“I Can’t Miss That!” Yes, you are right — you can’t miss this year’s CMEA BAY Section Winter Conference! There are some once-in-a-lifetime workshops this year that you really don’t want to miss!

First off you will find Friday’s sessions enriching as well as inspiring. Linda Covington, amazing music teacher from San Jose, will lead us in folk dances that teach music concepts. She will also incorporate the use of Orff Instruments with the folk dances. Mrs. Covington has been trained in both the Kodály and Orff approaches and believes in using all the tools and training available to open the hearts and minds of young people through music. Her National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music served to ignite new ideas for engaging students, and fine-tune her teaching strategies.

Diane Lister, Pacific Region Music and Art Curriculum Specialist with Pearson, will lead us on an exciting adventure of interactive listening exercises. Diane taught Elementary and Middle School General Music for 22 years, and served as Fine Arts Curriculum Facilitator for the Tacoma, Washington School District. She has shared her knowledge of and creative approaches toward all aspects of general music through teacher in service training in California, Washington, Texas, Oregon, and many other states.

The most amazing South Indian Classical Music (Carnatic Music) vocalist in the Bay Area, Harini Krishnan-Jha, will compare Western and Carnatic Music –— teaching us how to use Carnatic music in the classroom and perform (with other top Carnatic musicians) beautiful Indian music. Since 1979, Harini and her sisters, Padmapriya and Subhapriya, have given several Carnatic music concerts in India, Europe and the United States. They have been featured in both Doordarshan (Indian Television) and All India Radio, and received considerable praise for their debut album “Jagajjanani”, released in India in 1990. You cannot miss this concert!

Saturday starts with Dr. Rochelle Mann from Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO brought to us by Pearson Making Music! She is a specialist in the Kodály concept, and she teaches Kodály certification courses at Arizona State and Portland State Universities. She currently conducts the Durango Children’s Chorale, and her publications include several works for children’s voices as well as articles promoting innovative teaching techniques.

Finally, Elizabeth Balzano, music therapist from New York City, will bring her expertise in using music to teach special needs children and teach strategies for music educators to ensure that their exception students are engaged and developing musical skills. Elizabeth currently hosts Bounce the new PBS Kids weekend show that encourages children to connect with their emotions, thoughts, and words through music and works with children in the New York City Public School System. This workshop is sponsored by Spectrum Connections and Brandissimo!
News in General Music: New Youth Bell Choir is starting called Rising Ringers. There web address is: www.risingringers.org If you have students that are interested, please share with them the website address.

At this year’s conference you will dance, play, sing, and learn some innovative multi-cultural and diverse strategies that you can incorporate directly into your classroom. You don’t want to miss any of these presentations! Mark your calendars — January 11 and 12, 2008! Send in your registrations today!