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TN Musician Vol. 70 No. 4

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The Official Publication of the Tennessee Music Education Association<br />

The Every Student<br />

Succeeds Act:<br />

Opportunities for<br />

Music Educator Action<br />

by Lynn M. Tuttle p. 12<br />

Tips on Maintaining<br />

Vocal Health<br />

by Sarah Seo p. 21<br />

Music for All<br />

by Debbie Montague p. 29<br />

VOLUME <strong>70</strong>, NO. 4


MUSIC<br />

MUSIC WITH PURPOSE<br />

A Christ-centered university in southeast<br />

Tennessee with faculty, curriculum, facilities,<br />

and opportunities to prepare you for your<br />

goals as tomorrow’s musician.<br />

Audition Dates:<br />

NOV. | JAN. | FEB. | MAR. | APR.<br />

LEEUNIVERSITY.edu/music


TENNESSEE MUSICIAN EDITORIAL STAFF<br />

Michael W. Chester<br />

Managing Editor and Advertising Manager<br />

Justin T. Scott<br />

Associate Editor<br />

Laura Boucher<br />

Associate Style Editor<br />

Jazmin Jordan<br />

Social Media Director<br />

Allison Segel-Smith<br />

Pre-Production Editor<br />

Contributing Editors<br />

Matthew Clark<br />

Doug Phillips<br />

Carol King-Chipman<br />

Jerome Souther<br />

PUBLISHED BY SLATE GROUP<br />

6024 45th Street<br />

Lubbock, Texas 79407<br />

(800) 794-5594 office<br />

(806) 794-1305 fax<br />

Director of Creative Services<br />

Rico Vega<br />

Graphic Design<br />

Kasey McBeath<br />

Account Executive<br />

Ian Spector<br />

TABLE OF CONTENTS | 2018 | VOLUME <strong>70</strong>, NO.4<br />

TMEA President’s Message 4<br />

Johnathan Vest, Ed. D.<br />

TMEA Conference Awards & President-Elect 5<br />

FEATURED ARTICLES<br />

The Every Student Succeeds Act:<br />

Opportunities for Music Educator Action 8<br />

by Lynn M. Tuttle<br />

Tips on Maintaining Vocal Health 16<br />

by Sarah Seo<br />

Music for All 23<br />

by Debbie Montague<br />

Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong> Advertiser Index 31<br />

TMEA Back Then 32<br />

All editorial materials should be sent to: Michael Chester, Managing<br />

Editor (615-873-0605) E-mail: editor@tnmea.org.<br />

Submit materials by e-mail in Microsoft Word format.<br />

Advertising: Information requests and ad orders should be<br />

directed to: Michael Chester, Managing Editor (615-<br />

873-0605) e-mail: editor@tnmea.org. All advertising<br />

information is on the TMEA web site, www.tnmea.org.<br />

Deadlines for advertisement orders and editorial materials:<br />

Issue <strong>No</strong>. 1 – Deadline: August 15 (in home delivery<br />

date October 15); Issue <strong>No</strong>. 2 – Deadline: October 15 (in<br />

home delivery date December 15); Issue <strong>No</strong>. 3 – Deadline:<br />

December 15 (in home delivery date March 15);<br />

Issue <strong>No</strong>. 4 – Deadline: February 15 (in home delivery<br />

date May 15)<br />

Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong> is copyrighted. Reproduction in<br />

any form is illegal without the express permission of<br />

the editor.<br />

Postmaster: Send address changes to: Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong>,<br />

c/o National Association for Music Education<br />

(NAfME), 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA<br />

20191-4348.<br />

The Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong><br />

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Music Education Association<br />

The Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) was officially formed in 1945 as a voluntary, nonprofit<br />

organization representing all phases of music education at all school levels. The mission of TMEA<br />

is to promote the advancement of high quality music education for all. Active TMEA membership is<br />

open to all persons currently teaching music and others with a special interest or involvement in music<br />

education. Collegiate membership and retired memberships are available. Membership applications are<br />

available on the TMEA web site, www.tnmea.org.<br />

The Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong> was founded in 1948 with J. Clark Rhodes appointed by the TMEA Board of<br />

Control as inaugural editor. Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong> was preceded by an earlier publication, Tennessee<br />

Music Editors’ Downbeat, which was discontinued by the TMEA Board of Control at the spring board<br />

meeting, held in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1948. Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong> is published by Slate Group –<br />

Lubbock, Texas and is mailed to members four times each year at an annual subscription rate of $6.00<br />

(included in dues). <strong>No</strong>n-member subscription rate (includes S&H): $30.00 per school year; single<br />

copies: $10.00 per issue<br />

Place non-member subscription and single copy orders at TMEA, 129 Paschal Drive, Murfreesboro,<br />

Tennessee 37128 or e-mail to editor@tnmea.org.<br />

All editorial materials should be sent to: Michael Chester, Editor-in-Chief (615-904-6771 ext. 31600)<br />

e-mail: editor@tnmea.org. Submit materials by e-mail in Microsoft Word format.<br />

<strong>No</strong>n-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization U.S. Postage Paid<br />

at Lubbock, Texas. ISSN Number 0400-3332; EIN<br />

number 20-3325550


TMEA BOARD AND COUNCIL<br />

TMEA OFFICERS 2017-2018<br />

TMEA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:<br />

Ron Meers<br />

execdirector@tnmea.org<br />

TMEA PRESIDENT:<br />

Johnathan Vest, Ed. D.<br />

president@tnmea.org<br />

BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />

TMEA STATE GENERAL MUSIC CHAIR:<br />

Linzie Mullins<br />

genmusicchair@tnmea.org<br />

TMEA STATE CHORAL CHAIR:<br />

Gerald Patton<br />

pattong@rcschools.net<br />

TMEA STATE ORCHESTRA CHAIR:<br />

Michelle Clupper<br />

michelle.clupper@knoxschools.org<br />

TMEA STATE BAND CHAIR:<br />

David Chipman<br />

banddir@bellsouth.net<br />

TMEA STATE HIGHER EDUCATION CHAIR:<br />

Ryan Fisher, Ph. D.<br />

rfisher3@memphis.edu<br />

TMEA COUNCIL<br />

WTGMEA PRESIDENT:<br />

Linzie Mullins<br />

genmusicchair@tnmea.org<br />

WTGMEA PRESIDENT-ELECT:<br />

Frances Miller<br />

fmiller@millingtonschools.org<br />

WTVMEA PRESIDENT:<br />

Lalania Vaughn<br />

lvaughn@rebelmail.net<br />

WTVMEA PRESIDENT-ELECT:<br />

Christopher Davis<br />

davischristophert@gmail.com<br />

WTSBOA PRESIDENT:<br />

Stephen Price<br />

prices@gcssd.org<br />

WTSBOA PRESIDENT-ELECT:<br />

Ollie Liddell<br />

ollie_liddell@hotmail.com<br />

MTGMEA PRESIDENT:<br />

Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry<br />

derryberrya@rcschools.net<br />

MTGMEA PRESIDENT ELECT:<br />

Lia Holland<br />

liaholland@mtcscougars.net<br />

MTVA PRESIDENT:<br />

Michael Choate<br />

choatem@pcsstn.com<br />

TMEA PRESIDENT-ELECT:<br />

Lafe Cook<br />

pres-elect@tnmea.org<br />

2 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2017 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume 69, <strong>No</strong>. 2<br />

TMEA PAST-PRESIDENT:<br />

Jeff Phillips, Ed. D.<br />

jeffrey.phillips@sumnerschools.org<br />

TMEA STATE COLLEGIATE NAFME CHAIR:<br />

Jennifer Vannatta-Hall, Ed. D.<br />

jennifer.vannatta-hall@mtsu.edu<br />

TMEA STATE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CHAIR:<br />

John Womack<br />

webmaster@tnmea.com<br />

TMEA PUBLICATIONS EDITOR AND<br />

ADVERTISING MANAGER:<br />

Michael Chester<br />

editor@tnmea.org<br />

TMEA PUBLICATIONS ASSOCIATE EDITOR:<br />

Justin Scott<br />

justin.scott@tcsedu.net<br />

TMEA ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT<br />

RELATIONS CHAIR:<br />

Christopher Dye, Ed. D.<br />

christopher.dye@mtsu.edu<br />

MTSBOA PRESIDENT:<br />

Debbie Burton<br />

dlburton98@gmail.com<br />

MTSBOA PRESIDENT-ELECT:<br />

Justin Scott<br />

justin.scott@tcsedu.net<br />

ETGMEA PRESIDENT:<br />

Margaret Moore<br />

mamcmoore57@aol.com<br />

ETGMEA PRESIDENT-ELECT<br />

Marcus Smith<br />

marcus.smith@knoxschools.org<br />

ETVA PRESIDENT:<br />

Kenton Deitch<br />

kenton.deitch@knoxschools.org<br />

ETVA PRESIDENT-ELECT:<br />

Stephanie Coker<br />

scoker@acs.ac<br />

ETSBOA PRESIDENT:<br />

Gary Wilkes<br />

gwilkes428@gmail.com<br />

ETSBOA PRESIDENT-ELECT:<br />

Alan Hunt<br />

ahunt@bradleyschools.org<br />

CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT TEAM<br />

TMEA CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR:<br />

Brad Turner<br />

brad.turner@acsk-12.org<br />

TMEA CO-CONFERENCE CHAIR:<br />

Paul Waters<br />

paulwaters.tmea@gmail.com<br />

TMEA CONFERENCE EXHIBITS CHAIR:<br />

Jo Ann Hood<br />

jhood10105@aol.com<br />

ALL-STATE MANAGEMENT TEAM<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE CHORAL GENERAL CHAIR:<br />

Amanda Ragan<br />

aragan@ortn.edu<br />

ENSEMBLE CHAIRS<br />

TREBLE HONOR CHOIR CHAIR:<br />

Tiffany Barton<br />

tntreblechoir@gmail.com<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE SATB ENSEMBLE CHAIR:<br />

Lauren Ramey<br />

lauren.ramey@wcs.edu<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE SSAA CHORALE ENSEMBLE CHAIR:<br />

Amanda Short<br />

amandalovellshort@gmail.com<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE TTBB CHORUS ENSEMBLE CHAIR:<br />

Kelly Davenport<br />

davenportk@wcde.org<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE 9TH - 10TH GRADE STRING<br />

ORCHESTRA CHAIR:<br />

Andy Smith<br />

andy.smith@sumnerschools.org<br />

PROJECT CHAIRS<br />

TMEA MEMBERSHIP CHAIR:<br />

Position unfulfilled at this time<br />

TMEA GUITAR EDUCATION CHAIR:<br />

Chip Henderson<br />

paul.henderson@mtsu.edu<br />

TMEA JAZZ EDUCATION POLICY CHAIR:<br />

Richard Ripani, Ph. D.<br />

richard.ripani@mnps.org<br />

TMEA SOCIETY FOR MUSIC TEACHER<br />

EDUCATION CHAIR:<br />

Jamila L. McWhirter, Ph. D.<br />

jamila.mcwhirter@mtsu.edu<br />

TMEA MUSIC MERCHANTS<br />

INDUSTRY CHAIR:<br />

Rick DeJonge<br />

rick.dejonge@khsmusic.com<br />

TMEA CONFERENCE REGISTRATION CHAIR:<br />

Mark Garey<br />

mgarey86@comcast.net<br />

TMEA CONFERENCE PERFORMANCE<br />

GROUP CHAIR:<br />

John Mears<br />

mearsj@rcschools.net<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE INSTRUMENTAL<br />

GENERAL CHAIR:<br />

Todd Shipley<br />

allstateinstrumental@tnmea.org<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE 11TH - 12TH GRADE SYMPHONIC<br />

ORCHESTRA CHAIR:<br />

Jessica Peck<br />

peck_j@hcde.org<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE 9TH - 10TH GRADE CONCERT<br />

BAND CHAIR:<br />

Carter <strong>No</strong>blin<br />

john.baker@rcstn.net<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE 11TH - 12TH GRADE CONCERT<br />

BAND CHAIR:<br />

J.R. Baker<br />

john.baker@rcstn.net<br />

<strong>TN</strong> ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND CHAIR:<br />

Cord Martin<br />

corderyl.martin@gmail.com<br />

TMEA WEBMASTER:<br />

John Womack<br />

webmaster@tnmea.org<br />

TMEA TRI-M CHAIR:<br />

Anna Laura Williams<br />

anna.laura.williams@outlook.com<br />

TMEA MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS<br />

MONTH CHAIR:<br />

Tiffany Barton<br />

tntreblechoir@gmail.com<br />

TMEA HISTORY AND ARCHIVES CHAIR:<br />

Position unfulfilled at this time<br />

TMEA RETIRED TEACHERS CHAIR:<br />

Bobby Jean Frost<br />

bjfrost@aol.com


Compose Your Future<br />

www.etsu.edu/music<br />

www.Facebook.com/ETSUMusic<br />

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• Bachelor of Music Degrees in<br />

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• Nationally recognized classical<br />

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• Competitive scholarships based<br />

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TMEA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE<br />

Johnathan Vest, Ed. D.<br />

I WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO<br />

ATTENDED THE 2018 TMEA CONFERENCE,<br />

AND THANKS TO THOSE WHO COMPLETED<br />

THE POST-CONFERENCE SURVEY.<br />

End of the year concerts. Final exams. Allergies. Cleaning out and<br />

organizing. These are all signs of the end of school! Teachers use this<br />

time to reflect, rejuvenate and take part in professional development,<br />

and hopefully spend some much-needed time with family. It goes by<br />

quickly. Pretty soon, band camps will be in full swing and we will be<br />

planning for the 2018-2019 school year. I challenge all of you (and<br />

myself ) to take time for yourself this summer. We can’t be the best<br />

for our students unless we take care of ourselves.<br />

I want to thank those of you who attended the 2018 TMEA Conference,<br />

and thanks to those who completed the post-conference survey.<br />

Based on the feedback we received from that survey, and from<br />

talking with many of you, the conference was very successful. The<br />

performances, the clinicians and the presenters were all top-notch,<br />

and I hope that you were edified and uplifted both personally and<br />

professionally by having attended. Special thanks to the Country<br />

Music Association for supporting our conference this year.<br />

If you weren’t at the conference, Governor Bill Haslam, Education<br />

C ommissioner Candace McQueen, Country Artist Martina McBride,<br />

and Country Music Association CEO Sara Trahern were on hand<br />

at the General Session to unveil the new Tennessee: State of the<br />

Arts initiative. This competitive grant initiative was developed as<br />

a public- private partnership between the Country Music Association<br />

(CMA) Foundation and the State of Tennessee. I’m proud to<br />

announce that TMEA member Todd Shipley has been hired as the<br />

Music and Arts Grant Program Director/Arts Specialist with the<br />

Tennessee Department of Education. Todd will also serve as the<br />

contact at the Department of Education for all things related to<br />

our discipline. Congratulations, Todd, and we know you will serve<br />

our profession well!<br />

I am so honored to have served our profession as president of this<br />

organization for the past two years. I believe we have done good<br />

work in the past two years; we have developed a partnership with<br />

the Country Music Association, hired a lobbyist and have been more<br />

involved in the legislative process, and we have improved the conference<br />

experience for our students and teachers. I look forward to<br />

the direction that Lafe Cook will lead us as president for the next<br />

two years.<br />

4 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


TMEA 2018 Award<br />

Winners<br />

Congratulations to the following individuals who received awards<br />

and recognitions at the 61st Annual Conference of the Tennessee<br />

Music Education Association on April 12, 2018.<br />

TMEA Outstanding Administrator: Wincle Sterling, Shelby County Schools<br />

TMEA 25 Year Service Award: Kay Galloway, Tony Cox,<br />

Nita Smith, Michael Hendren, Kimberly White<br />

TMEA 40 Year Service Award: Alan Hunt, Gary Wilkes,<br />

Marsha Hartwein, Debbie McCoy<br />

TMEA Outstanding Administrator: Derek Rushworth, Lookout Valley Middle TMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator: Douglas Young, Munford High School<br />

High School<br />

Congratulations to President-Elect Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry<br />

Congratulations to TMEA President-Elect Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry!<br />

She will become the 38th president of the Tennessee Music Education<br />

Association when she takes office during the academic year 2020.<br />

As a recognized servant-leader and musician, she has been active in<br />

music education since 2002 and was most recently the recipient of<br />

the Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation Music Teachers<br />

of Excellence Award.<br />


Experience<br />

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Junior/Senior Day Monday, Feb. 19, All Day<br />

Woodwind Day Saturday, Feb. 24, All Day<br />

REGISTER TO AUDITION HERE:<br />

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Additional dates upon request.<br />

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Visit utc.edu/music for details.<br />

UTC is a comprehensive, community-engaged campus of the UT System. UTC is an EEO/AA/Titles VI & IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution.


y Frank M. Diaz<br />

THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT:<br />

Opportunities for Music Educator Action<br />

by Lynn M. Tuttle<br />

As we approach the first year of full implementation of the Every Student<br />

Succeeds Act (ESSA), what should music educators monitor regarding their<br />

school, district and state ESSA work, and what opportunities can they act on<br />

within their school, their district, and their state? As with any new law, there<br />

are many possibilities and opportunities, but, as is always the case, the devil<br />

is in the details. Where to start?<br />

8 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


Music in State<br />

ESSA Plans<br />

Music/Arts in<br />

Accountability?<br />

Music/Arts in<br />

Dashboards/Report<br />

Cards?<br />

Music/Arts in<br />

Title IV?<br />

Music/Arts support<br />

Professional<br />

Development?<br />

Music/Arts – 21 st<br />

Century Learning<br />

Community<br />

Centers?<br />

Music/Arts for<br />

Homeless Children<br />

and Youth?<br />

Music/Arts resources<br />

for Schools in<br />

Improvement?<br />

Connecticut ✔ ✔ ✔<br />

Delaware<br />

✽<br />

District of<br />

Columbia<br />

✔ ✔ ✔<br />

Illinois ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔<br />

Louisiana<br />

Maine<br />

Massachusetts<br />

Michigan<br />

Nevada<br />

New Jersey<br />

New Mexico<br />

Tennessee<br />

Vermont<br />

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔<br />

✔<br />

✔ ✔ ✔<br />

✔<br />

✔<br />

✔<br />

✔<br />

✔ ✔<br />

✔<br />

✔<br />

* Delaware is given an asterisk, for while music and arts education is not directly mentioned in the state ESSA plan, the Delaware Department of<br />

Education acknowledged the need to address issues raised by the music and arts education community and has committed to working with advocates on<br />

guidance or other support materials in the future.<br />

STATE-LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION<br />

With a new leader for federal education now in place, U.S. Secretary of<br />

Education Betsy DeVos, we know more about how states will engage<br />

with ESSA implementation. And what we know is that the states can<br />

choose what they do and how they do it. Given the increased responsibility<br />

and flexibility handed to the states regarding ESSA, here are<br />

some tips on for what is going on at the state level, and some ideas<br />

about how you can get involved.<br />

1<br />

Know what’s possible. Thirteen states sent their state<br />

plans to the U.S. Department of Education for approval<br />

by the April deadline. If you are in one of those states<br />

(see the table below), review the plan and see what your<br />

state has already included for music and arts education in<br />

your state plan. If you reside in Arizona, <strong>No</strong>rth Dakota, or Oregon,<br />

you may be aware that those states have also submitted as of<br />

the May deadline, and NAfME is reviewing those plans currently for<br />

information on where music education is supported in those plans.<br />

Contact lynnt@nafme.org for more information.<br />

As you can see by this table, many states have included<br />

music and arts education within their plans, particularly<br />

in the areas of accountability and funding under Title<br />

2 IV, Part A (see below for more information on Title IV).<br />

Share this information with your district, and thank<br />

your state education leaders for including music and arts<br />

education. If the information isn’t clear, or you have questions, don’t<br />

hesitate to contact your state education department to learn more<br />

about how they will support music and arts education via ESSA. You<br />

can find your state’s ESSA page and its plan here: http://www.nafme.<br />

org/advocacy/ESSA/<br />

Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 9


Stay in touch with your MEA’s state advocacy leadership<br />

and NAfME policy staff. Working with our Advocacy<br />

Leadership Force members in the states and<br />

sharing information between the states, the NAfME<br />

policy staff are always happy to help connect you into state<br />

level advocacy and help you share your expertise and advocacy ideas<br />

and suggestions. You can find your state advocacy leaders here: http://<br />

www.nafme.org/advocacy/essa/nafme-advocacy-leadership-force/. We<br />

suggest that you connect with your MEA leadership and learn how<br />

to get involved with the creation, revision and updates to your state’s<br />

ESSA plan. And you can reach the NAfME policy staff here: http://<br />

www.nafme.org/about/staff/advocacy-policy/<br />

Know how your state is going to manage their Title<br />

IV, Part A funds. For this first year of ESSA implementation,<br />

Congress did not fully fund the new federal block<br />

4<br />

grant, which can support a well-rounded education, including<br />

music. The amount funded is small enough that<br />

Congress, for this year only, is allowing states to run competitive<br />

grants for Title IV funds instead of granting those funds out directly<br />

to districts. A state, for example, could focus the funds for certain<br />

areas of a well-rounded education or certain areas of educational<br />

technology, and then create a competitive grant application process<br />

where districts would have to compete against each other to receive<br />

the limited funds. In other words—the funds just won’t flow down to<br />

your district; your district might need to compete for the funds. You<br />

need to know what your state is planning to do and how it will handle<br />

these funds, as it will influence your work at the local level. You can<br />

reach out to your SEADAE member – the arts education consultant for<br />

your state—to find out more. A list of state arts education consultants<br />

can be found at www.seadae.org.<br />

DISTRICT-LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION<br />

Be prepared for Title IV opportunities for music education<br />

within your district. ESSA includes a new funding<br />

1<br />

3<br />

opportunity for music education in Title IV-A, or chapter<br />

4—21st Century Schools. This section of the law is<br />

greatly revised from prior versions, and includes a block<br />

grant, or direct funding to school districts, for supporting<br />

a well-rounded education. Because music is listed in the definition<br />

of a well-rounded education, music education can be supported by<br />

these block grant funds, with two caveats: one, music education needs<br />

have been identified through a district-wide needs assessment and<br />

two, these local, identified needs are not currently met with state and<br />

local funding, so would benefit from supplemental, federal funding.<br />

I encourage you to get involved in the Title IV needs assessment for<br />

your school district. And NAfME has a built-in tool to help you do<br />

that – the 2015 Opportunity-to-Learn Standards (OTLs). The OTLs<br />

list what resources are needed to carry out a quality music education<br />

program—everything from technology to facilities and instruments<br />

to student:teacher ratios. You can find the OTLs for your use with<br />

your district’s needs assessment for music/Title IV here: http://www.<br />

nafme.org/my-classroom/standards/<br />

And understand if the Title IV opportunity will be a block<br />

a grant to your district—or something for which you will have<br />

to apply. As noted above, states will have the option this<br />

year to compete for the Title IV funds instead of just giving them to<br />

your school district. Therefore, you will need to know how your state<br />

is handling the funds and if you can and should respond with a grant<br />

application to the state in order to receive supplemental funds from<br />

ESSA for music education (and other well-rounded subject areas)<br />

for your district. The competitive grants will most likely be available<br />

starting in the fall, so contact your SEADAE member (www.seadae.<br />

org) to learn more about what your state plans to do.<br />

Ask for professional development support, which can be<br />

funded for music educators under ESSA. Funds from<br />

Titles I, II, and IV of ESSA can support professional<br />

2 development for educators, administrators and other<br />

school personnel. With the inclusion of music within<br />

the well-rounded education definition in the law, music<br />

educators are able to have professional development funded by these<br />

dollars now, too. As is the case with the Title IV funding, professional<br />

development funds will be prioritized for areas identified as having<br />

needs based on a district-wide needs assessment. So get engaged,<br />

and ask to be part of your district’s professional development needs<br />

assessment team for ESSA.<br />

SCHOOL-LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION<br />

Understand how music education can now be supported<br />

under Title I of ESSA if you teach at a Title I School.<br />

1<br />

The language for Title I schools has changed in ESSA<br />

to reflect the importance of a well-rounded education.<br />

Title I schools come in two varieties—schoolwide Title<br />

I schools and targeted assistance Title I schools. For the<br />

first time under ESSA, schoolwide Title I schools are encouraged to<br />

include information on how they provide well-rounded educational<br />

opportunities, including music education, to their students in their<br />

written Title I schoolwide plan. While this doesn’t necessarily mean<br />

Title I funds will support those well-rounded educational opportunities,<br />

it’s the first time that schools have been encouraged to include<br />

a wider range of curricular offerings beyond the tested subject areas<br />

within their Title I schoolwide plans. Also for the first time under<br />

ESSA, targeted-assistance Title I schools can use their supplemental<br />

federal Title I dollars to support well-rounded educational opportunities,<br />

including music, for their identified students. At targeted-assistance<br />

Title I schools, students receiving support through a Title I<br />

program are identified as the most academically at-risk students in<br />

their school based on academic achievement indicators, usually the<br />

tested subject areas. Traditionally, Title I funds in targeted- assistance<br />

schools have funded supplemental interventions in the tested<br />

subject areas. Under ESSA, well-rounded educational opportunities<br />

may also be funded for these identified students.<br />

a<br />

If you teach at a Title I schoolwide school, ask how music<br />

will be included in the 2018–2019 schoolwide plan as part<br />

of a well-rounded education. You can even offer to write<br />

10 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


share information with parents during assemblies, concerts and performances.<br />

NAfME has a concert-flyer resource for your use to help<br />

your parents better understand ESSA, too. You can find the flyer here:<br />

http://www.nafme.org/advocacy/5-ways-to-support-your-music-program/<br />

CONCLUSION—AND THANK YOU!<br />

While the above list might look daunting, we wouldn’t be able to share<br />

this variety of opportunities with you about the new federal education<br />

law if you hadn’t done your part with your fellow music education<br />

advocates and convinced Congress to include music in ESSA. The<br />

opportunities listed here are because of the work you undertook over<br />

the last decade to speak out about the importance of music education.<br />

To make those opportunities become a reality, work now needs to<br />

occur at the state, district, and school levels. You don’t have to do all<br />

of this—pick a place to focus and start there. And thank you again for<br />

making these opportunities possible. We look forward to learning<br />

what you do with them during this school year!<br />

Lynn M. Tuttle currently serves as the Director of Public Policy<br />

& Professional Development for the National Association for Music<br />

Education (NAfME).<br />

that section of the plan if that’s okay—so that music gets listed and<br />

recognized as part of what your school does to support a quality education<br />

for all its students. [NOTE: your administrator may not even<br />

know that this is supposed to happen under the new law, so be ready<br />

to educate as well as ask!]<br />

If you teach at a Title I targeted-assistance school, consider<br />

how supplemental music education could support<br />

b<br />

the students identified as academically at risk. How else<br />

could you support them? How would these supports help them with<br />

the tested subject areas? Sharing this kind of information with your<br />

principal may help you access these dollars, and, more important,<br />

provide quality supplemental services to these students as they work<br />

to thrive in all aspects of their education.<br />

And don’t be shy about reminding your administrator at your<br />

c Title I school that ESSA provides protection from students<br />

missing music to receive remediation. Like <strong>No</strong> Child Left<br />

Behind (NCLB), ESSA retains language in Title I that discourages<br />

schools from providing interventions or remediation for students<br />

by pulling them out of “the regular classroom.”<br />

Share with your school leadership how music helps parents<br />

be engaged with your school. A large part of what<br />

2 schools are asked to do that receive ESSA funding is to<br />

make certain parents are engaged with the school. Music<br />

education is a place where this occurs through our performances,<br />

our parent volunteers and our parent boosters. You<br />

can help your school meet its parental engagement goal simply by<br />

sharing how many parents you reach—or by offering to help the school<br />

Elementary, Middle, and High School<br />

Band, Choir, and Orchestra<br />

2018:<br />

April 20-21<br />

April 27-28<br />

May 4-5<br />

2019:<br />

April 12-13<br />

April 26-27<br />

May 3-4<br />

www.SMMFestival.com<br />

or call:1-855-766-3008<br />

Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 11


Photo Credit: Rob Davidson<br />

Get the National Recognition<br />

Your Music Program Deserves!<br />

Apply to be designated by<br />

The NAMM Foundation as a<br />

Best Community for Music<br />

Education (BCME) program<br />

The 2018 BCME Survey<br />

is open from<br />

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“Being named a BCME was the catalyst for us to gain an<br />

expanded music education budget, all while increasing<br />

community visibility and support. It was a wonderful<br />

recognition of the efforts of our music staff to provide<br />

the highest quality of music education possible and<br />

further provided validation of the quality of<br />

programs we provide for our students.”<br />

-LONNIE STOVER, SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC AT<br />

SYCAMORE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN CINCINNATI, OHIO<br />

Stay Connected<br />

Sign up to receive<br />

The NAMM Foundation monthly<br />

newsletter to receive updates on<br />

Talking Up Music Education podcast<br />

episodes, community events,<br />

music making opportunities, and<br />

educational downloads.<br />

Music Education Days at<br />

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Music educators are eligible to attend<br />

The 2018 NAMM Show to participate in<br />

informative sessions; to experience inspiring<br />

performances; and to preview the latest<br />

instruments, products and tools relevant<br />

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Be part of The NAMM Foundation<br />

The NAMM Foundation provides grants,<br />

supports research and engages in advocacy<br />

to support music making across the<br />

lifespan. Learn how you can be part of<br />

our mission to ensure access to<br />

music education for all at<br />

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VISIT NAMMFOUNDATION.ORG/BCME TO LEARN MORE AND TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY


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16 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


TIPS ON<br />

MAINTAINING<br />

VOCAL<br />

HEALTH<br />

by Sarah Seo<br />

Vocal health is extremely important for singers of<br />

all ages and musical styles. As a vocalist, I carry<br />

my instrument with me at all times. And as a<br />

teacher, a huge part of my job becomes teaching<br />

my students how they can keep their voices healthy. After<br />

all, if we break our instrument, we can’t just go out and<br />

buy another one!<br />

My students are constantly getting sick. It never fails that<br />

at least one of my kids will have the sniffles each week.<br />

Since I’m in contact with these little ones every day, I’m<br />

consistently subjected to their germs, not to mention<br />

the germs of their friends that they have been in contact<br />

with all day at school. It is part of my job to encourage<br />

my students to keep their voices safe. Children’s vocal<br />

chords are still developing and fragile, so they are very<br />

susceptible to damage. As their voice teacher, I take this<br />

responsibility personally.<br />

It is just as important to keep my vocal chords safe as it<br />

is to help my students protect theirs. Without my voice,<br />

doing my job is extremely difficult. I experienced this<br />

first-hand recently when I caught the flu. Within only a<br />

couple days of trying to carry on with my normal schedule,<br />

my voice decided it was time to quit! Naturally, I wanted<br />

to keep working. So, I had to think about how to take<br />

care of my voice while continuing to teach. Obviously,<br />

I felt incredibly silly being a voice teacher who lost her<br />

voice, so hopefully my experience and tips can benefit<br />

you. Because colds, viruses, and allergies are part of life,<br />

I feel compelled to share some tips on how to proactively<br />

keep you and your vocal chords healthy. I created this list<br />

mostly as a reminder since these aren’t all revolutionary<br />

concepts, but I also included some suggestions on how to<br />

apply them that may prove useful.<br />

Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 17


STAY HYDRATED<br />

Staying hydrated is one of the most important parts of keeping vocal<br />

chords healthy. When you sing, your vocal chords are vibrating against<br />

each other to create sound. Amazing, right? But if they are dry, you<br />

can strain and/or lose your voice since there is not enough lubrication<br />

to allow easy and even vibration.<br />

Obviously, the easiest way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of fluids!<br />

Carrying a water bottle is an easy way to help you stay hydrated.<br />

Throughout the day, I find that I am often thirsty, but if I do not have<br />

a drink with me, I will not drink anything. Conversely, on the days<br />

that I have a water bottle with me, (or any drink for that matter) it<br />

does not take long for me to finish it.<br />

It is important to note that not all drinks are created equal. Just because<br />

it is a liquid does not mean that it will help keep your body<br />

hydrated. Carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages will dehydrate<br />

you. Drink these in moderation, and definitely stay away from<br />

them if you are sick. I must admit that I drink at least one cup of coffee<br />

a day, but I follow it with a glass of water to help replenish myself. If<br />

you do not like drinking a lot of water because you like flavored drinks,<br />

having packets of low calorie drink mixes on hand is an easy fix!<br />

DON’T CLEAR YOUR THROAT<br />

The first thing I want to do when I get a cold is clear my throat. I<br />

hate the feeling of “gunk” on my vocal chords! Having mucus on your<br />

vocal chords can cause problems like dehydration, slight swelling,<br />

irritation, and difficulty speaking or singing, but clearing your throat<br />

is the worst way to handle it. It causes more irritation and can cause<br />

enough swelling to lose your voice. Instead of clearing your throat,<br />

try drinking hot tea, swallowing hard, or some healthy vocal warmups<br />

– sometimes the vibrating of your vocal chords from singing is<br />

enough force to shake loose the yuckiness!<br />

One of my favorite warm-ups to shake loose mucus is sliding up and<br />

down from do-sol-do on the consonants V or Z. Sliding between notes<br />

is helpful, but adding the consonant makes it even better for helping<br />

to clear your voice. Singing on a voiced consonant puts a little extra<br />

pressure (good pressure) on your chords. You can experience this by<br />

singing the same exercise on “Ah” and then repeat it on a voiced consonant<br />

(z, v, m…). Can you feel the difference? V and Z are also great<br />

because there is even more pressure added from having to force air<br />

through either your lips and teeth, or tongue and teeth.<br />

I am sure that I am “preaching to the choir,” but if it hurts to sing, do<br />

not sing! This means that your vocal chords are experiencing more<br />

than just a little mucus. In the case that it is uncomfortable to sing,<br />

your body is telling you that it is time to stop. At this point, resting<br />

your voice is the best option.<br />

USE YOUR INSIDE VOICE<br />

Your normal speaking voice is, for the most part, the healthiest volume<br />

for your voice. Whispering and yelling, alike, are both stressful<br />

on your vocal chords. Yes, even whispering puts stress on your voice.<br />

I often hear people whispering when they begin to lose or have lost<br />

their voice because they assume the softer volume is better. This is a<br />

big misconception. Whispering will not help. Whispering and yelling<br />

once in a while will, obviously, not damage your vocal chords. Consistent<br />

strain, though, can result in damage; so it is beneficial to think of<br />

strategies that minimize the number of times your voice is strained.<br />

YOUR NORMAL SPEAKING<br />

VOICE IS, FOR THE MOST<br />

PART, THE HEALTHIEST<br />

VOLUME FOR YOUR VOICE.<br />

WHISPERING AND YELLING,<br />

ALIKE, ARE BOTH STRESSFUL<br />

ON YOUR VOCAL CHORDS.<br />

As a teacher, it is important to remember not to attempt to talk over<br />

the students. Raising your voice will leave you and your vocal chords<br />

tired. Your students will also become accustomed to hearing your<br />

voice at that volume and you will probably find yourself shouting<br />

a lot. Teaching them to respond to a clapped rhythmic pattern, like<br />

a call and response, is one of the most affective techniques I have<br />

learned. This way, you are able to grab the attention of the class without<br />

straining your voice, and you can then say what you need to say<br />

at a reasonable volume. Speaking at a normal volume is helpful for<br />

preventing vocal strain, but if your voice is about to go, the best thing<br />

to do is stop talking altogether – which brings me to my next point…<br />

STOP TALKING<br />

If you are losing or have already lost your voice, staying on vocal rest<br />

is the most important part of recovery. Especially if you have already<br />

lost your voice, whispering and talking in general will only prolong<br />

your laryngitis. Like I stated above, when it is painful to sing, it is a<br />

good time to give your voice a break. Staying on vocal rest gives your<br />

vocal chords a chance to heal and reduce the swelling.<br />

This information is important for us as teachers to remember and<br />

apply. It is incredibly difficult to teach on vocal rest, but not impossible.<br />

On the days you feel like your voice needs some TLC, use more<br />

gestures and less vocal prompts. Planning lessons that involve more<br />

written exercises and less vocal instruction or demonstration can<br />

be used to your advantage. Also, the days when you want to rest your<br />

voice can be great days to practice rhythm. Clapping rhythms does<br />

not involve using your voice at all. Be diligent with staying on vocal<br />

rest. It is definitely difficult, but not only is it the best for your voice,<br />

your diligence models good vocal habits to your students.<br />

DON’T OVER-SING<br />

Another concept to teach your students is the importance of singing<br />

with each other, not over each other. Sometimes students have<br />

difficulty hearing themselves while singing with others. The natural<br />

reaction is to sing louder until they can hear their own voice. Usually,<br />

18 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


they do this without even realizing it, but they leave with a tired and<br />

sore throat. Choosing warm-ups that address blending and listening to<br />

each other can help keep them from straining. Even closing their eyes<br />

while singing can help the students become more aware of the volume<br />

of their own voices and of the voices of the people around them.<br />

The best way to help your students with vocal health is not only educating<br />

them, but modeling the behavior as well. If you teach them<br />

about staying hydrated and they see you with a water bottle, they will<br />

be more likely to apply it to their own lives because they see you doing<br />

it. Take a day to talk specifically about vocal health. Then, reinforce<br />

those concepts periodically.<br />

As I said at the beginning of this article, I speak from personal experience.<br />

I am finally gaining the high register of my voice back, even<br />

after months of my speaking voice returning to “normal.” I was afraid<br />

that my singing voice would never return to normal. This is why I am<br />

adamant about maintaining vocal health. To my students, losing their<br />

voices might seem trivial, but it is my job to teach them that prolonged<br />

unhealthy vocal habits can cause serious issues. Hopefully these tips<br />

will be helpful and useful to you as well.<br />

Sarah Seo grew up, and currently resides, in the metro-Atlanta area.<br />

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy at Georgia College<br />

and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., where she graduated<br />

Summa Cum Laude and became a member of the Phi Kappa Phi<br />

Honor’s Society. She completed her internship in Columbia, S.C., at<br />

Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital. Sarah is a member of the American<br />

Music Therapy Association, the Music Therapy Association of<br />

Georgia, and is board certified. Her main instrument is voice and she<br />

has performed as a soloist at a variety of venues, but she is proficient<br />

on guitar and piano. She now teaches voice, piano, and guitar lessons.<br />

She also practices music therapy at various facilities. This article was<br />

first published in Choral Director magazine. For a free subscription<br />

to Choral Director please go to http://www.choraldirectormag.com/<br />

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Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 19


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Taylor Robinson and Gavin Robertson study with Dr. Rachel Rodriguez. | Photo by Warren LaFever.<br />

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Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 21


TAKE A LEAD IN YOUR PROFESSION AS A MUSIC EDUCATOR.<br />

SHARE YOUR BEST PRACTICES AND TEACHING TIPS.<br />

PRESENT A WEBINAR TODAY!<br />

Have a great idea to share? Submit your proposal today:<br />

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Questions? Email JJ <strong>No</strong>rman at johnn@nafme.org<br />

IT’S A NEW ERA<br />

IN EDUCATION<br />

<strong>No</strong>w more than ever, your voice and expertise as a music educator is critical. NAfME is here to help you make a<br />

strong case for music education under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).<br />

On NAfME’s “Everything ESSA” resource page (bit.ly/EverythingESSA), you can find all the toolkits you need to<br />

understand ESSA and take action to ensure implementation includes music at the state level.<br />

At bit.ly/EverythingESSA, you can also receive recognition for professional development valued at one contact<br />

hour for watching advocacy webinars.<br />

And in the Grassroots Action Center (bit.ly/NAfMEgrassroots), you can make your voice heard on Capitol Hill.<br />

Your Association. Your Profession. Your Voice.<br />

22 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


MUSIC FOR ALL<br />

by Debbie Montague<br />

As a music educator for over 40 years, I have experienced<br />

many changes in public school education. One change that<br />

has greatly impacted the classroom environment has been<br />

an increase in the number of students in my classes who<br />

have special needs. In the 19<strong>70</strong>s, teaching elementary music, I had a<br />

small number of students with special needs mainstreamed into my<br />

classes. In 2015, in one eighth-grade general music class, 28% of the<br />

students were identified as having special needs. This number did<br />

not account for the students who had non-official or non-identified<br />

special needs or at-risk behaviors.<br />

In order to better understand how we, as music educators, can provide<br />

the best learning environment for every child, we must first identify<br />

the students in our classes who have special needs or are at-risk.<br />

Understanding the characteristics of the special needs or at-risk<br />

student can help provide information necessary toward designing<br />

appropriate curricula. Whether or not a student fits a stereotypical<br />

profile of a child with special needs or at-risk behaviors, the traditional<br />

description is generally in terms of social and/or educational<br />

failures (Donmoyer & Kos, 1998). Usually, the “official” identification<br />

of a special needs or at-risk student is one that requires a 504 plan or<br />

has an Individual Education Program (IEP). In my experience that<br />

description is too narrow. Yes, a student who has been identified as<br />

requiring modifications for classroom activities and/or homework<br />

assignments does have special needs, but students with special needs<br />

may exhibit other symptoms and/or behaviors that affect their ability<br />

to function in our classes.<br />

During the past few years, “non-official” at-risk students in my classes<br />

have included ones who struggle with controlling their behavior, ones<br />

who are depressed, ones who have difficulty functioning in school,<br />

socially and/or academically, and ones who suffer with anxiety so<br />

profound that they cry every time a new activity is introduced. The<br />

home life of the student can also be an indicator of a child having<br />

special needs. For example, one of my students moved into our district<br />

because he was placed in a foster home due to the abusive nature of<br />

his mother. All of these students not only required accommodations<br />

to assist in their academic success, they also demonstrated behaviors<br />

that were disruptive to the educational process and the learning of<br />

other students.<br />

Add the non-official special needs students to those who are officially<br />

designated as special needs and the teacher’s responsibility to meet<br />

the needs of every student has greatly increased. If you are thinking<br />

that almost every child we teach could have special needs, you are not<br />

far from the truth. And that is why it is a challenge to meet the needs<br />

of every child in our music classes. How can one music educator meet<br />

the needs of such a diverse population of students? Over the years,<br />

I have discovered techniques that have proven successful in meeting<br />

this challenge in my music classes. The foundation of success is<br />

Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 23


WORKING TOWARD<br />

PROVIDING A POSITIVE<br />

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT<br />

FOR ALL STUDENTS, WE ARE<br />

FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE<br />

OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF A<br />

VERY DIVERSE POPULATION<br />

OF LEARNING STYLES AND<br />

BEHAVIORS.<br />

based on preparation, organization and planning prior to the start of<br />

each class, as well as, evaluation and adjustments during each class.<br />

We must accept all students into our music classes. First and foremost,<br />

communication prior to the placement of the special needs or<br />

at-risk student will help alleviate many challenges that tend to occur<br />

throughout the year. All placement decisions should be based on the<br />

child’s ability to function in the music class and the teacher’s ability<br />

to accommodate the child’s needs. It is imperative that the team of<br />

educators associated with the special needs or at-risk student meet<br />

prior to the student’s inclusion into the music class. At this meeting,<br />

in order to design a curriculum plan best suited for the individual<br />

student, the diagnoses and functioning levels of the student need to<br />

be addressed, evaluated and discussed. The following topics should<br />

be included in the discussion: eligibility category of the student, academic<br />

strengths, academic concerns, level of reading comprehension,<br />

level of writing ability, required accommodations, social strengths,<br />

social concerns, “triggers” that might upset the student, techniques<br />

to de-escalate student’s negative behavior, techniques for rewarding<br />

student’s positive behavior, social accommodations, physical conditions,<br />

physical accommodations, mental conditions, goals for inclusion<br />

into the class and the type of grading best suited for this student.<br />

Once the child is enrolled in the class, and the teacher has knowledge<br />

of the child’s abilities and challenges, lessons need to be well<br />

planned prior to the start of each class. In order for music lessons to<br />

be effective, the lesson plan must be focused on the desired outcome.<br />

What is the intent or purpose of the lesson? What are the benefits for<br />

the students? The following list of benefits is not all inclusive but<br />

provides a starting point for the preparation of a lesson plan: tools<br />

for developing social skills, organizing and/or managing behavior,<br />

developing cognition skills, developing communication skills, developing<br />

motor functioning skills, developing listening skills. With a<br />

diverse population of students in our classes, we may have to design<br />

multiple lessons plans for one class as we strive to meet the needs of<br />

our students with special needs, at-risk behaviors, non-official needs<br />

or just being a regular child.<br />

One of my “typical” classes may consist of 25 students with scholastic<br />

abilities ranging from advance placement students to students in<br />

the Contained Learning Center (CLC). Throughout each activity I<br />

must observe, assess and adjust the participation of each student.<br />

In a single activity, during the course of a lesson, I must modify the<br />

lesson so that every student has the opportunity to participate at his<br />

or her own ability level. The modification may be adjusting the music<br />

so it is challenging for one student and simplified for another. This<br />

task must be accomplished in a seamless manner so that the entire<br />

class can continue to play the music. Just as a fine chef delivers the<br />

meal at the same time to a party of 25, we must serve our students at<br />

the same time in an individualistic, yet holistic and organic manner.<br />

We must be organized and prepared to teach each class effectively.<br />

To the same degree of importance, we must be ready to be flexible<br />

enough to change our lesson based on the needs of our students. We<br />

must remember that the music and the students dictate to us how we<br />

must adjust our lesson plans. It is our job to give ourselves permission<br />

to “shift gears” during a lesson.<br />

Working toward providing a positive learning environment for all<br />

students, we are faced with the challenge of meeting the needs of a<br />

very diverse population of learning styles and behaviors. In order to<br />

diminish the occurrence of negative behavior in the classroom it is<br />

imperative for the music educator to offer experiences that encourage<br />

the child to be engaged, and on task, during daily classroom activities<br />

(Taylor et al., 1997). Our lesson plans must be designed to assist in<br />

motivating students toward desiring to become healthy, valuable,<br />

contributing members of our music class.<br />

Let’s be honest, in order for students to be engaged in classroom activities,<br />

the curriculum must be interesting and the teacher must<br />

be motivating. Even a passionate teacher would have difficulties<br />

engaging students in a boring, non-relevant curriculum. As music<br />

educators, we must offer experiences that will encourage our students<br />

to become engaged with their school environment, change their attitude,<br />

select healthy choices and discontinue behaviors that disrupt<br />

their education and the education of their peers. Our music classes<br />

should be designed to provide opportunities for the student to become<br />

engaged in school activities and encouraged to be motivated toward<br />

being successful in life. Designing and implementing an engaging<br />

curriculum is the first step toward success.<br />

The curriculum design for my general music class is based on handson<br />

activities that address the development of focus, respect and community<br />

awareness: principles necessary in addressing and modifying<br />

at-risk behaviors. The lessons are based on a combination of Will<br />

Schmid’s “World Music Drumming Curriculum” (WMDC) and arrangements<br />

of traditional Ghanaian music. The WMDC provides an<br />

opportunity for students to develop listening and focusing skills, and<br />

develop a solid foundation of basic playing techniques necessary in<br />

the study of World Music. The World Music, with an emphasis on<br />

Ghanaian music, incorporated in this curriculum focuses on the<br />

importance of the individual within the community while playing<br />

rhythmic patterns, and combinations of rhythmic patterns, that require<br />

the student to concentrate on the music and listen attentively<br />

24 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


to all elements of the music. This curriculum is both structured and<br />

flexible. The music can be modified to both meet the needs of the<br />

student and allow the student to participate fully in the playing of<br />

the music. Every child has the opportunity to play every instrument<br />

and its rhythmic pattern for each piece.<br />

As a director or a participant of a performing group, we must evaluate<br />

and assess the musical structure and accuracy as the music is being<br />

played. The same is true for ensembles playing World Music. We<br />

listen, we evaluate, we make decisions and we form constructive comments<br />

in order for the students to be successful in playing the music.<br />

The students in my general music classes are not graded on musical<br />

ability but rather participation, effort and behavior. Students with<br />

special needs or at-risk behaviors participate to the fullest extent possible<br />

based on their individual abilities and level of comprehension.<br />

The general music curriculum that I teach lends itself to being taught<br />

in a circle, with all members equally important. In my classes, the<br />

students are informed<br />

that respect, to themselves,<br />

each other<br />

IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF<br />

ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT,<br />

THE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT<br />

THAT ALL LEVELS OF<br />

STUDENT PARTICIPATION ARE<br />

VALUED AND IMPORTANT.<br />

and the instruments<br />

we play, is first and<br />

foremost in all of our<br />

classroom activities.<br />

In an environment<br />

of acceptance and<br />

respect, the students<br />

are taught that all<br />

levels of student participation<br />

are valued<br />

and important. If any<br />

student chooses to be<br />

disrespectful, he is<br />

asked to either stop<br />

playing, or sit outside<br />

the circle, until he can<br />

participate fully and<br />

respectfully. It is his<br />

decision as to how long he needs to be removed from the class activities.<br />

In this manner, the curriculum is designed and implemented to<br />

address and modify negative behaviors while encouraging students<br />

to be engaged in our daily classroom activities.<br />

Research indicates that a music curriculum of active rhythm-based<br />

activities implemented in an environment of respect for all students,<br />

emphasizing the importance of the individual within the community<br />

of the class, fosters relationships of respect and encourages the atrisk<br />

student to remain on task. Larry Brendtro and Mary Shahbazian<br />

(2004), experienced in the education of at-risk youth, express the importance<br />

of a child having a sense of belonging. Many music cultures<br />

of the world are based on community participation. Through playing<br />

music from a variety of cultures, students are provided opportunities<br />

to participate in a community-based activity that may encourage them<br />

to become engaged in the lessons and motivated toward participating<br />

in a positive manner.<br />

A general music curriculum based on World Music can be a powerful<br />

tool in addressing the challenges faced by a special needs or at-risk<br />

child. When presented to the students in an authentic, enthusiastic<br />

manner, World Music can engage students in a community where they<br />

can develop respect, acceptance and understanding for themselves<br />

and people of other cultures. Due to the diverse population that we<br />

teach, no one method will work for every child. One individual may<br />

respond positively to a certain technique, another may not. We can<br />

increase our success in meeting the diverse needs of our students by<br />

providing an engaging curriculum that is both organized and flexible.<br />

I have found that curriculum in teaching music of various cultures,<br />

with an emphasis on the music of Ghana. Learning the music of other<br />

cultures can be challenging, frustrating, delightful, difficult and<br />

enlightening, all at the same time. Studying new music, looking into<br />

other styles, genres or instruments and then playing the music as a<br />

community can help our students foster a better understanding of<br />

themselves and others. That understanding may help them feel more<br />

comfortable, and hopefully more successful, in our class and at school.<br />

What a joy it is to share our passion for music<br />

with children and young adults. (Well, almost<br />

every day.) How we teach our students<br />

should be powerful and life changing. To be<br />

able to serve every student takes preparation,<br />

organization and planning prior to the<br />

start of each class, as well as evaluation and<br />

adjustments during each class. It also takes<br />

a passion for teaching music. Is this a lot of<br />

work? Yes, but the benefits for our students,<br />

no matter their ability level, far outweigh the<br />

additional work.<br />

Participating in musical ensembles must<br />

provide an environment of acceptance, trust<br />

and respect as each student performs at his<br />

own ability level within a music community.<br />

Through the years, I have observed that<br />

playing music in an environment in which<br />

every student is a valuable member of the ensemble<br />

encourages the students to develop a connection to the other<br />

members of the class. This connection could affect the students in<br />

a positive way, shifting their perceptions and encouraging them to<br />

become engaged in the class activities. Engaged in class activities,<br />

and feeling connected, a student may be motivated toward desiring<br />

healthy, pro-social behavior and developing opportunities for success<br />

and growth as a student and a citizen.<br />

Debbie Montague, a music educator for over thirty-nine years, currently<br />

teaches Band and World Music at Kenmore Junior High School in<br />

the <strong>No</strong>rthshore School District. Debbie received her BA from Central<br />

Washington University, MA from the University of Washington, and<br />

DMA from Boston University. Debbie has presented numerous clinics<br />

and sessions at seminars, workshops, and conferences at the state,<br />

regional, national and international level. In 2014, she was inducted<br />

into the Washington Music Educator’s Hall of Fame. This article first<br />

appeared in Voice of Washington Music Educators <strong>Vol</strong>. LXI, <strong>No</strong>. 1, pp.<br />

25-27. Special thanks to editor Scott Ketron for assistance.<br />

Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 25


AUDITION DATES<br />

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Tuesday, October 24, 2017<br />

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0917-4544 / Middle Tennessee State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. See our full policy at mtsu.edu/titleix.


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Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 27


TENNESSEE<br />

U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E N N E S S E E<br />

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO BE A PART OF THE<br />

2018 PRIDE OF THE SOUTHLAND BAND!!<br />

Incoming Freshmen can still audition!<br />

For more information on how to Join the Pride of the Southland Band,<br />

visit our website at www.utbands.com or call us at 865-974-5031<br />

Connect with UT Bands


2018 SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS<br />

In the Heart of Nashville<br />

MUSIC THERAPY CAMP<br />

June 4–8 for Students with Special Needs, Ages 7–12<br />

SUMMER WINDS BAND CAMP<br />

June 10–16 for Grades 9–12<br />

BELMONT PIANO CAMP<br />

June 10–15 for Grades 9–12<br />

BELMONT ACADEMY<br />

PREPARATORY PIANO CAMP<br />

June 11–15 for Ages 6–12<br />

STRING CROSSINGS CAMP<br />

June 17–22 for Grades 9–12<br />

SUMMER VOCAL ARTS INTENSIVE<br />

June 24–30 for Grades 9–12<br />

For more information, costs and registration visit BELMONT.EDU/MUSIC<br />

Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 29


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TENNESSEE MUSICIAN ADVERTISER INDEX | VOLUME <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4<br />

A very special<br />

thank you to all<br />

of our advertisers<br />

who support the<br />

work of music<br />

educators at all<br />

levels in the State<br />

of Tennessee.<br />

ADVERTISER<br />

Austin Peay State University 19<br />

Belmont University 29<br />

Bob Rogers Travel<br />

(Inside Back Cover)<br />

East Tennessee State University 3<br />

Lee University<br />

(Inside Front Cover)<br />

Middle Tennessee State University 26<br />

NAMM Foundation 12<br />

Slate<br />

(Back Cover)<br />

Smoky Mountain Music Festival 11<br />

Stanbury Uniforms, Inc. 14<br />

Tennessee State University 15<br />

Tennessee Tech University 20<br />

University of Memphis 13<br />

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 7<br />

University of Tennessee at Knoxville Bands 28<br />

University of Tennessee at Knoxville School of Music 21<br />

University of Tennessee at Martin 6<br />

Yamaha Corporation of America 30<br />

Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 31


TMEA BACK THEN<br />

• Artistic trends and the rise of the minimalist<br />

art movement found its way into<br />

graphic design at the start of the decade<br />

that was the 19<strong>70</strong>’s. This might explain<br />

the most minimal cover design to date of<br />

any issue of the Tennessee <strong>Musician</strong>. The<br />

cover was designed by Mary Ferguson,<br />

then art teacher at Central High School<br />

in Memphis, Tennessee. Interestingly<br />

the cover’s masthead, “Official Publication<br />

of the Tennessee Music Educators<br />

Association” also included “And the Tennessee<br />

Music Teachers Association.” In<br />

December of 1968, the TMEA Board and<br />

Board of the Tennessee Music Teachers<br />

Association (TMTA) approved a publication<br />

merger whereby a certain amount of<br />

page space would be reserved for TMTA<br />

news and events. This “journal within a<br />

journal” began to serve a dual purpose<br />

for both organizations. The masthead<br />

was officially changed in the first issue<br />

of volume 21 in 1968. This partnership<br />

continued until the publication of the<br />

first issue of volume 27 in 1974. While<br />

Lawrence P. Cooney was listed as editor,<br />

Leon R. Smith, then presumably on<br />

faculty at the University of Tennessee at<br />

Knoxville, was listed as TMTA editor.<br />

• In his last address as president of TMEA,<br />

L. Howard Nicar gave a rather scathing<br />

report regarding the 19<strong>70</strong> excise tax<br />

on State and Federal Banks that passed<br />

the Tennessee Legislature. The tax was<br />

essentially used to give teachers in Tennessee<br />

a much-needed raise. However,<br />

the estimated tax revenue amounted to<br />

just over 2.6 million dollars, which fell<br />

short of the 11 million dollars requested<br />

by the Tennessee Education Association.<br />

Nicar’s central argument was that every<br />

proposed tax raise in the State of Tennessee<br />

was done so in the name of education.<br />

Yet when all was said and done,<br />

very little of the revenues generated ended<br />

up being used for education and instead<br />

was diverted to other needs. Nicar<br />

would further add “The point is that if<br />

the taxes “sold” in the name of education<br />

remained for education it would not be<br />

necessary for the TEA to seek new taxes<br />

every year to further their programs.”<br />

• An article titled Status of Music Education in Tennessee Public Schools by <strong>No</strong>lan S. Barham<br />

was published in this issue. This research article is an interesting read, especially<br />

to anyone conducting research on the current status of music education in the State of<br />

Tennessee. Barham’s article cited research methodologies and the results of his survey<br />

which was conducted during the 1968-1969 academic year. Barham’s article also cited<br />

nine recommendations. Barham was then an assistant professor in the department of<br />

education and psychology at Carson-Newman College (now University) in Jefferson<br />

City, Tennessee.<br />

• Composer Fisher Tull won the 15th Annual Ostwald Award for Band Composition,<br />

sponsored by the American Bandmasters Association and Uniforms by Ostwald, Inc.<br />

The composition, Toccata for Band, was performed at the ABA Convention on February<br />

28, 19<strong>70</strong> in Columbus, Ohio by the Ohio State University Concert Band under the direction<br />

of James W. Dunlop, then Ostwald Award Chairperson and Director of Bands at<br />

Pennsylvania State University.<br />

THE TENNESSEE MUSICIAN (MAY 19<strong>70</strong>)<br />

<strong>Vol</strong>ume 22, <strong>No</strong>. 4 – 24 pgs.<br />

TMEA President – L. Howard Nicar<br />

Editor – Lawrence P. Cooney<br />

32 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2018 | <strong>Vol</strong>ume <strong>70</strong>, <strong>No</strong>. 4


To us, every<br />

moment matters.<br />

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for 35 years


Tennessee Music Education Association<br />

129 Tennessee Paschal Music Drive<br />

Education Association<br />

Murfreesboro, 129 Paschal Drive<br />

Tennessee 37128<br />

Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37128<br />

you work hard at<br />

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