Read Now! MMEJ Vol. 74, No. 3

Dear MMEA Members and Friends,

On behalf of our Massachusetts Music Educators Journal Editorial Board, I am pleased to share that Volume 74, No. 3 of the MMEJ is LIVE!

Our spring issue cover features artwork by Kaylia Butland, a Grade 6 Orchestra student, whose piece reflects the creative energy and diverse voices at the heart of this issue. This spring/conference issue celebrates the stories we tell as music educators—the classroom discoveries, the collaborative problem-solving, the cultural knowledge we bring to our teaching—and the power of sharing those stories with each other. As we gather in Worcester for our annual conference, "United in Harmony," this issue reminds us that our collective wisdom exceeds what any of us knows individually, and that harmony grows richer when it includes all of us.

Click here to read the articles and features in our spring/conference issue, including:

• Conference Message by Jared Cassedy 

• United Through Our Stories by Christy Whittlesey 

• Keep It Simple: Building Student Ownership Through Composition by Jennifer Perkins (Advocacy)

• Harmony Beyond Notes: Social Emotional Learning in Chorus by Alexander Grover (Choral)

• Debunking the Myths of ADHD: A Personal and Professional Journey by Dr. Sarah H. McQuarrie (General Music)

• Growing Music in Mass Update by Tom Walters

• Doublespeak: Coded Language and Urban Music Education by Brian A. Gellerstein, Ph.D. (Jazz/Contemporary)

• Creating Inclusivity Through Modern Pre-Band by Brittany Bauman (Instrumental)

• Tech Overview by Meaghan O'Connor-Vince (Technology)

• Anti-Racism in Music Education: Beyoncé's Renaissance and Cowboy Carter by Elizabeth S. Palmer and Khyle Wooten (Higher Education)

• Making Guitar DAWsome! Fostering Independence & Differentiation Through Technology by Christopher Jackson (Large Municipalities)

• Conference Chair Update by Tom Westmoreland 

• Concert Chair Update by Dr. Allyson Rottman 

• Collegiate Chair Update by Julia Hayes & Nick LaCava 

• Conference Sessions & Schedule by Tom Westmoreland 

• MMEA & MICCA Awards 

• Highlights from Future Music Educators and Music Program Leaders Summit 

• Producing a Musical: A How-To Guide for the Music Educator by Katrina Faulstich (Embracing the New Music Educator)

• Students' Perspectives on MMEA All-State Conference Collegiate Sessions by Daniel J. Albert, Ph.D. (Research & Music Teacher Education)

• Freestyle: An Invitation by Genithia Lilia Hogges (Cultural Responsiveness)

• Leadership Lives and Grows in the Music Room by Anne M. Fennell, M.Ed. (Music Program Leaders)

• In Community by Steve Damon (Viewpoint)

• District Updates

• …And Much More!

Special thanks to the MMEJ Editorial Board Members and authors who contributed to this issue — and special recognition to Conference Coordinator Tom Westmoreland and Concert Coordinator Dr. Allyson Rottman, along with their dedicated committees, for the extraordinary work they've devoted to creating this year's professional learning experience for our community.

Don't forget:

• Authors are eligible for 30 PDPs from DESE for publishing an article in the MMEJ!

• You can now earn up to 10 Professional Development Points (PDPs) each year by reading and reflecting on MMEJ articles! Each successful reflection on an article is worth one PD hour. You can start reading and reflecting today to receive your PDPs at: https://www.massmea.org/journal.

The MMEJ Editorial Board is composed of MMEA members who each represent various content areas within music education:

Rhoda Bernard, Higher Ed 

Heather Cote, Music Program Leaders 

Brian Gellerstein, Jazz/Contemporary 

Jamie Gunther, Research and Music Teacher Education 

Genithia Hogges, Cultural Responsiveness 

Catherine Iatesta, Embracing the New Music Educator 

Allison Lacasse, Advocacy 

Sarah Leahy, General Music 

Koriana Lewis Bradford, Choral 

Seelan Manickam, IN-ovations 

Meaghan O'Connor-Vince, Technology 

Allyson Rottman, Large Municipalities 

Michael Smith, Instrumental

Please reach out to editor@massmea.org with ideas for articles, comments, or to share student artwork to be featured on our cover. YOU are the MMEA, and the MMEJ Editorial Board wants your voice to be heard!

Respectfully, 

Christy Whittlesey, MMEJ Managing Editor