MIOSM and MMEA - Just Imagine ...

As I write this article, schools across Missouri are completing activities in celebration and recognition of Music In Our Schools Month. Unfortunately, many schools do not take time to showcase their music programs, underscore the importance of music in students’ lives, and make the general public, administrators, Boards of Education, and parents aware of the benefits of music instruction by qualified music educators. On the other hand, there are a number of wonderful MIOSM celebrations across the state that highlight local programs. While many of these celebrations focus on the elementary level, many middle and high school programs schedule MIOSM concerts, there are school-wide assembly programs, visits by local musicians, and news releases underscoring the importance of music in our schools sent to various media outlets.

The next two paragraphs provide a brief description from the MENC website about the origins and importance of MIOSM.

March has been officially designated by MENC: The National Association for Music Education for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month, the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. MIOSM began as a single statewide celebration in 1973, and has grown over the decades to encompass a day, then a week, and then in 1985 to become a month long celebration of school music. The purpose of MIOSM 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 an opportunity 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 celebration continues to grow each year, reaching more and more students, teachers, musicians, and music supporters. Schools and communities throughout the country and overseas celebrate MIOSM with concerts and other activities based on the year's theme. Classrooms, concert halls, civic buildings, clubs, parks, libraries, and shopping malls are just some of the arenas in which the public can observe the processes and results of music education.

Each year MENC selects a theme for MIOSM, and makes available to all members awareness items such as T-shirts, posters, buttons, stickers, and note pads. Another highlight of MIOSM is The World’s Largest Concert, a sing-along concert that links students around the world through music, and has reached an estimated 6 million students, teachers, and supporters in recent years. Selections scheduled for this year’s WLC were: “The Spangled Banner,” “Ev’rybody Say Peace,” “Ulili E,” “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” “An American Song,” “J’entends Le Moulin,” “I’ll Make the Difference,” and “There’s Magic in the Music.”

To celebrate MIOSM in Missouri, MMEA produces CD recordings of selected performances at our In-Service Workshop/Conference. These CD’s are given to each member of the Missouri House of Representatives, Senate, Governor, and other state elected officials. This year’s CD has three selections by the All-State Choir, two selections by the All-State Band, two by the All-State Jazz Ensemble, and one selection by the All-State Orchestra. I write some “liner notes” that are included with the recording. The text of those notes follows:

Music In Our Schools Month
March, 2009
2009 Theme: Music! Just Imagine…

This disk is provided to you compliments of the over 3,000 members of the Missouri Music Educators Association as part of our organization’s celebration of Music In Our Schools Month. The disk features selected performances by the Missouri All-State Band, All-State Choir, All-State Orchestra, and All-State Jazz Ensemble at our 71st Annual In-Service Workshop/Conference that took place in January.

March has been officially designated as Music In Our Schools Month by MENC: The National Association for Music Education as a time for music education to become the focus of schools across the nation. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education in our schools for all children, and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. Many schools in Missouri and across the country are planning events to highlight their music education programs during MIOSM.

These recordings provide you a sampling of the great things our Missouri students can accomplish as a result of our state’s strong school music programs. You will hear exceptional performances of orchestral music by Sir Edward Elgar, the individualized expression created by improvised jazz solos, a stirring performance of “Flight!” by Missouri composer Claude T. Smith, and the beautiful blended voices of the Missouri All-State Choir.

We’re sure you will enjoy the music on this disk! Thank you for your continued support of music in our Missouri schools.
Elsewhere in this issue you will find a photograph with Governor Nixon and Senator Kurt Schaefer [19th District] presenting Rob Nichols and me a Proclamation designating March, 2009, as Music In Our Schools Month in Missouri. While largely ceremonial, we did have a few moments to visit with the Governor about the importance of music in Missouri schools. Governor Nixon told us that, while he considered himself more an athlete, he did participate in choir while he was in school in DeSoto, and even took a vocal solo to music festival. He recalls the best comment he received for that performance was, “Nice tie!”

Local, state, and national observances of MIOSM are important and effective. If you have not participated in MIOSM, please make a commitment now to do so next year. It really does not have to be an elaborate undertaking. Something as simple as MIOSM stickers for your students, MIOSM note pads for your administrators or an article in the local paper can be effective ways to highlight your music program. If you need ideas or help getting started, contact Nylah Beach [Salisbury] our MMEA MIOSM Chair. Nylah can help you select from a number of activities that will work at all levels and in schools of all sizes.
Just imagine……