News and Resources

 
The Ensemble seeks to connect and inform all people who are committed to ensemble music education for youth empowerment and social change.

Child Art Magazine Explores “Art for Health”

09-16-2020

The latest issue of Child Art magazine, from the International Child Art Foundation, focuses on Art for Health. It includes research pertinent to instruction in all art forms and reports from around the world about the Arts Olympiad. The editor writes, “Art can be a powerful catalyst for cultural and social change. Art can also provide immediate benefits that result in better mental and physical health, especially during this pandemic; hence this special issue on ‘Art for Health.’”

OECD Quantifies the Cost of Quarantine for Young People

09-16-2020

Economists from Germany and the U.S. have just published a paper with the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) that quantifies the cost of the pandemic in lost time and lost learning for young people. They conclude that worldwide students will lose 3% of their lifelong earning potential, and this impact is disproportionately higher in lower-income areas. If schools are not able to reopen quickly and well, the damages will be worse. They stated to the press, “We are frankly concerned that nobody has been talking about these issues.” This is essential reading for arts leaders and program directors—both as a tool to help your advocacy and leverage fundraising, and as a reminder to embrace bold action for your students.

Decolonizing the Music Room

09-16-2020

A new organization has been launched in the U.S. to address the racial inequities in music education. Decolonizing the Music Room is a non-profit organization that aims to use research, training, and discourse to help music educators center the voices and experiences of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian people, challenging the historical dominance of white Western European and American music, narratives, and practices. In their own words: “We at DTMR aim to disrupt the minimization and erasure of non-dominant cultures and identities in the field of music education to build a more equitable future through our work.” Resources include suggested reading, podcasts, firsthand accounts from other music educators, video blogs, and more. We are resharing this The Ensemble resource for our international readers, as music educators across the world continue to look beyond the Western canon.

ITAC Introduces the Knowledge Sharing and Digital Learning Project

09-16-2020

The ITAC Collaborative goes all year round, extending the work of the ITAC Conferences. Earlier this year the ITAC Collaborative invited (and financially supported) six Innovators to lead projects designed to add tools, share resources, and build connections supporting the global teaching artist field. Creative Generation was selected to produce the “Knowledge Sharing and Digital Learning Project,” which addresses the gap in research and resources produced by and for the field of teaching artistry. The project will engage volunteers in the field from a cross-section of countries to collect, validate, and disseminate tools, resources, and creative/scholarly research in several capacities. As part of this project, an international Advisory Committee has been assembled from practitioners who applied from around the world. Find out more about the project and its international team of teaching artist advisors here.

ITAC5 Is Live Right Now, Hosted by Korea Arts & Culture Education Service

09-15-2020

The Fifth International Teaching Artist Conference is happening as this issue goes out—there are still some remaining sessions you can attend free via livestream. Check the website of the ITAC Collaborative to register for the livestream, see the schedule, and view already-archived speeches and sessions from the largest-ever gathering of artists who work in communities and schools.

(Re)Setting the Stage Announces Eight New Sessions

09-15-2020

The Global Leaders Program, The Spanish Association of Symphony Orchestras (AEOS), Classical:NEXT, and Banco de la República (Colombia) have announced a second season of their industry panel series (Re)Setting the Stage. Taking place from September 24 – December 17, Season II will feature eight conversations with arts leaders and those on the front lines of our sector, focusing on a wide variety of topics designed to help participants adapt to the evolving landscape of performing arts. Among the many themes are “Digital Divide & Cultural Inclusion: Connectivity & Accessibility after COVID-19,” “On Stage to On Demand: Growing Audiences into Communities,” and “On the Brink!: Public Funding & the Recovery of Cultural Institutions.” Registration is free and simple; sign up here and join these ongoing conversations with thought leaders in our field.

Tool Kit for Rethinking Funding Strategies

07-07-2020

If your program is rethinking its fundraising strategies in this new economic landscape, you may want to consult the experts: The Chronicle of Philanthropy (the major publication for the field) recently published a Tool Kit for fundraising during the pandemic.

“Beyond the Board Statement,” an Article from Nonprofit Quarterly

07-07-2020

Many music for social change organizations want to respond to racial justice demands in every way they can, and engaging their Boards is a common strategy. A good, free, two-part webinar series from Nonprofit Quarterly shares effective ways to involve your Board: “Beyond the Board Statement: How Can Boards Join the Movement for Racial Justice?” See Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Decolonizing the Music Room

07-07-2020

Decolonizing the Music Room is a non-profit organization aiming to use research, training, and discourse to help music educators center the voices and experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people to challenge European and White American practices. Resources include suggested reading, podcasts, firsthand accounts from other music educators, video blogs, and more. Join this ongoing process of learning, reflection, and growth.

National Youth Network Meeting

07-07-2020

The National Guild for Community Arts Education has created a National Youth Network (NYN) Meeting as part of the Creative Youth Development (CYD) movement. Youth practitioners, teaching artists, and culture workers age 13–24 are encouraged to attend this weekly virtual gathering and connect, share, and express themselves creatively. Meetings take place every Friday from 7–8:30 p.m. EDT; for more information, please contact Paula Ortega (youth leader) or Ashley Hare (adult accomplice).

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