Music In Our Schools Month, March 2002

March has been officially designated as Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), a professional association with nearly 70,000 members. This year commemorates the twenty-eighth national observance of MIOSM, a time when schools and communities throughout the country and the world will celebrate MIOSM with concerts and other activities based on the theme Music . . . Pass It On! Classrooms, concert halls, civic buildings, clubs, parks, libraries, and shopping malls will provide the arenas for the public to observe the processes and results of music education. The Worlds Largest Concert (WLC) is a highlight of MIOSM and emphasizes the value of music in every childs education. The American Association of School Administrators and the National PTA have endorsed this concert.

On Thursday, March 14, 2002, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, PBS will link millions of school children, teachers, and citizens from around the world in the 18^th annual WLC sing-along program. In Virginia, WHRO (15) in Norfolk, WHTJ (41) in Charlottesville, WNVT (53) in Fredericksburg/Goldvein, WVPT (51) in Harrisonburg, WCVE (23) in Richmond, WBRA (15) in Roanoke, WMSY (52) in Marion, and WSBN (47) in Norton will broadcast the WLC.

Information about the 2002 WLC, including an online teacher guide and rehearsal CD, is available now from MENC at http://www.menc.org/guides/wlc2002/Front.html. A free 2002 MIOSM/WLC Teachers Guide which includes reproducible student music, piano accompaniments, and performance instructions for the televised show can be received by writing to MENC/WLC, 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191 and enclosing $5 for shipping.

For additional information about MIOSM or the WLC, contact Dr. Theresa Lee (mailto:tlee@mail.vak12ed.edu), K-12 music specialist, at 804/786-8078.

JLD/TFL/jbn