INDIANAPOLIS ─ Music for All has partnered with the Iowa Bandmasters Association to support the development of the IBA IDEA Initiative (inclusion, diversity, equity, and awareness). The IBA IDEA Initiative focuses on cultural diversity, racial diversity, neurodiversity, social diversity, experiential diversity, and economic diversity while supporting the overall mission of the Iowa Bandmasters Association.
Working together with the National Band Association, Music for All will serve as a collaborative source for band directors across the state of Iowa specifically to build inclusion, diversity, equity, and awareness in their school band programs and communities. This collaboration is a three-year outreach initiative that includes both in-person and virtual touchpoints.
Music for All educational clinicians Dr. Arris Golden and Dr. William Talley will speak at the 2022 IBA Conference and work directly with Iowa schools. Dr. Golden will work with Meghan Powell at Sioux Center High School and Dr. Talley will work with Michael Prichard at LeMars High School.
“Meeting with Dr. Arris Golden and Mary Crandell made me feel at ease and gave me a lot of ideas to implement with my own students,” says Meghan Powell, teacher at Sioux Center High School. “Dr. Golden was able to take ideas and connect them to a bigger picture that would also relate to students. Not only did this help my band connect to the music in a deeper and more meaningful way, we connected to each other by having conversations and respecting each other’s perspectives.”
“There are many purposeful ways to Connect People Through Music that enhance inclusion, diversity, equity and awareness within our school band programs,” says Mary Crandell, president elect of the Iowa Bandmasters Association.” “The partnership between Music for All and the Iowa Bandmasters Association has become the vehicle to further these initiatives within the band rooms across the state of Iowa by implementing innovative curriculum through the IBA IDEA Initiative.”
“Music for All is pleased to be a part of this important initiative with our ongoing support of this multi-year program,” says James P. Stephens, Jr., Director of Education and Advocacy. “We admire IBA’s leadership with this thoughtful work and investment in a resource for everyone.”
