26 Things You Can Do
1. Send a press release to your local paper
announcing your activities supporting music education. Highlight
the importance of the program in your schools.
2. Work with local groups to dedicate every
local music event during March to encourage support for music
education.
3. Arrange student performances at schools,
local businesses, the public library, or City Hall so the
community can see the program.
4. Obtain an official proclamation from your
Mayor or City Council dedicating a day or the month of March
as Music In Our Schools Month.
5. Ask your local cinema to show a slide supporting
music education programs before each movie begins. Or, ask
to have them run a VH1 Save The Music PSA.
6. Suggest local businesses "adopt" a music
program for the month.
7. Ask your local weatherman to mention your
music education advocacy initiative and to salute local music
programs during March.
8. Ask to have a full-page ad donated in your
local paper highlighting the benefits of music in your school
9. Encourage public performances in the town
square, on the sidewalk, etc.
10. Wear a VH1 Save The Music lapel pin or,
if you're a music educator, an MENC pin. Be certain to tell
people what it means to you and to students.
11. Hold a one-day (or longer!) mall music
showcase/instrument drive. Work with a local radio station
to help promote your efforts
12. Does your city have its own magazine?
Get it involved with a local story about your activities!
13. Ask local reporters and newscasters to
mention your campaign in stories on local events.
14. Establish an award for an outstanding
administrator who has demonstrated strong support for music
in your community.
15. Write a letter to your Member of Congress
listing events in the district. Invite him or her to participate!
16. Alert your newspaper's "datebook" section
to include your activities.
17. E-mail everyone you know and encourage
them to participate in the month-long celebration of Music
In Our Schools Month in March.
18. Create inserts for performance centers
to be included in their programs.
19. Sponsor essay competitions for children
to write about why music is important to them --and arrange
for the local newspaper to run the winning entry.
20. Ask the supermarket or other retailers
to print paper bags with the Save the Music or Music In Our
Schools Month logo.
21. Turn local performance into "informances"
with program information and remarks from the stage. Place
messages in local concert programs (this includes local elementary,
middle school and high school concerts, professional plays,
concerts and events).
22. Place factoids on the importance of music
education into school performance programs during the month
of March. Better yet, do it all year long!
23. Use the Save The Music Advocacy Video
to inform others about the need to support music education
for children.
24. Be Creative! Look for opportunities to
tie in with existing events to promote your music education
advocacy initiative (symphony concerts, band concerts, holiday
events, local music education meetings, etc.).
25. Write letters to the editor of your local
newspaper to support your efforts.
26. Make certain that all the important people
in your community teachers, parents, and decision-makers see
Music of My Heart.