NC Music Educator Journal - Conference 2023

including the highly regarded method books: Sing at First Sight,
Foundations in Choral Sight Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-
Ups That Teach Technique. He is in demand as a guest conductor,
choreographer, adjudicator, and clinician for educators and
students throughout the United States and beyond.
Alexander Technique Practices for the Well-
Being of All Music Educators
Our session is inspired by the words of Ram Dass, American
philosopher and author, “The only thing you have to offer another
human being, ever, is your own state of being”. This workshop
focuses on strategies for developing and maintaining a “state of
well-being” so educators are supported and resourced to give their
best to their students. The session will utilize the principles and
concepts developed and known today as the Alexander Technique.
We will center awareness and movement practices for the music
educator that bring about ease and well-being. These practices
will be directly applicable and helpful to students in the classroom
and on stage. The activities will be simultaneously calming,
and energizing; address both body and mind, be regulating for
the nervous system and accessible to all levels of ability. They
are designed to bring about experiences of internal harmony,
coherence, and outward presence to others during our teaching,
rehearsing and performing activities.
Corinne Cassini
Corinne Cassini, B.M., M.M., M-ATI,
a professionally trained cellist (Eastman,
Shepherd School of Music, Utrecht
School of the Arts), teaches the Alexander
Technique as a senior lecturer at the Hayes
School of Music at Appalachian State
University and privately in Boone since
2012. Following her certification from a
traditional three-year Alexander teacher
training in 2009, she spent two additional
years under the guidance of Tommy Thompson, deepening her
experience and understanding of the Alexander Technique as
applied to performing artists while teaching privately in New York
City and Boston. In 2015, she founded her own training school and
started training Alexander teachers in Boone. She is also passionate
about sharing the Alexander Technique more widely with teachers
and educators so that they, in turn, can infuse their classrooms and
students with the practices passed down from F.M. Alexander since
the 1900s.
Don’t Sabotage Rehearsals by Sacrificing
Pedagogy
Every one of us has stressed about how to cover technique,
sight-reading, theory, etc. and still have time to prepare for
upcoming performances. Learn some ways to incorporate your
performance repertoire and the skills your repertoire requires
in your warm-ups. Don’t sacrifice that time! Supercharge your
rehearsals by focusing on pedagogy.
Sarah Fawn McLamb
Sarah Fawn McLamb is the new K – 12 fine arts teaching
and learning specialist for Johnston County Public Schools.
She made the move to the new position in February 2022, after
over 20 years as a choral director, serving
in
elementary, middle, and high school
positions. Her most recent choral program
was at Corinth Holders High School in
Wendell. Her choral ensembles at CHHS
consistently earned excellent and superior
ratings in performance and sight-reading and
her show choirs won multiple awards in New
York, Atlanta, and at Disney. Previous chair
of the NCMEA High School All-State Choral
Festival, she is currently serving as the Educational Activities chair
on the NCMEA High School Choral executive board. She received
her Bachelor of Music from Meredith College, with a concentration
in voice and a secondary in piano. She has been accepted into the
Graduate School at UNC Pembroke and will begin working toward
her Masters in School Administration in January.
The Power of Canva: Creating Visually Inclusive
Content
Canva is THE online tool you should be using to create content,
brand your music program, and use to make your life easier and
more aesthetically pleasing. Consider attending this session if
you’d like to take a deeper dive into how to utilize Canva in your
program and learn more about making more visually inclusive
content.
Isaiah Cornelius
Isaiah Cornelius is a native of Salisbury,
where he began his journey as a musician.
He was influenced and inspired by Jan Gore,
who taught at South Rowan High School.
He attended Wingate University where
he earned his bachelor’s in K – 12 music
education. His career began with Gaston
County Schools, where he taught a host
of students over the course of three years;
collaboratively at Cramerton Middle School,
South Point High School, and Highland School of Technology,
officially at W.C. Friday Middle School. In 2020, he accepted a
position at East Rowan High School, where he taught chorus and
theater arts for two years. In 2022, he moved to Cabarrus County
Schools, where he has worked to revitalize the choral program
at J.N. Fries STEM Middle School. In addition to teaching, he is
the director of music at Amity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte,
where he works with the Amity Singers and Amity Ringers.
Your Voice Matters: Voice Care for Educators
Many people, particularly those who use their voices
extensively in their jobs, suffer from voice problems. Because
teaching requires heavy voice use five days a week, with little room
for voice recovery between tasks, teachers are at an especially high
risk for developing a voice disorder. In fact, between fifty and
seventy percent of all teachers will experience a voice problem at
some point during their lifetimes. Such problems, even when mild,
can have a significant impact on students’ ability to comprehend
classroom information. Importantly, teacher’s mental well-being
and work productivity are also negatively impacted. The good news
is that developing a chronic voice problem is preventable. This
PERFORMING ARTS
For program information,
scan the QR Code or visit
methodist.edu/performing-arts
WHERE
MUSIC IS
PERSONAL
While our choirs,
orchestra, and bands are
amazing, the best part of
MU Music is our people.
At MU, you’ll have the opportunity to
travel and perform in our community,
state, country, and internationally, but
you don’t have to be a music major to
participate. All students – regardless of
major – are encouraged to experience the
transformative nature of the arts at MU!
Whether you are a future artist, academic,
or athlete who just loves to play, we
welcome you to MU Music!
methodist.edu | 910.630.7000
5400 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28311
36 | NORTH CAROLINA MUSIC EDUCATOR NORTH CAROLINA MUSIC EDUCATOR | 37