September 27,2006

FOCUS ON ISSUES & DECISION MAKING: The Music Administrator, Part 2 of 2

In Part one of this series, we looked at the various titles and levels of authority given to Music Administrators.

In this article, we’ll cover an extensive, though not exhaustive, list of responsibilities that could or should fall under the authority of that position.

1) Centralized supervision of music faculty and staff by musically qualified personnel, including:

Search, interview and employment of new staff in cooperation with principals
Coordination, assignment and scheduling of current staff, including itinerant teachers
Evaluation of staff by professionally trained music personnel: Professional growth, and/or termination
Coordination of the mentor program
Providing for professional growth
Communication with and between music faculty
Allocation, coordination, and assignment of qualified substitute teachers
Music program advocacy
Providing administrative assistance for teachers, thereby relieving job stress and building morale

2) Centralized supervision of curriculum, including:

Development and implementation
Maintenance of curricular excellence
Providing advocacy for equal opportunity in music for all students in all schools
Oversight of program assessment (student achievement)

3) Maintenance of a coordinated district music calendar

4) Oversight of district "honors" music performance programs, including:

Honors concerts
Field trips
Festival

5) Centralized budget development and control (accountability)

6) Centralized development, maintenance and control of music teaching resources, including:

Audio and visual resources, and technology
Miscellaneous teaching materials
Central music library

7) Coordinated, informed purchase, control and assignment of music and music instruments, including:

Inventory control
Assignment to schools
Preventive maintenance and repair
Piano tuning and repair

8) Music leadership for community relations, including:

Parent/teacher communications
Public relations
Annual reports to the administration and board on the state of the music program, its financial viability and profiles of student participation (recruitment, enrollment, retention, attrition)
Documentation of religious music in the school music program
Multicultural issues in music

If you don't have a centralized position or individual assigned to these tasks, many of these duties are probably being done.

But, you cannot ensure any kind of consistent quality experience in music for your children without someone – the Music Administrator in your district – being charged with the official responsibility for these issues and tasks.

Until next time,

John Benham