Thursday Pre- Conference Events

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

32nd Annual Conductor’s Symposium

Presider: Susan Gould, Greenville High School
Location: Ambassador, Amway Grand
Participants are videotaped as they conduct the MSU Chamber Orchestra, followed by live comments from Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Director of Bands at Michigan State University and Dr. Mary Schneider Eastern Michigan University. Our featured personnel this year are John Whitwell, retired, Michigan State University and conductor of this year’s All-State HS Band and Jack Williamson, Central Michigan University. Chosen participants gain valuable insight into the art of conducting. New teachers and seasoned professionals alike can benefit from this unique, hands-on program.

8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

If It’s Broke, You CAN Fix It!

Presenter: Paul Bartel, Baroque Violin Shop
Presider: Larry Dittmar, MASTA
Location: Emerald A & B, Amway Grand
Learn the secrets and tricks for string repairs that YOU can do! This popular MMC session takes the opportunity to cover more repair topics with an in-depth three-hour, hands-on session. Paul Bartel, owner of the Baroque Violin Shop, will teach you the repairs that can be accomplished in the classroom with some basic tools and a little know-how. How many times have you wished you could glue the open seams on your school basses or lower a cello bridge, set a soundpost or clean up the rough edges on a school cello? A wide variety of repair and maintenance topics will be covered. Tools (soundpost setters, clamps, peg compound, etc.) will be available for purchase so you’ll come away from this workshop with not only the knowledge of how to do repairs but also the tools to complete basic repairs. It’s time to learn some handy repairs that will save you hundreds of dollars in yearly repairs.
Code: Strings

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Every Child Can

Presenter: Geri Arnold
Presider: Wendy Azrak, MASTA
Location: Atrium, Amway Grand
This is a six-hour course designed by the Suzuki Association of the Americas which serves as an introduction to Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and its application in Suzuki education. It is intended for parents and educators and is a prerequisite for Suzuki Teacher Training in all instruments. This course is not instrument specific. The Suzuki Method is used in the study of: violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, piano, flute, guitar, recorder and pre-school education. There are no auditions or requirements to take this course. A fast-paced, engaging and inspiring program, “Every Child Can” includes new video materials and Suzuki Association Americas developed courseware. Each participant will be provided useful reference materials for later study. This SAA accredited course will run with a minimum of 10 attendees. Participants must be 18 years of age, and must stay for the entire workshop.
Code: Strings

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Technology Keynote: Making the Case for Technology in Music Education

Keynote Presenter: James Frankel Frankel
Presider: Nicholas Hardy, Fitzgerald Public Schools
Location: Grand Gallery B
The students in our music classrooms today are wired differently than those only a decade ago. With video games, cell phones, and social networking websites, these digital natives gravitate towards technology, and music educators need to be able to address the learning styles of their students. Integrating technology across the music curriculum has never been more important, and has never been easier. Through examples of student work and demonstrations of a variety of hardware and software, this session will provide educators with ideas on how to effectively utilize technology with their students as well as opportunities for professional development.
Code: Technology

9:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Exploring Students’ Creativity With GarageBand and Logic Studio

(In-Depth Session requires additional registration)
Presenter: Ray Riley, Alma College
Presider: Marj Haber, West Bloomfield School District
Location: Grand Gallery F, DeVos Place
Piano lessons, guitar lessons, artist masterclasses, easy-to-use recording, and more. All of these features are included in the newest version of GarageBand for the Apple computer. Logic Studio features a powerful digital audio workstation that includes a suite of creative tools for musicians. Learn how to maximize these applications for the benefit of your music students.
Code: Technology

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Music Making in the Modern World

Presenter: Kevin Saunderson,
Presider: Barton Polot, Schoolcraft College
Location: Grand Gallery C
Kevin Saunderson, a world renowned music producer and electronic music innovator, will discuss music making in the modern world. As our students are increasingly making music on their own at home, this will be an opportunity for music teachers to better learn about professional electronic music making.
Code: Technology

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Web 2.0 in the Music Classroom

Presenter: James Frankel Frankel
Presider: Nicholas Hardy, Fitzgerald Public Schools
Location: Grand Gallery C
MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube are examples of Web 2.0 technologies that our students use in their social lives. Connecting with our students using the interactive technology associated with these sites can be a powerful educational tool. Frankel will review interactive web technologies and how to successfully utilize them in the music classroom. Attendees will learn about blogs, wikis, and easy-to-use website creation sites that help music educators extend their classrooms into cyberspace.
Code: Technology

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

SmartMusic Gradebook: Guiding and Documenting Student Progress

Presenter: David Hawley, MakeMusic, Inc.
Presider: Adam Wurst, Allendale Middle School
Location: Grand Gallery D, DeVos Place
SmartMusic now includes over 2,200 titles for the concert band, orchestra and jazz ensemble with pre-authored assignments for each title. This clinic will give a thorough overview of the SmartMusic Gradebook, including how you enroll students, create and grade student assignments. Having a basic understanding of SmartMusic will be beneficial in that this clinic will focus more on the online Gradebook.
Code: Band, Choral, Strings, Technology

1:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Utilizing Podcasting to Reach Your Students

Presenter: James Frankel, Frankel
Presider: Marj Haber, West Bloomfield School District
Location: Grand Gallery F, DeVos Place
This in-depth session introduces the concepts behind Podcasting - everything from creating podcasts to publishing them on iTunes. Participants will learn how to create podcasts using GarageBand 3.0, including how to incorporate video into a podcast. Publishing the podcasts via iWeb and other web design programs will be covered as well. In addition, participants will learn about other podcasting resources including ProfCast, getting your podcast onto iTunes, iTunes U, creating an RSS feed for subscriptions. Many student podcasts will be shared.
Code: Technology
(In-Depth Session requires additional registration)

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Understanding Microphones for Recording and Live Performance

Presenter: Nicholas Hardy, Fitzgerald Public Schools
Presider: Barton Polot, Schoolcraft College
Location: Grand Gallery D
This session will cover the fundamentals of how to use microphones in recording and live performance. Topics will include minimizing feedback, avoiding hiss, placement, distortion and more. This is a not-to-miss session for directors looking to capture high quality recordings of their ensemble or for those using microphones during their ensemble’s performances.
Code: Technology, All

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

MSVMA Full Board Meeting

Location: Imperial, Amway Grand

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Make Meaningful Connections With Your Students Through the Use of Technology

Presenter: Michael Medvinsky, H.T. Burt Elementary
Presider: Marj Haber, West Bloomfield School District
Location: Grand Gallery C, DeVos Place
Embrace technology as a tool to support students in their musical problem solving experiences. Learn ways to connect with students, enabling them to continue developing their musical identities on their journey to becoming independent musicians and life long music consumers. Educate your school community about arts education and the accomplishments of your students through the use of technology. Together we will engage in hands-on experiences to supplement your curriculum and advocacy opportunities.
Code: All, Elementary General Music, Technology

Integrating Music Technology and Computer Science Using Programmable Microprocessor Kits

Presenter: Kenneth Smith, Western Michigan University
Presider: Adam Wurst, Allendale Public Schools
Location: Grand Gallery D, DeVos Place
This demonstration will show how students can learn about basic electronics, microprocessors and MIDI in one integrated unit that is easy to understand and implement. Using the Parallax BS-2 microprocessor and simple circuits, MIDI instructions will be programmed and sent to external MIDI devices. The addition of various sensors used to measure light, distance and attitude can be applied to manipulate MIDI signals. These sensors combined with microprocessor programming can be used to create new types of MIDI controllers that use position, motion and gestures to manipulate music in real time.
Code: Technology

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

MMEA Board Meeting

Location: Grandview, Amway Grand

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Music Appreciation For the Short Attention Span

Presenter: Jason Byma, St. Ignace Area Schools
Presider: Nicholas Hardy, Fitzgerald Public Schools
Location: Grand Gallery C, DeVos Place
As schools lose students and funding, many directors are being required to develop new courses to fill their schedules. This presentation will give insight on new ideas for music appreciation classes. From theory and history to performance and composing, we will explore possibilities to fulfill state standards of Arts in the course using technology and other low cost equipment.
Code: Band, Technology

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

21st Century Learning with Indaba Music

Presenter: David Minnick
Presider: Barton Polot, Schoolcraft College
Location: Grand Gallery C
Indaba Music is an international community of musicians, music professionals, and fans exploring the creative possibilities of making music with people in different places. Indaba Music by nature, is an educational tool. It represents the newest technology for the creation of music. With its unique social networking tools, Indaba is the ideal way for teachers to interact with their students. Through this presentation, I will discuss how Indaba Music addresses the needs of music educators and will give you a tour of how I create music online with these immensely flexible tools.
Code: Technology, All

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

MASTA Board Meeting

Location: Pearl, Amway Grand, Amway Grand

8:00 PM

Thursday Evening Concert - Boston Brass

(This is a Special Ticketed Event; this is included in the registration fee) Boston Brass
Presider: Paul Lichau, MSBOA
Ambassador Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
For nearly 25 years, Boston Brass has set out to establish new standards in musical entertainment. From exciting classical arrangements, to burning jazz standards, and the best of the original brass quintet repertoire, Boston Brass treats audiences to a unique musical experience, which captivates all ages. The ensemble’s lively repartee, touched with humor and personality, attempts to bridge the ocean of classical formality to delight audiences in an evening of great music and boisterous fun. The philosophy of Boston Brass is to provide audiences with a wide selection of musical styles in unique arrangements provided in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Thursday Pre- Conference Events

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