Guest Opinion: Music Matters!

By Marilyn Anderson

Last month, intrigued by the title of a workshop being given in Bellevue prior to the National Association of Music Educators, National Conference meeting, I signed up to attend the workshop.  The Title was “Advocacy: Building Local Music Education Coalitions” and it sounded very pertinent  to what our Music Advocacy Group is doing here on Orcas Island.

Sure enough, it was pertinent, although directed more towards teachers and school administrators than parents and community members, but the eight speakers were excellent.  Among them were the President and the Executive Director of the National Association of Music Educators and Gerard Schwartz of the Seattle Symphony, each of whom had a different perspective for keeping music education as a vital component of the curricula in our schools.  Their presentations were recorded and attendees have been promised access to the DVD when it becomes available, probably this month.  Those interested in learning when that happens can check in with the Washington Music Educators Association website www.wmea.org. If there is enough interest, we can schedule a showing on Orcas.

Following the meeting, attendees received an email from the Executive Director of the Washington Music Educators Association telling us that a sponsorship has begun to promote a special Washington State automobile license that would be designed to indicate that MUSIC MATTERS.  For this to happen, the Department of Licensing requires signature sheets with several thousand signatures of intended users in addition to action by the State Legislature.  A copy of the Signature Sheet is available on a WMEA Website link.  The original submission date has passed, however WMEA encourages additional submissions until the Legislature has passed on it.  Note: A signature indicates an intent to purchase but not a requirement.

And speaking of believing that Music Matters, I hope to see lots of supporters at the Music Advocacy Group concert at 3 p.m. this Sunday at the High School Gym.  I’ll have copies available there of the Special License Plate Signature Sheet.