KMEA · MIOSM

Greetings from your MIOSM chair. I hope you are all excited and ready to participate in Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) in the month of March.

The theme for the 2010 Music In Our Schools Month is "Music! Just Imagine..." Now is the time to plan your World's Largest Concert (WLC) celebration for Thursday, March 11, 2010, at 12:00 pm CST. The sheet music, rehearsal tracks, and lesson plans for 2010 World's Largest Concert have been posted!

The 2010 Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) is right around the corner and MENC has the all the materials you need ready for you to participate in this annual event in March. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children - and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community and to display the benefits school music brings to students of all ages. Don't forget to download your free sheet music and lesson plans for the 2010 WLC program on the WLC Web site. Join students, teachers, parents and community members together in song to show the world the importance of school music during March, MIOSM.

You can pre-order your 2010 World's Largest Concert DVD by completing an order form online. DVD's will be delivered mid-February. Contest for the 2010 MIOSM include:

1) MIOSM Lesson Plan Writing Contest - open to all MENC members
2) MIOSM "I Imagine" Essay Contest - for K-6 (deadline November 2nd)
3) The Green Anthem Lyric Writing Contest - for grades 7-12 (deadline February 15th, 2010)

MIOSM and the events surrounding it are the ideal opportunities for increasing awareness of the benefits of high quality music education programs in our nation's schools. MENC hopes that teachers, students, and music supporters alike will find ways to join in on the celebration through creative activities and advocacy.

Learn more about MIOSM and the WLC at menc.org. Here you can also learn how MENC works to support music education, and visit MusicFriends to join other advocates working to insure that music is part of a well-rounded education for all children

Here are some ideas on how YOU can participate!!!

Connect with students, parents, colleagues, and the community...

Participate in the World's Largest Concert on March 11, 2010.
Make a "Music Month" calendar, and suggest that students dress for different musical eras. Play appropriate music as students arrive in the morning and at lunchtime.
Add a musical touch to the morning announcements. Try having a "mystery tune" each day, or a music trivia question, with MIOSM prizes for the winner.
Ask the lunchroom to rename items using musical themes such as Polka Potatoes, Harmonic Ham Sandwiches, etc. Have students suggest these fun names.
Collaborate with the art teacher and have students design posters, banners, and buttons featuring the MIOSM theme.
Ask students to draw their favorite musical instrument, have them design an instrument of the future, or bring in homemade instruments for "show and tell".
Collaborate with your school's history or social studies departments to create cross-curricular activities based on the theme of the concert or the pieces being performed.
Ask students to cut pictures of music and musicians out of magazines and create a musical wall collage for your classroom(s).
Have students list ways in which music is a part of their everyday lives. Have them compare lists with friends and family members.
Present faculty members with MIOSM buttons and ask that they wear them every day during March.
Invite local Tri-M or Collegiate MENC members to participate in your MIOSM plans through performing, teaching, games, and discussions.
Take students to a local senior center or hospital and invite everyone to participate in the sing-along.
Present students with lapel stickers to wear during MIOSM.
Ask the local radio station if your group can record PSAs for MIOSM, and look into placing music education messages on local marquees.

Don't forget to join other KMEA members and the Kansas Citizens for the Arts celebrate MIOSM and the WLC this year at "Arts Day at the Capitol," Thursday, March 11th, 2010. We need all the support we can get! Please join us and help support arts advocates across Kansas! Also, don't forget to stop by the MIOSM booth at KMEA and pick up a free button to help spread the word that March is MIOSM! See you at at 2010 ISW.