Category Archives: Advocacy

have it both ways

Posted on June 14, 2014 by mllama4

R – One of the core issues I have with High School music programs in this country is that they often pass themselves off as academic and essential while not being so in practice, placing an emphasis on non academic goals or meeting the needs of … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Assessment, Standards | 1 Comment

nhmea

Posted on April 12, 2014 by mllama4

R – I had the joy of presenting two workshops and a reading session for the New Hampshire Music Educators state conference yesterday and it was a blast. Wonderful to see former students-now-teachers, friends and colleagues as we talked shop … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Assessment, Etcetera, Standards | 2 Comments

aesthetics and academia – part 2

Posted on August 29, 2013 by mllama4

R – I’ve heard on many occasions over the years that, “not all that is important can be assessed”. I know, I’ve often been the one who has said it. I still do, and I still mean it when I … Continue reading →

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aesthetics and academia – part 1

Posted on August 20, 2013 by mllama4

R – The title of this post: oil and water? Democrat and Republican? Ke$ha and Beethoven? Yankees and Red Sox? Okay maybe not that far apart… Well, here’s the scoop: aesthetics is not the deemphasis of academic instruction, it’s an … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Etcetera | 1 Comment

the interconnected circles

Posted on April 3, 2013 by mllama4

R – As a follow up to my initial discussion around spot on teaching, I want to elaborate on my thoughts around that true balance between the three domains (circles) of 1) developing in students an interest and love for … Continue reading →

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standards, assessment, blah blah blah… part 4

Posted on November 24, 2012 by mllama4

R – I have a strong conviction that standards based assessment in music begins as a mindset first and a series of actions second. If a teacher were to ask, “what should I do to make this happen?”, the answers … Continue reading →

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standards, assessment, blah blah blah… part 3

Posted on November 17, 2012 by mllama4

R – Implementing standards based assessment into a music program can appear to be a daunting task. But I have a conviction that it doesn’t have to be. In practice, standards articulate critical stepping stones in the educational journey of … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Assessment, Standards | 4 Comments

standards, assessment, blah blah blah… part 2

Posted on November 3, 2012 by mllama4

R – Old model: what we teach matters. New model: what our students learn matters. That’s standards in action. But these two things are the same thing you say? I used to agree. I don’t anymore. Read on. I touched … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Assessment, Standards | 1 Comment

high school music requirement

Posted on October 20, 2012 by mllama4

R – I have three questions for you High School teachers out there. Here’s question #1: “Should music education be for every student?” I wish I could hear your own individual response to this… is it “yes”, “no” or “depends”? … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Etcetera | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

sacred music police

Posted on August 31, 2012 by mllama4

R – preface: I have spent 11 of my 25 years in this profession as a president or president-elect of a state ACDA or NAfME organization. All that means is that I have been in a position to hear what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Etcetera, Programming, Rehearsal | Tagged | 8 Comments