To better inform the community about the purpose, structure, and achievements of the school’s music program, provide an annual written report to the appropriate supervisor and, with permission, to parents and the community.
Steps to Success in Communicating Goals and Accomplishments
The Content
- Data! Data! Data! People are busy, so respect their time by providing easy-to-decipher data about every aspect of your program. Include information on enrollment, program growth, percentage participation within the school, average student GPA, number of performances, number of students participating in Honor Groups, All-State Ensembles, et cetera. This data should provide measurable information that would be used for comparison in prior and subsequent years. In addition, this will assist you in setting goals for the future.
- The report could also include more generalized information about the music program, special community performances, and appearances by guest artists. The music program is a wonderful public relations component to the school; administrators know this, so use it to your advantage. Make the school and your students the focus of all of your good news.
- Use student quotes about the value of being in the program, and place those quotes strategically in the document. (Be sure to secure written permission to use the quotes.) You could also include quotes from adjudicators, parents, and other community notables about how wonderful the school’s music program is and its benefits for participating students.
- Detail every positive contribution in the school or community — no matter how small — by individuals or groups, students, and staff.
The Process
- Start an annual report file at the beginning of each school year and add material to it regularly. It is much easier to eliminate excess information than to create it just before the deadline.
- Sort the entries by useful categories, such as ensemble types or grade levels. Review each event with the perspective of whether it is a selling point for the program or an interesting detail for an administrator.
The Format
- Use a spreadsheet to report your data. It should be easy to understand at first glance. You may want to show it to a colleague before submitting it to your administration. Remember that the format established for your report will be used in subsequent years to make comparisons and show overall program growth.
- Consider the appearance of the finished report. Think about how many photographs and charts to include and what size the report should be. One standard size is 8-1/2”x11” inches, which prints on an 11”x17” sheet that yields four pages. Deal in multiples of four pages. (It is impossible to have an odd number of pages unless one page is blank.) Also consider the texture and quality of paper you will use.
- Secure permission beforehand if you want to include photographs in your report. Parents must provide written permission for photos of students to be included.
- It is important that the report is submitted to your supervisor before it is distributed elsewhere. Work with this person to determine how best to proceed with additional copies and distribution.
Graphically Appealing
- Leave enough white space so that components don’t look crammed together.
- Think about the size of the text (10-12 point works well); the space between lines of text (consider a minimum of a 1/2 point larger than the type size)
- Consider the kind of typestyle used — serif versus sans serif — the printer can show you examples of these type styles. Studies have shown reading speed and comprehension are 30 percent better with serif typeface. Avoid using too many different sizes and typestyles.
- Pictures and graphs are appealing. A small number of photos showing only a few people are better than too many tiny photos or large ones of an entire ensemble. Position photos so the dominant subject looks into the page, not off into space.
- Pay attention to page balance.
Organize
- Before you start writing, organize
- Include all pertinent information
- Prioritize information
- Determine which information can be further illustrated with charts or graphs, or enhanced by other visuals, such as photos
- Remember to include information about the importance of music education to student success
Use the ‘Write Stuff’
- Attractive graphics will interest readers, but the core of any publication is its editorial substance.
- Write professionally and have your report proofread before taking it to your administration. Be sure to ask for permission to publish the report beyond the confines of the school and ask for input from your supervisor before you make additional copies for others.
- Write in simple, direct language to convey information of significance and interest, but with a meaningful message.
- Outline first
- Use strong action verbs
- Use short sentences and paragraphs.
- Use the active voice
- Keep people in mind
- Use educational jargon sparingly but appropriately. It is important that you are seen as up-to-date on all current issues related to education, so use the proper terms. Use quotes when possible. Be concise; avoid wordy descriptions.
- Select familiar words
- Simplify; then simplify again
- Check and double-check your grammar and spelling, then have someone else check it yet again. You will be judged by the quality of this document.
- Write headlines that say something. Headlines need to communicate so that the people who scan your report can also learn something. Choose titles and headlines that will give a snapshot of the feeling you want to create.
- Once you have designed an annual report that seems complete, ask for comments from a variety of others including an English teacher as well as a parent and an administrator before sending the report to be printed or sent out over the internet. They may not only find typographical errors, but may suggest something you have overlooked.
Distribution
- The final step is to distribute the report to the school board, administrators, parents, feeder schools (and the administrators, music educators, and counselors in these feeder buildings), the local media, and local politicians. Be sure to inform your supervisor about which people you want to receive your report. Make extras to keep on hand and be sure that the principal’s office is provided with extra copies so that they can share them with visitors. You can also use the report for background information when applying for grants, or as an internal tool to help assess the program.
- Consider expanding your distribution to include local service groups, especially since you may find yourself asking them for financial support in the future. You could also distribute a copy to each visitor to the music department, including student teachers and guest artists. Give copies to real estate agents who might have clients looking for a community with a strong music program.
Project Reminders
- Have clear goals for what you want to accomplish by producing an annual report.
- Enlist the help from other faculty members and students in producing the report. Communicate your goals and what you are trying to accomplish. Talk with journalism and art faculty to create a team approach to producing the most dynamic, content-driven report possible.
- Work with a local printing company in understanding time and cost considerations. Ask for their input, based upon their experience and expertise. Get preliminary cost estimates so that you have an idea of the amount involved for the number of copies you want to distribute.
- Talk with your booster or parent group to request funding to accomplish your goals in producing an annual report.
- Share the process with your students so they can learn the importance of telling others about the value of music.
The material above was commissioned by the Music Achievement Council and is taken from Tips for Success. The Music Achievement Council is an action-oriented 501(c)(6) non-profit organization formed for the express purpose of enabling more students to begin and stay in instrumental music programs and to share real-world strategies for success developed by leading instrumental music educators. The comprehensive Tips for Success, along with a series of recruitment and retention resources, are complimentary and available to download at nammfoundation.org/resources-educators.
Marcia Neel is president of Music Education Consultants, Inc., and serves as educational advisor to the Music Achievement Council. In this capacity, she provides sessions at state conferences, district in-service days, as well as dealer workshops to share practical success strategies to help educators with the many and varied elements of the successful music education program. Contact marcia@musiceducationconsultants.net to inquire about sessions in your area.
