MUSIC PROGRAM CURRICULUM REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PHASE 1
The NAfME (National Association for Music Education)
Opportunity to Learn Standards (OTLs)
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Opportunity to Learn Standards identify the resources that need to be in place so that teachers, schools, and school districts can give students a meaningful chance to achieve at the levels spelled out in the 2014 Music Standards.
These OTLs are not, therefore, a music teacher’s unfettered “wish list.” They are rather considered guidance on the Curriculum and Scheduling, Staffing, Materials and Equipment, and Facilities that must be in place if the promise inherent in the 2014 Music Standards is to be realized — that all American students must have the opportunity to achieve music literacy.
NAfME Opportunity to Learn Standards, p. 2
These OTLs are not, therefore, a music teacher’s unfettered “wish list.” They are rather considered guidance on the Curriculum and Scheduling, Staffing, Materials and Equipment, and Facilities that must be in place if the promise inherent in the 2014 Music Standards is to be realized — that all American students must have the opportunity to achieve music literacy.
NAfME Opportunity to Learn Standards, p. 2
"BASIC" LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION:
To provide a BASIC LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION, as defined by NAfME, Upper St. Clair School District must provide the following for its students.
1. Every performing group presents a series of performances, open performances, or “informances” for parents, peers, and the community. The number of performances is sufficient to demonstrate the nature and extent of the students’ learning but not so great as to interfere with the learning process, to reduce the amount of time available to achieve instructional objectives of the ensemble, or to suggest an emphasis on entertainment rather than education.
2. Instruction in ensembles is provided to students in durations commensurate with other academic subject areas:
3. For Elementary through Middle School grades, the inclusion of ensemble experiences is not scheduled to routinely pull students from General Music classes.
"QUALITY" LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION:
To provide a QUALITY LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION, as defined by NAfME, Upper St. Clair School District must provide, in addition to what is being considered just above, for at least one performing group of each type (such as band, jazz ensemble, orchestra, chorus, guitar) presenting one performance annually at a premiere venue. This venue may be a local concert hall or may involve travel out of the school district.
National Opportunity to Learn Standards, p. 15
To provide a BASIC LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION, as defined by NAfME, Upper St. Clair School District must provide the following for its students.
1. Every performing group presents a series of performances, open performances, or “informances” for parents, peers, and the community. The number of performances is sufficient to demonstrate the nature and extent of the students’ learning but not so great as to interfere with the learning process, to reduce the amount of time available to achieve instructional objectives of the ensemble, or to suggest an emphasis on entertainment rather than education.
2. Instruction in ensembles is provided to students in durations commensurate with other academic subject areas:
- Every effort is made to avoid scheduling single-section courses in music against single-section courses in other subjects.
- Scheduling is arranged so that all members of each ensemble can meet as a unit during the school day.
3. For Elementary through Middle School grades, the inclusion of ensemble experiences is not scheduled to routinely pull students from General Music classes.
"QUALITY" LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION:
To provide a QUALITY LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION, as defined by NAfME, Upper St. Clair School District must provide, in addition to what is being considered just above, for at least one performing group of each type (such as band, jazz ensemble, orchestra, chorus, guitar) presenting one performance annually at a premiere venue. This venue may be a local concert hall or may involve travel out of the school district.
National Opportunity to Learn Standards, p. 15
Assessing the Current Program
The three (3) Needs Assessment Checklists and Summary Sheet will allow stake-holders to identify specific areas which need to be addressed. Although the recommendations being made are based upon what has been learned to date, it is helpful to have a national "yardstick" document to add support for districts looking to enhance their programs.
SCHEDULING RECOMMENDATIONS
The scheduling recommendations provided below are a first step in allowing the students of the Upper St. Clair School District to have access to a BASIC LEVEL OF MUSIC INSTRUCTION as defined by NAfME.
Sample Team Schedules
Sample Student Schedule
MODEL PROGRAMS
CURRICULUM
Model MYP Band Curriculum
CHALLENGES RESOLVED
The USC School District Fast Track Curriculum Recommendation identified Reasons as well as Implementation Steps for the examination of the K-12 music program to identify current strengths and recommendations for adjustments to curriculum, instruction, programming, and delivery models.
It is highly recommended that the district establish an Upper St. Clair Music Conservatory that would start with the 5th and 6th grade students at Boyce MS in the 2023-24 school year. This would go a long way to establish a culture for the secondary music ensemble curriculum in the district and would distinguish the Upper St. Clair School District from the surrounding districts in an impactful way. Please review the Notes provided above under the MODEL PROGRAMS: Pinecrest Academy Music Conservatory section.
The above SCHEDULING recommendations resolve the following challenges identified in the Fast Track document in the middle school music program.
It is highly recommended that the district establish an Upper St. Clair Music Conservatory that would start with the 5th and 6th grade students at Boyce MS in the 2023-24 school year. This would go a long way to establish a culture for the secondary music ensemble curriculum in the district and would distinguish the Upper St. Clair School District from the surrounding districts in an impactful way. Please review the Notes provided above under the MODEL PROGRAMS: Pinecrest Academy Music Conservatory section.
The above SCHEDULING recommendations resolve the following challenges identified in the Fast Track document in the middle school music program.
- Students in grades 5 and 6 do not have to select between one elective arts course offering or small group, pull-out instrumental lesson so as not to miss core academic learning since the large ensemble classes as scheduled when the other core teachers are in a team prep. In addition, 5th and 6th grade music students have the ability to take more than one ensemble class through special arrangement among the music team since they all meet concurrently.
- All music courses are offered during the school day thus eliminating participation difficulties due to student transportation needs.
- Although the focus of this program review thus far has been the establishment of an in-school, beginning level program (grades 5-6), students in grades 7 and 8 will not have to miss academic classes on a rotating basis since music ensembles will be offered within the school day during team prep time either by way of a similar schedule to what is proposed above for Boyce MS or via rotating block schedule (ELA and Math would be a daily block).
- Music students who move into the USC School District will be able to participate in a competitive program that is commensurate with other school districts in the local area as well as with district nationwide. The recommended schedules are based upon the established practices of high-quality and highly-regarded music programs. They are also steeped in the recommendations provided by the NAfME Opportunity to Learn Standards (copy provided above).
- Attrition between middle and high school is a conundrum that exists in many districts, however the establishment of an Upper St. Clair Music Conservatory will eliminate a significant portion of this problem because the curriculum and scheduling will use an articulated approach.
- This schedule allows music educators to teach music classes full-time thereby providing increased access for students. Educators should not be assigned "duties."
- It is recommended that the USC School District provide for a full-time, licensed administrative Music Coordinator/Supervisor position by the time that the new schedule is implemented at Boyce MS (recommended for 2023-24).
NEXT STEPS
1. Organize a community input group to provide feedback on beginning level music offerings and scheduling recommendations provided as recommended in the USC District Fast Track Curriculum implementation steps.
2. Continue with the program review and recommendations with regard to Staffing, Materials and Equipment, and Facilities as identified in the NAFME OTLs.
3. Establish an implementation schedule to be adopted for the 2023-2024 school year. It is recommended that the middle school schedule change begin at Boyce then proceed grade by grade, and year by year through Ft. Couch for the most effective long-term program expansion.
4. Continuing the examination of curriculum and schedules for the elementary and high school programs.
5. Make recommendations regarding the curriculum expansion of the Ft. Couch MS music curriculum to include more advanced offerings since students coming up from Boyce MS will have significantly enhanced performance skills as a result of the new schedule.
2. Continue with the program review and recommendations with regard to Staffing, Materials and Equipment, and Facilities as identified in the NAFME OTLs.
3. Establish an implementation schedule to be adopted for the 2023-2024 school year. It is recommended that the middle school schedule change begin at Boyce then proceed grade by grade, and year by year through Ft. Couch for the most effective long-term program expansion.
4. Continuing the examination of curriculum and schedules for the elementary and high school programs.
5. Make recommendations regarding the curriculum expansion of the Ft. Couch MS music curriculum to include more advanced offerings since students coming up from Boyce MS will have significantly enhanced performance skills as a result of the new schedule.