About Advocacy Now
Advocacy Now materials are designed to be bite-sized, actionable ideas that you can implement to be the best music advocate you can be, whether you’re a brand-new advocate or a seasoned professional.
Content Ideas
- If you’re teaching elementary and/or vocal music, check out A-Choir-Ing Success!
- Incorporating Social Emotional Learning into the music classroom
- Check out the Advocacy in Action Archive for ideas
Professional Development
- Mind the Gap webinar series for young and future music educators
- Check out the “Culture Before Content” series on the Music for All Podcast Network
- Check out your states Music Education Association website for information on Professional Development events and publications – get connected to your state’s MEA here
- If you are a newer teacher seeking mentorship in your first few years in the profession, check out TeachMusic’s mentorship program dashboard for options near you
Inspiration
- With a Little Help From My Friends webinar series
- Navigating Burnout in a Pandemic with Nolan Jager Loyde, presented as a BAND Director Hub Live Webinar
Program Support
- Project: Testimonials
- Give a State of the Music Program Address!
- Mind the Gap – Breaking the Code: Resources for Relief!
- Look through the Decision-Maker Engagement category on the Advocacy in Action Archive to learn about how other programs are engaging with their administrators and elected officials
- Check out musiciseducation.org for more advocacy resources, including Karl B, your personal AI-powered advocacy assistant
Encourage Future Educators
- The TeachMusic website is a great resource for students who are considering studying music education in college. You can also find great resources for parents and guidance counselors.
School Board Letter Template
- Writing a letter to the school board can be a powerful way to share the power of a music program. Boosters and administrators could be a tremendous help here, taking something off a teacher’s plate or adding a fresh perspective.
- Download a School Board Letter Template
State of the Music Program
- Regularly updating school administration and the community about what’s going on in a music program is a great way to keep everyone informed and to gain points for being proactive. Remember – they can’t support what they don’t know about!
- State of the Music Program
Alumni Engagement
- Alumni are a powerful and ever-growing group. Alumni-driven advocacy efforts can have a significant impact on a program. Whether you ARE an alum, or just know some, try activating this powerful group!
- Read about how the Leander H.S. Band and the L.D. Bell H.S. Band worked to engage their alumni
- Consider inviting alumni for occasional performance opportunities—like an alumni pep band night or a special alumni choral piece at a concert.
- Create an alumni Facebook page or group to update them on upcoming events, share photos, and stay connected
Encourage Future Educators
- The TeachMusic website is a great resource for students who are considering studying music education in college. You can also find great resources for parents and guidance counselors.
Student Testimonials
- Students are the center of a music program. Student voices are the most important advocacy tool – an essential aspect of recruiting new students and in proving a program’s value. Download Details
Teacher Appreciation
- Write a thank-you note! Give your teacher a handwritten thank-you note, and include specific examples of activities or lessons you’ve enjoyed and/or something you appreciate about them.
- Tell your principal or school board about how great your music teacher is—you can include the same details from your thank-you note. Encourage classmates to join you, too.
- Nominate your music teacher for an award. There are many awards available that celebrate outstanding teachers at a national, state, and local level. Confirm your teacher is eligible, then complete and submit the application. Here are a few to get you started:
- George N. Parks Leadership in Music Education Award, MFA/NAfME
- Music Teacher of Excellence, CMA Foundation
- GRAMMY Music Educator Award
- Research awards available for your community and state, starting with your state’s Music Education Association, which you can find here.