Take Note

The PMEA Day of Service just celebrated five years of giving back to communities where PMEA holds a summer event. We take a look at this year's Day of Service in State College at The Music Academy.

This edition of Take Note was recorded live at the PMEA Leadership Summit on July 22, 2025 at The Penn Stater Conference Center. PMEA's Executive Committee: Scott Cullen, Rebecca Sensor, and Brett Keith, update what's currently happening in PMEA.

We're joined by two members of THUD: The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers to talk about what they do and what music educators can take away from THUD.

Joseph Arnold is the director of the Soulforce Arts Institute in Philadelphia and the author of the book, Soulforce: How to Discover Your Artistic Purpose, Create More Freely, and Make Art that Matters. He joins us to discuss the role of the arts in society and how he uses the Alexander Technique to teach.

During the 2025 PMEA Conference, we talked with the 2025 PMEA Outstanding Superintendents - Dr. Philip Domencic from the Cornwall-Lebanon School District and Dr. MaryJo Yannacone from the School District of Springfield Township. Learn about their districts, their support for music education, and advice for music teachers and superintendents on how to support music education in any school.

We're talking with Dr. Missy Strong who is one of the keynote speakers at the 2025 PMEA Conference. Missy talks with us about what to expect from her sessions at the conference and how you can incorporate movement into your music classroom.

We conclude our series getting ready for the 2025 PMEA All-State Festival by talking with the conductors of all six All-State ensembles. Today we talk with Jason Noble, All-State Concert Band Conductor and Rollo Dilworth, All-State Chorus Conductor. Learn about the musical programs and what student participants can expect.

We continue our series getting ready for the 2025 PMEA All-State Festival by talking with the conductors of all six All-State ensembles. Today we talk with Michael Hall, All-State Orchestra Conductor and Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, All-State Wind Ensemble Conductor. Learn about the musical programs and what student participants can expect.

We're talking with Dr. Kathy Melago, Professor of Music Education at Slippery Rock University and Slippery Rock University Music Education majors Rose Obergefell and Nate Presutti about their field experience trip to New Mexico. Learn about what the trip is and how it expands their horizons for a career in music education.

We start to gear up for the 2025 PMEA All-State Festival by talking with the conductors of all six All-State ensembles. Today we talk with JD Frizzell, All-State Contemporary A Cappella Ensemble Conductor and Gary Smulyan, All-State Jazz Ensemble Conductor. Learn about the musical programs and what student participants can expect.