MUSIC PROGRAM CURRICULUM REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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The NAfME (National Association for Music Education)
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| NAfME Opportunity to Learn Standards 2020.pdf |
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"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 Assessing the Current ProgramThe 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.
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SCHEDULING RECOMMENDATIONS |
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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.
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Sample Team Schedules
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Sample Student Schedule
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Sample Rotation Teacher Schedules
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MODEL PROGRAMS |
Pinecrest Academy Inspirada Conservatory
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CURRICULUM |
Model MYP Band Curriculum
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CHALLENGES RESOLVEDThe 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.
NEXT STEPS1. 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.
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