22 Musicals in 12 Minutes

Lin Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt, James Corden

Two Maine School Bands

Jazz band and State Festival

Falmouth High School

Messalonskee Middle School Beginning Band Concert

Lewis Prize for Music

RSVP

RSVP by CLICKING HERE

The Lewis Prize for Music is thrilled to invite you to our virtual Open House for Music CYD Rural Leadership on Thursday, April 22 from 5pm – 7pm ET. We are hosting an informal conversation with rural and tribal creative youth development practitioners and youth participants, members of state arts agencies, rurally based community centers, advocates and supporters for rural and indigenous communities.

Creative Youth Development is a recent term for a longstanding practice that integrates creative skill-building, inquiry, and expression with positive youth development principles, including holistic wellbeing. The Lewis Prize for Music team is eager to learn about rural communities and the experiences of working and getting funding for out of school music programming.

We will share information about our annual Accelerator Awards application and how to apply beginning in May 2021, as well as how to share about the award opportunity with other rural CYD music organizations that qualify for this opportunity. 

Please note, we are capping attendees to the first 100 people to sign up. Honorariums will be provided for attendees that qualify as being a part of CYD Music Organizations.

Music and Mental Health

Casco Bay High School

The Music and Mental Health website was created by Gridley Abercrombie, a student at Casco Bay High School in Portland. The Casco Bay curriculum is organized around Learning Expeditions which are long-term, in-depth studies of a single topic that explore vital guiding questions. They incorporate standards and involve fieldwork, service and research, culminating in a project, product or performance. Expeditions require strong habits of work and quality thinking that come through the daily rituals of reading, writing, research, problem solving, and discussion. Individual and group projects are designed to unify and ignite student learning by calling for concrete products or actions that address authentic problems, typically with a component of social or environmental justice.

Casco Bay High School principal Derek Pierce said that the expeditions encourage students to take on a project that is an intersection of their personal passion and a need in the world. They are an example of educators allowing students to pursue their interests to do something that will make a difference. He said that Gridley’s expedition is a great example of that.

When Gridley started the project he knew from his past musical experiences and learning over the years that the arts were good for the overall well being of individuals and for parts of the brain. His research helped him go deeper in his understanding of the science in the brain chemistry and the impact on the neurotransmitters. Music effects the mental health on the brain and body.

Along with learning the science Gridley learned how to create a website and he effectively uses it to include information that is useful for young people, parents and educators. Gridley researched the following topics in relationship to music and mental health: The Problem, Music’s Effect, Musical Opportunities, Who to Contact if You Need Help and Resources.

Some of the statistics that Gridley includes in the website are helpful to have a better understanding. For example, in 2017, “An estimated 3.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 13.3% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17.” The potential of music and its impact on mental health is enormous.

Especially during the last year we know that we have students who are facing challenges that didn’t exist earlier. I suggest that you check out the website Music and Mental Health and share with your own school community. Thank you Gridley for your research and sharing it with the world through the creation of the website.

Copland: “Fanfare for the Common Man”

New York Philharmonic

Aaron Copland composed “Fanfare for the Common Man” in 1942 during WWII as part of the war effort. He settled on this title because, as he put it, “It was the common man, after all, who was doing all the dirty work in the war and the army.” He later added, “He deserved a fanfare.” Today, the title could just as easily apply to the healthcare workers and other essential frontline workers who have helped us through the COVID-19 pandemic. This newly recorded performance was conducted by David Robertson in January 2021 at St. Bartholomew’s Church.

Belfast Flying Shoes

Dancing

How about a Social Break? Here’s a Friday night opportunity…

Belfast Flying Shoes has a vision: Bring folks together for a bit of music and dancing, some community connection, a wee skosh of silliness, and more.

April 2, at 7:00 pm and hosted by Raelin Callahan, Chrissy Fowler, and Glen Loper. Tunes by Bethany Waickman and Glen Loper: The Old Favorite (G jig) / Liza Jane (A reel) and Sheebeg Sheemore (D walz)

REGISTER HERE

Beforehand…

April 2 – BFS RADIO HOUR on WBFY:
Jonathan Freedner (BFS dancer and volunteer) is putting together this month’s BFS RadioHour, Fri, April 2.  BFS Radio Hour at 6:00 pm each first Friday at 100.9 FM or via the WBFY website – belfastcommunityradio.org/ or streamdb9web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/WBFY

MMEA Awards

Nominate deserving educators

Maine Music Educators Association is accepting nominations for their recognition program. Below are the following categories with links to the nomination form. Consider nominating a deserving colleague.

In addition, if you are a music teacher who is retiring or have a milestone last or this year complete the form to be recognized and send the form to the MMEA Executive Director Beth LaBrie at execdirector@mainemea.org. Likewise, if you have questions, please contact Beth.

Deadline for nominations is April 17

RETIREE OR LONGEVITY RECOGNITIONS

HALL OF FAME AWARD

25 YEAR RECOGNITION

EDUCATOR APPRECIATION AWARD

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR AWARD

OUTSTANDING NEW MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD

Bay Chamber Music

Wonderful opportunity

Every years, Bay Chamber presents a free matinee for over 1,000 students from around the state. Due to the pandemic, they’re not able to offer a live performance, but instead they are excited to offer a free virtual program by Warp Trio called Black Voices that will be accessible from a private link on Bay Chamber’s YouTube channel.

​ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Black Voices, features the music and writings of musicians, poets and authors from the African Diaspora—illuminating the breadth of influence from artists of color on our contemporary culture and landscape. The 45-minute program showcases a variety of genres from hip hop and classical to spoken word and jazz. Presented in conjunction with the award winning emcee LiKWuiD, the program includes poetry by Langston Hughes, Ntozake Shange, Maya Angelou paired with music by Duke Ellington, William Grant Still, Harry Burleigh, and original compositions from Warp Trio.

AUDIENCE 

This program is recommended for high school audiences but may be suitable for younger audiences at the teacher’s discretion.

DETAILS

The program will be available through Bay Chamber Concerts & Music School’s YouTube channel and can be viewed at any time between March 1- April 16, 2021. To sign up, please email Monica Kelly at monica@baychamberconcerts.org.

WARP TRIO 

Learn about Warp Trio who are described as “A talented group that exemplifies the genre-obliterating direction of contemporary classical music (Columbia Free Times)”, Warp Trio is an internationally touring cross-genre chamber music experience. Reflecting the combination of Juilliard trained members juxtaposed with members steeped in rock and jazz styles, the one of a kind trio (that even has a fourth member!) can be seen performing classical works in prestigious halls on the same tour where they headline a standing room only show at a rock venue. In addition to their electrifying public performances, they have gained a reputation for their innovative educational workshops with students from grade school through university level.

Music Educators Conference

2021 MMEA Virtual, May 10-15

Please join us May 10-15 for this exciting and informative professional development conference which will include over sixty live and pre-recorded offerings applicable to all areas of music education. Live sessions will take place via Zoom between 6-8PM on weeknights and 9-noon on Saturday.  Both the in-person and pre-recorded sessions will be archived on a password protected website and will be available for viewing at a later date.  For questions regarding registration, please email Jon Simonoff at conferenceregistrar@mainemea.org.

CLICK HERE to register for the conference today!

Arts Education Month

YAHOOOOO and Happy Arts Education Month!

I know this March is a bit different than other years but we as visual and performing arts educators still have important work to do – celebrating and raising up the voices of our students in the arts. The creative minds of arts educators are serving you well, as you plan and implement a way to recognize the accomplishments of your students in the arts. CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to all the educators who provide an excellent arts education and access to it for learners of all ages. I know that you are proud of your students and I encourage you to take advantage of this month designated to celebrate arts education. Whether you do it in a small or large way, please let me know about the work you are doing so I can include your story on this blog. Your good ideas should be shared so others can learn from you! I appreciate your ongoing commitment to providing THE BEST visual and performing arts education!

Take advantage of Arts Education Month to engage others in the conversation of why a quality arts education is essential for all students. Use the Commissioner of Education Pender Makin’s message, posted on this blog yesterday, to help others understand what we know to be important.

If you’re looking for resources each of the national professional organizations below have a plethora of information on their websites. Check them out and consider becoming members to support their good work.

NAEA

The National Art Education Association has been celebrating Youth Art Month since the 1960’s. Check out what NAEA has to offer on the topic. The purpose of YAM is to emphasize the value to children from participating in visual art education. 

CFAE

The Council for Art Education provides tons of resources to help you plan. They have ideas on their site that teachers and students are engaged in across the country. The ideas range from school based to community, both large and small. You can sign up for their free newsletter and receive information on a regular basis.

NAfME

The National Association for Music Education has been recognizing Music in Our Schools Month since 1985. The idea started in 1973. You can learn what NAfME has to offer on MIOSM by CLICKING HERE. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that schools is where all children should have access to music.

EDTA

The Educational Theatre Association and the International Thespian Society and the American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE) all provide resources for theater educators. Their resources are directed towards Thespians, schools, and educators. The purpose is to raise public awareness of the impact of theatre education and draw attention to the need for more access to quality programs for all students.

NDEO

The National Dance Education Organization celebrates the artistic and academic achievements of exceptional students through the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NAHSDA) by teaming up with the US Department of Education during March. Learn more about their advocacy work by CLICKING HERE.

As you’re contemplating your March celebration checking out a blog post from the past with more resources. CLICK HERE

AFTA

Americans for the Arts envisions a country where everyone has access to—and takes part in—high quality and lifelong learning experiences in the arts, both in school and in the community. Their arts education council represents a cross section of the country so all voices are represented. The Americans for the Arts website has a plethora of resources on arts education. Check them out by CLICKING HERE.

ARTS ADVOCACY DAY

We know that arts-rich schools benefit everyone. It is our responsibility to help others who may not understand this statement. Arts Education month provides that opportunity and in the near future the Maine Alliance for Arts Education will be sharing a video of Arts Education Advocacy Day that took place on February 17, 2021.