2025 Maine Music Educators Association Conference: Full Schedule

10:00am EDT

Drumset Tones and Techniques

Thursday May 15, 2025 10:00am - 10:55am EDT

In need of new cymbals or drumheads? Why do my two drummers sound totally different on the set? My brushes don't make any sound on my snare!
There will be over 12 ride/crash/hi-hat cymbals on hand to hear and play yourself..... Over a dozen pairs of drumsticks and mallets.... over 4 different drumheads to hear..... I will explain, play and compare each of those items as well as talk about proper technique to get the best tone out of each cymbal, stick and drum.

Speakers

Patrick Bragdon

Presque Isle Schools

Patrick has taught music for 34 years. He graduated from USM in 1991 and taught for 11 yers at Central Aroostook HS and the past 33 years in Presque Isle. Patrick has performed with the Portland and Bangor Symphonies, McLaughlin Big Band, Dale Perkins Big Band, many musical shows... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 10:00am - 10:55am EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Band Jazz

10:00am EDT

Leading Changes - targeted improvisation to create more musical solos

Thursday May 15, 2025 10:00am - 10:55am EDT

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Often times, using chord scales can be mysterious and overwhelming for students. "Use this scale" isn't always as helpful as we intend it to be. In this session, I'll show simple approaches to targeting certain notes at certain times, to create melodic phrases through the chord changes that give students a confident grasp on how to play the changes in a clear and concrete way.

Speakers

Aaron Henry

Band Director, Yarmouth High School

Aaron Henry graduated from the Berklee College of Music Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Music Performance, and received his M.M in Studio Composition from SUNY Purchase College. He leads bands at Yarmouth High School and is the Artist Faculty in Jazz Saxophone at USM.. He performs... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 10:00am - 10:55am EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 100 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Jazz

11:00am EDT

Preparing a Successful Jazz All State Audition (Instrumental)

Thursday May 15, 2025 11:00am - 11:55am EDT

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Join us for this moderated panel discussion that will provide you with an in depth look at the Jazz All State audition, featuring current and past Jazz All State judges. We will go over tips and tricks to help students prepare, what judges are looking for and how selections are made. Whether you're brand new to the jazz world or an experienced educator you're bound to learn something new here!

Speakers

Benjamin Cox

Director of Instrumental Music, Mt. Ararat High School

Benjamin Cox is the Director of Instrumental Music at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, Maine. Cox is the current president-elect for MMEA, has served as the chair for District 3 and has hosted and managed a number of district honors festivals. During the Summers, Cox directs the... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 11:00am - 11:55am EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Jazz

1:15pm EDT

Teaching Meaningful Improvisation

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

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Meaningful improvisation is where creativity and honest expression intersect with jazz language. After students begin improvising with appropriately simple materials, they often hit a plateau of repetitiveness. This session explores how we can help our students expand their perspectives and move toward a more advanced, creative approach. We will talk about processing and absorbing great recordings, mirroring conversation, paying attention to our inner voice, and more. Bring an instrument, or your voice!

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 →

Thursday May 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Jazz

2:25pm EDT

195th Army Band - Opportunities and Benefits

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

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

The 195th Maine Army National Guard Band offers many music ensembles including Concert Band, Marching/Ceremonial Band, Jazz Ensemble, Rock Band, and Brass Band. This session will give insight into what the 195th Army Band has to offer for musical opportunities. During this session, you will hear performances from our Rock Band, Brass Band, and Ceremonial Band. Please feel free to bring your instrument and play along with the 195th Army Band!

Speakers

Jason Priest

Hampden Academy

Jason Priest lives in Hampden, Maine where he is the director of bands at Hampden Academy. In addition to his duties at Hampden Academy, Jason is also the Executive Officer of the 195th Army National Guard Band, where he conducts the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, and Jazz Ensemble... Read More →

Brady Harris

Sponsors

Maine Army National Guard

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:25pm - 3:25pm EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Band Jazz

3:35pm EDT

Jazz Meeting

Thursday May 15, 2025 3:35pm - 4:35pm EDT

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

This meeting will provide members with the opportunity to receive updates on the upcoming changes to jazz activities for the 2025-26 school year.

Speakers

Matthew Waite

Thursday May 15, 2025 3:35pm - 4:35pm EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

Jazz

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

28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469

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

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