It was March 20, first day of spring, when I posted my first entry, and around that time (?) we MENC bloggers started blogging - that's nearly 7 months!
On this auspicious occasion of 30 postings.....please see below where I reiterate a question I posted early on in the blog, regarding a national music system....and, to get some resource links I'd included in earlier posts, just write to info@menc.org! (or scroll back to March - May). Newer resources and some articles of note are also below!
Speaking of resources! In response to requests from various and sundry, here is a brief run down of the types of resources I provided to folks just last week! This department tries to provide you with the best resources we can, and if we don't have info on a particular topic, we can certainly point you in the right direction to where you may be able to find what you need.
Last week, the topics in play were:
research links
band assessment
liability for teachers
at risk students
funding for band
technology resources
facilities resources
sacred music resources
advocacy resources
scheduling, esp. trimester
careers
health and music
special needs
curriculum links, textbooks
technology in music education
interdisciplinary curriculum
importance of music/benefits of
Whew! In these blogs, I'll try to highlight some of these sources every week!
Now, for your FEEDBACK, please!
Part of my job is putting together surveys on the MENC website (Question of the Month - which are NON-scientific, general interest type questions)....and so, I'd like to put forth to you a "mini-survey" regarding this blog!
If you have two minutes, we'd love to hear your feedback on the QUESTIONS AT VERY BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG! Please just cut and paste the questions below into an email and send with your replies to info@menc.org. We'll share general results in an upcoming blog! (no identities revealed, never fear! All w/b anonymous!) (and I'm the only one who reads the info box, so I will not betray your identity if you happen to write in something you fear could be misconstrued or ruin your reputation!) SO MOVE ON DOWN through this post to find the SMALL SURVEY questions, and THANKS!!
And now, a few RESOURCES, ARTICLES and WATER COOLER Tidbits!
RESOURCES:
TECH LINKS Music Tech Teacher: site is an extension of the music technology classroom at Central Park School in Birmingham, AL. Students are learning to read, write, compose and publish their music to CD's and the Internet.
The Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME) - - is an organization whose mission is to promote the use of music technology in the classroom, assist music educators in applying technology to improve teaching and learning in music, provide certification in music technology to in-service music educators and to develop course materials for use in TI:ME
Good resources/Tech and lesson plans: FRANKEL
Cool careers (middle school level)
BERKLEE School of Music, Career info
PBS teachers guides on line
ARTICLES
GIBSON GUITAR knockoffs
To compete or not compete: Half Time magazine article about band competitions
Slatkin goes to Detroit
Tilson Thomas and the Miami New world Symphony Orchestra
NY Philharmonic, boring?
Harpist Deborah Henson Conant
14 yr. old Berklee student
QUESTION FROM FIRST BLOG of MARCH 20:
IN THE NEWS - Something Different! (blog of 3/20)The Australian Federal Government will form a music advisory group to raise the national status of music education in Australia. This in response to a report released by the Education Minister of the country. The report called for a national music curriculum for ages K - 10 and better training for music teachers, as well as up to date resources and overall support for the field.I wonder how something like that would go down here in the States? When music educators/researchers/students from overseas write to MENC, asking about the US Music curriculum, they are frequently suprised to learn that the US does NOT have a national music curriculum or system. Would having a national curriculum make your life easier, or harder? Would you love it or hate it? On the one hand, I suppose, having a nationally mandated curriculum would mean the government would have to back it with funds, schools would HAVE to have regular music classes, and sufficient number of music teachers. On the other hand, might having a nationalized curriculum restrict some of the (relative) freedom music teachers currently have? (although some of you may feel you actually don't have much freedom in your particular teaching situation!) What do you think? Post your comments in the COMMENT section, or write to info@menc.org!
AROUND THE WATER COOLER
SPEAKING OF Springsteen (see EWL's blog of Tuesday) (or BRRUUUUUCE!!, as my younger brother occasionally calls him, when in raptures over the latest foray of Mr. Springsteen into the public eye....as a nearly 30 year fan of this artist, my bro is seriously seriously an aficionado who can go on for pages about the nuances of nearly every song/album/period of Bruce/musician in the group) : Here is your source for all that's Springsteen, including lyrics to all songs: SPRINGSTEEN NET
An unexpected source for some great short interviews with a wide assortment of musical icons, ranging from Broadway, to Jazz, to classical, to pop and country and folk! MUSICAL ICONS
Thanks for being with us! See you next week! SR
SURVEY SURVEY SURVEY!
Cut/paste questions into an email and send to INFO@menc.org
1. Are you a blog reader in general, or are you reading MENC blog because it's MENC related?
a. in general blog reader
b. because it's MENC related
c. both
2. If you're a blog reader in general, why do you read blogs? (check all that apply)
a. to learn something
b. for escape/entertainment/ a needed break from regular work/routine
c. for connection/networking
d. for resources
e. just because they're there/for the heck of it
f. to share info
g. to get inspiration
h. other (write in!)
3. Have you visited the MENC blog prior to today?
a. yes
b. no
4. If yes, about how frequently do you visit the MENC blog?
a. daily
b. weekly
c. couple days/week
d. once every couple weeks
e. once every couple months
5. Do you find the MENC blog:(check all that apply)
a. useful
b. entertaining
c. interesting
d. corny
e. fun
f. informative
g. OTHER write in
6. Anything particular you'd like to see in MENC's blog that's not there already ?
write in
