3% 25%
Louisiana:
1%
0%
30%
See page 81 for a multiyear membership and attendee report.
Years as a Member <1
1–3
1–5 6–10 11–20 21+
Conventions Attended
10% 20%
4–10
Worldwide Attendance TMEA welcomed 1,201 attendees and exhibitors from 46 other states and 16 other countries.
14%
Elementary
20%
55–64
7%
Vocal
22%
45–54
35%
21% 27%
144
New Mexico:
81
California:
66
Oklahoma:
64
New York:
44
Florida:
44
Illinois:
39
Missouri:
39
16% 10–19
24% 30%
0%
30%
20+ 0%
International:
25% 27% 30%
Over 10,900 active music teachers attended our convention!
Mexico:
36
Canada:
18
Taiwan:
9
United Kingdom: 4
Record-breaking attendance: 31,560! Over 88% plan to return for the 2021 Clinic/Convention, February 10–13, in San Antonio. 72 Southwestern Musician | April 2020
4 DAYS: 524 EVENTS
Top Clinic Topics: The top five clinic topics identified through the survey:
• 325 Clinics • 108 Performances • 1,594 Exhibit Booths
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
EVENT QUALITY Attendees report great value and satisfaction attending the TMEA Clinic/Convention:
Overall Experience Very Good
Good Avg
Very Good: 59% Good: 32% Average: 8% Poor+Very Poor: 1%
Poor+ Very Poor
Value for the Cost Very Good
Good Avg
Very Good: 67% Good: 25% Average: 7% Poor+Very Poor: 1%
Poor+ Very Poor
Quality of Clinics Very Good
Good Avg
Poor+ Very Poor
Very Good: 50% Good: 40% Average: 9% Poor+Very Poor: 1%
The App
Throughout the four days, 435 events qualified for continuing professional education credit.
Rehearsal techniques Teaching methods Instrument methods Classroom management Repertoire selection
To learn how members in your TMEA division ranked clinic topics, read your Vice-President’s column in this issue.
General Info
TMEA 2020
The convention app was downloaded to 16,800+ devices. Combined time all users spent in the app.
529 Days!
WHO PAID ? YOUR WAY? REGISTRATION FEE MY NAME IS
48% I Paid 48% My School/District 4% Other
CONVENTION HOTEL 41% I Paid 48% My School/District 11% Other
TRAVEL EXPENSES 58% I Paid 39% My School/District 3% Other
63% of attendees registered before the fee increased on January 24. Southwestern Musician | April 2020 73