Grant Dillard
Staff Writer
The Murray State Collegiate National Association for Music Education traveled to Louisville, Kentucky for the annual Kentucky Music Educators Association convention.
The event started on Thursday, Feb. 6, and ended Saturday, Feb. 8, and is KMEA’s professional development conference for music educators across the state.
KMEA is affiliated with the National Association for Music Education, which advocates for music teachers around the world, helps implement new trends in music education and provides for further growth for current and future music educators.
Director of Choral Activities and professor Bradley Almquist said Murray State has been attending and participating in the event for as long as it has been around.
“[KMEA] sponsors a number of events throughout the year that specialize in band, chorus, orchestra and general music,” Almquist said. “We often send students, as well as having faculty presenting professional development sessions/classes during the conference.”
This was the first time the vice president of Murray State NAfME Collegiate Chapter, Allison Grace, junior music education major, attended KMEA. Having stayed for four days, Grace went to sessions in the morning and performances during the day.
Grace said the convention brings the top musicians from the state together and has them participate in various ensembles, like choirs and concert bands.
“I bonded with other students and professors that went,” Grace said. “It really is a special thing to be able to go to conferences like this and learn more about the craft that we all love. Being able to have open discussions on the sessions was really nice.”
Grace’s favorite memory was watching the All-State Concert Band rehearse with her friends.
“It was just a really special moment that we all shared,” Grace said. “It really reminded me why I wanted to get this degree in the first place. These kids were so inspired and genuinely loved playing their instruments and making music together.”
This year, Almquist and music education professor Joan Riley presented classes. Riley described the conference as an opportunity for professional development.
“Attending conferences such as this is like getting a whole semester of courses in three days,” Riley said. “Offerings on brain development and learning, choral pedagogy, string pedagogy, teaching improvisation, higher order thinking and band pedagogy were available, as well as the opportunity to observe directors from around the country as they rehearsed All-State ensembles.”
While this was Riley’s second KMEA, she has been a member of the North Dakota Music Educators Association for over 30 years and has attended many national conferences as well. She looks forward to them every year to renew and rejuvenate her teaching and spirit.
Riley was also in charge of a choral reading session sponsored by Alfred Publishing, a premier publisher of choral music in the U.S.
Board Member at Large Ben Gerkins, junior music education major, went to the KMEA convention twice as a performer in high school and twice as a NAfME Collegiate member.
Gerkins’ favorite memory was discussing music and education with his colleagues. He said it is rewarding to talk about your passions with people who have similar interests.
“If you are a music major or music faculty member, your attendance is highly recommended at the KMEA convention each year,” Gerkins said. “It’s a great place to network with your fellow educators and future employers.”