President's Podium

Rebecca Brashier

What new challenges are you facing this year? Where do you turn for support? What kind of help can you give your colleagues?

Are you the new kid on the block or the seasoned veteran?Think back to that first music teaching job. Think what skills you brought to the job. Think what skills you’ve lost. More importantly, think what skills you’ve gained and how you have acquired them.

I have been fortunate to work in schools large enough to have two or more music teachers. In every instance, I’ve had colleagues very willing to share their ideas. What seemed like old routines to them were brand new discoveries for me. Things “old hat” to me were new to them. We both learned and the students were the winners.

So what do you do if you are the music teacher seeing K-12 for everything, or traveling to three schools, or teaching something you haven’t taught in years and you haven’t seen another music educator since you were a student?

First, join professional organizations and read the literature. Of course, joining MENC/EMEA should be at the top of your list. Check out the web site at www.menc.org for all the benefits and services available. They’ve recently initiated an “Ask the Expert” section where you can get help when you need it. Don’t forget to visit the state association web sites linked to the national site including our own www.emeaonline.org.

Second, attend conferences where you can discuss issues face-to-face with your colleagues. There will be a music educator attending the Fall Conference in Heidelberg, October 18-20, 2002 who shares a similar teaching situation–not enough lower brass, too many flutes, three 1st grade classes a day.

Find out more about the conference on page 11. Read Keith’s letter on page 3 if you are undecided about attending. Consider attending the Eastern Division Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, March 6-9, 2003 and don’t forget the EMEA Spring Conference May 2-4, 2003 in Oberursel, Germany.

Third, try not to go it alone. What could improve your program without unreasonable sacrifice on your part? Are you trying to do too much? Are you pushing more paper than teaching? Dr. Willie Hill has chosen “Connect with Music” as the MENC theme for his term as president. Connect with your headmasters, principals, music supervisors, community leaders and EMEA colleagues. Don’t forget parents and students. Ask for help to create and maintain quality programs.

My confession, Part 1: I’m not always good at asking for help. Part 2: In a President’s Podium in 1997, I said it would be my last. That was a lie. This is the truth. This is my last President’s Podium. Joy Morgen will assume the presidency of EMEA on February 1, 2003. She and the rest of the EMEA Board have been there every time I’ve asked for help. I hope you will be there when they ask you! See you at the conference!!

Goodbye, Adios, Ciao, Fare Thee Well,
Auf Wiederseh’n.