By Colgan McNeil, Special to The Chronicle
The National Association for Music Education honored Hofstra University's Music Department on February 12, as a 2009 Collegiate Chapter of Excellence in the categories of Best Music Program, Best Recruitment Technique. The university was also ranked as an honorable mention in the Best Professional Development category.
The Music Educator's National Conference is an organization comprised of mostly music education majors, which organizes social networking and professional development events open to anyone who supports music education.
Jared Berry, a senior music education major and former president of MENC, submitted applications in December 2009. "I felt that over my four years here, this was an incredible year for us," Berry said. As a Long Island Representative to NYSSMA-CMENC, Berry said, "In our December conference, it was clear that no other school had nearly as many activities planned as we did that were both professionally engaging, giving back to the community, and socially interactive
The Hofstra Collegiate Chapter was the only chapter nationwide to receive awards in three areas. Barry says the chapter was "ecstatic" to be recognized in multiple categories.
The Best Music Program award honored the department's annual Faculty Benefit Concert, which raised $1,200 for Westbury Public Schools Music Department.
The Best Recruitment Technique award recognized the school's freshmen barbeque, which introduces incoming students to faculty, returning students and information regarding the department.
In the area of Professional Development, which the organization received an honorable mention, the 2009 speaker series brought in a local school district music administrator, lecturers about interdisciplinary lesson planning and Associate Professor of Music Education Cindy Bell to discuss graduate school options. The series ended with a panel of student teachers that discussed their experiences with their peers.
Berry said, "This department has given me the best education I could imagine. We have an incredible faculty who is extremely devoted to the success of all of the students. Their willingness to bend over backwards and to help us get jobs and give advice on assignments has always been encouraging."