By Geraldine Inoa | Development Associate
We’re halfway through the school year, and because of your generous support, our partner school students are fully immersed in their in-school weekly music classes. By now, music instruction has begun to take a clear shape, with teachers sculpting students’ minds through new musical concepts and skills, and students transferring this knowledge beyond the classroom and into their daily lives. These experiences can transform a child’s personality and their attitude towards school, most especially the students at our first-year partner schools—many of whom are receiving music for the first time.
For instance, Arianna, a second-grader at PS 8 in the Bronx, is using music to focus her energy and to develop stronger social skills. Arianna is a very rambunctious and energetic child. During the beginning of the year, it was difficult for her to sit still and to follow directions. Arianna’s outbursts would distract her classmates during instruction and she would have trouble connecting with them, often feeling isolated from peers. Participating in movement and group activities in music class is giving Arianna a means to channel her energy and helping her stay at the same pace as her classmates. Arianna also now happily assists her ETM music teacher, Ms. Feinberg, in passing out worksheets and collecting homework during class. Because music has given Arianna an outlet for her energy, her focus and concentration have improved significantly. She is positively engaging with her peers and listens carefully to directions.
One day, at the start of class, Arianna called out happily, "Music! We have music!" Then Arianna ran over to Ms. Feinberg and gave her big hug, offering her a drawing. Ms. Feinberg shared, “It was a picture of me smiling, and it said ‘Music Teacher’ at the top. Arianna said, ‘It's you! Do you like it?!’ I told her that I loved it and that it warmed my heart. I thanked her and told her that I couldn't wait to show it to all my friends and family. I gave her a big hug and said, ‘Let's start music class!’ Arianna nodded joyfully and sat in her spot, and has been able to stay in her spot during every class since.”
Arianna’s school, PS 8 is a first-year partner school located in the Fordham Manor neighborhood of the Bronx. The partnership between P.S. 8 and ETM began when the school’s principal had a dream of bringing music education to the K-5 school’s nearly 1,100 students. After learning about ETM’s music programs, she turned her dream into a reality. Now every student receives weekly music instruction provided by two music teachers, and this past December every student performed in a winter concert. Because of wonderful donors like you and your kind contributions, schools like PS 8 who have never before had music are now able to share the gift of music education with their students—deserving children like Arianna.
We thank you for supporting our mission and believing in our students! Help us promote music education in inner-city schools by sharing this report with your friends and family. Let them know just how far their support can go!
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