By Krystal Valentin | Development and Marketing Associate
Thanks to your support, seven schools that just one year ago lacked comprehensive, school-wide music programs are today offering every student weekly music instruction. The change in these school environments is most palpable when the students take the stage, smiling with confidence, to perform in front of their family members and classmates at their spring concerts. Last week’s concert at PS 175 provides a glimpse of what is happening in partner school communities around the city thanks to your involvement:
At PS 175, the Lynn Gross Discovery School, a first-year partner school in Queens, Principal Patricia Cooper welcomed parents, guardians and other family members who packed the school’s auditorium:
“Thank you so much for coming. I’m so fortunate to be the principal here and be able to bring in a variety of programs to our students…music being one. Music fills a void, a place of hunger and is vital just as breathing fresh air is to our children. This is our second concert of the year since introducing the music program. [ETM music teacher] Mr. Kanakaris, who came to us by way of Education Through Music, has been a phenomenal addition to our school. We are happy the music program has been received so well by the students.”
Part of building a brand-new music program also includes educating audience members so they understand how music fits into their child’s education and development. Before beginning the concert, Principal Cooper and Mr. Kanakaris also encouraged parents to cheer on their children, but refrain from causing distractions during the pieces. The goal of every concert is to ensure all students receive a full and positive experience, which enables them to feel proud of their accomplishments on stage. A part of this experience is being able to share their joy with their parents and peers. Mr. Kanakaris promised parents an opportunity, after each grade’s section of songs, to take photos of their child on stage to capture the special occasion; an offer that parents proudly accepted.
Titled “Spring Memories,” the concert boasted a range of tunes—from patriotic pieces like “America, the Beautiful” to warm-weather numbers like “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and nostalgic hits like “In My Life” and “Blue Skies.”
At the end of the performances, Mr. Kanakaris announced that PS 175 hopes to add an elective band program for 5th graders next year, following the model ETM has established in several other partner schools. When band is added as an elective, it has been shown, to reinforce general music class, support learning in other academic areas, and improve students’ self-confidence and sense of responsibility. As PS 175 continues to incorporate music into its school community, we know that the benefits of music education will continue to unfold.
Success at PS 175, and our other first-year partner schools, is possible due to your support. Thanks for helping ETM get music into the hands of students throughout New York City!
Unfortunately, many more students lack music instruction than we currently serve. If you’d like to help us expand our programming to keep the music playing in these new partner schools and others, please consider forwarding this report and ETM’s information to a friend or colleague who might also provide support.
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