Here are several places, according to MENC past president Lynn Brinckmeyer, that a new music teacher can go for assistance:

• A music supervisor or teacher-educator from your alma mater 
   
• Your state music education/educators association (MEA)
   
• The MENC Web site, www.menc.org
   
• MENC Internet forums, including special sections for Band, Chorus,  Future Teachers, General Music, Jazz, Higher Ed/Admin/Research, and Orchestra 
   
• MENC mentors on various music ed subjects 
   
• SupportMusic for advocacy ideas, anecdotes, and quotes 
   
• An Internet search using an engine such as Google, Bing, etc. using the keyword of your topic
   
• A public or university library, many of which can be accessed online
   
• MENC’s Teacher Success Kit, available on DVD from MENC for $8.25 to members or online. 
   

Information, like consumer goods, can vary in quality. Sometimes it pays to check your sources and to ask around a bit before incorporating an idea. Often a new idea won’t work the first time.

If you’re persistent, however, there’s almost no problem that can’t be solved. Don’t be afraid to ask!

Lynn Brinckmeyer is director of choral music education at Texas State University—San Marcos.

--Ella Wilcox, February 24, 2010, © MENC: The National Association for Music Educaton (www.menc.org)