The Music Educator’s Guide

to Advocacy
Julia Plato
What does advocacy mean to
you?
What kind of advocacy we are used to:
● Using statistics to show how the brain is affected by music
○ Music students are more effective in the math, science, and English classrooms
○ Presenting this to PTA, at open houses, to administration

● Music teachers bringing droves of parents and students to show these statistics at school board
meetings
● Phone call trees of parents calling other parents and community supporters when assistance is
needed
Maintenance Advocacy
● The best way to advocate for a music program “involves proactively showcasing the music
program’s benefits and achievements, and doing so on a consistent basis.”
● Reaching into the community
● Culturally Relevant Program
● Fostering 21st century skills
○ Critical Thinking
○ Collaboration
○ Creativity
○ Discipline
○ Emotional Awareness
Community Engagement

School
Performances Board/Administration Parent Groups

Communication Local Media Open Houses

Community Engagement

Performances School
Board/Administration Parent Groups

Communication Local Media Open Houses

Communication
● Classroom Website
○ Important documents
○ Calendar of events
○ Accessible to parents

● Classroom Newsletter
○ Weekly/biweekly/monthly

● Email availability
○ Professional (salutation, subject heading, proper closure, proofread)
○ Promptly respond
Communication
● School Website
○ Important documents
○ School Calendar
○ Accessible to parents

● Classroom Newsletter
○ Weekly/biweekly/monthly

● Email availability
○ Professional (salutation, subject heading, proper closure, proofread)
○ Promptly respond
Performances
● Perform for community organizations and in community spaces
○ Chamber of Commerce
○ Rotary Club
○ Amphitheaters
○ Government buildings
○ Nursing homes
○ Show 21st Century skills

● Student Leadership
○ Ushers
○ Introducing pieces
What are some ways Music
Programs can be culturally
relevant?
Knowing the Students

● Beginning of the year Introductions

○ Students’ favorite hobbies, movies, sports, books
○ Musical Biography: skills, favorite types of music as a child, in elementary school, now
■ Let students present to the class so they all get to learn about new music from their peers

● Avoid stereotypes
○ It is easy to make assumptions based on race and ethnicity while disregarding social and cultural
background.
Culturally Relevant Ensembles

Change with the students

Modern ● The way these ensembles change is greatly
Folk Band
Band influenced by how well you get to know your
students
● Will be different every year

Hybrid
Technology
Ensembles
Conclusion
By reaching into the community and getting to know your students, you are strengthening your
program holistically. Although this is not coming out and directly explaining why music education is
important, it is expressing the value of the music program in the way you present it.