Music News
Music In Our Schools Month
March has been officially designated by MENC: The National Association for Music Education for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. MIOSM began as a single statewide celebration in 1973, and has grown over the decades to encompass a day, then a week, and then in 1985 to become a month long celebration of school music. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community and to display the benefits school music brings to students of all ages.
The celebration continues to grow each year, reaching more and more students, teachers, musicians, and music supporters. Schools and communities throughout the country and overseas celebrate MIOSM with concerts and other activities based on the year's theme. Classrooms, concert halls, civic buildings, clubs, parks, libraries, and shopping malls are just some of the arenas in which the public can observe the processes and results of music education.
MENC, representing more than 75,000 active, retired, and pre-service music teachers and 60,000 honor students and supporters, is the sponsor of MIOSM. In addition to announcing the theme for the year, the organization is responsible for communicating ideas to support state and local MIOSM celebrations, providing awareness items such as T-shirts, posters, and buttons, and coordinating programs such as the World's Largest Concert.
MENC's 52 federated state organizations (representing each state, the District of Columbia, and Europe) play an active role in the observance, securing governors' proclamations, enlisting the support of chief state school officers, and establishing organizational structures to help reach individual music educators. MIOSM chairpersons with each state organization provide the major thrust for the MIOSM celebrations, with the goal of involving students, administrators, parents, civic groups, and community members. Other national arts and education organizations also lend their endorsements and support to the programs through publications and events.
MIOSM and the events surrounding it are the ideal opportunities for increasing awareness of the benefits of high quality music education programs in our nation's schools. MENC hopes that teachers, students, and music supporters alike will find ways to join in on the celebration through creative activities and advocacy. Learn more about how MENC works to support music education, and visit MusicFriends to join other advocates working to insure that music is part of a well-rounded education for all children.
Directors Notes
Welcome to the River Bend Music webpage. Our district has two music teachers. Jennie Anton and Shawn Anton. Jennie Anton has been teaching in the district for 4 years. She teaches K-5 General Music and 4th and 5th Grade Chorus. Shawn Anton has been teaching in the district for 16 years. He teaches 5th Grade Band, Middle School Band an Chorus, High School Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, Choir, Jazz Choir and Humanities.
Music Advocacy
5 Golden Rules for Music Advocacy
1) Know the decision makers.
Tell decision makers why music education is important to their constituents and for the welfare of students. “Put yourself in their place,” says Victor. “Try to understand their problems, outlook, and aims, and then attempt to present your position in a way that supports their position.” A good relationship with decision makers will help every aspect of your program.
2) Stay professional.
“Be credible, honest, and trustworthy,” says Victor. Keep your promises, and make your case without being critical of others, making threats, lying, or concealing facts. “Be reasonable, and recognize that there are legitimate differences of opinion on every issue.”
3) Be realistic and persistent.
Controversial decisions usually result in compromise, and there’s seldom an absolute and final defeat. “Often the work you’ve done to influence a decision that didn’t go your way will help sway a future decision that will favor your position,” says Victor. “Stay committed, and keep working until you achieve your objective.”
4) Involve parents and students in the decision making process.
“Parents care—but they may not know how to care effectively,” says Victor. Show them how.
•Show them the decision-making timeline for an issue so they can work proactively rather than reactively. “It’s much easier to influence a decision that hasn’t yet been made than to undo a decision that the players within the system see as final.”
•Point out the politics of the educational system. What influences decision makers most is prevailing public opinion, Victor says. If a majority of constituents support a strong music program, the board and administration will be unlikely to weaken it.
•Ask parents and students to write letters to government officials. Victor says that 10 letters will put an issue “on decision makers’ radar screen,” 25 will make them explore the issue, and 50 can change a position on an upcoming vote.
•“Numbers speaking in a unified voice are much louder than an individual disgruntled teacher or a small group of angry parents.”
5) Let your voice be heard.
“Advocacy often just means speaking up,” Victor says. “The worst action is no action.” Prepare, present, and follow through on your case. Write that letter, send that e-mail, make that phone call, or meet with decision makers. “Being an advocate is political, and in politics, the decision often belongs to those who show up. Be that person.”
