Losing their voices: the struggle for a nation's anthem and its people.

Quick? Finish this verse: "O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light ..."

Stumped? Well, you aren't alone. Surprisingly, nearly two out of three Americans (61 percent) cannot correctly recite or complete the words to the United States' national anthem, according to a recent Harris Interactive survey of 2,200 Americans.

In addition, roughly 38 percent of American teens could not identify, by name, the nation's official song (The Star Spangled Banner), according to an ABC News poll.

In efforts to improve these disparaging statistics regarding the national anthem, MTNA has joined forces with the National Association for Music Education (MENC) and other organizations to promote "The National Anthem Project: Restoring America's Voice."

This one-of-a-kind grassroots project, developed by MENC, is an attempt at rekindling national awareness of American traditions, promoting the significance of The Star Spangled Banner and re-teaching Americans to sing the national anthem through a three-year national consumer education campaign targeting schools, professional sporting events and other local events.

"MTNA is delighted to join MENC in its efforts to re-teach The Star Spangled Banner to the nation," says MTNA Executive Director Gary Ingle. "I encourage all MTNA members to embrace this endeavor and to do their part to teach the national anthem to their students."

John Mahlmann, MENC's executive director, blames a combination of school music program budget cuts and a difficulty in learning the words of the song, as a reason Americans are silenced when it comes to the national anthem. "For years, school music classes have been the first to be cut and we are now seeing the ramifications firsthand. If we can't sing our own national anthem, we can't voice pride in our country and what it stands for," Mahlmann said. "Music in schools provides the platform for patriotism that stays with us for a lifetime."

The project officially was launched last month in conjunction with Music in our Schools Month (MIOSM).

"The National Anthem Project: Restoring America's Voice" is set to culminate in Washington, D.C. in 2006 with what is hoped will be a "record-setting" performance of the national anthem, with simulcasts of local performances from "National Anthem Cities" across the country.

The project has numerous corporate, educational and political supporters and partners: The History Channel, Walt Disney Company, Country Music Association and the National Education Association, just to name a few. First Lady Laura Bush serves as honorary chair of the project.

So, how can independent music teachers get involved in preserving our nation's anthem? Here are just a few ideas:

* Teach the words to your students. Even those as young as 5 can learn the words. Be sure to reward those who succeed.

* Teach your students to play The Star Spangled Banner on their instruments, possibly even from memory. Again, provide rewards to those who learn the tune.

* Use the national anthem as a musical example to teach certain techniques and musical concepts, such as sight reading, intervals, improvisation and meter.

* Start your recitals with everyone--students and audience alike--singing The Star Spangled Banner. Provide the lyrics if necessary.

These are simply ideas to get started. The possibilities for incorporating the teaching of the national anthem in lesson plans are endless.

Write to [e-mail] to share your activities supporting this endeavor and creative ideas about how you are making the national anthem an integral part of your musical life.

For more information about how you can make a difference, log onto to the project's website at www.nationalanthemproject.com.

History of a Song: The Star Spangled Banner

* September 14, 1814: Francis Scott Key, a gifted amateur poet and hymnist, inspired by the sight of the American flag flying over Fort McHenry the morning after the British bombardment of the U.S. at Chesapeake Bay, scribbles the initial words of a poem on the back of a letter he had in his pocket.

* Key goes to Baltimore and finishes the poem.

* Key's brother-in-law makes copies of the poem and distributes them around Baltimore under the title "Defense of Fort Mc'Henry."

* September 20, 1814: The poem is printed for the first time in a newspaper, the Baltimore Patriot. The poem is set to the music of the British tune, To Anacreon in Heaven.

* Mid October, 1814: The poem appears in seventeen other papers in cities along the East coast.

* A Baltimore actor sings Key's poem in a public performance and calls it The Star Spangled Banner.

* 1889: Secretary of the navy orders The Star Spangled Banner played at morning flag-raising ceremonies. Both the army and the navy consider the tune to be the national anthem for ceremonial purposes.

* 1916: President Woodrow Wilson declares the tune the national anthem.

* 1931: Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Reuben Ross Holloway, president of the Maryland State Society, and Congressman J. Charles Linthicum of Baltimore, congress declares by law The Star Spangled Banner as the official anthem of the United States.

BONUS BYTE

For more information about The Star Spangled Banner and its history, go to www.bcpl.net/~etowner/ anthem.html or www.usflag.org/ the.national.anthem.html.