As General Music Education teachers, we are constantly tied for time. We have a program coming up, testing is approaching, PTO meetings to prepare for, lesson planning, etc. As a fellow elementary teacher, I completely understand. I also understand the lack of funding for these conferences. But, I have some answers for you!

Before we go further, I want to tell you about the countless door prizes we have coming from Music is Elementary, Music K-8, TeachersPayTeachers stores, etc. AND Peripole will be a vendor this year, so you will be able to save money on shipping and they have great conference specials! 

This conference will be worth every ounce of time you can give it. We will have nationally renowned music education specialists coming to share a variety of new ideas with our teachers. Here is a list of some of these educators:

1. John Feierabend is a leading authority on music and movement development. He is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Music Education at the The Hartt School of the University of Hartford. He is committed to collecting, preserving and teaching the diverse folk music of our country and to the understanding and enjoyment of classical music. Dr. Feierabend’s teaching provides teachers and their students with the materials and techniques to build community through music by involving enthusiastic participation of all people. His approach strives for all to become tuneful, beautiful and artful through two methods: First Steps in Music© and Conversational Solfege©. (Dr. Feierabend will be our 3 hour session presenter on Saturday immediately following the Treble Choir Performance).

2. Carole Stephens – Miss Carole from Macaroni Soup- Sing! Stamp! Clap! March! Is your classroom bursting with action verbs? Children learn by moving through their environment. Active music participation provides opportunities for children of ALL abilities to work on social, emotional and physical skills. Throw in some early literacy skills, and you’re harnessing the power of music for young learners!

3. Dr. Rene Boyer - Professor Emeritus of Music Education at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music.  She is known nationally and internationally for her work in multicultural and urban music education. Her publications include: Share the Music and Spotlight on Music published by Macmillan McGraw-Hill; "Expressions of Freedom: An Anthology of African American Spirituals" in three volumes; "Walking in the Light of Freedom", also in three volumes,  and Songs and Rhythms of a Nation:  A Journey of American Heritage, all published by Hal Leonard.

4. Steve Campbell of Dancing Drum will present two daytime drumming sessions and an evening interactive drum circle at the 2018 TMEA Conference! Enhance the cooperative skills of your students through grade level rhythms, chants and drum breaks that promote teamwork and focus! Learn several exciting and engaging drum arrangements that encourage grade level pride and collaboration in your music classroom.

There are many other sessions offered for general teachers as well! With a list this strong, how could you NOT make time to attend this conference! You can only come two days? Ok, come Friday and Saturday! Can only come one day? Great! Choose a day! It is also important to know that we will have the Saturday 3 hour workshop again! Be sure to come join us.

Now, how can I find funds to get there?? Check out this site: help.donorschoose.org/hc/en-us/articles/204363783-Creating-a-Professional-Development-Project to learn how to create a donors choose.org project to attend conference! There are also many grant opportunities out there, so try to apply soon! 

Comment below with any questions, I will be glad to help!

What is your Alma Mater?
The University of TN at Martin

Where do you currently teach?
Snowden School in Memphis, Tn

How long have you been teaching?
This is my 8th year!

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
Because my membership provides me with amazing opportunities to network and receive exemplary professional development. I also love that TMEA advocates for music education for all.

What do you love about teaching?
That I get to show my kids that I love them. 

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
A dog rescuer! :) 

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I am a HUGE animal lover... and stray dogs seem to know that! We have had as many as 5 dogs at one time...

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​I love using aurasma, and you can read about how I use it here in volume 69 page 25 of the TMEA website.

What is your Alma Mater?
Eastman School of Music

Where do you currently teach?
Bruce Elementary, Memphis, TN

How long have you been teaching?
10 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
I love the opportunity to network with colleagues across the state, get fantastic PD and to advocate for my profession.

What do you love about teaching?
I love helping my students find their creative voice and seeing them grow from year to year.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
National Park Ranger

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I love to take car trips and have been to 43 states!

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​Lately, I've been enjoying collaborating with music teachers outside of my school We share ideas, plans/activities, and even videos. My students love to watch kids the same age from another school and then learn what they are doing and see how they can improve their playing, singing, and dancing.

What is your Alma Mater?
University of Tennessee at Martin

Where do you currently teach?
Madison Creek Elementary School, Sumner County Schools, Goodlettsville, TN

How long have you been teaching?
25 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
I choose to be a member of TMEA because as an elementary general music teacher, you are often "alone" in your world. If you teach in a rural district, the feeling of being on your own is even more prevalent. TMEA offers ALL teachers a network of immediate friends and sounding boards. The expertise that is found in TMEA is amazing. There is a wealth of never ending ideas, lessons, resources, innovation, creativity -- and I could go on and on... If you then include the very close friendships that have grown from having met through TMEA, it is truly a life-changing membership. I cannot even begin to verbalize the meaning my TMEA colleagues have to me.

What do you love about teaching?
I love seeing a child's eyes opened about something they may not have ever thought about being a passion. Through music, our children try things, take chances, trust in the goodness of people, believe in the ability of ALL... it is a transformative experience. I also, having taught so long, am loving seeing my "babies" who have gone on into the music business, whether performing, teaching, technical... That is one of the coolest things. To know I had one little part in forming the adult they have become.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
I would love to influence future music teachers.

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I have a passion for musical theatre. When I directed the church youth choir, a group of us would write the musical we took on tour each summer. Writing the musicals were a highlight of my life. Being in collaboration with other amazing musicians and lyricists was wonderful. My favorite musical we wrote dealt with the aftermath of a close friends suicide. "Dear Evan Hansen" is eerily similar to what we wrote so many years ago. My husband and I revived "Never the Same" a couple of summers ago - I had several former babies that were in the production, as well as my daughter. It was like coming full circle. Two weeks to the day after we finished NTS, my father passed away and my daughter was there. One of the songs we had written was "Hope Carries On". My daughter was the one who sang that in the new production... but we changed the original song instrumentation. She played it on acoustic guitar and parts were a cappella... it was amazing.

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​I do not do the same programs year to year... mainly to save my own sanity! However that being said, my 5th grade program is almost identical year to year. What makes it unique (I think) is it is completely done in black lights. The kids wear all black clothes (long sleeves and legs) except for white socks. I have white gloves for each of them and white masks (they only wear this for one song - Thriller Dance). They do a showcase of what they have learned the past six years in music - a choral octavo, a drumming showcase, a dance, a rhythm exploration (basketball routine) and end with educating parents on form (Danse Macabre) where the kids play the melody and visually show form. It is a lot of fun and the whole school looks forward to it each October. ​

What is your Alma Mater?
MTSU and Arkansas State

Where do you currently teach?
McFadden School of Excellence in Rutherford County

How long have you been teaching?
31 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
TnMEA is the professional organization that provides help and resources for all music educators. I feel it's important to support the excellent work done by TnMEA.

What do you love about teaching?
I love that every day is a surprise! My work is never boring, and there is never a dull moment teaching elementary music.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
I would enjoy being a studio singer!

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
My faith and my family are the two most important things in my life.

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​I have created poems, songs, and rhythmic speech pieces for many of the music vocabulary words that we use in class. It has enabled my students to remember and understand terms that they used to forget.

What is your Alma Mater?
Trinity University in San Antonio, TX

Where do you currently teach?
Carl Schurz Elementary in New Braunfels, TX

How long have you been teaching?
12 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
Membership in our local and national music education organizations is important to the life of our community. Organizations like TnMEA and NAfME help advocate for music, provide quality resources and valuable training for teachers, and provide a network of people who are passionate about music and teaching. I joined TnMEA because I want to be a part of improving and bringing music education to all - our great purpose as teachers!

What do you love about teaching?
I love interacting with students. I love bringing an unforgettable experience to them that may impact their lives permanently. I love watching them grow as musicians and become independent from me. My life was changed through music - I want to give others that same opportunity!

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
I honestly cannot answer this question! I cannot imagine any other job being as fulfilling and rewarding.

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I enjoy sewing and making things for people I care about.

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​Using GarageBand and iPads, I guide 5th graders on writing and recording their own remixes to folk songs they know. It is an engaging unit for them and gives them freedom to create something that is truly their own.

What is your Alma Mater?
Middle Tennessee State University and Trevecca Nazarene University

Where do you currently teach?
East Ridge Elementary Chattanooga, Tennessee Hamilton County

How long have you been teaching?
This is my 35th year of teaching.

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
I began my membership while in college, it was "just what you did". I continued my membership after becoming a band director because that was the only way my students would be able to participate in things like All-State and Concert Festival. I have since come to realize the learning opportunities TnMEA and NAfME provide for ME...Webinars, conferences, publications...

What do you love about teaching?
Watching the reactions of my students when they KNOW they "get it" and watching as they react to music they would never have heard without music class.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
Teaching Social Studies / History.... I had 2 years when I worked in the "real world" of business....I hated it.

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
Thanks to Facebook it won't surprise many folks that I very much enjoy piecing quilt tops.... I learned how to sew when I was in 4th grade so I could participate in 4-H activities. I carry around a ziploc bag with a hand-sewing project that has been in progress for 10 years...I can even sew when riding in the passenger seat. While a band director I always traveled with cross-stitching....

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​I do a rhythm activity based on the battles of the Revolutionary War the 4th graders must know. Lexington and, Concord, Bunker, Hill, Trenton Princeton, Saratoga, Valley Forge, King's Mountain, Yorktown, We Win! (did that from memory... means I've learned them too!) We analyze the rhythm of each battle, place them in order, play them on tubanos, woodblocks and triangles. This came up during a conversation at the copier when I asked how I might help the 4th grade teachers with their Revolutionary War unit. .. The answer: Is there any way you can help them learn the names of the battles they have to know.....? I've done this for 2 years.... report is very few of the kids fail to correctly answer this question. You can hear it in the hallway as they walk from place to place. ​

Our next TMEA Teacher Spotlight is Ray Mullins. Get to know him more here:

What is your Alma Mater?
The University of Memphis

Where do you currently teach?
St. Louis Catholic School in Memphis, TN

How long have you been teaching?
11 Years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
I love being connected with other music teachers across the state. TMEA Conference gives me a great opportunity to meet other teachers and share ideas and anecdotes.

What do you love about teaching?
I love the moment when the student "gets it." When they've been struggling with a technique or a concept, and then the "light" turns on, their face brightens to a huge smile, and they feel like the smartest person in the world!

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
Any job for a day?... I'd settle for half an inning playing Left Field for the Yankees!

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I love to cook. To create something, anything, in an hour or so and fill the house with a mouth-watering aroma. Then make it look attractive on a plate, only to indulge in the taste a moment later, is completely satisfying. Who doesn't want to walk into a room where there is a plate consisting of a perfectly cooked Ribeye with herbed butter, a grilled artichoke with remoulade sauce, and garlic mashed potatoes?

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
I organize baskets for each of my barred-instruments that have corresponding numbers (ie-basket #6 with Xylophone #6). So, when the students are ready to move from chairs to the instruments, I select a student at random to be #1, then mark his/her name. Thus, the students have no way of anticipating who will be at which instrument. By cycling through the students each time, eventually each student will be at each instrument over the course of the year. And after 2 years of this procedure, no student has complained about which instrument they get!

What is your Alma Mater?
The University of Memphis

Where do you currently teach?
Idlewild Elementary, Memphis, TN

How long have you been teaching?
9 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
I choose to be a member of TnMEA, because it helps me connect to other music teachers across the state.

What do you love about teaching?
I love when my kids make music and it causes them to smile. You can feel any other problems or concerns leave the room and see the happiness that fills their hearts.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
I'd probably be a travel agent. I'd love to plan other peoples' vacations. Of course, I would need to go explore the destinations so that I could give them good advice on what to do.

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I love to paint pottery. There is something incredibly relaxing about it. There is a local place that sells bisque fired pottery that you can then paint in the store and they fire it for you to pick up later. I could spend all day in there.

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​I have a clapperboard that a movie director might use. We use it before we perform the final version of a piece. The kids love it and really raise the bar when we use it. It draws that extra little bit of focus and energy out of them that really pushes the level of performance.