Partners & Resources

MMEA regularly works with organizations in the music and education communities to support school music programs and music educators in schools.

The Partners & Resources page will highlight projects and partnerships with selected organizations that
* provide direct resources for music classrooms (financial, equipment),
* have requested guidance from MMEA to ensure the project supports school music, and
* have been reviewed for appropriateness by the Executive Committee and/or full Board.

We are fortunate in Minnesota that many, many organizations have a strong commitment to arts education and support of school music. There will be programs available to you that aren't listed here. Think of this as one of your resources for school music - but not your only resource.

Play It Forward / partner Classical MPR
Used Instrument Drive for K-12 schools
www.classicalmpr.org/playitforward

2011 Drive Launches May 2nd!
Schools received 600 instruments during the 2010 drive, and plans are going forward to make this a regular event! We are working with Classical MPR to get more instruments to more schools, and to communicate the importance of providing gently used, and still playable, instruments! Look forward to information at the Midwinter Clinic and an opportunity to sign up your school in late February. Be sure to sign up so everyone in your community knows that you are intested in receiving donations!

New this year - MMEA is creating templates and resources that you or your Parent Group can use to raise money for instrument repairs. Pairing this type of fundraising activity locally with Play It Forward is a great way to make it possible for more students to be involved in school music. Stay tuned for more information.

Minnesota Beatle Project Volume II / partner Vega Productions
Visibility and Fundraising Opportunity for your Parent Group
www.vegaproductions.org

The Minnesota Beatle Project features Minnesota artists and their unique interpretations on Beatles songs. All artist and production time is donated and 100% of the proceeds go to support music and visual art in Minnesota's public schools.

$50,000 was distributed to Minnesota schools for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years! You can consider selling the CD as a fundraiser (you keep half of the $$ and don't need to pay up front). Contact Vega Productions with any questions.

Note: Vega Productions is focusing proceeds from MBP Volume III towards Instruments in the Cloud. Grant applications for the 2012-13 school year will not be available.

Professional Development Resources / partner Perpich Center for Arts Education
Workshops for Arts Educators
Guidance on Standards, Assessment, Techniques in Music Education
www.pcae.k12.mn.us/pdr/musiced/musiced.html

The Perpich Center for Arts Education is the state agency for arts education in Minnesota. We have several ongoing collaboration projects with them, including support of one of the "headliners" for the MMEA Midwinter Clinic. Go to their website to learn about workshops available to support arts educators. They have a page listing some grant opportunities for music education. There is an overview page for Music Education professional development with links to the standards, other organizations and many more resources. You can also take a broader view across all arts areas.

Perpich Center has just announced a pre-conference workshop on the new academic standard related to the contributions of Minnesota's American Indian tribes and communities. Contact Nyssa Brown for information about the half-day session on Thursday, Feb 17th, or consider attending the overview one-hour sessions during the MMEA Midwinter Clinic.

Grants for School Music Programs / partner Viva Musica
Cash grants and/or instrument donations for school music programs
www.vivamusic.org

Viva Musica sponsors events and concerts with cash proceeds supporting school music programs. Visit the Viva Musica website for more information.

Are you interested in a partnership? Contact any member of the Executive Committee (contact info on Board page) or the MMEA office.