Advocacy News, Action, and Alerts
April is MENC Centennial Month!
In 2007, MENC celebrates one hundred years of advancing music education. Beginning with a small meeting of 104 music supervisors in Keokuk, Iowa, MENC has grown to include music educators at all levels from pre-kindergarten to university, college students preparing to become music teachers, high school music honor society members, music industry representatives, music supervisors, and parents and community members who support our cause. With more than 130,000 members, MENC is the world's largest arts education association. Visit MENC Centennial Celebration.

MENC Centennial Celebration And Congress
The MENC Centennial Celebration and Congress will be held June 25-28 in Orlando, Florida, featuring a discussion of two key issues: our goals for music education, and why music education is not yet universal. Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, will address the Congress, as will leaders from other arts and education organizations. Plenty of down time to enjoy area attractions is scheduled! World Pass, official travel coordinator, is offering great packages on hotels and theme park tickets. Visit MENC Centennial to register or call World Pass at 888-877-4445.

The National Anthem Project Update
The Finale is Just Around The Corner!
From June 14-17, 2007, The National Anthem Project finale will transform the grounds of the Washington Monument into a shining beacon of patriotism and song, a living tribute to our national anthem. If you cannot be with us in person in Washington, DC during that time, please find a way to participate from afar. Music teachers across the country will be holding satellite performances in their cities timed in conjunction with the larger performance in the nation’s capital. Contact your local music teacher to find out if a performance will be taking place in your city, or, gather your friends and loved ones and create your own celebration!

For Your Teacher
2007 IAJE/MENC Teacher Training Institutes
The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) and MENC will present intensive 2-1/2 day Teacher Training Institutes: June 14-16 in Park City, UT, and June 21-23 at Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA. Designed for band, string, vocal, general music, and private piano teachers who desire to increase their understanding of and competency in jazz education; the training is also open to college students currently enrolled in music education programs. For more information, visit The International Association for Jazz Education.

Ask The “MENCtors”
Take advantage of a special online professional development opportunity... free! MENC members visiting the band, orchestra, chorus, mariachi, and general music message boards can receive expert advice in response to their inquiries. Mentors rotate on a monthly basis and typically respond to questions within a few days time. MENC offers this exciting benefit throughout the course of the school year. Visit the MENC mentors site to submit your questions!

April is Jazz Appreciation Month!
Doing a jazz event in April? Consider it part of Jazz Appreciation Month and get free publicity through the Smithsonian. Any jazz concert, lecture, or event open to the general public in April qualifies. Send your event information to jazz@si.edu for posting on the calendar of JAM events. For MENC jazz resources and lesson plans, visit the web site.

For Music Students
Summer Study 2007
Is your child interested in continuing their music education over the summer? Summer Study 2007 provides a variety of unique music-related opportunities for students ranging from camps, to festivals, to certification programs, and much more. For more information, visit Summer Study 2007.

Music Vocabulary
Staccato – An Italian word which indicates that notes sound short and detached. The rhythm is not affected. Notes identified as staccato should be played or sung abruptly and short. They are usually notated by a dot over the head of the note when the stem is downward, or by a dot below the head of the note when the stem is upward.  Staccato is the opposite of legato (smooth and tied together).