For Teachers: Resources
NOTES FROM TAB MEETING WITH MATT CARTER: A Conversation with Matt Carter and Music Advocacy Information on Matt is attached to the e-mail Matt began by talking about his role in the arts field and how Indianapolis realized that Arts organizations help pull in great crowds and that bringing in world class events could really help the overall health of the city. He spoke about the American Pianists Association, the Drum Corps International, Truly Moving Pictures, and many more. He then told us about a new organization that I was very excited about, the Percussive Arts Society. This percussion group has ties to other music organizations all over the world and has decided to have their headquarters here in Indianapolis. They will also be creating a Rhythm Discovery Center at the Clay Pool Courts (The area where the BODY’s Exhibit was located.) This center will have interactive areas where people can learn the history of rhythm. It will also have a permanent location for a drumming circle, with instructors to teach how a drumming circle works. For an ORFF teacher, this was awesome to hear about! Matt continued by telling how he was working on helping unify the music industry around Arts Education. How it is not band versus choir versus orchestra, but rather we are all trying to work to help students enrich their lives and experience a “whole” education. Reminds me of my first BLOG, We’re All in This Together. Matt also then gave out some great resources! Here are the links: http://www.txculturaltrust.org/links.html http://www.bigthought.org/WhereWeWork/School These sites are wonderful and I invite you to explore them! There are so many resources! Matt also made the point that to do advocate well, you must start before you need it. Go out right now and meet your school board members. Have coffee with the superintendent. Get to know your PTO. Find out where they stand and help them get to know you and the music program that you are part of. It is all about the personal connections. They may have all stated how they feel about math and sports, however how many people ask about their stance on the arts? Their policies matter, even the unstated ones. Also don’t forget to ask your congressman and senators about their stance on the arts. All of these people have an effect on what we do in our classrooms every day. It was also very clear in the conversation that music in an endangered part of the curriculum. It is a privilege to have music, because in many schools in many cities, it is not required and not thought of as being part of a “whole” education. It is something extra. Making music in our schools in an awesome opportunity and we have to educate our students now, so when they become adults and begin to make decisions about schools, they can stand up for the arts. We also have to work on the parents we are currently involved with. In your programs, make available some information that give little testimonials or even some fact about how the arts / music improves education as a whole. It was also suggested that you have a parent talk for a few moments during a program and say how the music program has affected their child and family. Those types of recommendations are priceless! One great point Matt made is when talking to someone have only THREE POINTS. Don’t have more or less. Have three points and stick to those. People will only remember about three things when you are talking with them. You also don’t want to waste anyone’s time. They will also respect you for respecting their time. A second point that was made is that we all need to keep
being inspired teachers. We are in contact with students everyday and sometimes
that one little slip can do the most harm. We are there to help inspire and
share our personal joy of music with the students! It was also suggested that you even have a booster organization in the elementary for the arts. I think this is a great idea and would help bring more recognition to an area that is looked at by many as a prep time for the other teachers. Matt suggested that we look at the National PTO organization for help and guidance in many matters and that they have wonderful representatives that would be happy to come and help keep music alive in your schools! Matt can be contacted at: DOWNLOADS: IMEA Advocacy Packet Resource for a World Music Unit - http://shancock.newpal.k12.in.us/TPage971.aspx ADVOCACY LINKS: http://www.nationalguild.org/advocacy.htm http://www.tmea.org/027_Magazine/Advocacy_Toolkit/Toolkit_Contents_r.htm http://www.amc-music.com/advocacy/toolkit.htm http://www.menc.org/resources/view/music-education-advocacy-central |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
