The North American Coalition for Community Music

A think tank of seventeen music educators across the community music spectrum assembled January 18-20, 2008, at Hewitt School in Manhattan to discuss the possible development of a continental organization focused entirely on community music practices.  The intention of the gathering, called The Hewitt Commission, was to continue and focus the dialogues that launched the ISME Community Music Activities Commission and the MENC Lifelong Learning and Community Music Special Research Interest Group.  Kari Veblen (University of Western Ontario) organized the assembly, and posed this broad question for consideration:  "How can we use our good ideas and energies to best effect the transformations necessary to make music education more relevant and accessible to all?" 

The three days were primarily devoted to open discussions across a broad range of topics, including: "What is community music in its broadest sense?  Who are the people and groups most likely to effect a transformation to relevancy and accessibility, and how could this organization support those individuals and groups?  Who would the organization benefit and represent?  What organizations supporting community music practices and research already exist, and how would this one differ?  What are the ways in which the organization could develop?"  The discussions were moderated by Don Coffman (University of Iowa; chair-elect, ISME CMA) and Phil Mullen (United Kingdom; past chair, ISME CMA), and were interspersed with brief presentations, case studies, and music making.

The Hewitt Commission determined that a continental organization dedicated to the development and support of community music projects that advance accessibility and relevancy across age, ethnic, social, geographical, and political boundaries would be a worthy endeavor.  The Commission also concluded that such an organization would provide a voice and network for the many diverse community music practices that currently do not have a forum for interaction and representation, and would provide opportunity for all community music practices, including school music, to inform, learn from, and support each other.     

The assembly decided to move forward in developing an organization tentatively called the North American Coalition for Community Music.  The Hewitt Commission will meet again in May, 2008, to develop and refine its vision and mission, determine broad goals to support the mission, determine leadership for the Coalition, and develop a 10-year strategy for the organization.  This website for the Coalition is in development, and communication related to the Coalition may be directed currently to naccm2008@gmail.com.

Members of The Hewitt Commission are deeply grateful to Kari Veblen for organizing a forum for sharing our dreams and ambitions for a transformative interpretation of music education across the continent, and to Casey Hayes and the Hewitt School for hosting this momentous gathering.

Chelcy Bowles
University of Wisconsin-Madison
USA