The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) leads the nation in spotlighting the importance of music education year round, but especially during the annual celebration of Music In Our Schools Month®. This March, schools and communities around the country will participate in activities and initiatives to raise awareness of the benefits of learning music and the ways music empowers and enriches lives. The year’s theme is “Music Education – Orchestrating Success.”
Concert for Music in Our Schools Month
The Concert for Music in Our Schools Month®, performed each March, is a cornerstone of the month long celebration. NAfME urges music teachers to garner support for their school music programs through a performance of the concert program. The songs include
This year for the first time, NAfME has selected video performances of six songs to feature on its website. Teachers and their students from throughout the United States appear in a variety of settings. The songs are “Alleluia! Jubilate! ,” “Cripple Creek”, “Peace Drum Song,” “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “The Power of Music,” and “Why We Sing.” “The Power of Music”
There are other special MIOSM initiatives including:
Share Your Story
An exciting social media initiative, “Share Your Story,” is already under way. “NAfME wants to hear from people whose lives have been positively affected by music,” said Executive Director and CEO Michael A. Butera. “We are collecting ‘stories’ — any kind of personal testimony — from teachers, students, and parents about why music education is important. We are posting these on our advocacy blog and on a special page on our website. We will use these stories when we visit Capitol Hill later this year to make our case for protecting music in school as a core subject in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.” Share Your Story and read others:
Shopping Malls Celebrate and Support School Music
General Growth Properties, a company that owns and manages shopping malls nationwide, will support school music programs by hosting student performances at select malls during MIOSM. At the end of March, each mall will select one school ensemble to receive a $500 grant. The locations are:
Four Seasons Town Centre, Greensboro, NC
Fox River Mall, Appleton, WI
Glenbrook Square, Fort Wayne, IN
Lakeside Mall, Sterling Heights, MI
Lynnhaven Mall, Virginia Beach, VA
Mall St. Matthews, Louisville, KY
More Programs and Activities
NAfME celebrates MIOSM with additional activities including radio public service announcements, advocacy webinars, specialty items, fundraising initiatives for the Give a Note Foundation, and even a U.S. flag flying over the national Capitol building during March. The NAfME website has more information, including ideas for teachers and parents to promote music programs through the media.
Additional information about NAfME
Roz Fehr, NAfME managing editor for news, March 7, 2013. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
