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Permalink Reply by Kepa Stern on November 27, 2009 at 1:37pm

Aloha Cathy,

I can definitely relate to your situation, and hopefully by posting and requesting ideas and input of what our challenges are, we may be able to seek a solution together.
At my Pre K - 8 school I teach not only teach band (GR. 5 -8), but also general music to all grades. Music is not counted in the overall percentage of the students grades, so music class is regarded by core teachers, parents, and students as something to be tolerated... a prep time for teachers, and a recess from core subjects by the students. Like you, I have core teachers keeping students with them as punishment, or as a time for make up testing and/or finishing late work.

Our Band has to meet after school because of the different schedules of the different grade levels, and this causes conflicts with after school sports, and drama which most of my band members participate in. I try to request that these students attend at least one band class a week, but due to games, daily practices, and hard-headed coaches, I'm lucky to see them once a month. All this, and I'm expected to have the band . made up of mostly first and second year students, ready for a Christmas Concert on Dec. 11.

No matter the challenges, I will continue to educate the faculty and staff of the importance of the music curriculum to actually enhance the learning and right brain activity of our students, and to continue to plant the seeds of music appreciation. of emotion and feeling, of an art form so profound, it cannot be expressed in words alone. Music MUST be experienced!

I've attached my Music and Band Philosophy, so for all you musically inclined people out there...is there anything else I should add? Thank you all.

Kepa Stern

Attachments:

• Music and Band Philosophy ofLearning.doc, 24 KB

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Permalink Reply by Cathy Brown on November 28, 2009 at 11:31am

Kepa,
Thanks so much for your response, and for sharing your Philosophy--may I use the frame work of yours, to develop my own please? You have more on your plate than we do in our county--thanks for putting it into perspective for me, we are really not so bad off at the moment. One thing that we all have going for us, is that Fine Arts and Music classes are recognized as core subjects by the United States Department of Education and within NCLB; this is not often common knowledge by the general public.

Since my original post, I have submitted a suggestion to our assistant superintendant (with my principal's support), for an addition to our school system's Six Year Plan, which is currently in revision for 2011. A wide variety of topics that are being considered for inclusion in the 2011 plan, were covered in a recent Plan survey sent out to our school system's employees; I was disappointed to see that no mention whatsoever was made in regards to the Fine Arts programs within Rockingham County Schools.

As Music educators, we are all well aware that the academic success of students involved in Fine Arts programs is undeniable; Fine Arts and specifically Music Program membership helps to develop the creativity, leadership, team work skills, responsibility of students, in addition to the critical thinking skills. All these criteria were mentioned as major goals in our school system's "Six Year Plan" survey--but with NO MENTION of the Fine Arts and how these skills are fundamental within our own programs. Not only are we educating the students, we have to educate the masses in general....it's a good thing that WE studied music, have attained these skills ourselves, and are prepared for such a task!

As a result of the increased stress teachers are under to meet AYP and to improve SOL scores, the Fine Arts programs are increasingly being viewed as "extra curricular" by many colleagues who teach "classroom classes". Fine Arts instructional time is not seen to be as valuable as other subjects; to complement the lack of recognition as a "real class" across the country, Fine Arts and Music programs are typically among the first to lose funding, lose instructional time etc, as school systems seek ways to provide a "better" education for their students in difficult financial times.

I feel that public recognition of Fine Arts programs in our county as part of the RCPS Six Year Plan, would go a long way towards helping to change some of these misguided views by allowing the local community a chance to see the RCPS administration supporting our music programs, helping them to grow and remain successful. Including the Fine Arts programs in the six year plan will also help to add validity to the Fine Arts programs within the RCPS instructional community, helping other teachers to see that Fine Arts programs are more than just "fun classes" for the kids to go to, or to not go to, as they wish.

Best of luck in your situation, I have friend in a similar, frustrating set up. Remember--"Nothing we do for children, is ever wasted".

Cathy

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Permalink Reply by Kepa Stern on November 28, 2009 at 6:41pm

Cathy,
By all means, you are more than welcome to use the frame work of the Band and Music philosophy to develop your own. And if you feel inclined to share, I would be very interested to see what you may come up with. I hope I'm not presuming too much.
Too me, you are a breath a fresh air, a kindred spirit. It's nice to be able to share experiences with people who have had similar circumstances.
Aloha and God Bless,
Kepa

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