Quality music programs are essential
Education Week, November 25, 2013 in an article called Music Training Sharpens Brain Pathway Studies Say, writer Sarah D. Sparks provides an overview of the new research suggesting that the “complexity involved in practicing and performing music may help students’ cognitive development.” Now that is information that I am sure Maine music teaches are aware of and observe it day – to – day teaching students music.
Read the entire article by clicking here.
USM music education
This article was included today in the Bangor Daily News Media partners Free Press. It provides information on what is happening at USM in the music education department. The article is called Music education faculty halved due to university budget cuts. Click here to access the article.
Be In Love – Playing for Change – Playing for Maine
Recently in the Portland area the Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) decided to create their own Playing for Change video. They partnered with a number of local filmmakers, musicians, and students to make their own video in the style of the Playing For Change “Songs Around The World” series. They selected the song by Portland musician Dominic Lavoie, “Be In Love”.
MAMM also made a commitment to raising awareness and the value of music education in the lives of young people by providing a series of local concerts in various locations in Portland.
I was surprised and very happy to see a former student of mine singing in the video, Sara Richardson.
Westbrook High School Wind Ensemble accepted to the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference
Press Release: August 30, 2012
Last spring, Kyle Smith, the band director at Westbrook High School, submitted an unedited recording to a board of music educators at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division Conference for review. Any band, in any school system, on the east coast from Fairfax County, Virginia, and north, can submit recordings of their bands for review and potential acceptance but it is quite challenging to get in. In fact, it’s so challenging that in the history of the Eastern Division Conference, that it has been since 1995 since another Maine band has attended.
The first time that a submission from Westbrook was sent was two years ago and the submission was denied. That recording was reviewed by Dr. Andrew Boysen, Professor of Music at the University of New Hampshire as well as other well known and respected high school band directors in the area, and important improvements were made.
This time around it was a different story and the city of Westbrook and the state of Maine will be represented through the current Wind Ensemble class at Westbrook High School.
The conference is to be held in Hartford, Connecticut on Thursday, April 4 -Saturday, April 6, 2013.
Westbrook High School Wind Ensemble at Merrill Auditorium
Photo by Sd Good, 2012
Two stories
I just love getting emails from people that describe special events honoring Maine arts educators. I just had to share what is going on in our state next week at music performances. If you have a similar story I hope you will share it with me!
DWIGHT TIBBETTS, Augusta music educator, LAST CONCERT
Dwight’s last concert is June 4th 1:30 for the school and 7:00 PM for the parents at Cony with the Middle School Band. They are filming the concert on local Cable. Every other year Dwight takes the band to Washington DC. The Spring concert is a non-stop narration, slides and music by the band, chorus and piano of their trip. It also will include words from Senator Katz (once a Cony Band Student) as well as the State Color Guard posting the flags to open our event. The local newspapers will be there and the art department is displaying patriotic work. The students each kept a journal during the trip. A winning essay will be read as well as a winning photo contest. CONGRATULATIONS DWIGHT!
ROSE WHITE, Mattanawcook Junior High music educator, LAST CONCERT
Paul Sullivan To Be Featured Artist at Mattanawcook Junior High School Spring Band Concert
Paul Sullivan, Grammy award-winning Maine composer and pianist, will help celebrate the retirement of Rose White at her final spring band concert, next Tuesday at Mattanawcook Junior High School. Mr. Sullivan will be sharing his talents with the Jazz Band and Concert Band. “Spring Peepers,” from his CD “Nights in the Gardens of Maine,” has been specially arranged by Mrs. White for cello, clarinet and piano. The jazz band will perform “Volunteer Squash” from the same CD, also arranged by Mrs. White, and will feature Mr. Sullivan’s incredible jazz piano skills. You will also have the pleasure of hearing Paul Sullivan perform his original musical compositions on solo piano. His warm and inviting personality, coupled with his world-class musicianship, wins over new listeners immediately and usually makes them life-long fans. He received a Grammy Award for his work on the Paul Winter Consort CD, “Silver Solstice”. His thirteen CDs have sold over 300,000 copies. Paul and his family live on the coast of Maine.
Mrs. White is honored to be conducting her final Mattanawcook Junior High School band and jazz band concert with more than fifty of her former students joining the program as alumni to take part in one final night of outstanding music. Mrs. White has been teaching instrumental music in Lincoln for the past thirty years, after graduating from the Hartt School of Music and the University of Hartford, Connecticut, and teaching music for four years in Oxford, MA. She makes her home and will retire in Lincoln, where she raised two wonderful boys with her husband, Thomas White, earned a shelf full of trophies at regional and state competitions and more importantly, shared the gift of her music with thousands of children in our district. The concert will be on Tuesday, June 5, at 7:00 P.M. in the Mattanawcook Junior High Gymnasium in Lincoln, Maine.
I had the honor of visiting both of these teachers in their classrooms. Phenomenal music educators taking their last bow in the “classroom”!
Make-A-Wish, Service Learning, Music Appreciation Class
Shianne Priest, Leonard Middle School (Old Town) Music Director has worked with her students this year to create a song called “Stars that Shine” to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is the second year that Shianne has involved her students in a service learning project. You can read the article that describes the process by clicking here. CDs are available for sale by contacting Shianne Priest at shianne.priest@rsu34.org or call 827-3900. The article is from the Bangor Daily News, May 22nd edition.
YAY for Andrew!
In a surprise all-school assembly at Messalonskee High School earlier this week Andrew Forster was honored as the Maine music educator of the year, an award presented by the Maine Music Educators Association. He has worked tirelessly for many years creating opportunities for students to excel in music. You can read the entire article from today’s Kennebec Journal by staff writer Beth Staples by clicking here.
Featuring one teacher’s journey as an arts educator
This is the ninth in a series of blog posts telling arts teachers’ stories. The series contains a set of questions that provide the opportunity for you to read and learn from others.
Jen Nash currently teaches K-8 music at the Etna-Dixmont School and has been there for the last 4 years. There are approximately 220 students from K-8. Classes include: K-6 general music, 3rd grade recorders, beginner band, second year band, and middle school band, jazz band and chorus. Jen is a teacher leader with the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative, phase I.
What do you like best about being a music/art/drama/dance educator?
Watching the learning phases that students go through. I love being able to teach students the skills to become independent and self driven. The advantage of being a K-8 music teacher is watching them grow up, and mature in all things musical. It is wonderful when a student can identify mistakes, plan out a way-of-attack, and smile at what they have accomplished. When given the opportunity, students can be inquisitive, insightful and take ownership in the process.
Tell me what you think are three keys to ANY successful arts ed program?
-a clear philosophy of why the program exists and who it serves
-after setting goals, planning how to accomplish goals
3. Gas
-Students fuel the program.
*recruiting, helping in events, sharing with younger students, student leaders
*establishing expectations and creative assessments
-Parents and community
*without their support, arts programs would not exist
-Making sure your teacher tank does not hit “empty”.
*we run ourselves ragged for what we believe in. We must find balance.
What specific way(s) do your assessment practices tie into the success of your program?
I have student self reflect at the end of every class. Most the days I ask them to assess their overall performance for the day. Examples: Where you on task? Did understand the topic? Did you apply the new concepts? Did you follow directions? Did you put forth 100% effort?
I used to give them an overall individual assessment at the end of every class last year (no input from students). Since using the student driven method for the 2011-2012 school year, I have had students practicing more, on task, and asking about how they may improve. I use a chart labeled 1-4, and clothes pins with students names on them. It takes less than 2 minutes to take note of their scores, and I use GoogleDocs to keep it organized.
What have been the benefits in becoming involved in the arts assessment initiative?
It has been said over and over again: collaboration. Collaboration among all arts educators is essential to the survival and growth of programs across this state. I have learned so much from the many effective, wise (I do not mean “old”) teachers. Imagine what a truly unified front of Maine arts teachers would look like? How could we fine tune, or, perhaps revolutionize our methods, to reach this new generation of students?
What are you most proud of in your career?
Keeping students first. Teaching means trying things, and when I find they do not work, I do something else to reach them. I am content in knowing that I will always be seeking answers. Oh! And keeping a smile. Even on the tough days.
What gets in the way of being a better teacher or doing a better job as a teacher?
Attitude. If one does not like a situation: “fix it” or “get over it”. If one can not, “fix it” or “get over it”, then move on. Life is too short, and the people in immediate proximity suffer.
Apple or PC?
Macbook
iPad
Always have my Droid Incredible (PC based) close by.
Use what works for you.
What have you accomplished through hard work and determination that might otherwise appear at first glance to be due to “luck” or circumstances?
“You’re such a techie”. Back in middle school, I remember taking my first computer class. We learned all about floppy disks, Oregon Trail, and typing. At some point, I was hooked on Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. Occasionally in high school, I would be asked to type out a paper.
In college, I received a very, very old laptop that had the worst screen of any computer at that time. It worked-I could AOL instant message, so all was well. The Form and Composition class I took, demanded computer lab time in the music building. This is where I learned about Sibelius (a music notation software). Third year of college, thanks to Mom, a wonderful Dell desktop graced my dorm room.
So, I received my first MLTI laptop 5 years ago. Since then, I have spent hours just trying out new software, playing with spreadsheets, web browsers and etc. Last summer, I took the UM Summer Technology Institute course where I learned all about Google and it’s endless blessings.
What intrigues me is finding a program that can make my job more organized, and communication easier. I also love being able to help other people when they feel they just can not handle this whole “machine” thing. I almost feel like it is part of my job to share all the stuff I have learned. So, yes, it seems as if, being young equals understanding computers. It mostly has to do with the fact that I want to learn and I have had lots of practice.
Look into your crystal ball: what advice would you give to teachers?
Love what you do. Find joy in every day. Have peace knowing that most situations work out. Be kind to every student. Faithful to your friendships and family. Self control, even when it is a full moon and the kids are wild. Compassion and gentleness in approaching all difficult situations.
I think back to all of the leaders that had an impact on my life. They were patient, calm, sincere in their intentions and slow to temper. I really think those people had it figured out.
If you were given a $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?
Take a tropical vacation
Buy a really nice piano
Start a string program
Give to missionaries
Pay off student loans and mortgage
Start college fund for niece and nephew
Refinish the school stage
Links with resources: Etna-Dixmont School Webpage
Jake Sturtevant and Jen Nash Web Resources
Thank you Jen for taking the time to tell your story!
Talk about the importance and value of music literacy
Jarika Olberg is a young music teacher at Waynflete School in Portland. Fortunately for us, her first concert in December 2011 was videotaped and shared on YouTube. Below is the video embedded of the first 5 minutes of the first concert. In this video you will see how Jarika starts out each of her music classes with grades 4 and 5. She also provides an example of how she includes music literacy in her instruction. It is AMAZING!
Featuring one teacher’s journey as an arts educator
This is the first in a series of blog posts telling arts teachers’ stories. This series contains a set of questions to provide the opportunity for you to read their stories and to learn from others. The first one is featuring Rob Westerberg who is one of the recipients of the first presented Carol Trimble Award for outstanding contributions to arts education. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact Rob at rwesterberg@yorkschools.org and/or put your comments at the bottom of the post. Please let me know if this series “Another Arts teachers’ story” will be helpful to you by emailing me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
All-State conference, UMaine, 2010
Rob Westerberg is a High School Choral & General Music teacher who has taught for 24 years, the last 12 at York High School. He averages between 175 and 250 students per year covering several choirs, Vocal Auditions Class, Music History & Music Theory I and II. He is well respected by colleagues in New England for his enthusiasm and commitment to excellence in arts education! He has been a member of the Leadership Team for the Maine Arts Assesment Initiative and a member of the three person team who created the plan for the initiative.
What do you like best about being a music educator?
Waking up every day and being excited about going to work. Really!
Tell me what you think are three keys to ANY successful arts ed program?
1) getting the school and community to “unlearn the irrelevant” about the arts, 2) establishing the arts as “essential” ACADEMIC instruction, 3) building connections with other arts educators outside of your district to invigorate and reinforce your work.
What specific way(s) do your assessment practices tie into the success of your program?
They show the concrete parallels to assessment in other academic areas (reinforcing and demonstrating our academic status), they focus and enhance student achievement, and they help me to continuously evaluate and revise my curriculum and instructional practices.
What have been the benefits in becoming involved in the arts assessment initiative?
I have grown more in the last two years as a professional than the previous ten combined. Every interaction I’ve had with others as a component of the Initiative has driven me to want to be better at what I do, and has provided a foundation on which to build my assessment practices in ways I always wanted to but could never fully wrap my arms around.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Establishing a graduation requirement specifically for music (performing arts) and specifically for art (visual arts) at two of the three schools I have taught at. 100% of our graduates display genuine proficiency in the fundamental MLR standards of both subject areas through rigorous coursework, truly fulfilling a global vision of arts education for all.
What gets in the way of being a better teacher or doing a better job as a teacher?
“Getting SO wrapped up in working through, over or under the various brick walls that always seem to be standing in front of me (in front of ALL of us!!!) that I easily forget how much I love teaching to begin with… and not drawing from that reservoir of passion and excitement more often.”
Apple or PC?
Apple
What have you accomplished through hard work and determination that might otherwise appear at first glance to be due to “luck” or circumstances?
The music resources that we have access to at YHS can often be perceived as being due to being in a “wealthy” community. 75% of those resources (which does not include a functional auditorium) were not around 12 years ago and had to be fought for tooth and nail. We can empathize with anyone’s battle of having to fight for more resources in the arts.
Look into your crystal ball: what advice would you give to teachers?
Connect with other arts educators CONSTANTLY… in your 1st year or 41st year, all the best ideas for building and developing your program are already out there, and it’s your colleagues who have those ideas ready to share with you! Go get them!!!!
If you were given a $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?
I’d pay off my mortgage and then live off of the rest so I could just spend every single day of every single school year visiting arts educators across northern New England and working with them on curriculum and assessment development for their own programs I’d also buy an awful lot of Terra Cotta Butternut Squash Pasta…
York High School music programs webpage: www.yorkschools.org/yhs/music
