Choir Teacher, Brian Reeves, Elected President of MMEA

Mr. Reeves instructs his choir students, balancing his life as a teacher with his responsibility as President of MMEA. “I’m gone a lot more. I’m missing a lot more days a year now.” said Reeves.

Many schools believe in maintaining music education. However, music programs aren’t always maintained as well as other parts of the core curriculum. To help maintain a quality music education, the Missouri Music Education Association was created in 1938 with the goal of “providing a comprehensive, well-balanced, sequential, and quality education to every child in America”, according to their main website. The MMEA is run by a President-Elect, a President, and a Past-President. Just two years ago, Parkway North choir teacher Brian Reeves was elected President-Elect. Now, two years into his six-year term, he has been elected President of the MMEA.

“The job of the president of the MMEA is to uphold our bylaws and constitution, to promote and advance music education in Missouri,” said Reeves. “Our mission is ‘Music for All’, so the goal is for all students in Missouri to be afforded the opportunity for a top quality music education taught by a fully certified instructor.”

Reeves was nominated two years ago in order to run for elections. This nomination came from recommendations from schools and staff that felt he had what it takes to support music education.

“It’s Mr. Reeves’ ability to take the raw talent of kids and help them learn how to better understand their talents and abilities,” said freshmen class principal Greg Wagener. “Mr. Reeves does a really good job of keeping our students engaged and keeping music relevant, and helping kids understand the importance of music in their lives.”

Reeves is also well-liked among his students, not just the staff, for his skill as a teacher.

“He doesn’t teach it as a plan where every second you have a step to follow,” said sophomore choir student Bella Berger. “The class flows, and we go through multiple songs and we memorize them quickly because he teaches them so well that we easily get them the first time.”

Reeves has had past experience being in charge of musical associations.

“I served a six-year term already for the Missouri Choral Directors Association as President-Elect, President, and Past-President, and during that time of service, it made me more acutely aware,” said Reeves. “As I travel around and visit more teachers and buildings, see more of what happens in professional development, and as I advocate more, I hope I have become a better teacher because of what I’ve seen and learned.”

The music program is also important to parents, who see the value in exposing students to various musical opportunities.

“I think that giving kids an education in all of the aspects is important,” said Berger’s mother, Cheryl Swift, who writes a music blog called “Duchess of Rock and Roll.” “For me, music and the arts give kids a positive outlook for their passions, their singing, their artistry, their instruments.”

Tanner Boyd, Writing Wizard