Dearborn Public Schools - Instrumental Music Update

From the DHS Band Boosters -- Here is a link to a Petition to save instrumental music in Dearborn. Please sign it, it only takes a minute. http://www.petitiononline.com/ds2006/petition.html

From Christina Viscomi -- The document below was forwarded to her by a friend and teacher in the DPS. It outlines a proposal to keep (although reduced) a form of the elementary instrumental program for next year that wouldn't cost the district any additional money.

Instrumental Music Instruction Option for 2008/09

With the budget crises throughout the State of Michigan, I understand that Dearborn has to look at how to operate with a balanced budget, yet still be able to offer a well rounded education for our students. One of the budget cuts that is being considered is the elimination of 5th grade instrumental music, totally eliminating the elementary instrumental experience from the elementary school. I would like to recommend a change in the way that 5th grade music is configured, allowing for instrumental music to still be an experience that our students would receive.


Music Instruction Option for Fifth Grade Students:
For schools that have the inventory to accommodate all fifth grade students to play an instrument at the same time, students would attend general music for one period a week all year long and have instrumental music for one period a week , all year long. There are some different options as to how the instrumental class would run, depending on the individual school and the inventory at that school. The following are some instructional options:

Scheduling 5th grade Music

In schools that have an even number of fifth grade classes:
Two classes would be scheduled for music at the same time in different rooms. Students in both classes would be divided into band or string students, trying to keep the numbers as balanced as possible. The orchestra students would attend instrumental music one class period a week and general music the other class period a week. When the string students are attending general music, the band students would be meeting with the instrumental teacher.

In schools with a 4/5 split and one fifth grade:
For this example, let’s state that the numbers for the 4/5 split are ten 4th gd. and ten 5th grade. The fifth gd. class consists of 28 students. I am suggesting that the 4/5 split and fifth grade class be scheduled for general music and instrumental music at the same time, just as if they were two 5th grade classes. The configuration would be the following:
The 38 fifth gd. students would be divided into two groups, band and string students, trying to keep the numbers balanced between the two groups. The schedule for the fifth grade students would be the same as the above scenario. The only difference is that the ten 4th gd. students would attend general music all year long.

In schools with an odd number of 5th grade classes
When a school has five 5th grade classes, the schedule would look like the following:
5A and 5B would be scheduled at the same time between instrumental music and general music. Students would divide into band and string students and follow the schedule for the first scenario above.
5C and 5 D would be scheduled at the same time between instrumental music and general music. Students would divide into band and string students and follow the schedule for the first scenario above.
Class 5E would be divided in half between band and strings students. The band students would attend instrumental music once a week and general music the other music period in the week. String students would attend instrumental music when band students are attending general music.

Pro’s
--Students would still be receiving an instrumental music experience, making there decision to continue in instrumental music more informative for middle school.
--Two fifth grade classes would be scheduled for prep at the same time, allowing for built in collaboration between those teachers.
--General music teachers would still be seeing the students in fifth grade.
--Current instrument inventory should accommodate this plan.
--This configuration could utilize the cadet program to a greater extent. This program uses HS students to provide private lessons for the elementary school students. This program is in place at all three high schools, with the feeder elementary schools taking lessons from the school that they feed into.

Con’s
By attending general music only once a week, students are missing one semester of general music.