Michibago teachers enjoyed the first meeting of the new school year at the studio of Louise Mann, on Friday, September 27, with Barbara Froehlich, NCTM presenting on rote teaching for beginners. She is part of the Fox Valley Music Teachers Association and brought many helpful materials and ideas to share with us about teaching beginners. We were pleased to meet several new members at this meeting and are looking forward to a full and successful year!

Our teacher retreat kicked-off that afternoon as well, this year at a lakeside vacation home in Waupaca. Topics discussed this year included performance anxiety and strategies to help our students, mental health when balancing a busy teaching schedule, and using Music Mind Games to teach music theory, among many others. The board game Maestro! about famous composers of European history was enjoyed among the teachers, along with other games, fresh air, campfires, and copious amounts of delicious food and drink. A good time of connection and renewal was had by all in attendance!

This was also our beloved Drea Wagner's last meeting before she heads to North Carolina next month to take a music faculty position at Ambassador Baptist College!

Drea has been a member of MMTA for 12 years, taking on such roles as festival chair, secretary, president, and everything in between. We can’t quite imagine being without her and will surely miss her, but we will remember to move forward with the same dedication and care that she gave to MMTA. Thank you, Drea, for your years with us and we hope you will visit once in a while! ​