This is a belated thank-you for your participation in the round table discussion during the Music Infusion and Curricular Transformation Colloquium on January 30th. For those of us working in districts that do not support the arts, it is crucial to know that there are others who also believe in the power of the arts. And believe you do! You spoke powerfully and convincingly. I felt energized when I left!

—Susan Samuels, Westwood, New Jersey
February, 2004

I enjoyed your workshop last Saturday—every single minute of it. I got the scarves and music, and I've been using them with the kids. They love it! I talked to my assistant principal, and she asked me to do a workshop for the teachers, so I'm going to try, using some of your ideas. Thank you so much for igniting that spark!

—Mary Leonne, Long Island
February, 2004

Sue, thank you so much for the wonderful note cards! What an excellent way to use your marvelous photography skills. I really loved each and every picture. Even the envelopes are out of cool paper. WOW!

—Mollie Tower
December, 2003

Words fail me as I attempt to thank you properly for your participation in our 2003 TMEA Convention. I'm still hearing rave reviews on your sessions, and our membership is most impressed that I was smart enough to invite you! My only regret in securing the very best for our members is that I don't get to hear the presentations! I know that for some it is not an easy thing to travel any more, and I thank you that you were willing to take that chance in order to minister to the Elementary Division of TMEA. Our Texas students are indeed blessed to have you in their lives.

—Karen Bryan
Elementary Vice-President, Texas Music Educators Association
April, 2003

Thank you for the wonderful and informative workshop on January 11. Sue's workshop "Developing Sequence and Creativity through the Orff Process" covered her topic well; the sequencing helped our new teachers and the creative approaches also fed our more experienced teachers. Not an easy task to be able to relate to both types of teachers. I know we all came away from the workshop with usable ideas. Thank you, Sue, for the CD you gave us. There are wonderful listening examples on it. I appreciate you making room in your busy schedule for us.

—Karla Canfield
President, Nevada's Desert-Valley Chapter of AOSA
February, 2003

My purpose in writing to you is to personally thank you for the opportunity you gave me this past school year to work with you for IDEAS in Michigan City. It was very enjoyable and enriching. You have that effect on people. Helping them to see that they too can explore outside of the box. Essentially that is what we want our students to be able to do as well. Yes? You're terrific.

—Lisa Bailey
Michigan City Area Schools
March, 2002

The note below was sent after Sue did six demonstration lessons with fourth graders in Dearborn, Michigan, at Salinas School. Salinas has the largest percentage Arabic population in Dearborn (97%), and the lessons were designed to demonstrate how music teachers could integrate Share the Music, Total Literacy, and Level I Orff. Each class met with Sue three times, for approximately 45 minutes. In this way, a sequence of lessons could be developed over time. Cathy is not only imitating, but also elaborating on the lessons she sees, and her teaching has been transformed over the past several years.

Hi, Sue! The few days with you were so wonderful; I carry you with me everyday. Today, I asked the children to put their hands on their heads, hands on their ears and listen. You could have heard a pin drop and I whispered, "Thanks Sue." My students have loved the rhythm/body percussion lessons. They are soaring and so creative. All these many little things that make up the greatness of Sue Snyder. You make me look soooooo good. We had two snow days or we would have already added the unpitched instruments to our ensemble. The post-its in many colors, all of the children focused, state of creative fun in the air and everybody talking about what is going on in the music room. It's the best! After school I went to ask my principal if he saw Fanfare for A Common Man on the Super Bowl, he loved it and he said I could have anything I needed. So could you send me ASAP the Red, White and Blue Canopies for our symbolic movements and great other fun. We are having a little informance on February 15 and I may be able to add that to the festivities.
Love to you always, my friend.
P.S. I've been extending that explore portion of the sequence. Know you would be proud of me.

—Cathy Prowse
Dearborn, Michigan, Elementary Music Teacher
February, 2002

I love all the IDEAS materials! I'm just thrilled with everything! My kids are having a great time with the scarves. They create different kinds of trees and blow in the wind to the music, then when I snap my fingers they pass the scarves to someone else. I use the Sing Along, Sing Alone kid books with my Kindergarten students, and send them home as homework to do with their parents. I wish every music teacher everywhere knew about these great materials. Thanks for being out there doing this!

—A music teacher from Tolland, Connecticut
February, 2002

I was delighted to be at the workshop you presented in New Haven on Tuesday (January 15, 2002). You were truly inspiring. Many thanks for your time and talents. You speak to the soul of education. We can't really do our jobs without the arts. Thank goodness you carry the torch!

—Barbara O'Brien
The Children's Community Daycare Center, Inc.
Westport, Connecticut
January, 2002

Sue, thank you for the wonderful workshop. Your ideas are so clear, and you really help us understand how to apply them in our classrooms. I especially want to let you know that I appreciate your quiet approach, and your acceptance of everyone in the group. It is such a powerful model, and every time I work with you I remember that I don't have to yell to get the children's attention. It is your quiet, engaging magic that works with us and with the students.

—Billie Pope Jay, Music Teacher
Fort Worth ISD, Texas
November, 2001

I went to a workshop you had several years ago in Indianapolis "Integrate with Integrity." Since then, I have been using that book along with the "Total Literacy: Music and Movement in the Literacy Classroom" in my classes. This last year I finished my master's project with the focus on the integration of the other skills in the area of music. I want to thank you for opening my eyes to just how much music can teach.

Thank you for your wisdom and insight you have shared with music teachers.

—Julie Anoskey
Music Teacher, Lincoln Elementary School

I was so excited when the Music Memory™ materials arrived. I could hardly wait to sit down and go through all the pages. Of course, the notebooks are better than ever. I like starting with the selection by Aaron Copland rather than a selection from a musical. It took me a while to get used to the idea, but I think it sets a better stage for the year's study, and my students really identified with the music.

Thank you for sending the Music Memory™ notebooks. Your generosity is appreciated.

—Cathryn Harris
Summitt Elementary, AISD

Again I just wanted to tell you how beneficial I found the kaleidoscope training sessions I attended this year. I cannot thank you enough for showing me how to use the tools I already have to teach the students in many different way. I truly feel that each of these sessions has helped my teaching methods in so many ways. I have learned so much in only three days! I am encouraging others in my school to attend them next year. Thank you again.

—Mary Schalliol
7th Grade Math Teacher
Barker Middle School
Michigan City, Indiana

I just finished your article in Music Educators Journal. Congratulations! Great stuff. It gives me some very good, important facts to bring up and discuss with my administrators. Thanks for writing.

—Walter Mamlok
CREC Metropolitan Learning Center

After hearing about your literacy innovation, I decided that it would be a great topic for my innovation paper for my Foundations of American Education class here at Kalamazoo College. I borrowed all your materials from an elementary school that uses your program, and I read through all of them, only to discover a great idea! After writing a paper on how this innovation would help the future of public education, I spent time observing an elementary school music classroom, where your materials are used within a musical environment. The kids really enjoyed what they were doing in class and were more attentive to these activities than I can remember myself being as an elementary schooler. The most amazing thing I read was that those kids who are unable to keep a steady beat are those who have the most difficulty reading. Through the "Who Stole the Cookie Jar" song and clapping game, this became evident to me. I also discovered that my love for younger kids is pushing me more towards elementary education rather than secondary education. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to such incredible programs!

—Elizabeth Eule, Undergraduate Student
Kalamazoo College

Science through Song is terrific. I took it down to my principal—he made me play half of the CD for him.

Please send my praise to Linda Worsley. She is so very talented. Her arrangements are creative and rich—very beautiful. All of you keep up the great work!

I just quickly read through the first year findings for Total Literacy. What a great year, and yet, lots of room to move on. Congratulations! It just reaffirms what we know—a total involvement with the arts brings relevancy to the content, and relevancy brings high interest and emotion. Life is good and we are lucky to be able to do work that is so exciting!

—Becky Walters, K-5 Music and Movement Specialist
Whitley County Consolidated Schools

I always enjoy the time spent with you. It renews my enthusiasm for what can happen for kids within the classroom. Thanks.

If I can do some pre-planning with the teachers, I think it will go more smoothly with connecting the students. Thanks for all that you are doing to help us recapture the sense of professionalism and excitement for education.

—Diane Lindenmeyer

Thank you for responding so quickly to my question regarding Classical Moves. I also wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your work. I first heard of you when I ordered Integrating with Integrity several years ago. Since then, I have purchased the scarves with Ideas cassette and have often visited your website to see what is available. In May I received my Masters in a Creative Arts in Learning program from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA. I have become very interested and intrigued with the arts in learning and have learned much from you!

—Becky Hanaburgh, Music Teacher K-2

We have a good year beginning. The teachers are seeming to be much more comfortable using music in the classroom. Every single first and second grade class is using songs to teach. Thank you for your inspiration and for mentoring me over the past three years. My teaching is energized and exciting.

—Sharon Berndt, John Lyman School, Middlefield, CT

Thank you for your good products. We ordered Music Memory™ products from you year before last. Last year I tried another company and was not nearly so pleased, so I am looking forward to having your products this year!! Thanks again!

—Beverly Voron

"I used your scarves and Echo music with a self-contained grade K-3 Moderate to Severe Disabilities class. When I waved the first scarf around, the eyes lit up and the hands reached out. "Oh, no," I said, "to get a scarf, you have to say its color name." Two of the more able students did so and got a scarf. Seeing this, three students whom I had never heard speak (I'd been there 1 ¹/₂ years) suddenly stood up and shouted the color names correctly! Even the paraprofessionals were stunned—they had been working on this very behavior with one girl for months, with no success until this moment.

"I was so excited that I took a handful of scarves down to the speech therapist's office after school to tell her. She was a little skeptical about Andrew, who simply refused to speak to anyone, ever. But as we stood in the hallway talking, he spotted me and grinned. "Redyellowbluegreen!" he shouted, and grabbed the scarves out of my hand as he ran past. After we'd retrieved them, she asked where she could order some for herself!"

—Kathy Sabaini, Terre Haute, Indiana

Regarding IDEAS Interactive Arts for Total Literacy: "Wonderful stuff! Wow. Not at any point did I stop to think, 'I'd change this' or 'why did she say that?' as I so often do when editing text. I just went through the lessons in my head as I read, and realized that they were all really doable, challenging, clear, comprehensive... and could be a wonderful way of approaching all the aspects mentioned... music, art, movement, literacy. Almost made me want to go back to the classroom and try them out. Almost."

—Linda Worsley, Ganymede Music Productions

"Dear Dr. Snyder,

"I have just finished reading your ArtSmart guide and the accompanying research. I had to thank you for verbalizing what I know is true when teaching. Children need to be infused in the creation process whether it is art, music, drama, or dance. I found your guide to be thorough and easy to initiate in the classroom.

"I am currently in the process of re-writing a curriculum for my school district for integrating curriculum with music, creative dramatics and movement. I found your student self-assessment to be just what I think is necessary for a good integrated curriculum. I will be using the assessment as my guide for the re-write.

"Thank you for being the most useful and helpful tool available to me for this enormous undertaking."

—Jennifer S. O'Toole, Buchanan, Michigan

"You were amazing! Your ability to involve adult learners in clinics shouldn't be a surprise—your materials enable children to become totally involved in learning! Your contributions to our profession have revolutionized the way in which many of us view 'education.'"

—Colorado master teacher

"Susan Snyder is a sensitive and creative educator and caring human being. Her devotion to her students is very evident, as is evident the love and admiration that her students have for her. It is this special relationship that accounts for her success in eliciting involvement and creativity from students."

—Faculty observation report, Hunter College

"The evaluations from all conferees reflect their excitement and good feelings about the day spent with you. The workshop certainly accomplished our goals and more. I continue to be grateful for the extensive, thoughtful handouts that you provided. Your willingness to gear this workshop and the handouts to so specific an audience and subject was very admirable. Your influence in the world of education is substantial and growing. We are proud that you are a friend"

—Tennessee State Department Consultant

"I didn't get bored once! (Unusual for me!) ... It was a wonderful day! ... Not only is your subject important, interesting, and educational, your presentation is wonderful! I never get tired of listening or participating."

—Workshop participants

"Dear Dr. Sue SnYder,

"ThanK You for Going on a Bear e Hunt with me ... you are a nice lady I LOVe You ... ThanK You for Beig So nice of Signing ThreeLittleMonKieS ... I liked When We sang the Old lady Who SWalloWed a fly."

—Students from 1Held, PS109, New York City