Dear Tri-M Members and Advisors,

Welcome back from what I hope was an amazing summer! In this month’s issue of E-News, you’ll find a welcome back letter from the Tri-M National Chair, Lance Nielsen, announcements, upcoming service opportunities, and events. This month’s featured article is by Lance Nielsen, “Top 10 Ways to Prepare Your Tri-M Officers for Success.” And this year we’ve added two new specialty items – multi-colored Tri-M pens and music picture frames! See ad below for links to the new items.

As always, if you have comments, questions, or would like to share your chapter’s activities with us for publication in a future issue, e-mail Shauna Leavitt. Please share an update with us on how your chapter is doing!

Sincerely,

Shauna Leavitt, Student Programs Manager

Welcome Back from Tri-M National Chair

One of the questions that I get from Tri-M advisors is how to get Tri-M officers actively involved. It starts now at the beginning of the school year. I know that we all are busy with starting new classes and establishing expectations and goals for our music program. It is not any different with Tri-M chapters. Find a time you and your Tri-M student officers can meet and strategically plan for the school year. Establish the job descriptions of each officer, teach them how to run effective meetings, and create a calendar of meeting times and deadlines for the school year. Then decide what projects and goals your Tri-M chapter would like to have for this school year. The more organized you are at the beginning and the more training you can provide your Tri-M Officers NOW, the easier the year will be. It starts with you – the Advisor.

We hope you will be willing to share your Tri-M stories, ideas, projects, and activities with each other throughout this year. We can learn from each other, so send your ideas to Shauna Leavitt at MENC and we will make sure to get them published in the Tri-M E-News or the Fall and Spring printed Newsletters.

I wish you all the best for a great school year and I thank you for all that you do for our Tri-M students.

Sincerely,
Lance D. Nielsen
National Tri-M Chair

Ten Ways To Prepare Your Tri-M Officers For A Successful Year

By Lance Nielsen, National Tri-M Chair

1. Plan a meeting with the chapter officers at the beginning of school to plan for the year.
2. Create job descriptions for each office. Tri-M officers need to know what is expected of them.
3. Set up a meeting schedule. Tri-M officers should have their own meeting once or twice a month prior to the full chapter meeting.
4. Discuss and create a meeting protocol. Review the Robert’s Rules of Order or set up guidelines that should be followed for a smooth student-led meeting.
5. Create a list of attainable goals and projects for the year. Plan projects that are both school and community service related projects.
6. Design meetings that are educational as well as informational. Invite guest artists and guest speakers. Collaborate with local CMENC chapters at colleges and universities.
7. Create a project timeline of when certain key responsibilities must be completed.
8. Discuss the importance of positive public perception. Tri-M officers should represent the best of the best in the way they communicate and interact with others.
9. Talk about the importance of being organized. As an advisor, help them be organized by guiding their thought processes and providing the resources they need to be successful.
10. Review the school’s expectations for student organizations, i.e. what paperwork is required and what rules must be followed.
     

As an advisor, if you spend some time preparing, teaching, and guiding your Tri-M officers at the beginning of the school year, then your job will be easier for the rest of the school year. Remember, you are an advisor – guide and lead them down the path of success.

Contests, Scholarships, and Student Opportunities

Nominate Your Top Students as U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICANS!

Plan now for the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band! Nominate your students who are JUNIORS in the 2009-2010 school year for participation in their senior year in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Week festivities, taking place January 4-9, 2011. In January 2010, nominees will receive audition information, which must be submitted by April 15, 2010. Final selections for the 2011 marching band will be announced by July 1, 2010.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is preparing to launch its annual search for young people who have demonstrated outstanding community service over the past year. Once again, Tri-M is proud to support this unique youth recognition program. Your students can win cash prizes, a trip to Washington DC, and a chance to inspire other young people to volunteer in their communities. Deadline is November 2, 2009. See Student Spotlight below to hear how one of our very own Tri-M students was a recipient of one of these awards.

SchoolJam USA Competition

SchoolJam USA Competition, sponsored by NAMM with the help of MENC and others, is looking for the best teen bands in the nation. Student bands (musicians ages 13-18) playing any style of music can apply online from August 24 to October 15. Finalist bands and their school music program will receive funding to help purchase new musical instruments, gear, and other musical equipment. Unlike other music competitions, SchoolJam USA unites schools, teen musicians, and local music retailers in the quest to get young people making music and showing off what they've got while promoting and building community support for local school music education programs.

Take Your Students to Disney!

Walt Disney World has several musical opportunities in spring 2010 for you and your students, which MENC is proud to endorse.

• Disney Jazz Celebration– February 18-20, 2010. A unique event open to instrumental and vocal performers, bringing together jazz educators and students with collegiate adjudicators and jazz celebrities. Students can choose to take part in jam sessions with their peers and jazz professionals. 
• The Disney Honors – March 12-15, 2010. The Disney Honors is a non-competitive music festival presenting some of the nation's foremost high school instrumental and choral ensembles. 
• Festival Disney – Weekend dates from March to May 2010. Students will demonstrate their performance excellence in the only all-Disney-produced competitive music festival. Festival Disney gives your talented ensemble the chance to compete with other instrumental, choral and auxiliary groups from schools across the country.

2010 Concerto Competition

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band, in conjunction with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and MENC, is pleased to announce the 2010 Marine Band Concerto Competition for high school musicians. The winner will appear as a guest soloist with the U.S. Marine Band and receive a cash prize. Open to high school musicians (grades 9–12) enrolled during the 2009–2010 academic year. Performers of woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments may apply. Deadline November 14, 2009.

Tri-M Student Spotlight

Colin Leslie, one of our very own Tri-M members from Rye High School in Rye, NY, was one of the ten National Honorees of the 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Over the past 3 years, Colin has raised more than $150,000 for the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. Colin himself was diagnosed with celiac disease, and decided to help raise money for research by holding a walkathon. For his work he received a $5,000 personal award, and a $5,000 grant for a non-profit organization of his choice from The Prudential Foundation.

News and Events

New Tri-M items for 2009-2010!

• Tri-M Pens—NEW! Clickable, ballpoint pens with colorful (red, purple, and green) barrels and comfortable gel grip. Package of 3 pens per set, 1 of each color with white logo and black ink. #8052. Active Tri-M chapter $1.50/Others $2.00
• Music Memories and Band Picture Frames—NEW! 4” x 6” wooden frames include glass and easel back with drop leg for tabletop display. #8053. Music Memories Picture Frame. Active Tri-M chapter $12.00/Others $16.00 #8054. Band Picture Frame. Active Tri-M chapter $12.00/Others $16.00
• Clearance Items – Several Tri-M items are now on clearance, including the advisor coin, the Tri-M apple ball, Tri-M key ring, emblem picture, and name tags. See the Tri-M catalog for more details.
• To order: Call 1-800-828-0229 or download the Tri-M Catalog.

Tri-M Chapter of the Year 09-10

Start thinking now about collecting items for your Chapter of the Year scrapbook! The Chapter of the Year summer music scholarship program offers scholarship money for summer study programs to the top 3 chapters at the national level in each division (senior and junior chapters). Advisors of the winning chapters then award scholarship money to deserving students in their chapters. To get these scholarships, chapters must send in a scrapbook covering their activities for the year, together with the current (2009) Chapter of the Year point evaluation form (found on pp. 30-31 in the Tri-M 2009 Manual), to the Tri-M national office postmarked no later than April 30, 2010.

Tri-M Spring 2009 Newsletter is now online

Look for articles about what Tri-M chapters around the nation and the world are doing. For past issues of the Tri-M Newsletter visit Tri-M Music Honor Society: In The News.  Look for the Fall 2009 Newsletter – coming soon! For past issues of Tri-M E-News, visit Tri-M Music Honor Society: In The News.

August Monthly Special

Poster Extravaganza

Has your classroom looked the same for years? Are you a new teacher? Whatever the situation, now is a great time to brighten up your classroom with one or more of MENC’s colorful posters. The August MENC Member Monthly Special features eight unique designs – one for every music room. You will love having these eye-catching posters to inspire your students, other teachers, parents, and administrators.

In August only, MENC members can purchase these posters for half off the regular price!

Oscar Hammerstein Quote Poster. #5050R. $4.00.
Pablo Casals Quote Poster. #5051R. $4.00.
Dick Clark Quote Poster. #5052R. $4.00.
Sir Walter Scott Quote Poster. #5053R. $4.00.
Band Antique Poster. #5004R. $3.50.
Piano Duet Antique Poster. #5005R. $3.50.
String Class Antique Poster. #5007R. $3.50.
National Standards Poster. #5025R. $3.50.

Call 1-800-828-0229 to place your order now.
No additional purchase required.

August Poll of the Month

Each month, MENC asks its members for their input on current issues and trends in music education. This month’s question is: What is the best thing about the start of a new school year? Share your thoughts today.

MENC Twitter

Follow MENC on Twitter.

Facebook

• Stay connected with other MENC Tri-M members around the world by joining MENC’s Tri-M group on Facebook. To join, simply visit www.facebook.com and search “MENC Tri-M Headquarters.”
• Want to know what’s happening at MENC Headquarters? Become a fan of MENC on Facebook!

Planning a Tri-M Event?

For those planning regional events for members of Tri-M chapters, please be sure to send a copy of the Tri-M Event Responsibility form to Shauna Leavitt by faxing it to (703) 860-9404 or mailing it to her attention at MENC, 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191. A copy of this form is available on page 57 of the Tri-M Manual (2009 issue).

“Ask the Mentors” Forum

Do you have music education questions? MENC’s mentors have the answers! Each month from September to May, the MENC forums feature mentors for band, orchestra, chorus, general music, jazz, and guitar. The mentors are veteran teachers who offer advice in response to your teaching questions. Teachers who are members of MENC may post questions; the responses are open for all to read. Read about this month’s MENC Mentors.

Month of September

Band—Amy Richter
General Music—Lisa Lehmberg
Chorus—Kyle Weary
Orchestra—Jim Robinowitz
Jazz—Carol Jacobe
Guitar—Glen McCarthy

Tri-M® Music Honor Society is the international music honor society for middle/junior high and high school students. Tri-M is a program of MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of music education. Through its many programs, activities, publications, and conferences, MENC addresses all aspects of music education and works to ensure that every student can be a part of a balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction. For more information about Tri-M Music Honor Society, visit our Website.

--Shauna Leavitt, August 20, 2009 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education.