TMEA 2023 Recap
For those of you who have never been, TMEA is a very special conference. It is the largest MEA show in the country - and possibly one of the largest gatherings of music educators in the world. There are TONS of amazing sessions and performances, and I always look forward to seeing so many friends and colleagues in San Antonio, TX each February. And the weather ain’t too bad either.
This year TMEA felt like it was 100% back to normal. Great attendance at sessions, HUGE exhibitor presence, and there was a palpable buzz throughout. I had the pleasure of presenting two sessions on behalf of MusicFirst. To access my slide decks, click on the links below.
Make your Software Sing! Best Technology for the Choral Classroom
How Technology Can Enhance Your Program: Lessons from the Pandemic
The MusicFirst booth was HOPPING on Thursday. It’s always great to catch up with existing customers and partners, and of course it’s a thrill to introduce people to exactly what we do at MusicFirst, and how we can help enhance their music programs.
The highlight of the show for me was interviewing three fantastic music educators “live from the TMEA convention floor” for my podcast. First up was Gillian Desmarais, a super talented music educator who teaches in the Maplewood Public Schools in Minnesota. It was the first time meeting Gillian in person, and I loved our conversation. Her episode will go live on Thursday, March 2nd.
Next I got to interview the 2022 TI:ME Teacher of the Year, Ryan Van Bibber. I spoke about Ryan in my OMEA Recap post. He is a truly special music teacher who does AMAZING things in the Columbus City School District in Ohio. His program is truly one of a kind and it was great getting to know Ryan a little better and hearing his story. Ryan’s episode will launch next week, on Thursday, February 16th. Make sure you check it out.
My last podcast interview for the day was the one and only, Katie Wardrobe - owner of Midnight Music. Katie is a FORCE when it comes to training music educators on how to utilize and integrate music technology into their teaching. Because Katie lives and works in Australia, it is always extra special to spend time with her in person. She is a like-minded individual and it was a thrill to have her on the podcast. Catch Katie’s episode on Thursday, March 16th.
Interviewing Gillian Desmarais for my Profiles in Teaching with Technology podcast @ TMEA 2023.
I used an incredible new tool to facilitate the live podcast recordings and I absolutely LOVE it. The Vocaster Two Studio, from Focusrite, is an easy-to-use but powerful tool for podcasting. It provides two XLR inputs (you can also use Bluetooth to record handheld devices), headphone outs, auto-gain adjustment, and more. It was the perfect way to capture the interviews, and if you are recording podcasts on a regular basis, I HIGHLY recommend picking one up.
The only downside to TMEA this year was that I had to leave the show early. I’ll be missing lots of great sessions as well as more time with my technology friends, including Amy Burns, Shawna Longo and Kate Hargreaves. I’m heading home for a much needed long weekend to recover from some intense travel - and next week I’ll be heading out West for more fun at CASMEC in Fresno, CA. Until next time, TMEA!
Amy Burns, Kate Hargreaves, me, Shawna Longo & Katie Wardrobe