More Creative Music Curriculum To Empower All Children

Music education to inspire & heal in public schools

Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash

Earlier this month, I collaborated as the pianist once again with the students and teachers at my children’s Title I school to present their summer choral and instrumental concert.

Given the eventful experience of our winter concert and the fact that the school had enrolled even more migrant children since—as of this month, they make up 25% of the student body—our team commenced with a determination to help all students participate meaningfully.

The summer program consists of traditional songs from diverse origins, including those of the Ashanti people of Ghana (“Anansi”) and other Akan people in West Africa (“Sansa Kroma”), Brazil (“A Zing-a Za”), Germany, Austria, Mexico, and South Africa, as well as celebrated Spanish-language and American folk tunes.

Some of the selections are multi-part arrangements requiring the assistance of percussion instruments, only a few of which were found in the school’s under-resourced music room. Our music teacher had to borrow the larger items, like the glockenspiel, from other better-funded elementary schools in the district.

Then, our PTA's always-dependable, ultra-competent Treasurer heard about our privation. Before long, she…