Washington may ‘restructure’ school music programs

WASHINGTON — Washington tentatively plans to end its fifth grade band course next school year in an effort to optimize the district’s music education program, as educators say they’re spread too thin to adequately prepare for classes or offer individualized lessons.

Among other things, the plan pitched by teachers at a school board meeting Wednesday night, March 13, would eliminate the fifth grade band program, allowing students to start playing the instruments no sooner than middle school.

Instrumental Music Teacher Don Hughes, who works at both Washington’s Lincoln Elementary and the high school, said interest in fifth grade band had dropped over the years, and that the suggested change would set him up to help teach at the middle school instead.

“This would free up my time in the afternoon … which would allow us to team-teach the sixth grade, beginner band,” he said. “We think just that alone will make a huge difference. In the first week, one of us can test kids for instruments, the other is busy front-loading literacy, all these skills that don’t involve actually playing the instrument. We can get these kids going, and rocking.”

Middle School Band Teacher Hannah Ball agreed.

She said the new setup would allow her the extra time to offer small-group lessons at the building, which were recently discontinued due to scheduling issues.

“While we hate to lose a year of kids to offer that experience for them, we do feel confident that starting in sixth grade with a team-teach approach and being able to offer lessons … will ultimately result in stronger, more well-rounded musicians,” she said.

The proposed restructuring would have ripple effects on the district’s sixth grade music classes as well.

Currently, Washington allows sixth graders to take a general music course, a semester of band, or a semester of choir to meet state music education requirements. Under the planned change, they’ll instead have to choose between band or choir only, though they could still opt to do both.

The change would not effect Washington’s seventh grade general music course, nor will it affect Hughes’ schedule at the high school, according to both band teachers.

School board members expect to vote on the restructuring plan at their next regular meeting, scheduled April 10 at the district’s central office. Superintendent Willie Stone directed educators to gather more information ahead of the date.

“We want something written down that says, ‘This is what’s going to happen, this is how many students it’s going to effect,’ so that when we make the decision on this, you guys have all the numbers sitting in front of you,” he said. “Then, we’re able to make a solid decision based off of data.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com