Monthly Archives: February 2011

March is Music in Our Schools Month

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Did you know that March is Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM)? That’s right, in just a few days there will be a prime chance to highlight the music program in your own school, or perhaps the school(s) of your past, or maybe the school(s) of someone you know and/or are related to.

MIOSM is when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation, and the celebration has grown since its inception in 1973. MIOSM began as a single statewide event. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is a perfect venue for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community and to display the benefits school music brings to students of all ages. The theme for 2011 is Music Lasts a Lifetime.

It’s also a prime time to heighten the awareness of all school music programs, since it’s budget time for many school boards. In this era where all cuts are discussed in earnest, there’s no better opportunity than now to chime in and make your case for the preservation of your program.

Things that can help:

Music in Our Schools Month Website: The destination for resources and guidance in celebrating the month in your school, including logos, activity ideas, contests, advocacy and more.

SupportMusic.com: SupportMusic.com is a public service initiative that impacts resolve and support for music education in local communities around the United States and abroad. Tens of thousands of concerned citizens visit the website every month and use its resources to keep music education strong in their schools and communities.

The Make Your Case database, powered by SupportMusic.com, and presented through MENC: This destination will help you build a case for your music program, particularly if it’s threatened. Music education advocates can use the facts, statistics, research, and anecdotes on specific topics for presentations, speeches, and other communications with school board members, administrators, and legislators.

Music indeed lasts a lifetime…..celebrate Music in Our Schools Month!

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Elementary Music Mondays, the series, posts to www.pendersbuzz.com a couple of times a month, with information from our staff, our publisher partners, guest bloggers and more. Come back to this site, or access it from our main Home Page, to find out the latest buzz!

The Choir & the Community

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Is your choir in a community that supports the arts, and supports your music program? If so, you might want to fill out a nationwide survey that searches for communities whose [music] programs exemplify commitment to music education.

Once analyzed, your school or school district might be listed as an official NAMM Best Community for Music Education.

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What you need to know:

NAMM: The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry.

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The NAMM Foundation:  A non-profit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.

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Best Communities for Music Education (BCME): Amid a backdrop of arts education budget cuts, the NAMM Foundation continues its effort to recognize schools across the U.S. that support music education and provide opportunities for children and young people to learn and grow with music. Their survey has been conducted annually since 1998.

The List: The projected announcement of the BCME final roster is Monday, May 2, 2011.

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Choral Cache Thursdays, the series, will post to www.pendersbuzz.com a couple of times a month, with information from our staff, our publisher partners, guest bloggers and more. Come back to this site, or access it from our main Home Page, to find out the latest buzz!

Back to Bach

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The Denton Bach Society (DBS) hosts a competition each year for young musicians, where the prizes in each division include $150 cash, a Pender’s Music Co. gift certificate, and the opportunity to perform at a Denton Bach Society event.

Any high school or home-schooled student of voice, piano or an orchestral instrument may enter. Students from Denton County and its adjacent counties are eligible (Competitors must have turned 14 by September 1, 2010).

Do you want to enter, or know someone who might be interested? Here’s what you need to know:

The Music: To enter, eligible musicians must prepare two challenging pieces, each in a contrasting style. The pieces must be approved by the student’s instructor, as well as the DBS audition committee. The audition itself lasts only 10 minutes, so participants may not be required to perform each piece in their entirety.

The Money: An entry fee of $15 is required, and needs to be made to The Denton Bach Society. It should be sent with the completed application form.

 

The Method: Applications may be obtained at Pender’s Music Company [Denton].

The Mail: The Application and fee must be mailed to Heidi Klein, Denton, TX 76201. Postmark may be no later than Friday, April 15, 2011. Entrants will be notified of the exact time and place of their audition.

The Denton Bach Society: The Denton Bach Society (DBS) exists to provide Denton and the greater North Texas Community with the highest quality choral and instrumental music, particularly of the baroque period, at a reasonable cost and in a format which encourages attendance by the widest possible audience. Established in 1976 as a not-for-profit organization, the Society and its performance groups, the Denton Bach Choir and the Denton Bach Orchestra continue to offer the community a unique and accessible opportunity to experience fine choral and instrumental music. For more information about the DBS or the Competition, you may contact Heidi Klein – heidiklein@verizon.net.

Tuesday’s Tidbits for Strings, the series, will post to www.pendersbuzz.com about once a month, with information from our staff, our publisher partners, guest bloggers and more. Come back to this site, or access it from our main Home Page, to find out the latest buzz!

The Texas Original Score Contest Wants You!

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How would you like to win up to $25,000 for your choir? Wouldn’t that be something? $25,000, to put toward important supplies and resources for your school’s music program.

Well, as the well-known slogan says…State Farm is there [to give you a chance to win money for your choir]. That’s right. All you have to do is enter the Texas Original Score Contest, a combined initiative courtesy of TMEA and State Farm Insurance.

With a commitment of  $100,000 from State Farm, a Texas high school music program has the potential to win up to $25,000! All you and your students have to do is create and perform an original score that reflects something great about the state of Texas. One of the beauties of this particular contest is that schools of all sizes can get involved, and be judged appropriately. 1A-3A high schools will compete in one pool; 4A-5A in another. Additionally, you can use just one part of your fine arts program (i.e. the choir), or combine the efforts of everyone, and produce a collaborative project among multiple music groups (choir, band, orchestra, etc) from your school.

What do you need to do? In a nutshell:

  • compose an original score that reflects something great about Texas,
  • bring together an ensemble of high school student musicians to perform the composition

Winning ensembles will be determined based on their composite score comprising three components: (1) the number of votes received in relation to the total possible number of votes in the contest (500 points), (2) score received from Texas Original Score Contest Adjudication panel based on standard TMEA/UIL competition criteria and integration of TEKS in the collaboration and creation process (250 points), and (3) score received from music industry adjudication panel, including members of Los Lonely Boys and other music industry professionals.

Go to the contest website to download the teacher handbook, review the rules, and learn more about how you and your students can participate.

(information courtesy of TMEA & OriginalScoreContest.com)

Choral Cache Thursdays, the series, will post to www.pendersbuzz.com a couple of times a month, with information from our staff, our publisher partners, guest bloggers and more. Come back to this site, or access it from our main Home Page, to find out the latest buzz!