Advocacy News, Action, and Alerts
New Survey says music contributes to higher attendance and graduation rates
A new report released by MENC in conjunction with NAMM, titled Music Makes the Grade: Music Programs Contribute to Higher Attendance and Graduation Rates, asked high school principals about the relationship between music education and their graduation and attendance rates. 96 percent of the principals interviewed in the study agree that participating in music education encourages and motivates students to stay in school while 89 percent of principals feel that a high-quality music education program contributes to their school achieving higher graduation rates. Access Music Makes the Grade online at http://www.menc.org/information/legislationpolicy/harrispoll.pdf.

Advocacy Resource: MENC Legislative Memo
Every month, MENC distributes an arts and education legislative memo with updates from Capitol Hill and around the country! To read January's memo, go to http://www.menc.org/legislativememo. To receive this free update directly each month via email, visit http://www.menc.org/scripts/memo/register.html.

National Anthem Project Update
Countdown to the Grand Finale, June 2007 Come celebrate the importance of music education as The National Anthem Project takes over the grounds of the Washington Monument with our Grand Finale on June 14-17, 2007. Join us in our nation’s capital, and be a part of this one-of-a-kind event promoting music education in America as students and citizens come together to celebrate our national anthem. Register today! For more information, visit www.americanmusicalsalute.com or email info@americanmusicalsalute.com.

For Your Teacher
Want to author curriculum for VH1 Music Studio?
Teachers, gain recognition for your creative lesson writing skills! MENC provides MENC member-written plans to accompany VH1 Music Studio programming on a monthly basis, and we are seeking writers for the 2006-07 school year. Music Studio programming is edited and aired commercial-free for classroom use. Visit http://www.vh1musicstudio.com for program information. E-mail Nicole if you are an MENC member interested in writing curriculum.

ACMP Foundation Chamber Music Coaching Scholarships To encourage the involvement and to raise the level of high-school age students in playing chamber music, ACMP Foundation offers a limited number of scholarships to string teachers for attendance at “Coaching Practicum” either the week of June 11 or 18, 2007 or the week of July 1 or 8, 2007.

For Music Students
2008 All-American Marching Band
MENC is announcing a new program to identify the 90 best student marching musicians and to spotlight music education. MENC and SportsLink, producer of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, will offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to 90 of America's most accomplished student marching musicians to form the 2008 All-American Marching Band. The finest applicants will be nationally recognized through awards, media, and performance as "All-Americans," just like their athletic counterparts. Deadline: April 6, 2007

Electronic Music Composition Talent Search
The NSBA/MENC Student Electronic Music Composition Talent Search recognizes outstanding compositions and helps influence school administrators to include or improve music technology in their schools’ curriculum. Winners and their schools receive prizes from Sibelius, Carl Fischer, MagicScore, and MENC, and students will be honored at NSBA’s 2007 T+L Conference. Deadline: April 16, 2007

Music Vocabulary
Arpeggio is a broken chord where the notes are played or sung in succession rather than simultaneously. The word comes from the Italian for "in the manner of the harp." When practicing most instruments, arpeggio is a form of basic technical exercise.