Dear Tri-M Advisors,

Happy New Year! Welcome to new beginnings for 2010. In this month’s issue of E-News, you’ll find announcements, upcoming service opportunities, and events. This month’s featured article is from our online Future Teachers weekly articles, titled "What Would You Do? Part 4." 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 Jen Reed. Please share an update with us on how your chapter is doing!

Sincerely,

Jen Reed, Student Programs Manager
 

What Would You Do? Part 4

“Burnout is a documented risk in the music education profession. Recognizing the symptoms and causes of stress is the first step in effectively dealing with it,” says Gary Mortenson. He suggests that educators periodically take a step back and put their jobs into perspective.

“Although a career in music education can be stressful, it also can be a most rewarding professional life. By becoming aware of stressors and stress managing strategies, you can prevent burnout. Constant self-monitoring and a healthy lifestyle will help the music educator to have a long and successful career,” says Gene Bechen, Professor of Music at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.

How would you react to the following hypothetical scenarios? 

Scenario #1
You are beginning a junior high school position and have been told by your administrator that your predecessor was released because she could not control the class. Rules were not enforced, the program had slipped in quality and numbers, and morale was low. The classroom situation is a mess, files are disorganized, music folders are missing or incomplete, school-owned instruments are neglected, and it’s obvious that you have your work cut out for you. What can you do over the summer before the school year starts to restore discipline, morale, and confidence?

• What can you do about the physical appearance of the music room and equipment?
• Are there any positive aspects in taking over a situation such as this?
   

Scenario #2
You have been putting in a tremendous amount of time getting organized for the year's activities. The late hours, lack of sleep, and constant worry about deadlines are causing you to be irritable towards your family, friends, and colleagues. The harder you work, the more inefficient you seem to become. You know that these are classic symptoms of burnout, but you have always been able to work your way through the demands of your job.

• What can you do to improve the quality of your life during difficult times such as these?
• What help can you find to make sure you recover from stress before it becomes a threat to your health, your job effectiveness, and your family environment?

Share your thoughts about these scenarios on the future teacher forum or e-mail your responses to Jen Reed.

Read What Would You Do? Part 1, which focuses on teacher-student relationships.
Read What Would You Do? Part 2, which focuses on teacher-parent relationships.
Read What Would You Do? Part 3, which focuses on criticism.

Gary C. Mortenson is professor of trumpet and head of the music department at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He also serves as publications editor and as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Trumpet Guild.

This article is adapted from “Reality 101,” by Gary C. Mortenson in Music Educators Journal (December 1991): 45-49

Resources:
Burnout and the Beginning Music Educator by Gene Bechen
Advice for New Teachers: Part 1
Advice for New Teachers: Part 2
Da Capo: Starting the First Year: Part 1
Da Capo: Starting the First Year: Part 2
What Would You Do? Tips for Field Trips
What Would You Do? Replacing a Popular Teacher

--Shauna Leavitt, November 19, 2009, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education

Contests, Scholarships, and Student Opportunities

The Green Anthem Lyric Writing Contest

In conjunction with this year’s World’s Largest Concert, participate in the Green Anthem Lyric Writing Contest for grades 7-12. Invite your students to write new lyrics to “The Green Anthem”  with your own variations on “The Green Anthem” melody. Select up to three (3) student entries to submit to MENC. Entries will be judged on lyric and melodic variation originality by an MENC member panel. Four (4) winning entries will be posted on the MENC Web site and will be performed at the national Green Anthem Concert in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in April 2010. Deadline is February 15, 2010. Visit the MIOSM Contest page for downloadable forms, rules, and eligibility requirements.

Watch this video of the Hartt School Connecticut Children's Choir singing "The Green Anthem."

MENC National Honor Ensembles

Deadline extended to February 1! The MENC National Honor Ensembles will debut in June 2010 at Music Education Week in Washington, DC. Now your star student performers have the opportunity for recognition beyond the state and division level. Students should apply now for the inaugural National Honor Concert Band, Mixed Choir, Orchestra, and Jazz Band. For more information, visit National Honor Ensembles.  Application deadline: February 1, 2010.

NSBA Electronic Composition Contest

NEW: Group Category for 2010! Sponsored by MENC and the National School Boards Association (NSBA), the Electronic Music Composition Contest recognizes outstanding student compositions. Winning students will be honored at NSBA's 2010 T+L Conference. Entries will be judged based on their aesthetic quality, effective use of electronic media, and the power of the composition and its presentation in communicating to school board members, administrators, and others, the excitement and effectiveness of electronic music composition in the school curriculum. The entry deadline is April 14, 2010. For an application form and additional information, visit the NSBA Student Electronic Music Composition Talent Search.

Student Composers Competition

MENC is seeking original music of student composers for featured performances during Music Education Week in Washington to be held June 24-29, 2010, in Washington, D.C. Selected compositions will be the best representative works from MENC's six divisions in each of the following levels: elementary/middle school, high school, and undergraduate/graduate school. The instrumental composition category is for woodwinds, solo or any combination of instruments up to a woodwind quintet and piano. Visit Student Composer Competition for rules and entry form.  Deadline: February 15, 2010.

New Horizons Tour & Travel Discount for Music Education Week Student Travel Packages

Register your student group to attend Music Education Week through New Horizons Tour & Travel, and NHTT will cover the $500 registration fee! NHTT is proud to partner with Music Education Week and wants to assist your group in participating in this worthwhile effort on behalf of music education. As an official student planner for Music Education Week as well as preferred travel planner for Bands of America, Essentially Ellington, the Disney Jazz Celebration and the Big Band Jam, NHTT will meet and exceed all your travel and performance needs. Visit NHTT for registration and more information. $500 discount offer expires February 15, 2010.

MIOSM® Lesson Plan Writing Contest

Two more weeks to enter! For all MENC members. What do you do in your classroom to celebrate Music In Our Schools Month®? Enter your creative lesson plans, teaching tips, and activities. Visit MIOSM Lesson Plan Writing Contest for the rules and contest entry form. Deadline: February 1, 2010.

Chapter Spotlights

Franklin Middle School – Champaign, IL
Advisor: April Blacker

Franklin Middle School has just joined Tri-M and chose to do Toys for Tots as their very first service project. The small group of 19 chose this project via a group vote and then truly threw their hearts into it! The group made posters to display around the school, and the officers visited each class and made a special speech to encourage the whole school to participate. The Toys of Tots bin was put out at two different concerts in December as well as being in the music room for four weeks. In the end, all Tri-M members, several other students and even a few staff members brought in a variety of great gifts for the toy drive. Franklin Middle School is very proud of their newest honor’s society!

If you and your Tri-M chapter would like to be spotlighted in an issue of the Tri-M E-News, please send your blurb/photo of your chapter/activity to Jen Reed.

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 visit www.menc.org.

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 Chapter of the Year point evaluation form, to the Tri-M national office postmarked no later than April 30, 2010.

MENC’s Walk of Fame

Tri-M Sponsors, are you looking for a way to honor a special music educator in your life? Or to recognize the accomplishments of your own chapter?

We hope you’ll consider purchasing an engraved brick on the Walk of Fame at MENC headquarters in Reston, Virginia. Doing so provides a special way to support music education. This is a wonderful opportunity to honor a mentor, memorialize a loved one, commemorate an occasion or event, or simply make public and permanent your own support for music education.

For more information or questions, contact Susan Lambert.

Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation Grants

Grants of up to $12,000 will be awarded to public schools and nonprofits working to fund existing or planned public school or independent music programs across the nation. For more information, visit Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation. Deadline: February 5, 2010.

Online Resource
The Qualities of Quality: Understanding Excellence in Arts Education

What do arts educators and others think are the key attributes of "quality" in arts learning in K–12? Researchers at Harvard's Project Zero explore this question through interviews, case studies and a literature review. Download the free report at The Wallace Foundation.

January Poll

Each month, MENC asks its members for their input on current issues and trends in music education. This month’s question is: Please tell us which conferences or workshops you may have already attended this 2009-2010 school year, or will be attending by June 30, 2010. Share your thoughts today on the Professional Development Survey.

January Monthly Special

Stay Sharp in January

 In January only, MENC members can purchase the MIOSM Pencil Sharpener for half off the regular price – only 50¢! These bright blue plastic sharpeners with a white MIOSM logo are great for teachers and students.

 No additional purchase is required. MIOSM® 2010 Pencil Sharpener: #7035R 50¢
This special is not available at state conference resource shops. Call 1-800-828-0229 or visit www.menc.org to order.

Follow MENC on Twitter.

Tri-M Facebook Groups

• 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!

MENC on LinkedIn

Connect with fellow MENC members and music education advocates on LinkedIn, a professional networking site. Participate in discussions about current topics, get music education news, and network with others in the field. To join, login to LinkedIn, select "Search Groups" from the top drop-down menu, and search for "MENC." If you haven't created an account yet, you can sign up at linkedin.com.

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 Jen Reed 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 “Ask the Mentors” forum features a different mentor for band, orchestra, chorus, general music, jazz, and guitar. The mentors are veteran teachers who offer advice in response to your teaching questions. Post questions and read responses on the Future Teacher’s Forum. Read about this month’s MENC Mentors.

Month of January
Band – Dennis Granlie
General Music – Sue Metz
Chorus – James Reddan
Orchestra – Michael Lapomardo
Jazz – David Kay
Guitar – Randy Haley
 

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.

--Jen Reed, January 21, 2010 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education.