GRWM ~ SCMEA Conference

And just like that - in the blink of an eye we're getting ready for Conference.

I must admit - with every year that passes, I get more and more excited (or is it anxious) for Conference because I get to see your wonderful faces and hear your students' progress.

We had an amazing festival with more students than ever; Nine schools were represented by 120 students!

In this issue-

• Details for the Masterclass & Honors Recital
• Instructions for Submitting your Students performance info
• Conference Sessions

I look forward to seeing you all again!

Yours,

Kristine Peters

SCMEA Piano Division President

Choral Teacher * Piano Teacher

Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts Elementary School

krissy.peters@scmea.net l https://www.scmea.net/divisions/piano-division/

Location

Masterclass and Honors Recital will take place in the Recital Hall of University of South Carolina. It is located in the USC School of Music at 813 Assembly Street.

Parking

The Discovery Plaza Garage is located at 851 Park Street, behind the School of Music, and offers hourly parking. Metered parking is also available on the streets surrounding the School of Music.

Student Information - PLEASE SUBMIT HERE

Please complete THIS FORM by January 16th with your Honors Recital students and their selections. Please note that information will be copied DIRECTLY from the data in this form, so please ensure correct spelling of all names.

**Please note that Masterclass recipients do not need to complete the form. It is only for Honors Recital.

Clinician

We are pleased to welcome David Kiser as our clinician. David Kiser is the Executive Director of the Greenville County Youth Orchestra. He was formerly the Education and Community Engagement Manager of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra where he oversaw the symphony’s extensive education programs. In Spring 2022, he introduced the newest program called Student Ambassadors that connected local high school music students with the symphony. He is married to the pianist Lisa Won Jung Kiser and they live with their family in Greenville, SC. He is the second oldest of ten children.

He is a substitute keyboardist for Asheville, Greenville and Spartanburg Symphonies. His performances have been broadcast on South Carolina Public Radio and he has performed and adjudicated throughout the state. Recent performances include Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra and a series of piano duo recitals across the southeast with Lisa Kiser.

Besides his life in music, education and arts administration, David is a writer and has the distinct honor of being the first ever Writer-in-Residence at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. He is the longtime host of South Carolina Public Radio’s On the Keys.

This workshop is open to all music educators interested in incorporating jazz into their programs. Drawing from his experience teaching a comprehensive jazz curriculum to students in grades 6–12 at Charleston County School of the Arts, Mr. Harvey will share practical strategies for launching authentic jazz performance experiences in the classroom.

Piano appears in our curriculum in many ways and many shapes. From Elementary School to High School, Piano Labs and Class Piano looks different and represents different things. This session will dive into some Best Practices that are the same across all levels and share different ways of addressing the varied issues that come with Class Piano at different levels and in different spaces. Featured in this Panel:

Heather Simon, James Santee Elementary Middle; Maurice Middleton, William J. Clark Middle School:

Candace McLeod, Fort Dorchester High School; Laura Cameron, Georgetown High School

Group piano classes are a vital component of early music education in many settings, offering a

collaborative, cost-effective, and engaging learning environment. However, teaching beginner group piano students presents unique challenges, including varied learning speeds, classroom management, and ensuring individualized attention.