Music Program�Review Committee

Report & Recommendations

Cortland Enlarged City School District

The Process

Year 2

Planning Year

Year 3

Implementation

Year 5

Implementation

Year 1

Study Year

Year 4

Implementation

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The Process

We employed our Program Review process, using a [large] representative committee:

• Reviewed literature
• Attended relevant conferences
• Looked at data
• Reached out to other districts
• Examined current practices
• Made recommendations

Review of the Literature

We consulted these areas of the literature:

• Trends in higher education
• Standards
• Emerging programmatic practices
• Access & inclusion
• Recruitment & retention & attrition
• Attributes of schools that correlates to lifelong involvement & interest

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School Outreach

These are the commonalities that were identified:

• Facilities matter.
• The recruitment process is important; there should be some involvement of parents.
• It is important to have to have instruments available.
• Community connections were evident, including opportunities to perform in the community.
• These districts have high expectations for participation in music.
• It is nice to have a working relationship with the music stores.

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Data Collection

The committee also developed a number of surveys to collect data, from:

• Elementary students
• Junior High students
• High School students
• Alumni
• Institutes of Higher Education

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Recommendations

It is intended that the following recommendations be implemented in the 2021-2022 school year. Between now and then, district personnel will prepare for implementation. Some recommendations can be implemented or introduced sooner, such as summer curriculum writing.

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Recommendations

Broad and sustained participation with multiple entry points and experiences:

• Elementary classes and ensembles should meet frequently enough to provide a sound foundation, skill development, and vertical articulation (preferably a minimum of 2x per cycle).
• Provide multiple access points for both traditional and emerging ensembles at all levels. Example: a student who didn’t start an instrument in elementary school could start later.

Recommendations

Broad and sustained participation with multiple entry points and experiences:

• Provide increased opportunities for learning a wider range of instruments than we currently offer through orchestra and band. For example: guitar, keyboard, ukulele.
• Increase the variety of course electives and the participation in the electives.
• Include culturally responsive, relevant experiences for students at all levels.

Recommendations

Broad and sustained participation with multiple entry points and experiences:

• Balance amateurism and professionalism (balancing process and product)
• Provide opportunities to explore careers in music, including business, technology, production, and emerging fields.
• Seek out and maintain opportunities in the community for student participation and performance. Similarly, invite the community to participate in our music program.

Recommendations

Infrastructure:

• Maintain and grow a performance and instructional instrument inventory that is adequate, well-maintained, and inclusive of non-traditional instruments.
• Review facilities to ensure adequate and appropriate space for the continuation of existing programs and implementation of future programming. Facilities review should include considerations for storage and equipment, as well as practice and performance space.

Questions?

Music Program Review Committee

Report & Recommendations

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