Star-Spangled Music Day —Friday, September 12, 2014

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The Star Spangled Music Foundation (SSMF) in partnership with the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA),  America Sings, Resounding Joy, and others are pleased to announce a national Star-Spangled Music Day for Friday, September 12, 2014 in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the United States National Anthem — “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Download our logo here and feel free to use it on the Web, on t-shirts, buttons, stickers, flyers, etc. to help celebrate the national anthem’s 200th birthday!
StarSpangledMusicDay-LogoFor this day we ask that Americans far-and-wide and especially K-12 students throughout the United States sing patriotic songs—including “The Star-Spangled Banner”—and discuss the history and significance of the anthem. Performances may be videotaped and posted to YouTube, Twitter, and other social media outlets using the hashtag #Anthem200.
The SSMF and ACDA along with other organizations will provide K–16 instructional materials as linked to our For Educators page. We also encourage teachers, schools, and educational organizations to join our Star Spangled Teachers and Star Spangled Schools Networks to keep current with upcoming announcements and the release of additional materials.
Ideas to celebrate the National Day of Patriotic Song include:

  • Have a campus-wide singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and post it to YouTube using the hashtag #Anthem200 and post it to our Facebook page. If you send us the video, we can post it for you. Email info@starspangledmusic.org for help.
  • Perform the SSMF’s Star Spangled Halftime Spectacular marching band charts during your high school football game that evening. These will be posted in summer 2014.
  • Add a historical arrangement of the U.S. National Anthem to a concert or recital for a school-wide assembly using scores provided by the SSMF.
  • Work with local government or other organizations to celebrate the bicentennial of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in whatever way is best for your local community.
  • Play the SSMF’s recording of the original version of the U.S. national anthem over your school’s PA to start the day and tell your fellow staff and students about the anthem’s anniversary. Click here for a script that you could adapt for the announcement. You can get our recording on Youtube or in our Poets & Patriots CD release.
  • Add your own idea and initiative here! Share them with us via Facebook or

Thanks for joining the SSMF, the ACDA, and are other partners in celebrating the 200th birthday of “The Star-Spangled Banner”!