The National Anthem Project Celebrates Music Education

(NAPS) - The National Anthem Project, a multiyear national campaign to re-teach the words and significance of the national anthem and spotlight the importance of school music education, will culminate on Flag Day, June 14, 2007, with thousands of music students from across the country singing the national anthem at the Sylvan Theater on the Washington Monument Grounds in Washington, D.C. This effort is led by MENC: The National Association for Music Education.

MENC conducted a recent Harris Poll that found that two out of three Americans don’t know the words to our national anthem, which is due in part to budget cuts to music programs. Kids learn songs of our history and heritage in school, and without these essential music programs, they may never learn the words or significance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

This multiyear campaign included a grassroots mobile marketing tour, The National Anthem Project Road Show. The tour launched on January 3, 2006, at the Orange Bowl in Miami and continued for 10 months, culminating in New York City on October 22, 2006. The Road Show stopped in 48 states and 62 cities, educating parents, community members and government officials on the importance of music education and our national anthem. The tour reached more than 436,000 people across the country.

On June 14, the culmination celebration of The National Anthem Project will include a record-breaking rendition of the national anthem performed by thousands of citizens and students from around the nation to celebrate the success of the project and the importance of music education. The festivities will also include a concert by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. On June 15, these music students will be singing other patriotic songs at various monuments on the National Mall. The National Anthem Project will conclude on June 16 in Annapolis, Maryland, where Drum Corps International will kick off its season with a concert of the most talented drum corps from around the country. All events are open to the public, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To learn how to participate in the culmination of this national campaign, visit www. thenationalanthemproject.org.

The National Anthem Project was made possible by participating sponsors, including national presenting sponsor Jeep, national music industry sponsor NAMM, as well as The Gibson Foundation, The History Channel, American Musical Salute, Eventive Marketing, FedEx Corporation, ASCAP and Conn-Selmer. First Lady Laura Bush serves as the honorary chairperson for the project and the Oak Ridge Boys are the official musical ambassadors.