MENC In the News
For articles published online about MENC and what music education advocacy projects are running through the month of March, “Music In Our Schools Month,” please visit this site.

Advocacy News, Action, and Alerts
Take Part in the 2008 MusicFriends Challenge!
March is Music In Our Schools Month, and MENC's corporate members are stepping forward to show their support for MusicFriends and music education! During this month-long celebration, select MENC corporate members will donate $1 for every click on the MusicFriends logo displayed on their company Web site...up to $1,000 each! MENC would like to thank the following corporate members for their participation and support: Drum Corps International, Jupiter Band Instruments, Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Soundwaves Recording, West Music Co., Sam Ash, and Kiddy Keys.

Funds raised will support advocacy, research, and action for the continued fight to ensure children everywhere have access to music as part of a complete education. Visit the challenge during the month of March to learn more and to participate. Encourage your family and friends to take part in the 2008 MusicFriends Challenge as we continue to strive for Music for All! For more information about MENC's MusicFriends program, visit Music Friends.

Tom Chapin and Public School Test Records Distributes Music Education Awareness Song and Video
Public School Test Records and Grammy Award-winner Tom Chapin, launched the nationwide distribution of the “Not on the Test” song and video to raise awareness about the importance of music education in all classrooms and express concern about what is missing from American public education. “Not on the Test,” with music and lyrics by Chapin and his long-time collaborator John Forster, and produced by PST Records, can be downloaded FREE of charge at www.notonthetest.com.

MENC/SRME Research Project: Request for Proposals
MENC: The National Association for Music Education will support a research project or the 2008-2009 academic year to study issues related to MENC's Strategic Direction for Music Educator Recruitment, Preparation, Retention, and Professional Development. A stipend of $10,000 will be awarded to the grant recipient. The RFP for the project is posted here. Deadline April 1, 2008.

Arts Advocacy Day
A once a year national arts awareness summit hosted by Americans for the Arts, will return for its 21^st year on Capitol Hill between March 31-April 1, 2008. This year's festivities will include a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations and hundreds of grassroots arts advocates from across the country. The summit will promote the importance of developing strong public policies in support of arts, and will advocate on behalf of increased funding for arts programs. In addition to these exciting elements, Arts Advocacy Day is an opportunity for music and other arts supporters to learn how to better advocate for their causes, network with peers from all across the country, and visit with members of Congress to discuss key issues. Registration for Arts Advocacy Day 2008 is now underway. Please click here for more information.

U.S. Department of Education American Stars of Teaching
Teachers from across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as 2008 American Stars of Teaching. One teacher from every state and the District of Columbia will be recognized. Colleagues, parents, students, school administrators or members of the community are encouraged to nominate a teacher that they believe has demonstrated the skills, talents and qualities that personify an American Star of Teaching. Please follow the link in order to nominate a teacher for this honor. Deadline: March 31, 2008.

For Music Teachers
2008 MENC National Conference, April 9-13, 2008, Milwaukee, WI
Session descriptions are now available on MENC's national conference web page, which also includes daily grids of conference activities and events, registration and travel information, exhibitors list, and more. Register today to meet your colleagues in April.

Adjudication Training
Register now for music adjudication seminars either March 27-29, 2008 or April 24-26, 2008. Participants will work with highly respected adjudication professionals to learn effective feedback technique, practice judging, and observe live student performances, witness performance critique, and share perceptions of student performances. These three-day seminars are a combined effort by MENC, NFHS, and Walt Disney World Performing Arts Programs to help improve the quality of music adjudication. MENC members receive a 25% discount on registration. For more information or to register online, click here.

2008/2009 Teaching Ambassador Fellowship Positions
The Department of Education has announced the creation of Teaching Ambassador Fellowship positions for currently practicing, K-12 public school teachers. Teachers must have spent at least three years in the classroom, be currently practicing in and employed by a public school district to be eligible. Read detailed information at Department of Education. Deadline: April 7, 2008.

2008 “Teaching Guitar” Workshops
This summer, participate in a free workshop on guitar teaching techniques. These workshops have helped more than 1,500 teachers provide guitar classes for 700,000 students and are open to MENC members. In addition to the instruction, workshop participants receive a free guitar, guitar publications and accessories, and three graduate college credits from Duquesne University. The entire package is worth about $1,800, and participants pay only travel and housing expenses. To register visit the web site. Sponsored by The Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association, MENC, NAMM-- International Music Products Association, and the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University.

For Music Students
2009 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band
Application materials for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity are online. The 93 student musicians selected will be provided airfare, food, and accommodations to rehearse with an all-star staff and perform in San Antonio, Texas, during the NBC-televised U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January 2009. Deadline: April 15, 2008.

Strings Magazine Scholarship Award
The Strings Magazine Scholarship Award is available to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program majoring in Music Education or Music Performance of the bowed string instruments. Four $1,000 scholarships are awarded and are based on financial need, academic merit, and community service. For the information and application packet, click here. Deadline: April 1, 2008.

Digital Compositions Wanted!
MENC and the National School Boards Association (NSBA) announce the 2008 Electronic Music Composition Competition. This competition recognizes outstanding compositions and is held annually to help influence school administrators to include or improve music technology in their schools’ curriculum. Winning students will be honored at the NSBA’s 2008 T+L Conference, October 28-30, 2008 in Seattle, Washington, and will receive prizes from Sibelius, MagicScore Music Software, and MENC. Visit the web site for more information, an application, and to learn about past winners. Deadline: April 14, 2008.

This Month In Music History …

• March 1, 1810 - Composer Frederic Chopin was born.
• March 18, 1902 - Enrico Caruso recorded 10 arias for the Gramophone Company. He was the first well-known performer to make a record.
• March 21, 1685 - Composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born.
• March 23, 1792 - Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 94 in G Major (the "Surprise Symphony") was performed publicly for the first time, in London.
• March 26, 1828 - In Vienna, Austrian composer Franz Schubert gave his only public concert.
• March 31, 1732 - Composer Franz Joseph Haydn was born. He is known for helping to develop the Classical style.