Commentary

Metroplex Piano, Yamaha and Carter Albrecht Music Foundation Donate Portable Keyboards For Students In Need

Celebrity Trumpet Player Freddie Jones Announces Donation of Digital Keyboards to Trumpets4Kids.

The National Association for Music Education Welcomes Partners in the Fight for Music Education

RESTON, VA (February 20, 2015) – The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) has launched a new Associate membership program that offers private teachers, professional musicians, parents, community leaders, and others an opportunity to partner with classroom-based music educators all across the country.

Perspective: Inclusion of Special Needs Learners in Music Classes

I spend a good deal of time each year attending state “MEA” shows — including Ohio, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and others around the country — along with the NAfME conference. I’m always intrigued by the sessions presented and the creative topic names the presenters use to entice a music educator to attend their session.

Yamaha Appoints Gerhart as Product Manager, Percussion Instruments

Yamaha has announced the appointment of Dave Gerhart as product manager for the company’s Percussion Department, Band & Orchestral Division. He will report to Troy Wollwage, marketing manager, Percussion Instruments.

Manhasset Specialty Names Roberts President and General Manager

The Board of Directors of Manhasset Specialty Company has announced the hiring of Dan Roberts as president and general manager to replace Barry Heid, who is retiring from that position after a very successful career of 16 years working with the company.

Ten Music Teachers Finalists For Grammy Music Educator Award

A total of 10 music teachers from 10 cities across nine states have been announced as finalists for the second annual 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.

On The Road

TRAVEL DESTINATION: Chicago

SIZE OF ENSEMBLE: 22

DIRECTOR: Corinne Muller

SCHOOL: Gackle-Streeter School

SCHOOL LOCATION: Gackle, North Dakota 

Carmel Bach Festival Celebrates Bach’s 330th Birthday Bash

Carmel Bach Festival, an immersive festival of music and ideas celebrating the works, inspiration, and ongoing influence of J.S. Bach, and the Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) will honor Bach’s 330th birthday March 21 at MMA’s La Mirada location. “Bach’s Birthday Bash” celebrates the composer’s ongoing influence in the arts with an evening of musical performances, food and drink, a raffle, door prizes and more.

Robert W. Smith: Composer, Arranger, Teacher

Robert W. Smith has a career in the world of school music programs that most can only dream of having. He began working as a band director before finishing college, while still studying at Troy University in Troy, Alabama (then known as Troy State University). Eventually, he was discovered by the publishing arm of Columbia Pictures, where he embarked on a storied career as a composer with over 700 published works, with the majority of his work being published by Warner Bros. Publications. These days, he is the president/CEO of RWS Music Company, a new catalog of works for concert band and orchestra distributed by the C. L. Barnhouse Company. Thousands of professional, university, and school ensembles throughout the world have programmed Smith's compositions and arrangements for band and orchestra, and his music has played on network television and in multiple motion pictures. His composition, "Into The Storm," was featured on the 2009 CBS Emmy Awards telecast for HBO's mini-series documenting the life of Winston Churchill. YouTube is full of videos of bands around the world performing his pieces, and it's not unusual to find a video with more than 200,000 views.

For musicians, these are the best of times…

Bridging the old and new school of music education

A recent music education journal article blasted teachers who attempt to reach the other 80% of students by using non-traditional, technology-centric music education programs, students the writer must feel will never be part of traditional band and orchestra programs.

Communicating with Your Community

To better inform the community about the purpose, structure, and achievements of the school’s music program, provide an annual written report to the appropriate supervisor and, with permission, to parents and the community.

From the Trenches: My Christmas List for Santa

Appropriate holiday gift ideas for notable names in the music ed world

Dear Santa,
I hope you are well. It sure did seem like the North Pole relocated to North Jersey with all the snow we had last year. I don’t know if you can do anything about this, but would you please ask your pal Old Man Winter to lighten up? I know the folks in Buffalo would certainly appreciate it! I hope Mrs. Claus and the reindeer are doing well. If they are anything like the deer leaving their little “presents” all over my yard, they must be getting plenty to eat! Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering providing the following presents to those I have deemed either most worthy or most in need. So, without further delay: