MMEA Annual In-Service Conference
Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) is the professional association for the school music teachers of Maryland. MMEA is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit association incorporated in the State of Maryland. MMEA's mission is to provide professional development for music teachers, opportunities for excellence for music students and teachers, and to serve as an advocate for music education in schools.
The more than 1,100 teacher members are from every geographic jurisdiction of the state as well as from every level -- early childhood through the institutions of higher learning of the state. They teach in public, private and parochial schools. MMEA is a state affiliate of Music Educators National Conference, the National Association for Music Education, the largest arts advocacy organization in the world.
What do we do?
MMEA provides student and teacher enrichment by sponsoring numerous student activities. The association has 8 annual All State music groups (Senior Band, Senior Mixed Chorus, Senior Women's Chorus, Senior Jazz Band, Senior Orchestra, Junior Band, Junior Chorus and Junior Orchestra) which are drawn from the entire state. A rigorous audition process selects about 920 students from the 6,000 to 7,000 students in secondary school music programs who audition for the groups. The student musicians spend several weeks in individual preparation and then come together for a three day intense rehearsals with a nationally known conductor. The sessions are open for teacher observation.
The Association sponsors district and state Solo and Ensemble events, at which students play prepared, graded selections for an adjudicator, giving them feedback on their performance as soloists or as members of small ensembles. Those who qualify at a district event by earning the highest rating may go on the State event. This spring, the State Solo and Ensemble events heard performances from nearly 6,000 students.
A two-day Jazz Conference was added in 2002 with high school and middle school jazz bands participating, expanding the jazz experience for 20 students to nearly 400.
MMEA serves its members by providing in-service activities for music teachers at a Fall In-Service Day and at a two-day conference in February. Nationally, regionally and locally recognized clinicians provide sessions that focus on every level of the profession -- early childhood through university level instruction, including special learners and at all content areas -- band, chorus, general, orchestra, theory, history, technology, and world music.
The secondary music performance curriculum of each district is assessed at the district level of all school systems. Using a graded list of literature, each school band, chorus and orchestra in the state is adjudicated by a panel of three performance adjudicators as well as a sight-reading adjudicator. Ensembles that qualify through the district events are invited to the State Band, Choral and Orchestra Festivals. During the spring, Orchestras, Bands and Choruses performed in these festivals, with nearly 10,000 students participating.
MMEA has forged partnerships with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. MMEA teachers design, write and edit the teacher guides used by the classroom music teachers for all BSO education concerts. The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra has given the best high school string players from the All State Orchestra a Side-By-Side experience, a full rehearsal run and concert with the BCO.
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