Many Thanks...

As I am writing my last KMR column for the elementary chair position, I am most grateful to all of the many friends and colleagues who have made my job so easy the last four years! The brainstorming sessions, tips, bringing instruments and other items to KMEA, have been greatly appreciated. The wonderful support of KMEK and KOC has been exemplary. These fine organizations are most worthy of your time and support. It truly has been an experience I will never forget. This is a wonderful state to serve in a KMEA state leadership position—GREAT teachers!

As I prepare to leave the elementary position, I am excited about the upcoming leadership of the new elementary chair, Jennifer Donovan. She is certainly not a new face to the elementary teachers and will bring many fine clinicians and sessions to our state convention. Please introduce yourself to Jennifer this KMEA ISW! Speaking of the upcoming KMEA ISW (February 23-25, 2013), get ready for an exciting list of clinicians and sessions involving Dalcroze, Orff, and Kodály methods for your classroom.

On Thursday, February 21, David Frego from the University of Texas will present two Dalcroze (Eurhythmics) sessions in the afternoon. I worked with David during Henry Leck's Creating Artistry Program in 2004. He is marvelous and these sessions are a MUST for KMEA this year! David will also present the first session on Friday morning, February 24, 2013. The sessions will begin with Purposeful Movement - moving to cognition, and finally, to feeling. David is active as a Dalcroze instructor throughout the globe. I have used many of his techniques in my classroom I learned in 2004.

Artie Almeida, Orff specialist, will present two sessions on Friday, February 22, in the morning. She is still teaching in the elementary classroom and busy almost every weekend around the country giving workshops/sessions for elementary music teachers. Her two sessions will be "Chutes and Ribbons and Scarves, Oh My!" and " Singing Fun 'n Games." She is highly creative and I cannot wait to meet her in February. Artie has many publications and as many of you know, they are WINNERS!

On Saturday, February 23, Leigh Ann Garner, Kodály specialist, will present two sessions: "Add More Fun to Your Formative Assessments!" and "Curricular Connections: Core Repertoire for Grades K-5." Leigh Ann is also teaching in the elementary school and is the co-author of Music and Movement, and a contributing author for MacMillan McGraw/Hill music textbook series. She has presented at many national OAKE conferences and is highly creative in her teaching style to young music makers! All of the three clinicians listed above were contacted in 2010 to present at this KMEA conference. They are highly sought after presenters in this country!

The elementary music reading session, "A Choral Approach with Young Voices," will be led by Marilyn Killian on Friday, February 22, in the morning. Of course, Marilyn is not a stranger to this state with her many awards and contributions to the field of music education and particularly, her outstanding work with children's choirs. Marilyn was the founder of the Wichita Community Children's Choir, which gained national recognition under her fine expertise and leadership.

Other sessions/clinicians include: "Special Learners in the Music Classroom K- 8/Greatest Hits,"- Scott K. Iseminger; "Orff to Curriculum by the Kansas Orff Chapter," - KOC; " Help! I Have to Teach Music to the Pre-K Class," - Lisa Simmelink; " Folk Dancing for the Entire Family," sponsored by KMEK, and " Math, Music, and Popsicle Sticks," - Sharon Birch- from the "Freddie the Frog" series. The three choirs this year are: Derby 6th Grade Center Honor Choir, director Rebecca Bolig; St. George Elementary Choir, director Janet Armstead; and Sabetha Elementary School, director Eysia McGill. For a complete listing of all sessions/days/times, please go to: www.ksmea.org. You can also read clinician bios and session descriptions.

I would like to personally thank the following sponsors for the three out of state clinicians this year: Senseney Music, KMEA, KMEK, West Music, KOC, and Lorenz Publishing Company. These organizations assisted in bringing highly qualified presenters this year to the KMEA ISW. I look forward to greeting you at the upcoming ISW and appreciate all you do daily to provide quality music education programs in Kansas. See you soon!