In this presentation, Marcia helped directors to reflect and consider views about self-awareness and how to build positive relationships. Marcia leads by example and draws upon her research and success in teaching, conducting, and how she incorporated engagement into the curricula so that students could succeed at applying their learning. In addition, she acknowledged Joseph Riposo, her first band director in the Liverpool Central School District (NY), and Dr. Karel Husa, her composition teacher at Ithaca College, as well as many other music educators, friends and family who influenced her career.
The goal for this talk was to share ideas about how to connect students to the community and amateur and professional musicians through blues and jazz. Examples of deep engagement projects that Marcia conceived and then produced with colleagues were shared. One included Music for All, the first NAfME (MENC) Music in Our Schools Month initiative in 1984-85. She discussed the current needs in our country and how music as an art form promotes healing.
This session was designed specifically for graduate students. Marcia addressed the topics of leadership, management, character education, creativity, how to understand and relate to your students, and how to affect change through learning and engagement opportunities.
Marcia’s two presentations for the 2020 New York State School Music Association Cyber Summit, were available on demand from December 3-5 and through February 21. Conference attendees had access to her 14-page list of annotated references. Since there was only some overlap between Part 1 and Part 2, both sessions were recommended.
Session Abstracts
Addressing the Critical and Emerging Needs of Ensemble Directors, Part 1
Ensemble quality is achieved via different approaches to directing, learning, and connecting students to communities. In Part 1: Ideas, strategies, and resources will be shared to help directors persevere and become more creative, resilient and stay healthy. The presenter’s and others’ innovative project-based teaching and insightful leadership will be discussed.
Addressing the Critical and Emerging Needs of Ensemble Directors, Part 2
Ensemble quality is achieved via different approaches to directing, learning, and connecting to communities. In Part 2: More ideas, strategies, and resources will be shared to help directors persevere and become more creative, resilient and stay healthy. The presenter’s and others’ innovative project-based teaching and insightful leadership will be discussed.
NYSSMA Winter Conference, Rochester, NY, 2019.
Retired Professionals Society, Rochester, NY, 2019.
Key Note Speaker: “Building Community through Music and Service Learning.” https://rpsociety.org/upcoming-events-activities/events-gallery/
NYSSMA Winter Conference, Rochester, NY, 2017.
Presenter: “Engagement: A Means to Advocate for Music.”
College Music Society National Conference, San Antonio, TX, 2017.
Accepted peer-reviewed proposal:
“Honoring Mother Earth: An Intergenerational Arts Collaboration.”
Brighton Chamber of Commerce, Brighton, NY, 2017.
Presenter: “Insightful Leadership: A Music Director’s Perspective.”
National Association for Music Education National Conference, Nashville, TN, 2015.
“Excite and Engage: Essentials in Fostering Creativity.”
“Create and Connect: Strategies in Composing, Improvising, and Engagement.”
Sigma Alpha Iota Eta Province Day, Ithaca College School of Music, Ithaca, NY, 2015.
Presenter: “Performance Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms, and Management Strategies.”
New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) Annual Symposium, Liverpool, NY, 2015. Presenter: “Transform Your Community: Build Support through Service-Learning and Community Engagement.”
College Music Society National Conference, St. Louis, MO, 2014.
Presenter: “The Confluence of Learning and Giving in Music Curricula: Innovative Models of Service-Learning and Community Engagement.”
Ithaca College Alumni Weekend, Ithaca College School of Music, Ithaca, NY, 2014.
Coordinator, Panelist: “It’s a Life Unfolding.”
College Music Society, Northeast Region Conference, Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY, 2014.
Presenter: “Performance Anxiety: Addressing the Elephant in Aural Skills Courses.”
National Association for Music Education, Eastern Division Conference, Hartford, CT, 2013.
Presenter: “Fostering Creativity in Instrumental Music.”
Sigma Alpha Iota Eta A Province Day, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 2009.
Conductor, Presenter: “An Informance” featuring the New Horizons Big Band.
NYSSMA Winter Conference, Rochester, NY, 2005.
Presenter: “Percussionists as Musicians through Percussion Ensemble Composition and Performance.”
NYSBDA Symposium, Syracuse, NY, 2005.
Panelist, Presenter: “Comprehensive Musicianship in the Instrumental Music Curriculum.”
NYSBDA Symposium, Syracuse, NY, 1997.
Conductor, Clinician: “Creativity in the Instrumental Music Curriculum” with the Cosgrove Middle School Band, Spencerport, NY.
Spencerport Central Schools, Spencerport, NY, School Board, 1996. Presenter and Conductor:
“An Overview of the Cosgrove Band Heart to Hearth Senior Citizens Chamber Music Project.”
NYSSMA Winter Conference, Kiamesha Lake, NY, 1994.
Presenter: “How to Involve Parents in the Educational Aspects of a Band Program.”
NYSBDA Western NY Regional Workshop, Holley, NY, 1992.
Panelist, Presenter: “A Closer Look at Motivation.”
Syracuse City Schools, Syracuse, NY, Superintendent Conference Day, 1991.
Presenter for 2 sessions on “Creating Curriculum in Instrumental Music.”
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 1989. Music Education Methods Seminar.
Presenter: “Comprehensive Musicianship in Instrumental Music.”
Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 1987. Graduate Music Education 502 Seminar.
Presenter: “Comprehensive Musicianship.”
Nazareth College, Rochester, NY, 1985. Music Education Seminar.
Presenter: “Competitions.”
Victor Central Schools, Victor, NY, 1985. Superintendent Conference Day.
Presenter: “Making the Most of Your Rehearsal/Classroom Time.”
NYSSMA Winter Conference, Kiamesha Lake, NY, 1984.
Co-presenter: “Beginning Band: A Close Look at the First Year.”
Wendell Harrison Music Corp. Band Directors Workshop and Reading Clinic, Rochester, NY, 1983. Presenter: “Recruitment: A Thorough Approach.”
NYSBDA Symposium, Syracuse, NY, 1982.
Conductor, Clinician: “Comprehensive Musicianship” with the Holley Elementary School Concert Band.
NYSBDA Symposium, Syracuse, NY, 1982.
Panelist, Presenter: “Everything You Wanted to Know About Elementary Band but Were Afraid to Ask.”
Rush-Henrietta Central Schools, Sperry High School, Henrietta, NY, 1982.
Master Class Presenter: “Aspects of Flute Performance.”