November 2009
Volume 75, Number 2

Elementary Division
Michele M. White, Chairman

If you haven’t yet turned in your professional development/leave forms, please take care of it TODAY!  This year's LMEA annual conference begins on Thursday afternoon, Nov 19, with two sessions  continues through Saturday.  This is NOT the event you'll want to miss!  The LMEA main attraction clinician is Lynnel Joy Jenkins who recently was named artistic director of the Princeton Girlchoir and will take the baton from the founding director Janet A. Westrick.  Ms. Jenkins will present four sessions at our conference in November.  All of her sessions will feature reading packets provided by J. W. Pepper!!  (I’ve had a sneak peek at the music selections, and we are in for a rare treat!) 

Ms. Jenkins sessions are:  Laying the Foundation for Artistry in Choral Performance -- A teaching model that empowers choristers to be musicians and nurtures their innate musicality through expressive choral singing will be demonstrated.  Aural, visual and kinesthetic activities will be introduced to support the learning of the fundamental principles of singing with artistry.  A local children’s choir will be in attendance to serve as the demonstration choir.  What Shall We Sing? Quality Literature for Young Singers – Quality choral literature to support artistic and healthy sing will be presented in this session ranging from simple to more complex literature.  A choral analysis will highlight each composition’s pedagogical value.  World Music for School Choirs – A teaching model for presenting music from other lands will be demonstrated.  Choral Connections: Incorporating Kodály Strategies to Develop Your Choir’s Musicianship -- Kodály strategies which will develop and strengthen your elementary and middle school choirs will be highlighted.       

            We are excited the Louisiana Association of Kodály Educators is sponsoring Sr. Lorna Zemke who has not been to Louisiana in more than 10 years.  She teaches at Silver Lake College and is well-known as a Kodály specialist and master teacher.  She will present three sessions over Thursday and Friday.  The titles of her sessions are:  Musical Motivators + Materials = Musical Meanings (grades 1 and 2); Kodály. . . After the Beginnings (grades 3-6); and Teaching Literacy Through Listening.

            Finally, we are grateful to the Red Stick Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts who will co-sponsor James Mader, a world-drumming specialist from Florida.  He will present one session on Friday and two on Saturday telling us about the World Music Drumming Curriculum. This innovative cross-cultural curriculum is aimed at raising student’s life skills (listening, respect, cooperation, teamwork, and communication) through African, Caribbean, and Latin drumming, movement, and song. We are happy to welcome Mr. Mader to Louisiana.

            Luana Marler of J.W. Pepper will present a reading session for all levels on Friday afternoon.  Pepper also will have an exhibit this year as will Rhythm Band and several other vendors.