tri-m music honor society
Tri-M and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance Mark Lakmann, WMEA State Chair, Tri-M Music Honor Society
I am writing this arti- cle during the second week of November. Our fall weather has been amazing! At this moment, you are probably experienc- ing snow, ice and sub-zero tempera- tures. I commute to
work year-round on a bicycle. I started riding my bike to feel better physically, but now I do it for the visceral feeling of the elements on my body. Wind, pouring rain, snow, sleet… every day is different and every day presents different chal- lenges. However, there is one thing that remains constant. If I keep my bicycle well maintained then I have a much better chance of getting to school.
In our profession, music programs can also benefit from regular maintenance. One avenue for this is the NAfME pro- gram, Tri-M Music Honor Society. If you have never heard of Tri-M, you can find out everything you need to know here:
http://www.nafme.org/programs/ Tri-m-music-honor-society/. Starting a Tri-M chapter at your middle school or high school is healthy for music students on three levels: First, it can help increase interest, exposure and enrollment in your music programs, second, a Tri-M chapter can foster student leadership, and finally, Tri-M can be a place for us to grow future music educators for our profession.
Tri-M and Program Visibility
When you start a Tri-M chapter you give students the opportunity to become part of a National Honor Society dedicated to music. Through community performances, volunteering and education, your students become ambassadors for music in the community and give your music pro- grams another level of positive exposure.
A Tri-M chapter can also bring credibility to your music department. The chapter meetings, induction ceremony and project- based learning will engage students and provide a sense of purpose for the music department on a much bigger scale. Fi- nally, using the Tri-M chapter to perme- ate music classrooms K-12 automatically creates excitement and enthusiasm for participation in music.
Tri-M and Student Leadership
A Tri-M chapter is fertile ground for stu- dents to experience and become interested in leadership. Besides the appointed posi- tions that are inherent in any student led organization (president, vice president, etc.) a Tri-M chapter gives ALL students the opportunity to lead by taking owner- ship and responsibility for projects, events and activities. This encourages a culture of “leading from any chair” (Zander), which then is carried back into our classrooms and rehearsals.
Tri-M and Future Music Educators How can we spark an interest in our stu- dents to become future music educators? I’m sure many of you already incorporate experiences like these into your music programs: teaching/mentoring younger students, students leading chamber en- sembles, teaching students ABOUT the music using CMP techniques, etc. A Tri-M chapter is simply another vehicle for you to formalize these experiences and create new ones. One of the best experiences for your students to really become immersed in a music educator experience is the WMEA Aspiring Music Majors program, which is held on Friday each year of the Wisconsin State Music Conference and is open to all juniors and seniors. If you are looking for a field trip for your Tri-M chapter or need a reason to start a new chapter, there it is!
Fork in the Road
A well maintained bicycle provides me with a support system that will allow me to easily get from point A to point B. Activat- ing a Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter at your middle school or high school can also be a support system which will grease the gears of your music program and music department. A Tri-M Chapter can give credibility to your music department, acknowledge accomplishments of music students and ignite a spark which will lead them into a world of possibility as future music educators. “In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold.” (Zander)
Reference:
Zander, R & B. (2002). The Art of Possibility. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
Mark Lakmann is band director and chair of the music department at La Crosse Logan High School. Email:
mlakmann@lacrossesd.org
“In our profession, music programs can also benefit from regular maintenance.”
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January 2017
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