Discount Musical instruments - By 2Kool4Skool

A list of what Educators, Parents and Students can do to promote the importance of music education

WHAT EDUCATORS CAN DO

These guidelines can help establish an active, powerful, and efficient communication network.  Adapt them to meet the needs of your program. (Lautzenheiser, "The Director's Communication Kit for All Band Programs")

1..    Unite with other teachers on the music staff.
    The music staff must be unified with itself, totally committed to providing the highest caliber of     music education for children. 

2.    Be sure your actions are always student-centered.
    The "I don't want to lose my job " approach is not as effective as the potential lost benefits to     children.

3.    You are not alone.
    Get to know your music parents, community officials, business leaders, etc.  Use the information     in this manual, and cultivate them for your team.  A unified effort involving multiple community     resources creates a strong and powerful force.

4.    Use numbers to your advantage.
    Music is offered to all students, so use the total number of students enrolled in public (or private)     schools when discussing the benefits of music education.

5.    Define your purpose.
    Develop a mission statement.  Succinctly state your purpose for involvement in music education.      Make this concise document available to anyone who visits your classroom.

6.    Get to know your administrator, school board members, and school counselors.
    Send them invitations to concerts.  Ask them how they feel about arts and music education.  If     they oppose  the arts in schools, ask them why.  The key is to listen, not react and defend.  Find     out the percentage of funding available to other programs.

7.    Work with your local music dealer, community service clubs, and industry leaders.
    Become acquainted with these community leaders.  Invite them to concerts, band parent meetings,     advocacy sessions, school board events, or daily rehearsals.

8.    Know your local and state legislators.
    Find out your local and state legislators' names (and the names of their staff), addresses, phone,     and fax numbers.  Ask your music parents if any of them have helped during one of their     campaigns.  Ask these government officials how they feel about arts education.  Invite them to     your concerts, and send them your mission statement.

9.    Schedule a concert where all groups perform at the same event.
    Provide an impressive showcase of talent and consistency within the entire department by     scheduling a concert of all music performing groups, grades K-12.


 

      WHAT PARENTS CAN DO


Parents are often willing to help, but may not know what to do or where to begin.  Here are a few starting points. (Lautzenheiser, "The Director's Communication Kit for All Band Programs")

1.    Ask school board members about their views on arts and music education.
    Be positive.  Do not be defensive if an administrator or school board official opposes art     education.  Simply get the facts, preferably in writing.  Ask questions.

2.    Organize your parent group.
    If you are an independent group (not under the auspices of PTA or other parent groups) you will     need to develop by-laws, appoint a board of directors, and apply for charitable deduction status.

3.    Attend school board meetings.
    Observe the process, personalities, and effective persuasive techniques.  Always be polite and     cordial to school board members.

4.    Work with the music staff to develop a mission statement.
    Keep children's education as the focal point, not entertainment events or music trips.

5.    Organize and print a calendar of local music events for all nearby schools.
    Include all school concerts, festivals, as well as professional groups appearing in the area.  Send     the calendar to all school board members, administrators, school parents, and government     officials.

6.    Assemble the concert program for the music director.
    Offer to  enter  the program on a computer disk or take responsibility for producing the entire     program.  Be sure to include the correct spelling of every student, director, administrator, and     custodian who helped with the event.  The music director may also provide composer     backgrounds and program notes to be included in the concert program.

7.    Invite officials to speak at concerts.
    Develop a rotating schedule with the music teacher, and include administrators, school board     members, community leaders, and government officials.  Write thank-you notes to every person     who speaks during a concert.

8.    Start an after-school lesson program.
    Offer scholarships for first- or second-year students to study with local or area teachers.

9.    Help establish a student mentoring program.
    The music director might want to "pair up" an elementary or middle school student with a high     school student.  During post-concert refreshment time, mingle with elementary and middle school     band parents, and make them feel they are a part of the band family.

10.    Call the music teacher(s) regularly, and simply offer to help.
    Often, there is typing to do, ticket sales, bookkeeping, distributing uniforms, arranging trips,     helping with props for musicals, etc.  A number of important tasks always await the music teacher.

 

      WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Here are a few tips for students who want an opportunity to bring music into their lives.

1.    Take lessons and practice, practice, practice.
    The most important thing you can do for yourself is to find out a way to learn music any way you     can.  Learning how to play an instrument or properly sing a song will expand your heart, mind,     and will make it easier to learn math and science.

2.    Define your purpose.
    Develop a mission statement.  Succinctly state your purpose for involvement in music.

3.    Talk to your principal.
    The principal's office is nothing to fear.  Turn in a letter with your mission statement, what you     want to say, and questions you want answered before the meeting.  Once you and your parents     sign it, turn it in with a request for a face-to-face meeting.  In the meeting, ask questions and learn     about what he or she thinks.  Discuss what you learned with your parents.
 
4.    Get your parents involved.
    If there is no music program at your school, ask Mom or Dad to find out about how they, and     other parents like them, can help put together a program at your school.  You would be surprised     how much influence your own parents can have.

5.    Create a student music organization.
    A number of student music organizations already exist nation-wide.  Call them up and ask how     you can launch your own chapter.  Find a teacher who will support your ideas and sponsor your     group.  Rally your friends and other music-lovers to get involved.  It can be fun, and it will look     great on your resume for college.

6.    There is a lot of money out there.
    If you get good at playing  an instrument, your potential  could help pay for school.  Music     scholarships are offered to almost every college in America, but you first need to learn the basics,     work hard, and be ready to audition.

7.    Attend school board meetings.
    Believe it or not, all those people in suits are working for you.  It is their job to serve your     educational needs.  Observe the process, personalities, and speak your mind.  Be positive and     always be polite to school board members.  Also, don't forget to bring your parents.

8.    Call other music teachers around town.
    If you're trying to start a program or just trying to make your program better, call other music     teachers in town and find out how they make their programs strong.  They can help you create a     strategy and warn you of pitfalls.

9.    Know your local and state legislators.
    Find out your local and state legislators' names (and the names of their staff), addresses, phone,     and fax numbers.  Ask your music parents if any of them have helped during one of their     campaigns.  Ask these government leaders how they feel about arts education.  Invite them to     your concerts and send them your mission statement.