[HANASHIR:14520] Re: Request

[Joy Newman <joyzee...>]

Hello!

If possible, try to involve your district's PTSA.  I know that our PTSA 
really supports our music program, and has actually helped it fundraise for 
special projects.  Because diversity is such an important district issue, 
the PTSA might be willing to help financially sponsor sample music.   As 
I've never been in a choir (I know...I know....), I honestly have no idea 
how much choral music costs.  But....they might be a good place to start!!  
Also, if you get PTSA to help you, you will simultaneously be gaining the 
support of a core group of parents.  The advancement of cultural diversity 
in public schools often brings up a lot of emotions within a community (both 
positive and negative), and having families behind you might help in terms 
of actually integrating the music once obtained.

Another suggestion is to work not only through the families and the PTSA, 
but actually through the students.  You mention that you have Jewish 
students at your shul who are in public school choirs.  Involve them in the 
search!  Help them pick out a piece that they would like to present to their 
director to sing.  The directors might be more willing to listen and expand 
their collection if the interest is coming from the student body.

Good luck!!!!!

~smile always~
-Joy Newman
Rochester, NY


>From: Marsha Fensin <mfsings (at) ccr(dot)net>
>Reply-To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>To: Guild of Temple Musicians <gtm (at) shamash(dot)org>, Hanashir Shamash 
>Listserve 
><hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>, WCN <mail-wcn (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Subject: [HANASHIR:14517] Request
>Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2003 16:23:11 -0500
>
>Hello all,
>    Whoever sent the list of holiday music appropriate for public 
>schools--thank you very much for assembling the list.  I was inspired to 
>want to share it with the choral directors of our local high schools and 
>several middle schools with excellent choral programs.  I tried one of the 
>directors whom I know and sent him the list with a plea for diversity, etc. 
>in music programming, and he wrote back that they get so inundated with 
>catalogues, etc. that they couldn't possibly look at them all much less 
>order something from a list.  The music itself would be much more helpful.  
>Well, there were 38 pieces times 7 directors, etc.which is 266 pieces of 
>music @ however much each piece would cost--pretty much a prohibitive sum 
>for me, even with a cantorial discretionary fund.  What might any of you 
>suggest  I do next?  I have written to Joel Eglash and asked him if Trans. 
>could send some of their things gratis, but I haven't heard back yet. I 
>know that some music publishers do send samples of pieces to schools, etc.  
>Perhaps some of you might suggest a shorter list of the "best of the best" 
>so to speak that would whittle down the list to something a bit more 
>affordable for me.  I feel it is so important for public school music 
>programs to practice the "diversity" they preach all the time.  I feel it 
>is up to us to help them along and to pass on and make accessible the 
>beautiful Jewish choral music that we know exists. We need to educate these 
>public school music educators as to what is available.  I am so frustrated 
>when I hear fromhigh schoolers at my shul who are so involved in their show 
>choirs and choruses etc. that their directors tell them there isn't any 
>Jewish music that meets their high standards.  That is just ignorance and 
>laziness.  Anyway, your suggestions as to how to proceed would be much 
>appreciated.
>Marsha
>
>

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