Preparing Music Educators to be Advocates for School Music is Goal of New Webinar Series from MENC: The National Association for Music Education
Music Lives Foundation Provides Support for Initiative Viewed as Critical to Future of School Music Programs
RESTON, VA (January 4, 2007) — MENC: The National Association for Music Education announces a series of Webinars focusing on music education advocacy. The series, beginning in January 2007 and continuing through June, aims to give MENC members and other music education advocates the information they need to build and support strong school music programs. Through Webinar technology, experts from various fields will interact with participants in their homes, offices, and schools.
“It’s critical to the future of music education that all music teachers become strong advocates for their programs,” said Lynn M. Brinckmeyer, president of MENC. “Teachers who are equipped with innovative advocacy tools are better prepared to defend their program at budget time. The information teachers will gain through this series will help them build administrative and community support for music programs throughout the year.”
The first Webinar, “Growing Grassroots Networks” will take place January 25, 2007 (8:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm CT, 6:00 pm MT, 5:00 pm WT). Participants will learn the basics of building and maintaining advocacy networks with administrators, music merchants, and community leaders. Nationally recognized experts will address participants and respond to questions. Featured speakers are John I. Wilson, Executive Director, National Education Association (NEA); Mary L. Luehrsen, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, NAMM, the International Music Products Association; and Marcia Neel, Coordinator of Secondary Fine Arts , Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV.
Support for the MENC Advocacy Webinars is generously provided by the Music Lives Foundation. Subsequent Webinars topics include: “Crash Course: How and Why Advocacy is Critical for Future Teachers;” “Getting Mileage Out of the Media;” “Leveraging Events in Your Community;” “Working with Allies” “Associations and Businesses;” “In the Crosshairs: Talking to the Targets;” and a special program emanating from MENC’s Centennial Celebration in Orlando, FL.
To register for the Webinars or for more information, visit www.menc.org/webinars.
MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world’s largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 130,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC’s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.
The Music Lives Foundation’s goal is to improve the lives of children and foster their development by raising awareness of — and funds to support — a variety of music education efforts for students and teachers. The Music Lives Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) public charity supported by Paul McCartney and Fidelity Investments.
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