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Advocacy for the Choral Art:

Empowering Our Communities

n conversations with choral di-
LYNN BRINCKMEYER rectors, the word “advocacy”
I can sometimes evoke feelings
of apprehension or uncertainty.

Yet, advocating for what we be-
lieve in, particularly in the profes-
sion of music and arts education,
is not just the obligation of a select
few—it is a responsibility we all
share.

What comes to mind when you
hear the word advocacy? Some
people assume that advocacy is
reserved for elected individuals in
ACDA or NAfME leadership. Ab-

solutely, that is one form of sup-
porting our students to maintain
the privilege of music learning,
but it is certainly not the only one.
When I served as national presi-
dent for NAfME, teachers across

the country would often tell me
that someone needed to do some-
thing to save music education.
Guess what—“we” are all some-

one! In this article, we will explore
practical strategies for effective
and user-friendly advocacy, focus-
ing on the essential role of singing,
the choral art, and music educa-
tion throughout our schools and

communities.

CHORAL JOURNAL October 2024 Volume 65 Number 3 23