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Details: Written by Eliahu Sussman; Published: 24 July 2014

Educator Anita Collins and animator/director Sharon Colman Graham recently released a TED-Ed video that highlights some of the actual neurological benefits to playing music. Spoiler alert: "Playing a musical instrument engages practically every area of the brain at once." The video is full of similarly powerful soundbytes about the unique and impactful mental benefits of playing music.

Take a moment to watch it for yourself here:

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Details: Written by Eliahu Sussman; Published: 22 July 2014

Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program Shines Spotlight on Nine Outstanding Young Musicians

At the 26^th annual Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Program, held June 21-23, 2014 at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis, in conjunction with Yamaha’s Band and Orchestral Division, announced the 2014 Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition Winners. Since 1988, the YYPA Program has recognized outstanding young jazz, classical and contemporary musicians.

The 2014 YYPA Winners include:

Music making celebrated around the world on June 21st

The world's largest annual music event, unified as the Make Music Day celebration (www.makemusicday.org), was held on the summer solstice – June 21^st. This international event began in France as Fête de la Musique, and now takes place in 800 cities across 110 countries. This year the number of participating cities in the U.S. doubled to nearly 20, including the additions of major markets such as Austin, Nashville, and Boston. Celebrations of music also took place in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. A full list of all participating cities can be found at www.makemusicday.org.

First new standards since 1994 define the future of music and arts education

The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards has released the first new guidelines for arts education since 1994. With specific recommendations and guidelines for curricula across the spectrum of the arts, including New National Core Music Standards, the new standards can be found in a searchable format on the NCCAS website. The full PDF of the standards can be downloaded here.

The result of a two-year process involving music teachers, music administrators, and college researchers, as well as professional teaching artists, the standards have undergone three rounds of public review, with input from over 6,000 educators.

Rising summer sales of school band and orchestra instruments trumpet encouraging signs

A current bright spot in music instrument sales also reflects steady support for school music programs, reports NAMM, the National Association for Music Merchants. For the fifth consecutive year, summertime sales of school band and orchestra instruments are on the rise. The year-over-year increase indicates that, bedeviled as they may be by budgetary threats, school music programs are tenacious during challenging economic times.

Back-to-school season retail sales of traditional school band and orchestra instruments including brass, woodwind ,and strings have consistently risen over the last two decades, except for a hiccup at the recession’s peak in 2009. Sales during the July-September timeframe have more than doubled over the last 20 years, increasing another 6.2% in 2013.

222 educators selected from 208 cities and 41 states

A total of 222 music teachers from 208 cities across 41 states have been announced as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation. In total, more than 7,000 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (K– college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.

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Directors who make a Difference

For over 20 years, School Band & Orchestra Magazine has been honoring amazing music educators from all 50 states. That's more than 1000 educators recognized for their outstanding contributions to music education programs!

Do you know a fantastic K-12 instrumental music educator who is deserving of recognition in SBO? Tell us why he or she should be featured in SBO’s annual "Directors Who Make a Difference" report.

Click here to nominate a director