Music+Friends

=[|Music Friends]= http://www.musicfriends.org/

Authority
This is a subsidiary site of MENC's webpage and its URL is appropriately listed as a (non-profit) organizational domain (.org). Although it says that the organization itself is a group of "parents, community members, and other advocates working to support local music programs," the content is authored entirely by MENC and affiliated music educators.

MENC is the national professional organization for music educators, and is therefore highly qualified to run a site on music advocacy. However the site appears to be presented (or "spun") as the lay advocates running the show with sponsorship from MENC, akin to a nationwide booster organization.

Instructional Content
The site is actually devoid of music instructional content. It is, however, intended as a tool for music educators to use in instructing their administrators, board members, and parents to develop a greater community value for music education programs in the schools.

A number of clearly cited articles and testimonials are listed on the site which point to the overall value of music education, though most of these "rationales" are not for music's primary values but its utilitarian worth.

There is a Newsletter page with the most current issue posted (March, 2007 at the date of review). Nothing here pertains to teaching to the National Standards.

Purpose
The page is intended for all concerned advocates of music education in the schools: teachers, parents, community members, administrators, et cetera. It strives to inform the greater population about the benefits of music education and why it should be valued. As previously stated, it is sponsored (and generally authored) by MENC: The National Association of Music Educators, and it does not specifically link to other viewpoints.

There is bias evident here in two apparent forms: first, the site largely contains articles from music practitioner journals and personal testimonial; second, the rationales for music education are expressed mostly in terms of its usefulness in promoting other forms of academic achievement. Though there are some notable political figures to testify on the behalf of school music, the former reduces a great deal of credibility to the argumentation precisely because it is one-sided (i.e., from beneficiaries of music) and because the "evidence" presented is often empirically questionable. Much of the references provided on the benefits of music also consists of research going back to 1960 but does not cross into the 21st century - again, a questionable research basis. The latter bias is particularly dangerous because it essentially "sells music's soul" on the basis of its utility, which is also empirically shaky ground upon which to stand.

There are some practical items here that certainly count as good advocacy (especially in the "get involved" area of the website) but it poorly represents a lasting rationale for music when it is definitely needed.

Reputation
The site has a decent reputation, though not one that is spreading like wildfire. (It is also difficult to judge from the site whether it may be a somewhat "forgotten child" of MENC, since there is no date other than a monthly newsletter.) It was ascertained through [|Music Education Advocacy Del.icio.us Bookmarks,] and Google produced 63 reputable links, at least one-third of which did not come from MENC or The National Anthem Project.

Overall Evaluation
Though I admire the purpose of the website, I am saddened to see how little our professional organization has managed to marshal relevant, empirical evidence that supports a philosophy of music concerned with its primary (not utilitarian) benefits. I also feel as though it should be creating more of an internet buzz than it does, perhaps by trying to create an image of school music that is more up to date, relevant, and meaningful, rather than something resembling a Kindergarten parent interest group.

Rating: fair (++)

-Daniel Heim, 4/2/2007