Gary Brande Advancing Music Education Chair


MMEA Hill Day & Mentoring


Our fourth MMEA Advocacy Day in Jefferson City is Tuesday, March 7, 2017. We will have a display on the Third Floor Rotunda between both the House and Senate chambers. We will be making appointments during the day to meet with Representatives and Senators to discuss the benefits of music education. I will create talking points (see MMEA web site) that will guide your conversation. I encourage you to make your appointments in advance of your visit. Please visit the MMEA web site for more information. I hope you will be able to join us for this very important event. With the recent budget cuts and policy changes it is more important than ever to speak on behalf of the benefits of music as a part of a well-rounded education for all children.


I recently read an article that quoted Richard Bell as part of a panel discussion on advocacy and music education. He urges us to: Connect – We need to connect what we do with the broader community. Sitting in our music rooms isolated from other teachers, administrators, and parents doesn’t get it done anymore. Get out of the classroom and into the community – engage and be engaging. Look for opportunities to connect what you do in your programs with other aspects of the school – other


spring 2017 | www.mmea.net


subjects or activities. Better yet, find ways to connect to other aspects of the community. Historically, music educators have enjoyed the sense of mystery that surrounds what we do. This comes from having our own classroom or wing set off away from the rest of the school. If we want music to be treated like a “core subject” we have to act as if it is one – that means reaching out and connecting with others and being accountable for what we do. By connecting with others you also create opportunities to share the important role of your program with others who may not be as well informed. In essence, you are creating additional “advocacy moments” to help promote and share the great work that you do. (Richard Bell, CEO of Young Audiences)


MMEA Advocacy Day will allow us an opportunity to connect with policy makers and share the benefits of music in our schools. Use the following link to find your Representative: http://www. house.mo.gov/ and schedule an appointment for Tuesday, March 7, 2017.


MMEA’s mentoring program continues to gain momentum in support of our new Music Educators. The next phase of our program is the development of the Mentors. Dr. Michael Smith


presented the kickoff session at the 2017 In-Service. His message on the benefits and process of effective mentoring was incredibly enlightening and motivating. It is our goal to assist the mentor in their efforts to assist the new teacher. A mentor is a person that brings informed, experienced application and wisdom to a skill that is of mutual concern to another person in the same field of inquiry. Dr. Smith literally has written the book on mentoring. Dr. Smith describes mentoring the following way: “Mentoring is not just about sharing pedagogical and other information, though that is vital. It is not about forwarding our own agenda or telling “war stories” from our own experiences, although if shared in the proper context these stories can be immensely helpful and even encouraging to the struggling new teacher. A mentor is willing to commit to the development of another’s professional practice for the good of the new teacher and, more largely, for the betterment and advancement of the profession as a whole.” (Smith, pg.295) MMEA’s goal is to develop this mentor model so we can continue to support our new teachers.


See BRANDES, p. 28 25


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