A Season of Wonder and Looking Ahead

Northern Lights - November 2025 on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Dear friends and colleagues,

This photo of Janice and me was taken on a quiet November evening on Cape Cod as we watched the northern lights. It captured a sense of wonder and possibility—the reminder that there are still new things to see and new paths ahead.

That same spirit shaped this past year as I had the privilege of presenting with educators in New Orleans, South Carolina, New Jersey, Maine, and Washington, D.C. Looking ahead to 2026, I’m grateful for upcoming opportunities to speak at conferences in Florida, Utah, and Kansas, and I’m especially excited to present at the Feierabend Summer Conference in Chicago.

As we continue to draw from sound-before-sight and creative pedagogies rooted in Feierabend, Kodály, and Orff, I am hopeful for the future of music education. Honoring our traditions matters deeply, but so does expanding our approach so more students feel welcomed, capable, and inspired. One session I offer—Belonging in the Band, Chorus, and Orchestra—has been requested more than any other, reflecting a shared desire to reach every learner.

As part of this work, It’s Time to Play—a beginning method for band, strings, and recorder—offers a research-based sound-before-sight approach designed to help all students truly get it, especially those who need more aural support before engaging with notation. You can learn more at mfsmithmusic.com or through J.W. Pepper.

With Warm Holiday Wishes,

Michael Francis Smith