Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has announced plans to beef up the music education curriculum in Metro Nashville schools, pledging to make the program the worldwide leader.
Dean unveiled his new approach today (9/15) at a press conference at the Ryman Auditorium, surrounded by industry insiders including Atlantic artist Hunter Hayes.
The new initiative, Music Makes Us: The Nashville Music Education Project, will overhaul the Metro Nashville Public Schools’ music program to include a contemporary curriculum with new technologies that more accurately reflect the diversity of popular music.
Hunter Hayes and Nancy Shapiro, Vice President, Member Services and Regional Management for The Recording Academy, at the Ryman Auditorium for the ‘Music Makes Us’ press conference. Photo: Betsy McHugh
Expected to be added to the curriculum in area middle and high schools are classes in songwriting and composition, rock band and hip-hop performance, and technology-based production such as DJ/Remixing and recording. Traditional music curriculum in band, orchestra and choir will also be enhanced.
“Through Music Makes Us, Music City will become the standard bearer of what music education can be and should be in public education,” Dean said. “Our innovative curriculum will draw in students that may have felt left out in the past. Beginning at a young age, Metro students will be exposed to a wide array of musical styles and influences.”
Metro Schools will now have an Office of Music Education with a full-time director and staff. The current school year will be an organizational period, with private donations, to hire the director and a program coordinator. An audit of the school district’s facilities and equipment will also be conducted.
“Whereas traditional PreK-12 music education programs rely heavily on orchestras, marching bands, and choirs, students in Nashville will start enjoying new outlets for their creativity as soon as the 2012 school year,” said Dr. Jesse Register, director of Metro Nashville Public Schools. “Music Makes Us will promote strong music literacy, appreciation and creativity and will enhance academic learning in other subjects.”
Music Makes Us was formulated over the last two years through the education committee of the Music City Music Council, formerly the Nashville Music Council, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office and Metro School. Education committee chair Nancy Shapiro helped lead the program’s development.
Wilma Lee Cooper Passes
/by MichelleWilma Lee was preceded in death by her husband Stoney Cooper and is survived by her daughter Grand Ole Opry member and singer Carol Lee Cooper, Hendersonville, Tenn.; granddaughter Vanessa Brusseau and her husband Mark of Hermitage, Tenn. and granddaughter Shannon Rogers and her husband Mark of Hendersonville, Tenn.
Wilma Lee spent nearly her entire life singing and entertaining. Born Wilma Leigh Leary, she began working early as a member of West Virginia’s regionally-famed Leary Family. Her celebrated delivery of gospel and devotional songs emerged at the same time. First achieving national prominence in the 1940s performing with her late husband, champion fiddler Stoney (Dale T.) Cooper, Wilma Lee sang and played guitar with a bursting-at-the-seams energy. From the outset, the Coopers had success with story songs, from “The Legend of the Dogwood Tree,” “Little Rosewood Casket,” and “Sunny Side of the Mountain” for Rich-R-Tone and Columbia Records in the 40s to “Wreck on the Highway” and “Philadelphia Lawyer” for Hickory in the early 1960s. It was likely Wilma Lee and Stoney’s rousing, old-style jubilee hits of the ‘50s and ‘60s including “There’s a Big Wheel,” “This Old House,” and “Big Midnight Special” that audiences have responded to most of all. Wilma Lee and Stoney were members of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
Wilma Lee continued performing with her group the Clinch Mountain Clan after Stoney’s death in March 1977, and was appearing on the Opry regularly until a stroke suffered on stage in 2001 forced her to cease performing. Her last solo performance on the Opry was at the Ryman Auditorium on Feb. 24, 2001. Wilma Lee joined the Opry cast at the grand re-opening of the Opry House on Sept. 28, 2010 for a group sing-along.
Grant and Gill To Be Honored With Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award
/by Caitlin Rantala“As incredible as their professional success has been and as much as their words and music have impacted our lives, Amy and Vince’s philanthropic support for causes and people in need typifies the size of their hearts. They have dedicated themselves to helping others with a creative and caring fervor as inspirational as any other this community has ever enjoyed,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Grant and Gill have supported a multitude of causes over the years including Challenge America, The Red Cross, The Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee, Project Redesign and Samaritan Ministries.
The couple will be honored during the Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award Luncheon at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville. Tickets and reservations for the event are available through www.cfmt.org or by calling 615-321-4939.
Musical Chairs: Ben Strain, EJ Bernas
/by FreemanBen Strain
Ben Strain has joined Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville as Creative Manager. Strain spent the last seven years at Sony Music Nashville, serving as Creative Coordinator in the A&R department as well as a Creative Manager for Sony Music. Beginning Sept. 18, reach Strain at 615-726-8300 or ben.strain@sonyatv.com.
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EJ Bernas
MCA Southwest Regional promo rep EJ Bernas will exit his post with the label, as he begins his newly created job as VP Entertainment for Nashville-based Tin Roof Corporation. The company operates six bars including the popular Demonbreun location, with three more in development and construction. He started on Sept. 2 and is currently pulling double duty until he officially departs the label in early October. Reach him at ej@tinroofbars.com going forward.
BMI and HFA Named In InformationWeek 500
/by Freeman“BMI is proud to be included among such innovative and distinguished organizations,” said James King, Senior Vice President of Business Operations and Technology for BMI. “To be selected for the InformationWeek 500, especially to No. 74, is truly an honor and a recognition of our commitment to innovatively and efficiently use technology to better serve the performing rights of the songwriters, composers and music publishers BMI represents. Our information services platform is a critical component in the work we do on behalf of our members.”
“HFA remains committed to meeting the challenges of a constantly changing digital landscape,” said Lou Trebino, HFA’s SVP & CIO. “Technology is fundamental to HFA’s DNA, our constant innovation has enabled us to not only remain relevant, but to remain a fundamental and integral force in an industry where speed, transparency and accuracy ensure customer success.”
The Listening Room Cafe Hosts Benefit Show
/by Caitlin RantalaCraig Campbell
Country artists Randy Houser, Craig Campbell, Ashley Gearing and Brice Long are hoping for a full house at The Listening Room Café on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
The show, hosted by Suzanne Alexander of GAC, benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and cancer research. Throughout the night, a silent auction will also be held. All proceeds from the concert and auction will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Doors open at 6:30. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.
Free Bill Monroe Tribute Opens Bluegrass Week
/by Eric T. ParkerThe concert will be hosted by the non-profit Foundation for Bluegrass Music on the grounds of the Ryman Auditorium Tuesday (9/27) from noon until 2pm as part of the week-long (9/26–10/2) bluegrass conference.
Additionally, The Del McCoury Band will be digitally releasing their Bill Monroe tribute album, Old Memories: The Songs Of Bill Monroe on the day of the concert (9/27).
Monroe is widely known as the “Father of Bluegrass Music” when, in December 1945 in Nashville, a unique combination of Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys debuted with Earl Scruggs on banjo and his three-finger style of playing electrified the audience of the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. The new style of music they performed would be so widely emulated by other groups that it would become known as “bluegrass” music, in respect to the band’s name. A Tennessee state historical marker is placed in 2006 at the northwest corner of the Ryman to celebrate this event.
Music Execs Join TN Film, Entertainment & Music Commission
/by Sarah SkatesMike Curb, founder of Curb Records (Chairman of the TFEMC board)
Jay Frank, most recently Sr. VP of Music Strategy for CMT, and author of FutureHit.DNA
Rod Essig, agent CAA
Rivers Rutherford, hit songwriter/producer
Craig Brewer, Memphis-based director/screenwriter (Hustle and Flow, Footloose)
David Porter, Grammy winning songwriter from Memphis (“Soul Man”)
Bruce Shine, mediator and arbitrator
Carey Nelson Burch, TV agent for My Own Shingle
Susan Packard, Co-Founder of HGTV
“This distinguished group of industry professionals brings broad experience and unique perspectives to the board and will help us continue to grow Tennessee’s entertainment industry,” Haslam said. “I’m excited to welcome them, and I appreciate their commitment and willingness to serve as we attempt to expand on the incredible industry talent and infrastructure already in place.”
Ending their time on the board are Scott Borchetta, Ken Levitan, Lynsey McDonald, James Alexander and Dean Deyo.
Paisley Pens Book, Reba Returns To TV
/by Sarah SkatesGive The Gift of Music Campaign Relaunches
/by Sarah SkatesTaylor Swift and Chris Young are among the artists who offered new videos about their most memorable music gifts. The videos launched exclusively in a special “Countdown to CMA” section of the givethegiftofmusic.info website, which also includes previous video contributions from Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and Darius Rucker.
The “Give the Gift of Music Campaign” is also holding a contest asking fans to share how a particular 2011 CMA Awards nominee’s music (song, lyrics, performance, etc.) has inspired them. The grand prize winner receives two tickets to attend the CMA Awards and $1,000.
Chris Young – Gifting Memory from NARM on Vimeo.
Mayor Dean Unveils Music Makes Us Education Initiative
/by FreemanDean unveiled his new approach today (9/15) at a press conference at the Ryman Auditorium, surrounded by industry insiders including Atlantic artist Hunter Hayes.
The new initiative, Music Makes Us: The Nashville Music Education Project, will overhaul the Metro Nashville Public Schools’ music program to include a contemporary curriculum with new technologies that more accurately reflect the diversity of popular music.
Hunter Hayes and Nancy Shapiro, Vice President, Member Services and Regional Management for The Recording Academy, at the Ryman Auditorium for the ‘Music Makes Us’ press conference. Photo: Betsy McHugh
Expected to be added to the curriculum in area middle and high schools are classes in songwriting and composition, rock band and hip-hop performance, and technology-based production such as DJ/Remixing and recording. Traditional music curriculum in band, orchestra and choir will also be enhanced.
“Through Music Makes Us, Music City will become the standard bearer of what music education can be and should be in public education,” Dean said. “Our innovative curriculum will draw in students that may have felt left out in the past. Beginning at a young age, Metro students will be exposed to a wide array of musical styles and influences.”
Metro Schools will now have an Office of Music Education with a full-time director and staff. The current school year will be an organizational period, with private donations, to hire the director and a program coordinator. An audit of the school district’s facilities and equipment will also be conducted.
“Whereas traditional PreK-12 music education programs rely heavily on orchestras, marching bands, and choirs, students in Nashville will start enjoying new outlets for their creativity as soon as the 2012 school year,” said Dr. Jesse Register, director of Metro Nashville Public Schools. “Music Makes Us will promote strong music literacy, appreciation and creativity and will enhance academic learning in other subjects.”
Music Makes Us was formulated over the last two years through the education committee of the Music City Music Council, formerly the Nashville Music Council, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office and Metro School. Education committee chair Nancy Shapiro helped lead the program’s development.