Session Proposals

Molly Mercer is a Junior at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a Bachelor's of Vocal Music Education degree in preparation for student teaching in the Spring of 2026. With being born and raised in West Texas, Music Education fell right into her lap at the perfect time, with Wendy Weeks, Remel Derrick, and Lyndsey Ransford all serving as mentor teachers. Molly's experience in the world of Music Education is vast, having held numerous internships during her time at OU. Some notable experiences include working under Sandy Knudson for OYSing, teaching Elementary Musical Theatre at Sooner Theatre in Norman, teaching Early Childhood Music and Movement in Abilene, and subbing seasonally for Wylie ISD. Molly will receive her Level I Kodály Certification from OU in June, marking a pivotal point in becoming one of the first Undergraduates to receive certification under Dr. Casey Gerber. Some accomplishments, both in the field of music and beyond, include being named a Texas Music Scholar, Texas All Stater, Texas Association of Future Educators National Qualifier and Member, University of Oklahoma Dean's List Recipient, Inspired to Teach Scholar, CNAfME Collegiate Member, OKMEA Collegiate Member, TMEA Collegiate Member, and President's Award for Outstanding Transfer Student Recipient. Molly thanks Dr. Melissa Baughman and Mrs. Kenzie Heaney for suggesting to submit this presentation for OkMEA!

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a repetitive loop of daily warm-ups? Lost in thought over the potential waste of time? Well, reframe your thinking and enter my kitchen to learn how to bake up the perfect warm-up for elementary and middle school choirs.

In this fun and interactive presentation, we’ll explore how to create effective vocal and choral warm-ups for elementary and middle school choirs using the analogy of baking an apple pie! Just like making the perfect pie requires the right ingredients and careful steps, building the ideal warm-up involves selecting vocal exercises, layering them in the right order, and giving singers the right tools to grow.

We’ll dive into the "ingredients" of vocal warm-ups—breathing exercises, vocal stretches, and pitch control—and how to combine them for maximum impact. You’ll learn how to "season" your warm-ups to keep your choir engaged, focused, and ready to perform. By the end of the session, you’ll have a recipe for warm-ups that help your singers prepare both their voices and minds for any performance, all while making the experience fun and collaborative! Plus, you may just have a sweet treat to take with you!

• Upper Elementary/General Music (Grades 3-5)
• Choral - Middle School
• Choral - Secondary
• Mentorship/Beginning Teachers