2025 Maine Music Educators Association Conference: Full Schedule

10:55am EDT

Bridging the Gap Between Home Music and School Music in the PreK–8 Classroom

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

The disconnect between music students experience at home and music found in school inhibits responsive pedagogy, equitable engagement, and both students’ short- and long-term engagement in music class. Researchers have demonstrated that while home music is of greater interest than most other subjects, interest in music at school trails those same subjects. This session will cover pedagogies to explore home music in the classroom, including distilling rhythmic content to grade appropriate levels, transfer of tonal concepts between genres, connecting the representation of emotion between music with and without lyrics, and composition strategies which utilize aesthetics of home music.

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 10:55am - 11:55am EDT
Williams Hall Rm 140 18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

DEIA

3:45pm EDT

Considering Equity and Access in Ensemble Recruitment and Retention

Friday May 16, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

This session will explore recruitment and retention for secondary ensembles through the lenses of equity and access. First, we will synthesize research on recruitment and retention. Then, we will offer practical and ready-to-use ideas teachers can implement into their programs. We will consider equity and access for Maine music students, underpinned by the belief that all students deserve quality music education opportunities through their public school education.

Speakers

Dr. Rebecca DeWan

Asst. Prof of Choral/General Music Education, University of Maine

Rebecca DeWan is the Libra Assistant Professor of Choral/General Music Education at the University of Maine where she teaches undergraduate music education courses and conducts Collegiate Chorale. Rebecca’s 14 years in the K–12 classroom inform her research on trauma-informed... Read More →

Ellie Grant

Ellie Grant is a third-year Vocal Music Education major at the University of Maine, originally from Houlton, Maine. Ellie currently serves as the Assistant Music Director of UMaine Renaissance, an all-treble acapella group. She is also a member of the University Singers and performs... Read More →

Jeffrey Nowack

Jeffrey Nowack is a third-year music education/performance major with a trumpet concentration at the University of Maine, originally from Auburn California. He has been serving in the Maine Air National guard since 2021. At the university, Jeffrey participates in various ensembles... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Williams Hall Rm 120 18 E Mall Rd, Orono, ME 04473

Choral DEIA