Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA) unequivocally affirms that Black Lives Matter and that the horror of systemic racism and violence perpetrated against Black people must end.
The mission of the Maine Music Educators Association is to promote and advance music education for all students. Affirming that Black Lives Matter everywhere—in our classrooms and communities—is fundamental to our mission as an organization. MMEA has not done enough to address systemic racism and to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Our practices and curricula must elevate the lives, voices, experiences, cultures, and histories of Black and other marginalized people. We must begin by addressing gaps in our knowledge. We are called to fundamentally transform the school experiences of our students, shifting from non-racist to true anti-racist teaching. This requires continuous and deliberate reflection and change within MMEA, as well as at an individual, school, and district level.
Effecting change is going to be long term, challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, but it is necessary. MMEA is committed to supporting music educators, students, performing artists, and community members as we begin this work.
We must listen to and amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We must do it together. In the coming weeks, the MMEA will provide resources while preliminary actionable steps are developed. We invite you to join us with this important work.
The Arts are Basic Coalition (ABC), led by the MAAE, is an advocacy partnership made up of representatives of Maine’s professional teachers’ associations in art, music, theater and dance (see individual members and contact information below). ABC’s mission is “to advocate with a common strong voice for the visual and performing arts for all students in Maine.” ABC was created when the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Alliance for Arts Education in the summer of 2000 convened a large group of Maine arts education organizations and supporters to investigate ways in which we could collaborate for the cause of “arts every day for every child.” Out of that meeting grew ABC.
To: Maine School Superintendents, Principals, and School Board Chairs
From:The Arts are Basic Coalition (ABC): Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE), Maine Art Education Association (MAEA), Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA), Maine Educational Theatre Association (MEdTA) and Maine Dance Educators.
As the leaders of the five Maine organizations that collectively represent the Visual and Performing Arts in Maine schools, we are writing to let you know that in this time of anticipated changes in schools and heightened concern about school funding reductions we are putting our creative and collaborative skills to work to respond to the artistic and social needs of our students and using our advocacy experience to help preserve state funding levels in Maine schools.
Advocacy has long been a strong suit of Maine arts education leadership. For more than 20 years our five statewide professional organizations have been united in the Arts are Basic Coalition (ABC) for federal and statewide advocacy. Led by the Maine Alliance for Arts Education, our coalition’s members, from all around the state, go beyond arts educators and include parents, students, community arts organizations and individual arts supporters – all eager to send a message about the importance of arts education and education in general.
Last fall our coalition created a new ABC Student Leadership Group that was inducted at the Blaine House, with the Governor as signatory. This group of 11 exemplary arts students from around the state is eager to add their advocacy voice and to create a wider network of student advocates. The current threat to school funding is putting all of us to the test, and we have already joined with our state partners, the Maine Education Association, to advocate for additional federal aid that will offset anticipated state and local budget reductions.
Maine arts educators are also developing innovative ideas to adjust their work to the new school safety guidelines. These include ideas that draw on the ways that the arts connect to social and emotional learning, such as giving students more opportunities to express the experiences they are living through and to connect meaningfully to others. They also draw on the arts’ connection to community economic development, giving arts students the tools to contribute to the creative economy of their communities, and involving them in initiatives that develop the potential of their community’s natural resources.
Education is the lifeblood of our young people’s and our state’s future. We as arts educators are excited about the ways that we can offer our positive energy and creative problem solving to Maine schools in this challenging time, and share ideas that can give us all hope. We look forward to staying in contact with you as we go into the summer months, and to continuing to work with you in the fall. You can reach us by contacting Susan Potters at spotters@maineartsed.orgor 207 439-3169. Thank you!
The Spirit of Music Education Award was presented (virtually) to Joseph Meyers who lives in Brewer by the Maine Music Educators Association. Feeling a bit depressed 6 weeks ago, Joseph, who had been a music major at UMaine went to his cellar to play and sing music. Out of that experience the facebook group Quarantine-Karaoke which now has 700,000+ members!
Vicky Cherry, MMEA executive committee and advocacy chair recently met with Joe. She describes Joe as “kind, well spoken who has seen the amazing difference this facebook group has made for so many people during this time.” Joe manages 65 volunteers who assist him to monitor the facebook group of over 700 K. He shared some incredible stories with Vicky of the letters he receives daily from people thanking him, life changing stories. Check out Quarantine Karaoke.
Joe is a graduate of UMaine School of Music Program, he is not an educator. He works in the business field. What a great story – so happy that MMEA has recognized Joe for this movement underway; providing opportunities who really need music in their lives, now more than ever.
At the annual Maine Music Educators Association conference the following educators were recognized for their contributions to music education. CONGRATULATIONS to everyone!
Hall of Fame – Anne Wilkinson
Educator of the Year – Kimberly Murphy and Beth Preston
On January 12, Maine Music Educators’ Assn District 2 held the Honors Instrumental Music Festival at Oxford Hills High School. The amazing High school band performance, under the direction of Grammy Award winning music educator, Jared Cassedy, is linked below.
Jared, music educator at Windham High School, Windham, NH was interviewed on CBS and you can read the ARTICLE HERE. I have also included a link to Jared’s CBS interview. The performance was outstanding!
If your district concerts are videotaped and you’d like to see them on this blog please send me the information at argy.nestor@maine.gov. Thanks!
Retired music educator Paul Greenstone assisting in a summer music program in Lake Region Summer Band Program for students entering Gr. 5 through high school. Shirts designed by Paul’s son, Andrew Greenstone. Photo by music educator Jenni Null who is recently retired and teaching one day a week.
As we know the field of education is changing right before our eyes – sometimes with us at the table and some days we wake up and wonder how we got where we are. Some of this has to do with a generation of educators retiring. The numbers are on the increase and the list of openings at this time of year is larger than normal, according to communications. The statewide censusthat the Maine Arts Commission conducted provided us with all kinds of information including the number of school districts who have non-certified educators. We also know that in some arts disciplines, the number of undergraduate students in our field is smaller this year. Both of these are concerns.
I keep thinking about the number of retired teachers who still have so much to offer. I’m hearing about several who are teaching one or two days a week in schools that have a need for a part-time arts educator. I’m also aware of educators who are volunteering in their communities and/or schools to help support the education of young people. If you’re one of these educators, THANK YOU you for stepping up and continuing to use your teaching skills!
Doesn’t matter what age you are or how long you’ve been teaching, I suggest that you consider who is available to assist you and consider the many retired arts educators when you hear of opportunities. Both the Maine Music Educators Association and the Maine Art Education Association knows who has retired in the past few years plus I have blogged about the retirees for the last five years. Don’t hesitate to reach out – these are ways to advocate and gain support for yourself and your program. We know that young people are the ones who will benefit!
The Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) is excited to invite Maine music teachers to attend Chords For Kids: MAMM’s Scholarship Gala Fundraiser, Oct 11 AURA for FREE! Teachers just need to produce their school credentials at the door and they and a guest may join us in our celebration that evening.
The event will be a celebration of MAMM’s 11th anniversary and will feature performances by MAMM students, a silent auction, and an award ceremony where MAMM will recognize “Rock Stars in Our Communities”. Following the award ceremony attendees will dance the night away to Maine’s premiere 80’s band, The Awesome.
MAMM’s 2018 Maine Music Educator Award will go to Allen Thomas, Choir Director at Bonny Eagle High School and Chairperson of the District One Maine Music Educators Association. Thomas was selected from an impressive pool of candidates from across Maine because his work exemplifies MAMM’s mission of building leadership through the musical arts. “We were most impressed by Allen’s real efforts to cultivate leadership skills in his students and empower them to take charge of their craft and music performances,” said MAMM director Jeff Shaw.
The following students will be representing Maine in the All-National Ensembles in Orlando, Florida, November 26-29. Thank you to the music educators who have helped prepare these students on their musical journeys!
SOPHIE BLAIR, percussion – Brunswick, Teacher: Mike Scarpone
KATARINA BOJARSKI, euphonium – Brunswick, Teacher: Mike Scarpone
JASON ALMQUIST, tuba – Lewiston, Teacher: Jenna Nelson
AARON BROWN, bassoon – Massabesic, Teacher: Adam Goad
ELIJAH CARET, horn – Massabesic, Teacher: Andy Forster
AUBREY FOSSETT, horn – Waterville, Teacher: Sue Barre
BENJAMIN ALFORD, bass – Gould, Teacher: James McLaughlin
BENJAMIN BAUMGARTE, tenor – Brunswick, Teacher: Ashley Albert
CORRIGAN FARNHAM, soprano – Greeley, Teacher: Sarah Bailey
LOGAN GILLIS, alto – Brunswick, Teacher: Ashley Albert
CHRISTOPHER HASCALL, tenor – Bonney Eagle, Teacher: Allen Thomas
CALEB RANDALL, bass – Sanford, Teacher: Jane Kirton
Congratulations to the following Maine Music Educators who received awards last week during the Maine Music Educators Association annual conference at UMaine Orono.
MMEA School Admistrator of the Year: Barbara Jordan, Principal of the Albert S. Hall School, Waterville
Sue Barre, Barbara Jordan, Ciara Hargrove, Kristen Alberts
Maine Music Educator of the Year: Mike Sakash, Fryeburg Academy
Mike Sakash with Josh Bosse
Maine New Music Educator Award: Josh Champagne of Sanford High School
Ben Potvin with Josh Champagne
Dale Huff Outstanding Music Department Award – Music Educators: Ashley Albert, Jill Hodgdon, Danielle Murphy, Heidi Anderson, Mike Scarpone and Lisa Cushman, Assistant Principal, Brunswick Junior High School representing administration
Ashley Albert, Jill Hodgdon, Danielle Murphy, Heidi Anderson, Mike Scarpone and Lisa Cushman, Assistant Principal, Brunswick Junior High School representing administration
The purpose of this blog is to share stories, resources, innovative ideas, resources, and to communicate what’s happening in Arts Education. This forum gives blog readers the opportunity to learn from each other. It is essential that we collaborate, listen and learn from each other in order to improve teaching and learning in Arts Education in Maine and beyond.
The mission of the Maine Music Educators Association is to promote and advance music education for all students. Affirming that Black Lives Matter everywhere—in our classrooms and communities—is fundamental to our mission as an organization. MMEA has not done enough to address systemic racism and to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Effecting change is going to be long term, challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, but it is necessary. MMEA is committed to supporting music educators, students, performing artists, and community members as we begin this work.
