2025 Maine Music Educators Association Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am EDT

Setting Up Your Drum Set Musicians for Success in Jazz and Modern Band

Friday May 16, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Secondary instrumental music educators are routinely tasked not only with introducing drum set to beginners, but also providing feedback to more experienced drum set musicians to take their playing to the next level. This session will cover essential concepts and techniques that will allow educators to support drum set musicians at all skill levels in jazz and modern band ensembles, including scaffolding comping, development of characteristic sounds for distinct genres, finding an individual groove, and touch. Providing personalized and stylistically appropriate feedback to drum set musicians will help educators elevate their entire jazz or modern band ensemble.

Speakers

Dr. Cameron Siegal

Rhode Island College

Cameron R. Siegal, Ph. D., is a PreK–5 music teacher in the Dartmouth, Massachusetts, public schools and an adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island College. He holds degrees from University of Oregon, Florida State University, Western Oregon University, and University of Massachusetts... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Jazz Modern Band

9:50am EDT

Tone first then intonation: Strategies to improve your trumpet sections tone and intonation

Friday May 16, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am EDT

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Tone First - THEN Intonation

Good intonation is essential for an ensemble to sound excellent - but it’s not all about tuning slides or pulling out your headjoint ¼ inch! Working within the framework of trumpet playing, this session will challenge you to consider good tone production first, with improved intonation as a secondary result. The presenter will discuss the benefits and science of good tone production as well as demonstrate exercises and methodologies to help you improve your trumpet students’ tone, and ultimately their intonation. Participants will also participate in workshopping to brainstorm how to practically apply these techniques for other instruments.

Speakers

Ryan Noe

University of Southern Maine

Dr. Ryan Noe is an active freelance trumpeter and educator. He holds the position of Principal Trumpet for the Glens Falls Symphony(NY) and has performed with the Boston Pops, Portland Symphony, Vermont Symphony, and Bangor Symphony. Dr. Noe has performed for such dignitaries as William... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Band Jazz

10:55am EDT

Jazz Improv Jam for Less-Experienced Jazz Players

Friday May 16, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am EDT

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Like many things in life, our first several attempts at improvisation can be a little nerve-wracking and disheartening. Don’t let that stop you! This session provides a non-threatening environment for all who aren’t experienced in jazz to push through the initial attempts, and move on to some more fulfilling improvisation. No pointed criticism will be given, but some solid basic principles will be discussed: putting together a good mindset, establishing a confident sound, choosing realistic parameters, absorbing style from recordings, and more. Bring an instrument or your voice, and come prepared to participate!

Speakers

Dan Barrett

Assistant Professor, University of Maine

Dr. Dan Barrett directs the Jazz Studies program at the University of Maine, where he directs the UMaine Jazz Ensemble and teaches jazz pedagogy, jazz piano, and jazz arranging. He performs often with the UMaine Faculty Jazz ensemble, and recorded the album Putting a Groove on a Bad... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 10:55am - 11:55am EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Jazz

1:15pm EDT

New York Voices

Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

2 Flagstaff Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Performers

New York Voices

New York Voices was born in the mid-1980s at upstate New York’s Ithaca College. Peter Eldridge, an aspiring jazz pianist who came late to singing; Kim Nazarian, who dreamed of a life on Broadway; and Darmon Meader, a saxophonist and self-described “choral geek,” came together... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Collins Center for the Arts 2 Flagstaff Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Jazz Choral