A hands-on course designed to get your beginners off to a successful start. Class members will work with instrument specialists to learn and review basic embouchure formation, hand and instrument position, and tone and technique development. Other topics will include how to effectively use a method book series, daily and weekly lesson design, selecting appropriate enrichment materials, working with your music dealer, and strategies to make the most out of your recruitment and retention efforts. 
Improve your conducting during a week of insightful sessions presented by two of America’s foremost band conductors and educators! Mike Davis will delve into the fundamentals of conducting technique with a series of exercises and etudes that will refresh your approach to the score and ensemble. During the second half of the week, Peter Boonshaft will cover common misunderstandings in conducting, effective rehearsal communication, and strategies for training young musicians to watch the conductor. There will be extensive class participation and students will be videotaped while conducting to 
Don’t miss one of VanderCook’s most popular classes! Watch your instrument repair bills shrink after learning the basics of woodwind and brass instrument repair. Please bring instruments to repair and wear old clothes. This class is open to both beginning and advanced students. LIMITED ENROLLMENT.
To develop students’ artistic talents, you must do more than exchange information. It is not only what we share with them, but how we present the information. Tim Lautzenheiser will present the first part of this week’s course, focusing on the context of the communication between teachers and students. Learn the cornerstone educator skills needed to establish a safe, challenging, and encouraging atmosphere to support the exploration of each student’s innate musical talents. Traditional methods classes have given much attention to beginning instrumental music and little consideration to how children learn. This leads many students to drop out of the instrumental music program, and few learn the musicianship to become life-long music makers and consumers.
Efficiency is essential when organizing and teaching a successful middle school band program. Proven experts in music education will discuss their trade secrets and show you how to apply them to your middle school program. Topics will include recruitment and retention, advocacy, rehearsal techniques, age-appropriate repertoire, creative warm-ups, and organizational tips. All participants should bring a favorite middle-level score and their instrument.
Spend a week with three nationally renowned conductors, composers, and music educators. Jay Bocook, Richard Saucedo, and Richard Miles will explore methods for maximizing every moment on the podium. Learn how to effectively develop ensemble skills during all phases of your rehearsal. This course will explore new ways of managing your rehearsals so that every minute is a productive, positive experience for the student. Don’t miss this chance to refresh your approach to rehearsing while playing under the baton of three fantastic bandmasters. Students must bring their major instrument to play in a lab band. 
This course will teach tone production, articulation, range, dynamics and technical facility on all brass instruments for players at every stage of development, including beginners. Students will survey recommended brass equipment, method materials, and solo and ensemble repertoire. Please bring a brass instrument to play in class.
The course will address teaching choral music creatively, teaching in the 21st century choral classroom, maximizing musicianship, accurate reinforcement of choral and classroom behaviors, selecting appropriate repertoire, achieving quality choral sound in a short amount of time, effective warm-ups, choral arranging, songwriting in the choral classroom, choral conducting, uniqueness of different age groups, choral music for band directors, and jazz style and improvisation for choirs. There will be daily choral reading sessions.
This fast-paced, practical, joy-filled, and energetic workshop will be lead by four of today’s leading choral composers and conductors in the choral music profession. There will be lots of moving, learning, and singing throughout this five-day symposium. 
Participants may find it helpful to have taken Developing the Child’s Voice I in preparation for this course, but it is not a requirement. Refine your teaching skills through observation and practicum opportunities. Collect ideas for musical materials and classroom activities. Take advantage of beginning and intermediate levels of solfege training and consider pedagogical suggestions from the Kodály/Gordon perspective. Read through a collection of choral music for children’s choirs. LIMITED ENROLLMENT.
Learn music activities and lesson plans for children in grades K-6 with an emphasis on creativity, improvisation, and composition within the constraints of meeting with many children for limited time periods. This course will explore ways to include opportunities for creative growth through the use of ear training and improvisation exercises, development of group and individual song writing, arranging simple accompaniments, and creating original musical playlets and dances. A variety of songs, dances, and games that include opportunities for students to make musical choices and to evaluate their own work will also be included. LIMITED ENROLLMENT.
This workshop explores Beyond Singing - Blueprint for the Exceptional Choral Program, the new book for high school choral directors. It is designed for the secondary choir director who is searching to find new solutions to old problems with their choral program. It’s the “everything I WISH they would have taught me in college before I started to teach” workshop. Topics include:
This course will investigate conducting posture and gesturing that easily communicates sensitive musical ideas to ensembles. There will be discussions on rehearsal management and pacing, as well as singer movement activities that improve intonation, tone, rhythmic accuracy, and dynamic range. Students will receive individual, practical conducting instruction. Conductors may select 1-2 works from a packet of music provided in class or choose an alternate work to conduct. Conductors must supply copies of any alternate work to all course participants. This workshop develops musicianship and vocal skills in conductors and choirs of all ages and abilities.
This course will prepare you to integrate music into academic subjects with an emphasis on creativity and a compassionate response to beauty. Nick Page presents a unique and practical fusion of ideas and skills, combining multiple intelligence and multicultural theories to create a powerful vision for music educators. Using his book, Music as a Way of Knowing, Mr. Page will show how music comes alive in a creative, positive environment with music as the center of a curriculum – to teach history, culture, and science, as well as serving as an amazing aid to listening skills, memory, and emotional well-being.
This course will examine issues surrounding musical perception and how these factors can inform music teachers when creating and presenting listening lessons in a K-12 classroom setting. A variety of listening activities will be explored, ranging from the early call charts of the aesthetic education movement, to current examples of computer animated listening maps. Active listening strategies will interface with the nine National Standards in Music, showing how music elements can be explored in the context of history and culture. Musical examples will come from European and American classical traditions, as well as from jazz, pop, and film music. As a final project, each student will create and present a listening lesson, based on models and research explored in this course. Students will receive an extensive course packet and CD containing PDF files and powerpoint exemplars. (Required Text: Peter Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite: Active Listening Strategies for the Music Classroom by Wesley Ball. Activity Book/CD Pak – HL09971064, Hal Leonard Corp., c. 2007. Available through West Music Co. and other music teacher vendors.)
This course profiles the guitar, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, ukulele, and harmonica, providing students with hands-on experience and fundamental playing skills for each instrument with emphasis on developing or improving guitar skills. The context and origins of the instruments will be discussed. Students will explore music played on them and study the relationship of this music to American history. Students are required to bring a guitar and, if possible, at least one other American folk instrument. LIMITED ENROLLMENT.
Spend two weeks earning your Orff-Schulwerk level I certification in downtown Chicago. This two-week course includes all subject matter required by the American Orff-Schulwerk Association for level I certification. The class will be limited to 25 students, so register as soon as possible to ensure enrollment. LIMITED ENROLLMENT. 
This workshop will address a variety of practical topics related to the school orchestra program at all levels. Guest presenters will include leading string educators Louis Bergonzi, James Kjelland and E. Daniel Long. Topics will include classroom and rehearsal techniques for string and full orchestra, instrument specific strategies, improvisation, conducting, repertoire ideas, and logistics of the school program. Reading sessions will explore new publications and old favorites at all levels. Participants should bring an instrument and may bring a favorite orchestra piece to read or share.
Explore the legacy of legendary fiddler and band leader Bob Wills. Wills pioneered an original style of music by blending fiddle styles of Texas, Mexico, and the Eastern United States with big band swing from Kansas City. Throw in some country-style songs and you have a rich melting pot of music for strings to play. This music is primarily driven by fiddles, but the class is open to viola, cello, and bass. Class will focus on playing tunes and will include an ensemble performance at the end of the workshop. Students must bring their own instrument.
Technological advances over the past 20 years have radically altered the way we approach music in composition and performance, in its production and distribution, and in education. Teaching the MENC Standards through Technology will explore the potential and educational enhancements that computers and music technology can provide to the musician/educator when addressing the MENC Standards. 
Learn note entry methods and new features of Finale 2008. Create music in Finale for printing, scores, parts, exercises, handouts, audio, SmartMusic, and video. Finale now has greater playback capability. Playback will be used with GarageBand, iTunes, iPod, iMovie, and Final Cut Express. 
This course will give music teachers all the necessary skills needed to build a multi-faceted, media-rich website that can support and enrich their teaching. Participants will use common web design tools such as Dreamweaver, Flash, Quicktime, Java, Scorch, and more to turn the web into a powerful teaching tool. We will discuss various strategies for using the web as an instructional tool, common practices in web design, and ways that sites can be hosted and maintained. LIMITED ENROLLMENT
It has become vividly clear that the children we teach bring a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, strengths, and weaknesses to our classrooms and rehearsals. In this class, we will develop constructive plans for classrooms and rehearsals that promote positive interactions and successful music-making for all children, including those with disabilities.
In today’s academic reality, music educators face unprecedented educational and economic challenges. Rather than let music making become a casualty to “more important” administrative demands, equip yourself with successful strategies that have proven to help arts programs thrive in the pervasive No Child Left Behind environment. Topics include developing influence; acquiring and managing money, time, data, and people; educational politics; expanding leadership capacity; and communicating to win. A lively class dynamic will be created through demonstrations, case studies, and participant storytelling.
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©2008 VanderCook College of Music
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You should get more out of a continuing education course than just graduate credit.
You should
return to your students with
new ideas, new strategies, and renewed energy.
The Music Education Center of America (MECA) continuing education program offers
summer and
weekend graduate courses for teachers who want to learn something they
can use in the classroom.
Students also earn graduate credits that can be applied toward
their master of music education.
Summer MECA courses are also a fantastic opportunity for music teachers to meet and
learn with
colleagues from around the world.
Take a moment to browse the college’s
current offerings to see if
there’s a course that’s right for you. If you’d like, you can also
join our mailing list and receive
occasional updates on new courses as soon as they
open up.
For more information about the MECA program,
accommodations, and VanderCook
College of
Music, contact
Patrick Refsnider, assistant director of continuing education,
at (312) 225-6288 x248
or
meca@vandercook.edu.
SECTIONS IN THIS DOCUMENT:
Click here to download the course registration form.
6218 Basics for Beginners3 graduate credits
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June 9-13 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
6228C Band Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques
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6318 Percussion Repair |
Learn to repair percussion equipment! This course provides a hands-on approach to making basic and advanced percussion repairs, along with yearly preventive maintenance. Also covered is the manufacture of mallets, beaters, stands, mounts, and small instruments.
Please bring instruments to repair. LIMITED ENROLLMENT. |
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6328 Band Instrument Repair
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6848 Developing Program Excellence
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6208 Middle School Band: Teaching for Success
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6308 Proven Methods
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6348 Brass Pedagogy & Performance Practices
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6278 Literature & Rehearsal Techniques for Middle School Band
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6368 Band Instrument Repair
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6338 Building a Comprehensive Jazz Program
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6238 Band Repertoire New and Old: A Reading Session For Bands of all Levels
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6358 PRACTICAL PERCUSSION METHODS FOR TODAY’S MUSIC EDUCATOR
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6508 Creative Choral Teaching Techniques
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6608 The Choral Conductor’s Workshop 2008
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6628 Developing the
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6728 Composing, Creativity, and imaginative thinking in the Elementary Music Classroom
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6708 Beyond Singing – Blueprint for the Exceptional Choral Program
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6718C Choral Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques |
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6618 Middle School Classroom and Choral Music – Lessons, Activities, and Survival Tactics!
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6518 Music as a Way of Knowing
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6838 Designing and Implementing Effective (and Affective) Listening Lessons
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6868 American Folk Instruments and History
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6808 Orff-Schulwerk Level I Certification
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6818 Orff-Schulwerk Level II Certification
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6878 Dalcroze Eurhythmics: Movement-Based Music Education |
Dr. Frego, a past president of the Dalcroze Society of America, will provide participants with an introduction to Dalcroze eurhythmics. A valuable tool for music education, the Dalcroze method promotes training students in musical rhythm through body experience – eurhythmics is the process of educating the body to internalize rhythmic structures in music and dance. |
6048 Guitar Skills
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6018C Orchestral Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques 3 graduate credits – LIMITED ENROLLMENT 6018 Orchestral Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques 3 graduate credits –OPEN ENROLLMENT
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Two levels of registration are offered for this course. Sixteen spots are available for those who would like to conduct and be videotaped and evaluated. Please bring your own conducting baton. An unlimited number of people may register to play in the lab orchestra, observe those conducting, and take notes on the assessment provided by Mr. Muspratt. All registrants should bring a string instrument to play in class. June 16-20 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m
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6038 String Instrument Repair 3 graduate credits
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This class teaches a basic knowledge of string instrument repair. The class focuses on basic string repair technique, including maintenance and emergency repair. Videos, demonstrations, and handouts will be used. Students will have ample hands-on bench June 30-July 3 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be a one-hour break for lunch but no dinner break. |
6008 New Perspectives and Effective Strategies for the Orchestra Director 3 graduate credits
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July 7-11 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
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6028 Strings for the
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If strings aren’t your forte, and your basso is not so profundo, there’s no need to get strung out teaching beginning orchestra. This course is designed for non-string players teaching orchestra who are looking to improve their knowledge of basic techniques. Join us for a review of fundamental skills and orchestra music for elementary string classes. Please bring a violin on Monday, a viola on Tuesday, a cello on Wednesday, and a bass on Thursday. On Friday, bring your favorite string instrument for a day of ensembles and elementary string orchestra music. You’ll be goin’ bowin’ in no time! July 21-25 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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6058 Western Swing Fiddle Style for Orchestra 3 graduate credits
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July 28 – August 1 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
6908 Teaching the MENC Standards Through Technology 3 graduate credits
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Topics will include basic music technology terminology, composition and arranging using MIDI and digital audio production software, using notation software for both general music class and performance ensembles, and reviewing and evaluating computer aided instruction software. LIMITED ENROLLMENT June 9-13 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
6918 Finale 2008, Smartmusic, Digital Recording, and Video In the Classroom 3 graduate credits
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Class progress will be documented in the multimedia application Keynote. Your project will be burned to DVD or uploaded to a Web site for a presentation. LIMITED ENROLLMENT July 14-18 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
6928 Sibelius 5, iLife, iPod, and Podcasting for Music Education 3 graduate credits |
Learn music typesetting using one of the easiest and most complete music systems: Sibelius 5. Learn to enter music for scores and linked parts. Let Sibelius create scores, handouts, exercises, or an arrangement according to your specifications. This music will then be digitized for the widely popular iPod and iLife series of software for use with photos, video, and presentation software. The final project will consist of a web page and podcast created using iWeb. LIMITED ENROLLMENT July 21-25 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
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6938 Making the Web Work for You 3 graduate credits
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July 28 - August 1 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
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6948 Assessment Electrified! (technology course) 3 graduate credits
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This class will explore ways to use current technology tools to assess and evaluate music students. Participants will expand their understanding of the role that assessment plays in music education and use a wide variety of software and hardware techniques to support assessment in the music classroom. SmartMusic and Star Play will be used, along with Audacity, Excel, Filemaker, and others. Hardware approaches will include portable recording solutions, video capture, and more. Participants are encouraged to bring assessment tools they’ve previously used in their teaching in order to make the course as applicable as possible. LIMITED ENROLLMENT August 4-8 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
6828 Diverse Students in Rehearsal and Classrooms: Achieving Success Through Intelligent Teaching 3 graduate credits |
July 14-18 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
6898 Administrative and Leadership Strategies for Today’s Music Educator 3 graduate credits
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August 4-8 – Mon. – Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and |
TRANSIT
• Parking is available on Saturday and Sunday in front of the VanderCook building.
• The CTA Green and Red Line El both stop at 35th St, just a short walk from VCM.
HOUSING
• Housing is available through the Illinois Institute of Technology. Click here for more information.
ACCREDITATION
• VanderCook is a fully accredited, degree-granting institution. Click here for more information.
• MECA credit can be directly applied to a graduate degree at VanderCook College of Music.
FIRST YEAR TEACHER DISCOUNT
VanderCook College of Music is proud to introduce the first-year teacher discount. Starting in
2008,
new teachers who have completed their first full year of teaching during the 2007-2008
school year
will receive a $50 discount when enrolling in select* summer MECA courses.
All graduate credits earned through the MECA summer program can be applied to the graduate
degree program at VanderCook College of Music. Students must return their registration form
with an administrator’s signature certifying their first-year status.
*The first-year teacher discount is not applicable to instrument repair, technology, or
conducting
courses.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
Register before Wednesday, April 30, 2008 to save $20 per class on all MECA courses.
Only registrations paid in full and received before April 30 can receive
the discount.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information please contact the MECA Office at 312-225-6288,
ext. 248 or by email at
prefsnider@vandercook.edu.
Click here to download a Summer 2008 course registration form.