GMEA 2023 Recap
This week I have been in Athens, GA (an amazing city) for the 2023 Georgia Music Educators Association Conference presenting sessions and representing MusicFirst (my favorite company :)). I always enjoy coming to this particular show, as the energy and organization of the technology chair, Heath Jones, really makes this show shine. Heath is an amazing music educator and the very proud recipient of the 2023 TI:ME Teacher of the Year Award!
Robin Hodson, Heath Jones & I at the MusicFirst Booth @ GMEA 2023
I presented three sessions on behalf of MusicFirst. The first one was titled Technology In Your Class In A Post-Pandemic World. The COVID-19 pandemic made us all reimagine how we teach music. Now it’s time to think about how software can continue to enhance your program. During this session, you’ll learn how many of the software tools used for virtual learning can become resources that enhance your in-person ensembles’ performance.
The second session was titled Do Your Students Really Know What They Think They Know?. Assessments can be taken on any Internet-connected device and take as little as 90 seconds, requiring very minimal time away from rehearsals and normal class activities. Results can be instantaneous and offer the teacher immediate insight into individual and class mastery.
The third session was on behalf of our good friends at Soundtrap and it was titled Creativity In Any Music Room. What is music without creativity? Applying music theory with fun projects, enabling composition, and encouraging students and teachers to infuse their current curriculum with creative elements are key to this process. Participants will explore these skills with Soundtrap and feel prepared to bring simple strategies back to their classrooms.
The event that I look most forward to @ GMEA is the GMEA Music Technology Student Showcase - an incredible concert that features the work of 14 Georgia music students at Tweed Recording Studios in downtown Athens. Heath Jones and GMEA sponsors and carries out an annual digital composition competition for the purpose of encouraging students who have an interest in and an aptitude for the writing of original digital music. The entries in this event are submitted by the student’s music teacher. Entries were divided into age categories consisting of elementary (K-5), middle school (grades 6-8), high school (grades 9-12) and university, including both undergraduate and graduate enrollment and were judged comparatively against only those entries falling within their classification. Entries were judged on four criteria: Musical Content, Creativity, Technical Proficiency, and Realization of Process. Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates will be awarded in each division and category. All entries received feedback from the adjudication committee. Top entries in each division and category will be recognized and have their works presented during this session.
We are very proud at MusicFirst to be a sponsor of this event.
