On November 8,聽Curtis Garcia, Ph.D., School of Education director,聽facilitated聽a panel on Teacher Apprenticeship聽Programs as part of聽the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute for Educational Sciences’ Regional Education Lab (REL) Central聽multi-state gathering held in Denver. State education leaders from North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming聽shared how recent legislation聽and innovations in their states have transformed teacher preparation pathways to more competency based that allow for work-based learning as students fulfill requirements of education degrees and licenses. Dr. Garcia serves as Chair of the Governing board for REL Central, which is responsible for guiding the REL’s activities in applied research聽applied research and development; training, coaching,聽technical support; and dissemination聽across聽the states of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Antonio Rivera, Rocio De Lira, Kallie Stovall, Collin Wankelman, Professor Melinda Leoce, Bianca Borile, Hydeia Williams
From left: Antonio Rivera, Rocio De Lira, Kallie Stovall, Collin Wankelman, Professor Melinda Leoce, and alumni/current music educators Bianca Borile and Hydeia Williams.

From November 9 through November 12, Professor Melinda Leoce and four music students attended the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. While in attendance they attended a Colorado Percussive Arts Society Chapter dinner, saw clinics and concerts by some of the world鈥檚 best percussionists, and had access to an exhibition hall full of percussion equipment to try and purchase. Two alumni were also in attendance and were able to meet the group for a special lunch for current and former students. A great time was had by all.

William Lipke, D.M.A., was one of the convention artists for the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico (PMTNM) state conference in Albuquerque in November.聽He presented a workshop “Inspiring Joyous Musical Expression Through Movement in the Keyboard Dances of J. S. Bach.”聽He also conducted a piano master class with advanced students on the music of Moskowsky, Brahms, and Berkowitz.聽Additionally, he served as a competition adjudicator for the Honors Competition.聽Several years ago, he served as an adjudicator and was asked to return聽this year with an expanded role. PMTNM is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the oldest music teachers association in the nation with about 20,000 members.

Mathew Sharples, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, published a paper on treating the .