Renown Music Educator Dr. John Benham to Write Weekly Advocacy "Blog" for supportmusic.com Beginning December 1

Dr. John Benham, a 30-year music education veteran and leading music advocate, has been tapped to write the music education web log—or “blog”—on the nation’s largest online music advocacy Web site, SupportMusic.com. Beginning December 1, Dr. Benham’s weekly “CounterPoint” commentary will offer an experienced insider’s insights on preserving music education, links to relevant sources and occasional feedback from other music advocates. Recognized as an expert in saving and restoring school music programs, Benham has been credited with staving off more than $62 million in potential budgetary reductions in music throughout the United States and Canada.

Dr. Benham’s “CounterPoint” will relate anecdotes and information culled from his decades of experience defending music education. Topics include “The Anatomy of a Budget Cut” and “How to Stop Cuts Before They Come Knocking at Your Child’s School Door.” His highly personal yet richly informed blog will arm readers with fundamental information and practical tips on becoming an effective advocate.

Visitors to the site are invited to participate in the Questions/Feedback area of “CounterPoint,” helping to foster a community-based coalition to prevent budgetary cuts to schools. Dr. Benham will draw from his more than three decades as an innovative, effective music educator—including a doctorate in music education from the University of Northern Colorado and collegiate teaching experience in Southern California, and currently at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., as well as consulting in 42 states and six Canadian provinces on ways to preserve music education. He will also relate some of the insights he gained from his two terms on a Minnesota school board of education.

His message couldn’t be more timely; quality music education for every child in every school in America is declining dangerously. A recent report indicates that in California, student participation in music has declined by as much as 50 percent during the past five years. The “CounterPoint” section of SupportMusic.com will offer streamlined and easy advice on how to repel threats by school districts to cut music education.

An author, educator and accomplished advocate, Dr. Benham is the ideal blogger for this forward-thinking site and has been successful at the very grassroots-level efforts that are at the heart of SupportMusic’s mission.

About SupportMusic.com
This site is the source of information for the largest initiative ever in support of school music programs. Launched by the Music Education Coalition, an entity formed by NAMM, the International Music Products Association, and MENC, the National Association for Music Education, SupportMusic.com is dedicated to inspiring action to support music education. SupportMusic.com allows Web site visitors to explore sources, understand research that supports the case for music education, and link to a variety of additional related sources and original materials.