I love a good quote. Quotes have a special power to convey deep truths in a succinct and effective way. As I contemplate the upcoming KMEA In-Service Workshop, I find these quotes to be particularly meaningful: Our job as music teachers is to instill knowledge, understanding, and a love of music in our students. In this fast-paced society, we must help our students learn how to learn in order for them to adapt to our ever-changing world. The key thing to remember is that, in order to teach our students, we must first teach ourselves. As Toffler said, we must teach our students to learn and relearn, and as Locke said, we must first improve ourselves. If our goal is to TEACH life-long learners, we must BE life-long learners. Goethe was right—our apprenticeship is never complete!

This information age, with change happening at an ever-increasing rate, requires us to adapt our teaching style and content to the changing population and the changing needs of society. Through reading, discussing new ideas with peers, and learning from the experience of others, we have the ability to gain deeper insights, improve current skills, and learn new skills leading into the future. Luckily, we are blessed to have multiple sources for information and advice at our fingertips. We have access to numerous books and journals related to music, education, and music education. Further, as citizens of the 21st century, technology provides access to advice from peers through social media as well as search engines that allow us to search throughout the world for answers to questions we may have regarding new developments in music and education.

The KMR is a great example of such a readily accessible resource. You have instant access to more than three years worth of issues. This gives you access to information pertinent to Kansas music teachers as well as great articles written by experts from Kansas and across the country. For example, this convention issue features an article by our own Bill Thomas and Tom Wine. Bill's article describes how he manages a profitable fund-raising opportunity. Tom explains the importance of developing an atmosphere of trust in the choral rehearsal and provides practical ideas to create a trusting environment. From New Jersey, William Berz's article acknowledges a gradual shift he sees in band instrumentation across the country. Finally, we include a reprinted article from the Washington MEA journal, The Voice, by Carol Whitworth, which dispels some myths associated with teaching middle school choir.

Here in Kansas, we have one more fabulous source for professional growth—the KMEA In-Service Workshop. At the end of February every year, over 600 music teachers, future music teachers, and retired music teachers from across Kansas come to Wichita to our state music education conference. We gather to listen to great ensembles, bring our students to participate in honor groups, visit with music teacher friends, and gain new ideas and skills from the great people contributing clinics. In short, we gather to learn to do our job better. Are you planning to attend?

Once again, outstanding teachers from throughout the state, along with nationally recognized conductors and speakers, will present a virtual smorgasbord of learning, providing us with information and ideas relating to all aspects of music teaching. You will have a chance to watch performances by great bands, orchestras, choirs, and chamber ensembles from elementary through college levels from large and small schools. Peruse the list of this year's sessions and you will see multiple clinics aimed at helping you in the areas of:

• Advocacy
• Folk dancing
• Singing technique
• Brass teaching
• String teaching
• Woodwind teaching
• Percussion skills
• Music appreciation strategies
• Technology apps
• Sound recording
• Teaching in a K-12 school
• Classroom management
• Special needs strategies
• Beginning choir techniques
• Common Core in the music class
• Assessment as learning
• Critical thinking
• Composition
• Curriculum planning
• Fund-raising
• Recruitment
• Ukulele
• Band repertoire
• Chamber music

I hope to see you in Wichita at the end of February. The KMEA In-Service Workshop is all about life-long learning. Contrary to popular belief, education doesn't stop after graduation. As Harry Truman said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."