With the decline of music classes and band programs in public schools, many students don’t get a chance to enjoy learning an appreciation of musical instruments.

One local business — John Michael’s Music — has started a series of free presentations at local elementary schools to help students get that spark of interest.

James Foster, music specialist at Ben Franklin Science Academy, said John Michael’s Music Appreciation Program made an appearance in April.

“They are trying to support the music program,” he said. “They came out and played and they talked to the kids about different avenues in the arts.”

Foster said the principal asked him to get the upper grades motivated.

“So I went to my friend Raegan Medeiros at John Michael’s, and she had several of her employees who play in different bands do something together,” Foster said. “They gave their presentation and talked about their music summer camp.”

Foster said the Music Appreciation Program is one way the school tries to interest students in the arts.

“One time I had a friend of mine who is a poet and does some acting do some poetry for the students,” he said. “But it all pertains to the same thing; we try to explain to them that the opportunities in the arts are more than being in a band.”

Judging by the excitement among the kids, the event was a success.

“I’m sure that they created a spark of interest in some students that didn’t have it before,” he said. “From just looking at the expressions on their faces, I’m sure that they had a positive effect.”

Medeiros, director of music programs at Jon Michael’s Music, said the program is structured in a way that gets kids looking toward the future.

“First we play a song, then we talk about how music takes dedication, and how the kids can go on to get a college scholarship,” she said. “Dixie Weathers, our drum instructor, gives most of the talk. She talks about how she got a scholarship, and how it changed her life because she gets to play music out at concerts and gigs, and then she has a job teaching. And all these doors that have opened up because of music.”

Medeiros said they also encourage them to try real musical instruments instead of music computer games.

“Then we ask them how many of them play Rock Band (video game) and most of them raise their hand,” she said. “Then we ask them ‘How many of you plan on getting a job playing Rock Band,’ and no one raises their hand. That’s a good segue, because if you put as much time learning real music as you do playing a music video game, just think of the possibilities.”

After that comes a section on rhythm that includes audience participation.

“We talk about how rhythm came about in a drum circle where some people played the bass drum part and some people played the snare part. We’ve got a set of congas up there, and we let a couple of volunteers come up and do that. When we were at Tony Goetz Elementary, we put all that together and had all the kids clap along. It was about 500 kids, and the rhythm ends up becoming ‘We Will Rock You.’ So it worked out really, really well. The kids were really excited about it.”

Medeiros said one of the basic lessons of the programs is to teach the students persistence.

“We’re really big on trying to push that dedication in your life can take you anywhere,” she said. “If you will stick to it and really work hard, that you can go far with this.”



Schedule



Upcoming schedule for music appreciation:

• Pershing Elementary School, today.

• Cherokee Elementary School, Monday.

• Whittier Elementary School, Tuesday.

• Sadler Arts Academy, Wednesday.

Reach Keith Purtell at 918-684-2925 or Click Here to Send Email