The following is a bulletin from MENC's Facebook Cause, Advance Music Education. Join the network of over 170,000 who support music education
through Facebook Causes.

We have all heard people describe music as the universal language—it diminishes the boundaries and obstacles between us, it tells the stories of our cultures and our histories. It connects us to each other. Last Thursday, millions of students joined together at 1:00PM (Eastern Time) to participate in our annual World’s Largest Concert virtual sing-along. Students separated by geography, but connected through music!

Many of you have posted your beliefs about the importance of music on the Cause walls as a way to connect with other members. During Music In Our Schools Month^® (MIOSM^®) we have been sharing the Music! Just Imagine... essays of students from around the United States as a means to connect you with the students in school music programs. This week we introduce you to two students who see music in everyday places.

Second grader Calahan Taylor imagines his school playground as a musical park where slides, stairs, and swings become musical instruments. He imagines he and his classmates “playing” together to write beautiful new songs.

Third grader Kate Sullivan imagines the colors in a rainbow as instruments—and the entire rainbow as an orchestra. She writes “It may not look like one, but if you listen in your heart, it is the best symphony you have ever heard.”

We imagine our cause to save school music in a similar way—our cause members are all instruments, joining together as a symphony, working in concert to make sure that everyone knows that music education matters.

We all have a part to play, and we need to keep playing on.

Participate. Attend a concert at a local high school.

Advocate. Use MENC resources to have your voice heard.

Donate. Contribute to MENC’s Fund for the Advancement of Music Education to support programs for students and teachers.

Create. Sing in the shower, play your radio, join a local choir, band or orchestra, write a song!

Thanks for your support!

Until next week,

The MENC Team, March 17, 2010