National Arts Advocacy Day on Tuesday, April 9. Even if you cannot attend in person, you can help the state arts advocacy delegation members who are coming to DC. We need you to write to your Members of Congress by this Friday, April 5th at noon. We are going to tally all of these letters so that your state arts advocacy captain can walk in each Congressional office and say, “Today is Arts Advocacy Day and I want to add my voice to the other constituents who have already e-mailed you about the importance of the arts and arts education in our state.”
Take two minutes to send a pre-written, customizable Arts Advocacy Day letter to your members of Congress.
Attend a live Arts Advocacy Day event from home!
The Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy is the highlight of Arts Advocacy Day. This year, acclaimed cellist and arts educator Yo-Yo Ma will deliver the lecture and perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For the first time ever, Google will web stream the event live for millions to enjoy and be inspired. To watch, visit the Americans for the Arts’ YouTube channel on Monday, April 8 at 6:30 PM EDT.
Want to ask Yo-Yo Ma an arts education question?
The next day, Yo-Yo will take a break from his Arts Advocacy Day visits with Congress to participate in our Google Hangout (aka video chat). Tweet us your questions in advance using the #AskYoYo hashtag. To watch the Google Hangout, visit the Americans for the Arts’ YouTube channel on Tuesday, April 9 at 10:30 AM EDT.
Thank you for being part of the 2013 National Arts Advocacy Day!
Such a decision would be, perhaps, understandable in light of the fiscal woes that currently beset many of our nation’s urban areas. It is, however, neither understandable nor defensible in terms of our collective responsibility to provide a full, balanced education to all of our children.
“A broad base of research exists demonstrating the many benefits of music and arts in student learning and achievement. As is noted in the Partnership for 21st Century Learning Skills¹ Arts Skills Map, arts education is powerful preparation for college, career, and a fulfilling life. When delivered by certified educators, these benefits are most substantially gleaned, hence, the lifelong learning impact is greatest. Quite simply put, such dividends are far less likely to be realized when delivery takes place via arts-integration or artist-in-residence programs.
Arts instruction by certified teachers is, in fact, a vital requirement of a successful learning experience, and simply cannot be equaled by the type of stopgap methods presently being touted in Lansing.”
Professional certified staff, time, materials, and planned curricula should be available to students in every school. Second-best solutions involving some exposure to music and the other arts simply cannot replace the work of professional educators who are committed both to excellence in their art forms and, as trained teachers, to the growth and learning of children. We cannot deprive students of essential experiences in music and the arts that for many are among the strongest reasons they come to and stay in school.
There is absolutely a role for arts integration and artists-in-residence, both of which can enliven the classroom experience in unique and incredible ways. But that role must be an overlay and enhancement of true arts learning. Music and the arts are designated core curriculum and require core curriculum funding and the highest quality teachers. In support of the need to provide the best possible learning opportunities for children in Lansing, we urge you to reconsider your decision.
Interviewer: Charles J. Sanders
Producer: Dr. David Sanders
Paul Schaffer: Creating the Late Night Band for David Letterman
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckElJvz-olg[/youtube]
Paul Schaffer: Musical Influences
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp1xqOzfxKg[/youtube]
Paul Schaffer: Greatest Musical Moments
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeZVgGiq4u4[/youtube]
Sonny Fox: Producing "The Songwriters" Series
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wCzJGZ36DM[/youtube]
Sonny Fox: Experience As A WWII P.O.W.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DhCKkyvEJ8[/youtube]
Sonny Fox: Hosting Children's Show Wonderama
Sonny Fox: "But You Made The Front Page"
Sonny Fox & Paul Schaffer: What Is Left To Accomplish?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juo1eSKZRVM[/youtube]
American Eagle Awards artists and guests speak about the importance of music and arts education on our nation's schools.
Ambassador Mo Sacirbey, Martha Wash, Judy Collins, Ben E. King
The Year 2013 presents an opportunity for music educators, students, parents, and friends of music education to let new and returning members of Congress know how vital music education is for students and for our society. When we share our stories, we share the importance of our work.
The National Association for Music Education is collecting stories about the accomplishments of music programs from across the United States. These stories can range from concerts to competitions to new classes to community service events—anything that shows the value of musical engagement and learning.
In addition to sharing stories, writers are invited to communicate the benefits of their work to administrators, the media, and policymakers. NAfME’s “Share Your Story” webpage provides links to contact information for elected officials at the state and national levels as well as resources for writing to your elected officials. NAfME will work with state and national music education leaders to share these stories with new and returning congressional members. Share your story today.
The 2012 election has made a dramatic impact on Congress with more than 80 new members of Congress taking office in early January. The next Congress will renew the focus on reducing the federal deficit and creating jobs, and it is imperative that arts advocates work together to craft a policy agenda that supports our nonprofit arts sector and arts education.
The National Music Council supports Americans for the Arts as a National CoSponsor of Arts Advocacy Day. Contact NMC Director David Sanders to join our team on Capitol Hill on April 9th.
November 21-24, 2013
Over 1,000 music professionals and other enthusiasts from all over the world descend upon the heart of the cultural precinct on Brisbane’s South Bank to discuss, plan, be part of, and experience the future of music on this planet: musicians, producers, managers, administrators, festival directors, journalists, scholars, educators, facilitators, activists, policy makers and other lovers of the art in its myriad forms and contexts.
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THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY AMERICAN EAGLE AWARDS CELEBRATE MUSIC LEGENDS
JUDY COLLINS, PAUL SHAFFER AND THEODORE BIKEL
Golden Eagle and Corporate Eagle Awards presented to Sonny Fox and Cracker Barrel Country Store
Music legends Theodore Bikel, Judy Collins, and Paul Shaffer were honored with American Eagle Awards by the National Music Council at a symposium and luncheon event held at New York’s Hard Rock Café on Tuesday, November 27, 2012. The coveted American Eagle Award is presented annually to celebrate an individual’s long-term contribution to the nation’s musical culture and heritage. This year’s celebration was the 30th anniversary of the American Eagle awards.
Additional awards were given to children’s television icon Sonny Fox for his lifetime support of music and arts access for children and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store for its active support of country music for over forty years.
The presentations included tributes to the honorees by a host of musical greats including Ben E. King, Martha Wash, Merima Kljuço, Sheldon Harnick and Peter Yarrow. The Council's annual Leadership in Music Symposium preceded the awards and featured an interview with the honorees. Excerpts from the symposium and awards event will be posted on the Council’s website throughout the year.
Dr. David Sanders, director of the National Music Council, notes that the individual recipients were being honored, “not just for the incredible gifts they have given generations of music lovers throughout the world with their creative output… but also for their dedication to encouraging young musicians – and potential musicians – through their great support and commitment to music education.”
The event also debuted an animation created by the NMC and the Music Publishers Association of the United States as part of a primary school lesson plan that encourages kids to think about the ramifications of taking other people’s creative work. Sanders introduced the work as “part of a world-wide effort by creators to change the narrative in terms of fostering an understanding that the online protection of creative work enhances freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas, rather than encroaching on them.“
Proceeds from the event support the Council’s music education advocacy efforts.
SAVE THE DATE!
The National Music Council's 30th Annual American Eagle Awards Luncheon, Honoring:
Theodore Bikel
Judy Collins
Paul Shaffer
Sonny Fox
Cracker Barrel Country Store
Tuesday, November 27th At Noon
The Hard Rock Cafe
Times Square, NYC
Contact David Sanders For More Information