NEWS BRIEFS FROM YOUR STATE MUSIC ASSOCIATIONS 

"Weekly Updates" is a coordinated effort by Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) and Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) to share a collection of timely news items that are relevant to both memberships while at the same time helping to limit the number of individual emails sent from each organization during summer of 2020.

WMEA News

WMEA COVID-19 Action Plan Meeting -  Tuesday, August 18, 6 p.m.
WMEA will be hosting the fourth gathering in a series of virtual meetings on the topic: WMEA - COVID-19 Action Plan. Please register for the meeting at this link.  In advance of the meeting, please review the information in this shared Google Doc, which contains notes from previous meetings. We look forward to continuing this important conversation. See you on Tuesday at 6 p.m.!

Advocacy Fast Action Team
Do you have an immediate advocacy issue at your school? Is your administration suggesting potential cuts or reductions that would affect your students? An Advocacy Assistance Team has been established by WMEA to help suggest strategies, present ideas, and offer resources to formulate your response. Access the Advocacy Assistance Request Form at this link.

WMEA Virtual Gatherings - Interest Survey
After a number of well-attended COVID-19 Action Plan meetings this summer, the WMEA leadership team would like to gauge interest in continuing virtual discussions/gatherings during the 2020-21 school year. Please fill out this form to share your interest level. Keep in mind that this opportunity is available to both WMEA members and non-members. We wish you the best as you prepare to launch the 2020-21 school year.
 
NOTE - This is an interest-only form, as dates and times of meetings are still in the works.
  
Introducing the Early Career Music Teacher Collaboration Project
The Early Career Music Teacher Collaboration Project is the new mentoring program for the state of Wisconsin. The goals for this program are to support early career music teachers as they acclimate to new teaching environments and help them build a professional network. By sharing information and resources, both early career teachers and more experienced teachers will all benefit from ideas shared in these unprecedented times.

We will meet as a large group virtually 4 - 5 times during the 2020-21 academic year. The first meeting will be a networking mixer; we will then break into smaller groups by region, by teaching level, and finally by specialty area.

Interested in being part of this program? Please sign up as a mentor or a mentee by filling out the appropriate form below: 


WSMA News

2020-21 Virtual Solo & Ensemble Festival
WSMA is moving forward with development of a platform that will allow for a 2020-21 Virtual Solo & Ensemble Festival that can run both 1st and 2nd semester. Features of the online festival will include:
  • Modified WSMA Music List with all pieces approved by publishers for performance in a virtual platform (list to be released this week)
  • 2 cycles: October-December District, January State and February-April District, May State 
  • Teacher registration portal
  • Submission of video URL and easy upload of adjudicator copy
  • Private, closed system for online safety
More detailed information will be available soon on the WSMA website!

2020-21 Student Composition Project
WSMA has expanded the Student Composition Project which assists music teachers in meeting the create standard and encourages the creative efforts of student composers by recognizing their own works.

Additions to the project include:
  • Participation of grade 4 students
  • Arrangement and electronic music categories
  • Student and teacher resource webpage
  • Workshops for teachers
  • Classroom workshops led by Wisconsin composers
  • Extended registration deadline: January 29
Registration opens September 1. Click here for more information.
Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a non-profit service organization with member public and private schools. Students from member schools are eligible to participate in WSMA programs, such as District and State Music Festivals, Concert Festivals, State Honors Music Project, State Marching Band Championships and Student Composition Project. WSMA also owns and operates the Wisconsin Center for Music Education.

Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) is a membership association of music educators committed to providing quality music experiences for their students. Each year WMEA presents the Wisconsin State Music Conference (in collaboration with WSMA), leads advocacy for music education in Wisconsin, and offers professional development opportunities to support members. WMEA is the state affiliate of National Association for Music Education (NAfME).