Dear Tri-M Advisors,

March is Music In Our Schools Month®. So, celebrate by really promoting music in your school! This month’s feature article talks about ideas that you and your chapter can use to promote community service in your school and outside your walls. In this month’s issue of E-News, you’ll find announcements, upcoming service opportunities, and events. 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
 

March Is Music In Our Schools Month!

Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM)® is 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 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. Here are some MIOSM activity ideas.

Community Service ideas for Your Tri-M Chapter

 Looking for ways to reach out to others? Try these tried and true techniques. Want to see what other Tri-M chapters are doing in their communities? Read the Fall issue of the Tri-M newsletter. For a full listing of community service ideas, visit the Tri-M Activities page.

 
Inside Your Own Walls

• Incorporate "music history tidbits" in your school's daily announcements, or do a music trivia contest.
• Invite community music groups to perform with you at concerts, and participate in clinics or meetings.
• Establish and/or judge elementary or middle school performance or composition contests.
• Get involved in Music In Our Schools Month in March every year by featuring music in some way at your school.
• Include a local Collegiate MENC chapter in a community service project.
• Host receptions for visiting performers or special guests.
• Assist at state conferences in your area by hosting visitors and helping with registration.

Embracing Your Community

• Partner with local businesses to advertise upcoming musical events and projects.
• Purchase or repair used instruments and offer lessons to the community.
• Serve as the hospitality committee or hosts for a community meeting.
• Assist public radio/television in their fund-raisers and outreach programs.

Providing for Those in Need

• Help a food pantry distribute food to needy families.
• Canned food drives—charge one can admission to a concert or have a donation box at your school (don't forget flood and hurricane victims).
• Coordinate a clothing drive (summer and winter).
• Visit Rock and Wrap It Up to see how your chapter can reach out to the hungry in your area.

It's Elementary

• Host a "Pyramid Concert" involving performing groups from feeder junior high, middle, and elementary schools.
• Develop a musical “petting zoo” where young children can try various instruments.
• Give music lessons to elementary or homebound kids.
• Assist with rehearsals and performances of the World's Largest Concert® at your local elementary school.

Supporting Seniors

• Adopt a Grandparent—take him or her shopping, play games, do crafts, talk.
• Coordinate with the program director to plan a Senior Prom for residents of a retirement/nursing home.
• Hold a special seniors’ brunch before a Sunday matinee performance at school.
• Visit the elderly in their home and help them with yard work, shoveling snow, grocery delivery, etc.

Safeguarding Health

• Organize and participate in a blood drive and provide entertainment.
• Sponsor a CPR course.
• Participate in a mock accident through MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).
• Visit local hospitals and perform for the patients.

Preserving the Environment

• Adopt a Highway and get your Tri-M chapter's name and members out there for everyone to see.
• Join an environmental group to clean up a stream.
• Organize a recycling program.

Decking the Halls

• Sponsor a Holiday Gift Tree at your school, or collect gifts for Toys for Tots and local families in need.
• Provide singing telegrams to faculty, students, or community businesses on birthdays, Valentine's Day, and other special occasions.
• Participate in a gift-wrapping party at a retirement/nursing home.
• Go Christmas caroling at a local shelter, retirement/nursing home, or senior center—help seniors decorate their Christmas tree.

Contests, Scholarships, and Student Opportunities

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.

2010 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band

Don't let your students miss their chance to be a member of the 2011 U.S. Army All American Marching Band! Audition instructions for the 2011 band are now available online. A student must be a member of his/her high school band program and a senior in the 2010/11 school year to be eligible for the 2011 band. All eligible students may apply. (Band director nomination is not a prerequisite.) Application deadline: April 15. Visit USAAAMB audition Web site for more information.

MENC Copyright Awareness Scholarship Program

Check out the new contest sponsored by the Music Publishers' Association (MPA)! MENC seeks students' creative presentations geared toward educating their peers on the importance of intellectual property and copyright law. Open to all students ages 13–25 at the time of application and who are currently enrolled in an accredited secondary school or post-secondary institution of higher learning (college, university, or trade school). Scholarship prizes of $10,000, $3,000, and $2,000 will be awarded. Deadline: May 1, 2010. For more information, visit MENC Copyright Awareness Scholarship Program.

What’s Your Issue Song Competition Includes Judges Jack Black, Tom Brokaw and Yoko Ono

 

NAMM (International Music Products Association) is pleased to be a sponsor of the What’s Your Issue Song Competition, designed to give youth around the world a positive outlet to express themselves using music. This new song contest will be judged by singer/actor/activist Jack Black, along with Tom Brokaw, Yoko Ono, and others. The competition is looking for three-minute songs from young adults 14 to 24 on any issue that moves them including the environment, education, healthcare, pathway from poverty, national security and defense, public service, human, and equal rights issues.

The What’s Your Issue Song Competition winning entry will have several opportunities to present his/her song – from the 2011 NAMM Show to Washington, DC, to being included in a compilation CD of emerging artists later this year. Prizes also include a MacBook laptop and an iPod Touch. The submission period is open now and runs through mid-April, 2010. Winners will be announced in May 2010.

Parker Quartet Master Class Contest

The Parker Quartet Master Class Contest is a contest for high school and college string quartets, sponsored by American Public Media's Performance Today. CDs of live recordings will be judged by the Parker Quartet and Performance Today staff. The winners receive a free master class with the Parker Quartet, a world-class recording of the session, and airfare and hotel expenses. Deadline is April 1, 2010. Questions? Email Jackie Cartier.

 

Chapter Spotlights

Robinson Secondary School – Fairfax, VA
Advisor: Michael Horanski

The Robinson Tri-M chapter sponsored the 3rd annual “Robinson Gives Back” concert. Throughout the year students ask members of the community to support their music program, but this was an opportunity for those students to give back to the community by helping those who need it most. The concert was created to help raise funds for The LAMB Center, which provides assistance to homeless individuals throughout Fairfax County. Over the past three years the money raised at this performance has purchased hypothermia shoes and has helped cover utility expenses at The LAMB Center. Students from Robinson Secondary School’s choral, band, guitar and orchestra department participate in this event. Music has always been associated with bringing people together and this event is no exception.

Ranney Middle School -- Tinton Falls, NJ
Advisor: Lillianne Torrente

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, the Ranney Middle School Jr. Tri-M Music Honor Society had its 2nd Annual Social, “Dinner and a Concert.” Twelve student members , along with three performing arts faculty, started the evening with dinner. After dinner the students and faculty walked to the Count Basie Theatre to hear the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra present“Best of…Fairy Tales. To help set the mood, short descriptive narratives were included. The NJSO was led by Elizabeth Schulze, music director of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the Flagstaff Symphony, who helped transport the audience to exotic realms and colorful musical landscapes with her expert and almost dance-like conducting. Overall, the evening was a delight for students and faculty alike.

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

2010 Music Education Week

Music Education Week is a new annual MENC event built around a new format, different from that of past national biennial conferences. This format is designed to provide members with opportunities for music education advocacy, intensive professional development, and performances in a destination location on an annual basis, and during the summer instead of the school year. Visit MENC’s Web site for program details. Register your student group to attend Music Education Week through New Horizons Tour & Travel. Visit NHTT for registration and more information.

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.

2010 World's Largest Concert®

Participate in the World's Largest Concert! Visit the World's Largest Concert Web site to download your free sheet music, rehearsal tracks, and lesson plans. There’s still time to order your 2010 World’s Largest Concert DVD; the concert can be viewed anytime in March.

Get Your Students Into the Concert Hall!

A new program from classical music Web site Bachtrack.com is encouraging teens to get into the concert hall. The student gets a pair of FREE tickets (one for the student, one for an accompanying parent), attends the concert, and writes a short review which gets published on Bachtrack.com. The student gets to see a great concert, and gets the added bonus of being a published music critic!

You can download a poster to promote the program, or go to the Web site for more details. This program is originally from the United Kingdom and is being trialed in Cincinnati. So if you are in Cincinnati, get your students to apply! If you're elsewhere in the United States, email Bachtrack to say you're interested and as soon as they are up and running in your state, you'll be the first to know.

Discounts on Brass, Low Brass, and Timpani Purchases

With the recession hitting school budgets hard, MENC corporate member Jupiter Instruments offers a special price reduction for schools with MENC member teachers who need to purchase marching brass, low brass, or timpani this year. These instruments are just like those at the U.S. Army All American Marching Band performance where Jupiter, Majestic, and Mapex instruments were used exclusively. Others who perform on these instruments include DCI's Phantom Regiment, Arizona State University's 350 piece marching band, and WGI's Timber Creek Independent. Visit Jupiter MENC Offer for more information.

2010 Mariachi Workshop

This summer, participate in a workshop on Mariachi teaching techniques at the National Center for Music Education in Reston, VA, June 28–July 2. Receive methods books, curriculum documents, video and audio recordings, and more while learning to play the guitarrón, vihuela, and mariachi guitar in authentic style. MENC members pay only $115 for the entire week of instruction thanks to the co-sponsorships of the Wenger Corporation and Yamaha Corporation. Participants pay only for travel and housing ($76 per night at nearby new Hampton Inn) with an option for 3 graduate credits also available through VanderCook College. Bring your own violin or trumpet—and stay through the weekend for July 4th activities in nearby Washington, DC! For more information, visit 2010 Mariachi Workshops.

2010 Guitar Workshops

This summer, participate in a workshop on guitar teaching techniques. These workshops have helped thousands of teachers provide guitar classes for 700,000 students and are open exclusively to MENC members. In addition to the instruction, workshop participants receive a free guitar, guitar publications and accessories, and three graduate college credits from Duquesne University. The entire package is worth about $2,000, and participants pay only the registration fee, travel, and housing expenses. To register visit the Web site. Sponsored by The Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA), MENC, NAMM—International Music Products Association, and the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University. Sign up now for priority registration by sending an e-mail to hotlist@guitaredunet.org. Registration deadline is May 15. 
 

MENC Book

Building Strong Music Programs: A Handbook for Preservice and Novice Music Teachers
Co-published by MENC and Rowman & Littlefield Education
By Charlene Ryan

Building Strong Music Programs uniquely focuses on music programs in the public school community, providing strategies and tools for developing a vibrant music program and building community support. Covering relationships with colleagues, parents, staff, administrators, and the community at large, Ryan also provides tactics for developing courses, performances, and publicity to enhance your program. Build a repertoire of tried-and-true strategies covering curriculum, classroom management, special needs, concerts, assessment, budget, and more that are based on years of teaching at all levels.

Ryan covers issues important to student teachers, new teachers, teachers changing schools, and teachers looking to rejuvenate their existing programs. From student trips to music software to district ensembles to advocacy to entry-level instrumental courses, Ryan covers it all in this comprehensive handbook.

Building Strong Music Programs is available from RLE in paperback for $21.95 and clothbound for $65.00. MENC members receive a discount of 25%. To order or for more information, call 800-462-6420 or visit www.rowmaneducation.com. 

March Poll

Each month, MENC asks its members for their input on current issues and trends in music education. This month’s question is about music educators’ health issues. Share with us in the March poll.

March Monthly Special
Share the Message with MIOSM Buttons

The March MENC member monthly special features the 2010 Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®) Buttons. Your students will love wearing these 1-3/8" round blue buttons. Whether pinned on clothing, backpacks or added to bulletin boards, they can be used all year to help raise awareness of music in your school!

In March only, MENC members can purchase the MIOSM buttons (50 per bag) for only $5.00 – half off the regular price! No additional purchase is required. Buttons: #7030R. 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 March
Band – Jason Freeland
General Music – Debbie D’Angelo
Chorus – Thomas Vozzella
Orchestra – Cathie Hudnall
Jazz – Gregory Yasinitsky
Guitar – Shelly O’Dell
 

Music Business Handbook and Career Guide

Order now! MENC MEMBER DISCOUNT of 30% until 12/31/2010. Contact info@menc.org for the discount code, and then order from SAGE Publications.


You have received this notice because you are a current advisor of a Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter. This is a special monthly announcement about Tri-M E-News, one of the benefits of your membership. It has been sent to you by MENC: The National Association for Music Education, 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Receipt of this message does not mean you will receive weekly MENC e-mail updates if you have requested that your e-mail be "unsubscribed." Questions? Contact Member Services or call 800-828-0229. MENC does not sell or share member e-mail addresses. 

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, March 10, 2010 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education.