Collegiate Corner

Collegiate Corner
Grace Demerath NAfME-NYSSMA Collegiate President 2014-15, Ithaca College

Music in Our Schools Month is an important reminder to make sure that we are all trying
to impact our entire school through music, and not just our own individual music classes.
Dedicate the entire month of March to the idea

success in the typical school music model to remem-

of trying to find ways to get your entire school district

ber that the typical model does not provide the same joy

involved in music. Use NAfMEs Music in Our Schools

and success for everyone. Music in Our Schools Month

Month as motivation to find new ways to get other educa-

can be an important time to remind ourselves and our

tors, students, parents and administrators more involved

administrators of this. Perhaps some of you can find a

in your program than they usually are.

way to use Music in Our Schools Month to speak to your

Whether it is through discussing or teaching in your

classes in new ways, creating a Music in Our Schools
Month concert or assembly, or inviting different stu-

administrators about finding ways that will allow for more

students to be involved in your music program.
Whether that means expanding your program to
involve more ensembles that appeal to a

dents or teachers to come into your class

to speak about how music relates to other
subjects. Think of all of the new ways that
you can get more support for your program
through reaching out to others and asking
for them to support your program and Music in Our Schools Month by using their own

Think of all of the

new ways that you can
get more support for
your program

wider variety of students, finding a way to involve more students with musical skills into
your existing ensembles, or perhaps setting
up assemblies for all of your school to see
your ensembles or experience a musical experience.
While we all know that every month

expertise.
Through Music in Our Schools Month we can show

should be Music in Our Schools Month, having the month

and remind our students, parents, administrators, fel-

of March dedicated to this gives us extra power to find

low educators and community members how important

extra support in our school and community for our music

music is to everyone. In order to show the importance

programs. Use the month of March to remind everyone

of music to those other than the students that we see

in your school and community of the importance that all

everyday, we need to find ways to reach out to the other

school music programs have.

percentage of students who are not involved in the mu-

I hope you all come up with fabulous ways to cel-

sic program. I think that Music in Our Schools Month is

ebrate Music in Our Schools Month with your students,

an important reminder for us all that there are many dif-

school, district, and community. Dont be afraid to reach

ferent forms of music and that we all appreciate music in

out to your fellow music educators for ideas on how to

some form, whether it is the form found most commonly in

celebrate Music in Our Schools Month. Happy Music

schools or not.

in Our School Month, remember to spread the joy that

It is so hard for those of us who found great joy and

is music!

March 2015 / SCHOOL MUSIC NEWS

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