Celebrating a love of music

ALBANY » Music in our Schools Month 2018 is off and running.

What began as a single day of celebrating music made in the public schools in the state of New York has grown over the decades to become a month long celebration throughout the entire country and beyond. Each year when the month ofMarch rolls around, school music students everywhere celebrate their love for music with performances and special music events.

To begin this monthlong celebration, the New York State School Music Association, known to most as simply NYSSMA, holds NYSSMA Day in Albany. The first of the month long concert series by students kicked off on Monday with performances by the NYSSMA All-State Instrumental and Vocal Jazz Ensembles. The All-State Jazz groups performed at both a lunchtime concert on the concourse and at an evening NYSSMA reception. Performing groups from throughout New York State performat the Empire State Plaza during the month of March in honor of Music in our Schools Month.

NYSSMAhas been an integral part of the team that wrote the NY State Every Student Succeeds Act Plan and the new Standards of the Arts. Through their efforts, music is once again designated as a stand-alone subject. We have to continue to carefully guard every student’s right to a wellrounded education that includes music and the arts.

OnMonday, March 5, music educators from across New York State came to the Empire State Plaza in Albany to spend the daymeeting with their legislators to advocate for continued support for music in our schools and to discuss the current challenges that face education. Music educators from NYSSMA Zone 8, which covers Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Otsego, and Schoharie counties, held meetings with several legislators including Assemblyman Cliff Crouch, Assemblyman BrianD. Miller, and Senator James Seward.

Amy Hoxie and Julie Solomon from Chenango County; Junili Arkema, Doug Ernst, and Anne Monaco from Otsego County; Kellie Daino and Dana Higgins fromDelaware County; andMadison County teachers Nicholas Anderalli, Matthew Donaleski, Bill McCoy and Holly McCoy represented and advocated for the nearly two million music students and 10,000 music educators of New York State. This group of music advocates spoke to the legislators about our concerns with our lack of representation in the State Education Department, the effects of the BOCES Tax Cap, and asked for their continued support for Music in our Schools.