BRATTLEBORO — This fall, the Brattleboro Music Center (BMC) and Windham Southeast Supervisory Union (WSESU) launch a new collaboration to provide free after-school music programs to students in Brattleboro's three public elementary schools.
“Over the past several years, the Brattleboro Town School District has been expanding our after school enrichment program offerings,” said WSESU Superintendent Ron Stahley. “We are very excited that this year the Brattleboro Music Center will be offering two new music programs in the schools. The Children's Chorus and Violin Group Instruction are great examples of enrichment opportunities in the arts that will benefit our students.”
BMC Managing Director Pam Lierle, and Education Programs Directors Raquel Moreno and Carol Compton, have been working with Stahley, and Principals Andy Paciulli, John Reed, and Jen Hemmingson, to establish the after-school music programs for students attending Academy, Green Street, and Oak Grove Schools.
“Every day we see the positive impact music has on people's lives. Regardless of age, or even ability, making music is such a universally beneficial activity,” said Lierle. “Research solidly confirms what we see, that involvement in music benefits children academically, socially, and emotionally.”
After-school programs offered this fall include group vocal instruction, “Generation POP” Children's Chorus, held on Mondays at Green Street School for students in grades 2-6 (bus service for Academy and Oak Grove students); and group violin instruction, “Playing with Strings” Violin I & II, held on Thursdays at Academy School for third- and fourth-graders (bus service for Green Street and Oak Grove students).
The after-school programs provide free music instruction jointly funded by the Brattleboro Music Center and Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, with the BMC also providing administrative support, and WSESU providing space and bus service. Families will be asked to contribute $10 to help cover music books and materials.
Registration is currently underway for the after-school programs, which begin the week of Sept. 10.
After-school music program details and registration form are available through Academy, Green Street and Oak Grove Schools, and on the Brattleboro Music Center website at www.bmcvt.org/music-in-the-schools. For further information, contact the BMC at 802-257-4523.