Policies often directly impact teachers' lives and practice, requiring them to engage in spite of extremely busy schedules. This article offers encouragement to music educators wanting to be active--and become activists--in education policy. Before becoming active, one must understand how music education policies come to be. I argue that arts…

As "Music Educators Journal" celebrates its centennial, it is appropriate to look back over the past century to see how advocacy in music education has evolved. Of the more than 200 submitted articles on advocacy, four main themes emerged: music education in community, the relevancy of music education, the value of music education, and…

Professional discussion of curricular change and innovation is essential for maintaining and increasing the positive effects that music education can have on schoolchildren. Much recent discourse about curricular change has focused on critiques of the traditional large-ensemble model of music education, technological innovation applied to teaching…

Knowledge about music advocacy strategies has long been promoted as important for music educators, not only for the benefit of their individual programs but also for the specific benefit of music students and the general public. This article suggests an approach to advocacy grounded in the teacher's professional beliefs, phrased in terms…

Focuses on five central issues in music education: (1) philosophy; (2) multiculturalism; (3) psychology; (4) technology; and (5) advocacy. Introduces this special focus issue about changing perspectives in music education to assist teachers in understanding the music profession and its development. (CMK)

Provides a history of advocacy in music education discussing when formal advocacy started as well as advocacy with government agencies, the state level, and other types of advocacy. Includes a bibliography of resources related to music advocacy. (CMK)

Discusses the rise and present state of music education. Asserts that music educators must heed the current positive climate for arts education to make music an intrinsic component of education again. Offers suggestions for including all students in music performance, keeping abreast of new developments in music, and updating music teacher…

Discusses the social changes (school reform, civil rights, and technology) that the Tanglewood Symposium responded to in the 1960s. Traces the vision of music education from the Tanglewood Symposium through the Vision 2020 Symposium. Focuses on intellectual leadership, advocacy, and professional standards. (CMK)

Asserts that U.S. education has entered a new era of advocacy for arts education. Describes publications and other efforts of the National Coalition for Music Education. Compares effective and ineffective advocacy methods and includes a table of contents of an "Action Kit for Music Education." (CFR)