As we "march" into a new month, let's take some time to reflect on everything wonderful that the new month will bring to us, our students, and our families. Hopefully, we will enjoy warmer weather, more sunshine, time to pursue our passions, and more!

Like every other month, March is filled with many observances. The two that resonate the most with me include Music in Our Schools Month and Women's History Month. My doctoral thesis was entitled, "The Student Voice: Perception of Students' Representation of Themselves in the Secondary Band Curriculum." The participants for this qualitative study were secondary band students of at least 13 years of age or older who were enrolled in an American middle or high school public or private band program during the 2020–2021 academic year. The research questions were open-ended and the literature review or survey data touched on differences within ability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, language, learning style, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Based on the survey's data, students perceive a reflection of themselves in the secondary band curriculum more often in relation to composers whose music they perform as opposed to clinicians who are invited into the learning space either physically or virtually. The data also infers that females are not being given the opportunity to see themselves as often in the band curriculum. Because of this, I highlighted resources for this month that combine music and women so that all students may experience women as musicians, conductors, clinicians, composers, and more!

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in K-12 general education, "about 76 percent of public school teachers were female and 24 percent were male in 2017–18." In music education, the data is flipped with approximately 53% of public school choral teachers identifying as female and only 20% of instrumental music teachers identifying as female (Leonard, 1991). In higher education, the data shows that approximately 10% of all collegiate band-conducting leadership positions are held by women (Gould, 2001). 

All classrooms, and most specifically as we focus on music classrooms and performing ensembles this month, are places where opportunities for accurate reflection of schools’ varying demographics should exist. In addition, the differences of all students must be accurately reflected in each curriculum, classroom, and program. If we are to accurately reflect the differences of all students in our curricula, classrooms, and programs, then we must begin to consider each student’s perspective through direct inquiry and discover ways to represent them. Specifically, this month let's ask the question, "Do students see a representation of women in the curriculum, classroom, and program?" This applies to students of all ages and levels including adults and practicing educators through professional learning opportunities. Although I'll focus on music, and more so on band, this question can apply to all areas of music and any subject, too. In addition to the remarkable exemplars that we celebrate in our curriculum that do not identify as female, are we ensuring that our students also experience female-identifying exemplars in every area of education? 

Embrace uniqueness!
💗 Lori

Keeping It Real: Authentic Experiences in Education

How will you make key changes this month to celebrate women in your classroom, program, or organization? Watch the short video.

How are we celebrating women in our home, classroom, organization, and profession? How are we including female-identifying students, colleagues, and supporters? Do the photos/posters in our classroom, speakers for our curriculum, authors/composers of works, clinicians for events, and such include women? Are we ensuring that all female-identifying students, colleagues, and supporters feel welcome, included, heard, celebrated, and recruited? Are we involving these stakeholders in the curriculum, repertoire, performance, and vision? How are we acknowledging them? Are we even acknowledging them?

"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." — Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was the first African American woman in Congress (1968) and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972). Source: National Women’s History Museum

Prior to the pandemic, the educational and professional communities were floating 21st Century job skills needed to succeed. Of these, most are especially well suited to being addressed and developed in the music classroom. Read the full article for a list of these skills! Might we be at the dawn of a new educational era—a new societal appreciation, and a modern reorganization and reprioritizing of educational outcomes? Could music be at the forefront of meeting these new priorities? Should music win the seat “challenge” and become first chair leading all other curricula?! 

It was a joy to collaborate with Andrew B. Spang (again!) on this article.

• Read the article: "Now Is the Time! Music Education 'Challenges' Core Curricula for First Chair"

 

Women in Music

How can we support the goals of all students and celebrate their creative work?
 

Summer Music Camps & Programs

• Information on 2022 summer opportunities!

This 3-day event features 75-minute sessions on topics about women in jazz! All genders & ages welcome! Educators are encouraged to attend, too.

This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors with disabilities who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and target a career in the technology industry.

Ask Lori to design and present PD sessions to mentor or motivate educators or students in your school system or organization. Or, request mentorship or a consultation for your classroom, studio, or program. Lori can also recommend other mentors who fit your specific needs. 

Lori enjoys the following invitations:

How has the newsletter impacted you?

Please contact Dr. Lori Schwartz Reichl if you are interested in sponsoring a future project or engagement.