2025 Maine Music Educators Association Conference: Full Schedule

1:15pm EDT

Achieving Choral Artistry through Singer-driven Composition

Thursday May 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

Do your singers readily focus on the expressive elements of music they are preparing to perform? Do you wish you could find something extra special for them to sing? This session will feature a step-by-step guide to help you and your singers create a truly unique signature work that showcases your ensemble and its special talents. Students will gain new insights into the choral art as they adopt the role of composer, develop new musical and socio-emotional skills, and prepare a performance that will captivate any audience with a meaningful work that uniquely represents their collective musicianship.

Speakers

Dr. Michele Kaschub

Professor of Music/Director of Music Teacher Education, University of Southern Maine

Dr. Michele Kaschub is Professor and Director of Music Teacher Education at the University of Southern Maine Osher School of Music. She is co-author of Minds on Music: Composition for Creative and Critical Thinking, Experiencing Music Composition in Grades K-2, Experiencing Music... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Williams Hall Rm 120 18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Choral Composition

2:25pm EDT

Composing Yourself: Writing and (Re)Arranging for Your Choir

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:25pm - 3:25pm EDT

18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Many of us have found ourselves in a situation where we needed a filler piece, or wanted to do an existing piece that wasn't available in the correct voicing. This interactive session aims to demystify the composition and arranging process, and offer some helpful tools for how to work with your choirs to create new music and arrangements. Part of the session will include a real-time, participatory demo of adapting existing music for new choral voicings

Speakers

Dr. Colin Britt

Mount Holyoke College

Dr. Colin Britt (Edward Little HS '03) serves as Director of Choral Activities at Mount Holyoke College, where he conducts the Mount Holyoke Chorale, Glee Club, and Chamber Singers. He also directs the West Village Chorale in New York and serves as Music Director of Christ Church... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:25pm - 3:25pm EDT
Williams Hall Rm 120 18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Choral Composition

8:00am EDT

Activating Socio-Emotional Intelligence through Composition

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

18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Composition is a powerful tool for inviting students to consider their feelings and how others might feel, as expressed through musical sounds. This session will examine how to design and deliver composition lessons that activate socio-emotional intelligence and foster musical growth. We will begin by examining the critical role of three compositional capacities – feelingful intention, musical expressivity, and artistic craftsmanship – and consider how each empowers young learners in and beyond their work in music. Composition lessons suitable for PK-5 will be shared along with Tips for Teaching that help music educators and their students succeed in any compositional endeavor.

Speakers

Dr. Michele Kaschub

Professor of Music/Director of Music Teacher Education, University of Southern Maine

Friday May 16, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Williams Hall Rm 110 18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Gen Mus K-5 Composition

9:50am EDT

Composition Pedagogy Triage – Ask Me Anything!

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

18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Guiding students as they learn to compose music uniquely reflective of their musical interests and who they are as emerging artists is a rewarding experience. Sometimes, though, finding the right pedagogical approach can be challenging. I invite you to bring your composition stories and challenges to this session. We will identify teaching strategies that help students across PK-12 settings overcome struggles and achieve their goals. We also will examine some of the pedagogical challenges that teachers experience as they empower young composers. Together, we will identify ways of activating student artistry and teacher creativity so everyone experiences success.

Speakers

Dr. Michele Kaschub

Professor of Music/Director of Music Teacher Education, University of Southern Maine

Friday May 16, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am EDT
Williams Hall Rm 110 18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Gen Mus K-5 Composition