Just some small updates about what's going on around here lately. Last week, MENC's conventions department staff traveled to Milwaukee for MENC 2008 National Conference (April 9-12!) meetings and site visits. So far this week, John Mahlmann and Mike Blakeslee have been out of the office for a meeting in Chicago. We staff left behind have been handed our budget worksheets for the coming fiscal year. You can only imagine our excitement!
Some staff are involved in a Webinar this Thursday evening for state president-elects. We're going to use this "virtual meeting" technology to give these members some (hopefully) helpful information as they take on their new positions. Barbara Geer, national president-elect, will be leading the Webinar.
The Web team has been busily proceeding on a number of projects, including posting the new journals recently submitted to us by the MENC publications staff: General Music Today, Journal of Music Teacher Education, and UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education.
There's a Centennial Celebration meeting on Wednesday, and we'll have a big National Anthem Project Team meeting on Thursday. The team consists of one member of every MENC department (responsible for clueing in other members of that department after the meeting) as well as anyone involved with any aspect of the campaign -- and anyone else on staff who is interested in attending. We're in the countdown to the Grand Finale now so there will be many details to discuss.
In an effort to delay dealing with my budgets, I'm taking Friday off for a visit to the Virginia countryside and lunch with an old friend. Now semi-retired, she worked at MENC for many years. The weather's looking iffy, but I always enjoy catching up with this wonderful person, one of the most enthusiastic music supporters I know. Plus she has a delightful husband and a fabulous cat. What could be better?
Have a great week! -- EWL
P.S. Have you checked out MENC on Wikipedia? It would be great if we had members help expand our listing.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
My World is a Work of Art
Welcome back! I first of all have to thank ARN for getting me inspired this morning with her "little bird." Yup, she inspired me. Inspiration - now there is a topic. This weekend (Friday-Sunday) I went on an "art retreat" with girlfriends to a cabin on Lake Anna. Oh my, oh my -- what a relaxing and ins
piring time it was. Some of the gals scrapbooked, some quilted, some art journaled (see my page to the left), and some just read a book. No deadlines and no have-to-do-it-now time. The house we rented was beautiful. I found a quote I used to "journal" in my "art" book on colors I usually don't use in creating stuff, "Your life is a work of art and you are the artist of your life." This is from a book called Living Artfully: Create the Life You Imagine by Sandra Magsamen. I am getting ready to order the book because, I hope, my philosophy on life is what she is talking about: "Many people today are looking for well-being and happiness when what they're searching for has been inside them all along."
piring time it was. Some of the gals scrapbooked, some quilted, some art journaled (see my page to the left), and some just read a book. No deadlines and no have-to-do-it-now time. The house we rented was beautiful. I found a quote I used to "journal" in my "art" book on colors I usually don't use in creating stuff, "Your life is a work of art and you are the artist of your life." This is from a book called Living Artfully: Create the Life You Imagine by Sandra Magsamen. I am getting ready to order the book because, I hope, my philosophy on life is what she is talking about: "Many people today are looking for well-being and happiness when what they're searching for has been inside them all along."I have so much to be grateful for in my life. The good times, the bad, the in-between will always come and go. I can dwell in one or the other which will define my perception of my world. I choose to define it with the good times and the excitement of each brand new day. I try to
create everyday - either at home on my stuff or here at MENC on projects. I have loved my "job" and work for the last 27 years -- otherwise I would have left a long time ago. If I feel in a funk or out-of-sorts, I first of all TRY not to take it out on too many others and always try to remember that this too will pass - it is not here for an eternity. Okie Dokie - I am rambling again in my world. The weather is BEAUTIFUL outside -- Spring may have sprung for good this week. Keeping my fingers crossed in my world! May your week be blessed. Will be back with you next Monday with more news from my world. Around my "Watercooler" - was that not the dullest ending to "The Apprentice" like ever? I think I may be losing interest in some of my stalwart reality shows like "Survivor." However, not in the reality category, my Jericho rocks!
create everyday - either at home on my stuff or here at MENC on projects. I have loved my "job" and work for the last 27 years -- otherwise I would have left a long time ago. If I feel in a funk or out-of-sorts, I first of all TRY not to take it out on too many others and always try to remember that this too will pass - it is not here for an eternity. Okie Dokie - I am rambling again in my world. The weather is BEAUTIFUL outside -- Spring may have sprung for good this week. Keeping my fingers crossed in my world! May your week be blessed. Will be back with you next Monday with more news from my world. Around my "Watercooler" - was that not the dullest ending to "The Apprentice" like ever? I think I may be losing interest in some of my stalwart reality shows like "Survivor." However, not in the reality category, my Jericho rocks!
Friday, April 20, 2007
A little birdie told me...
Hello readers!
There's nothing like a beautiful day! Today is a simply beautiful day here in Reston. The sun is shining; the sky is blue; and if I were outside, I'm sure it would be a wonderfully mild temperature. Weather.com says it is 65F. Ahhhh. This week the sun has been mostly absent so what a fantastic way to end the week and head into the weekend.
Here in Reston, we have quite a few wild creatures wandering about. As you may know, Reston is a planned community with an emphasis on combining living and working spaces as well as green spaces. Our building is sort of nestled in with several other similarly used buildings, but we are all separated by woods. We have a deer that the first floor watches during the fall and this past fall, she got a boyfriend! (We don't think they're married because neither wears a ring.) She has been dubbed "Cookieneck" and I'm not exactly sure why...and slightly frightened to ask. [Correction: Aha! Her name is "Crookedneck" because she appears to have been hit by a car and her neck was dislocated some time ago.]
Up here on the third floor, we sometimes have birds that sit on the edge outside our windows and this week was no different. There was a particular cowbird that visited several times this week and we named him "Puffy." Puffy is very beautiful bird of some variety--black with a purple coloring around his midsection. This week Puffy spent a large majority of the week going around to all of the third floor window offices and tapping on them. While "cute" at first, I'm afraid it is a bit hard to get work done with tap, tap, tapping on the window.
Several of us were concerned about our little Puffy on Wednesday. He appeared to have flown into something or something tried to take a bite out of his head. He also was standing on just one leg and was certainly favoring it. We also didn't see him fly. You can see it a little bit in this picture. Happily by Thursday he was looking much better, using both legs, and then we saw him fly away. Now that it's Friday, I haven't seen him so hopefully he's taken the day off and headed to the beach. :)
In other news, I am hiring! I am looking for a Government Relations and Outreach Assistant. If you are interested or know someone who is check out the posting on Craigslist. We'd love to have you!
Around the Water Cooler: I can't believe Sanjaya was kicked off of American Idol. But I am ecstatic that Blake was in the bottom three. I am one that would like to see him go very far in the competition, but he needed a serious ego check. Fingers crossed this was a wake-up call! I think Phil is likely to go next week unless he figures a way to make the next theme "countrified" because I think he did an outstanding job with country and almost...almost...voted for him.
With Dancing With the Stars (DWTS), yay that Clyde is gone, but I went to China this summer and he did really well considering those flights. WOW! I think that it might be John's turn to go next week. But I'm still 100% behind my boy Joey Fatone for the disco ball trophy.
Also, I'm tied for first in CW's NHL (free) pool. I also picked the two teams that are out of the tournament to go all the way, so the chance I'll stay in first is looking pretty grim... ;)
There's nothing like a beautiful day! Today is a simply beautiful day here in Reston. The sun is shining; the sky is blue; and if I were outside, I'm sure it would be a wonderfully mild temperature. Weather.com says it is 65F. Ahhhh. This week the sun has been mostly absent so what a fantastic way to end the week and head into the weekend.
Here in Reston, we have quite a few wild creatures wandering about. As you may know, Reston is a planned community with an emphasis on combining living and working spaces as well as green spaces. Our building is sort of nestled in with several other similarly used buildings, but we are all separated by woods. We have a deer that the first floor watches during the fall and this past fall, she got a boyfriend! (We don't think they're married because neither wears a ring.) She has been dubbed "Cookieneck" and I'm not exactly sure why...and slightly frightened to ask. [Correction: Aha! Her name is "Crookedneck" because she appears to have been hit by a car and her neck was dislocated some time ago.]
Up here on the third floor, we sometimes have birds that sit on the edge outside our windows and this week was no different. There was a particular cowbird that visited several times this week and we named him "Puffy." Puffy is very beautiful bird of some variety--black with a purple coloring around his midsection. This week Puffy spent a large majority of the week going around to all of the third floor window offices and tapping on them. While "cute" at first, I'm afraid it is a bit hard to get work done with tap, tap, tapping on the window.
Several of us were concerned about our little Puffy on Wednesday. He appeared to have flown into something or something tried to take a bite out of his head. He also was standing on just one leg and was certainly favoring it. We also didn't see him fly. You can see it a little bit in this picture. Happily by Thursday he was looking much better, using both legs, and then we saw him fly away. Now that it's Friday, I haven't seen him so hopefully he's taken the day off and headed to the beach. :)In other news, I am hiring! I am looking for a Government Relations and Outreach Assistant. If you are interested or know someone who is check out the posting on Craigslist. We'd love to have you!
Around the Water Cooler: I can't believe Sanjaya was kicked off of American Idol. But I am ecstatic that Blake was in the bottom three. I am one that would like to see him go very far in the competition, but he needed a serious ego check. Fingers crossed this was a wake-up call! I think Phil is likely to go next week unless he figures a way to make the next theme "countrified" because I think he did an outstanding job with country and almost...almost...voted for him.
With Dancing With the Stars (DWTS), yay that Clyde is gone, but I went to China this summer and he did really well considering those flights. WOW! I think that it might be John's turn to go next week. But I'm still 100% behind my boy Joey Fatone for the disco ball trophy.
Also, I'm tied for first in CW's NHL (free) pool. I also picked the two teams that are out of the tournament to go all the way, so the chance I'll stay in first is looking pretty grim... ;)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Thursday Interlude
When Ryan C. “Stack” Clark smiled his eyes twinkled. You can just tell from looking at photos of him that he loved life, loved people. Something about the look on his face made you think, this would be a good guy to know.
I never heard of Ryan Clark before Tuesday, but as the tragic events unfolded on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, he was one of he first of the slain students identified. A resident dorm adviser, he was gunned down after going to help someone else. A member of the Marching Virginians, he was a band guy.
In his honor, fellow band members wore their uniforms to the Tuesday memorial convocation on Virginia Tech campus. Visit www.music.vt.edu/performance/ensembles/mv/index.shtml to see Clark’s winning smile and read a tribute to him from band mates.
Last December the Martinez, Georgia, native marched in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia, when the Hokies played Georgia.
According to The Washington Post, he was a band guy whose “favorite place in the world was Camp Big Heart, a summer spot in Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, Ga." For eight years he spent two weeks at the camp for mentally impaired children as a volunteer counselor and then as music director.
In addition to playing in the band, Ryan had three majors. He was looking toward a career in neurosurgery after graduation, his twin brother Bryan Clark told the newspaper.
A band guy. A good guy.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2007/04/17/0417metclark.html
wrote that Ryan was a well-liked student whose musical tastes segued from Korn to Bob Marley to Kenny G to Aqua. He enjoyed helping others rehearse their band routines
A band guy. A good guy.
I started my career as a newspaper reporter, and as a reporter I sometimes had to do jobs I dreaded. I did them because I felt it was important to get information to people. I was polite, empathetic, and not pushy.
Once editors assigned me to write a story about a teenage girl who was killed in an auto accident. A drunk driver struck her car and she died instantly. I was given the assignment of fleshing out her brief life story.
How can I do this? I thought as I dialed the parents. I identified myself as reporter from my newspaper and braced for silence, sobbing on the other end of the phone or just “click!” And that have been ok.
Come over, her father said quietly, and we will tell you about her. And so I did. I spent a couple of hours talking with her parents and other relatives, reading poems she wrote, looking at photos of her as a child, photos of her in—her band uniform. She played the flute.
They talked to me because they wanted me to know who she was, how special she was. They wanted me to tell other people how special she was, and I did. I felt honored to do so.
I hadn’t thought of that experience for a while, but the stories that others told about Ryan Clark reminded me. I know his passing leaves a hole in so many lives, in the world at large. Whatever else he was, he was a band guy. And that was a great thing.
During my time at MENC, I have talked with countless music teachers and music students. At the risk of over-generalizing, I have to say that I find music people to be caring, sharing people. There is something about music, about collaborating to create music that makes people feel connected, feel more a part of the whole.
In my humble opinion, without music, the making and sharing of music, our society would become even more unglued than it sometimes seems. Thanks to all of you band and orchestra and chorus guys and gals out there. You are doing good work on many, many levels.
Around the MENC Water Cooler
This has been a sad week around MENC. Even though Blacksburg is about a four-hour drive from Reston, Virginia, where MENC is located, Virginia Tech looms large here. There are staffers here who attended Virginia Tech. Many of us also have friends who attended the university, neighbors whose kids go to school there now. A few of us even know someone who knows someone else who was close to one of the victims.
One of the things that took my mind to another place this week was the following story. Music has such healing, rejuvenating properties:
Normally when Joshua Bell performs in Washington DC, it is on stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The renowned violinist who just won the Avery Fisher Prize for classical music, and performs more than 200 dates annually for adoring fans around the world, played an unexpected 40-minute gig in January— the L’Enfant Plaza subway stop in Washington.
Why? It was at the request of Gene Weingarten, a columnist for The Washington Post, who wondered what happens when people encounter music in unexpected places.
What was the reaction from morning rush hour commuters, and did he make any money?
To hear Bell discuss his experience visit www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9521098. Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html?referrer=emailarticle to read Weingarten's piece and to hear audio of Bell's performance.
MENC already knew Bell was a good sport. He recorded a May 2004 “Why Music?” MENC PSA touting the importance of music education. Visit www.menc.org/psa for more information.
See you next Thursday.
RF
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany V
Back from NH, Concord to be exact, the NH MEA Spring conference. Great conference, a short one but chockful of good sessions, enthusiastic members, and terrific kids rehearsing for All State! It was a lot of fun for me to watch the students during their breaks as they perused the exhibits, interacted with one another, helped unload instruments from vans, gathered round their teachers for instructions, sat in the hall playing cards, got excited about the free MENC buttons at our exhibit table, and generally did their thing.
The sound they produced in their rehearsals (band/orchestra) was just outstanding. I could not believe such
great music was coming from such young looking people! Unfortunately, the choral rehearsals and vocal sessions were being held in another hotel, so I didn't get to hear that or meet many of the singers.....
But to a one, the people I met in NH were the friendliest and kindest. And what a treat to see all those pine trees stretching for miles as the plane passed over....(coming from congested DC....). Yes, it snowed while I was there, surprising everyone, but the intrepid teachers and students carried on..... Luckily I got out of Dodge before the next snow system was due on Sunday. One cool thing - the chef of the hotel preparing the banquet for students did an ice sculpture in the shape of the MENC Centennial Logo! I imagine the NHMEA will have photos in the next issue of their state journal (unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me!). All in all, good to be there, meet the members, have them see what's available to them resource wise from the MENC National office, and generally get to know them.
By the way - good assessment and data collection on arts education happening/soon to happen with the NH Department of Education arts division - click HERE!
RESOURCE of the week:
While flying, of all places, saw an article in the USAIR magazine for: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - ten volumes - 4th edition - 27,000 entries on bands and artists from every genre: jazz, folk, swing, garage, rockabilly, disco, punk, techo and more. An interactive, subscription based version is scheduled to go online in August at www.muze.com; the paper version will be 10 volumes, available from Oxford University Press for the modest price of (!) $1,300.
Around the Water Cooler:
A good friend sent me a poem for Easter called "Mozart in a classroom of Children". Unfortunately, I can't reprint it here without permission (which would take forever to get, if I even could!). However, it was from a books entitled
Mixed Voices: Contemporary Poems about Music, 1991 by E. Buchwald and R. Roston, Editors, in case you're interested!
See you next Wednesday! SR
The sound they produced in their rehearsals (band/orchestra) was just outstanding. I could not believe such
great music was coming from such young looking people! Unfortunately, the choral rehearsals and vocal sessions were being held in another hotel, so I didn't get to hear that or meet many of the singers.....
But to a one, the people I met in NH were the friendliest and kindest. And what a treat to see all those pine trees stretching for miles as the plane passed over....(coming from congested DC....). Yes, it snowed while I was there, surprising everyone, but the intrepid teachers and students carried on..... Luckily I got out of Dodge before the next snow system was due on Sunday. One cool thing - the chef of the hotel preparing the banquet for students did an ice sculpture in the shape of the MENC Centennial Logo! I imagine the NHMEA will have photos in the next issue of their state journal (unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me!). All in all, good to be there, meet the members, have them see what's available to them resource wise from the MENC National office, and generally get to know them.
By the way - good assessment and data collection on arts education happening/soon to happen with the NH Department of Education arts division - click HERE!
RESOURCE of the week:
While flying, of all places, saw an article in the USAIR magazine for: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - ten volumes - 4th edition - 27,000 entries on bands and artists from every genre: jazz, folk, swing, garage, rockabilly, disco, punk, techo and more. An interactive, subscription based version is scheduled to go online in August at www.muze.com; the paper version will be 10 volumes, available from Oxford University Press for the modest price of (!) $1,300.
Around the Water Cooler:
A good friend sent me a poem for Easter called "Mozart in a classroom of Children". Unfortunately, I can't reprint it here without permission (which would take forever to get, if I even could!). However, it was from a books entitled
Mixed Voices: Contemporary Poems about Music, 1991 by E. Buchwald and R. Roston, Editors, in case you're interested!
See you next Wednesday! SR
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Planning Ahead
As we move through April, it's time for members of the PR/Marketing Department to start planning for the next school year. We're having meetings with other departments such as Membership, Student Programs, Editorial, and Production about themes, logos, promotion plans, schedules, news items, new specialty items, member benefits, etc. Any great new ideas we have for the coming year all need to be cost-estimated and submitted with the proposed budgets all departments will be working on over the next few weeks.
We're also deep into the plans for the National Anthem Project Grand Finale, June 14-16, 2007 here in Washington DC and Annapolis, MD. We'd love to have our members and your students join us here! Right after that is MENC's official Centennial Celebration in Orlando, FL, June 25-28. Members are invited to attend this event, too.
Something else we locals look forward to is the summer season at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts. It's right down the road from MENC. The just-announced schedule features everyone from the Boston Pops and National Symphony Orchestra to opera, ballet, musical theatre, and all sorts of pop music. I've already picked up tickets to a slightly eclectic collection of acts: "Camelot," Vince Gill, the B-52s, and something called "Hippie Fest," which features a bunch of reunited '60s groups like the Zombies and the Turtles. That one should be pretty interesting! MENC's friends at Wolf Trap have helped us over the years by allowing us interview time with performers such as Janis Ian, Trisha Yearwood, Al Jarreau, and Keith Lockhart for our public service announcement series, Why Music?
E-mails are pouring in today so I better get back to answering them. Have a great Tuesday! -- EWL
We're also deep into the plans for the National Anthem Project Grand Finale, June 14-16, 2007 here in Washington DC and Annapolis, MD. We'd love to have our members and your students join us here! Right after that is MENC's official Centennial Celebration in Orlando, FL, June 25-28. Members are invited to attend this event, too.
Something else we locals look forward to is the summer season at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts. It's right down the road from MENC. The just-announced schedule features everyone from the Boston Pops and National Symphony Orchestra to opera, ballet, musical theatre, and all sorts of pop music. I've already picked up tickets to a slightly eclectic collection of acts: "Camelot," Vince Gill, the B-52s, and something called "Hippie Fest," which features a bunch of reunited '60s groups like the Zombies and the Turtles. That one should be pretty interesting! MENC's friends at Wolf Trap have helped us over the years by allowing us interview time with performers such as Janis Ian, Trisha Yearwood, Al Jarreau, and Keith Lockhart for our public service announcement series, Why Music?
E-mails are pouring in today so I better get back to answering them. Have a great Tuesday! -- EWL
Monday, April 16, 2007
Thoughts in My World
If I had said, "My thoughts in my world," that would be scary! But it must be your lucky day this morning because I want to share with you the birthday greetings and thoughts from MENC current and former board members.
Wanted you to see one of my favorite photos from our birthday bash. Harriet and me - all these years later. She took me by my hand and gently guided me as I started work at MENC in 1979. Who would have figured, all these years later we still are close! She's like my second mother and she will let you know that, too! I just want to say, "Thank you, Harriet!"
From Karl Glenn (MENC President 1990-92): "Congratulations to all members, officers, and especially MENC staff for the work that they have done throughout the years to maintain the excellence of the association work. It is amazing how much effort has to go into meetings, mailings, monies and member moral. All of these take a lot of talent, patience, and expertise in each area of member services. Congratulations to all for keeping the MENC ship steaming ahead." From Aurelia Hartenberger (SW Division President 2003-05), "Happy Birthday MENC, may your light grow stronger the next 100 years!!!" From Richard Disharoon (Eastern Division President 2003-05, "With thanks to the pioneers who created a solid foundation for today's MENC. May the next 100 years see music as a part of every school program that is NEVER challenged." From Janet Barrett (NC Division President 2004-06), "As a native Iowan, I would just like to take this chance to say, 'Rock On, Keokuk!' Wouldn't you just like to imagine a chance for all of us to sit down with the participants 100 years ago to talk about music education then and now???"
From Carolynn Lindeman (MENC President 1996-98), "OH, what those great music educators started 100 years ago! Are we ever lucky to have such a fabulous organization!" From Ron Chronister (SW Division President 2005-07), "I'll never be a George Heller, but Kansas is
singing Happy Birthday for you today." From Paul Lehman (MENC President 1984-86), "It is heartwarming to know that our glorious centennial occasion was commemorated appropriately in Reston. It is especially gratifying to learn that Gene and Betty Morlan and Harriet Mogge were invited to share in the festivities. I have known all three since the early '60s. Gene is the closest thing we have to a walking history of MENC. It was Gene who organized the move of the MENC Headquarters from Chicago to Washington. Both Gene and Harriet made enormous contributions to MENC, and in Harriet's case, so did both of her parents. It is especially fitting that Gene and Harriet should have an opportunity to share a little of their accumulated wisdom and insight with the current staff, some of whom were probably not yet born when Gene retired." From Will Schmid (MENC President 1996-98), ". . .MENC was indeed made great by a combination of excellent leadership from both elected officers and staff. Growth and influence don't happen by accident, and this partnership of equal strength is what we need."
And last but not least! Did you know Mississippi Music Educators Association was c
elebrating 60 years last week and had two birthday cakes. One for Mississippi and one for MENC. From Jane Morlan (Southern Division President 2006-08), "I know I'm chiming in late..but I wanted you to know that we were celebrating in Mississippi on Thursday with TWO cakes. . .I am always awed by the dedication of the music teachers who work so hard for their students every day and at all these special times...and they will be right back at it on Monday morning! Happy Birthday to all!"
Hope your week is a great one! It is windy here in our area. What a springtime we've had! Just got a notice that they are closing some schools in our area because of high winds and students in modular/trailer buildings. Thought March not April was suppose to come in like a Lion! Stay safe and happy.
Wanted you to see one of my favorite photos from our birthday bash. Harriet and me - all these years later. She took me by my hand and gently guided me as I started work at MENC in 1979. Who would have figured, all these years later we still are close! She's like my second mother and she will let you know that, too! I just want to say, "Thank you, Harriet!"
From Karl Glenn (MENC President 1990-92): "Congratulations to all members, officers, and especially MENC staff for the work that they have done throughout the years to maintain the excellence of the association work. It is amazing how much effort has to go into meetings, mailings, monies and member moral. All of these take a lot of talent, patience, and expertise in each area of member services. Congratulations to all for keeping the MENC ship steaming ahead." From Aurelia Hartenberger (SW Division President 2003-05), "Happy Birthday MENC, may your light grow stronger the next 100 years!!!" From Richard Disharoon (Eastern Division President 2003-05, "With thanks to the pioneers who created a solid foundation for today's MENC. May the next 100 years see music as a part of every school program that is NEVER challenged." From Janet Barrett (NC Division President 2004-06), "As a native Iowan, I would just like to take this chance to say, 'Rock On, Keokuk!' Wouldn't you just like to imagine a chance for all of us to sit down with the participants 100 years ago to talk about music education then and now???"
From Carolynn Lindeman (MENC President 1996-98), "OH, what those great music educators started 100 years ago! Are we ever lucky to have such a fabulous organization!" From Ron Chronister (SW Division President 2005-07), "I'll never be a George Heller, but Kansas is
singing Happy Birthday for you today." From Paul Lehman (MENC President 1984-86), "It is heartwarming to know that our glorious centennial occasion was commemorated appropriately in Reston. It is especially gratifying to learn that Gene and Betty Morlan and Harriet Mogge were invited to share in the festivities. I have known all three since the early '60s. Gene is the closest thing we have to a walking history of MENC. It was Gene who organized the move of the MENC Headquarters from Chicago to Washington. Both Gene and Harriet made enormous contributions to MENC, and in Harriet's case, so did both of her parents. It is especially fitting that Gene and Harriet should have an opportunity to share a little of their accumulated wisdom and insight with the current staff, some of whom were probably not yet born when Gene retired." From Will Schmid (MENC President 1996-98), ". . .MENC was indeed made great by a combination of excellent leadership from both elected officers and staff. Growth and influence don't happen by accident, and this partnership of equal strength is what we need."And last but not least! Did you know Mississippi Music Educators Association was c
elebrating 60 years last week and had two birthday cakes. One for Mississippi and one for MENC. From Jane Morlan (Southern Division President 2006-08), "I know I'm chiming in late..but I wanted you to know that we were celebrating in Mississippi on Thursday with TWO cakes. . .I am always awed by the dedication of the music teachers who work so hard for their students every day and at all these special times...and they will be right back at it on Monday morning! Happy Birthday to all!"Hope your week is a great one! It is windy here in our area. What a springtime we've had! Just got a notice that they are closing some schools in our area because of high winds and students in modular/trailer buildings. Thought March not April was suppose to come in like a Lion! Stay safe and happy.
Friday, April 13, 2007
They say it's your birthday!
Hello all!As we've mentioned all week, yesterday was MENC's 100th birthday and the festivities were fantastic! To celebrate this momentous day we had a birthday party and invited several people who are well acquainted with MENC.
First, Harriet Mogge spoke (left). She was the daughter of a former MENC President and so she went to her first MENC conference when she was just three months old! She then went on to become a music educator and then went on to work for MENC for over twenty years. It was neat to hear her stories.
Assistant Executive Secretary and Director of Professional Programs Gene Morlan came to the birthday party as well. He talked about his time serving MENC, the hard working staff, and "the heart and soul of MENC" -- the members. He then led all of us in singing Happy Birthday (seen directing to the right). It was by far the best rendition I've heard since I began working here.
And did I mention we had cake?!?! yum, YUM!! We had both chocolate and white cake, PLUS those little ice cream cups that you used to have in elementary school. Delish! In fact, another blogger and I were discussing just this morning how much we would enjoy another piece of that cake!! Ha ha!
All in all, what a wonderful way to celebrate 100 years of music education!
Around the Water Cooler: I found a new American Idol show! I have expanded cable and they just added a new tv station--Fox Reality. Apparently right after each American Idol singer gets the boot, they come talk to the "American Idol Extra" folks in a small studio just outside. I saw the epidsode on Gina and it was really touching. Former AI runner-up Justin Guarini also performed and they talked to the AI hairstylist. Check it out!
Also, sorry to Leeza Gibbons for her exit on DWTS, although it was probably time for her to go. My message to Clyde Drexler: Step it up...step it up.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Thursday Interlude
As I promised yesterday, here are a couple of photos from our Centennial social on Thursday. Look for more from ARN above. One is of our lovely Centennial tree in the MENC lobby. The other is me, prior to digging into my cake and ice cream at the social. MENC staffer BS took the photos, doing a fabulous job as usual. Happy Trails.
RF
RF
Hi Everyone,
Happy Birthday to MENC today and to all of you. I hear you singing out there. A cupcake? No, thanks. I'm good. Well, maybe just one. That icing looks great. Wow. 100 years old! You wear it very, very well. And you sound better than ever. On key and everything. Impressive.
Here at MENC, we will celebrate this momentous occasion with our monthly association social this afternoon, which will be special indeed. As my fellow blogger EWL noted earlier in the week, MENC's Centennial Web site http://www.menc.org/centennial/home.html celebrates the highlights of the past 100 years and the members who helped create the world's largest arts education organization. Check back on Friday for photos of our Centennial social.
Oh, and before I forget, less than half the month is over, and you may know that April is national Jazz Appreciation Month. Visit http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/jam/jam_start.asp for lesson plans, jazz glossaries and worksheets. The 2007 poster features Louis Armstrong www.imdb.com/name/nm0001918/ , of whom I am a huge fan. I love his unique, raspy singing voice, as well as his ground-breaking trumpet playing.
These are my two favorite Armstrong quotes:
Happy Birthday to MENC today and to all of you. I hear you singing out there. A cupcake? No, thanks. I'm good. Well, maybe just one. That icing looks great. Wow. 100 years old! You wear it very, very well. And you sound better than ever. On key and everything. Impressive.
Here at MENC, we will celebrate this momentous occasion with our monthly association social this afternoon, which will be special indeed. As my fellow blogger EWL noted earlier in the week, MENC's Centennial Web site http://www.menc.org/centennial/home.html celebrates the highlights of the past 100 years and the members who helped create the world's largest arts education organization. Check back on Friday for photos of our Centennial social.
Oh, and before I forget, less than half the month is over, and you may know that April is national Jazz Appreciation Month. Visit http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/jam/jam_start.asp for lesson plans, jazz glossaries and worksheets. The 2007 poster features Louis Armstrong www.imdb.com/name/nm0001918/ , of whom I am a huge fan. I love his unique, raspy singing voice, as well as his ground-breaking trumpet playing.
These are my two favorite Armstrong quotes:
"All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing a song."
What is jazz? Man, if you have to ask you'll never know."
The sixth annual JAM is sponsored by National Museum of American History. MENC offers information as well at http://www.menc.org/guides/jazz/jazzappreciation.html
The Museum is distributing the JAM posters free of charge to schools, educators, librarians, and others. To request a poster or posters, write jazz@si.edu.
Visit http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/jam/jam_calendar.asp for a national calendar of JAM events.
Around the MENC water cooler: In Idol news, I thought this week’s show was decidedly blah. As much as I like Gloria Estefan www.imdb.com/name/nm0002065/ and yes, Jenny from the Block, http://www2.blogger.com/www.imdb.com/name/nm0000182/ not everyone can sing that type of song with the proper amount of sauce. I liked Jordin a lot again and her version of "Rhythm is Gonna Get You," was cute. Blake did a nice swaggering job with "I Need to Know." And while I am not completely in Sanjaya’s corner, I agree with Simon that “he wasn’t horrible” singing "Besame Mucho" And that kid’s got some eyelashes. But it's bye, bye, bye to Haley. Did she "Turn the Beat Around?"America said no.
Later,
RF
The Museum is distributing the JAM posters free of charge to schools, educators, librarians, and others. To request a poster or posters, write jazz@si.edu.
Visit http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/jam/jam_calendar.asp for a national calendar of JAM events.
Around the MENC water cooler: In Idol news, I thought this week’s show was decidedly blah. As much as I like Gloria Estefan www.imdb.com/name/nm0002065/ and yes, Jenny from the Block, http://www2.blogger.com/www.imdb.com/name/nm0000182/ not everyone can sing that type of song with the proper amount of sauce. I liked Jordin a lot again and her version of "Rhythm is Gonna Get You," was cute. Blake did a nice swaggering job with "I Need to Know." And while I am not completely in Sanjaya’s corner, I agree with Simon that “he wasn’t horrible” singing "Besame Mucho" And that kid’s got some eyelashes. But it's bye, bye, bye to Haley. Did she "Turn the Beat Around?"America said no.
Later,
RF
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany IV
Gearing up to go to New Hampshire Music Educators Spring Conference tomorrow,
running the MENC Resource booth. Will be nice to have a change of scene and meet some of the members from NH!
Speaking of MENC's Centennial (see EWL's and ML's blogs this week) - the
Congress in Florida (June 25- 28) is open! Consider taking some vacation time
at Disney and joining in the discussions!
The National Anthem Project staff at MENC is gearing up for the project finale on June 14....lots going on there, keep an eye out!
And have you ever tried our monthly on - line survey, the Question of the Month?
Give it a try! (click here) We frequently ask YOU for your opinion and inside insights, so please check back from month to month!
In the news:
Teaching Musicians to be Entrepreneurs
Resource of the Week:
Recreational Music Making
Around the Water Cooler:
An 8 year veteran of MENC leaves today, RT, who grew from staff assistant to editorial assistant to manager! With a lovely singing voice and team mentality, and true love of all things music...she will be missed! She's on to bigger challenges and opportunities....
Speaking of Latin Music (American Idol last night - ouch!) - Great group to check out for authentic Latin music (not pop) from Central and S. America - Sol y Canto They also have a kids' album in Spanish.
See you next Wednesday! SR
running the MENC Resource booth. Will be nice to have a change of scene and meet some of the members from NH!
Speaking of MENC's Centennial (see EWL's and ML's blogs this week) - the
Congress in Florida (June 25- 28) is open! Consider taking some vacation time
at Disney and joining in the discussions!
The National Anthem Project staff at MENC is gearing up for the project finale on June 14....lots going on there, keep an eye out!
And have you ever tried our monthly on - line survey, the Question of the Month?
Give it a try! (click here) We frequently ask YOU for your opinion and inside insights, so please check back from month to month!
In the news:
Teaching Musicians to be Entrepreneurs
Resource of the Week:
Recreational Music Making
Around the Water Cooler:
An 8 year veteran of MENC leaves today, RT, who grew from staff assistant to editorial assistant to manager! With a lovely singing voice and team mentality, and true love of all things music...she will be missed! She's on to bigger challenges and opportunities....
Speaking of Latin Music (American Idol last night - ouch!) - Great group to check out for authentic Latin music (not pop) from Central and S. America - Sol y Canto They also have a kids' album in Spanish.
See you next Wednesday! SR
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
100 Years Ago This Week...
Just a short post from me today. April 12, this Thursday, is MENC's Centennial! If you haven't been to the Centennial Web site, please take a look -- it's still not quite finished, but there is lots of fun information posted. You might enjoy the random "Facts from 1907" - for instance, do you know which composer/conductor was born the exact same day, April 12, 1907, as MENC? What very sweet treat was invented in 1907? How much it cost to post a first-class letter in 1907?
It's not quite lunch and I've already had three meetings this morning. Must get right to starting on all the work that came out of these meetings! I'm lucky to have some great music to look forward to later this week. David Lindley and Leo Kottke, two amazing guitar players, will be performing together locally. Should be a fantastic evening of music.
Happy Centennial!
It's not quite lunch and I've already had three meetings this morning. Must get right to starting on all the work that came out of these meetings! I'm lucky to have some great music to look forward to later this week. David Lindley and Leo Kottke, two amazing guitar players, will be performing together locally. Should be a fantastic evening of music.
Happy Centennial!
Monday, April 9, 2007
My Muddled World
Today my world is a little muddled. Weekend was great! Easter dinner delicious. But - Harley is depressed and in the corner of my dashboard with his straw hat on and head bowed. Last week on Monday and Tuesday he was holding court with the top down on the ladybug convertible and quite proud of himself. His little ears were flying and flapping in the wind as it circulated inside the bug. AND THEN - the cold came, the snow came (kind of) and he lost his "bliss." Catch phrase in the world right now is, "Follow your bliss." Seems Joseph Campbell is credited with this quote which goes, "Follow your bliss. Find where it is, and don't be afraid." Sometimes I feel like the caveman on the car insurance commercial -- "Huh?" I know one should follow their dream but bliss sometimes to me is a muddled word. It is nice but what does it exactly mean. I've met someone named Bliss - do I want to follow her - don't think so. In the dictionary the word bliss is defined as: 1) complete happiness; 2) paradise; 3) heaven; 4) perfect happiness, great joy. So, OK, I get it but why not just say follow your dream?
Either way I suppose the world won't come to an end if you interchange the one word for the other. I saw on the news this morning that Martin Strel (obviously followed his bliss) and swam the Amazon River - 50 miles a day - the whole 3272 miles in 65 days. Not my bliss. Can you tell I am still muddled? Too bad Tiger Wood lost the Masters (did his bliss burp?). AND I, who cannot get into American Idol, know Sanjaya is really living his bliss and believing in it.
Harley was living his bliss in London one time at the Peter Pan statue. Inspiration on muddled days will happen at any time...... My world is becoming less muddled as I realize MENC's 100th birthday is this week.
To all music educators out there -- you have made this birthday possible. You are the reason we have this organization. You inspire me. You do follow your dreams and your bliss - and it culminates in the wonderful young students you touch every day. Nothing is more moving than the children singing - no matter what age. Yes, music does touch us all and, it might sound trival, until you hear those beautiful notes and the voices raised in song - and your soul soars - YES, you know you have been touched and it was all made possible by a music educator.
Either way I suppose the world won't come to an end if you interchange the one word for the other. I saw on the news this morning that Martin Strel (obviously followed his bliss) and swam the Amazon River - 50 miles a day - the whole 3272 miles in 65 days. Not my bliss. Can you tell I am still muddled? Too bad Tiger Wood lost the Masters (did his bliss burp?). AND I, who cannot get into American Idol, know Sanjaya is really living his bliss and believing in it.
Harley was living his bliss in London one time at the Peter Pan statue. Inspiration on muddled days will happen at any time...... My world is becoming less muddled as I realize MENC's 100th birthday is this week.
To all music educators out there -- you have made this birthday possible. You are the reason we have this organization. You inspire me. You do follow your dreams and your bliss - and it culminates in the wonderful young students you touch every day. Nothing is more moving than the children singing - no matter what age. Yes, music does touch us all and, it might sound trival, until you hear those beautiful notes and the voices raised in song - and your soul soars - YES, you know you have been touched and it was all made possible by a music educator.
Friday, April 6, 2007
I love marching bands!
There really is just something fantastic about a marching band--a crisp day, the sun reflecting off of the freshly polished instruments, the sound of warm-ups being played, focused musicians, the colors and movements of the colorguard, the drum major's metronomic arms, and then the combination of sound you can feel and visual elements you can see--you just can't beat it.
This week at MENC we were fortunate to have the Coronado High School Marching Band from Henderson, Nevada, stop by MENC headquarters. Led by MENC teacher Danielle McCracken, the band was in town to play at the Cherry Blossom Festival. They gave the MENC a performance of Sheryl Crow's Soak Up the Sun and Zoot Suit Riot by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. They also played their fight song. (You can always tell a good fight song when you hear it and somehow instinctively know the words and boy was it a good fight song.) They then got a tour of the building, had some cookies, and learned more about what it is that MENC does before heading off on their way. It was a real treat to have them visit!In case you can't tell, I'm a band person and in particular a marching band person. As someone who never "settled" on a particular instrument but tried a variety of them, I ended up in colorguard in high school. As a result, most of my friends were in band and I was practically an honorary member. I got to see first-hand the effect of music on students and noticed that the same people in band and orchestra were the same people in my honors classes. Having witnessed the effects of music education first-hand, I decided I wanted to use my government background to help promote music education. And that is how I landed here at MENC! So thank you to Miss Stockhouse, my high school band director, for her amazing work with students!
Around the Water Cooler: Well, she did it!! Fellow blogger RF WON my March Madness NCAA (free) pool!! It's the first time I've lost my own pool. After the Final Four, I sprang to the lead as the only one to correctly pick both of the final two teams. Sadly, I chose Ohio State to win and RF correctly chose Florida. So with a margin of only 30 points, she will be taking the trophy home!
In other news, I'm shocked that Gina went home on American Idol. Apparently all of her other fans are like me and didn't vote. What a shame. Like Blake, I feel Gina brought something a little different each week which made the show interesting. No shock that Shandi from Dancing With the Stars went home though. With the scores so close, it's down to popularity.
On a tangent, this is a fascinating article on Larry King in the NYT! And kudos to CBS’ “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer who intrinsically knows the power of music--"“If I knew what a band could do for your life, I would have taken guitar lessons a long time ago...The chicks love it!”
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Thursday Interlude
Morning All,
As you probably know, MENC has two journals, Teaching Music and Music Educators Journal. I am responsible for the news in both.
Click http://www.menc.org/publication/articles/journals.html for information about the magazines.
What do we consider news? Well, I handle information about the association, from our National Anthem Project to MENC lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to the new All-American Marching Band MENC is launching in conjunction with Sportslink, producer of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Visit http://www.menc.org/allamerican/2008/2008aam.html for more information about the inaugural band, which will perform in January 2008 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
The news I research and report includes in large part what members do, such as awards they win, books they write that MENC publishes, their conferences and the like.
Normally that keeps me pretty busy, but I am actually taking vacation this week. The public schools in Fairfax County, the Virginia county where I live and which MENC is located, have spring break this week.
I am spending some time decluttering my house and driving my 13 year-old son and his friends around. For example, I drove a friend’s son to soccer practice the other day and we started talking about a district choral festival in which he had sung a few weeks ago.
An eighth grader, he missed a basketball game in order to sing in the chorus. He realized that it was an honor to be chosen, though he wondered if the fact that girls outnumber boys five to one in his choir played a part, too. And while he thought the experience was interesting, he was of the opinion that the aforementioned girls in the group were way more excited to be rehearsing and singing than the boys were. Why was that, he wondered? Hmmmm.
Around the water cooler: In American Idol news, had to love Tony Bennett this week. He was way cool with the kids on Tuesday night. He offered them good insights. And overall, I think everyone sang better as a group than in previous weeks. And he was right, those songs were classics.
So America votes and Gina Glocksen goes buh bye. Not really surprised. She was ok, not overwhelming. On the other hand, Lakisha’s version of “Stormy Weather” was fabulous.
Years ago my husband and I saw Lena Horn http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395043/ in her one-woman show on Broadway. When she sang “Stormy Weather” twice, first as a dewey movie ingénue would and later as a full-fledged, “Honey, I’ve earned the title, Diva, ” would sing it, she left me with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.
Lakisha wasn’t quite that good, but she made the song her own. As did Jordin. Jordin is definitely my favorite right now. She brings such personality and vivacity to every song and her “On a Clear Day” sparkled. Barbara who? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000659/
Hope spring has arrived where you are. See you next Thursday!
RF
Click http://www.menc.org/publication/articles/journals.html for information about the magazines.
What do we consider news? Well, I handle information about the association, from our National Anthem Project to MENC lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to the new All-American Marching Band MENC is launching in conjunction with Sportslink, producer of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Visit http://www.menc.org/allamerican/2008/2008aam.html for more information about the inaugural band, which will perform in January 2008 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
The news I research and report includes in large part what members do, such as awards they win, books they write that MENC publishes, their conferences and the like.
Normally that keeps me pretty busy, but I am actually taking vacation this week. The public schools in Fairfax County, the Virginia county where I live and which MENC is located, have spring break this week.
I am spending some time decluttering my house and driving my 13 year-old son and his friends around. For example, I drove a friend’s son to soccer practice the other day and we started talking about a district choral festival in which he had sung a few weeks ago.
An eighth grader, he missed a basketball game in order to sing in the chorus. He realized that it was an honor to be chosen, though he wondered if the fact that girls outnumber boys five to one in his choir played a part, too. And while he thought the experience was interesting, he was of the opinion that the aforementioned girls in the group were way more excited to be rehearsing and singing than the boys were. Why was that, he wondered? Hmmmm.
Around the water cooler: In American Idol news, had to love Tony Bennett this week. He was way cool with the kids on Tuesday night. He offered them good insights. And overall, I think everyone sang better as a group than in previous weeks. And he was right, those songs were classics.
So America votes and Gina Glocksen goes buh bye. Not really surprised. She was ok, not overwhelming. On the other hand, Lakisha’s version of “Stormy Weather” was fabulous.
Years ago my husband and I saw Lena Horn http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395043/ in her one-woman show on Broadway. When she sang “Stormy Weather” twice, first as a dewey movie ingénue would and later as a full-fledged, “Honey, I’ve earned the title, Diva, ” would sing it, she left me with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.
Lakisha wasn’t quite that good, but she made the song her own. As did Jordin. Jordin is definitely my favorite right now. She brings such personality and vivacity to every song and her “On a Clear Day” sparkled. Barbara who? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000659/
Hope spring has arrived where you are. See you next Thursday!
RF
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany III
One of the best things about my work here at MENC is the daily correspondence/conversations with members (and others) who call or write in, asking for information to help them teach music, or info to help with advocacy, or research, or a school paper. We used to keep tabs on how many requests we received each day/month; at one point we were getting several hundred/month! The demand comes and goes based on the time of year.....October and January seem to be BIG request months, with a small surge in March/April, particularly from college students looking to finish up their last papers........
What makes helping folks especially rewarding is when they actually reply and let us know how things went. Below is verbatim (no, I didn't make this up just to fill the blog and toot our own horn!) one reply received from a very grateful member. It made me happy to hear things were looking up for their music program, and all was not lost. So, Teacher Members, do not lose heart! Sometimes, this advocacy thing DOES work!
QUOTE: I talked to you several weeks ago regarding the possible Music reduction in time and staff in my school district. You sent me lots of material (it was great!) and the steps in the process of making a difference. The number one step was getting parents involved! I sent your emails to all the Music staff in our district. It truly helped all the staff, as they sent on what was pertinent for their groups of parents. I am happy to report back to you about the progress of this situation. Five very articulate and respected parents spoke at our BOE meeting against the proposed cut in Music and PE. About 100 people were there as a show of support. There was no action taken to eliminate and/or cut times! The principals have been directed to re-do the schedule and come up with different plans. This will then be presented to all the teachers and a parents committee has been set up to help with the process. Can you believe it?!!!! I am truly amazed at the developments! So while we are not sure of the outcome, we have reached the goal of letting the Board know the importance of Music and that parents do not want the time reduced! I will be sending you several articles from our local newspaper for you to see...I want you to witness our success because you are a part of it!
Around the Water Cooler
As an offshoot to the "American Idol" British invasion theme (see blogs last week)...
I was discussing with a co- worker how the first Beatles album allowed in our home (1966) was "Rubber Soul" (most likely because it was so acoustic and almost "classical"....Mom had her standards!) We devoured it; or rather I did. Day after day, singing along with "Rubber Soul", I imagined myself as a back up singer to the Fab Four. After all, why not? My fantasies were fueled further when the news came out (1967, 68?) of an unknown local gal from
UK who won the solo on (Paul's tune?) "Those Were the Days".....after all, I was only 7, and anything was possible!
I learned every vocal harmony on each song, including the back up choir parts "Oooh la la la!".....("You won't see me"....)
While sharing this info with co-worker pal, she also confessed to doing the same thing, and we agreed that's probably how we learned to sing harmony.....she reminded me how we could, in those days of mono-recording and early stereo, separate out the singing parts with one turn of the "balance" knob on our RECORD PLAYERS.....so that Paul's treble voice came out of one speaker, and John's more resonant tones came out of the other speaker. This certainly helped train our ears. We felt like geniuses with our "smart" listening....and rebalancing the tracks back together made a sound that was like candy!
SO! In honor of reminiscences about singing, and "American Idol's" themes of standards with Tony Bennett, and British Invasion and 60's Pop with Diana Ross......here is an"> 8 minute cartoon (go ahead, treat yourself!) from 1936, apparently a cult classic: "I Love to Singa!". Spoiler: If you rent the DVD "Happy Feet", this is one of the shorts on the disc..... has something to do with singing birds, as does "Happy Feet"! Teaser: "Singa" has a very "American Idol" like scene....hilarious! You will be reminded of the "wanna be" IDOL contestants during the IDOL audition phase!
">Description and history of the cartoon (click here!)
Speaking of cartoons....it's amazing to me how I became familiar with so much classical music.....via Saturday morning cartoons! Most especially, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. My husband and I can never hear it without breaking into wide grins, and then, "conducting" it right down to the final "DA DAHHH!", in imitation of whichever cartoon character was conducting the cartoon orchestra!
(For a more sober performance, see: youtube; and Click to see a list of many cartoons featuring classical music!
and CLICK THIS to see Rhapsody in Popular Culture" along with cartoon characters stills....
See you next Wednesday! SR
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The Weekly Web Meeting
If it’s 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, you will find me at the Weekly Web Meeting with MENC’s awesome “Web guys,” Web Specialist PF and Web Assistant DP. We meet every week to review our (sometimes frighteningly) long list of Web projects. We invite any MENC staff members who want to consult about forthcoming projects; sometimes we have one of MENC’s talented graphic designers join us if a project calls for their help.
We have dozens of internal MENC projects at any one time, and we have to look at their time sensitivity, complexity, and relative importance to determine what to work on by when and in what order, so that they all get done as close to requested deadlines as possible. We also need to be on top of what’s happening when to make sure projects are promoted “synergistically.” For instance, if an item in next month’s MENC journal news directs readers to “go to the Web site for more information,” we have to have that information posted by the date members receive their journal. (And that means we have to be aware of what the news is going to say each month!) Conversely, when projects are completed, we want to publicize them, so looking at the queue also means planning promotion on the front page of the site, in the weekly member e-mail update, in a news story or ad, etc.
Contrary to rumors, we do not decide what Web projects will be completed first based on whom we like best or least in the office that particular week. (At least not very often. Just kidding! Mostly.) Seriously, we try to serve all our “customers” -- our internal staff customers, our leaders and members working on MENC-related projects, and the visitors to our Web site, who often contact us with technical and content questions. We use the Weekly Web Meeting to make sure we are all on the same page with our goals and priorities.
I admit we sometimes do veer off topic. Recent subjects of conversation have been walking cats on leashes, Battlestar Gallactica, the nutritional merits of applesauce, Bolero, what is a griefer, unconventional uses for duct tape, open track race days. (In fact, I have to say I actually look forward to the Weekly Web Meeting, unlike most meetings.) But mostly we take our jobs as masters of the MENC Web site very seriously. We know a lot of people are depending on us for good information – last week, we averaged more than 31,000 page hits each day! – and we want them to find what they seek on the MENC site.
Here’s something new to check out in April -- From the Top Comes to TV! From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall premieres in April on PBS with 13 half-hour episodes! And don’t forget it’s Jazz Appreciation Month and MENC Centennial Month!
We have dozens of internal MENC projects at any one time, and we have to look at their time sensitivity, complexity, and relative importance to determine what to work on by when and in what order, so that they all get done as close to requested deadlines as possible. We also need to be on top of what’s happening when to make sure projects are promoted “synergistically.” For instance, if an item in next month’s MENC journal news directs readers to “go to the Web site for more information,” we have to have that information posted by the date members receive their journal. (And that means we have to be aware of what the news is going to say each month!) Conversely, when projects are completed, we want to publicize them, so looking at the queue also means planning promotion on the front page of the site, in the weekly member e-mail update, in a news story or ad, etc.
Contrary to rumors, we do not decide what Web projects will be completed first based on whom we like best or least in the office that particular week. (At least not very often. Just kidding! Mostly.) Seriously, we try to serve all our “customers” -- our internal staff customers, our leaders and members working on MENC-related projects, and the visitors to our Web site, who often contact us with technical and content questions. We use the Weekly Web Meeting to make sure we are all on the same page with our goals and priorities.
I admit we sometimes do veer off topic. Recent subjects of conversation have been walking cats on leashes, Battlestar Gallactica, the nutritional merits of applesauce, Bolero, what is a griefer, unconventional uses for duct tape, open track race days. (In fact, I have to say I actually look forward to the Weekly Web Meeting, unlike most meetings.) But mostly we take our jobs as masters of the MENC Web site very seriously. We know a lot of people are depending on us for good information – last week, we averaged more than 31,000 page hits each day! – and we want them to find what they seek on the MENC site.
Here’s something new to check out in April -- From the Top Comes to TV! From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall premieres in April on PBS with 13 half-hour episodes! And don’t forget it’s Jazz Appreciation Month and MENC Centennial Month!
Monday, April 2, 2007
Can You Hear Me Now?
Can you hear me now in my world?
It was a wonderful weekend and here I am once again in my world. My life right now is routine stuff, like playing catch-up after a board meeting. Making a list and checking it twice that all of the letters that need to be sent are being taken care of by whomever…
Do you know who Harley is? Well, if you don’t, you should. I love my Harley. He has been everywhere with me: London, Paris, Berlin, Estonia, Orlando, New York City. And, when not traveling, he pretends he is my hood ornament on the dashboard of my little red beetle buggy. Have
you guessed it? NO, it’s not Harley the cycle. It’s Harley – the Tri-M Mascot. I am so proud that he is front and center on the MENC Centennial Birthday Tree in the lobby. EL told you about it last week and it is now absolutely beautiful.
It will stay up for a while. Did you know that April 12, 1907, is considered the Birthday of MENC! For many years, George Heller, bless his soul, would call my phone on April 12 and sing Happy Birthday to MENC on my voice mail. I miss George, he was taken from us too young. We have monthly staff socials at which time we “celebrate” birthdays and anniversaries here at MENC. This year it will take place on April 12 and I am sure we will have a birthday cake and have a big sing along of Happy Birthday. Come to think about it – maybe I should give Harriet Mogge, past MENC Director of Meetings & Conventions, and Gene Morlan, former MENC Director of Professional Programs, a call to come over on that day for the social. Gene worked for MENC for 33 years! He began as MENC assistant executive secretary when Vanett Lawler (1955-1968) was in charge. Harriet started attending MENC functions when her father was MENC National President, Russell V. Morgan (1930-32). In 1930 her father hired MENC’s first “Executive Secretary,” Clifford V. Buttelman, (this is what the executive director was called back then). She worked for MENC from 1974-1993. She lives close by and is always ready and willing to help us out with all sorts of tasks!
Back to “I Love My Harley” – I met Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Harley, Modern Music Masters Founders, in the early 1980s when they started talks with MENC about moving the Honor Society to MENC. They were a wonderful couple and had such energy and spirit. It was a joy to be around them. When Harley was introduced, Mrs. Harley was still alive and living in a nursing home. It is my understanding that she was given one and took to little Harley right away. She use to write poetry and send to us periodically during the 80s and early 90s. One poem -- I remember was “Ode to a Bedpan” – she had a hospital stay and this generated about 20 poems. Believe it or not – it was not a bad poem and her humor would have you in stitches
(so to speak)….
. I am starting to ramble and so I will end my “CAN you HEAR me NOW?” with a reminder, “Sometimes you swim with the sharks, and some times you get eaten.” Can you hear me now, Jonah?
It was a wonderful weekend and here I am once again in my world. My life right now is routine stuff, like playing catch-up after a board meeting. Making a list and checking it twice that all of the letters that need to be sent are being taken care of by whomever…
Do you know who Harley is? Well, if you don’t, you should. I love my Harley. He has been everywhere with me: London, Paris, Berlin, Estonia, Orlando, New York City. And, when not traveling, he pretends he is my hood ornament on the dashboard of my little red beetle buggy. Have
you guessed it? NO, it’s not Harley the cycle. It’s Harley – the Tri-M Mascot. I am so proud that he is front and center on the MENC Centennial Birthday Tree in the lobby. EL told you about it last week and it is now absolutely beautiful.It will stay up for a while. Did you know that April 12, 1907, is considered the Birthday of MENC! For many years, George Heller, bless his soul, would call my phone on April 12 and sing Happy Birthday to MENC on my voice mail. I miss George, he was taken from us too young. We have monthly staff socials at which time we “celebrate” birthdays and anniversaries here at MENC. This year it will take place on April 12 and I am sure we will have a birthday cake and have a big sing along of Happy Birthday. Come to think about it – maybe I should give Harriet Mogge, past MENC Director of Meetings & Conventions, and Gene Morlan, former MENC Director of Professional Programs, a call to come over on that day for the social. Gene worked for MENC for 33 years! He began as MENC assistant executive secretary when Vanett Lawler (1955-1968) was in charge. Harriet started attending MENC functions when her father was MENC National President, Russell V. Morgan (1930-32). In 1930 her father hired MENC’s first “Executive Secretary,” Clifford V. Buttelman, (this is what the executive director was called back then). She worked for MENC from 1974-1993. She lives close by and is always ready and willing to help us out with all sorts of tasks!
Back to “I Love My Harley” – I met Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Harley, Modern Music Masters Founders, in the early 1980s when they started talks with MENC about moving the Honor Society to MENC. They were a wonderful couple and had such energy and spirit. It was a joy to be around them. When Harley was introduced, Mrs. Harley was still alive and living in a nursing home. It is my understanding that she was given one and took to little Harley right away. She use to write poetry and send to us periodically during the 80s and early 90s. One poem -- I remember was “Ode to a Bedpan” – she had a hospital stay and this generated about 20 poems. Believe it or not – it was not a bad poem and her humor would have you in stitches
(so to speak)….. I am starting to ramble and so I will end my “CAN you HEAR me NOW?” with a reminder, “Sometimes you swim with the sharks, and some times you get eaten.” Can you hear me now, Jonah?
Friday, March 30, 2007
Adventures in Advocacy!
Hello Blog Readers!
It's a beautiful day here in MENC-land with blue skies! I hope it is just as beautiful there.
Did you know that advocacy is quite the adventure? Well, it is! This week's adventure took CW and I to Capitol Hill to talk to several offices about The National Anthem Project Curriculum Kit. As you likely already know from the MENC Legislative Memo (unabashed plug, sign up here!), we are hoping to create and disseminate a national anthem curriculum kit to send to every public school in the country, but need funding to do so.
Now, CW and I are very familiar with Capitol Hill after both having worked there for years. Yet we still stumbled across a secret place neither of us had seen before. Within about 50 yards of the Capitol is this beautiful little brick enclave. It was sunken down a bit and had a gurgling fountain in the middle and had stone seats all around. This is picture CW took with his cell phone. (Better quality to last week's advocacy day photos--maybe we should've used his phone instead of the cameras!) It was quite the welcome retreat from the bustling halls and sidewalks of Capitol Hill, so we sat there for a few minutes taking it all in. Unfortunately, a group of about 15 or so tourists also soon stumbled upon it and it became slightly less serene. ;)
From there we headed towards Union Station and were not allowed to cross the street by several imposing policemen and police vehicles. We knew something was coming, but we weren't sure what. It turned out to be the presidential motorcade. And considering the nine or so armored SUVs (not to mention all the police) and what I believe was a helicopter overhead, I'm guessing he was in the car. We tried to get a picture (again with the camera phone) but could only snap a few--this one you can see one of the police cars in front followed by two of the gazillion black SUVs. I think my favorite part of the motorcade is always the person whose job is to ride filming the motorcade while standing up through a hole in a van.
Around the Water Cooler: There's a new lead in my NCAA pool! DP from the web team has taken a strong lead as we go into the Final Four games this Saturday and the final game Monday night. I still have a chance to win, though, so my hopes are pinned on Ohio State to win it all. In other news, I was only slightly surprised that Chris Sligh went home on American Idol and that Paulina went home on Dancing with the Stars. I love both shows and am rooting for Joey Fatone to win DWTS!! Maybe I should start a Dancing with the Stars pool, too... (free of course!) Until next time!
It's a beautiful day here in MENC-land with blue skies! I hope it is just as beautiful there.
Did you know that advocacy is quite the adventure? Well, it is! This week's adventure took CW and I to Capitol Hill to talk to several offices about The National Anthem Project Curriculum Kit. As you likely already know from the MENC Legislative Memo (unabashed plug, sign up here!), we are hoping to create and disseminate a national anthem curriculum kit to send to every public school in the country, but need funding to do so.
Now, CW and I are very familiar with Capitol Hill after both having worked there for years. Yet we still stumbled across a secret place neither of us had seen before. Within about 50 yards of the Capitol is this beautiful little brick enclave. It was sunken down a bit and had a gurgling fountain in the middle and had stone seats all around. This is picture CW took with his cell phone. (Better quality to last week's advocacy day photos--maybe we should've used his phone instead of the cameras!) It was quite the welcome retreat from the bustling halls and sidewalks of Capitol Hill, so we sat there for a few minutes taking it all in. Unfortunately, a group of about 15 or so tourists also soon stumbled upon it and it became slightly less serene. ;)
From there we headed towards Union Station and were not allowed to cross the street by several imposing policemen and police vehicles. We knew something was coming, but we weren't sure what. It turned out to be the presidential motorcade. And considering the nine or so armored SUVs (not to mention all the police) and what I believe was a helicopter overhead, I'm guessing he was in the car. We tried to get a picture (again with the camera phone) but could only snap a few--this one you can see one of the police cars in front followed by two of the gazillion black SUVs. I think my favorite part of the motorcade is always the person whose job is to ride filming the motorcade while standing up through a hole in a van.Well those were our adventures in advocacy this week!! Tune in next week to see what exciting adventures we have!
Around the Water Cooler: There's a new lead in my NCAA pool! DP from the web team has taken a strong lead as we go into the Final Four games this Saturday and the final game Monday night. I still have a chance to win, though, so my hopes are pinned on Ohio State to win it all. In other news, I was only slightly surprised that Chris Sligh went home on American Idol and that Paulina went home on Dancing with the Stars. I love both shows and am rooting for Joey Fatone to win DWTS!! Maybe I should start a Dancing with the Stars pool, too... (free of course!) Until next time!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Thursday Interlude
Hi All,
As managing editor for news, I live in a kind of time warp much of the time. This week is a good example. I began work on news for the May issue of Music Educators Journal in early March and final tweaks for the magazine took place this week
The May issue was about to go to the printer, but in my world it was time to ready April Teaching Music news for online posting. If you are a member, the magazine probably arrived in recent days. You may have the April issue sitting on your desk or tucked away in a tote bag to read. An alternate-universe version I created for the Web site will pop up the MENC site soon.
Preparing print stories for use online is a little like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. This text fits there; those photos go there. I update and add information to stories, add to stories , add more photos. Then I hand all of that over to a very skilled colleague for the html coding. You will see it on the MENC Web site soon, thanks to DP’s hard work. The March news is still online as I post this. Click www.menc.org/news for March news that is now up, and the April news that will follow come.
Anyway, back to my time warp (Hey, any Rocky Horror fans out there? Yeesh, I am dating myself. Actually, my grandparents told me about it when I was a kid)
One of my favorite news photos in April TM is one I actually shot last July when the week long GAMA/NAMM/MENC guitar workshops were held at our offices here in Reston.
When I see the photo, I recall how much was fun it was having the music teachers at the Reston headquarters for a week. The teachers told me they enjoyed the learning process and interacting with peers. By the end of the week they sounded pretty good. I took the photo above at the final day “recital.” I enjoyed meeting several music teachers, all of whom are members.
I enjoy my blogging. And maybe it is just because I am posting, but it seems as if nearly everyone I talked with in the past week had some kind of music-related story to tell me.
Here is just one. I visited a friend in the hospital last weekend and she described how a patient in a nearby room routinely broke into song. After a tune or two, he would ask for chocolate pudding and one of the nurses would bring it. I will have to remember that little gambit the next time I have to don a drafty hospital gown. I love pudding.
That little slice of life reminded me of a vacation several years ago when my husband and I rented a Left Bank apartment in Paris for a couple of weeks. (Cheaper than a hotel and close to the Metro) We found ourselves falling into a rather pleasant morning routine. I would make coffee and he would go to the nearby patisserie for croissants and once we settled in at the kitchen table with newspapers, somewhere in the building an opera singer would begin rehearsing. First scales, then an aria or two.
Now, I am not exactly huge opera fan. However, there was something glorious about sitting there while this melodic voice drifted down the stairwell from a floor or two above us. For us, the daily recitals were as much a part of our trip as a day at the Louvre or our trek to Versailles.
I guess what I am trying to say is, music is such a wonderfully portable art form, one that is easily shared in unexpected places. As much as I love art, I don’t carry framed prints around with me on the subway to admire. I seldom go without my iPod Shuffle, though.
And I love to dance, but an airplane aisle leaves you no place to practice the two-step or encourage others to join you in the Electric Slide. On the other hand you can fly from Virginia to Kansas listening to Macy Gray www.imdb.com/name/nm0004975/ or Harry Connick Jr.,/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001065/ as I did recently to attend the KMEA conference.
On a closing note: Did you get a chance to listen to the March 24th “Weekend Eddition Saturday” on National Public Radio? It included a follow-up story about the Bentonville, Arkansas, choir, which performed at Carnegie Hall’s National High School Choral Festival? The group was one of four choirs chosen to sing at the March 19 festival.
I included the link for previous Bentonville story in my first “Interlude” last week. Scroll down.
For the follow-up story, click on the link below and you can hear the Bentonville High School Chamber Choir singing "Psalm 96" by Jan Sweelinck and "Worthy to be Praised" by Byron Smith at Carnegie Hall. Click for some stunning music
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9109686
You will also hear an interview with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Craig Jessop, who discusses why he helped create the festival, “making it about the music, not competition,” and how the young singers thrived on the strenuous rehearsals. NPR reporter Jeffrey Lunden also includes an interview with MENC Member Terry Hicks, who directs the Bentonville choir.
Around the Water Cooler:
How do your colleagues feel about American Idol? At MENC, the show counts both rabid fans and those who are utterly disinterested. I guess you’ve figured out I’m a fan. Starting to love Jordan, both her voice and her winning personality.
Many of us, though, were we excited when New Jersey music teacher Anwar Robinson made it to seventh place in Idol’s season four. Remember the velvety voice, the cascades of long braids and the shy smile? That's Anwar.
Curious about his career? Click here http://www.anwarrobinsonfansite.com/ for an update that includes concert dates and clips of his music.
See you next Thursday
RF
As managing editor for news, I live in a kind of time warp much of the time. This week is a good example. I began work on news for the May issue of Music Educators Journal in early March and final tweaks for the magazine took place this week
The May issue was about to go to the printer, but in my world it was time to ready April Teaching Music news for online posting. If you are a member, the magazine probably arrived in recent days. You may have the April issue sitting on your desk or tucked away in a tote bag to read. An alternate-universe version I created for the Web site will pop up the MENC site soon.
Preparing print stories for use online is a little like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. This text fits there; those photos go there. I update and add information to stories, add to stories , add more photos. Then I hand all of that over to a very skilled colleague for the html coding. You will see it on the MENC Web site soon, thanks to DP’s hard work. The March news is still online as I post this. Click www.menc.org/news for March news that is now up, and the April news that will follow come.
Anyway, back to my time warp (Hey, any Rocky Horror fans out there? Yeesh, I am dating myself. Actually, my grandparents told me about it when I was a kid)
One of my favorite news photos in April TM is one I actually shot last July when the week long GAMA/NAMM/MENC guitar workshops were held at our offices here in Reston.
When I see the photo, I recall how much was fun it was having the music teachers at the Reston headquarters for a week. The teachers told me they enjoyed the learning process and interacting with peers. By the end of the week they sounded pretty good. I took the photo above at the final day “recital.” I enjoyed meeting several music teachers, all of whom are members.I enjoy my blogging. And maybe it is just because I am posting, but it seems as if nearly everyone I talked with in the past week had some kind of music-related story to tell me.
Here is just one. I visited a friend in the hospital last weekend and she described how a patient in a nearby room routinely broke into song. After a tune or two, he would ask for chocolate pudding and one of the nurses would bring it. I will have to remember that little gambit the next time I have to don a drafty hospital gown. I love pudding.
That little slice of life reminded me of a vacation several years ago when my husband and I rented a Left Bank apartment in Paris for a couple of weeks. (Cheaper than a hotel and close to the Metro) We found ourselves falling into a rather pleasant morning routine. I would make coffee and he would go to the nearby patisserie for croissants and once we settled in at the kitchen table with newspapers, somewhere in the building an opera singer would begin rehearsing. First scales, then an aria or two.
Now, I am not exactly huge opera fan. However, there was something glorious about sitting there while this melodic voice drifted down the stairwell from a floor or two above us. For us, the daily recitals were as much a part of our trip as a day at the Louvre or our trek to Versailles.
I guess what I am trying to say is, music is such a wonderfully portable art form, one that is easily shared in unexpected places. As much as I love art, I don’t carry framed prints around with me on the subway to admire. I seldom go without my iPod Shuffle, though.
And I love to dance, but an airplane aisle leaves you no place to practice the two-step or encourage others to join you in the Electric Slide. On the other hand you can fly from Virginia to Kansas listening to Macy Gray www.imdb.com/name/nm0004975/ or Harry Connick Jr.,/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001065/ as I did recently to attend the KMEA conference.
On a closing note: Did you get a chance to listen to the March 24th “Weekend Eddition Saturday” on National Public Radio? It included a follow-up story about the Bentonville, Arkansas, choir, which performed at Carnegie Hall’s National High School Choral Festival? The group was one of four choirs chosen to sing at the March 19 festival.
I included the link for previous Bentonville story in my first “Interlude” last week. Scroll down.
For the follow-up story, click on the link below and you can hear the Bentonville High School Chamber Choir singing "Psalm 96" by Jan Sweelinck and "Worthy to be Praised" by Byron Smith at Carnegie Hall. Click for some stunning music
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9109686
You will also hear an interview with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Craig Jessop, who discusses why he helped create the festival, “making it about the music, not competition,” and how the young singers thrived on the strenuous rehearsals. NPR reporter Jeffrey Lunden also includes an interview with MENC Member Terry Hicks, who directs the Bentonville choir.
Around the Water Cooler:
How do your colleagues feel about American Idol? At MENC, the show counts both rabid fans and those who are utterly disinterested. I guess you’ve figured out I’m a fan. Starting to love Jordan, both her voice and her winning personality.
Many of us, though, were we excited when New Jersey music teacher Anwar Robinson made it to seventh place in Idol’s season four. Remember the velvety voice, the cascades of long braids and the shy smile? That's Anwar.
Curious about his career? Click here http://www.anwarrobinsonfansite.com/ for an update that includes concert dates and clips of his music.
See you next Thursday
RF
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany 2
Goings on in my neck of the MENC woods....
New Hampshire (click to see sessions) is readying for their annual All State conference, April 12 - 14 in Concord, NH. (l'll be going to run the MENC resource booth)......they are excited, it's the first time they've held
their All State in a hotel instead of a high school, and they're hoping it'll be a big success so
as to entice more members from across the state to participate in future years.
MENC also had a visitor from China last week, who had come to the states to make a presentation
on the role of music in patriotism in China. She and the professor of the U.S.
university where she made her presentation had a good look around MENC headquarters,
and even came across a rehearsal of the MENC Recorder ensemble, the (staff) members of which
graciously impromptu performed a new piece for the visitors, percussion and all!
And yes, the MENC tree (see EWL's blog below) has looked lovely since December,
and now some industrious MENC staff have already donned it for the Centennial -
vintage photos from last 100 years music education,
miniature instruments ornaments, and party blowers!
And kudos to JR, who monthly has knit a miniature sweater
with some symbol of that month's decorating theme to ornament the tree!
I nearly forgot!I Tomorrow I pass my 8 year anniversary at MENC! (3/29)
wow. Some folks have been here 15 - 20 years!
was a real stroke of serendipity (? can you say that?!)
I found MENC... and thanks to EWL for hiring me!
In the news:
The AP reported last week that Italian musician, Francesco Lotoro, has, for the last 15 years, been independently (on his own time and dime) seeking, collecting and preserving the "lost" music of the Holocaust...music written in the death and labor camps, from Europe to Japan. His work will have a permanent home at Rome's Third University in September 2007, and feature 4,000 papers and 13,000 microfiches including music sheets, letters, drawings and photos. He is also rearranging and recording many of the pieces to produce a collection of 32 CDs, five of which have been published already. Even officials at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington have lauded the work and said it is groundbreaking. I have not found any public website for this work, yet.... but to get an idea of the type of material Lotoro has collected, see the collection at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum: Music page
American Composers forum
Composers Datebook
Arts Education Partnership
Good resources/tech and lesson plans
Cool careers (middle school level)
PBS teachers guides on line
AROUND the WATER COOLER
Speaking of British invasion..... (see EWL's Water cooler item below) -
isn't it amazing (to those of us who are of a certain age) that many of this year's American Idol contestants admitted they hadn't a clue about the British music invasion of the 60's? Okay, it was 30 years before their time, but still!
And did you notice NO ONE sang any Beatles? (click to see review)
And for those who are real Idol aficionados, check out Michael Slezak's reviews
each week; "spot on" and most entertaining! Almost better than the show!
New Hampshire (click to see sessions) is readying for their annual All State conference, April 12 - 14 in Concord, NH. (l'll be going to run the MENC resource booth)......they are excited, it's the first time they've held
their All State in a hotel instead of a high school, and they're hoping it'll be a big success so
as to entice more members from across the state to participate in future years.
MENC also had a visitor from China last week, who had come to the states to make a presentation
on the role of music in patriotism in China. She and the professor of the U.S.
university where she made her presentation had a good look around MENC headquarters,
and even came across a rehearsal of the MENC Recorder ensemble, the (staff) members of which
graciously impromptu performed a new piece for the visitors, percussion and all!
And yes, the MENC tree (see EWL's blog below) has looked lovely since December,
and now some industrious MENC staff have already donned it for the Centennial -
vintage photos from last 100 years music education,
miniature instruments ornaments, and party blowers!
And kudos to JR, who monthly has knit a miniature sweater
with some symbol of that month's decorating theme to ornament the tree!
I nearly forgot!I Tomorrow I pass my 8 year anniversary at MENC! (3/29)
wow. Some folks have been here 15 - 20 years!
was a real stroke of serendipity (? can you say that?!)
I found MENC... and thanks to EWL for hiring me!
In the news:
The AP reported last week that Italian musician, Francesco Lotoro, has, for the last 15 years, been independently (on his own time and dime) seeking, collecting and preserving the "lost" music of the Holocaust...music written in the death and labor camps, from Europe to Japan. His work will have a permanent home at Rome's Third University in September 2007, and feature 4,000 papers and 13,000 microfiches including music sheets, letters, drawings and photos. He is also rearranging and recording many of the pieces to produce a collection of 32 CDs, five of which have been published already. Even officials at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington have lauded the work and said it is groundbreaking. I have not found any public website for this work, yet.... but to get an idea of the type of material Lotoro has collected, see the collection at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum: Music page
BEAUTIFUL VOICE! For Idol Fans, and even non-Idol fans: listen to SHADA, one of 4 contestants remaining in the "Star Academy" reality show out of Lebanon; Shada is Iraqi, age 25. Her voice, singing a song from the 60's from the Middle East, is mesmerizing and heart breaking. This show follows contestants 24/7, and viewers call in via cell to vote - a la American Idol. ON NPR
RESOURCES of the WEEK
American Composers forum
Composers Datebook
Arts Education Partnership
Good resources/tech and lesson plans
Cool careers (middle school level)
PBS teachers guides on line
AROUND the WATER COOLER
Speaking of British invasion..... (see EWL's Water cooler item below) -
isn't it amazing (to those of us who are of a certain age) that many of this year's American Idol contestants admitted they hadn't a clue about the British music invasion of the 60's? Okay, it was 30 years before their time, but still!
And did you notice NO ONE sang any Beatles? (click to see review)
And for those who are real Idol aficionados, check out Michael Slezak's reviews
each week; "spot on" and most entertaining! Almost better than the show!
Interesting article from Smithsonian Magazine on the Real Dreamgirls: How Girl Groups Changed American Music
My cousin's son just got accepted into three colleges, and is
waiting to hear from #4. He's a marching band/jazz guy... and he wants to teach music!
So he's chosen some programs with great jazz programs and great
music education programs....way to go, Andy!
SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY! SR
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Last Week of MIOSM
We’re about to start one of the nicest times of year to work
in the MENC building. We are located in a wooded area of northern Virginia with many beautiful spring-flowering trees, and it’s a pleasure to drive up the road to the building in the morning when those trees are blooming. Daffodils, crocuses, Virginia bluebells are already making appearances. If you’ve never been here, here’s a photo of springtime at MENC. We should be seeing these blooms soon.
Now check out these recent photos of our front lobby. You may wonder why there appears to be a Christmas tree in the front lobby in March. Well, thanks to a particularly enthusiastic MENC staff member, we had a lovely tree in December -- and then everyone was too busy to take it down and put it away, so we decided to make it a year round tree. In February it was bursting with Valentines, and this month it’s full of green decorations for St. Patrick’s Day. Next month it will be dedicated
to our Centennial (the official date, in case you’ve forgotten, is April 12!). MENC staff members have taken their own time to produce special ornaments for the tree – I’ve seen a few handknitted items among the many creative paper cutouts. It is certainly a friendly conversation-starter for our visitors.
Speaking of which, tomorrow Kent Summers of the National Federation of State High School Associations will be here meeting with John Mahlmann. I’m going to try to catch him for a quick interview for MENC’s podcast, Notes from the Clef. Meanwhile, the week will be full of Web projects, membership promotions, press outreach, and member communications, plus I need to record new messages for our “music on hold,” so I better get moving on all that.
One more thing though -- something different that might interest you: 2007 Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands. A special chance for educators to visit these remote islands, the inspiration for Darwin and home to unique ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth! Open to grade 7-12 classroom teachers of all disciplines who teach full time in all 50 st
ates and the District of Columbia. Twenty eligible applicants will be selected in May to participate on this fully funded program. Application deadline is April 23, 2007.
EWL
PS Around the Water Cooler -- American Idol British Invasion night last week was a blast. That’s one of my favorite eras in pop music. Some of my colleagues are talking about “Dancing with the Stars” but I refuse to get sucked into another reality show … though I do find myself intrigued by the “stars” appearing on the aforementioned show … must resist.
in the MENC building. We are located in a wooded area of northern Virginia with many beautiful spring-flowering trees, and it’s a pleasure to drive up the road to the building in the morning when those trees are blooming. Daffodils, crocuses, Virginia bluebells are already making appearances. If you’ve never been here, here’s a photo of springtime at MENC. We should be seeing these blooms soon.Now check out these recent photos of our front lobby. You may wonder why there appears to be a Christmas tree in the front lobby in March. Well, thanks to a particularly enthusiastic MENC staff member, we had a lovely tree in December -- and then everyone was too busy to take it down and put it away, so we decided to make it a year round tree. In February it was bursting with Valentines, and this month it’s full of green decorations for St. Patrick’s Day. Next month it will be dedicated
to our Centennial (the official date, in case you’ve forgotten, is April 12!). MENC staff members have taken their own time to produce special ornaments for the tree – I’ve seen a few handknitted items among the many creative paper cutouts. It is certainly a friendly conversation-starter for our visitors.Speaking of which, tomorrow Kent Summers of the National Federation of State High School Associations will be here meeting with John Mahlmann. I’m going to try to catch him for a quick interview for MENC’s podcast, Notes from the Clef. Meanwhile, the week will be full of Web projects, membership promotions, press outreach, and member communications, plus I need to record new messages for our “music on hold,” so I better get moving on all that.
One more thing though -- something different that might interest you: 2007 Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands. A special chance for educators to visit these remote islands, the inspiration for Darwin and home to unique ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth! Open to grade 7-12 classroom teachers of all disciplines who teach full time in all 50 st
ates and the District of Columbia. Twenty eligible applicants will be selected in May to participate on this fully funded program. Application deadline is April 23, 2007.EWL
PS Around the Water Cooler -- American Idol British Invasion night last week was a blast. That’s one of my favorite eras in pop music. Some of my colleagues are talking about “Dancing with the Stars” but I refuse to get sucked into another reality show … though I do find myself intrigued by the “stars” appearing on the aforementioned show … must resist.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Welcome Back to My World
Good Monday Morning to you! Weekend went way too fast - before I knew it I was sitting right back here at work kind of like a Twilight Zone episode. I am like so into the Sci-Fi Channel and Dr. Who, Dresden Files, Stargate, Jericho, Medium, Most Haunted, The Unexplained, Ghost Hunters. . . I know you get my drift -- once again I'm paddling upstream but I know it! When I'm off and out of this office, one of my passions (besides playing tennis and watching Thriller Chillers) is making greeting cards, scrapbooks, altered books, collages, and journals. One of my favorite books I made recently was for past national president June Hinckley last November.
When I found out in October that June had been diagnosed with cancer (Stage 4), I was very stunned as were many of you out there. Well, anyway, that weekend I went to a "crop" at my local Recollections store and forgot to take my photos I was working on to put in a scrapbook. Like hello - why was I going to the crop? Well, being in a quandary, I decided to make a small collaged book for June. I had a great time working on it and it ended up being very therapeutic for me. I sent it to her around Thanksgiving hoping that she and her family would enjoy the photos of when she was president of MENC, 1998-2000. She loved it and called me to let me know. It was a good day for her and we talked for a while.
I have worked on a one-to-one basis with fifteen National Presidents and have been privileged to know seven others who were presidents before I came to MENC. That's a lot of history. As you walk through this life you learn how precious our goodbyes are. The last time I saw June was in April 2006 at our Salt Lake City national convention -- who knew a few months later June would be fighting her courageous battle against the cancer that was ravishing her body. It (cancer) was never able to beat down her spirit! She fought a good fight and in the end joined the heavenly angels sent to take her home.
My brother is a professional musician and wrote a song entitled "God Knew Your Name." It is a beautiful song and has been performed at many functions across the country. His song begins, "Before the light of day, shined on your little face, God knew your name." It ends with this verse: "As you gracefully grew old you know you had been told, God knew your name. And one day when you died and your friends and family cried, God knew your name. And the angels carried your soul to me and I said 'Welcome home!' You were one of mine, I loved you for all time, I knew your name." You can see all the lyrics at www.godknewyourname.com
I sent June his CD along with the altered book I made celebrating her. I heard that they shared this book at the visitation at the funeral home when her friends came to say their last goodbyes. I feel honored that they chose to share this book with others. I was not able to go to the funeral since we had a National Executive Board meeting going on at the same time. We (NEB and staff) knew that June would understand why we were not there. I was fortunate enough to be able to say my goodbye earlier. I left a message on her cell phone a week or so before she died telling her she was in our hearts, our prayers, our thoughts and we loved her very much. One of the last pages in her book focused on a poem I really love. I used several figures of dancers and wrote out the poem: "God danced the day you were born. You are a gift to all...His gift of love..." Yes, June was a marvelous gift to us. Wow, what a spirit and love of life she had. Remember --Always say your goodbyes! Have a great week -- life is wonderful and such a fun ride. May we live it with zest and listen to the whispers of our heart!
When I found out in October that June had been diagnosed with cancer (Stage 4), I was very stunned as were many of you out there. Well, anyway, that weekend I went to a "crop" at my local Recollections store and forgot to take my photos I was working on to put in a scrapbook. Like hello - why was I going to the crop? Well, being in a quandary, I decided to make a small collaged book for June. I had a great time working on it and it ended up being very therapeutic for me. I sent it to her around Thanksgiving hoping that she and her family would enjoy the photos of when she was president of MENC, 1998-2000. She loved it and called me to let me know. It was a good day for her and we talked for a while.
I have worked on a one-to-one basis with fifteen National Presidents and have been privileged to know seven others who were presidents before I came to MENC. That's a lot of history. As you walk through this life you learn how precious our goodbyes are. The last time I saw June was in April 2006 at our Salt Lake City national convention -- who knew a few months later June would be fighting her courageous battle against the cancer that was ravishing her body. It (cancer) was never able to beat down her spirit! She fought a good fight and in the end joined the heavenly angels sent to take her home.
My brother is a professional musician and wrote a song entitled "God Knew Your Name." It is a beautiful song and has been performed at many functions across the country. His song begins, "Before the light of day, shined on your little face, God knew your name." It ends with this verse: "As you gracefully grew old you know you had been told, God knew your name. And one day when you died and your friends and family cried, God knew your name. And the angels carried your soul to me and I said 'Welcome home!' You were one of mine, I loved you for all time, I knew your name." You can see all the lyrics at www.godknewyourname.com
I sent June his CD along with the altered book I made celebrating her. I heard that they shared this book at the visitation at the funeral home when her friends came to say their last goodbyes. I feel honored that they chose to share this book with others. I was not able to go to the funeral since we had a National Executive Board meeting going on at the same time. We (NEB and staff) knew that June would understand why we were not there. I was fortunate enough to be able to say my goodbye earlier. I left a message on her cell phone a week or so before she died telling her she was in our hearts, our prayers, our thoughts and we loved her very much. One of the last pages in her book focused on a poem I really love. I used several figures of dancers and wrote out the poem: "God danced the day you were born. You are a gift to all...His gift of love..." Yes, June was a marvelous gift to us. Wow, what a spirit and love of life she had. Remember --Always say your goodbyes! Have a great week -- life is wonderful and such a fun ride. May we live it with zest and listen to the whispers of our heart!
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