Norman Mould,
Editor

The final edition of our newsletter in 2008 is brought to you by the letter (or should that be the note) A: A for Awards, A for Advocacy and A for Assortment.

The last couple of months have been busy times on many fronts. The Coalition has been both giving and receiving Awards; and in various ways we have been both conducting and observing Advocacy.

In this issue you’ll find news of an accolade for our Music Monday Public Service Announcement, the Coalition’s award of life-long membership to one of the founding stalwarts of our organization and awards of funding to worthy schools by what we used to know as MusiCan.

On the advocacy front, you’ll be able to read about efforts on behalf of music education both at home and abroad.

And that leaves the assortment of news about some relevant events, some initiatives and a book review by a certain indefatigable resident of Green Lake, BC.

Once again, I’d like to thank all those who provided input for the newsletter this year. Please keep the thoughts and news coming; and we’ll keep providing content for your email inbox!

"See ya" in 09.

Norman Mould

Ingrid Whyte,
Executive Director

The golden autumn days are behind us now as we head into a season that should be filled with joy, celebrations and high spirits. While these are challenging times, there is also much to be grateful for.

As we end the year, I’d like to take a special moment to thank our industry funders. Their continued support and commitment makes the work of the Coalition possible. All of our funders do such important work in our community of music-making. Each and every one of them is an enabler – whether it’s helping kids be the best they can be through music in their schools; or supporting the broad network of community and professional musicians and organizations that influence our cultural lives; or encouraging the social and wellness benefits of music-making in healthcare settings; or simply nurturing the confidence of individual new learners, young or old. The many vital and dynamic retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers across the country are a critical part of this country’s well-being: financially, socially, culturally and artistically. We are very proud of our partnerships and send you each a giant and heartfelt thank you.

The Coalition is fortunate to have nourished partnerships with many companies and organizations that contribute the time and talent of many outstanding individuals in helping us achieve our goals - often pro bono, and always well beyond what we can afford to pay them. Their commitment, their engagement and their passion are proof that music is a positive and galvanizing force.

We are grateful to our individual donors and especially to our individual members, those who support the Coalition with their annual fees of $25. Your membership contributes to the vitality of our organization and makes a bold statement because a strong membership base is a strong advocacy tool.

A special thank you to our kindred spirits out there, organizations and individuals with whom we share the common goal of enriching the lives of children through music. You are educators, artists, parents, professionals, administrators and more. Many of you have come together through The National Effort on our website, but all of you do important work in your communities. It’s inspiring to see the good work of so many organizations nurturing the creative spirit of our children through music.

But most of all we are grateful for the sound of music – especially when it comes from young people. Their joy and delight, their giggles and their smiles, are a special joy at this time of year.

Wishing you happy holidays and much joy in the coming year,

Ingrid Whyte
Executive Director

Coalition PSA Wins Silver

It seems that the Coalition’s efforts are being noticed beyond the arena of music education advocacy...

Our Music Monday television public service announcement just won a Silver Award at the 2008 Art and Design Club of Canada Awards. Our thanks again to our wonderful friends at the doug agency who worked with the top-flight animation studio, 4stroke Animation and Design, to create the stunning visuals. Then our good friends at Pirate Television and Radio put it all together and composed an original 30-second score. The stunning soundtrack was recorded by CBC Radio with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Alexander Mickelthwate, the Music Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra!

Click here to see the award-winning ad.

MusiCan becomes MusiCounts and ups support!

Sixty-eight schools across Canada were recently the recipients of $600,000 in support of music programmes. The money was from MusiCounts, formerly known as MusiCan.

MusiCounts, formerly known as MusiCan, is dedicated to ensuring that young Canadians, regardless of socio-economic circumstances and cultural background, have the opportunity to experience the joy of music, explore their talent, build self-esteem and, above all, dream big.

The grants will impact thousands of young Canadians and support diverse music programs that include concert and jazz bands to drum and guitar ensembles from Pre K to Grade 12 in Elementary, Junior High and High Schools in urban, rural, remote and First Nations communities from coast to coast.

"Including this year’s grants, MusiCounts will have donated a remarkable $3 million to music programs across the country," said Melanie Berry, President, CARAS and MusiCounts. "This reaffirms our mandate to preserve music education in Canadian schools and raise national awareness about its value and remarkable power to transform the lives of young people."

"Sadly, music education in Canada continues to be at risk. Through MusiCounts, we renew our commitment to investing in the future of young Canadians and ensuring that music education continues to enlighten, empower and elevate,” said Srinka Wallia, Executive Director, MusiCounts. "These grants will enable music teachers to submit their wish list for new instruments and allow students to pursue their love of music, gain access to music programs and receive the encouragement they need to develop their talent."

A full list of the 2008-2009 MusiCounts Band Aid Grant recipient schools can be found at www.musicounts.ca

MusiCounts received more than 300 Band Aid Grant applications from coast to coast, a record number of submissions that reflect the urgent need faced by many schools and their communities. Grant recipients were chosen by the MusiCounts Committee based on economic need, inventory and condition of the musical instruments, and the impact the grant would make to the school and surrounding community.

The Coalition Recognizes Lois Fleming’s Contribution to Music Education Advocacy.

Lois Birkenshaw-Fleming was unanimously voted in as an Honorary Life Member of the Coalition at our last Board meeting. Gino Falconi writes...

Lois Fleming is an outstanding Music Educator, author and composer.

She was the driving force behind the completion of the Music Education Guidelines, Concepts & Skills Pre-kindergarten to Grade 8, and Concepts & Skills Grade 9 to Graduation booklets. She was most active in revising said booklets in our 2008 editions.

She was one of the pioneers of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada and has held a number of executive positions.

A presentation was made to Lois at a luncheon held in her honour, on Thursday, November 27, from noon - 1pm at the Coalition office.

BC’s Sixth Annual Principals of Music Award

Went to Mr Kevin Vine, retiring Principal of Salt Spring Island Middle School.

At a VSO concert on November 8, Maestro Bramwell Tovey presented the award: $500 from Tom Lee Music and a Tempus snare drum (both for the use of the school’s music program).

Over two dozen Principals were nominated this year. Each will receive a certificate acknowledging their support of music in their school.

Ontario Report "promotes" Arts Education (?)

Heather Ioannou sent us a reminder of the report Roots of Youth Violence commissioned by the Premier of Ontario.

The review committee, headed by Roy McMurtry, a former Attorney General and Judge and currently the Chancellor of York University, found that Music, The Arts and Sports help kids.

Every Ontario school board chair, administrator, trustee will be sent a copy by the Ministry and we expect much discussion in the near future.

Here's a link to the full report
http://www.rootsofyouthviolence.on.ca/english/reports/volume1.pdf

Music Monday New Song, New Source Artist

Pure raw amazing talent is what gave Serena Ryder a Gold album for If Your Memory Serves You Well, a Gold single for self-penned "Weak In The Knees" and a 2008 JUNO Award for New Artist of the Year.

As you may know, Serena's song Sing Sing is the piece currently being arranged for Music Monday 2009. Arrangements for all types of groups will soon be available at www.musicmonday.ca/downloads.php.

In the meantime, here is some info on Serna Ryder’s new album entitled, is it o.k.

EMI Music Canada released is it o.k on November 11, 2008 and a U.S. release (via Atlantic Records) is scheduled for February 2009. Produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Jason Mraz), Serena recorded the album in the Santa Monica studio complex Village Recorder, where her all-time favourite album, Fleetwood Mac's Rumors was recorded. "I was in Stevie Nicks' vocal booth with candles all around and stained-glass windows and mirrors everywhere. It was totally fabulous. I definitely felt the energy. I wanted to tap my veins into the walls, you know?" says Ryder.

On is it o.k, Ryder is at times palpably sad, vulnerable and even confused, but always strikingly real and in the moment. Her immense growth as a songwriter is evident through out the album, especially as she is able to bring optimism and energy even to the record’s darker moments. The first single "Little Bit of Red" grabs listeners instantly with its hook, but keeps pulling them in as it also has a lot to say.

With is it o.k, 25-year-old Ryder has clearly set the bar higher for artists of her generation…including herself.

Sir Ken Takes Message to Ottawa

By now, many of us have viewed the inspirational speech by Sir Ken Robinson at the TED Conference in February 2006. If you haven’t had a chance, go to http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Some favourite quotes from this:

    "All kids have tremendous talents, and we squander them pretty ruthlessly"
    "Creativity now in education is as important as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status"
    "We are educating people out of their creative capacities"

J.R. Digger MacDougall, Chair of Sing Canada Harmony sent us a report of an editorial and his letter to the editor on the occasion of Sir Ken’s visit to Ottawa.

Both the editorial (about creativity, innovation, learning and music) and my letter to the editor (published in Canada's Capital in The Ottawa Citizen 21 Oct and 26 Oct respectively) are germane to the values we share, the importance of music in our schools and communities, and the relationship of the arts, learning instrumental and vocal music, to what we do.

British creativity guru Sir Kenneth Robinson was in Ottawa to address a large group of educators and other professionals . The first editorial stated that he: "...is not the first person to warn that the arts are badly undervalued in our schools. Nor will he be the last. But his recent pitch for more creativity in the school system, made in Ottawa last week, was important, because of who he is and because of who was listening (when he addressed over 400 education, science and arts professionals at the Ottawa Carleton Research and Innovation Centre). Sir Ken, who was knighted by the Queen in 2003 for his contributions to education, said strong arts programs in schools are an economic necessity because creativity fosters innovation....."

This is quite timely with respect to a number of initiatives being taken by the Coalition for Music Education in Canada (CMEC) and Sing Canada Harmony (SCH). CMEC has made available for distribution the "SupportMusic Community Action Kit - Grassroots Advocacy Guide". As a supporter of Music education in Canadian Schools and Communities, SING CANADA HARMONY has started the distribution of the 24 page guide and is sending three hard copies of the booklet to each Canadian BHS Chapter and making copies available to each Canadian HI and SAI Chorus or Chapter.

Advocacy? Elementary!

Here’s an example of advocacy at an emotionally powerful level: a Grade10 student who clearly understands the challenges the Coalition exists to overcome. Needless to say, our Youth Advocate has followed up.

My name is Robert Stefaniuk, and I am a Grade 10 Student at Cawthra Park Secondary School, (Mississauga) enrolled in the Regional Arts Program for Vocal Music. I am currently researching for a Civics project, in which I have to write a letter to two government officials about a topic of personal importance. Immediately, what came to mind when this project was assigned to me was the lack of the arts, specifically music, and specialty teachers in the arts in Elementary school. I am lucky because I have had the opportunity, outside of school, to discover my talent, whereas if I had relied on the arts education in the school board, I may not have ever explored singing.

While researching for this specific project, I came across the website, "www.weallneedmusic.ca". Let me say that I am thrilled to access the information on your website for both my project, and personal value. I do believe the arts are put on the backburner of elementary school, and have found it such a transition to achieve such success in the arts subjects I love. I am also appalled by some of the facts, that Ontario is the worst province for support in the arts. I am glad that this project has given me the initiative to explore this subject and try to make a difference. I am just wondering if you have a few pointers to lead me in the right direction for my letters to government officials.

Thank you for your time.

Robert S.

Coalition On the Conference Trail

Just a quick update on some of the Fall conferences at which the Coalition had a presence....

British Columbia Music Educators Association Conference; Vancouver October 23 - 25

Bob Rebagliati, Michael Young, Jan Heinrichs (BC Coalition stalwarts) and your intrepid editor were present at our joint booth; and Dennis Tupman also put in many hours helping us to persuade people to sign up for the national initiative. We collected 120 signatures.

We also decided to use the event to raise awareness of, and thinking about, Music Monday. Bob persuaded the 5 major music stores to contribute gift vouchers as an incentive to get music teachers to complete a questionnaire. Long & McQuade, Tom Lee, Prussin and Tapestry Music(s) each put up $50 vouchers; Northwest Music contributed four $75 vouchers! So there are 8 rewarded teachers and many more who spent at least a few minutes chatting and thinking some more about how they can get involved.

Music Conference Alberta - Oct. 30 – Nov. 1/08

Music Conference Alberta was held in Red Deer this year and was a partnership of the Alberta Band Association, Alberta Choral Federation, Alberta Music Education Foundation, Alberta Kodaly Association and Alberta Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

Sessions were held in each discipline by outside and local clinicians, honour and invited groups rehearsed and performed and the trade fair was available for those in need of supplies or services for their music programs. Jane Cutler, Chair of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, presented sessions on the Coalition and Music Monday.

Saskatchewan Celebrates The 25th Anniversary Of The Saskatchewan Band Association

On November 6-8, Saskatchewan held its annual Saskatchewan Music Conference in Saskatoon celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Band Association. As a founding member of SBA, Greg Way was asked to return to his home province and present a session on recruiting and retention of band students as well as the Convention’s Keynote Address. SMC includes the Saskatchewan Band Association, the Saskatchewan Music Educators Association and the Saskatchewan Choral Federation.

Greg Way, Coalition Vice-Chair, was there and reports that school music is alive and well in Saskatchewan. Almost 200 educators attended with many also participating in the SMC Band and Choir that rehearsed and then performed Friday afternoon. Numerous clinics were offered by various clinicians including Gillian MacKay and Chase Sanborn – both from Toronto.

On Friday evening, a banquet was held where all 3 associations presented awards of distinction to deserving recipients. University scholarships were also presented.

While the veteran teachers are providing outstanding leadership, it was most rewarding to see all the young educators in attendance. If they step forward into leadership roles in their music associations, then Saskatchewan is in good hands for the future.

Claire Speed, from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, brings us this good news from Venezuela.

"President Hugo Chávez has thrown his weight behind a scheme which brings classical music into Venezuela's slums, following international acclaim for the Simón Bolivar Orchestra."

This orchestra is an outgrowth of the work of José Antonio Abreu, who started a scheme 32 years ago that has eventually grown to provide a rich music education for 285,000 inner city children. This scheme is being copied all over the world."

MM Down Under

Have you heard about Australia’s version of Music Monday? Ingrid Whyte has an update.

Adapted from our event and with our help in 2006, their event is called Music. Count Us In.

They missed a year as the government changed but are back on board again this year! They have a terrific website with some wonderful tools and resources. They celebrate their event in October. Have a listen to their song and have a look at the arrangements and support resources for teachers on their website http://www.musiccountusin.org.au/content/view/41/6 .

It certainly helps that they have a full-time person working exclusively on this project, along with significant financial and administrative support from the federal government.

Sound Advice

Ever wonder what happened to SOUND ADVICE with Rick Phillips – the weekly guide to classical music and recordings heard every weekend on CBC Radio One and Radio Two?

It is now available as a free webcast and download at www.rickphillips.ca, sponsored by Universal Music of Canada. Rick Phillips is an experienced teacher in the adult education field, a concert host, panel moderator, writer, consultant, lecturer, Juno Awards juror and the host of musical tours to Europe. He’s the author of "The Essential Classical Recordings – 101 CDs" published by McClelland & Stewart.

SOUND ADVICE features new classical music recordings in review, as well as offering insight and background enhancing musical understanding and enjoyment. Rick says, "So often, newcomers to classical music are turned off by fears, inhibitions, lack of knowledge, etc. With simple explanations of socio-political context, musical forms, composer personalities and how to listen, the world of classical music can open up and become a life-long passion."

For more information or to contact Rick directly, e-mail address is soundadvice@sympatico.ca, or through www.rickphillps.ca.

The Big Blow Coming to a Venue Near You

All over the country, bands (pun unavoidable I think) of dedicated brass players have been warming up for a very particular – and now annual – means of raising public awareness of the wonder of music and the value of music education. Tuba Fest will once again be making its big noise. Here are some venues you might be able to check out or may just have missed.

Toronto

The 17th Annual Christmas Tuba Festival and Choir Sing-a-Long held on Nathan Phillips Square was December 3 from 12:30 to 1:15 pm. The Mayor joined between 250-350 players/singers participating in this outdoor event.

Victoria

Tuba Christmas in Victoria BC is held every year in Market Square and has over 50 players. This year it is Dec. 6th from 1 to 3 pm. Free admission!

Calgary

And folks in Calgary can get down low on December 20th.

Six String Nation

Here’s a photo and an article about the Six String Nation Guitar and program run by Jowi Taylor, a friend of the Coalition. He has done successful presentations with Jane Cutler in York Region District School Board, is favourite guest on CBC, and is wonderfully passionate and articulate about children and music.

The journey of the Six String Nation guitar from conception through construction to its debut on Parliament Hill on Canada Day 2006 took more than 10 years. And that was only the beginning. Since then the guitar, made from the very stuff of our national history and heritage, has clocked more than 150,000km across Canada and passed through thousands of hands, from rock stars to pickers to just plain folks – all drawn to the remarkable story of this guitar.

The project’s driving force is Jowi Taylor, who works tirelessly to get the guitar into the hands of as many Canadians as possible. Festivals are one obvious place to do that and he was toting the famous marigold Calton Case across the county again this summer. A school programme, developed with the help of educators, has already made a big impact in communities in Ontario, Alberta and Newfoundland. He’s looking to do a lot more of these multilayered visits including a weeklong project with the Labrador Creative Arts Festival and a collaboration with Toronto’s Luminato Festival.

Also on the books is…well...a book! The official launch date of the pictorial story of the Six String Nation from Douglas & McIntyre publishers is July 1st 2009.

And although we can’t tell you exactly what it is until its official, there’s soon to be a Six String Nation souvenir you can really take to the bank. Watch this space for more details. Until then, for more information, visit www.SixStringNation.com.

Students Encouraged to ©

A new free resource for elementary teachers developed by ASCAP and iSafe in the U.S. Promotes the value of intellectual property in music-making with students. Further information is available below and is posted on our news section on our website.

"Creativity in the Classroom" is designed to help students recognize their own creative work and to understand their rights as owners of intellectual property as well as the ethics of protecting the creative property of others. The premise of the project is to encourage students to label their creative work with the copyright symbol, the year, and their names, just as they see on any published, professional creative work.

While "Creativity in the Classroom" focuses on student music compositions, it is directly applicable to all types of creative work and can 'float' on top of the Standards-based goals of any number of curricula.

The ASCAP Foundation and i-SAFE, a non-profit foundation dedicated to protecting the online experiences of youth, have partnered to provide teachers with a set of tools to educate their students in the seldom taught area of intellectual property. This unique curriculum for grades 3 and 4 are called Creativity in the Classroom: Creative Ownership and Copyright.

The lesson plans are designed to teach young students fundamental intellectual property concepts as well as to teach young learners that their work and the creativity of others should be respected. Teenagers are widely regarded as the worst offenders of music piracy. Therefore, exposing pre-teens to the concepts of ownership and copyright will go a long way to proactively and positively affect their future behavior and their awareness of the value of creativity and the concept of ownership.

The curriculum unit is available free of charge to i-SAFE certified teachers. Encourage teachers you know to go to a special page on the i-SAFE Web site http://www.isafe.org/creativelessons for more information. And, parents who want their children exposed to these dynamic intellectual property lesson plans are encouraged to call their local school and suggest that they be taught in their classrooms. For those wishing to become certified, the process is available on-line by registering and watching a series of video modules called I-Learn.

Book Review

"Musicophilia" (Knopf) by Oliver Sacks

Reviewed by Dennis Tupman, our inexhaustible page turner.

Sacks, a noted neurologist, has penned a must-read book for all in music education; and also for those parents, and other members of the public, who care about advancing the cause of music and music education.

Not since Campbell’s book, "The Mozart Effect", have I read such a comprehensive and readable volume about the value of music and music education to humans.

Sacks shows from the perspective of neurologist that we humans are hard-wired to do music. Indeed, Sacks shows emphatically that music helps define who we are as a species. States Sacks, "Music has great power. It is manifest and central in every culture, and lies so deeply in human nature that one must think of it an innate."

Those who stutter do not do so when they are singing. Indeed one therapy for stutterers is to use a form of speech song when speaking. Those with Tourette’s syndrome can be calmed with music. Parkinson’s disease sufferers as well can show improvement when doing music. Music can be used to help in alleviating symptoms from diverse disabilities such as autism to Alzheimer’s. The list of benefits goes on and on.

I encourage everyone to read this book, in order to uplift your spirits and bolster your morale for our advocacy quests.