Music in the School
The Art & Nature Center, through the Washington Music Festival, continues to provide the major financial support for the Music in the School program. Many generous donors to the annual fund drive contribute all or a portion of their gifts to the music program. As a Pre K -12 certified music educator, musician and composer, I provide at least 10 hours of service a week for 36 weeks. With good materials and planning, the sponsorship of the Music Festival, cooperation of students and staff, and your support, musical activity will continue and flourish in the school.
In the K-8 Music in the School program, I continue to use the “Music and You” books, charts and CDs. Students listen to and learn to sing and play music from around the world, including authentic music of native cultures, holiday and work songs, rock, folk, ethnic and popular music. While listening to classical selections, students follow “listening maps” which help them understand what’s happening in the music. Using each of the grade level textbooks and additional materials, students learn to recognize orchestral, folk, ethnic and electronic instruments by sight and sound. Pictures of famous art works from ancient to modern times enrich the experience by adding a visual element.
The big blue suitcase is filled with and holds percussion instruments. Students take turns playing them and larger drums on songs they select and sing from their music textbooks and the “Keep America Singing” song books, volumes I & II.
In addition to meeting once a week in the five elementary classrooms, I encourage friends and acquaintances to share their musical talent and expertise with the K-8 students and staff in the Musicians in our Midst segment of the curriculum. Musical guests generally perform twice, 50 minutes for 5th-8th and 30 minutes for K-4. Grades 9-12 are included about twice a year for an all-school music assembly.
During the last six years, fifty-seven people have made musical visits to our school, many of them more than once. Thank you to all the musicians who inspire and educate our young people.
For two years I have supervised three high school students: Maren Schutz, Conrad McDonald and Patricia Hansen, in independent studies in music for credit. Each student has an individually designed curriculum with a wide variety of activities and learning requirements including: playing instruments, composing, viewing lectures, concerts and biographies on DVDs, assisting in teaching younger students in the classrooms, and sharing their talent in our community, churches and school.
This is my 8th year of teaching Music in the School and the 7th of coordinating Musicians in our Midst. Through the years, we’ve spent many hours listening to, learning about, and making music together in the classrooms. It’s exciting to see and hear many current and former students being active musicians in many different venues. Thank you to all who support and encourage Music in the School.
–by Dan Hansen
