Conference Overview
*All info for students in the MKMEA Honor Choir can be found on the CHOIR PAGE. The following is about the professional conference for music educators.
Friday, Oct 4thRegistration Open, 3-7 pm, see colleagues, visit exhibits
Honor Choir (5-7:15 pm) & Participant Choir (6-7 pm) Rehearsals Evening Musical Entertainment: Omaha Street Percussion Concert, 7:30 pm Folk Dancing with Jennifer Johnson, 8:15 pm |
Saturday, Oct 5th8 AM Registration and Exhibits Open, Opening Session: Keynote Dr. Eva Floyd
Sessions and choir rehearsal all day Luncheon & Membership Meeting Participant Choir Rehearsal (12:40-1:40 pm) Honor Choir & Participant Choir Concert, 7:30 pm |
Sunday, Oct 6th8 am Morning Sessions
Reading Session with Kate Konrad, Tom Michalek, Anne Parker and Lisa Simmelink Closing Ceremony, 12 pm |
RESEARCH POSTER SESSION
MKMEA is hosting their first ever Research Poster Session in Omaha. Reports can be of complete or on-going research. The participation of classroom teachers, undergraduate students, graduate students, collegiate faculty, and independent scholars is strongly encouraged!
We encourage posters of research topics related to the areas of music teaching, music learning, music performance, or music therapy.
To have your report considered for the poster session, please email the following to Christina Svec by September 1, 2019:
Submit submissions in Word (.doc or .docx), Pages (.pages), Portable Document (.pdf), or Google Document format.
We encourage posters of research topics related to the areas of music teaching, music learning, music performance, or music therapy.
To have your report considered for the poster session, please email the following to Christina Svec by September 1, 2019:
- Name
- Position title
- Contact information
- Title of poster
- Abstract of research (300-500 words)
Submit submissions in Word (.doc or .docx), Pages (.pages), Portable Document (.pdf), or Google Document format.
Sessions and Events
Matt Hanne – Voice in Motion: Movement Activities for Vocal Development
As children grow in their understanding of musical literacy, it is equally important that they gain a deeper understanding of how their voice works and how to use it effectively for singing. This session will explore physical activities for helping students understand posture, breath, tone, projection and diction. Participants will engage in a variety of movement activities and apply these techniques into various songs. By better feeling how body and voice interact, children will experience more ease and freedom in their singing, and gain confidence in the idea that singing is for everyone!
Dr. Beth Mattingly – The Teaching of Katalin Forrai: Raising the Standards of Early Childhood Music Education
Session description coming – Will present her work (this topic) at the IKS Symposium in Malasia in August.
Linda Hulsey – Sit Where Your Feet Are: What I’ve Learned
This well-known and respected Kodaly educator will give her thoughts and perspectives after retiring from a distinguished career in Kodály-inspired classroom teaching, teacher training, and teacher supervision. Come with questions: What about..., How should I…, What do you think…
Crystal Henricks – A Well-Trained Body: Movement for the Kodály-Inspired Classroom
With limited class time, teachers can easily diminish the value of purposeful movement in a Kodály-inspired classroom. A well-trained educator will be able to guide their students through movement experiences that will enhance their students' well-trained minds, ears, hands and hearts. Through movement, students more readily retain information, internalize musical concepts, and demonstrate musical expression. The key to joyful movement in the elementary classroom is to do it often and with a structured plan so the children quickly become comfortable moving through space. Participants in this session will experience physical activities that are connected to specific musical concepts and songs. These activities can easily be placed into a "Prepare-Present-Practice" sequence and can lead into folk dances or movement pieces, which are also sequenced for student success. Tips and strategies for helping students move in a musical way will be discussed. Come ready to see all the opportunities that carefully planned and thoughtful movement can bring to your classroom.
Dr. Shelly Cooper – A Peaceful Coexistence: Kodály-Inspired Principles and the Orff Approach
This presentation will include a variety of music activities that illustrate and promote connections between Kodály and Orff in the music classroom. It will acquaint participants with techniques and strategies that encourage speech, vocal exploration, singing, movement, and literacy. Demonstration will include manipulatives, props, books, and instruments guaranteed to be successful in the classroom.
Holly Eberhardt – Kodály 101: What You Need to Know
This session is an introduction to the Kodaly philosophy and is designed for college students, new teachers, teachers who are new to the Kodaly approach, and school administrators. This session will be divided into three segments: a brief history of Kodaly’s life and how the approach that bears his name came to be; what is the Kodaly approach and the three stages of teaching a concept; and demonstrations of these steps in a Kodaly-inspired lesson.
Ben Rivers – Using Primary Sources Outside Your Song Collection
Primary sources are original documents, artifacts, recordings, song, or art works. Even if these documents are online they are often far superior than textbooks. Kodály educators are some of the few educators that use primary sources in our classroom everyday through our song collection, but we can do more. Come see how art, oratory, documents, artifacts, and more are just a click away. We will explore how using these sources will enhance your students’ understanding of the repertoire you teach.
Jennifer Wassemiller – Beyond Multiculturalism: Creating a Culturally Relevant Kodály Classroom
Culture is SO much more than country of origin and ethnicity, so how can we as Kodaly music educators foster an environment of inclusivity that further embraces the diversity of our students? This session will explore the nature of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), how the implementation of CRT moves beyond the broad spectrum of multiculturalism, and the implications within the Kodaly curriculum. In valuing the uniqueness that each student brings to the classroom, CRT further engages students in their learning in addition to providing enriching opportunities for student ownership and creation with the music classroom.
Megan Hilton & Kathy Jones – SEL and Folk Dance in the Music Classroom
“Will You be My Partner?” (aka Boys Have Cooties, Girls do too, please take a hand and don’t say ewww). Trauma-informed practices, along with social-emotional learning (SEL) have become paramount buzz words in education. Many general education colleagues don't realize SEL is an integral part of the music room from K-12 and beyond. This session will encourage and empower fellow music educators to meet these expectations through folk dance in the music classroom.
Jamie Parker – Successful Student-Led Activities in the Kodály-Inspired Classroom
In this session, participants will learn ideas to give their students power and choice in the Kodály-inspired music classroom. Teachers will participate in open-ended singing games, melodic activities, and rhythmic activities. They will practice solo singing, improvisation, reading, writing, form, and movement. Teachers will learn how to facilitate activities using student ideas. Come learn new ideas to offer your students an opportunity to add their voice and opinion to the music making that occurs in your classroom!
Michelle Braun – Creative Concerts: Balancing Curriculum, Creativity, Advocacy, and Logistics
A step by step guide for planning engaging programs that use curricular song material and highlight different aspects of learning (such as instruments, active listening, harmony, etc). We will discuss ideas for taking things from the classroom to the stage, when to use prepared materials verses creating your own, and how to structure the logistics of concerts from communication to mass rehearsals. It's everything they never taught you in college!
Carly Schieffer – M.U.S.I.C. for Everyone
Join in an interactive, hands-on session that is designed to actively engage every student’s musical ability. Observe and experience a M.U.S.I.C. classroom consisting of Movement/dance, Understanding (reading/writing/listening), Singing, Instruments, and Creating. Each teacher will be able to learn each aspect of M.U.S.I.C. (including singing games, folk dances, and literacy activities) and implement the musical activities into their own classrooms.
Amanda Vanausdall & Dr. Elaine Bernstorf – Unlocking the Literacy Puzzle: Sticking to the Music
Any good picture puzzle has pieces that fit together strategically. The goal of this session is to help those who are teaching inexperienced “teachers-in-training” see obvious ways to organize musical concepts for literacy teaching and pull music literacy patterns from context. Cooperating/mentor teachers, persons who are teaching college methods or those looking for assistance with special learning needs will benefit. One focus will be the use of song analysis with stick notation to help interns without prior Kodaly experience understand the learning sequence. Another topic is maintaining focus on continuously singing the song material to keep learners, especially those with special needs, engaged in the process. The session is open to all who have experienced puzzling behaviors related to literacy.
Dr. James Bowyer – Prepare-Present-Practice-Perform: A Secondary Choral Kodály Sequence
This engaging workshop will articulate a model for sequencing Kodály melodic and rhythmic concepts in the secondary choral classroom. How can the four-step choral rehearsal process (warm-ups, tuning exercises, sightsinging, and repertoire) facilitate learning key Kodály concepts? How may folksongs and choral octavos be used as basic materials in this endeavor? Participants will receive a complimentary choral packet.
Lauren Fladland and the Treble Choir from Prairie Point Middle School/9th Grade Academy – Discovering Teachable Concepts in Repertoire for Treble Choirs
In this session you will be able to hear the 8th grade treble choir from Prairie Point Middle School and 9th Grade Academy (Cedar Rapids, IA) perform treble choral selections that would be suitable for elementary, middle school, and developing high school treble ensembles. By attending this session you will receive a handout that that will include the concepts that were taught in each piece, and how they were introduced. The music selected will be a great span of classic treble choir repertoire, as well as some new releases.
Sheila Baer – It’s a Theme! It’s a Variation! It’s a Watermelon Pie!
The theme from Music for Children Vol 1 pg 30 is a favorite of many. Students will learn this piece through solfa singing. Students will practice tika tika by listening and reading/notating the music. Students will create a variation of: I love watermelon pie! Students will write, sing and play their variation (on xylophones) for the class. Come explore this fun process together. I use Noteflight with my students to notate their music. So you might want to bring a computer with you!
Sarah Burns – Grab It, Shake It, Tap It, Pass It: Stick Dances and Games for Upper Elementary
As the student populations in our music classrooms become more diverse, it is vital that our music content embraces this diversity. This session will pay homage to stick dances and games found in many cultures across the globe through a musical journey that begins in the United States and travels to the continents of Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Striving to remain true to the culturally authentic representation of the stick dances and games in the music classroom is of utmost importance so historical background, choreography (appropriately modified for upper elementary students, as necessary), and sound pedagogical methods will be provided. Using a variety of sticks (easily & economically acquired), this session explores the seemingly complex world of stick dances through song, rhythmic texture, and pulsating beat. The activities from this session cross cultural boundaries while developing community and synergy within the music classroom. Grab It, Shake It, Tap It, Pass It. Let's. Get. Started!
Tom Lesiak – Great, So What’s the Game?
We've all had those moments where we finish introducing a new song and a student asks, "great, so what's the game?" Or perhaps, you've just found a new gem—it's age-appropriate, beautifully demonstrates your concept, singable yet interesting—but...it's just the song, there's no game. This session examines various techniques for approaching those songs that are just songs. We'll discuss how to use these ideas in an elementary classroom and how you can sculpt and nurture the long-term singing culture of your community.
Carmen Campbell & Brett Gebhardt – Cardio Drumming: A Movement Experience Unlike NE Other
Are you and your students ready for a new way to experience beat and rhythm? Do you want to have more ideas for movement with your students? Do you like a good workout? Cardio Drumming is a great way to give you and your students the best of both worlds. Participants will have the chance to do some cardio drumming and learn how to tie this activity in to music, dance, and physical education standards. Cardio Drumming is an experience your students will have that is unlike any other music and movement activity they've done.
Sarah Burns – Banter, Beach Balls, and Books
Take something as simple as a beach ball and use it in the elementary music classroom to solidify beat/pulse, develop rhythmic skills, and engage every single student. Using chants, children’s picture books, and popular music, this session will engage participants in a variety of rhythmic activities that incorporates not only beach balls, but also yarn balls, and crocheted balls. Participants will collaborate with each other through a variety of rhythmic and movement activities that develop physical, visual, and aural skills thus exploring musical concepts in a fun, energetic way. Together, through a mixture of large group, small group, partner, and individual activities, we will compose, improvise, perform, and connect using literature as the foundation. Alignment to the Core Art Standards for Music (creating, performing, presenting, producing, responding, & connecting) and assessment strategies will be suggested. Don’t miss out on all the musical, rhythmical fun…we’re going to have a BALL!
Laura Dunbar – Creating Interactive and Engaging Instructional Materials
This presentation will demonstrate how to use PowerPoint to create a variety of instructional materials. Participants will be shown how to make interactive materials through tools such as hyperlinks, triggers, slide transitions, and animations. A set of electronic materials will be available for download at the session so that participants can either watch or play along. Tools presented will be applicable for both Apple and PC users.
As children grow in their understanding of musical literacy, it is equally important that they gain a deeper understanding of how their voice works and how to use it effectively for singing. This session will explore physical activities for helping students understand posture, breath, tone, projection and diction. Participants will engage in a variety of movement activities and apply these techniques into various songs. By better feeling how body and voice interact, children will experience more ease and freedom in their singing, and gain confidence in the idea that singing is for everyone!
Dr. Beth Mattingly – The Teaching of Katalin Forrai: Raising the Standards of Early Childhood Music Education
Session description coming – Will present her work (this topic) at the IKS Symposium in Malasia in August.
Linda Hulsey – Sit Where Your Feet Are: What I’ve Learned
This well-known and respected Kodaly educator will give her thoughts and perspectives after retiring from a distinguished career in Kodály-inspired classroom teaching, teacher training, and teacher supervision. Come with questions: What about..., How should I…, What do you think…
Crystal Henricks – A Well-Trained Body: Movement for the Kodály-Inspired Classroom
With limited class time, teachers can easily diminish the value of purposeful movement in a Kodály-inspired classroom. A well-trained educator will be able to guide their students through movement experiences that will enhance their students' well-trained minds, ears, hands and hearts. Through movement, students more readily retain information, internalize musical concepts, and demonstrate musical expression. The key to joyful movement in the elementary classroom is to do it often and with a structured plan so the children quickly become comfortable moving through space. Participants in this session will experience physical activities that are connected to specific musical concepts and songs. These activities can easily be placed into a "Prepare-Present-Practice" sequence and can lead into folk dances or movement pieces, which are also sequenced for student success. Tips and strategies for helping students move in a musical way will be discussed. Come ready to see all the opportunities that carefully planned and thoughtful movement can bring to your classroom.
Dr. Shelly Cooper – A Peaceful Coexistence: Kodály-Inspired Principles and the Orff Approach
This presentation will include a variety of music activities that illustrate and promote connections between Kodály and Orff in the music classroom. It will acquaint participants with techniques and strategies that encourage speech, vocal exploration, singing, movement, and literacy. Demonstration will include manipulatives, props, books, and instruments guaranteed to be successful in the classroom.
Holly Eberhardt – Kodály 101: What You Need to Know
This session is an introduction to the Kodaly philosophy and is designed for college students, new teachers, teachers who are new to the Kodaly approach, and school administrators. This session will be divided into three segments: a brief history of Kodaly’s life and how the approach that bears his name came to be; what is the Kodaly approach and the three stages of teaching a concept; and demonstrations of these steps in a Kodaly-inspired lesson.
Ben Rivers – Using Primary Sources Outside Your Song Collection
Primary sources are original documents, artifacts, recordings, song, or art works. Even if these documents are online they are often far superior than textbooks. Kodály educators are some of the few educators that use primary sources in our classroom everyday through our song collection, but we can do more. Come see how art, oratory, documents, artifacts, and more are just a click away. We will explore how using these sources will enhance your students’ understanding of the repertoire you teach.
Jennifer Wassemiller – Beyond Multiculturalism: Creating a Culturally Relevant Kodály Classroom
Culture is SO much more than country of origin and ethnicity, so how can we as Kodaly music educators foster an environment of inclusivity that further embraces the diversity of our students? This session will explore the nature of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), how the implementation of CRT moves beyond the broad spectrum of multiculturalism, and the implications within the Kodaly curriculum. In valuing the uniqueness that each student brings to the classroom, CRT further engages students in their learning in addition to providing enriching opportunities for student ownership and creation with the music classroom.
Megan Hilton & Kathy Jones – SEL and Folk Dance in the Music Classroom
“Will You be My Partner?” (aka Boys Have Cooties, Girls do too, please take a hand and don’t say ewww). Trauma-informed practices, along with social-emotional learning (SEL) have become paramount buzz words in education. Many general education colleagues don't realize SEL is an integral part of the music room from K-12 and beyond. This session will encourage and empower fellow music educators to meet these expectations through folk dance in the music classroom.
Jamie Parker – Successful Student-Led Activities in the Kodály-Inspired Classroom
In this session, participants will learn ideas to give their students power and choice in the Kodály-inspired music classroom. Teachers will participate in open-ended singing games, melodic activities, and rhythmic activities. They will practice solo singing, improvisation, reading, writing, form, and movement. Teachers will learn how to facilitate activities using student ideas. Come learn new ideas to offer your students an opportunity to add their voice and opinion to the music making that occurs in your classroom!
Michelle Braun – Creative Concerts: Balancing Curriculum, Creativity, Advocacy, and Logistics
A step by step guide for planning engaging programs that use curricular song material and highlight different aspects of learning (such as instruments, active listening, harmony, etc). We will discuss ideas for taking things from the classroom to the stage, when to use prepared materials verses creating your own, and how to structure the logistics of concerts from communication to mass rehearsals. It's everything they never taught you in college!
Carly Schieffer – M.U.S.I.C. for Everyone
Join in an interactive, hands-on session that is designed to actively engage every student’s musical ability. Observe and experience a M.U.S.I.C. classroom consisting of Movement/dance, Understanding (reading/writing/listening), Singing, Instruments, and Creating. Each teacher will be able to learn each aspect of M.U.S.I.C. (including singing games, folk dances, and literacy activities) and implement the musical activities into their own classrooms.
Amanda Vanausdall & Dr. Elaine Bernstorf – Unlocking the Literacy Puzzle: Sticking to the Music
Any good picture puzzle has pieces that fit together strategically. The goal of this session is to help those who are teaching inexperienced “teachers-in-training” see obvious ways to organize musical concepts for literacy teaching and pull music literacy patterns from context. Cooperating/mentor teachers, persons who are teaching college methods or those looking for assistance with special learning needs will benefit. One focus will be the use of song analysis with stick notation to help interns without prior Kodaly experience understand the learning sequence. Another topic is maintaining focus on continuously singing the song material to keep learners, especially those with special needs, engaged in the process. The session is open to all who have experienced puzzling behaviors related to literacy.
Dr. James Bowyer – Prepare-Present-Practice-Perform: A Secondary Choral Kodály Sequence
This engaging workshop will articulate a model for sequencing Kodály melodic and rhythmic concepts in the secondary choral classroom. How can the four-step choral rehearsal process (warm-ups, tuning exercises, sightsinging, and repertoire) facilitate learning key Kodály concepts? How may folksongs and choral octavos be used as basic materials in this endeavor? Participants will receive a complimentary choral packet.
Lauren Fladland and the Treble Choir from Prairie Point Middle School/9th Grade Academy – Discovering Teachable Concepts in Repertoire for Treble Choirs
In this session you will be able to hear the 8th grade treble choir from Prairie Point Middle School and 9th Grade Academy (Cedar Rapids, IA) perform treble choral selections that would be suitable for elementary, middle school, and developing high school treble ensembles. By attending this session you will receive a handout that that will include the concepts that were taught in each piece, and how they were introduced. The music selected will be a great span of classic treble choir repertoire, as well as some new releases.
Sheila Baer – It’s a Theme! It’s a Variation! It’s a Watermelon Pie!
The theme from Music for Children Vol 1 pg 30 is a favorite of many. Students will learn this piece through solfa singing. Students will practice tika tika by listening and reading/notating the music. Students will create a variation of: I love watermelon pie! Students will write, sing and play their variation (on xylophones) for the class. Come explore this fun process together. I use Noteflight with my students to notate their music. So you might want to bring a computer with you!
Sarah Burns – Grab It, Shake It, Tap It, Pass It: Stick Dances and Games for Upper Elementary
As the student populations in our music classrooms become more diverse, it is vital that our music content embraces this diversity. This session will pay homage to stick dances and games found in many cultures across the globe through a musical journey that begins in the United States and travels to the continents of Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Striving to remain true to the culturally authentic representation of the stick dances and games in the music classroom is of utmost importance so historical background, choreography (appropriately modified for upper elementary students, as necessary), and sound pedagogical methods will be provided. Using a variety of sticks (easily & economically acquired), this session explores the seemingly complex world of stick dances through song, rhythmic texture, and pulsating beat. The activities from this session cross cultural boundaries while developing community and synergy within the music classroom. Grab It, Shake It, Tap It, Pass It. Let's. Get. Started!
Tom Lesiak – Great, So What’s the Game?
We've all had those moments where we finish introducing a new song and a student asks, "great, so what's the game?" Or perhaps, you've just found a new gem—it's age-appropriate, beautifully demonstrates your concept, singable yet interesting—but...it's just the song, there's no game. This session examines various techniques for approaching those songs that are just songs. We'll discuss how to use these ideas in an elementary classroom and how you can sculpt and nurture the long-term singing culture of your community.
Carmen Campbell & Brett Gebhardt – Cardio Drumming: A Movement Experience Unlike NE Other
Are you and your students ready for a new way to experience beat and rhythm? Do you want to have more ideas for movement with your students? Do you like a good workout? Cardio Drumming is a great way to give you and your students the best of both worlds. Participants will have the chance to do some cardio drumming and learn how to tie this activity in to music, dance, and physical education standards. Cardio Drumming is an experience your students will have that is unlike any other music and movement activity they've done.
Sarah Burns – Banter, Beach Balls, and Books
Take something as simple as a beach ball and use it in the elementary music classroom to solidify beat/pulse, develop rhythmic skills, and engage every single student. Using chants, children’s picture books, and popular music, this session will engage participants in a variety of rhythmic activities that incorporates not only beach balls, but also yarn balls, and crocheted balls. Participants will collaborate with each other through a variety of rhythmic and movement activities that develop physical, visual, and aural skills thus exploring musical concepts in a fun, energetic way. Together, through a mixture of large group, small group, partner, and individual activities, we will compose, improvise, perform, and connect using literature as the foundation. Alignment to the Core Art Standards for Music (creating, performing, presenting, producing, responding, & connecting) and assessment strategies will be suggested. Don’t miss out on all the musical, rhythmical fun…we’re going to have a BALL!
Laura Dunbar – Creating Interactive and Engaging Instructional Materials
This presentation will demonstrate how to use PowerPoint to create a variety of instructional materials. Participants will be shown how to make interactive materials through tools such as hyperlinks, triggers, slide transitions, and animations. A set of electronic materials will be available for download at the session so that participants can either watch or play along. Tools presented will be applicable for both Apple and PC users.