Music Advocacy Resources
 

All of us have an opportunity to enlighten others, and with this comes some degree of responsibility to promote quality music education for today’s youth and those to be educated in the future.  

Here are some informational sources that support the immeasurable benefits of music education.

Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation
Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation supports music education through the donation and repair of musical instruments to under-served schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide.  You can request information online If you would like to donate an instrument or apply for a grant. www.mhopus.org

Music Education Coalition
This site focuses on equipping parents and teachers with information that can be used to influence the decision makers.  Visitors can check boxes describing their areas of concern such as budget cuts, lack of instruments, administration indifference, etc. and find a wealth of research results and data.  There is an interactive bulletin board to post questions or share successful strategies to save the music programs. www.supportmusic.com

MENC
This national association for music education has an extensive library of advocacy materials including action kits, videos, brochures, reprinted articles, etc. MENC's mission is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to enjoy a balanced, sequential, high-quality education including music as a core subject.

The MENC web site offers ready-to-share publications and links to other materials. You will find this organization a helpful and willing partner in music advocacy. www.menc.org or call 703-860-4000.

California Coalition for Music Education
The purpose of the coalition is to advocate for the educational needs of California's public school students by: (1) supporting legislation that advances the place of music in the state education code; (2) disseminating
research that substantiates the value of music instruction; (3) informing state and local educational decision makers of the values and benefits of an education in music; and (4) assisting community members and parents in the
development of local advocacy groups in both proactive and reactive circumstances. www.calmusiced.com/coalition.htm

The American Music Conference
AMC is a non-profit educational association that promotes the importance of music and music education to the general public. AMC’s web site contains links to national standards for music education, research, and other related topics: www.amc-music.com. You can also reach AMC at: 1-760-431-9124.

Arts Education Partnership - AEP
AEP, (formerly the Goals 2000 Arts Education Partnership) is a national coalition of arts, education, business, philanthropic and government organizations that demonstrates and promotes the essential role of the arts in the learning and development and in the improvement of America's schools.

AEP has led the national movement to establish education standards and has conducted and published groundbreaking research on the impact of arts education on student achievement. AEP publishes research and advocacy materials.  http://www.ccsso.org/projects/Arts_Education_Partnership/

VH1 Save the Music Foundation
VH1 is a non-profit initiative with two primary missions: To restore music education programs in America's public schools, AND to raise awareness of the positive impact music participation has on students.

VH1 Save the Music works with partners to identify cities to participate in the program each year.  Once a community is selected, the Foundation works with local cable systems, public school boards and administrators to restore beginning instrumental music programs where they no longer exist.  In order to be eligible to receive a grant of musical instruments, the local school system must conduct the music program as part of the regular school day and provide a qualified teacher for instruction.  www.vh1.com