What does music look like as we move into 2021-2022? The Return to Music Project wants to make the lives of music educators easier moving forward as we advocate for our programs, plan for the upcoming school year, and try to keep the music alive in our schools across the nation.

The Return to Music Project will be broken down into different content areas and released in three phases during the course of the next 6 months. 

Phase I will focus on: Scheduling, Recruitment, Retention, Advocacy, Performances and Evaluating Your Students

Phase II will focus on: Student Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Teacher Well Being, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) Opportunities for Music Education this Summer and Fall, Learning Acceleration, Curriculum Adjustments, Summer Opportunities, General Music Education, Secondary Ensemble Considerations, Student Teachers, School Owned Equipment and Uniforms, Cleaning Guidelines, Student Eligibility, State Association Changes, and Reporting Differences

Phase III will focus on: Beginning the 2021 School Year (updated on 8/10)

Other Resources: Music Teacher Thank You Video, NFHS Music YouTube Channel

 

We encourage you to share this information with all music educators in your state. There is a plethora of valuable information that can assist in a successful school year.

Preparing to return, you must begin your year as organized as possible. How was the rehearsal room left? Is it a time capsule from 3/13/20 or were things moved around? If you expect to accomplish this during your scheduled teacher work days just prior to the beginning of school, you are already behind! Teacher in-service days are generally filled with meetings, workshops, and orientations for new staff, new procedures, and an attempt to understand post-pandemic education. In order to have everything in place by the first bell, you are going to have to work prior to in-service until everything is ready. Start sooner than later!

One of the first issues to tackle is that many things will be different. Everyone will need support and ways to talk through the changes and work together. It will be important to identify student leaders in your program, if student leaders exist, you should discuss potential changes to gain their support. This will serve to facilitate next steps with the other returning students. If not, take it a step at a time and know that staff and students alike will be excited and nervous to be back in school and it may feel different than the pre-pandemic feel. Discuss prior collaborations that existed in the performing arts department and identify what can return and what might need to be tweaked.

 

Advocating for Your Program During This Phase of the Pandemic

As music educators come back to their classrooms in Fall 2021, they will need to be prepared to advocate for keeping music learning environments safe for students, faculty, and staff in light of local conditions, public health updates, and research. Music educators are on the front lines of providing instruction to their students and may be better informed than their principals and superintendents about returning to music with reduced risk. As COVID-19 evolves, music teachers may have to advocate for flexibility in response to the ever-changing pandemic. Ultimately, the music educator can help administrators with awareness of research and best practices in the area of safe music instruction, all informed by local, state, and federal public health guidance.

 

 

Recommendations for a Return to Activity

Students in the Classroom

During the 2020–2021 school year, general music teachers used a variety of instructional approaches and taught in a wide range of school situations. Looking toward the 2021–2022 school year, it seems that most general music educators will be teaching primarily face-to-face with few to no restrictions. It will be important for music teachers, in conjunction with school and district level administrators, to monitor current local COVID-19 transmission rates to make the best instructional decisions for their students. 

 

Recommendations (Risk Mitigations) for the Fall

The current Aerosol Guidelines can be found here and will be updated as national conditions change or more research becomes available. These guidelines are to be used in conjunction with your state, county, or local health department guidance. Since there are many variations between states and oftentimes within a state; it is important to know and understand what requirements are in your local jurisdiction. 

Many questions remain about age levels and vaccination rates. The latest information from the NIH estimates that about 35% of students ages 12–17 will be fully vaccinated by the start of the 2021 school year; and zero students 11 and younger will be vaccinated.  Overall vaccination rates in the United States remain around 50% (as of early August 2021), which means there is ample space for the spread of COVID-19. The Delta variant continuing to develop and spread, and caution will need to be taken with our unvaccinated populations. Mitigations such as masking, bell covers, social distancing, short rehearsal times, and increased ventilation may need to be used. 

 

Recommendations for General Music Situations

Elementary general music programs span grades PreK–6. The majority of children engaged in these programs are under age 12. Therefore, most students in general music programs are currently unable to receive available COVID-19 vaccines. When planning for instruction or performances, it is important to follow the current International Performing Arts Aerosol Research Guidelines. There are several recommendations that are particularly important to general music situations:

Masks

Masking with appropriate material remains the best way of reducing potential infected aerosol particles from circulating in an indoor space. Masks are recommended to be worn while singing and speaking. 

Physical Distance

Distancing should be maintained at three feet and should match the rest of the school’s distancing policy, adjusting farther or closer depending on local conditions. 

Singing/Vocalizing

If meeting face-to-face, establish clear protocols for students to follow. Singing/chanting should begin as soon as possible to reestablish community music-making.

When singing/vocalizing indoors, use of masks, and physical distancing may be needed based on school policy. 

If possible, go outside to sing; outdoors is best and requires little to no mitigation. 

Consider “flipping” singing instruction. There are a variety of apps and programs that allow students to record themselves singing. 

Physical Distancing

Be creative with ways to alter games and movement activities. 

Think through performances and how to social-distance performers from audiences if events are held indoors. Performers and attendees under age 12 may be vulnerable.

Proper safety measures as recommended by your region’s health department should be applied if performances are allowed. 

Hygiene 

Work with your school’s custodians to plan for sanitizing of instruments and materials on a regular basis. Be sure to use chemicals that are both safe for the instruments and approved to be used in the school building.

Develop a plan for children to sanitize their own hands before and after playing instruments and using shared resources. 

If proper health hygiene protocols are followed. students should be able to use nonwind instruments in the classroom and performances without restrictions.

For recorder playing, there should be no sharing of recorders, students should be physically distanced when playing, and a cover is recommended for the bell. For further instruction, refer to the aerosol study recommendations for wind-instrument playing.

Refer to NFHS and NAfME developed Phase II suggestions for general music, NAfME’s Guidance for General Music Teaching during COVID-19, and NAfME and Early Childhood Music and Movement Association’s Teaching Early Childhood in the Time of COVID-19 for additional suggestions.

 

Suggestions for General Music Teachers: Restarting or Continuing Face-to-Face Instruction

A recent survey of general music teachers revealed that teaching situations varied greatly during the 2020–2021 school year. It is difficult to generalize to every individual teaching situation; however, based on teacher’s responses, the following suggestions can be considered. 

Click here for the entire list 

Consider local and state health conditions. Each community’s rates of viral transmission and levels of vaccination should be used to help guide how to enact guidelines. Decisions about general music programs should be collaborative discussions that include general music teachers, school- and district-level administrators, and local and state health officials. 

 

Key Groups and Stakeholders

Do what you can when contacting students, parents, and other stakeholders for the beginning of school for the 2021–2022 school year. It's important to consider: audiences, teachers, and parents when decisions are being made. Click here for a deep dive on each category of people and things to consider. 

What can work:

Personal connection (meeting, classroom visit--be sure to visit home rooms at the beginning of the school year, conversation)

Events 

Seeing something (social media post, poster, flyer)

Receiving something (email, postcard, eNewsletter)

Phone contact

Word of mouth

 

Helpful Video Resources from Music For All

Mind the Gap: Episode 7 - Music Instruction in the High School

 

Mind the Gap: Episode 8 - Music Instruction in the Middle School

 

Mind the Gap: Episode 13 - Teaching Beginning Ensembles in a Virtual Environment - Band, Choir, and Orchestra

 

Different Types of Returns

It is important to account for all 3 different types of return to the classroom in 2021-2022. Each type of return comes with uniquely different situations that are important to be ready for ahead of time. Please click on each header to go in-depth and learn more.

Full Instruction Last Year

Institutions that offered primarily face-to-face instruction for the duration of the 2020–2021 academic year instituted a variety of protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Learn more

Partial Instruction Last Year

Some schools managed the pandemic through hybrid and/or blended learning models. These models allowed for smaller cohort sizes, minimizing the risk of viral transmission.  A hybrid classroom is defined as a classroom that includes in-person learners with distance learners who often attend via video conference software. A blended classroom combines in-person instruction with online opportunities for students to study and practice at their own pace. A blended class could meet much less frequently than a traditional in-person class could. Learn more

First Time Return in Fall of 2021 

For some, this may be the first time returning to the office, classroom, and institution since March 2020. Getting a solid footing may take a bit of time. Here are some suggestions for success.

Acknowledge what has happened for many, and remember that the ensemble or music classroom can be a safe haven. This is a place where students belong, a place where they can express themselves, and a place where they find their people. Now is the time to celebrate being back together, to acknowledge what we've been missing, and to let your students know that it's time to come back to being a community brought together by music.

 

Recruitment and Retention

We have already touched on Recruitment and Retention a LOT in Phase I of the Return to Music Project. Here are some additional strategies, ideas, and resources. 

Welcome to Band and Orchestra! These YouTube videos are examples of recruiting videos.

When making a video, teachers should be sure to include the following:

Parents talking about the positives of band or orchestra; Alumni; Current students from a variety of backgrounds; Male and Female students; Footage of performances and rehearsals; Administrators talking about the positives of band and orchestra.

 

Recruiting the "Lost Class"

When thinking about re-recruiting students into the music program, consider working closely with teachers in feeder schools. Looking at rosters from before the pandemic and reaching out personally to students who are no longer playing as a result of COVID-19 can be the start of a positive relationship and spark the interest again. Learn more about this!

 

Recruiting this Fall

Ideas to recruit for this Fall. These ideas can be adapted for any level (elementary/middle/high school)

Be sure to target your message to the specific audience you are trying to reach.

For Students--Make the message/recruitment brief, fun, exciting, engaging, hands-on, interactive.

For Parents--Make the message/recruitment brief, clear, powerful/emotionally compelling, eye-catching. Use multiple messages/formats.

Other Stakeholders--Make the message/recruitment clear, factual, and  data-driven.

 

General Strategies

As a teacher, know that your program may not be playing at the same level as it was prepandemic for a variety of reasons. Accepting all students into the program, regardless of where they are musically, will help to rebuild the positive relationships among members of the ensemble.

What on-ramps to your class can you provide?

No previous music experience necessary

Free use of instruments

No cost for participation: uniforms, music, etc.

Be sure to focus on what you can do and not on what you cannot do.

“Come One, Come All” Strategy 

Program Building and Staffing 

It is always important to build relationships not only with students, but with colleagues at all levels. Working together as a department to discuss and plan for recruitment, advocacy, and program retention will result in aligned goals and initiatives.  

 

How to Talk with School Administrators

As music education advocates, music teachers must work cooperatively with administrators who are constantly bombarded with problems and questions. It is important to offer plans and back them up with current information and up-to-date data so that it will be easier for school and district leaders, as well as school board members, to also become advocates for our programs and provide needed support.

The process should be a collaboration between teachers, administrators, and health department. Click here for some considerations, leveled messaging and sample emails. 

Bring Administrators Plans, Not Problems

 

Copyright Considerations

Copyright compliance is always a topic of great discussion among music educators. Over the past year the NFHS and NAfME have worked together to create many resources for the various copyright situations. Below you will find links that will help assist you in gathering information for copyright. Although the laws have not changed, many copyright holders gave special permissions during the pandemic. Most of those permissions have expired, but work will continue to try to help make copyright easier to understand for use in education.

What to do if there is a return to hybrid or fully remote instruction

Common performance types for the upcoming school year

A course has been developed to educate music educators on copyright and copyright compliance (FREE)

 

Travel Guidance

With travel becoming more available and allowed in the coming school year, teachers are encouraged to be aware of and follow local and state recommendations in their home state as well as the locations they are traveling. SYTA, the Student Youth Travel Association has made recommendations as it relates to travel with young people during the pandemic.

Educator Resources: Traveling

Travel Toolkit

 

Here are some helpful links…..

Key Takeaways from FAQs on ESSER and GEER Funds

Case Study: Use Intellectual Discomfort to Expand Music Offerings

Case Study: From a $67 Budget to Success — A Four-Year Journey

Case Study: A Performing Arts Academy Offers Individual Learning and Career Exploration

Case Study: A 10-Year Growth Plan for Enrollment, Facilities, Instruments and Staffing 

Case Studies: Rural Realities

Case Study: A 3-Week Fine Arts Exploratory Course More than Doubled Band Enrollment

Case Study: How Popular Music Education Transformed a Texas Program and School

I Created an Organization System for Music Directors 

Bring Administrators Plans, Not Problems

Tips for First-Year Music Teachers from the 2021 "40 Under 40" Educators

 

 

 

 

Student Well-Being: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Music Education

In order for SEL education and tools to be effectively used in music education the use must be intentional, embedded into the musical process and product, and sustained. Musical social emotional learning must be a collaborative effort with students, never something done to students. To capitalize on the transformative potential of the music classroom, focus must be put on helping students in these key areas:

Better understand their identity and how that informs their beliefs, mindsets, and decisions.

Facilitate a sense of belonging in the music classroom where students and educators feel safe taking risks and being vulnerable.

Amplifying student voices so they are experiencing agency and affecting meaningful change in their classrooms, schools, and community.

Click here to learn more about why SEL is so important, its connection to music education, and tools and resources for embedding SEL into your classroom!

 

Music Teacher Well-Being

No matter the circumstances--distance, hybrid, in-person--music teachers have had a challenging year. The stress and uncertainty of the pandemic make a “summer recharge” more important than ever. Teachers may find it helpful to reflect on and assess their personal wellness, so consider how to start the 2021-2022 school year on the best foot. Wellness or wellbeing is multi-faceted: it encompasses physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions. Wellness includes one’s work and home lives. Therefore, taking stock of one’s well-being is complex work.

While every educator is different, recent work on music teacher wellness suggests a few important principles:

Music teachers are “professional carers” and this caring work can take a mental toll

Drawing boundaries and delegating is important for ensuring teachers’ preferred work-life balance

A healthy “social network” of connections to helpful colleagues goes a long way toward establishing professional wellness

Blog article – Music Teaching and Learning during Covid-19 and Beyond - by Mara E. Culp and Rachel Roberts

Additional resources and bibliography here: https://smte.us/aspas/music-teacher-health-and-wellness/

 

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund) Opportunities for Rebuilding and Growing Music Education in Fall, 2021

As we move forward into planning for next school year, music educators and their administrators will be reviewing student enrollments for music programs and making determinations regarding staffing. Often, music ed staffing, particularly in the secondary space, is based on student enrollments in music courses. Across the nation, as students did not have access to ensemble-based learning experiences due to the pandemic, we are seeing a decline in student enrollment in ensemble classes for Fall, 2021. If this is the case for your school district or school, share with your administrators that ESSER Funds, the stimulus dollars coming from the federal government to support the reopening of schools and the managing of education through the pandemic, can be used to keep educators employed, including music educators. This is explicitly stated in “fundable activity 15” of the law and is a main emphasis of the new administration. Guidance released by the US Department of Education stated that these funds should be used to keep teachers employed.

Often, administrators are worried about using federal dollars, which are limited in scope and duration, to fund staffing positions. In the case of a music educator whose program enrollment has declined, however, the funds can be used strategically to invest in the rebuilding of the program. Funding a music educator partially out of ESSER funding for a year, possibly two, will give the educator time to focus on rebuilding the program and the student enrollment. At the end of the time period, federal funds stop being used and the music educator can be fully funded with state/local funds based on the increase to “full staffing” student enrollment.

For more information:

NAfME ESSER toolkit

NAMM/NAfME/NFHS ESSER webinar

NAfME ESSER landing page

SBO Article by Bob Morrison and Marcia Neel: COVID-19 Relief Funding Available to Schools/Districts Includes Support for Music Education  

Be a Part of the Music Webinar

 

Learning Acceleration as we Rebuild Music Education Programs

As mentioned in the section on social emotional learning, our students will not learn until they feel safe, are valued, have a sense of belonging, and have been heard. Yet, there is a tremendous amount of discussion around what some refer to as “learning loss” and what strategies may need to be used to address this. Within the larger educational context, administrators may be removing students from our music classes in order to place them in remedial studies in the tested subject areas. Part of our work as music educators is to remind our administrators that students gain from being in music classes, too - from important social and emotional learning supports to building of school culture and community. How can you support your students who may need additional learning time in reading and math and continue to have them be part of your music program? Coming up with ideas to share with your administrators is important to helping all students maintain access to music classes and opportunities.

Within the music classrooms, has learning been lost? Instead of focusing on what students have not been able to do or accomplish in the last year, let’s focus on what they have done. They have learned how to continue making music in a variety of setting, and in using a variety of technologies. They have learned to listen to others and play along with them via headsets and earbuds. They may have had opportunities to create their own songs or arrange pieces for themselves and their classmates. As we return to in-person learning, how will we carry forward some of what we have all learned as musicians during the pandemic, and rebuild the skills of large ensemble playing that have been delayed or deferred?

 

Curriculum Adjustments and Classroom Procedures

As we prepare for the fall, most if not all of us are expecting to return to the classroom. Here are some general considerations regarding potential curricular adjustments and classroom procedures by content area for your consideration. Please remember to consult your local and state health guidance as well as your administration as you begin your planning.

NAfME Information on Music Education Guidance from States

Considerations for In-Person Music Education and Performing Arts Activities

“Together as One – One Nation” was designed in response to our extraordinary circumstances and as an opportunity for collaborative performance between any music program. This fully arranged, designed, and choreographed performance is available for FREE to any school and director seeking performance music through June 2022.

 Get Access to FREE Music

 

Summer Opportunities - Supporting All Learners

Summer provides the opportunity for school districts to place face-to-face learning models in music that transition students and teachers to a fall of live music education.  Think of it as our dress rehearsal. To help address gaps in learning that occurred during the pandemic, music teachers can take the opportunity to organize summer programs in order to bridge the gap as we work towards the fall. Some of the benefits of summer music learning is flexible scheduling (avoiding the issue of cohort mixing), focused instruction via an intensive summer program, and an easing into face-to-face learning protocols that will happen in the fall.

Band Leadership Program

So many opportunities were lost over the course of the pandemic for students to engage in leadership opportunities. As we approach marching band season, a challenge will be student leadership. The USA Drum Major and Band Leadership programs offer students the opportunity to refine basic skills, test and practice advanced material, and create lasting memories! These mini-courses are available, FREE of charge, to students looking to gain new skills in the novice category in preparation for summer camp and fall competition and are a part of the Varsity Performing Arts growing library of content. They represent a sampling of all there is to learn when you register for a USA summer camp.

FREE Student Leadership Videos and Courses

 

General Music Education

The NAfME Council for General Music Education created these linked tables to walk you through a variety of considerations for a variety of teaching modes. While we hope that all will be back in-person with our students, we realize that the pandemic or other emergencies may force us back into all online teaching. The Council has created these tables to provide considerations for a variety of teaching scenarios for the fall. Click each link below for printable PDF.

Instruments

Movement

Programs

Singing

Technology

Here is a preview of what the charts look like:

  

Watch Videos on Mitigation Strategies for Wind Instruments, Choir, String, and Percussion

 

 

Secondary Ensemble Considerations

Depending on how your school and schedule will be structured, ensemble music educators will need to consider several areas of adjustment for Fall, 2021.

Highlights include: Course Offering Adjustments, Scheduling, Class Sizes, Performances, Individual Skills, Seating Charts, and More! 

 

 

Collegiates – Pre-Service Music Educators

Access, Safety, Security

Confirm and reinforce communication with local college/university Music Ed programs and Schools of Education. Prepare, distribute, and post district and building guidelines and procedures.

Field Experience Guidelines and Access

Live classroom experiences have been limited and as we move to fall 2021 there will be a variety of scenarios across the country. Pre service students and teachers alike must communicate to support each other to create the most positive of situations.

Student Teaching Guidelines and Access

Student teaching/internship and school-based observations are an exciting time full of learning for all involved. Due to the ongoing pandemic, student teaching and classroom observations may look different than in previous years. First and foremost, there must be clear and consistent communication between the host K-12 teacher, the university supervisor, and the university students.

Click here to read more about K-12 Host Teachers, University Supervisors, University Students/Interns, Digital Access, Collegiates as Resources, CNAFME Chapters and More!

 

 

School Owned Equipment and Uniforms

Consideration must be taken with the return of school owned items at the end of the year.  Though in person teaching may be in place, it is still not appropriate to have instruments handed to you by a student. Consider having the students clean out the case of personal items such as pencils, reeds, etc. scrub mouthpieces with soapy water, and then read the serial number to you to make sure it matches the check-out information. When things check out, have the student put their instrument in its case, and deliver it to a designated location (all the basses in a row as an example).

Based on current guidelines, it is recommended that the following items are placed in a designated area for the recommended amount of time prior to being handled or that they undergo proper cleaning procedures:

Instruments

Mutes

Music Stands

Music Folders

Uniforms

Instrument distribution for the start of the school year and/or over the summer to allow individual student practice or participation in summer camps and clinics

Retail Rentals  - To work with your local music retailer on best practices for rentals

School Owned Instruments - When distributing school owned instruments to students, follow similar procedures to how instruments were collected at the end of the school year to ensure student safety.  In advance of distributing instruments, determine what students need instruments and go through the instruments to make sure they are in good working order.   Assign instruments to students based on your school/ district procedure.

Common practice in many music classrooms is for a teacher to handle a student’s instrument. This is done for tuning, demonstration, storage, and a large variety of other reasons. Teachers handling student instruments during class should use care to ensure proper protocol to avoid risk of exposure.  Although this care is mainly aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19, it is good practice moving away from the pandemic as well.

Consider how you will handle student instruments safely as we move away from the pandemic. What best practices have you learned that you will maintain? If your school district is still following heightened cleaning protocols and guidelines, you can consult CDC guidance or your local public health guidance for suggestions and tips. Additional guidance can be found here:

Cleaning Guidelines:

ASTA: Instrument Cleaning Tips

NFHS-NAMM-NAfME: Instrument  Cleaning Guidelines  

PAS: Managing Percussion Protocols 

 

Student Eligibility

Since March 2020, many State Associations and MEAs have adjusted student eligibility rules and policies to help with student participation during the pandemic. It is vitally important for teachers to read all emails, website announcements and informational documents that State associations share in the future. Missing important eligibility rule communications could end up hurting your students and school activity programs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your State associations, never assume!

 

State Association Changes

Every state is different in what is required to be academically eligible. If your state association implemented a COVID variance for eligibility requirements, be sure to know when those variances will end.

Grade Point Average

Number of courses passed in previous semester

Passing grades at the end of the prior week

In any case it is important to know if there have been any modifications to these requirements. Especially if the school was virtual during the spring semester and now in-person during the fall. Do not let the students suffer because the teacher did not know the requirements.

 

Reporting Differences

Questions to ask the building administrator should include:

What happens with pass / fail courses from grading changes?

How do we handle transfers if they came from a virtual school and our school was always in-person?

Did the district grading policy change during the pandemic, thus creating a different level of eligibility?

 

 

 

Phase I:

Scheduling

 

Recruitment

8 Recruiting Ideas for Transitioning Students (Elementary to Middle; Middle to High School; High School to College)

 

Equally important is retaining students already in the program. Careful attention will need to be paid to make sure current members feel part of the organization, that their presence is valued, and that ongoing participation is something important for their own well-being.

Watch All 5 Videos on the S.M.A.R.T Approach to Retention (Success Video is Below)

 Click here for more FREE Retention Materials, Resource Links, Video Examples of Retention Ideas, and much more!

Download the FREE graphic to share

Make retention a priority - there are many fun and unique ways to do this, like below:

 

Advocacy

Efforts to support the music program may take many forms. Some are internal like personal interactions with faculty and administrators. Every interaction is an advocacy opportunity, a chance to share the benefits the music program provides to students, showcase student highlights and achievements.

1. Engage Music Boosters
2. Supports Attend All School Board Meetings
3. Monitor the School Budget Process
4. Have Your Messages Ready (examples provided)

   Program Safety
   Connection to Social Emotional Learning  (Video Example)
   Articulating Value

5. Unique Pandemic Funding

ARP ESSER

CARES Act

COVID-19 Relief Funding Includes Support for Music Education

ESSER Funding Toolkit

ESSER Workshop

Quick Link Resources

• State and Local Advocacy Groups

Every state has a state music education association. Many have an arts education advocacy group. Connect with these organizations in your state for information and resources that will help support music education in communities.

• Arts ARE Education Campaign

The Arts Are Education campaign has been developed by the same groups that created the Arts Education is Essential campaign last year. The groups involved in the creation include the Nation Dance Education Organization, National Association for Music Education, National Art Education Association, Educational Theatre Association, Young Audiences Arts for Learning, Education Commission of the States with support provided by NAMM, Arts Ed NJ and Quadrant Research.

Learn more at: https://www.artsareeducation.org/about

• State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education

Information on state education agency arts education specialists

• Protect Arts Ed Now

Campaign to protect arts education and engage parents in the school budget process. With campaign tools and supporting materials making the case for making arts education programs safe, the link between social emotional learning and arts education, the value of arts education and how to monitor the school budget process available online or via a mobile app.

Learn more at: http://artsednow.org

 

Click to See More Advocacy Resources, Steps You Can Take, Funding Resources, Ideas on How to Use Funds, Links, Articles, Resources, Handouts and Videos. 

How to Advocate for Performing Arts Programs in you School District: Protect Arts Ed Now

How to Monitor the School Budget Process

The 2020 CARES Act and 2021 CRRSA Act (What these acts entail and how to use the funding they provide)

Title IV, Part A Block Grant (Explaining the Every Student Succeeds Act, examples of funding and what it supports)

 

Performances

State Association Sponsored Schedules 

Every state association will approach state-sanctioned festival assessments differently, and it is important to carefully follow state association leadership to find out their current plans. Because information can be fluid during these unprecedented and unpredictable times, state associations need to do their best to communicate early and often with teachers.

 

State Prescribed Music Lists

Investigate changes made in state required literature lists to see if there are any covid-clause rules allowing to perform/compete at a level lower than previously required.

 

Regional Festival Schedules

Regional events can provide students and their teachers with unique opportunities to share their hard work and experience the hard work of students and teachers from other schools.

 

College and University On-Campus Visit Performances

There is great value in visiting college or university campuses to work with clinicians and experience unique performance venues.

 

In-School Performances

Audiences allowed: If local safety guidelines allow for live attendance at events, teachers should encourage audience attendance at their performances.

Streaming: Teachers may consider continuing the practice of streaming concerts even after social distancing standards are loosened. 

 

Curricular Travel Opportunities

Curricular travel has been a cornerstone of music programs for many years. Not only are they a great recruitment tool, they give students opportunities to expand their knowledge and broaden their worldview.

 

Community Requested Performances

Teachers should seek out and accept offers to perform in the community not only as a way of providing a service to the community, but also to bring much needed attention to their programs.

 

Together As One - Free & Exclusive Music Program 

This fully arranged, designed, and choreographed performance is available for FREE to any school and director seeking performance music through June 2022.

 

Click to see more about all of the performance opportunities listed above

Teacher Preparation for State Association and MEA Music Events Post-Pandemic (with Craig Manteuffel and Dr. John Taylor, Kansas)

 

Evaluating Your Students

Realign Expectations (Read More)

Directors must first look at the earliest scheduled performances (football game, marching band, spirit assemblies, concerts) and find literature that is appropriate for technique and range to make the students sound the best they possibly can and this means meeting your students where they are not where they “should” be based on the past.  

“Should be” is not something to consider when rebuilding programs. One strategy for assessing the performance level of the ensemble is to create a reading folder. Begin with what you would generally program as the end goal and then fill the folder with several levels of music ready to read (from too easy to more difficult). It’s an excellent way to gauge a starting point.

 

7 Alternatives to Teaching Another Music Appreciation Course (Download PDF)

Bucket Drumming, Music Technology, Modern Music, Musical Fitness, Music History, Guitar/Ukulele Class, Music Business

 

Other Resources

THANK YOU to Music Educators (Read the Press Release)

Artists from across the scope of music and songwriting have come together in collaboration with the National Music Council (NMC) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to thank music educators and administrators for their continuing perseverance during these challenging times.

 

NFHS Music YouTube Channel

This ever growing list of helpful videos features subject experts sharing about advocacy, budgeting, recruitment, scheduling and much more.

 

  

 

 

The third-party resource links are being provided for informational purposes only; they do not constitute or imply the endorsement or recommendation by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) or The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) of the third-parties or the contents of such third-party websites. Because NFHS and NAfME do not have any control over such third-party websites, NFHS and NAfME are not responsible for the content of linked third-party sites and do not make any representations regarding the content made available on such third-party websites. Unless specifically noted, the views expressed in these media do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the NFHS or NAfME, its officers, or its employees.