Abstract
Congratulations! We made it.
Goodbye, 2020. Hello, 2021!
We navigated challenges with health, family, and friends. Isolated and quarantined, came back out into the world only to quarantine again. Celebrated birthdays and anniversaries with close family, or alone, or through Zoom. And spent our evenings . . .
Singing. Dancing. Playing. Writing. Creating. Composing. Making Music.
I know that no matter our struggles this past year, music was a part of our lives—uplifting us when we were down, celebrating with us, surrounding us when we danced.
I received numerous emails from teachers all across the world who read our journal and who wanted support for building their repertoire, designing virtual lessons, and finding support as music educators during these challenging times!
Building on these communications, I want to pose several questions that I hope you might respond to—either as a response to this editorial or as a journal submission:
What songs helped you to push forward this year?
What music did you use when teaching virtually?
What songs did your students share that they loved?
How did you support performances and practices for large and small groups?
What new songs were shared online or published this year?
One of my favorite songs this past year was written by Raffi—who many of us know is synonymous with championing great children’s music. His song “Black Lives Matter to Me” was a response to an important, timely, and necessary movement in the United States and beyond. It is an example of how we can use music to foster discussions, address what is happening around us, and help our youngest learners understand the complexity of our diverse cultures.
As we look towards 2021, I continue to encourage each of you to reflect on why you chose music education as a profession, to recognize how important music is in our lives, and how we can continue to ensure music education flourishes as a field that is not just enjoyed but also an integral part of our children’s education.
Please continue to stay safe, be cautious, and make beautiful music! Here’s to a great year ahead.