Saturday, June 20, 2009

The National Association for Music Education and Drum Corps Intl. Form Partnership to 'Add Quality to Life through Music'

 

RESTON, VA (June 20, 2009) -- Two of the premiere associations supporting music for young people announced today that they are joining forces.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education and Drum Corps International (DCI) Marching Music's Major League have strategically aligned on projects and initiatives to meet the goals that they hold in common. Specifically, the organizations will collaborate on activities to sustain and enhance national and local programs that bring to young people the key benefits that come with intensive participation in music. Both organizations agree that their constituents' programs deliver, along with purely musical knowledge and skills, qualities essential for the 21st century workforce:

• Passion for excellence

• Teamwork – and self-reliance and leadership within the team

• A focus on precision and achievement

"By elevating music education in America and by bringing to public attention the ways that music strengthens individuals and communities alike, our work together will signal a renewed emphasis on achievement in our society," said Mark Arnold, chairman of the Board of Directors of DCI. MENC President Barbara Geer added that "This world-class joint effort to add quality to life through music learning and performance will lead education by example. Together, we will continue to promote world-class standards in music education and in student performance. Furthermore, we encourage others to renew their commitment and join with us in the ongoing task of making certain that every student gets a full, balanced education that includes music."

The agreement to cooperate by the two organizations constitutes a pledge to ramp up delivery of the message of the value of music, and to recognize the music teachers and professionals who make music possible in our communities.

The associations build on a history of cooperation, including work on the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, a Blue-ribbon Panel for Marching Music, and events for the National Anthem Project and for the annual Music Education Week in Washington.

Planned new projects of the alliance include:

• Using the DCI online media platform to promote, showcase, and educate

• Developing partner discounts for services and events

• Developing reward and recognition programs for constituents

• Annual leadership meetings

• Establishing offices in each association's respective headquarters

• Using the MENC FAME (Foundation for the Advancement of Music Education) to facilitate and fund projects fulfilling both organizations' missions

• Establishing a focus for a Band Forum at future Music Education Week in Washington events.

For more information, contact MENC (www.menc.org) at 703-860-4000 or DCI (www.dci.org) at 317-275-1212.

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From modest beginnings more than three decades ago, Drum Corps International has developed into a powerful, nonprofit, global youth activity with far-reaching artistic, educational and organizational influence. Through the annual Summer Music Games Tour and more than 35 World Championships in 16 North American cities, Drum Corps International provides entertainment to millions through live performances and nationally-televised events. Drum Corps International is Marching Music's Major League™.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 142,000 members and supporters include educators representing all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education. MENC is located at the National Center for Music Education in Reston, VA.