Hi PD Reps. PMEA is responding to the urgent professional development needs of our teachers. We are launching a webinar series, PMEA Cares: Together We Teach. The series will include a variety of topics, specialties, and grade levels. Many of the presenters were to present these same sessions at the Spring Conference. 

Please do all that you can to promote these webinars to your districts. We want to set these webinars apart from the rest and label this as a special event. This is how we're going to best serve everyone in the current environment. The information for the first three are provided here.

New Webinar Series: PMEA Cares: Together We TeachPMEA is here to help all of us navigate the current landscape of music education.  To address the current changes in the teaching culture and increase our member’s capacity to meet our students’ needs, we have developed a webinar series that will motivate all of us to continue to provide effective and relevant instruction and to connect to our students. A variety of instructional topics will be covered twice each week by a variety of knowledgeable professionals.
PMEA Cares. Let’s come together to support one another, learn from one another, and find the best ways for each of us to reach our students. Together We Teach.
Act 48 hours will be available upon completion of two forms following the webinars. Please note you must log-in to the PMEA Member Portal to register.

• March 31, 7:00 PM, Day 1: Where Do I Start?                

Presented by Tina Bennett, PMEA President, Teri Myers, Mentor Program Chair, Stacy Paparone, PMEA District 5 President, & Scott Sheehan, PMEA Model Curriculum Committee Co-Chair
PMEA Cares: To begin the webinar series, we will learn together how to prepare for this new teaching environment by identifying resources for self-care, basic DO’s and DON’T’s of online instruction, and hear some strategies that have been working. Together We Teach: This webinar will also provide a forum for you to share your successes and to travel together through this new terrain. 
Register Here

Once Registered – please complete this Brief Survey, prior to the start of the webinar.

• April 2, 2020, 7:00 PM, The Google Infused Bandroom: Practical and Relevant Ways to Implement Technology in Performance Based Classrooms                                

Presented by Stephen Keys, Band Director at Bondurant Middle School, Kentucky, Google Certified Educator Levels 1 and 2, Google Certified Trainer, and an Apple Teacher
Implementing educational technology in a performance-based classroom (band, orchestra, and choir) can be a challenge. This webinar will show directors useful, practical, and easy ways to infuse technology into their rehearsals. An emphasis will be on using technology for student assessments, to increase student engagement, and to make life easier for the director. A focus will also be placed on using technology in a time of Remote Learning. 
Register Here
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• April 6, 2020, 7:00 PM, Going Beyond the Music: Project Based Learning in the Middle School Choral Classroom 

Presented by Danielle Larrick, Director of Choirs, Gerald G. Huesken Middle School, Conestoga Valley School District, PA
Looking for fresh and innovative ideas to integrate into your choral rehearsal to help your students go beyond the music? If so, join us for a webinar on project-based learning in the middle school choral ensemble. Project-based learning (PBL) has been shown to have positive effects on student engagement and understanding of content. However, in terms of the choral classroom, little has been examined regarding PBL activities. While teaching the repertoire certainly can fall within the characteristics of PBL, further PBL activities allow our students to form deeper connections with the music they perform and more meaningful relationships with their peers. This webinar will explore types of PBL activities used in a choral setting, and share the potential benefit of other PBL activities with attendees.

Register Here

*Please note you must log-in to the PMEA Member Portal to register. There is no cost to PMEA/NAfME members; Registration cost for non-members is $15. One hour of Act 48 credit is available upon completion of two forms following the webinar.

Teri Myers
Altoona Area School District Elementary Music Teacher
PMEA Mentor Program Chair
PMEA District 6 Professional Development Chair

We have decided to extend the PMEA District 1 scholarship deadline until May 1.

https://district1.pmea.net/scholarship-form.html​ 

PMEA DISTRICT 1 SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION The Scholarship: 

1. The Scholarship Committee has developed the following criteria for awarding three music scholarships to students in PMEA District 1. Each award will be $1,000.00. (approved August 2008) 
2. Three scholarships will be awarded each year; one in strings, one in wind/percussion and one in vocal music. 
3. The award will be based on music achievement and academic excellence. 

Candidate Criteria: 

1. All applicants must have definite plans for a career in music education or music-related field. 
2. All applicants must currently be a senior in a District 1 High School 
3. All applicants must have participated in one of the District 1 Music Festivals during their senior year. 

Application Process: A complete application consists of the following: 

1. Completed Application Form with appropriate signatures. 
2. Two Recommendation Letters must accompany each application. One recommendation must be 
 written by the student’s home school Music Director. This director must be a current member of PMEA. The second recommendation must be written from any of the following: private music teacher, high school teacher in any discipline, guidance counselor, church music director, or high school principal. 
3. High School Transcript 
4. A Brief Essay (less than 500 words) on the following: 

   “Why is music education/music is important? Why do you want to pursue a career in music and what are your future ambitions and goals upon graduating from high school and college?” 

Completed applications must be mailed to the Scholarship Committee Chair by MAY 1, 2020 to:                                                                                    
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Eryn Carranza
Instrumental Music Teacher (Band)
PMEA District 1 Vice-President
South Fayette Township School District
[email protected] 

Important Information:
1.  The award recipients for the District 1 Scholarships will be announced at the recipients’ spring concert. A PMEA officer will present the award.
2.  Applications will be available in the fall newsletter and at Honors and District 1 SHS Festivals.
3.  The committee reserves the right to give no award in any area where applicants are not deemed qualified.

Thank you all for your patience as PMEA navigates the current uncharted waters in which we find ourselves. Due to this quickly evolving situation, if you currently have a student who qualified for a region level festival, please visit www.submittable.com as soon as possible to set up a Submittable account (no charge to do so). The accounts will be used to obtain judges to help facilitate the audition process for any Region Events and beyond, if necessary. Many thanks for your considerations! 

We will continue to update the PMEA membership as cancellations occur. Please note that the PA State Capitol has cancelled all outside events including all PMEA MIOSM performances from tomorrow (Friday, Mar. 13) until further notice as well as PMEA's Advocacy Day planned for Monday, March 23. Many fests/festivals are also being cancelled or postponed so be sure to continuously check your email for updates on those events.
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Western Region Orchestra Festival at North Allegheny and the Elementary Band Fest Allegheny at Hampton are both cancelled for this weekend. 

Information concerning future festivals will be communicated early next week.
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