May Tri-M E-News
Dear Tri-M Members,
May is here and the end of school and beginning of summer are fast approaching! In this month’s issue of E-News, you’ll find announcements, upcoming service opportunities, and events, including the results of our Tri-M Petition and Change Drive Competition and the Chapter of the Year program. This month’s featured article is by Colleen Smiley, past National Tri-M Chair.
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
Charity Begins at Tri-M
As this year comes to a close, I’ve been hearing some familiar questions. If the economy is so bad, why do we need Tri-M? Let me take you back to our origins. We began during a period in this country's history that many consider its most bleak—The Great Depression. Yet, through music, not only were we created, but we became a thriving international organization.
Tri-M is not about what others can do for us but what we can do for others. . Today more than ever, people need music. From the earliest beating on the rocks to the most complex arias, or to rock and hip/hop, music gives us a voice. Music has given us courage as we've entered battles, music is there when we celebrate and as we grieve, and music helps us express our lives in every fashion. Now more than ever, people need all of your gifts. I hope you’ll be generous in sharing them with others, perhaps by finding a retirement home or shelter and playing for those who have no one or nothing. Get a group of friends together and play at your local park; combine forces and put on a community event that focuses on all aspects of music.
Tri-M is about long-term benefits as well as the short term. As we start coming out of this economic crisis, people will continue to appreciate you, your talents, and your organization. Your organization will be appreciated for its selfless endeavourers, and you will begin to see that charity does indeed begin at home. You will also realize that the next time there is a obstacle, you can find a way around it.
I thank each of you for the wonderful gifts and generous hearts that you all have and share with others. Remember that while music is everywhere, not everyone has the gift or talent to create it, play it, sing it, or write it, but everyone does have the ability to appreciate it and you. I wish you all a creative, loving, and safe summer. I look forward to us all coming together again at the beginning of the school year.
By Colleen Smiley, past National Tri-M Chair
Contests, Scholarships, and Student Opportunities
Congratulations to the top two winners of the Tri-M Petition and Change Drive Contest!
Thank you to all the Tri-M Chapters who submitted petition signatures for the contest. Read MENC's press release here.
First Prize
Danbury High School – Danbury, CT
Advisor: Susan McKenzie
Second Prize
Tallwood High School – Virginia Beach, VA
Advisor: Timothy Rossettini
The signed Petitions for Equal Access to Music Education will be presented to Department of Education officials, followed by a march to Capitol Hill and visits to members of Congress. For more information, visit here. No registration is required for this event -- all are welcome! Rally participants will meet on the National Mall north of the Air and Space Museum about 11:00 a.m. on June 18th and will march to the U.S. Department of Education to the music of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps in time for the noon event. Don’t miss this exciting event!
Announcing 2009 Chapter of the Year Winners!
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The results are in, and the following schools are the winners in the 2009 Chapter of the Year Program. Congratulations to everyone who submitted a scrapbook!
Senior Division Winner
Villa Maria Academy - Malvern, PA
Advisor: Joyce Pritchard
Senior Division 1st Runner-Up
Nazareth Academy High School - Philadelphia, PA
Advisor: Margaret Lafferty
Senior Division 2nd Runner-Up
Unionville High School - Unionville, Ontario, CANADA
Advisor: Dennis Beck
Junior Division Winner
Ranney Middle School - Tinton Falls, NJ
Advisor: Lilliane Torrente
Junior Division 1st Runner-Up
Alma Middle School - Alma, MI
Advisor: Patrick DeWitt
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 its annual 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 woodwind, brass, or percussion musicians (grades 9–12) enrolled during the 2009–2010 academic year. Deadline November 14, 2009. Visit 2010 Marine Band Concerto Competition for details.
Chapter Spotlights
Want to know more about the winning Tri-M chapters in the Chapter of the Year contest and the Petition Contest? Below is a little more information about those 3 winning chapters and what they're doing.
Danbury High School – Danbury, CT (winner in the Tri-M Petition Contest)
Advisor: Susan McKenzie
- February 27, 2009 – This Tri-M chapter helped organize and co-sponsor a musical night called “Green Rhythms,” which was a collaboration between Tri-M and Green Club. They had a showcase of musical acts, while raising $1000 to help support the 2 clubs. In lieu of programs, they announced all the acts and gave the audience “green” tips to help promote recycling and going green.
- This chapter has produced 4 CDs with music performed by Tri-M members, and each CD is made up of entirely original music productions.
Villa Maria Academy – Malvern, PA (winner in the Sr. Division of Chapter of the Year)
Advisor: Joyce Pritchard
- February 21-22, 2009 – This chapter participated in the “Thon” at Penn State University. This was a 2-day, no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon dedicated to help raise money for children who have cancer. The money raised was donated to Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.
- December 8, 2008 - The members organized a charity event called The 1st Annual “Reindeer Romp,” whose proceeds benefited the Special Olympics of Delaware County. Their motivation? They wanted to organize an event where students could share their time, talents, and abilities to make the Christmas season and little brighter for the athletes.
Ranney Middle School – Tinton Falls, NJ (winner in the Jr. Division of Chapter of the Year)
Advisor: Lillianne Torrente
- December 2008 – This chapter donated more than $500 in musical toys to the U.S. Marine’s “Toys for Tots” drive, using money that had been collected throughout the year with different fund-raising efforts.
- To promote music throughout the school, this chapter sponsored a Daily Musical Trivia Contest. Music trivia questions and clues were broadcast to the school each morning, and students were allowed to enter their answers in the hopes of winning a $10 gift card.
News and Events
Don’t Forget to Order Your Graduation Items!
Your Tri-M graduate will be happy to receive any or all of the following Tri-M items. Please see the Tri-M Catalog for pricing and ordering information.
- Honor Stole – White satin honor stole displaying a burgundy Tri-M Music Honor Society insignia imprinted on the front.
- Honor Cord - Silk cord in pink (the academic color for music) for a music student’s graduation gown.
- Tassel - Pink silk tassel added to a graduation cap will signify a student’s academic achievement in music.
- Tri-M Diploma Seals - Gold foil seals imprinted with the Tri-M Music Honor Society's official insignia for diplomas, honor certificates, and correspondence. Sold in sets of 10.
- Graduation Medallion - Medallion stating “Tri-M Music Honor Society Graduate” along with the Tri-M emblem, on a red and white ribbon.
In Tune’s 2009 Ultimate Music Room Makeover Essay Contest
Middle and high school music educators - In Tune Monthly wants to make over your music room! Essays are now being accepted for the 2009 Essay Contest, featuring over $40,000 in new musical instruments and equipment from Peavey, Wenger, Pearl, Shure, Yamaha, Pro-Mark, Roland, Buffet Crampon, and Notion. E-mail intunemonthly explaining why you need this gear and why In Tune should choose your music room. Include an address and phone number where you can be reached over the summer. The winning teacher will be notified by September 1, 2009, and will be the subject of a story in In Tune. Be sure to submit your essay by June 15, 2009—the first 50 teachers who enter automatically win a pair of Pro-Mark drumsticks.
Teaching Improvisation Grants
NEA Foundation, in partnership with MENC, offers 10 new “Teaching Improvisation Grants.” The grants are earmarked to support public educators’ work to teach improvisation to middle and high school music students. Part of the NEA Foundation’s popular Student Achievement and Learning & Leadership Grants program, the $2,000 and $5,000 grants will be awarded over the 2009–2010 school year. Visit NEA Foundation Grants for more information.
Target Stores' Arts Grants
Awarded to programs that bring the arts to schools or make the arts accessible to children and families through activities such as school touring programs, field trips to the theater or symphony, and artists residencies and workshops in schools. Programs that make the arts accessible to school children are of particular interest. Application deadline: May 31, 2009, for programs taking place between October 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010. Average grant: $1,000–$3,000. Apply online at Target Stores Arts Grants.
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 our archives. See how your chapter can submit an article for the Fall 2009 Tri-M Newsletter. The deadline for the Fall 2009 issue is August 15, 2009.
May Monthly Special
Prices Slashed for 2009 MIOSM®!
The May MENC member monthly special features all of the remaining MIOSM items. All items are limited quantity, so order early and stock up on fun supplies for end-of-the-year gifts or class prizes.
In May only, MENC members can purchase every 2009 MIOSM item for half off the member price – or more!
Buy one, or buy two dozen, but get them now. Quantities are limited and when these are gone, you won’t be able to purchase them anywhere!
#6080 – Purple Buttons (50) - $3.75
#6081 – Green Buttons (50) - $3.75
#6083 – Lapel Stickers (500) - $5.60
#6085 – Memo Pads (3) - $2.25
#6087 – Pen Set (3) - $1.25
#6088 – Pencils (12) - $2.25
#6089 – Post-it Notes (2) – $2.25
#6090 – Static Cling Decal Sheet (1) - $1.85
#6092 – Banner (1) - $.50
No additional purchase is required. This special is not available at state conference resource shops. Call 1-800-828-0229 or visit www.menc.org to order.
May 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 pertains to MENC's Petition for Equal Access to Music Education. Have you signed the petition yet? Share your thoughts here.
- Stay connected with other MENC Tri-M members around the world by joining MENC’s Tri-M Facebook group. To join, simply visit www.facebook.com and search “MENC Tri-M Headquarters.”
- Join “Change Music Education … for the Better” Facebook group and link with other supporters as we present our petition to the Department of Education in Washington, DC. Visit www.facebook.com and search “Change Music Education … for the Better.”
Reminder
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 (2005 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, guitar, jazz, and mariachi. The mentors are veteran teachers who offer advice in response to your teaching questions. Visit the Future Teachers Forum to post questions and read responses. Visit MENC Mentors for this month’s mentor bios, and MENC Forums to post questions and read responses.
Month of May
Band – James Sheeley
General Music – Rob Amchin
Chorus – Suzanne Kane
Orchestra – Charlene Dell
Mariachi – Thomas Garibay
Jazz – Paul Haar
Guitar – Bill Purse
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 Web site.
--Shauna Leavitt, May 20, 2009 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education.