Day of Giving: Spark Grants Lighting the Way for New Possibilities

Our newest grant opportunity is the “Spark Grant”.  These small grant opportunities will fill the gaps for that special “something” teachers and students may need.  Instruments—it may be that a school concert would be enhanced by two beautiful glockenspiels.  Props–perhaps students are exploring movement, and that experience would be enhanced with black lights.  Costuming–the sky is the limit here!  Perhaps that dream is just beyond a teacher or school’s annual budget.  ACEMM and the community which shares our vision of quality, creative, music and movement education are here to help!  Spark Grants can fund projects or ideas up to $500 which are tied to elemental music and movement concepts.

Thank you for supporting ACEMM, music and movement teachers, and their students by donating today!

Why ACEMM Matters: The Power of Multiplication

With the holidays upon us, we find ourselves in a time of reflection of past, present and future. We gather with loved ones to give thanks for the blessings our lives have brought us. We celebrate living in the moment with festivals of light and giving, and we dedicate ourselves to renewal and hope with the promises of a new year and a bright future.

In advance of #GivingTuesday, we wanted to share thoughts on why ACEMM matters from members of the ACEMM Community. As you reflect on your own blessings and visions for the future, we thank you for your support of ACEMM.

Essel Linton is ACEMM’s Fall 2018 Spotlight Recipient!

Congratulations to Essel Linton, ACEMM’s Fall 2018 Spotlight Award recipient! A veteran music educator, Essel’s unique background influences her teaching while addressing student needs at a school where for many, English is not a first language. Read on to find out more about the ways her dedication and teaching approach benefits young learners and colleagues!

Nature’s First Instrument: The Body

Ah, yes! It is the beginning of a new school year. Optimism is high, excitement is rampant, and… your instruments haven’t arrived yet. Maybe you are teaching on a cart. Or in a corner of the cafeteria. Or on the stage in the gym while PE class is happening. Your books were damaged last year when the boiler exploded. Perhaps you have your own room and are looking for something new and different to do with your students. Now is the perfect time to create your own materials! But where to begin?

Contributing to a Better World: Project-Based Learning through Music, by K. Michelle Lewis

Come along on a journey with second graders who were motivated to help others halfway across the world! Inspired by a children’s book, these students creatively brainstorm and collaborate to provide clean drinking water for people in Africa. In this article, recent Spotlight Award recipient K. Michelle Lewis explains how to use a project-based learning model to empower students to explore both music and solve real-world concerns, and how to align such a project to the National Core Arts Standards. ACEMM invites you to read “Contributing to a Better World: Project-Based Learning through Music”!