Spring 2023

Elementary
Joseph Girgenti, Chair
UNCW DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC STUDENTS
uncw.edu/music
MAKING MUSIC.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
This is a busy time for us with final concert planning,
graduations, assessments, and more. That is another reason
why I’m so excited about our annual Spring Elementary
Mini-Conference at UNC Wilmington on Saturday, April 22.
Our theme for the conference and the remainder of the year is
Connect, Collaborate, Reinvigorate. I chose those three words to
serve as our pillars for rebuilding in a post-pandemic society.
Connect: We need to focus on our
connections with each other. As music
specialists, we often feel like we’re on
an island. However, let’s find ways to
connect with others for the betterment
of ourselves and our students.
Collaborate: This is the perfect time
to collaborate. Some of the best lessons
and techniques come when teachers
work together and bring their own
strengths to the party.
Reinvigorate: I challenge you to find
something that brings you joy and gets
you excited to teach every day. We have
a great panel of presenters, including
practicing elementary teachers and
college professors. Here are the amazing
sessions you will be able to attend:
• Discover and Connect! Activities
to Blend Music and Language
Learning in your Classroom; Dr.
Katy Strand
• Tools for Meeting the Needs of
Neurodiverse Students in the Music Room; Evelyn Snyder
• Creative Movement: An Avenue for Musical Collaboration
and Connections; Dr. Dan Johnson
• Boomwhacker Fun; Dr. Ran Whitley
• Play Like You Mean It: Building Musical Literacy Through
Active Participation; Dr. Amanda Hoke and Jessica Lequire
• Give Me 5 for Special Needs Students; Wendy Hardin
• Ideas for Incorporating Everyday Improvisation; Laura
Black
On-site registration is available and the event will have both an
in-person and virtual option. Virtual participants will receive zoom
links for each session prior to the event. The Elementary board is
excited to offer lunch, included in the registration fee. All college
music education students are able to attend for free.
We are also planning our fall NCMEA Conference. In addition
to bringing some world class presenters, we are excited to be
bringing back student performances
to the elementary schedule. This is a
perfect opportunity to showcase what
you and your students do. While the
application has closed for this year,
please keep this on your radar for the
2024 conference.
Do you receive our quarterly
newsletter, Elementary Music Matters?
Our most recent issue included
district updates, summer learning
opportunities, grants, information on
Mini-Conference, and so much more.
If you have not been receiving our
newsletters, please contact me or your
district representative. You can also find
all of our newsletters here.
Speaking of summer learning,
we already know of some awesome
things happening in North Carolina.
Summerfield Elementary School in the
Greensboro area will be offering World
Music Drumming Level 1 & 2 from June
13 – 16. UNC Wilmington is offering
Orff Levels I & II, June 19 – 30.
On-site registration is available.
As we continue to build our network across the state, we are
still looking for teachers to volunteer as county contacts. County
contacts are some of our biggest assets, communicating with the
teachers in your area and our board. If communication is one of
your strengths, we want you for these positions!
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions,
comments, or concerns at elementary_section@ncmea.net.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDY
BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN MUSIC EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC
PERFORMANCE:
instrumental piano vocal
GENERAL MUSIC
JAZZ STUDIES
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
910.962.3415
uncwmus@uncw.edu
UNCW is an EEO/AA Institution.
Accommodations for disabilities may be requested
by contacting the Disabilities Resource Center at 910.962.7555 at least seven days
20 | NORTH CAROLINA MUSIC EDUCATOR prior to the event. NORTH Questions CAROLINA regarding MUSIC UNCW’s EDUCATOR Title IX compliance | 21
should be directed to titleix@uncw.edu.
MINORS
choral music · general music
jazz studies · musical theatre
AUDITIONS
SPRING 2023
Saturday, January 14
Saturday, February 4
Saturday, February 25
Saturday, March 18
Saturday, March 25
virtual auditions