President’s Message

by Armalyn De La O

Summer is here!

I, like many of you, wondered what the summer of 2021 would look, feel, and be like. As California continues to open throughout the summer, we find ourselves able to gather in person with family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. These reunions feel familiar, yet new and different. Also, educators, students, and families speculate about what will be new and different in the coming school year. Since March 2020, we have learned and adapted to changing conditions in our teaching practice; students have experienced school differently as well. As we prepare for the coming 2021-2022 school year, a return to the pre-pandemic version of school is not an option. So, looking ahead, taking the best of what we’ve learned - the new and different - is our quest!

This summer provides us the time to reflect and recognize that our students have been transformed in many ways due to their experiences during this past year. California's new Arts Standards and the new Arts Education Framework can be helpful supports as we prepare for 2021-2022. These two documents, developed by California Arts educators, can help us frame music learning experiences for all students in new and different ways. Most of us embrace music and music education because of how it makes us feel. We feel a part of something greater than ourselves, thrive on the comradery, and find a sense of acceptance. We long for all students in California to experience the power of music making. When we look at the faces in our music classrooms this coming fall, do they reflect the diversity of the entire school population, or do we only see the faces of those students that have had opportunities that other students do not? What can we do differently so that our music programs are inclusive and open to all? We say, given the bounty of educational funding, that now is the time to rebuild our music programs. Accordingly, now is the time to make our music classrooms the spaces that reflect the diversity found throughout our schools and communities. Let’s not let this opportunity go to waste.

The music standards call for all students to develop as artistically literate individuals. During 2020, the standard Artistic Process of Creating became a lifeline for many of our music students. They were able to find, in new and different ways, their creative voice while living and learning sheltered in place during much of the past school year. Also, in new and different ways, the Artistic Process of Performing occurred as students learned to be independent musicians as they practiced. Many discovered new instruments to play or found their singing voice. Students also engaged in the Artistic Process of Responding through selecting, listening, and reacting to all types of music. They engaged in the Artistic Process of Connecting by sharing their own music for a real-world audience beyond the classroom walls using social media platforms, such as Tik-Tok. Similarly, we found ourselves engaged personally in many of these same artistic processes for our own well-being. How can we capitalize on the positive aspects of these learning experiences in the fall? How can we rebuild programs to be inclusive of all types of music, music making, and open for all students?

As we enjoy the rest of the summer, we know this too will come to an end. Before it does, we look forward to and embrace the coming 2021–2022 year as familiar, yet new and different, and full of creative music learning possibilities for ourselves and our students!