NFHS Director of Performing Arts
Among the many resources available through the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), is the NFHS Learning Center. I would like to share with you the many exciting things going on at NFHS Learn, specifically with new courses related to Performing Arts as well as some tools that I received after attending Arts Advocacy Day in Washington D.C. earlier this month.
I would strongly encourage you to promote the membership benefits that come with being a part of the Music Association and Speech, Debate & Theatre Association to your performing arts educators. These benefits include: insurance coverage, a High School Today subscription, and online courses offered at NFHSLearn.com. Membership in the Music Association or Speech, Debate & Theatre Association is only $20 per year.
The NFHS is proud to provide free NFHS Learn courses to assist in the professional development of teachers, directors, and coaches in your state.
Understanding Copyright and Compliance
- This helpful course explains what copyright means and when there may be exceptions. It discusses Fair Use, when a piece of music might be in the Public Domain, copyright infringement penalties and much more. And this unique course has been designed for your specific needs whether you are a Music Teacher, Spirit Coach or School Administrator.
- Band provides a setting outside of the classroom for participants to showcase their musicianship, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. In order for these objectives to be met, it is important to provide a safe environment for all participants in Band. To help you provide that safe environment, the NFHS has partnered with Music for all, Bands of America, WGI Sport of the Arts, Drum Corps International, and Varsity Athletic Bands to bring you “Band Safety.” This course addresses heat and other weather concerns, the value of hydration, rest and sleep, hearing protection, and other safety considerations.
Introduction to Adjudicating Speech and Debate
- Speech and Debate provides a setting outside of the classroom for students to showcase their creative critical thinking, collaborative and communication skills. To help you as an adjudicator support the development of these skills, the NFHS has partnered with the National Speech and Debate Association to bring you Adjudicating Speech and Debate. This course has been designed to provide adjudicating guidelines, to identify the different types of speech and debate events and educate on the cultural context necessary to adjudicate speech and debate. Example student performances are included to give you an opportunity to practice adjudicating real performances, while also providing guidance on what to note during a performance. To learn and improve upon your adjudicating skills, take Adjudicating Speech and Debate.
Interscholastic Music Event Management
- Music events provide an opportunity outside of the classroom for students to showcase their musicianship, creativity and collaboration skills. Brought to you by the National Federation of State High School Associations, Interscholastic Music Event Management is designed to provide an overview of management and best practices for hosting music events. As a contest, festival, or honor group manager, you serve a crucial role in creating a positive and efficient environment for student success. The skills taught in this course introduce and reinforce time tested guidelines and techniques that music event managers with any level of hosting experience can utilize to efficiently and successfully manage interscholastic music events. To learn more, take Interscholastic Music Event Management, available for free at the NFHS Learning Center.
Introduction to Interscholastic Music
- Introduction to Interscholastic Music is an online course, brought to you by the National Federation of State High School Associations, designed to provide an overview of best practices in the music classroom and interscholastic music competitions. The skills taught in this course introduce and reinforce time tested guidelines and techniques that music educators of any level of proficiency can use in directing music programs across the United States. Although this course is useful at any point of a music teacher’s career this course is best fit for music educators in their beginning years. Upon completion of this course, you will have the skills and knowledge necessary to develop the strategies and tools needed to be successful in the music classroom.
Introduction to Music Adjudication (to be updated and launched Fall of 2019)
- Introduction to Music Adjudication, brought to you by the National Federation of State High School Associations, is designed to provide an overview of music adjudication and the best practices for many adjudicating situations. The skills taught in this course introduce and reinforce time tested guidelines and techniques that adjudicators of any level of proficiency have successfully used to adjudicate interscholastic music festivals and contests.
Many other general courses are also available to you as administrators, coaches and teachers:
- Bullying, Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors, Protecting Students from Abuse, Sportsmanship, Concussions, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Understanding Vaping and E-Cigarettes and many more
You may also find interest in several items presented during Arts Advocacy Day that contain helpful links to tools that may help your programs.
- Advocacy Calculator
- This tool helps determine the economic impact of your organization’s event on a community. Simply input the population, total expenses and total attendance and it will calculate government revenue. This tool can be used to show a local government the financial impact of your event on a community and encourage help planning and managing these types of events in the future.
- NEA Songwriting Challenge
- We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2019 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge. The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is a national competition for high school songwriters who have a passion for writing songs of any musical style that could be part of a musical theater production. Students across the nation can submit an original composition for the chance to learn from musical theater professionals, and be selected as one of six national finalists.
I hope that you find these tools to be useful for your state. I strongly encourage you to take a look at the NFHS Learn courses that we specifically developed for you! If you have any questions, comments or thoughts, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks for being a part of the NFHS!
Dr. James Weaver, Director of Performing Arts and Sports
National Federation of State High School Associations
PO Box 690 | Indianapolis, IN 46206
317-972-6900 – NFHS Office 317-822-5740 – Direct Line
