Patrick Scafidi

With February 24 marking one year of the ongoing war in Ukraine, artists worldwide have renewed their efforts to pay tribute to the resolve and creativity of the Ukrainian people.

Last time we checked in with Black Teaching Artist Lab’s Melissa Parke, she was preparing to launch her Afrocentric Social Emotional Learning through the Arts framework. We’re happy to report that it’s now available online, replete with five Afrocentric SEL Competency Areas, interactive curricular examples and tips, ten journal reflections, and over 50 resources across the arts.

The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) invites youth orchestras from all participating Creative Europe countries to a daylong exploration of the different challenges and opportunities associated with making successful youth orchestra projects.

The European Commission just published a report as part of their “Music Moves Europe” initiative, surveying best practices across the E.U. in maintaining musician health and wellbeing.

Imagine a world where health insurance providers cover the fee to participate in community choirs and ensembles—where participants can improve their social and physical health with no side effects. That’s the idea behind “social prescribing,” wherein healthcare professionals refer patients to social services, including arts programs, that promote health and wellbeing.

Whether you are a musician, a music teacher, or just interested in music as a tool for social inclusion, this training package, created as part of the Music for Active Citizenship: A Young Music Mentors Program (MAC), is for you.

The British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST), with the support of music streaming service Deezer, has published research-informed guidelines on a daily “dose” of music to achieve various mood states.

Major news for the North American field: a new national gathering for both students and teachers will launch this summer, welcoming over 100 young musicians from El Sistema-inspired programs across the continent.

This recent op-ed at The Hechinger Report, by Henry Donahue (Executive Director, Save The Music Foundation) and Dalouge Smith (CEO, The Lewis Prize for Music), feels like the call to action we’ve been waiting for as schools recalibrate post-lockdown.

It’s not too late to apply for this year’s Side by Side camp in Sweden (June 17–21, 2023).