Posted by pjt on March 13, 2006 at 15:41:42:
I am currently working on a vision for the 5-8 instrumental program that I work with. I have figured out percentages for rentention over the past 7 years that I have been in this distric and have come up with this(these are average % over the years):
5th grade 60% of the class involved at end of year
6th grade 40% of the class involved at end of year
7th grade 35% of the class involved at end of year
8th grade 25% of the class involved at end of year
Our district is committed to building a larger program. With that, I am looking for direction on the percentages above. Is there any particular grade that looks "out of line".
Areas that I plan to address in my vision include:
-recruitment
-retention
-community support and involvement
-sequential tracking of learning during pull-outs(I currently see students for group lessons once a week for 20 minutes and then for full rehearsal for 42 minutes three days a week)
-5 year instrument replacement/upgrade plan(another reason for %)
-amount of time students are seen in general music(would like to see that contact time not only increase but extended through 7th/8th grade).
-I would also like to create a three year curriculum rotation for literature and learning grades 6-8.
As music educators in a world where states are adding more and more requirements to our students days we must continually show how important continuous involvement in music is.
Thanks for any thoughts and input you may have on this subject.