We Make Beautiful Music Together

Most of us have probably heard someone say... "we make beautiful music together." That statement is a metaphor meaning many things. It may mean that two people are really in love and it is beautiful, or that two business partners are on the same wavelength and the profit is good, or maybe it means that a teacher and his or her students get the understanding (learning) accomplished like they are supposed to do. It could even literally mean that the actual making of music in an ensemble IS beautiful. No matter how one looks at it, the statement "we make beautiful music together" is about a RELATIONSHIP; a relationship between two or more individuals, which results in a positive outcome.

Teaching music for the first time, or even in a new place and on your own, can be a scary situation. There are lots of unknowns that seem to make themselves known, usually at the wrong or worst possible time, during that first year. How can one even make music when bogged down by these situations, let alone "make beautiful music?" Kansas Music Educators Association has an answer... KMEA Mentoring and The New Teacher Handbook!

As a new music teacher in a new situation, you need relationships! You need positive relationships with like-minded people who can help you with questions and steer you in the right direction. If you are a new teacher reading this article and you are without a mentoring music teacher, please contact your District Mentor Chair. She or he can get you connected with a mentor in your district. A mentoring teacher can help you begin "making beautiful music."

The second part of the answer comes via The New Teacher Handbook. The Handbook is full of links to numerous ideas for teaching music. You can find information about beginning the school year, lesson planning, important information about festivals and contests in Kansas, advocacy, dates & deadlines, and more! Again, to begin "making beautiful music," go to the following web link: ksmea.org/mentoring/handbook.

The way to "make beautiful music" is to make plans now to attend the New Teacher Luncheon at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop. This event will be held in Wichita, KS, February 21-23, 2013. This luncheon is completely free to new music teachers! Holly and I look forward to meeting you at this luncheon. The luncheon will not only provide you with a great eating experience, but will also feature several speakers, and great conversation with other new teachers from Kansas and mentoring leadership in Kansas. Put yourself in the right place now by creating a network of music colleagues through this luncheon! Do not forget to sign up for this free luncheon when you register on line for the KMEA In-Service Workshop.

And as always, if you do not have a mentor, get one TODAY! Please contact your KMEA District Mentor Chair listed below. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

NORTHEAST
Maggie McKain:

NORTHWEST
Jeff Jordan:

NORTH CENTRAL
Nancy Monical:

SOUTHEAST
Mark Gard:

SOUTHWEST
Lynn Unruh:

SOUTH CENTRAL
Gretchen Bixler:

We hope to see you at the New Teacher KMEA Mentor Sessions and the 1st Year Teacher Luncheon (FREE) at the February KMEA In-Service Workshop in Wichita.