Band and Orchestra are an opportunity for our 5th graders to have a more advanced music experience. This is an addition in the school day to normal music class and during our regular school hours. It does not impact lunch or recess, so kids do not lose their time with friends to be in these groups. It is an additional time to experience groups work and friendship at a high level. This is the beginning of our advanced music programs that will then continue at our middle and high schools. Contact our directors for information so that your student can begin in these amazing programs.

Sign-ups and more information come in early fall directly to parents.

Why Music? The reasons are numerous. And the statistics about how participating in music can positively affect a child's academic and social progress are very impressive.  

1. Children who study music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than their peers who do not participate in music lessons.
2. Children with learning challenges or who tend to lose focus with more noise could benefit greatly from music lessons.
3. Music programs are constantly are proven to improve academics.
4. Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, and pursue further education.
5. Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2% graduation rate and 93.9% attendance rate, compared to schools without music education, which average 72.9% graduation and 84.9% attendance.
6. Regardless of socioeconomic status or school district, students (3rd graders) who participate in high-quality music programs score higher on reading and spelling tests.
7. A Stanford study shows that music engages areas of the brain which are involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating events in our memory.
8. Much like expert technical skills, mastery in arts and humanities is closely correlated to a greater understanding of language components.
9. Young children who take music lessons show different brain development and improved memory over the course of a year, compared to children who do not receive musical training.

Want to know more? Check out these other resources that highlight the benefits of participation in music programs. The statistics are staggering.

Check them out here: National Association for Music Education