Thank you for joining the MusicFriends program and for your support of music education. MENC: The National Association for Music Education is pleased to present MusicFriends E-Newsletter Volume 4, Number 1.

MENC's mission is to advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all. We believe music is intrinsically valuable and should be part of the core curriculum in every school for that reason alone. That music study appears to benefit students in so many other areas of their lives is a big bonus! (See the "Quick Fact About the Benefits of Music" in each newsletter for examples.) Knowledge of these benefits can be very helpful when you are trying to convince your local school board to protect the music program...and you'll feel even more positive about supporting music education for your kids and all the kids in your community.

The MusicFriends e-newsletters will provide you with information you can use to support your local music program and, as a result, improve education by promoting the teaching and learning of music. And remember, music-making isn't limited to kids — we hope you will make music with your children and community!

Your feedback is encouraged. To correspond with other MusicFriends members about e-newsletter content, post a message on the MusicFriends Open Forum. To ask questions of the staff at MENC, contact elizabethl@menc.org.

 
 

 

 



Growing Your Musician, Americans for the Arts, The Musicedge.com
Study: Exercising to Music Pumps up Brain Power
Will the Band Play On?
Nearly Two-thirds Don't Know U.S. Anthem
Boy, 12, Stuns With Talents in Music, Math
Pianist With Autism Uses Music to Express Self
Grammy Signature High Schools, SupportMusic.com, ForSociety.com, Tri-M Music Honor Society™, State Music Educators Associations, U.S. Department of Education
Sharing "A World of Happiness," National Moment of Remembrance, No Subject Left Behind
New Rewards Program Supports Music Education, Learn About Concert Etiquette, Send a Friend a Musical E-Card, Contact Your Members of Congress With Your Concerns About Education



The U.S. Department of Education lists the arts as subjects that college-bound middle and junior high school students should take, stating “Many colleges view participation in the arts and music as a valuable experience that broadens students’ understanding and appreciation of the world around them. It is also well known and widely recognized that the arts contribute significantly to children’s intellectual development.” In addition, one year of Visual and Performing Arts is recommended for college-bound high school students.

— Getting Ready for College Early: A Handbook for Parents of Students in the Middle and Junior High School Years, U.S. Department of Education, 1997



College-age musicians are emotionally healthier than their non-musician counterparts. A study conducted at the University of Texas looked at 362 students who were in their first semester of college. They were given three tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol related problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers also noted that the college-aged music students seemed to have surer footing when facing tests.

Source: Houston Chronicle, January 11, 1998

Announcing Growing Your Musician: A Practical Guide for Band and Orchestra Parents
The guide aims to help parents work with band and orchestra teachers to encourage musical development in young musicians, discusses how to effectively use private lessons to supplement school instruction, and offers strategies for getting young music students to practice. The price for MusicFriends is $21.75. To order, call (800) 828-0229 or visit www.menc.org.

Americans for the Arts
Does your state have an arts education standard for your school? You can learn where your school district is in terms of arts education by checking on the Americans for the Arts Web site at: http://www.artsusa.org/public_awareness/pac_article.asp?id=585

Welcome to the musicedge.com
Here’s a great site to explore today’s newest music trends and introduce your child to the world of music and the making of it. There is a time in every person’s life where they hear that first riff, or see their first band and say, “I want to do that.” This site is geared as a launching pad for the ambitions of tomorrow’s musicians – a place where they can go for information on up and coming bands, current stars and a comprehensive guide to finding the right instrument for your child to express themselves. http://www.themusicedge.com/about_me.html



Study: Exercising to Music Pumps up Brain Power
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/diet.fitness/03/25/exercise.music.reut/index.html


Will the Band Play On?
http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,941584,00.html


Nearly Two-thirds Don't Know U.S. Anthem
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040309-022639-2519r.htm


Boy, 12, Stuns With Talents in Music, Math
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/8408854.htm


Pianist With Autism Uses Music to Express Self
http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,942351,00.html


GRAMMY Signature High Schools
In cooperation with MENC, the GRAMMY Foundation Signature High Schools program honors public high school music programs that promote and preserve music education as a key part of their curriculum. All public high schools nationwide have the opportunity to apply for consideration as a GRAMMY Signature School. Top schools are selected to receive the honor of being designated as GRAMMY Signature High Schools. http://www.grammy.com/foundation/signature_schools.aspx

SupportMusic.com
Music and the arts… vital to every child’s education…SupportMusic can help you revive your community’s commitment! Make music a key part of your school and community. Build a case for music in school. Face the challenges with the resources offered here.
http://www.supportmusic.com

Tri-M Music Honor Society
Tri-M is the International Honor Society recognizing secondary music students for their musical ability, academic excellence, school involvement, and community service. Take a moment to investigate all the Tri-M Web site has to offer! http://www.menc.org/information/trim/TriMMain1.html

State Music Educators Associations
Check out the Web site of your state music educators’ association (the MENC affiliate in your state). You might contact the leaders of the organization to offer your assistance as a volunteer.
http://www.menc.org/connect/stateinf.html

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov




Sharing “A World of Happiness” With Children
MENC presents a free guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers to leading music activities for children using the songs of “A World of Happiness,” a Disney/Buena Vista Recordings/Borders Books and Records CD for the preK- 4 audience. The CD includes a variety of “feel good” songs delivered by celebrities from music, television, stage, and sports. Visit http://www.menc.org/networks/earlyc/happiness/woh_START.html for the lessons, information about the CD, and other online resources.

National Moment of Remembrance
MENC is partnering with The White House Commission on Remembrance, an independent agency established by Congress, to promote the National Moment of Remembrance and the Memorial Day anthem, “On This Day.” Americans worldwide are asked to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day (May 31) as an act of national unity, remembrance, and rededication to the ideals upon which our nation was founded. MENC is working with the Commission to make the Moment a new American tradition. Visit http://www.menc.org/guides/remember/onthisday.html

No Subject Left Behind
As budgets continue to shrink and testing continues to grow, don’t allow No Child Left Behind to be an excuse for the marginalization of the arts in your school! “No Subject Left Behind” is an excellent advocacy tool for communicating the place of the arts in the 2001 NCLB Act. You can view the PDF document here http://aep-arts.org/PDF%20Files/NoSubjectLeftBehind.pdf.
Contact Paul Kerlin at paulk@menc.org for more information.

New Rewards Program Supports Music Education
The Music for All Foundation( http://www.music-for-all.org/ ) a national non-profit organization committed to expanding the role of music and the arts in education, has launched the Musicard, the first-ever membership rewards card created specifically to help raise funds to improve access to music and arts education. For more information, visit http://www.menc.org/connect/musicard/musicard.html.

Learn about Concert Etiquette!
Share your knowledge with fellow concert goers and make everyone’s experience more enjoyable. Visit http://www.menc.org/guides/etiquette/etiquette_home.html.

Send a Friend a Musical E-Card! Take the Musical Quizzes! Read the “Jammin’ With...” Interviews!
http://www.musicfriends.org/fun.html

Contact Your Members of Congress With Your Concerns About Education!
This site makes getting in touch with your Senator or Representative easy.
http://Congress.org

You can help promote MusicFriends by displaying your membership decal on your vehicle, by telling others about the Web site, and by distributing brochures when possible at community and school events. To receive a supply of brochures, please contact bonnies@menc.org.

Read the previous MusicFriends newsletters: