Illinois Music Educators Association: Resources and Opportunities for Music Education

The Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) stands as the largest Fine Arts education organization in Illinois and one of the most prominent in the nation. Its mission is to champion lifelong music learning and provide leadership for music education. ILMEA achieves this through a variety of resources, events, and advocacy efforts, all designed to support music educators and students across the state.

ILMEA's Mission and Impact

ILMEA's core mission centers on promoting lifelong music learning and providing leadership in music education. The organization's extensive reach and influence make it a vital resource for music educators seeking professional development, networking opportunities, and advocacy support.

Student Opportunities: Performance Festivals and All-State Programs

ILMEA plays a crucial role in organizing performance festival experiences for student musicians in Illinois. These festivals provide invaluable opportunities for students to showcase their talents, collaborate with peers, and learn from experienced educators. Through auditions or nominations, students at participating schools can take part in local and state-level ensembles with other Illinois music students.

Congratulations to all of the students who were selected for the 2026 All-State Junior and Senior-level programs! Directors, please visit our All-State Student & Director Info page - this will be your landing page for all checklists, info sheets, forms, and planning during your time in Peoria next January.

District Auditions

East Peoria is part of District IV of ILMEA. The IMEA District Auditions are held every year on Columbus Day. Auditions run from 8:00AM-2:00PM. Mr. Schneblin will arrange a bus to take students to the audition.

Preparing For Auditions:

Professional Development and Networking

ILMEA provides outstanding content-specific professional development opportunities that directly impact the success of students and programs. The annual conference held in Peoria, Illinois, brings together educators from every area and age level of music education. This conference serves as a hub for sharing best practices, exploring new teaching methodologies, and connecting with colleagues.

Expand your professional network and connect with thoughtful and inspiring music colleagues from around the state.

Read also: Guide to Illinois Educator Pay

Fall AIMS Meetings and Presentations (Examples)

ILMEA hosts various meetings and presentations throughout the academic year, offering valuable insights and resources for music educators. Here are some examples from past years:

October 7, 2022: Glen Schneider presented on "ZOOMERS: Meeting the needs, interests, and mindset of Generation Z." Glen Schneider is Director of Operations at Kendall Partners in Yorkville, IL, serves on the MECA Faculty at VanderCook College of Music, and the Artistic Staff of the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra. He has held positions at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (2019-2022), Metea Valley & Neuqua Valley High School (2009-2022, Oswego High School (2002-2009), and Fox Chapel (PA) Elementary Schools (2001-2002). Awards during his career include the Grammy Signature Gold Award, TeachHUB Making a Difference Award, The American Prize, Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award, National Band Association Citation of Excellence Award, Phi Beta Mu, and notable performances at The Midwest Clinic, Illinois Music Educators Association, Tournament of Roses Parade, and the SuperState Band Festival. He received his education from Duquesne University (Bachelor of Science in Music Education), VanderCook College of Music (Master of Music Education), and Concordia University Chicago (Master of Arts in Educational Technology). As an author he has published articles in the Music Educators Journal and Teaching Music, writes for the “MAC Corner Column” in the School, Band and Orchestra Magazine, and Yamaha Music Education USA. In addition, he has written eleven graduate level courses that he teaches to music educators across the world through the VanderCook College of Music MECA program. (CST)Fall AIMS MeetingJoin us as presenters, Ryan Aguirre and Braeden Ayres, explore topics for music educators surrounding gender and the LGBTQ+ community. If you miss this presentation, you may access the recording here.Ryan Aguirre:New Mexico native, Ryan Aguirre, recently completed his Ph.D. in music education at Florida State University, working with Dr. Alice-Ann Darrow. Dr. Aguirre has a Bachelor of Music Education from New Mexico State University and a Masters of Music Education from University of Northern Colorado. During his doctoral studies, Dr. Aguirre focused on LGBTQ+ issues, race issues, and movement in the K-12 music classroom. He completed all three Orff-Schulwerk certification levels at Metropolitan State University, studying with Dr. Paul Cribari, Matt McCoy, and Karen Petty. As a lover of working with elementary-age students, Dr. Aguirre taught elementary music in New Mexico, Colorado, and Florida. Currently, Dr. Aguirre is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Western Illinois University, teaching courses in classroom instruments, elementary music methods, and teaching music to learners with exceptionalities. Braeden Ayres:Braeden Ayres is a conductor and educator of choral music. As a composer, Braeden Ayres's works have been premiered at national and state-level ACDA honor choirs, all-states, and local choir concerts across the world. His works are published with Carl Fischer, Hal Leonard, Augsburg Fortress, and MusicSpoke. As a conductor, Ayres has led community choirs, K-12 public schools, church choirs, and university ensembles. His doctoral research was focused on composing and selecting repertoire for developing male voices. (CST)
January 2023: AIMS Luncheon at ILMEA Conference, Peoria, IL.
November 1, 2024: Fall AIMS Meeting via Zoom, featuring a panel presentation on "TRENDS IN THEORY/AURAL SKILLS/GROUP PIANO" by Dr. Roy Magnuson (Illinois State University) and Megan Eagen-Jones (UIUC). Professor of Creative Technologies Roy Magnuson (Illinois State University) and Musicologist and Director of Undergraduate Studies Megan Eagen-Jones (UIUC) will present and lead a discussion on what is most certainly one of the main challenges facing us today. This part of the meeting will be Zoom-cast so that faculty from your institutions may take part in this important professional-development opportunity.

These meetings cover a wide range of topics relevant to music educators, from addressing the needs of Generation Z students to exploring issues of equity in music curriculum.

Online Teaching Strategies

ILMEA recognizes the importance of online teaching in contemporary music education. In the past, they have offered resources and presentations on successful strategies for moving online. For example, John Mlynczak (Managing Director of Noteflight) has shared his expertise on leveraging the internet for effective music instruction, even with its drawbacks for ensemble playing.

Advocacy for Music Education

ILMEA actively advocates for music education at the federal, state, and local levels. They work to ensure that music remains a vital part of the curriculum and that all Illinois learners have access to quality music education.

Be confident in the advocacy voice for music education at the federal, state and local levels.

Read also: Illinois Transfer Application

Access resources like the Illinois Music Educator Journal that support music education and help us create the best opportunities for all Illinois learners.

Resources and Publications

ILMEA provides access to a variety of resources, including the Illinois Music Educator Journal, which supports music education and helps create the best opportunities for all Illinois learners. These resources keep educators informed about current trends, research, and best practices in the field.

Equity and Inclusion

ILMEA is committed to promoting equity and inclusion in music education. They have addressed topics such as gender and the LGBTQ+ community in music education, as well as matters of equity in music curriculum.

For example, Philip Ewell (Associate Professor of Music Theory at Hunter College of the City University of New York) presented "How We Got Here, Where to Now?” For our fall meeting this year, we will focus on matters of equity in music curriculum. We’ll hear from an esteemed colleague, Philip Ewell - Associate Professor of Music Theory at Hunter College of the City University of New York who was mentioned in a recent article in The New Yorker titled, “Black Scholars Confront White Supremacy in Classical Music.” “How We Got Here, Where to Now?”Abstract: The societal tipping point that is so often cited in the United States these days is intimately linked with our past as understood through the prism of race, a troubled and, at times, violent past that has infused virtually everything that we Americans do. This past is now under great scrutiny in music studies, in how we teach music to our students, how we examine music in analysis, and how we choose the music we professional musicians consider worthy of attention. In this talk I consider our past so that we might chart a path for the future. Only through an exhaustive study of the past can we truly understand why the academic study of music is what it is today, a study that remains exclusionist with respect to musics that are not centered around both whiteness and maleness. In coming to terms with this difficult past we together-white, black, and everyone in between-can create a new academic study of music, rich and inclusive, which will be rewarding and emancipating for all. Biography: Philip Ewell is an Associate Professor of Music Theory at Hunter College of the City University of New York, where he serves as Director of Graduate Studies in the music department. His specialties include Russian music and music theory, Russian opera, modal theory, and critical-race studies. He received the 2019-2020 “Presidential Award for Excellence in Creative Work” at Hunter College, and he is the “Susan McClary and Robert Walser Fellow” of the American Council of Learned Societies for 2020-2021. He is also a “Virtual Scholar in Residence” at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music for 2020-2021.

The Importance of Music Education

ILMEA recognizes the profound impact of music education on students' lives. As Howard B. put it, “Education is a paramount part of our society. The arts, and music in particular, help build character and confidence…. We need to be focused on what is best for our children.”

Antonio J. García, Professor Emeritus and former Director of Jazz Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, also discusses the importance of music and music education.

Additional Resources and Partnerships

ILMEA collaborates with various organizations to further its mission, including:

The Education Commission of the States: A partnership of education leaders from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The Arts Education Partnership (AEP): A national network dedicated to advancing arts education.
ArtsEdSearch: A project of the AEP, serving as a national hub for research on the impact of arts education.
ArtScan at a Glance: Provides a summary of state policies related to K-12 arts education.

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