SMTE Handbook 2004

Compiled by George N. Heller

July 9, 1994

Updated July 2004

The Executive Committee

Rosemary Watkins, Chair Nancy Boone, Michael Cleveland, Louis Hall, George N. Heller, Barbara Lewis, and Mary Lou Van Rysselberghe

Membership in the Society

Since its founding in San Antonio in 1982, membership in the Society for Music Teacher Education has been open to those members of the Music Educators National Conference with a particular interest in music teacher education.

Bylaw IX, Section 1 of the Music Educators National Conference defines membership as follows:

The Society for Music Teacher Education shall be composed of all members of the Conference who indicate their desire to become members of the Society.

According to Music Educators National Conference Bylaw IX, Section 1, the purposes of the society are to:

(a) Improve the quality of teaching and research in music teacher education;

(b) Provide leadership in the establishment of standards for certification of music teachers; and

(c) Serve as an arm of the Conference in influencing developments in music teacher education and in the certification of music teachers.

The Music Teacher Education Council advises the Executive Committee of the Society and assists the Society in achieving its goals. The Council consists of the Executive Committee, a representative from each state, and members of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of Music Teacher Education. The Council typically meets at the biennial in-service meetings of the Music Educators National Conference. The president of each federated state music education association appoints a state representative to serve on the Council.

The Executive Committee consists of one representative from each of the six divisions of the Conference, and a chair-elect, a chair, and a past chair who serve as members-at-large. According to Bylaw IX, Section 3, The term of office for members of the Executive Committee shall be for six years. Two division representatives and a chair-elect shall be elected each even-numbered year. On or before May 1 of each even-numbered year, the Executive Committee of the Music Teacher Education Council [i.e., state chairs] shall present to the National Executive Board two nominations for each forthcoming vacancy. The National Executive Board shall elect one member from each slate of nominees, said members to take office at the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year. Retiring members of the Executive Committee may not be reelected until two years have elapsed since their last term of office, unless that election be as chair-elect. In the event that an Executive Committee position becomes vacant, the Executive Committee shall submit two appropriate nominations to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board shall elect a person from that slate of nominees to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. Any person who fills an unexpired term shall be eligible for immediate reelection. The Executive Committee may elect any additional officers it deems necessary to the operation of the Committee, the Council, and the Society. Each such officer shall be elected for a two-year term concurrent with the term of the office of the National president of the Conference.

The Journal of Music Teacher Education is the official publication of the Society for Music Teacher Education. Its purpose is to disseminate information about the Society and the ways that it can strengthen music teacher education, to serve as a clearinghouse for ideas among professors of music education, and to effect a sense of unity among them.

The Editor and members of the Editorial Committee of the Journal serve six-year terms and are appointed by the National Executive Board based on recommendations from the SMTE Executive Committee. The Editorial Committee consists of nine members, including the editor and eight members that should represent the geographical diversity of MENC as much as possible. Membership on the Editorial Committee rotates with three members retiring and three new members joining in the same years as the biennial conferences. The Committee is comprised of MENC members who are actively engaged in music teacher education or were at the time of their retirement.

Formation of Special Interest Groups within the Society fosters innovation, development, and dissemination of ideas to improve the various aspects of music teacher education. Each group has a special focus for its work and a network of individuals who share the special interest of the group. By corresponding with one another on a regular basis and by meeting from time to time as a group, members of each group will be able to reinforce and stimulate one another’s effort toward a better understanding of the complexities of music teacher education.

Special Interest Groups must meet four criteria in order to become established:

(1) A mailing list of at least fifty (50) people who are members of the Society who are interested in the particular topic

(2) By-laws on file with the Executive Committee of the Society

(3) A chair and a chair-elect

(4) A newsletter distributed to all members of the Group at least twice annually

The Executive Committee of the Society will certify Groups that meet the criteria at its biennial meeting.

The members of the Society within each of the divisions of the Music Educators National Conference constitute a Division of the Society. Each Division functions on behalf of and in the name of the Society for Music Teacher Education.

The Division Chair coordinates the work of the Division with the assistance of the Division Committee. The Division Committee consists of the state chairs. The duties of the Divisional Research Chair include, but are not limited to:

(1) Coordination of activities among the states within the Division and the dissemination of information among the state chairs;

(2) Presentation of divisional teacher education activities at the biennial SMTE business meeting.

(3) Communications about Division activities to the Journal of Music Teacher Education, the Music Educators Journal, and Teaching Music;

(4) Transmission of relevant Division materials to the Historical Center of the Music Educators National Conference;

(5) Coordination of music teacher education sessions at Division meetings; and

(6) Service as liaison between the Society and the Division president and president-elect.

The State Units of the Society

The members of the state units within the Music Educators National Conference constitute an entity within the Society. The basic function of a state unit is to serve the needs of the state members of the Society and of the state association. Each state unit functions on behalf of and in the name of the Society for Music Teacher Education.

A state chair for music teacher education coordinates the state unit. Typically, the state president appoints the state chair for music teacher education, and the terms of the two officers coincide. Some states practice other methods of appointment and service and terms of office may vary from state to state.

The duties of the state chair for music teacher education include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) Identifying individuals or groups interested or active in music teacher education; (2) Gathering information about current music teacher education activities or interests and disseminating such information to interested persons and the state music educators association membership; (3) Providing assistance to such individuals and groups and the state association membership in matters concerning music teacher education; (4) Planning sessions on music teacher education at state association meetings; and (5) Serving as the contact between the state association membership and the Division and National Chair of the Society.

Duties and Responsibilities of Chair, Chair-Elect, and Past Chair

The Chair will perform the following duties:

• Represent the organization as an arm of MENC in matters related to music teacher preparation
• Maintain communication with MENC regarding the Society for Music Teacher Education and issues of music teacher preparation
• Maintain communication with the SMTE Executive Committee
• Take leadership in establishing long-term goals for the organization
• Monitor action on major issues and policies affecting teacher education on national level
• Promote the organization and its involvement in issues of concern regarding preparation of music teachers
• Write “From the Chair” column for all issues of Journal of Music Teacher Education (fall, spring)
• Communicate with Editor of JMTE regarding ongoing functioning of the Journal
• Chair SMTE Executive Committee meetings at the MENC National Biennial Conference: nominations for Executive Committee, approval of nominations for JMTE Editorial Committee, updates of SMTE Handbook and correlation with MENC Bylaws, other issues related to teacher preparation
• Work with Past Chair in planning National Conference sessions and setting long-term goals.
• Foster national dialogue and involvement in the teacher education process.

The Chair Elect will perform the following duties:

• Communicate with MENC office in keeping current records of state teacher education chairs and SMTE membership
• Oversee SMTE presence on MENC website
• Coordinate work of division chairs in communicating with membership and encouraging SMTE involvement in state and divisional conferences
• Monitor progress of SMTE in current issues at state levels

The Past Chair will perform the following duties:

• Cooperate with the Chair in setting long-term goals and in planning National Conference sessions.
• Seek to increase participation in SMTE at conferences