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President’s Report, January 2007
* Looking forward to our first ever board meeting via ATM video on
January 22 at 1:30 . the sites will be at the Caribou Technical Center, Thornton Academy (Saco), the Cross Building at the
Capitol in Augusta and Bangor High School. It appears that this will be very cost effective and allows many to drive a shorter
distance. The jury is out as to how it will work logistically and if it works to the degree that we'd want to do it on a more
regular basis, but we are taking advantage of available technology and seeing for ourselves if it works well for MMEA. Many
thanks to our VPA consultant Argy Nestor who took the ball and ran with it to help set this up. She will be at the Augusta
site for us.
* Many things shaking in Augusta... the Maine Alliance for Arts
Education has worked with Rep Emily Cain to sponsor a bill raising the VPA graduation requirement to two years. This was in
lieu of the
Commissioner's bill to change (raise) graduation requirements in other areas. Yet that bill is also in a state of flux right
now so things are literally changing day to day. Suffice it to say that Argy Nestor and Carol Trimble (chair, MAAE) have done
tremendous behind the scenes work and have utilized MMEA input. I'll keep you posted
* Coming up will be the first Eastern Division Conference to be run exclusively by Eastern Division (not national office),
per our request
last year. Eastern Division Honors performers have been listed on the MMEA website for a couple of months and we congratulate
all those selected and their teachers. The process in notification went fine though not flawless and changes are in place
to rectify this two years from now. I encourage everyone to keep getting the word out about what may be the finest Eastern
Division Conference yet. After seeing a preliminary schedule, I honestly have many time slots where I will need to choose
between 2 and 4 sessions I'd like to attend, not including any of the performances. This is a great
chance to come on down with other music teachers from your own school districts to talk shop and gear up for the next year
or two ahead of us.
* The Eastern Division Board meeting in October yielded some great
discussion and offered us the opportunity to bend the ears of our
national President and Executive Director. A primary issue we raised with Lynn Brinckmeyer and John Mahlmann was the annual
increase of dues by the national office when in fact state dues rarely increase. We passed a
motion requesting that national NOT raise dues this year. At the
National Executive Board meeting the following week, it was passed (not unanimously!) that national would not raise dues for
the following year. This is significant in that changes were made as a result of our voices being heard.
* The state-wide database is ready to be constructed. We have a list of every single school appearing on a District roster,
and a list of every school that doesn't appear. Would you believe we have nearly 200 schools unaccounted for? The next month
or two will be spent rectifying that. This puts us behind the time table I was hoping for, but we continue to make good progress
so all is well. This is the one thing I want have firmly in place by the time Sam takes over in a year and a half and I'm
committed to doing it.
Rob Westerberg
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President Elect's Report
At October's meeting I reported that all seemed lost
regarding the broadcast of highlights of the All State
Concerts due to our problems with tax designation.
Tonight, Jan 10th, I spent a VERY productive half hour
speaking with various members of MPBN including
President Jim Dow; Chief Financial Officer Chris Amin
(sp?); Vice President for Radio Services Charlie Beck
and Director of Media Services Joe Riley all of whom
were unaware of our previous collaboration with MPBN
but very willing to listen.
MPBN, along with every other business, is feeling the
financial pinch. It has less money to work with while
the cost of acquiring programming and, especially,
producing local programming soars. There is a one
year lead time for deciding which local television
projects they are going to pursue including budgeting
and planning. So even if they wanted to undertake our
project, it's too late for this year. If we could
provide a broadcast quality tape, forgot to ask what
format, they might be able to fit it in somewhere.
Plus it could be 56 minutes which is more than
commercial television.
HOWEVER, Maine Public Radio doesn't have quite the
same constraints.
If we can come up with a broadcast quality CD that is
approved by the head audio person, it can be aired on
MaineStage which is broadcast on Wednesday nights from
8:00 to 9:30. All we need to know is when the CD is
going to be available so it can be scheduled. It
would not be the video that we ultimately want but it
would be heard statewide and into parts of New
Hampshire and Maritime Canada. This could also be a
venue for Jazz All State!
Respectfully submitted,
Sam Moore-Young
President Elect
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State Editor and Webmaster Report - Jan 07
State Editor - Have had many requests for reprints of articles from our magazine from around the country. Many requests for
the beginning band literature article. Several new advertisers including USM (thanks Sam and Doug and Michele!) Conference
information is rolling in for the next issue.
I would like to request that someone step forward and consider being trained and taking over the Bulletin. It's been a great
learning experience, but I need to let some things go! So, if anyone would like to be "in training" I would be happy to begin
passing the torch. I certainly don't want to wait until the last minute to give this to someone and expect them to be able
to be up and running right away.
Webmaster Report -
Things have been behind over the past month due to my trip out of the country. I hope to get back on track with the website
in the next few weeks.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Packales
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District 2 report
District 2 held our January meeting at the Auburn Ground Round on January 10. We are in the final phases of planning for
our very busy festival season. The Honors Jazz Festival is in its third year. Auditions are again at Cheverus HS (January
17), but the Festival will be hosted by Poland HS (March). Our Instrumental and Vocal Festivals are coming up at the end
of January and beginning of February. Falmouth is the host for the District Jazz Festival also in February.
The Elementary festival will be in April. Managers, hosts, and coordinators are working hard to make sure these festivals
will once again be a great success!
Jim Horwich
District 2 Chairperson
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District III
Report to the MMEA Exec Board
January 21, 2007
District III is currently between a very busy but successful audition season and our festival season.
Since the last report, on November 4, we held a very successful Elementary Honors Festival hosted by Emily Mathieu at Lincolnville
and conducted by Scott Dyer, Theo VanDerventer and Allysa Williamson. This very able team of music educators really made
a difference this year by producing a great concert.
The Junior High auditions were held on November 9 at Woolwich Central School with Beth Whitney hosting, and Jill Hodgdon
and Cindy Brown managing. This very-able team of veterans produced a very efficient auditions process where over 500 students
were auditioned from 3pm to 8pm.
The Jazz Honors auditions hosted by Beth Preston at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle and managed by Anthony Marro were very successful.
This year the hosting and managing was split up, making the auditions more reasonable to do.
On December 7th, Roger Whitney, Ray Libby and Sam Moore-Young traveled to Bristol, New Hampshire to award the District III
Outstanding Service Award to Ed Judd for his outstanding service to District III. The award was presented to Ed at his winter
concert where he is the new music director there.
On Tuesday January 9, the District III exec board met to discuss the upcoming festival season which begins January 26th and
27th with the High School Honors Festival hosted by Nancy Laite in Camden.
Respectfully submitted
Roger Whitney, chair
83 Federal Street, Wiscasset, Maine, 04578
207-882-7925 (Home) 207-882-7767 (School)
E-Mail: rwhitney@wiscasset.k12.me.us
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District IV Report
District IV is preparing for our festivals coming up in the near future. First we have our District IV jazz festival to be
held on Valentine’s Day in Skowhegan. When we come back from break we will be having our District IV Junior High Festival
in Waterville. And after that we will have our Elementary Festival in the first week in April in Farmington So this past
few months have been preparation for all these festivals. From where I stand everything looks very good. We have some wonderful
hosts and managers so the festivals should all go very well.
Dan Labonte
Mountain Valley Middle School
dlabonte@msad43.org
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DISTRICT V REPORT
District V will have there High School Honors Festival
on January 26th and 27th at Dexter. In February
Hermon is hosting our Instrumental Jazz Festival for
the District and Nokomis will be hosting the Vocal
Jazz Festival. These dates are Feb. 15th for the
Instrumental and Feb. 28th for Nokomis.
Our Middle School Honors Festival went very well in
Medway back in November. Our District has decided to
get together in the spring to begin plans on our music
for this festival. This way we have time to work with
colleagues to make sure festival music is appropriate.
Also, this will give us time to make changes if
necessary and not having to rush to make sure students
receive their music at an appropriate time to learn
it.
I look forward to our trial run at the ATM site!
Respectfully Submitted,
Sarah Clark
District Five Chairperson
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District VI Report
District VI's Middle School Honors Festival at Ellsworth Middle School was a great success. Hats off to Cathy Tracy and all
of the others who once again made the festival such a great experience for our kids! We also had a very productive District
meeting at the festival, which brought about some great suggestions to make the festival even better next year.
District VI is currently searching for a new host for the High School Honors Festival. Our original hosts, Ellsworth High
School, are unable to host the festival due to schedule conflicts. Machias schools tried to help out, but they were only able
to offer a date just before Easter, which the District members agreed would not allow for high levels of student participation.
We are hopeful that one of our members' schools will be able to help out so that the festival does not have to be cancelled.
Our District VI Jazz Festival is scheduled for March 2 at MDI High School.
The teachers and volunteers at MDI at well prepared for the event, and have
offered to continue hosting for the next two years. Calais is considering
hosting the Middle School Honors Festival for the next two years.
I look forward to meeting with you all on the 21st!
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessica Hartman
District VI Chairperson
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District 7 REPORT
Well, not much to add from up north, except I got out of school at noon today since we got about 6 inches of snow and now
some freezing rain.
Anyway, our All-Aroostook District Festival auditions went off with no problems despite the slight weather problems of the
day. All-State auditions also went well. This weekend Fort Fairfield High School will host our All-Aroostook Festival with
various conductors, all from the southern Maine area this year. There will be over 350 students involved in the festival
and they are looking forward to it.
After this, it's Jazz season. Hosts this year are PIMS for the instrumental and Houlton for the vocal.
That's all I have for now. See you next weekend, via TV!!
Patrick Bragdon
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MENC Collegiate Chapter Report
January 7, 2007
MENC Collegiate Chapter #175- UMaine (provided by UMaine Chapter Advisor Dr. Laura Artesani)
On November 8, chapter president Carly Schluter and treasurer Nicole Zito presented a session entitled "The Student Teaching
Application Process." The event was well attended and included some very valuable information for our music education
majors.
On Nov. 30, our chapter held a silent auction and bake sale in the lobby of Hauck Auditorium. Many local businesses contributed
generously to this event, which was organized by Ashley Drew with assistance from Andrew Young, Carly Schulter, Nicole
Zito, Whitney Thurston and Maria Talbot. The results of the auction were announced during intermission of the Jazz Ensemble
concert. This fund raising event was very successful; the money raised will be used toward expenses for the MENC Eastern
Division Conference in Hartford. We currently have twelve students who are planning to attend this conference.
------------------------------
MENC Collegiate Chapter University of Southern Maine:
On November 3, The USM Collegiate Chapter of MENC hosted Dr. Peter Boonshaft, Professor of Music and Director of Bands at
Hofstra University, as a featured guest speaker. Dr. Boonshaft has had a distinguished career as a music educator, and is
the author of the recent books Teaching Music With Passion and Teaching Music With Purpose. He discussed various topics related
to music education and the overall teaching experience.
Members of the USM chapter are preparing to travel to MENC Eastern Division Conference in Hartford. Fund raising events to
offset this and future events are planned.
State MENC Collegiate activities:
Adjudication for the Maine entries 2007 BMI/MENC John Lennon Scholarship Awards is now complete. This national program offers
one $10,000 scholarship and two $5,000 scholarships to college students who write the best original compositions for vocal-instrumental
performance with the broadest popular appeal. This program is open to college students via their school MENC chapter.
Seven entries were received from Maine. The selection of the finalists was based on six categories, including the category
"overall potential for popular appeal." Two songs can be entered from each state as finalists in the competition. Each song
was adjudicated anonymously. The entries from Maine were:
Around the Moon, Cassandra Gray
Glass Hearts, Brian Tingdahl
A Mist on the Hills, Philip Trembley
Reap What You Sow, Brian Graham
That Ain't Love, Seth Grondin
Visions and Fantasies, Sara Richardson
Your Open Door, Heather Andrews
The songs Your Open Door composed by Heather Andrews and Reap What You Sow composed by Brian Graham have been selected as
the finalists from Maine. Their entries have been forwarded to MENC and BMI for final adjudication.
BMI will select the scholarship recipients in June, 2007. MENC and BMI will announce the recipients at that point. The 2006
award recipient bios and their songs are at the following link:
http://www.bmifoundation.org/news/200605/20060516b.asp
Respectfully Submitted,
Doug Owens
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ORCHESTRA VP REPORT
January 7, 2007
From Margaret Hopkins
All State auditions went very well. All State orchestra conductor for this year is Allen McMurray from Univ. of Colorado.
We still do not have a definite program, but some pieces being considered are Easter Overture by Rimsky-Korsakov, Hoedown
(Copeland), and a Scandinavian piece. We are low on French horns, but otherwise there seems to be no problem filling out
the orchestra sections. We most likely will need a ringer for Horn IV for All State. The question is are we still trying
to use volunteers or shall we hire someone?
For the conference, Dr. James McWhorter will present 3 clinics. Among those will be a presentation on starting a successful
string program just on $100, beginners first cello lesson, and starting, maintaining, continuing and advancing stringed instrument
music programs and orchestras. He is sponsored by Southwest Strings and will be a wealth of knowledge to everyone. In the
Cashe Valley in Utah, Dr. McWhorter created one of the most successful string programs and student orchestras in Utah. Our
own Ellen Gawler is working out a presentation with her fiddling group and Betsy Kobayashi with her Suzuki groups.
Maine ASTA is still working on full incorporation and state insurance. Three persons were approved for partial funding to
attend the ASTA National Conference in Detroit during March 7-11, 2007 – Lauren Rioux, Margaret Hopkins and Anne Wilkinson.
There are two tentative statewide string festival dates that will take place in Orono on either May 5th or May 12th. Waldo
Caballero will finalize the date shortly. String Academy camp which takes place at USM in Gorham and provides our string
players with superbly amazing orchestral experiences will be form July 29-August 3, 2007. The tuition is quite minimal and
can be arranged on commuter basis or overnight stay. There are scholarships available. Please refer any string players to
the camp – beginners or advanced, age 9-17. For more information you may visit USM’s web site and check out Summer
Session programs.
Maine Suzuki Association had a play in at the Maine Mall in November that went very well. The workshop, which was held in
October, was fully attended. The clinicians were excellent, and the high winds and rains did not deter anyone who signed
up to attend. The power went out in mid afternoon, but all teachers managed to teach and kids thought it was great to learn
“in the dark” with emergency lighting on. The final concert almost did not take place but the power came on just
in the nick of time.
The Maine Country Dance Fiddle Workshop will be held on February 3, 2007 at 1-6pm at Hallowell City Hall. The workshop is
geared to beginners, intermediate and advanced players followed by a country dance when the whole family can join in and dance
at 4pm. It is lots of fun! To register and receive sheet music, please contact Kaity Newall at 8 Creek Lane, Damariscotta,
Me 04543
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Hopkins, Orchestra VP
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Advocacy/MIOSM Report: January 2007
Greetings and Salutations!!
Per the board’s request, I have been working on a draft of a letter supporting
the importance of professional development for Maine’s music teachers. As you
may recall, the reason for this letter was based on some teachers not being
allowed to go to music based professional development workshops, such as the
General Music Workshop back in the fall. These teachers were forced to take
part in school district sponsored activities, which are not typically catered
toward specialists. The draft is still in the works, being a perfectionist,
and I should have a draft for the board to peruse soon.
MIOSM Reminder: Don’t forget the Music in Our Schools Showcase!!! If you have
any video or audio recordings of your students singing songs from World’s
Largest Concert repertoire, send it to MENC!!! Click on the following link for
more information: http://www.menc.org/guides/miosm/miosmshowcase.html
National Anthem Project Reminder: The finale to the National Anthem Project is
coming up in June. It will be held in Washington, DC, June 14th (Flag Day),
and 15th, and is shaping up to be grand celebration of our National Anthem.
They are looking for performing ensembles from each state to participate in
this two-day celebration. For more information, go to the following site:
http://www.thenationalanthemproject.org/finale.html
Happy New Year to all; if anyone has any questions, feel free to let me know!!
See you all via ATM on the 21st!!
Jess Newton
Advocacy/MIOSM Chair
Maine Music Educators Association
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General Music VP Report
Happy New Year to All!
On the General Music front, things are as busy as ever. This fall we held our annual General Music Workshop and it drew
one of the largest crowds ever of 98 people. MMEA's own Jonathan Carsley and Emily Weed held a Kodaly workshop that left
the participants motivated to return to school and practice the techniques taught.
Speaking of the fall workshop, mark you calendars NOW for next year. Teachers, ask your administration NOW for a PROFESSIONAL
DAY on Friday October 5th, 2007 in Augusta at "Le Club Calumet". On that day next fall we'll be having a full day of song
and dance with Peter and Mary Alice Amidon!!!!! If you are not familiar with these two you need to be and you can check
out their webpage at www.amidonmusic.com I predict that the Amidons will draw a huge crowd so mark you calendars and watch
for registration materials in early September. I understand that this year there were a bunch of people who were denied the
opportunity to attend our fall workshop so I urge you to start talking about it now with your administrators.
Clinicians are being lined up for the Annual MMEA All-State Conference. John Jacobson, author of Conga in the Kitchen and
Music Express is very excited to come to the Maine Conference. There will be a several opportunities to participate with
this very energized clinician. Annegret Baire will be back to do a couple of sessions on African drumming. Michael Hudson,
as always will be on hand to represent Scott Foresman. There will be many other relevant sessions for us to participate
in. Remember MMEA's Conference is for YOU! See you all in Gorham!
In closing for each bulletin/article I write I'll provide a webpage for you to check out. This month I'd like to refer
you to www.dsokids.com This is a great resource for you as a general music teacher but also a great place for you students
to do research, play music games, and enjoy learning about music online.
Michael Davis, M.S. Ed
Maine Music Educators Assn, General Music VP
www.auburnschl.edu/Users/mdavis
www.mainemmea.org
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Jazz Activities
January 2007 Executive Board Report
The 2006-2007 All-State Jazz Festival went off without a
hitch due to some great work by our outstanding VOLUNTEER
music educators. 76 students participated in the festival
this year, in 2 jazz bands, a jazz choir and jazz combo.
We had four outstanding conductors this year and the
students learned a lot, had a blast, and put on a great
concert!
Special thanks to
• Renee Richardson and Sue Powell, of Scarborough High
School for hosting the event.
• The Music Boosters of Scarborough for their help in
making things run smoothly.
• Instrumental Jazz Chair, Shianne Wheeler of Old Town
Schools
• Vocal Jazz Chair, John Reeves of Skowhegan Schools.
• Managers of the ensembles (Mike Scarpone, Ginny
Palmer/George Redman, Kyle Smith, Larry Williams)
• Auditions Chair, Lance Schanck of Waterville Schools.
• Auditions host, Brady Harris and the great folks of the
Bangor Army National Guard Band!
MMEA received a 3 year grant to include clinics in the
festival. Michael Zsoldos, a middle and high school music
educator from Woodstock, Vermont was our clinician. He
gave 2 improvisation clinics to our students, and one for
the teachers as well. His clinics were a welcome addition
to our festival, and next year, we hope to add more growth
opportunities for the educators in attendance as well.
On Saturday morning, the members of MMEA who were in
attendance at All-State Jazz had the usual January
meeting. A brief summary of the meeting’s important points
follows:
• Housing – We will make every attempt next year to have
kids in their OWN beds. 2 per room, or 3 with a cot
whenever possible.
• Audition clarity – The Jazz VP will revise audition
documents to clarify audition procedures for bass players,
vocals and drum set.
• IT WAS MOVED AND PASSED that the size of a jazz combo at
District and State Jazz Festivals will be at the
director’s discretion (no longer limited to 8). The Jazz
VP will create a NEW Jazz Combo adjudication form, which
will be sent to district and state hosts for distribution.
The only change on the form will be a change in point
distribution, specifically to add more emphasis toward
assessment of improvisation.
Next up on the Jazz calendar...District Jazz festivals in
February and March…State Festivals in March
Chris Humphrey
VP for Jazz Activities, MMEA
humphrey@cheverus.org
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All State Festival Chairperson Report
Not too much to report…other than there is a lot still to do.
Signed applications and deposits are beginning to come in. At last report, many people are doing the on-line registration,
and I would encourage everyone to encourage everyone to go through this process…it will be an incredible time saver
for all of us dealing with student databases for all state. Thank you Mr. Bean!
We need to get the word out that the festival fee for this year will be $150, including the deposit. I would like to set
a deadline of March 1 for all fees to be in, unless there is a compelling reason to wait longer. There should be a blank/generic
invoice available through the web site similar to the Jazz AS invoice soon.
The order of performance is OCB, in line with the established four year rotation. Dress rehearsals will be in the same order.
Recording Contract Recommendation:
After looking over the bids for the All State recording, my recommendation would be to go with one of the options offered
by McGiver Recording, Scotia, NY. Of the three proposals submitted, they substantially outdid the other companies as far
as laying out options and presenting real choices. In fact, they actually developed four different proposals (due to our
unique performance situation) which are summarized as follows:
#1 – Separate CD of each group
CD - $18
Photo - $12
#2 – Separate CD and DVD of each group
DVD - $37
CD - $18
Photo – $12
Combo DVD/CD - $47 (44% savings)
#3 – Double CD’s of entire concert
Double CD - $22
Photo – $12
#4 – Double CD’s and Double DVD’s of entire concert
Double DVD - $47
Double CD - $22
Combination Double DVD and Double CD - $59 (45% savings)
Photo - $12
The specs for the CD recording are typical, using high quality mics, stereo, mixing, etc. The DVD specs include using DVdigital
format on at least two cameras, strict synchronicity, uncompressed video and better audio quality than the CD (inherent in
DV format). Photo is hi rez color, 8x12 format.
Delivery is:
CD’s – 3 weeks or less
DVD’s 6-8 weeks
Photos – 4-8 weeks
Please look these over and let me know at the meeting which direction you think best…my choice would be to offer #4,
but I’m up for other opinions.
I will have much more information after Nancy and I can meet with the people from USM & Windham in early February. Until
then, have fun making music!
Ted
--------------------------------
Research Chair Report
Although we do not had sufficient numbers of active researchers in
Maine to host a poster session at our State Inservice conference, the
Eastern Division Conference in Hartford will feature a poster session
of approximately 60 posters selected through a careful and lengthy
blind review process. While conference attendees may be tempted to
chose to attend sessions that seem more "hands on", the research
shared in the poster session is packaged onto single sheet summaries
that can be carried away and stored for future reference. You may
also scan these sheets and then talk to the researcher to gain
further insight or to request additional information (which they are
usually eager to share) if a topic is particularly relevant to your
current practice or teaching challenges. Some of the topics that
will be found in the room include studies about pull-out lesson
programs, music student test scores in relation to the general
population, effective rehearsal structures, plus a host of additional
topics that are helpful in our everyday practices. Please consider
attending these sessions.
Respectfully submitted (and web ready)
Michele Kaschub, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Music
Coordinator of Music Education & Graduate Studies
University of Southern Maine
School of Music
37 College Avenue
Gorham, Maine 04038
207.780.5587
---------------------
General Music Co-VP (Secondary Level Report)
We are excited to offer several sessions at this year's inservice
conference devoted to the needs of teachers who teach general music
at the middle school and high school level. Highlights will include
a session entitled, "Creative Projects for High School Music Theory"
exploring innovative teaching methods and tools for helping students
develop their creative and critical thinking skills while learning
the fundamentals of music theory; "Listen Up! Bringing Listening
Alive in MS/HS Music Appreciation Classes" addressing the use of
listening activities that expand
students willingness to engage with unfamiliar musics; and
"Composition in the Middle: Teacher Sharing Session on Composition
in Middle School Exploratory Music and Ensembles" featuring a trio of
presentations by teachers who have successfully incorporated
composition instruction in general, choral, and instrumental middle
school settings.
Respectfully submitted for circulation and web,
Michele Kaschub, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Music
Coordinator of Music Education & Graduate Studies
University of Southern Maine
School of Music
37 College Avenue
Gorham, Maine 04038
207.780.5587
Winter 2007
Tri-M Update
I would like to congratulate the following schools
that have active Tri-M chapters for the 2006-2007
school year. They include: Berwick Academy,
Brunswick, Kennebunk, Marshwood, Messalonskee, Oxford
Hills, Penobscot Valley, Sacopee Valley, South
Portland, and Windham. There are a number of chapters
that have lapsed since last year according to the MENC
records. If you have activated your chapter recently
and have not been included in my list, please let me
know so that I can update this report.
My goal for this year had been to create an email list
of all active chapters to facilitate better
communications. Unfortunately, due to changes in the
administrative office at MENC, email addresses are no
longer posted for state tri-m chairs. I am still
working to locate this information. In the meantime,
active chapter sponsors can email me at
acbsnow@yahoo.com with their email addresses and I
will forward any information I receive from the
national office.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact
me at my new work address: Woodland Jr Sr High School,
14 First Ave., Baileyville, Maine 04694 or at my home
address, which remains 324 Camp Road, Cooper, Maine
04657. I can also be reached by phone at 460-5306 or
454-1119.
Sincerely,
Alice Sullivan
Tri-M State Chair
-------------------
State Director’s report
Much of what I have done this fall and early winter as been directional. At least 3 times a week an email or phone call comes
in from someone seeking help in reaching a particular MMEA officer or chair: TriM, District honors or jazz festivals information,
retirees, advertising in the Bulletin, conference exhibits or clinicians, etc. I’ve also fielded questions on policy,
procedures, rules, By-laws, MENC elections and joining MMEA/MENC. Nationally there have been questions about our Solo & Ensemble
and Large Group lists, how we conduct elections (paper or electronic or just those who attend the conference), who is going
to the MENC Centennial Congress (I’m not). I’ve made large name tags to place in front of each person at the next
live board meeting. One nomination for MMEA Hall of Fame has come in. There have been requests for information about nominations
for Music Educator of the Year and Administrator of the Year. I’ve also served as a sounding board for those officers
who just want to sound off to someone who will listen and not “tell.”
I see my job as support for you, the MMEA officers, chairs and members. If I can help you, let me know. I do not expect
to be at the meeting Sunday as I have another commitment, although I may get to the Cross building for the last hour or so.
I’ve suggested some items for Rob to put on the agenda. Have a great meeting and let me know what I can do to help you.
Faith
----------------------------
Retirees Annual Picnic, 2006
September 11 was truly a happy occasion this year as the “faithful” retired MMEA members gathered again at the
beautiful oceanfront home of Peggy and John Laforge in Harpswell. Enjoying the sunshine, salt air, lobsters, steaks and various
beverages, were nine members and five guest spouses. Delicious goodies appeared by magic as always. Thank you so much Peggy
and John for your gracious hospitality. We missed you, Faith, Paul and Merrill!!!!
Following lunch Bob Modr, Mary Canning, Priscilla Delehanty and Peggy held and impromptu jam session. Now why haven’t
we done this before???? So next time plan to bring your instrument (or voice) and maybe some music with miscellaneous parts.
Too bad to waste the day, the talent, and the distance traveled. Hopefully Rue will not have to rush off next time.
The group included Peggy and John LaForge, Mary and Gordon Canning, Robert Coller, Don and Carol Hamalainen, Priscilla Delehanty,
Barbara Franklin, Hati and Bob Modr and Rue and Phil Geishecker. As always, we extend a cordial invitation to all our retired
colleagues and hope you will join us for the fun and good food next September.
Expect plans for the spring luncheon, in the Portland area, by the first of April.
Respectfully submitted, Rueline Geishecker, secretary MMEA Retirees
p.s. Rob, there is nothing to report regarding the All-State Music Library. I have suggested a meeting with their Director
at a site that is more convenient for both of us but have not received a response. They are still interest in the project.
I have not received any music from anyone as of this date. I will continue to keep communications open. Bob
------------------
Choral VP Report - Jan. 07 (my first!)
Nancy Cash-Cobb, Beth Preston, and I are working on the Choral-related sessions for the MMEA All-State Conference in May.
On the docket: Andy Beck (Alfred), John Jacobson (Hal Leonard), Mollie Stone (authentic South African music), John Armstrong
(Solfegge Literacy), Joann Kirschner (performance anxiety), Bob Russell (Conducting and score study), Ellen Chickering (Italian
diction), Erin Lowell (Feedback from choral auditions), Ray Miller (science of singing), Jay Nelson and Bev Pacheco (Round
Table on voicing, literature, scheduling, driving concerns), and probably more that I’ve forgotten! You’re sure
to find something worthwhile, and it’s always good to schmooze with other music educators!
Jessica Russell (Freeport MS & HS) will bring a demonstration choir for John Armstrong’s sessions, and Erin Lowell has
will bring her Noble High School Chamber Singers to perform. Thank you, Jess and Erin!
This is the year for the Directors’ Chorus. Bob Russell will conduct two rehearsals on Friday. Performance will be Friday
evening.
Six Maine Middle School and High School students are participating in the National ACDA Honors Choruses in Miami the same
week as the Eastern Division Conference.
Barri Lynn Moreau is setting a date to meet w/ Beth Preston and me to discuss the PAC Artist-in-Residence Program and the
High School Honor Choir. This year there was not enough participation for the Honor Choir. The Artist-in-Residence (this year,
Rodney Eichenberger) came to schools to conduct clinics and worked w/ USM Singers. Rod conducted them in a concert which also
involved guest choirs.
Respectfully submitted,
Nora Nale Krainis
MMEA Choral VP/ACDA Rep
Director of Choral Activities
North Yarmouth Academy
Yarmouth, ME 04096
nkrainis@nya.org
----------------------
Society for Music Teacher Education Report
MMEA members have no doubt noticed that the focus of the January 2007 issue of Music Educators Journal was Music Teacher
Preparation. This issue provided much food for thought, and demonstrated MENC's commitment to this vital issue. In the
article entitled Mentoring Pre-service Teachers for Development and Growth of Professional Knowledge, authors Campbell and
Brummett discuss Eunice Boardman Meske's metaphor of the pre-service teacher as an emerging butterfly. They state, "For a
true transformation to occur, pre-service teachers must be nurtured in an environment that encourages questioning, acknowledges
their developmental phases, and helps them construct their own knowledge of teaching and learning based on continuous
inquiry." This article reminded me that it is important to offer a heartfelt word of thanks to all of our MMEA members who
provide this type of of nurturing environment for our pre-service teachers as cooperating teachers and mentors. Your work
in
this area is a crucial component of our profession.
The Society for Music Teacher Education was founded in 1982, and is open to all MENC members with an interest in this subject.
As stated on the SMTE web site, the purposes of this society are as follows:
1. To improve the quality of teaching and research in music teacher education;
2. To provide leadership in the establishment of standards for certification of music teachers;
3. To serve as an arm of MENC in influencing developments in music teacher education and in the certification of music teachers.
I encourage MMEA members to explore the Society for Music Teacher Education website, which can be accessed through the MENC
website. It contains valuable information about resources, areas for strategic planning and action, and upcoming events,
such as the symposium entitled "Music Teacher Education- Collaborative Action for Change" which will take place on September
13-15 at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Registration information concerning this symposium will be available
in the near future.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Artesani, D.M.A.
Assistant Chair, Division of Music
Assistant Professor of Music Education
School of Performing Arts
University of Maine
-----------------------------------
All State Auditions Report
Well,
As Sam has said over and over in her end of All State Auditions Season reports……….it is again over.
I have a sneaking suspicion All State Season is longer than hunting season……..at least for moose anyways………..
I’d like to start first by thanking Sam Moore Young for offering this position. No wait a minute; did I say I’d
do it? What was I thinking………….?
Ok
Now for the serious part.
First and foremost Id like to start my part of the All State Auditions co chair report by thanking Sam Moore Young. She put
together a binder that had everything I ever needed to know about the logistics of this job. She also was a constant email
companion and on more than one occasions a welcome ear on the other end of the phone when I was close to desperate.
Secondly, as Sam also said over and over again, this monumental task can not take place without the host sights and their
galloping hordes of volunteers and behind the scenes efforts of Boosters, custodial, administration and fellow teachers who
open their schools trusting us to leave it as good or hopefully better than when we arrive.
I have been an All State judge for the past 10 years. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the job for All State
chair was so incredibly monumental. It’s amazing to me that not so long ago it was handled by one person. Larry Bean
has not let me down once and he was there for support and encouragement at every turn. His program is amazing and with his
computer knowledge and skills it wont surprise me if at some time in the future we even move to “Virtual Auditions”
but that is a topic for later discussion.
Skowhegan was our first stop this year and I was incredibly fortunate to have the well-oiled Skowhegan crew to make things
run very smoothly. My heartfelt thank you goes to Sue Nelson who was a major player in why things went as smoothly as they
did at the front desk. And, I could not nor would not leave John Reeve’s out of the Skowhegan kudos list. He showed
me how it should be done and set a great example for the next weekend, which was Gorham.
Gorham Auditions were also held at my school. Ray and I have shared the set up and organizing of this audition site for several
years now. I was grateful to have Skowhegan under my belt and had a good idea what needed to be done to get the site ready
and me ready for the first arrivals. Friday was a great success and we had runners and volunteers coming out our ears but
Saturday was tricky because it was also the day Gorham played for the State Football Championship and our high school kids
were scarce until afternoon so Ray stepped in and single handedly ran the string rooms until we can enough kids to cover the
runners for all the rooms.
I also enlisted the skills of a very mature Jr. at Gorham this year, Kevin Wiacek to be my second set of hands and eyes for
the front desk. He checked in schools and students and kept all my paperwork organized. He was vital to keeping this huge
site running smoothly. Although he was not responsible for any exchange of money or questionable registrations he was as
able as I by the time Saturday afternoon rolled in to check in schools and keep runners on their toes and run interference
when directors or students had questions.
The last site, Holton, was as predicted by Sam and those of us who have done this gig for a while enhanced by a wonderful
yet very slippery snowstorm. For those of us who drove up Friday night it started as freezing rain and by the time we hit
the Holton 113 miles sign the other side of Bangor the roads had already become sketchy. It turned to snow by Midway and
made for what is a long hike up north a bit longer and a lot more exciting. No snoozing in cruise control looking for the
Katahdin lookout that night. The drive up Saturday morning wasn’t much better but we all made it up and back home safe
and sound.
For those of us who have done the Holton trip for many years the one thing that is predictable is the “County”
down home friendliness. The food for the judges is always worth the trip and the genuine welcome back where have you been
so long attitude is always right there. As in the past, Joe Fagnant and his crew did a wonderful job and after a few minor
variations and excerpts we were able to stay at cruise control till the end. Holton, although only one day is also run at
the same time as the All Aroostook festival auditions. We coexisted very well and after everything was up and running smoothly
you never would have known there were two separate auditions going on at the same time.
I want to say in closing that I learned a great deal about the “other” side of auditions. I met some colleagues
I have never met and got to see many old friends and familiar faces. For the most part those meetings were easy and really
genuinely wonderful. I learned in a hurry that Sam Moore Young and John Reeves are incredible professionals and as a judge
under both of them I never knew that there could be anything but sitting behind the desk trying to stay warm, chatting with
old friends, and keeping the rooms running smoothly.
The issues that still wake me up at night are these.
In all 3 sites there were still colleagues arriving with students, some of them from a very long ways away that had unpaid
balances. There were mix ups with schools with similar names, checks left in another jacket or their car or their secretaries
never got things in on time. There were also students that drove themselves and other kids without an adult chaperone.
Here’s just one example. Saturday morning in Holton…I had 3 kids show up from several hours south of Holton without
an adult, the roads were still snow and ice covered and I cant imagine a parent or a responsible adult allowing kids to just
take off 2 hours up the road.
This also occurred at Skowhegan and Gorham and at all 3 sites the kids were able to find an adult to be responsible for them
but that’s not what the rule says………………..this is a huge liability issue and God
forbid, if something had happened to those kids, one can only imagine the ramifications.
To the very few of you that got to see me at my frustrated, sarcastic and exhausted worst, please forgive me. To the hundreds
of you, who got your paperwork in on time, checked the web site and came prepared thank you.
I am fully aware that there were times when my grace and dignity at having to make decisions or choices regarding whether
an already stressed and nervous student who has spent the last 6 months preparing for a 10 minute chance to be part of Maine
Allstate’s Musical elite, was less than graceful. More than anything, I wish that I could be a Super Hero and not ever
have to ruffle anyone’s feathers. More than that though, I resent being put in a position to tell a kid, or a kids
parents, or grandma that even though they had just driven 3 hours in the aftermath of a snowstorm or gotten up before even
the radio announcers or spent thousands of dollars in private lessons that they would not be allowed to audition. And, in
the end, even through the stressful mini drama’s everyone who came to audition did.
My intention as All State Co Chair is to above all make sure every student who arrives at a site gets their shot at making
the All State ensembles.
My position and job description dictates that I follow the rules dictated to me by MMEA. Larry gives me the list of schools
for the entire state and their financial status, paid or unpaid, Wednesday before each audition site. It’s the only
thing I have to go by and if your check gets to Larry after Wednesday I wont have that updated information.
Please remember that if a student is scheduled for one or rescheduled for all 3 audition sites the 20.00 fee for each audition
is applicable whether they show up or don’t.
Please double check the website before the Wednesday prior to your students auditions. Please make sure your students are
not arriving at an audition site without an adult chaperone. Such simple steps will ensure that all the sites are clear of
financial stress.
Kim Mathieu
-----------------------
District III
Report to the MMEA Exec Board
January 21, 2007
District III is currently between a very busy but successful audition season and our festival season.
Since the last report, on November 4, we held a very successful Elementary Honors Festival hosted by Emily Mathieu at Lincolnville
and conducted by Scott Dyer, Theo VanDerventer and Allysa Williamson. This very able team of music educators really made
a difference this year by producing a great concert.
The Junior High auditions were held on November 9 at Woolwich Central School with Beth Whitney hosting, and Jill Hodgdon
and Cindy Brown managing. This very-able team of veterans produced a very efficient auditions process where over 500 students
were auditioned from 3pm to 8pm.
The Jazz Honors auditions hosted by Beth Preston at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle and managed by Anthony Marro were very successful.
This year the hosting and managing was split up, making the auditions more reasonable to do.
On December 7th, Roger Whitney, Ray Libby and Sam Moore-Young traveled to Bristol, New Hampshire to award the District III
Outstanding Service Award to Ed Judd for his outstanding service to District III. The award was presented to Ed at his winter
concert where he is the new music director there.
On Tuesday January 9, the District III exec board met to discuss the upcoming festival season which begins January 26th and
27th with the High School Honors Festival hosted by Nancy Laite in Camden.
Respectfully submitted
Roger Whitney, chair
83 Federal Street, Wiscasset, Maine, 04578
207-882-7925 (Home) 207-882-7767 (School)
E-Mail: rwhitney@wiscasset.k12.me.us
--------------------------------
Government Relations Report
Below is a combined copy of the MENC Legislative Memo for November & December 2006. I have included the information from
other states as it will be of interest to some readers.
If anyone has some specific Maine news that I don't catch, please send it to me directly to include in the report. In addition,
I can then report that to MENC directly for inclusion in a future MENC Legislative Memo.
These combined memo topics include:
Federal News
* Elections and Appropriations Update
* 109th Congress Draws to a Close
* Arts in Education Grants Announced
* Dona Goia Reconfirmed as the Chairman of the NEA
* No Child Left Behind-Update
You Should Know
* Third Space: When Learning Matters!
* ...about Artscan-a database of state policies on arts education
* ...about the Neglected Muise: Why Music is an Essential Liberal Art
Take Action
* How to Help Support Arts Funding
Other State News
* When Music is Core: Transforming a Nevada School
* Texas Coalition Fight Threat to Music Education
Congressional Corner
* Representative Shelley Burkley (D-NV)
* Representative John Spratt (D-SC)
Federal News
Election and Appropriations Update
The 2006 elections proved eventful as the results decreed a shake-up of Congress. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives
will be under Democratic control for the first time in twelve years. When the new Congress begins in January, the Senate Democrats
and Independents (who have united with the Democrats) will hold 51 seats--a slim majority over the Republicans' 49 seats.
In the House, the Democrats currently have a lead of 33 seats with six elections still undecided. This shake-up will affect
issues ranging from school loans to educational technology funding to the minimum wage and even reauthorization of the federal
education law (No Child Left Behind).
Democratic control of the House will also see Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA) sworn in as the first female House speaker in U.S. history.
Democrats will also then take over the chairmanships of all of the committees. Rep. David Obey (WI) is expected to take over
the powerful House Appropriations Committee while the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will likely be chaired
by Rep. George Miller (CA). On the Senate side, Sen. Robert Byrd (WV) will become the chairman of the Senate Appropriations
Committee and Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy will become chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions.
Prior to the election, Congress had adjourned after passing only two of the twelve appropriations (funding) bills for the
2007 fiscal year (FY07). After returning for its lame duck session on November 13, the Republicans decided to leave final
passage of the remaining bills to the newly controlled Democratic Congress. As a result, the Republicans are allowing the
Democrats to restore cuts made earlier this year, especially in areas such as education funding.
The 109th Congress Draws to a Close
When the 109th Congress adjourned in the early morning hours on December 9, it left several unanswered questions. The most
pressing was the fate of the remaining nine appropriations bills for the 2007 fiscal year (FY07). Shortly thereafter, soon-to-be
Appropriations Committee Chairs Senator Robert Byrd and Representative David Obey announced their intention to pass a continuing
resolution for the remainder of the fiscal year which will continue FY07 funding at 2006 levels. They also stated that they
would put a moratorium on all earmarks until lobbying changes are passed. Byrd and Obey agree that a continuing resolution
is not an ideal scenario, but will bring about the quickest resolution for those departments and agencies whose budgets currently
hang in the balance. They also have said that they will make some adjustments in the continuing resolution to account for
several programs in dire need.
Sadly, a few days after the 109th adjourned, Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) was diagnosed as having bleeding inside his brain
and had to have emergency brain surgery. He is said to be recovering well, yet remains in critical condition (as of press
time). In addition to the tremendous personal effect, this health incident also highlighted the fragile balance of power in
the Senate. Should Sen. Johnson be unable to continue as Senator, Republican South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds would select
a replacement. A Republican appointee would swing the balance of the Senate back to the Republicans.
Arts in Education Grants Announced
The new Arts in Education Grants have been announced! The 34 new Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grantees
were awarded approximately $8,288,790 for the year 2006. These grants provide financial support for the development, implementation,
and expansion of standards-based arts education programs and integration of the arts instruction into the core curriculum.
Grants have been awarded to state and local educational agencies (LEAs) as well as local nonprofit arts organizations that
partner with LEAs.
This year's grantees represent 19 states and the District of Columbia. The states represented are Arizona, California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. In addition to these new grants, there were 14 continuations
from FY 2005 and 4 continuations from FY 2004 awarded.
For a complete list of grantees, please visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/artsedmodel/2006awards.html.
Dana Goia Reconfirmed as NEA Chairman
On December 11, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Dana Goia to serve as the Chairman of the National Endowment
for the Arts (NEA) for a second term. Click here for more information on Chairman Goia and his work as NEA Chairman.
No Child Left Behind
MENC Update
Democratic leaders have already voiced that one of their priorities in the Democratically-controlled Congress is the reauthorization
of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Although Democrats have pointed out weaknesses in NCLB, a complete overhaul may not be in
the picture. The committees charged with the reauthorization will the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, to be
chaired by Rep. George Miller, and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), to be chaired by
Sen. Edward Kennedy. Both Miller and Kennedy were original authors of No Child Left Behind and unlikely to desire changing
its main tenets. Even so, it is hoped that they will address and fix the major issues and problems of NCLB with the upcoming
reauthorization. Additionally, as it is a stated priority, NCLB is likely to be reauthorized this Congress--a year earlier
than anticipated.
At a recent press conference, incoming House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Rep. George Miller outlined the Committee
agenda for the upcoming 110th Congress. The Committee's mission will be to strengthen the middle class through all of its
initiatives. This will include improving the quality of public schools, making college more affordable, and a variety of measures
to improve the workplace. He also stated that Committee hearings will become more inclusive through the use of e-hearings,
online forums, videoconferencing, and field hearings. This will offer many more Americans the opportunity to voice their opinions.
In education, the Committee is expected to take up consideration of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) shortly after the 110th Congress
begins. Rep. Miller expressed his wish to preserve certain key tenets of the bill including closing the achievement gap. However,
he knows there have been problems with NCLB and will hold hearings to find solutions. He will also investigate whether the
problems have come about as a result of flawed policy, ineffective implementation, or inadequate funding.
You Should Know…
…about Third Space: When Learning Matters!
Third Space: When Learning Matters, a publication of Arts Education Partnership (AEP), reports on ten economically disadvantaged
communities who put a strong emphasis on the arts in their schools. The information focuses not only on the students, but
the effect that the arts have on their teachers and parents as well. This report demonstrates that these students, teachers
and parents thrive in an environment where the arts are important. To read excerpts of this excellent advocacy tool, go to
http://www.aep-arts.org/ThirdSpacehome.htm .
…about Artscan, a database of state policies on arts education
The Education Commission of the States (ECS) has developed a database comparing arts education policies across all fifty states
and the District of Columbia. This searchable database is called Artscan and is available online. A three-page summary of
findings is also available.
…about The Neglected Muse: Why Music is an Essential Liberal Art
Published by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), The Neglected Muse: Why Music is an Essential Liberal Art argues the
importance of music education.
Take Action
Support arts funding now!
Take action to help music education and The National Anthem Project !
• Open the following letter using MSWord.
• Visit www.congress.org and enter your zip code to find your Representative.
• Enter your Representative's name into the letter as well as your address.
• Print out the letter and fax it to MENC at 703-860-9404 so that we can deliver it directly to your Representative
(mail delivery remains slow to Capitol Hill as a result of screening procedures).
• Feel free to print out several copies of the letters and urge friends and coworkers to sign the bottom to make an
even greater impact on your Representative!
State News
When Music is Core: Transforming a Nevada School
In Nevada, one particular school has been transformed by an experiment called "Music Core." The idea for this program originated
at Lincoln Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah where school-wide instrument instruction was introduced. At Rose E. Warren
Elementary School in Las Vegas--an at-risk, multilingual school--violin lessons were introduced to every student and teacher.
One-hour group lessons are given twice a week in addition to regular music classes. Yamaha has offered their support by providing
the violins for this program.
The hope of "Music Core" is that it will show that strong, sequential music instruction will have a direct, positive effect
on the students. "Music Core" is aptly named because it truly is an example of music being a true and central part of each
child's education. Already the teachers have seen positive changes in the students' behavior and academic performance, and
hopes for improved year-end test scores are high.
In order to prove the success of the program on a statistical level, the school district worked with music education research
expert Larry Scripp to ensure that appropriate statistical data was collected about the students. This year and in future
years, the school hopes to have strong, measurable data on the positive effects of "Music Core" on the children. Furthermore,
the data collected will be invaluable among advocacy efforts in Clark County, in Nevada, and across the country.
Watch a short video clip of the children and their music teacher here. Once on this page, click on the link to the left that
says Cool at School: Musicians of the Future to see the video. If you would like more information, contact Marcia Neel, Supervisor
of Secondary Music Education for the Clark County School District.
Texas Coalition Fight Threat to Music Education
During a special legislative session of the Texas State Legislature in May, several educational reforms were quietly slipped
into House Bill 1 (HB 1)--an educational funding bill. One reform included increasing the number of graduation credits to
four courses each in math, science, English and social studies. This is known as the 4X4 model. One of the negative consequences
of the 4X4 model is that it leaves no time in a student's schedule to take music classes.
In the months after the reforms were passed by the legislature, the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education worked to gather
support for the arts, particularly from the business community, to advocate changes by the Texas State Board of Education
(SBOE) during the rulemaking process. The Coalition's supporters included economist Ray Perryman and Dell CEO and musician,
Kevin Rollins. The Coalition also joined with other subject areas that would be affected by the 4X4 model including those
in the foreign language and career and technology subject areas. School superintendents also joined the coalition. Together
they proposed that the SBOE raise the number of graduation credits from 24 to 26 to preserve electives and that some middle
school courses continue to count towards high school graduation requirements. Both proposals would allow extra time for electives
in high school.
On Friday, November 17, the SBOE finalized the "4X4" plan and the rules for implementation. In doing so, it voted to increase
the number of overall graduation credits to preserve electives as proposed. Additionally, middle school credits will continue
to be allowed for use towards high school graduation credits.
Many states legislatures are now considering either the "4X4" plan or something similar. For more information or to keep MENC
abreast of the situation in your state, please contact Anne Ruach Nicolas, Director of Government Relations at MENC. Many
thanks to Robert Floyd, Executive Director of TMEA, and Kay Anderson, President of TMEC, for their help in writing this story.
Congressional Corner
Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Representative Shelley Berkley has been serving the families of Nevada's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of
Representatives since 1999 and is currently in her fourth term. The Congresswoman serves on the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on International Relations.
Among her top priorities in Congress are securing more resources for education and transportation needs in Southern Nevada;
providing access to affordable, high-quality health care for all Americans; meeting the growing needs of the Las Vegas Valley's
many military veterans; developing clean, alternative energy sources; and fighting the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste
dump.
Congresswoman Berkley plays clarinet and piano, regularly attends music performances, and enjoys listening to music. She says,
"Music education was very important during my formative years and I am grateful for the opportunities I had to not only play
an instrument and be part of the school band, as well as the pleasure it has given me throughout my life. Music education
is fundamentally important to a well–rounded education for young people. For many students, it represents a connection
between what they enjoy the most and the need to stay in school.
Representative John Spratt (D-SC)
Representative John M. Spratt began serving the 5th district of South Carolina in 1982. Congressman Spratt served on the Budget
and Armed Services Committees and as the Assistant to the Democratic Leader in the 109th Congress.
Growing up in York, South Carolina, Congressman Spratt was a member of his school band. He began playing the trumpet in elementary
school and continued through eighth grade. Two of his daughters play the violin and one plays the flute and the piano. His
musical background provides many enjoyable opportunities to attend music performances.
Congressman Spratt is a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus and has been given an "A" on the 2006 Congressional Arts Report
Card. He says, "In order to make sure that music and other arts programs do not disappear, we have to not only find creative
ways to encourage more students to go into music education, but also support them in their crucial first years in the classroom.
It can be done, but not without adequate funding and a steadfast commitment from all of us in Congress."
--
E. Scot Fuller
Performing Arts Department
Gould Academy
Bethel, Maine 04217
www.gouldacademy.org
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