Why Senior Travel Projects Centered on Local Music Scenes Boost Well-Being

August 27, 2026August 12, 2026 paulkfoxLeave a comment

Guest Blog: Katherine Langford

As we get older, the meaning of the word travel seems to evolve right alongside us. The fast-paced, rush from one sightseeing opportunity to the next, which once occupied all of our time off, is soon replaced with a meaningful combination of connection, learning, and self-awareness. Many older adults find the most moving and life-affirming travels to be the journeys that let them experience the world’s universal, non-verbal form of communication, or music. Travel programs promoting exploration of a destination’s local music scene offer the opportunity for a powerful, health-promoting, and socially integrative experience, which goes far beyond the value of relocating, or an opportunity to take a break. When we step into a rhythm that is not our own, we become a part of the fabric of that community and a far cry from the passive traveler that we once used to be.

Cognitive and Emotional Advantages of Music Engagement

Music has an uncanny, almost magical quality to connect the past and the present. For the elderly, local music of all varieties meaningfully engaging, Folk stories, contemporary Jazz improvisation, global indigenous choral music, etc. stimulate portions of the brain in a coordinated fashion and serves as an exceptional tool for long-term cognitive care. When we are visitors in a new environment and attend a live performance, an amazing thing occurs, complex cognitive processes register a multitude of new sounds and organize orientational movements in three-dimensional space while figuring out the intricate details of the performance. Passive entertainment pales in comparison to the cognitive involvement and emotional engagement required. This creates an environment that maintains optimal functionality of the brain.

Beyond cognitive gains, musical immersion has a deep, restorative emotional benefit. Music-centric travel projects encourage seniors to step out of the familiar and sometimes stagnant daily routines. The combination of a social and physical environment shift, heard new and interesting melodies for the first time, can be a potent solution for the anxiety and social isolation that too often appear during retirement. Sound-directed travel projects give seniors a rewarding reason for navigating a new city. They are not traversing for naught; they are looking for the next sensational music festival, the best acoustic set, or the next hidden music spot. This purposeful step redefines the quality of aging as high and fulfilling.

Building Social Bridges Through Shared Rhythms

A common challenge for retirees is an inability to form or maintain an engaged social support network. Travel that centers on engaging with local communities via their music provides low-stakes opportunities to meet people and form community.

Active listening and interactivity are the hallmarks of most live music. Unlike exhibits in museums or artifacts in libraries, record shops, and music venues encourage a release of energetic expression and participatory appreciation. In an instant, two people engaging with the same live performance, no matter how distant or disconnected they may be, are unified. The challenge for performers and curators alike is that a disengaged audience will most certainly be a silent one.

Sharing a live performance of music as two strangers is an instant ice breaker. It offers immediate opportunity for a thoughtful exchange of the experience and, as often is the case, it spawns conversation about the local history, cultural expression, and personal resonance of the auditory performance to all in attendance.

This type of travel can help bridge generations in meaningful and memorable ways. Exploring the best places to visit in New Zealand allows seniors to connect with music-loving young people, local residents, and travelers of all ages through shared cultural experiences. Local music scenes create opportunities for interaction, helping to break ageism and foster a sense of unity within diverse communities. By traveling to the best places to visit in New Zealand, seniors can experience first-hand the unique blending of Maori choral songs and contemporary music, while also attending workshops and community events that highlight inclusivity. These enriching experiences demonstrate how, regardless of age or background, we are all connected as part of the same beautiful story.

Curating Your Music-Centered Journey

To get the most out of your music project, you must avoid the customary, unnecessary tourist spots and attractions. A project like this needs careful planning, some research, and a readiness to discover the unexpected. Start this process by including specific genres and instruments you have always been curious about. Consider what sounds you have come across that are representative of cultures in which you are interested or have been intrigued by. It will be worthwhile to learn the history of the music in the location you are planning to visit; learn what movements in history and struggles in society contributed to the music you are going to hear. If you learn this before you get to a new place, you will be able to hear music in a more meaningful way than someone with a casual interest.

It is important to have a balance between musical immersion and reflection. Big city festivals are fun and energizing, while small symphony concerts give space for contemplation. You can think, reflect, and further your mental state while listening to small, public, acoustic concerts. Small, curated tours, like those offered by tours New Zealand, specialize in local, artisan music, crafts, and the arts, without the usual sightseeing. With these tours, you can enjoy music while relaxing, without the stress of navigation. However, your trip is your responsibility, and the most important thing is to engage at your own comfort level. Visit local record shops and ask the owner what is popular in town. Ask hotel staff where they go when they want to see live music. The more you do what locals do, the more you will have a one-of-a-kind travel experience.

Cultivating Well-Being Through Long-Term Musical Travel

The positive effects of music-centric traveling are everlasting and continue to develop long after your return home. There is a widespread belief that for many the best part and the most enjoyable aspect of this sort of travel, continue long after the journey has ended. Many travelers snap back to their daily routines but bring back the music and the positive energy of the places they have traveled to. This results in psychologically positive connections to the places they have visited. The music combined with positive memories of this travel and the newfound confidence keeps the traveler in touch with good and positive aspects of their travel for a long time.

The act of writing a personal music travel blog or travel journal, or making a music travel playlist, is a form of therapy. This type of travel actually makes the writer organize their previously jumbled thoughts and makes them reflect on the feelings they experienced throughout their travels. This exercise not only helps the traveler strengthen their memories, but it also increases their creativity because the process incorporates writing and documenting memories. This gives the traveler the opportunity to organize their previously jumbled memories and travel experiences. This offers a traveler the opportunity to reflect on their travel experiences and the memories that have been captured through the lens of music and gives a traveler the motivation to start a new travel journey.

Travel should not only be thought of in the terms of luxury, escapism or being a distraction from the mundane; travel is investment for the traveler, involving the mind, body and soul. With a focus on the local music scenes, travel is transformed in a deeply connective and insightful act, for both the traveler and the community. We introduce new stimuli to the mind, while we challenge ourselves to build connections, both social and emotional, to experiences and places we have yet to explore. This connects not only different cultures, but also transcends language.

More cognitive function and social connections are just the beginning of the positive changes travel has on your life. Travel to discover local music will build your zest for life and a new purpose. Whether it is a long trip or a weekend away, the most important part of travel is to genuinely open your mind to the music and the people. Music has a unique way of connecting us all and reminding us of the beauty of life and that we are never too old to learn and grow.

Thank you!

We appreciate guest blogger Katherine Langford’s contribution to this forum. Click on the following to read her other submissions:

PKF

Booster Brainstorming

April 1, 2026 paulkfoxLeave a comment

Music Parents & Directors: Come to PMEA to Share Your Best Ideas!

It takes a village to “raise” a music student. Community support groups (boosters) are crucial for the success of sustaining Pre-K to Grade 12 band, choral, jazz, string, general music, Modern Band, and other school music programs. Across the country, we have seen that the best music programs seldom fail to attract supportive parents, alumni, administration, and community members at large. This makes creating and managing a booster program a particularly easy and attractive way to gain essential funding for establishing programs, and for providing the additional financial and educational resources to enhance the learning of students while increasing their opportunities to perform, travel, and experience music on a deeper level.

There’s power in numbers, so we’re calling on all music parents and directors to sit down, put our heads together, and talk! On April 25, 2026 during the PMEA Annual Conference at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, IT TAKES A VILLAGE… Music Booster Parent & Director Sharing Session will provide an informal forum for the participants to “let their hair down” and share their local strategies and “best practices” to build numbers and the engagement of its members, improve overall effectiveness and efficiency, “re-energize” their booster organization’s mission, vision, goals, and action plans, and help the boosters themselves with tips and tools to guide their organizations’ motivations, actions, and legal compliance.

Navigating the Boat of Brainstorming

We’ve invited an “expert” guest panel with vast experience managing their own parent booster groups will help steer the conversation towards pragmatic solutions to common issues (as many of these will be addressed as time allows):

Robert Dell (Carnegie-Mellon University and retired from Peters Township SD)
Donna Fox (Carnegie-Mellon and retired from Peters Township SD)
Paul Fox (PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention and retired from Upper St. Clair SD)
Len Lavelle (North Hills SD)
Christopher Marra (Seton Hill University)
Henry Pearlberg (retired from Wallingford-Swarthmore SD)
Rich Victor (University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education and retired from State College Area SD)

Hot Topics

As time allows, a free-flow of open, facilitated, interactive discussion by the attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences, problems and issues addressed, and “how we handled this” solutions for the group’s consideration. Each panel member will bring to the table their own specific recommendations and/or “pet peeves” for building a productive community advocacy group supporting the Pre-K-12 music program.

A. “The power of unity” + “strength in numbers” (assembling a unified support group, a “comprehensive K-12 music boosters” of collaboration, cooperation and interconnectedness – working towards a common goal for the music program)

B. “Understanding who you represent” (putting students first and eliminating personal agendas and biases)

C. “Staying in bounds” (the mission, vision, and job description of a music booster, and redirecting/deflecting/modifying the occasional bad attitudes of parents – “the director does not like my kid?” or “my daughter did not make drum major”)

D. “What’s the difference between a coalition and a political action group?” (defining perceived and actual individual vs. group action plans – and touching on the saying: “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu…”)

E. “The tools of advocacy” (tips, tools, and techniques on how to be an effective advocate)

F. “Managing the minutiae” (an “idea bank” or clearinghouse of common problems and solutions – storytelling of “how to get it all together” and “what works for us!”)

G. Other common issues (apathy and inertia: building parent member support and involvement, volunteerism and attendance to meetings; fundraising and “fun”raising, nonprofit vs. profit IRS tax status, etc.)

Session Objectives

Attendees (both booster parents and music teachers) will be able to share their combined knowledge, understanding, and “best practices” of:

Rationale for and methods to start, build interest and participation in, and sustain a Music Booster Group
Types and models of booster organizations
Recruitment of booster members and officers
Job descriptions of officers and committee chairs
Set-up and smooth operation of official full group meetings and committees (agendas)
Budgets and fundraising
Support of music group travel, adjudication festivals, award banquets, social activities, etc.
Communications and publicity
Advocacy of the local Pre-K-12 music programs and music education in general
Sample Constitutions & Bylaws
Sample policies and procedures
Sample forms (e.g., uniform management)

In addition, a “brainstormed” review of booster group problems/concerns and “what we do” suggestions will be aired which may also cover these timely hot topics:

Recruitment of volunteers
How to get people to show up to meetings
How to “help” not “hurt” the program
How to become a parent advocate of the total music program of the district
Fundraising and “fun”raising – what’s the difference and why you need both?
Differentiation of “boostering” vs. “directing” or going over the head of music teachers
The advantages and disadvantages of going “nonprofit”

The session is free and open to music parents, directors, and other supportive stakeholders. (Visit the registration desk for a badge.) It is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. in the Kalahari Resort (Poconos) Sagewood Room. Although all music boosters throughout the state are invited to attend this complimentary workshop, this works especially well for the “proud parents” of PMEA All-State participants who may be staying over in the area to attend the culminating All-State festival concerts.

Besides… Here’s your reason to visit the Kalahari Resort website here, book a trip to the Poconos, and “get away from it all” during the last weekend in April, to enjoy the indoor water rides and slides, spa wellness/fitness services, resort shopping, the Kalahari Food (and not just) Wine Festival, and other family-friendly attractions.

PKF

Engaging Retiring/Retired Educators

October 1, 2025October 1, 2025 paulkfoxLeave a comment

Ask not what NAfME or your state MEA can do for you, but what YOU, a retiree, can do for your professional association and music education.
– An adaptation of the famous excerpt from the 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address of January 20, 1961.

Surfing the ‘Net, I found an appropriate acronym for R.E.T.I.R.E. by Tangled Tulip Designs in pinterest – Relax, Entertain, Travel, Indulge, Read and Enjoy! Most retirees would probably agree! The cessation of full-time employment may offer a great release from the day-to-day stress and drudgery of the job and the freedom to venture out, self-reinvent, make future goals, nurture relationships, and explore new personal growth opportunities.

Many attribute embracing a career in music education as “a calling” as opposed to just a form of employment or livelihood. From my experience, I have witnessed that most music educators are passionate for the cause of fostering creative self-expression in their students, more of a 24/7 mission, bringing intense focus and dedication to their lifework.

More to the point: Do we ever truly retire from making music ourselves and fostering this love in others?

THE “WHY!” Retirees matter and are critically needed!

One of my favorite inspirational speakers (Simon Sinek) would say, “start with the WHY!” WHY is this discussion on professional engagement of retired educators so important today?

Their need: An informal poll of my former local educators and administrators revealed that half of them “hate retirement!” According to Dr. Robert P. Delamontagne in his book Retiring Mind (Fairview Imprints), “50% of retirees will suffer some form of acute emotional distress. This is potentially a very large problem given the fact that 10,000 people are becoming eligible for Social Security every day for the next 20 years in the US alone.” Remember this statistic the next time a senior citizen cuts you off on the road or bangs a shopping cart into your leg at the checkout!
Our need: We are facing shortages of qualified teaching candidates across the country with unfilled openings in public school music positions and the critical need of training/mentoring the new hires.
Society’s need: All of our voices should be combined to support the advocacy of music education, actively promoting access to school music by sharing its academic and social benefits with decision-makers, building relationships with administrators and policymakers, and utilizing resources from organizations like NAfME and the NAMM Foundation.

Despite its proven benefits, music education is often the first program to face budget cuts in schools. This is especially concerning in underserved communities, where access to music programs can be life-changing. Now more than ever, we must advocate for music education to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience its benefits. Investing in music education is an investment in the future of our communities — helping to cultivate the next generation of creative, resilient, and innovative leaders.
– “Why Music Education Matters More Now Than Ever” by Music Will, February 2025

For eleven years (and counting), I serve as the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Retired Member State Coordinator, as well as the Past State Chair (current member) of the PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment and Retention. I believe my responsibility to the state association is two-fold:

Assist soon-to-retire professionals in achieving a smooth transition to a happy and satisfying retirement; to help them cope with the commonly-experienced emotional ups-and-downs of this life passage, wrestling with the question “what do you want to be or do when you grow up?” and making new life lesson plans and personal goals.
Reach out to and build meaningful connections with retirees in order to fully engage them towards becoming active in their professional association; to recount, represent, and revitalize the activities of our post full-time employed music educators.

This article proposes a roadmap of crucial pathways to help music teachers approach “retirement bliss” while tapping into their hard-earned knowledge, strengths, and experiences by cultivating the benefits of their renewed participation in our professional associations.

What can NAfME and State MEAs offer retirees?

You have devoted your entire life to inspiring the development of personal artistry and “ah-ha” musical moments in others. Now it is your turn to reap the benefits (and privileges) of this commitment to the profession. NAfME and your MEAs can provide the resources and motivation of “sharing and caring,” directing retirees “places to go, people to meet, and things to do” for fulfilling that “next chapter” or (perhaps better terms) the “refirement” or “rewirement” of senior living.

Do you feel “needed” and know you “make a difference?” Research has shown that the one of the most important motivators for involvement in a professional association is that its members recognize that they are essential to its success. This quote is from Revitalizing Retirement: Reshaping Your Identity, Relationships, and Purpose by Nancy Schlossberg, attributed to Rosenberg/McCullough:

“It has been suggested that one problem of retirement is that one no longer matters; others no longer depend on us… The reward of retirement, involving a surcease from labor, can be the punishment of not mattering. Existence loses its point and savor when one no longer makes a difference.”

Most people who are one to five years away from “pulling their pin” and putting in their walking papers “do not know what they do not know.” Experts agree: “Retirement preparation is not only about the money!” Our silver-haired colleagues who have already Crossed the Rubicon and are now “living the dream” in retirement can share their trials, tribulations, and (more importantly) numerous success stories about coping with this transition!

NAfME, PMEA and this paulfox.blog/for-retirees site have archived an exhaustive number of self-help articles. Check out this omnibus NAfME blog “Retirement Prep Top-Ten Treasures.”

The benefits of retired MEA membership are numerous. Besides providing helpful transitioning advice, these advantages also come to mind:

Answers to questions like “What have you always wanted to sing, compose, play, record, conduct, write, publish or present?” and “Where can I share my hard-won expertise and help others in the field?”
Networks and contacts to help you develop “encore careers” in other musical or educational arenas (e.g., higher education, music industry, festival organization, travel/tour planning, composition, guest conducting, private studio teaching, church music, etc.)
Opportunities to “rekindle your expressiveness” by participation in adult community or full/part time performance groups (playing “gigs”)
Places to go/things to see/hear: NAfME/MEA conferences, workshops, and concerts
Exclusive discounts and other benefits (reduced dues and registration fees)

What can retirees offer NAfME and their state MEA?

The relationship of active and retired membership in our MEAs is symbiotic. We know from the history of our associations, “giving back to the profession” remains a high priority with most retirees. This may come in many forms and settings:

Leadership or membership in local, state, or national MEA/NAfME office, staff, advisor, or council/committee position
Advocates for the promotion of music education to local and state government officials
Service as presiding chair or member of the conference or workshop planning committee
Service as evaluator of performance groups, conference sessions, or articles for publication
Judges of local/state MEA adjudication or commercial festival
Accompanists, coaches, arrangers, or guest conductors for festivals or school/community groups
Services to the local music teacher in private teaching, piano playing, marching band charting, sectional coaching, choreography, music technology, instrumental repair, stage tech, etc.
Writers for state MEA and NAfME publications and blog sites
Contributors to online music education forums or the NAfME Connections
Donors to and/or fund-raisers of music education charitable projects, scholarship initiatives, etc.

The PMEA Model of Retired Member Participation

PMEA values the vast wealth of experience and contributions of our retired members. We’re proud of the many programs we offer to retirees and invite you to visit our website to peruse additional information and sample digital newsletters and articles.

Retired members in Pennsylvania are involved in:

PMEA elected and appointed offices, staff, committee chairs, and membership on councils
PMEA Strategic Plan and Bylaws, Conference Planning, and other state/regional committees
Retired Resource Registry* (informal mentoring for new teachers and transfers)
How-to-Retire Webinar, Prepping for Retirement, and the Ultimate Retiree Resource Guide
Retired Member Breakfast at PMEA Annual Conference
Retirement 101 (The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) session at PMEA Annual Conference (training for all members retiring or soon-to-retire)
Maintenance of PA Community Band, Chorus, Orchestra, and Theater group catalogs
Maintenance of PMEA member compositions library
Mock Job Interview Committee for music education majors
Coffee & Conversations informal “ask an expert” lounge at PMEA Annual Conference
Volunteering as presiding chairs for sessions and registration aides at conferences/workshops
Pool of conference clinicians, guest lecturers, and members on discussion panels
Participation in “Sponsor a Collegiate to Attend the Conference” campaigns
All-State Program Patron, or contributor to the annual Irene Christman Scholarship or Margaret Bauer Grant programs.

*As of October 1, 2025, there are 61 advisors in the PMEA Retired Resource Registry.*

*During their annual membership registration, PMEA Retired Members may choose to sign-up for the R3 Retired Member Registry (above volunteer categories) to become available to informally offer advice to college music education majors, new hires, transfers, and newcomers to any music specialty. R3 members may handle inquiries like “What warm-up would you recommend for my middle school choir?” OR “Do you have an idea for an elementary string ensemble concert opener?” OR “How do you teach improvisation… steady beat… breath support?”

The other option with more time commitment is that Retired Members can be officially “trained” as a PMEA Mentor and be assigned to specific individuals who request assistance in their early career assignments.

Coda

How can we help?

What is the future of retired music educator professional engagement? In a word: connections!

Last month, I reached out to Elizabeth Welsh Lasko, NAfME Assistant Executive Director for Membership, Organizational Development, and Marketing Communications and “volunteered” OUR assistance. I suggested that, in keeping with the NAfME 2022 Vision Statement – “…an association where all people are heard, seen, and feel they belong throughout their lifelong experiences in music” – we should all intentionally recruit more hands-on involvement of our retirees. I pointed out that in the late 1980s, we had a Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Committee for Retired Members led by a National Chairman who served on the NAfME National Assembly. (An excellent booklet, TIPS: Retirement for Music Educators, Copyright © 1989 MENC, was compiled by A. Verne Wilson, then the Past National Chairman of the MENC Committee for Retired Music Educators.)

Ms. Lasko encouraged me to “reach out to retirees” beginning with this article. At the next NAfME Eastern Division Conference, I plan to hold a meeting of retired members, and also connect with all state MEA retired member coordinators (those states who have them). We’re available and on the move! Let’s collaborate and share our resources!

Finally, just for fun, I recently posted the blog “For Book Lovers – Retired or Not” on NAfME Connections (formerly called Amplify). There are already 1,810 members in the NAfME “Retired Members Community.” Please JOIN US! Using this forum, get in touch with me, and respond with YOUR OWN retirement stories, strategies, perspectives on this “life passage,” and more ideas to grow the professional engagement of our music teacher retirees.

Happy trails!

PMEA’s Unique “Together” Conference

January 17, 2022 paulkfoxLeave a comment

The return of in-person gatherings of PA music educators and students!

Here’s a “sneak preview” of the upcoming annual professional development convention for members of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) and Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association (PCMEA).

https://www.pmea.net/pmea-annual-in-service-conference/

After being “hunkered down” for two years of online workshops, virtual conferences, digital music industry exhibits, and Zoom rehearsals of PMEA All-State ensembles, we can now “crush COVID-19” with “face-to-face” meetings of the PMEA TOGETHER CONFERENCE on April 6-9, 2022 at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos.

Not just a “play on words,” this LIVE event brings TOGETHER the awesome and inspiring vision and efforts of the PMEA Professional Development Council, state officers, and staff, along with a twist from tradition – offering a place to getaway from it all!

Ask your spouse or “significant other,” children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, other fun-loving family members, or close friends if they are available to join you for a three-day escape to the Poconos – “the world’s largest indoor waterpark” at Kalahari Resort! Experience great music, career development sessions, catching-up with colleagues, reconnection with your loved-ones, and entertainment for all ages – all wrapped up in one location.

*https://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania/*

Bring the family? Each spacious hotel room comes equipped with two double beds, a pullout sofa, microwave, and refrigerator, and the discounted $149/night conference rate allows you to register up to four people with access to all the resort’s amenities for no extra charge!

What resort amenities? Enjoy rides and slides (lots to “splash in” or just relax on the lazy river), a “big game” room, mini golf, mini bowling, 7-D motion theater, gourmet restaurants, spa, salon, fitness center, and amazing shopping and sightseeing excursions in PA’s northeastern region. While YOU are attending PMEA keynote sessions, clinics, concerts, and exhibits, the rest of your party could be “living it up” on as many as 29 waterpark thrills (from “mild” to “wild,” check out all of them on their website):

Anaconda
Barreling Baboon
Bugs Burrow
Cheetah Race
Coral Cove
Elephant’s Trunk
Flowrider
Indoor Outdoor Spas
Kenya Korkscrew
Lazy RIver
Lost Lagoon
Outdoor Pool
Rippling Rhino
Sahara Sidewinders
Screaming Hyena
Shark Attack
Splashdown Safari
Tiko’s Watering Hole
Victoria Falls
VR Waterslide
Wave Pool
Wild Wildebeest
Zig Zag Zebra

*Source: Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau*

A joyful car trip to local scenes and attractions? The word “Pocono” means “the stream between two mountains.” This region encompasses 2,400 square miles of lakes, rivers, and woodlands just waiting to be discovered. Just how adventurous are you?

Explore numerous opportunities to hike, bike, bird watch, ski, fish, and photograph the wildlife, waterfalls, and other breathtaking landscapes.
Peruse the various exhibits of local artists at the White Mills Art Factory, 736 Texas Palmyra Highway (Route 6) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Wednesdays).
Try your luck at the Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa.
Or be a “wandering tourist” and visit nearby Stroudsburg, Milford, Jim Thorpe Honesdale, Lake Wallenpaupack, Hawley, Skytop, Bushkill, Lake Harmony, or Tannersville.
Check out this Poconos Mountains interactive map: https://www.poconomountains.com/interactivemap/.

*Keynote speakers David Wish and Lesley Moffat*

Now down to the business of professional development! In your free time from the above refreshing and re-invigorating moments of “down time,” you won’t want to miss the PMEA general sessions featuring keynoters David Wish of Little Kids Rock and Lesley Moffat, author of Love the Job, Lose the Stress. After opening the music industry and collegiate exhibits, numerous workshops, interactive demonstrations, and panel discussions will be hosted on a variety of “state-of-the-art” and timely topics:

Adjudication
Assessment
Career Development
Choral
Collegiate
Curriculum Development
Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
Exceptional Learners
Health and Wellness
Instrumental
Leadership/Mentoring
Modern Band
Music Technology

Draft of proposed 2022 PMEA Conference sessions

Sandwiched in between these clinics and meetings of PCMEA, PA Society for Music Teacher Education, PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention, PMEA Retired Members, Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association, and others will be opportunities to observe rehearsals and performances of the PMEA All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz, Orchestra, and Vocal Jazz, and attend concerts of guest performing ensembles – among “Pennsylvania’s finest.” Congratulations to:

Looking for that new classroom accessory, concert selection, educational travel group, fundraiser, instrument, technology tool, or uniform, or seeking to talk to representatives from music schools? Take time to visit the exhibits. PMEA thanks the continuing support of its PMEA Corporate Sponsors.

*Early-bird registration of* 2022 PMEA Conference Exhibitors

Yours truly (blogger) is proud to announce he is presenting three sessions at the conference:

CODES, CASE STUDIES, and CONUNDRUMS – The Challenges of Ethical Decision-Making in Education
THE INTERVIEW CLINIC – Practicing and Playacting to Improve Your Performance at Employment Screenings
RETIREMENT 101 – The Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How of Preparing for Post-Employment

PMEA will need volunteers to assist as presiding chairs or to serve at the INFO BOOTH near registration. In addition, the PMEA Retired Member Coordinator is seeking retirees to help serve on a guest panel of “semi-experts” for the retirement session.

It’s still a little early for much additional detail. However, check out this MOVIE TRAILER preview of the 2022 Conference, featuring The Pennsylvania March composed by PMEA retired member Ron DeGrandis.

As of January 17, 2022 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Kalahari Resort room reservations are open! The link to conference registration will be coming soon. For more information, please visit the PMEA website. Keep your eye out for revisions in future PMEA News, UPDATES, and other e-publications.

PKF

Spring is for… Music Conferences!

April 4, 2021June 7, 2021 paulkfoxLeave a comment

In our neck of the woods (Allegheny County in Western PA), we are thawing out from what was a pretty mild winter, and welcome the sounds of birds chirping and sights of flowers blooming and grass turning green! Spring is the time for re-birth and growth… including professional development of all kinds for music educators – everyone from pre-service (future music educators) to in-service teachers and even retirees!

Let’s get recharged, re-energized, and re-inspired! Sign-up for one or more of these conferences.

COVID-19 has placed restrictions on all of our PMEA and NAfME venues, and so far, 2021 conferences will be held in a “virtual” platform. This is both good and bad news. The disadvantage remains that we cannot “get close and personal,” shake hands, network, collaborate, and “catch-up” with our friends and colleagues, meet new people, and sight-see places like the Poconos, Erie, Reading, or Pittsburgh! However, the advantage of these online events is that all sessions are being offered “on-demand” for at least several months after each closing event. In the virtual setting, you can take the time and view every workshop at your leisure!

If you have never attended a music education conference, take a moment and review one of these articles:

Yours truly is privileged to present several sessions on some of his “favorite topics” previously posted on this site:

Self-Care Cookbook – Reflections, Recipes, and Resources for Teachers (PMEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE)
Countdown to Retirement – Preparations for “Living-the-Dream” (PMEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE)
Hands-On Conducting (PMEA CRESCENDO FOR STUDENTS)
Hop on the E-Train – Essential Ethics for the new Educator (NAfME EASTERN DIVISION)

Update on 5/27/21:

PMEA Summer Conference 2021 – Rejuvenate!

The 2021 PMEA Summer Conference will be held virtually beginning Wednesday, July 21 and concluding on Friday, July 23. Most sessions will be presented live and will be recorded for attendees to access at a later time.

For more information, go to https://www.pmea.net/pmea-summer-conference/.

PMEA Annual Conference 2021 – Renew!

The PMEA Annual Conference kicks-off on April 14, 2021 for three days and four nights of professional development activities.

PMEA will utilize the same online platform for this event as it did for its 2020 Summer Conference. The virtual annual conference will also include a virtual exhibit hall. With the theme of Renew, the 2021 Conference invites music educators to use this time together to Renew the way you think about music education, to Renew plans for the 2021-22 school year, to Renew connections with fellow music educators, to Renew our hope for a return to making music together, and to Renew our collective passion for the power of music education. All registrants will have access to the majority of the conference content for 90 days. Online registration is available.

Thursday evening will feature synchronous open forum discussions and an Invited Researcher session with Elizabeth Parker, Temple University, as well as a keynote presentation by Byron Stripling, Principal Pops Conductor, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The evening will end with college/university receptions, held in the virtual space this year.

Synchronous research sessions will also be available on Friday in the late afternoon/early evening. The Saturday schedule includes a performance by the woodwind quintet WindSync and a presentation by Julie Duty, Founder & Executive Director of United Sound, an organization which offers the solution for music educators who desire to include students with disabilities in their music programs but struggle with the “how” and the “when.”

This year’s event will also include opportunities to network with fellow attendees, as well as an online Music Education Marketplace (exhibit hall) – allowing participants to connect directly with exhibitors within the platform. While the exhibit hall will be “open” the duration of the event, there will be specific hours, beginning Wednesday evening and concluding Saturday afternoon, when the exhibitors will be available for live interaction.

CRESCENDO Virtual Conference for Students

Students in grades 8-12 are invited to participate in the first-of-its-kind PMEA CRESCENDO, an online event to be held on April 17, 2021. Designed for student musicians who are interested in learning about opportunities to make music or find a career in music, the one-day conference will bring together some of the best speakers and teachers from a variety of music worlds.

Keynoters will feature Dave Wish, founder/CEO of Little Kids Rock, and ChaRonDon, rapper/hip-hop artist.

Sessions will include:

Careers in music (areas like music therapy, musical theatre, music education, military careers, music performance, music publishing, composition, retail and repair, and music production)
Breakout sessions (learning about drum corps, conducting, meet a composer, music technology, song writing, yoga for musicians, rap/hip hop, vocal jazz, leadership, and more!)
Masterclasses from experts on their instruments. Students will have the chance to spend some time learning more about their instrument or vocal performance area and get tips from the pros in unique online masterclass settings.

Proposed mini-workshops:

PA STUDENTS interested in participating in PMEA CRESCENDO should fill out this form.

PA MUSIC EDUCATORS recommending a student for this conference should fill out this form.

57th Biennial NAfME Eastern Division Conference

Finally, you won’t want to miss the following week’s frenzy of enriching and enlightening professional development, the 57th Biennial NAfME Eastern Division Virtual Conference!

In addition to the NAfME workshop sessions being only 30-minutes (colleagues sharing quick “tips, techniques, and solutions” and more opportunities to peruse additional sessions), there will be a designated Thursday evening “concert time” with 5 programs to play at 8:45 p.m. (Orchestra, Chorus, Band, Jazz, Modern Band) along with performances from the Division’s colleges and universities.

The master schedule is posted here. Registration can be completed here. Hope to “see” you there!

Coming Soon… Books to Put on Your Reading List

Pixabay spring picture: Crocus-Flower-Spring by MichaelGaida

Audience Etiquette and Manners Matter

November 11, 2018November 11, 2018 paulkfox2 Comments

How You Act During Public Performances Is a Reflection on Who You Are

Almost 30 years ago, an article I wrote for the Upper St. Clair High School Choral Boosters was a lighthearted attempt to address a growing need in public performances – one of improving our audiences’ listening habits and knowledge of musical “traditions,” as well as raising their overall consciousness and sensitivity. Although it now seems a little “retro” and “dated” (texting was not invented yet and tabloids were the fiction of Star Trek and other Sci-Fi programs), it “hits the nail squarely on the head,” identifying the ongoing problem of inappropriate audience etiquette for student, amateur, and professional music, dance, and drama productions.

“Uninvited Guests at Performances” (1990)

The painter begins his/her creation on a clean white canvas, void of any dirt, smudges, or imperfections, so that the final art form is pure and readily convey to the viewer. In much the same way, a musician or singer relies on “a clean slate” – that is, a quiet and attentive audience in the concert hall without any stray noises or interruptions that will distract from his/her extremely delicate art form of live music. However, unlike the painter (or unless the concert is recorded and distributed at a later date), music represents only a temporary art… the effects lasting only a moment, and then forever lost until the next time the work is performed. That is why a tradition of concert customs have evolved to “set the stage” for clear communication of that really wonderful expression of music.

However, we have noticed in school and professional performances in our area, several new trends have been born from our fast-paced life styles, overworked schedules, television viewing, and Walkman listening habits. Several uninvited guests have been seen at concerts, unintentionally making life miserable for performers and audience members alike. Do you recognize these “characters?”

First of all, there is Gertrude the Gossip and Theresa Talker who spend the entire performance discussing local events or their personal lives. They usually sit in the center section, first row, in order to have the greatest disruptive effect, even though they would be the first to suggest that you were rude for listening in on their conversation. A close relative, Prentice Postmortem, likes to give a “play-by-play” account of the relative success of the concert, with comments like, “Did you hear that wrong note?” and “I wonder why he was chosen for the solo part?”

Then we have several distinguished visitors from the Planet Hypertension, including the “frequent flyers” Leroy the Seat Leaper and Hortence Half-a-Concert and a host of others. Everyone has witnessed spectacular events created by these adults, who have developed the most advanced technique of choosing only the softest or most sensitive moment in the music to jump up and change seats, run down the aisle towards the bathroom or parking lot, or go get something to eat. Somehow, they feel they are being helpful or considerate of the musicians or actors on the stage when they stand up to leave before or during a particular song, often right after their son/daughter performs. Of course, some music directors themselves are contributing to the situation, selling 12-ounce cans of pop and sugar candy at intermission, which are known elements of improving (?) the biochemistry and behavior of young children staying up past their bedtime.

To add a touch of “color” from a very large pallet of noises, several other guests in the audience feel it is necessary to “perform” along with the singers and instrumentalists. If you sit near the recording or PA microphones or cable TV cameras, you will usually find the boisterous Cyril Cellophane unwrapping candy specially designed to “rattle” everyone’s nerves, along with his friends Velda Velcro and Hildegarde Hum-along, not to mention Winslow WatchBeeper. One of the finest (?) musical moments ever experienced at Upper St. Clair High School was the cacophony of buzzers, chimes, Looney-Tunes™ alarms, and chirps during the slow movements of Handel’s “Messiah” oratorio in the 1987 USCHS Holiday Choral Festival. Performers and conductors have always appreciated the opportunity of setting the exact hour of an ongoing concert using the hourly signals of digital watches in the audience.

And don’t forget those long-time veterans Clem the Clapper, Shouting Sherwood, and Wardella Whistler, who store up their applause for inappropriate moments like between movements, or after the Hallelujah Chorus or Star-Spangled Banner, but leave early so that they missed the curtain calls.

All sarcasm and joking aside, performers do appreciate the faithful support of the community. Without the public, lavish Broadway musical productions and extensive choral and instrumental concerts could not be featured. Our talented and hard-working students/musicians/singers/dancers/actors need and deserve large audiences in order to exhibit their craft. The “final exam” of every music ensemble and theater company is the public performance. And, nothing is more demoralizing then spending three months in rehearsal and then performing for only a handful of parents and well-wishers!

However, occasionally it is our job as music lovers to remind everyone the need for concert customs which just add up to good manners. With the bad habits of MTV™ and Muzak™ that music education researchers say may have bred insensitivity and inattentiveness in the indiscriminate consumption of music, we have to focus on providing that “clean slate” – a calm, orderly, and quiet atmosphere of an alert, well-informed audience!

###

Yes, “manners matter!” I can still hear my mother scold us, “Don’t be rude. Do you think you were you raised in a barn?”

On the subject of “audience do’s and don’ts,” we will leave the “last word” to http://www.fanfaire.com/rules.html. The following are considered their updated and succinct “Golden Rules” of Audience Etiquette:

Go easy with the atomizer; many people are highly allergic to perfume and cologne.
If you bring a child, make sure etiquette is part of the experience. Children love learning new things.
Unwrap all candies and cough-drops before the curtain goes up or the concert begins.
Make sure beepers, cellphones, and watch alarms are OFF. And don’t jangle the bangles.
The overture is part of the performance. Please cease talking at this point.
Note to lovebirds: When you lean your heads together, you block the view of the person behind you. Leaning forward also blocks the view.
THOU SHALT NOT TALK, or hum, or sing along, or beat time with a body part.
Force yourself to wait for a pause or intermission before rifling through a purse, backpack, or shopping bag.
Yes, the parking lot gets busy and public transportation is tricky. But, leaving while the show is in progress is discourteous.
The old standby: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Here are several things to add to their guidelines – NO TEXTING, not even turning on your smartphone or iPad for a moment to look at the time or your messages. The light from the screen is very distracting to everyone in the auditorium and the performers on the stage! In addition, flash photography is generally prohibited, and may even be dangerous to the performers (can cause accidents!). Finally, any audio/video recording of the event may be an infringement of copyright law. (Don’t do it!)

In conclusion (from fanfare.com): “Remember, part of one’s pact as an audience member is to take seriously the pleasure of others, a responsibility fulfilled by quietly attentive (or silently inattentive) and self-contained behavior. After all, you can be as demonstrative as you want during bows and curtain calls.”

Here are more links to explore for teachers, practitioners, and supporters of music:

###

The mission of South Hills Junior Orchestra, which rehearses and performs at the Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh, PA, is to support and nurture local school band and orchestra programs, to develop knowledge, understanding, performance skills, and an appreciation of music, to increase an individual member’s self-esteem and self-motivation, and to continue to advance a life-long study of music. Members of the Orchestra learn, grow, and achieve positions of leadership to serve their fellow members.

(For more information about SHJO, please visit www.shjo.org.)

This and all Fox’s Fireside blog-posts are free and available to share with other music students, parents, directors, and supporters of the arts.

Click here for a printable copy of “Audience Etiquette and Manners Matter.”

Other “Fox Firesides” are available at https://paulkfoxusc.wordpress.com/foxs-firesides/.

Photo credits in order from Pixabay.com: “fireplace” by joseclaudioguima, “angry” by Clker-Free-Vector-Images, “lolly” by yossigee, “grandstand” by cocoparisienne, and “smartphone” by SplitShire.

	paulkfox on For Book-Lovers (Retired or…
	paulkfox on PMEA Pride and “Making a …
	paulkfox on Stamp Out the PHOBIA of Amateu…
	paulkfox on ‘Tis a New Year of Music…
	paulkfox on For Book-Lovers (Retired or…

paulfox.blog

music education and professionalism

Tag: concert