Advocacy in Orchestra Education
How do you make sure your orchestra program survives budget cuts and administrative changes? Retired teacher and former NAfME president Leyla Sanyer shares her proven 'embedded advocacy' approach for building lasting support among the people who matter most.
Episode Overview
Program cuts happen, but they don't have to happen to you. In this episode, Leyla Sanyer—a retired orchestra teacher with decades of experience and a past president of NAfME—shares her philosophy of "embedded advocacy" and explains how to build support for your program before you need it.
About Our Guest
Leyla Sanyer enjoyed a distinguished career as an orchestra educator before serving as president of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). She now dedicates her time to mentoring young teachers and advocating for music education at the policy level.
What You'll Learn
- What "embedded advocacy" means and why it works
- How to communicate effectively with administrators, parents, and community members
- Building relationships that protect your program long-term
- Turning your students and families into advocates
Key Takeaways
The most effective advocacy isn't crisis response—it's the relationships and communication habits you build every day. When stakeholders understand and value your program, they become its defenders.
Show Notes
- This list of vocabulary is extremely helpful in helping you shift your language - I'd be lost without it!
- Check out WMEA's Advocacy page, where you can find advocacy resources such as guidelines, talking points, and more. There is even a place you can request help from an advocacy assistance team member if you teach in Wisconsin.
- Leyla drafted this letter as a way to reach stakeholders who claim to "know nothing about music." It clarifies how the music classroom, like other classrooms, is a valuable place for growth and learning.
- Watch Leyla's narrated presentation that she created for ASTA: Talking the Walk: Changing the Language Around Music Education to Speak With Decision Makers.
- Leyla is quoted in this helpful article by Carla Kalogeridis, Are You and Your Principal on the Same Team? from the NAfME journal, Teaching Music.