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Greetings from Lu Anne!
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As President of
the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association, allow me
to welcome you to the FEMEA website! This organization
unites elementary music teachers and promotes a quality, comprehensive
music education for ALL Florida children. Music is an integral
part of life and human beings are born “wired” for
music; therefore, music is a key cornerstone in the education of
the whole child and especially aesthetic development.
Summer
promises a GREAT conference!
Our FEMEA
Summer Conference will
be held Saturday August 15, 2009
in Gainesville
at the University of Florida on the beautiful campus of the
University of Florida. We thank our host Dr. Timothy Brophy.
You will see
the flyer in the Florida Music Director and, of course, on
the website.
Our
featured clinician is Denise Gagne. She is no stranger to Florida
and we always welcome her creative ideas to improve the learning
in our classrooms. Denise has taught band, choir and classroom
music from pre-school to College. She has degrees in music
and
education as well as certification in Kodaly and Orff training. She has authored many
elementary music publications including Musicplay K-6. Denise
is currently conductor of the Red Deer Children’s
Choir and works part-time in Red Deer elementary schools. Save
the date now!
Florida,
geographically, presents challenges when it comes to travel and
exposure. FEMEA
initiated an outreach program and secured
funds to reach out into the underserved areas of our state. For
the last few years we have been active in the panhandle and will
continue to provide services and resources there. This summer we
move to the extreme southern part of our large state and offer
a “South Florida Outreach” workshop.
Denise
Gagne will present in Miami-Dade County at Highland
Oaks Elementary on Thursday,
August 13, 2009. Those interested in attending the “South
Florida Outreach” presentation can find the flyer
here on the website. We thank Lynn Tillman and her principal Dr.
Kim S. Rubin for agreeing to host us at Highland Oaks Elementary
School. Be conscious of the deadlines! Our statewide FEMEA conference
on August 15 is not replaced by this workshop…just enhanced.
And
as always, remember,
as a member of FEMEA you are invited to: • Network with other professional
educators.
• Stay informed about legislative
issues that impact our children and our profession.
• Grow professionally through
district, regional and state workshops.
• Apply for grants to further
innovative programs and projects.
• Write a scholarship grant
to underwrite summer training to improve your skills, ultimately
increasing student achievement.
• Audition students for our
Florida Elementary All State Chorus. Our process, from audition
to performance, serves as a
national model.
• Receive “The Florida Music Director”,
a journal outlining important information and new trends in music
education,
as well as electronic bulletins and updates from our umbrella organization,
Florida Music Educators Association regarding important legislative
issues affecting our profession.
• Borrow DVD and Video teaching
materials from the FEMEA Lending Library.
There are many more reasons to become a member of FEMEA. Join
us in our quest for quality and feel empowered by the unity of
your professional organization. To join, visit www.flmusiced.org.
Lu Anne Leone
President, Florida Elementary Music Educators |