Posts Tagged ‘Maine Music Educators Association’

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Maine Music Educators Conference

June 7, 2014

Annual event

Maine music teachers and students gathered at the University of Maine in Orono for the Maine Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) In-Service Conference last month. The conference offered performances from chorus, band, strings and jazz, and also provided professional development opportunities on proficiency and student assessment methods specific to each area of instruction. The workshops focused on the value of music education and musicianship and were presented by university and K-12 faculty, conductors, professional musicians and band directors.

Educators recognized for their outstanding service and support of school music programs were Falmouth Public Schools superintendent Barbara Powers as MMEA’s Administrator of the Year and RSU 9 based Mount Blue High School music teacher Karen Beacham as MMEA ‘s Teacher of the Year.

The conference’s universal theme was the lessons that music teach including conveying ideas adjusting techniques and collaboration through musical performance.

National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) Christopher Woodside spoke about how music education not only impacts academic achievement, it also shapes the way students understand themselves and the world around them.

This post was contributed by Maine Department of Education Visual and Performing Arts Specialist Kevin Facer at kevin.facer@maine.gov and also appeared in the Commissioner’s Update, June 4, 2014.

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Honoring Chip Farnham

June 7, 2013

All-state In-service conference

Laura Artesani, Associate Professor, Division of Music, School of Performing Arts at the University of Maine nominated her colleague Professor Curvin Chip Farnham for induction into the Maine Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. Chip was honored at the MMEA conference recently. With Laura’s permission below is her nomination document. Congratulations Professor Farnham!

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Professor Chip Farnham receiving his award

Chip served as president of MMEA from 1978-1980 and played a central role in the creation of our annual MMEA In-service conference.   He received the MMEA Music Educator of the Year award in 2001, and was the conductor of the Maine All State Band in 2012.

Chip began his career by teaching and directing bands in the public schools of Orrington, Brewer and Hampden, before becoming a faculty member in the Division of Music at the University of Maine.  He was Director of Bands and conductor of the Symphonic Band at the University of Maine for twenty-four years.  He has also taught music education, conducting and instrumental methods courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and supervised student teachers.  Many of Chip’s former students are now employed as music educators and band directors in our state.  In addition to his duties during the academic year, Chip also served as the director of Maine Summer Music Camp (both Junior camp and Senior camp) for many summers on the University of Maine campus.

Chip has appeared throughout the United States and Canada as a clinician, adjudicator and conductor, and has served as a guest conductor at several national and international festivals, including: the Atlantic Band Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia; the NAfME Eastern Division Conference; The International Band Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba; the Music in May Festival at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon; and the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.  In the spring of 2009, he was the guest conductor of the DoDDS /Europe Honor Band in Wiesbaden, Germany and conducted the University of Maine Symphonic Band at Symphony Hall in Boston.

Chip is retiring from his duties at the University of Maine this spring, but he has taken on a new challenge as conductor of the Bangor Band, the oldest continuous community band in New England.   His tireless efforts continue to have a positive impact on countless individuals in our state and beyond.

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Honoring Marisa Weinstein

June 1, 2013

Music Educator of the Year

I attended the annual banquet at the Maine Music Educator’s Association All-State conference at USM and was delighted to watch and listen as educators were recognized for their contributions to music education in Maine.

IMG_3341Visual and Performing Arts Department Head at Maine Central Institute, Dean K. Neal, nominated his colleague Marisa Weinstein for the Maine Music Educator of the Year. She was honored at the banquet along with others. Below is a segment of the nomination papers that Dean submitted. They are re-printed below with Dean’s permission.

Congratulations Marisa!

I have had the privilege of being a teaching colleague of Marisa’s for 23 years. This is her 24th year of teaching at Warsaw Middle School in Pittsfield where she currently teaches general music, beginning band, intermediate band, concert band (7/8 grade), 5/6 grade chorus, 7/8 grade chorus, jazz band 1 and jazz band 2.

As examples of Marisa’s interest in the total music education of the students of MSAD #53 I will begin with her saving a choral program that was in desperate need. The choral program of Warsaw Middle School was superb for the first half of Marisa’s tenure. Marisa’s area of concentration is instrumental music and she was not the choral educator during this time. The program then encountered changes in staffing for a period of three to four years. It was in this time that the choral program suffered greatly. As administration sought solutions Marisa offered that she would restructure her schedule to absorb teaching the 5/6 and 7/8 Choirs. Marisa whole heartedly applied herself by studying choral education literature, consulting with other choral educators and doing all she could to prepare herself to meet the needs of the choral students. In the several years since, she has taken the 7/8 chorus from being a group of 8-10 students that struggled to sing two part pieces, to an ensemble of 50-60 students performing three part literature. The choral students of Warsaw Middle School are now represented in a strong way in the regional auditioned honors festival. Throughout this process, she has somehow managed to maintain all of the performing ensembles she was teaching prior to taking on the choral curriculum and keep the education and performance levels to high standards of excellence.  

Marisa’s interest in the total program is not limited to the students of Warsaw Middle School though. She continues to follow them into the secondary level by consistently attending school concerts and events. More impressive is the fact that it is common for her to take the time to travel across the state or even out of state to see these students perform in festivals or at an event such as the Berklee Jazz Festival.  

Marisa has continually sought to better herself as an educator and performer by enrolling in workshops, masterclasses and performing ensembles. Last year she was one of a handful of Maine music educators selected to conduct for a nationally recognized conductor in a masterclass setting. Over her tenure she has consistently performed with numerous community and professional organizations throughout the state. She clearly understands the connection between the art and craft of making music and delivering that to youth through education.  

The respect afforded Marisa by fellow educators is evident through the many invitations to conduct regional honors festivals.  It is possible that she has guest conducted in every MMEA district but I know for certain she has guest conducted in Districts 3,4,5,6, and 7.  Her presence in MMEA has been felt more than through her conducting though.  Marisa has also been at the forefront of leadership by holding positions as District Chair, District Manager, Festival Host, (KVMEA President, Manager, Auditions Host as well.)

I must also mention that Marisa’s love and care for the school community go far beyond the music program.  During her time at Warsaw she has been Yearbook editor and advisor, served on committees and currently serves as 7/8 grade girls soccer head coach, 7/8 grade girls basketball head coach and 7/8 grade softball head coach.  It seems her commitment to the students of MSAD #53 and MCI knows no bounds.  Her passion for education and her love for music combine to make her one of the finest educators I have witnessed in my career.  I am proud to teach with her in our school system and believe her to fit in every way the honor of “MMEA Educator of the Year”.

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Honoring Ruey Yehle

May 30, 2013

Outstanding Administrator award for the Maine Music Educators’ Association

Recently at the All-State music educators conference sponsored by the Maine Music Educators Association I was happy to attend the Thursday night banquet where several Maine educators were recognized for their contributions. One of the annual awards is the ‘administrator award’ presented to an individual who has made enormous contributions to music education. Often the individual exhibits what we all hope for in a school administrator. This years recipient is exemplary and I was glad to be there to see Ruey Yehle, principal of Hampden Academy, receive her award.

Hampden Academy Music educator Heidi Corliss introduced Ruey and with her permission I re-print her presentation below…

IMG_3332It is with great pleasure that I am able to introduce you to Mrs. Ruey Yehle for the Outstanding Administrator award for the Maine Music Educators’ Association. She is the principal of Hampden Academy. It is said that the best educators do not just teach but inspire their students to want to learn. Mrs. Yehle is just such a leader. She models her expectations for her teachers and students and sets the example for other administrators in our district. Her goal is for the students and teachers in her school to not only become excellent but also to practice excellence everyday. Because of her example, I feel I am a better music teacher than I would be without her.

She grew up with music as a large part of her life, singing and playing oboe. Her love of music is evident as she encourages us as music teachers and our students. She rarely misses a performance whether it is at our school or traveling to district and state festivals. She has traveled with our band and chorus on overnight performance trips as well and today drove one of the vans for our African Drumming class to perform here at our All-Sate conference and banquet.

This year, we moved into a new high school. I would guess that the performing arts wing is like very few in the state. She made sure we had much input and she continued to communicate with us through the entire process, instructing us to consider the materials and equipment to support excellence in teaching and performing. She wrote educational specifications that were so well written and so complete that the building committee legislators in Augusta had very little choice but to support her requests. We have a large choral room with a keyboard/ computer lab including software to compose, practice, and record music. We have a band room with 2 sound proof practice rooms. There is a music library, a black box theater which can also be used as a green room with dressing rooms and restrooms. Along the hallway walls are display and trophy cases. There is a scene shop and a 910 – seat performing arts center with full fly space and a balcony which can be visually closed off and used for a lecture space. We also have a ticket booth and a sound/lighting booth with state of the art equipment that she encourages us to use as a teaching laboratory. We are adding courses to support this space including work in sound and lighting technology.

Our present music offerings at the high school include 2 bands and 3 choirs in the school day, 2 jazz ensembles and a show choir. We also teach classes in music industry, African drumming and music theory.
Ruey is always open to new ideas, especially encouraging her performing arts teachers to be creative and try new things. Next fall, we will be doing our first musical in almost 20 years. In talking to the students, they commented about how much they feel her support for them and her appreciation for their involvement in the performing arts. She proudly encourages our students to participate in both athletics and the arts, boasting about the successes in all areas. Our three All-State participants this year are also athletes. One plays soccer, one plays football, and one runs cross country.

I am extremely proud to teach under the leadership of Ruey Yehle.

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MMEA Conference

October 25, 2012

Up on their feet and learning

I had a chance to spend a small amount of time at the Maine music educators one-day conference last week that was held in Augusta at the Calumet Club. Within 10 minutes of starting the all day event, Penny Mahoney had the more than 70 music educators on their feet. They sang, moved, listened, questioned, and experience the lessons by doing!

It was clear that the professional development opportunity was appreciated from the moment the day started. Penny Mahoney is a nationally known Orff-Schulwerk clinician and endorsed trainer in education through movement. She has been teaching for well over 30 years and has no plan on stopping. I got a follow-up email that said: “I could hit the ground running on Monday morning when I started teaching with new ideas that I could immediately put into practice.”

The conference was sponsored jointlyby The Maine Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and the Maine Music Educators Association.

Thank you to Patti Gordan for sharing her camera and the photographs! A great big THANK YOU to Nancy Cash-Cobb for her great work on planning the conference!

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Maine Music Educators Fall Workshop

September 11, 2012

Penny Mahoney, nationally known Orff-Schulwerk clinician and endorsed trainer in education through movement coming to Maine

The Maine Chapter (American Orff- Schulwerk Association) and

The Maine Music Educators Association are proud to present:

PENNY MAHONEY, BS, MA, Ed. D.

Create & Assess thru the Orff-Schulwerk Process

This workshop will use movement based active learning to create and assess the musical concepts of beat, rhythm, improvisation, form and melody. Be prepared to sing, play and move with friends and colleagues.

Friday, October 19, 2012

9 AM – 3 PM

Le Club Calumet, 334 West River Road, Augusta, Maine (directions below)

Credit: 1.5 CEUs from the University of Maine with a paper and lesson plan ($10. Charge)

(Note: 1.5 CEUs = 1 Recertification Credit)

Cost:  $50. For the workshop (includes lunch) (members, students & retired see below)

 

MAHONEY WORKSHOP REGISTRATION:

Name_______________________________________________________________

School______________________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________________

             _____________________________________________________________

e-mail______________________________________________________________

Phone____________________

NAfME or AOSA Membership Number_________________

Enclosed is $50.00 for the workshop__________

NAfME/MMEA or AOSA Members $40.00__________

Student or Retired MMEA or AOSA Members  $15.00____________

Additional $10.00 for the 1.5 CEUs__________

Total Enclosed (checks to “The Maine Chapter”)__________

OCTOBER 12th REGISTRATION DEADLINE!

Mail to: Nancy Cash-Cobb, Windham Primary School, 404 Gray Road, Windham, Maine 04062

More info?  ncash-cobb@rsu14.org or ncashcob@maine.rr.com s-892-1840 h-926-3171 c-671-7064

“Penny Mahoney is the most inspirational educator with whom I’ve had the privilege to study.  Anyone fortunate enough to attend a workshop with Penny will leave armed with practical, engaging activities and a renewed sense of purpose!” – Heidi McCarthy, RSU #4 Litchfield, Sabattus, Wales

 DOOR PRIZES!!!!!

Penny Mahoney Bio

Penny Mahoney BS, MA, Ed. D., Orff Schulwerk Level I – III, and Endorsed Trainer in Education Through Movement, is currently a music specialist, K-5 at the Wolf Swamp Road School, Longmeadow, Massachusetts.  She acquired her Orff Schulwerk certifications from Grace Nash and her Endorsed Trainer in Education Through Movement from Phyllis Weikart.  Penny is an active clinician/teacher trainer throughout the United States as an Orff Specialist and Endorsed Trainer.  She has also served as President of the Central Texas Orff Chapter and Regional Representative to the Board of Trustees of AOSA.

 

Driving directions:

From I-95

Take the ME-3 exit, Exit 113, toward Augusta/Belfast….0.3 miles

Stay Straight to go onto ME-3….0.7 miles

Take the 1st right onto ME-104/W. River Road -continue to follow ME-104….0.7 miles

334 Northern Ave. (Le Club Calumet) is on the right

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Steve Orlofsky Honored

June 4, 2012

Maine Music Educators Association

I know that some of you attended the Thursday night banquet at the Maine Music Educators Conference this past month at UMaine when Steve Orlofsky was surprised. No, I would say Steve was more than surprised, shocked is a better word to describe it! Head of School from George Stevens Academy, Paul Perkinson, presented the MMEA award to Steve before a room of his peers on May 17th.

The presentation included the following sentiments from a student of Steve’s:

“Never have I seen a man so infused with energy, so passionate about music, and so in tune with his students as Steve Orlofsky, the music director at George Stevens Academy. The man is a veritable force of nature, fueled by a vat of coffee, constantly moving. I am fairly certain he could win a trophy at a speed walking competition.

And I am totally certain that he could win a trophy at a music competition. He has done it before. Multiple times, actually. In my three years at GSA, I can not remember one in which a GSA musical group did not win first place at the District or State Jazz Fest, and the trophies and banners speak for the years before me. If it were possible to win trophies fro playing at basketball games, those would be won as well. I have head referees who claim to have heard dozens of school bands while refereeing across the state, and they all say that the GSA Band are the best. And we are the best, thanks to Mr. O.

We all know the iconic image of him counting off, and then becoming distracted by somethinghe wants to tell us and forgetting his conducting hand, so that he will be telling us something, and his baton will still be unconsciously counting out a steady beat. We always have a good laugh when it happens. We learn many things in band besides music, such as how to avoid a moose on the side of the road, how to find the best dog at a kennel (Mr. O keeps us up to date with the cutest dogs at the local animal shelter), what to buy your wife on Valentine’s Day, and much more. And he always tells us stories. When he was 10 years old, his teacher asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up, and he said, “I want to be a high school band teacher.” The teacher had looked at him as if he were crazy, but he stuck to his dream, and here it is, years later, doing the thing he has wanted to do since he was a kid.

I have improved in my skills on the drum set, the piano, and in my general undersatnding of music and its flow while with Mr. O, and I’ve had fun the entire time. I’ve played stuff from the Rolling Stones to Duke Ellington and everything in between. I think it was best put into words a while by Aaron, my fellow percussionist in the school band. The subjet of classes came up, and I asked him which one he liked the most. He said, “Dude! Band!”.

CONGRATULATIONS STEVE!

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All-State Music Conference

May 27, 2012

UMaine campus

It was great to see so many music educators at the All-State conference last week participating in professional development opportunities. The workshops were enriching and provided a variety of topics and presenters to deepen music educators learning. I enjoyed hearing the keynote by Scott Shuler, president of  National Association for Music Education. Attending the session were several of our teacher leaders from the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative. Some from the first phase and some of our second phase. Included in this post is a photo of some.

I am always moved by the intensity of the students who are practicing for the Saturday performance. The energy of the conductors, the sustained focus of the students, and the sheer number of students is so impressive. I was only sad I couldn’t attend the performances on Saturday. All reports were that they were fantastic!

Attending the banquet on Thursday evening was a wonderful opportunity to connect wtih teachers. Musicians from the North Yarmouth Academy delighted us with a handful of songs. The evening ended with the presentation of awards to outstanding music educators. Congratulations to the following:

  • Carol Shumway, Mt. Blue High School – Hall of Fame recipient
  • Tom Lizotte, Cape Elizabeth High School – Hall of Fame recipient
  • Andy Forster, Messalonskee High School – Maine Music Educator Association Educator of the Year
  • Steve Orlofsky, George Stevens Academy – Maine Musice Educator Association Educator of the Year

Andy was nominated by Steve Muise

Carol was nominated by Karen Beacham

Steve was nominated by GSA Headmaster, Paul Perkinson

Enjoying the banquet: Pam Kinsey, Sam Moore-Young, Nancy Curran

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MMEA Jazz All State Festival

March 26, 2012

Maine Music Educators Association bring students and adults together

In most areas of the country, March Madness means Basketball. That happens in Maine in February, but there is also a March Madness in Maine for students in the Arts. There are Regional and State Drama Festivals, Visual Art Shows and it is Music in Our School month, meaning concerts abound. Oh…and it’s Jazz Season…ALL month long!

The Maine Music Educator’s Association (MMEA) sponsors District and State Jazz Festivals for both Middle School and High School jazz groups throughout the state.  Tonight (Monday, March 26, 2012) at 9:00, Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) will broadcast some of Maine’s finest student Jazz Musicians from the MMEA Jazz All State Festival, held in Scarborough in January. You will have an opportunity to watch individual students from many Maine High Schools participate together in Jazz Bands, a Jazz Combo and a Jazz Choir.

In March, students participate in Jazz Ensembles which are part of their school music programs and these groups then compete against similar groups from other schools. First, these groups must qualify for the MMEA State Festival at an MMEA District Festival by receiving a certain score…any number of schools may qualify.  Then, each type of group has it’s own State Festival. If you love Jazz, you will love all of these festivals and be prepared for Maine’s student Jazz Musicians to blow you away with their talent! The first of the MMEA State Festivals was the MMEA High School Instrumental Jazz Festival, held at Mount Desert Island High School on March 16 and 17. On Friday, March 16th all Jazz Combos competed and schools that have more than one Jazz Band competed in the ‘Multiple’ Jazz Band category.  On Saturday, March 17th, all of the other High School Jazz Bands competed in three different venues and 4 different divisions. The divisions are determined by school size…all of the schools are ranked in order of size and then 4 equal divisions are created. There were a total of 37 schools involved, with 30 on Saturday (7 schools participated with combos only).

Awards for the High School Instrumental Festival were as follows:

In Division IV:

  • First Place–George Stevens Academy, directed by Steve Orlofsk
  • 2nd Place–Maine Central Institute (MCI), Directed by Dean Neal
  • 3rd Place–Old Orchard Beach, directed by Mark Manduca

In Division III:

  • First Place–Old Town High School, directed by Jeff Priest
  • 2nd Place–MDI (Darth Vader), directed by Dan Granholm
  • 3rd Place–Fryeburg Academy directed by C. Brent LeCasce.

In Division II:

  • First Place–Nokomis High School, directed by M. Stanley Buchanan
  • 2nd Place–Westbrook High School, directed by Phil Rich
  • 3rd Place Brewer High School, directed by Brady Harris

In Division I:

  • First Place–South Portland, directed by Craig Skeffington
  • 2nd Place–Brunswick High School, directed by Michael Scarpone
  • 3rd Place–Noble High School, directed by Mark Mumme.

In addition to these ordinals, the following schools had students that received outstanding musician trophies:

  • George Stevens Academy
  • Houlton High School
  • John Bapst High School
  • Ellsworth High School
  • MDI
  • York High School
  • Fryberg Academy
  • Nokomis High School
  • Brewer High School
  • Westbrook high School
  • Greely High School
  • South Portland High School
  • Thornton Academy
  • Brunswick High School

Congratulations to all of the participants!

This past weekend, Saturday March 23rd, the MMEA Middle School Instrumental Jazz Festival took place at Stearns High School in Millinocket. Once again, audiences were treated to the reason there are so many excellent High School Jazz Bands in the State of Maine. Excellent student musicianship was apparent in these groups. Again, there were 4 divisions, with a total of 33 bands representing 30 different schools from throughout the state.

Following are the results from Divisions I and II:

In Division I:

  • First Place–Falmouth Middle School Jazz  Band, under the direction of Jerry Barry
  • 2nd Place–Noble Middle School Jazz Band, under the direction of Marilyn Bachelder and 3rd Place–Greely Middle School Jazz Band, under the direction of Scott Thurston.

In Division II:

  • First Place–Lenonard Middle School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Shianne Priest
  • 2nd Place–Brewer Community School under the direction of Lanissa Nadeau
  • 3rd Place–Reeds Brook Middle School Jazz Band, under the direction of Becky Mallory

Complete results of outstanding musician awards and Divisions III and IV will be posted soon.

Next weekend, vocalists will take the stage in Ellsworth for the MMEA State Vocal Jazz Festival. On Friday, March 30th, Middle School Show Choirs will compete against one another and on Saturday, March 31st, High School Show Choirs and High School Jazz Choirs will compete.

If you are looking for an enjoyable way to spend your weekend, I strongly recommend that you find your way to Ellsworth High School. The students are sure to impress you, and I will have my own group there, so perhaps I will see you in Ellsworth!

Thank you so much to music educator Pam Kinsey for this post!

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